Nov 25, 2009 

 

The Founder of the Lebanese Option Gathering, Ahmad Al-Assaad, and HE Sayyed Ali Al Amin discussed the latest developments on the political scene in general, and within the Shiite community in particular. In this context, Al-Assaad replied to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech:

Hezbollah is no longer able to control the spreading of narcotics in Dahieh and wants the Government to take action against this growing phenomenon to avoid being in the frontline and lose its popularity with a certain category of its public. Consequently, the Government will be the scapegoat used to resolve its narcotics issues. This is the main objective behind Hezbollah’s initiative to lift the cover off narcotics and drug dealers.

I believe that by announcing in his “Martyrs Day” speech that he has lifted the cover off the outlaws, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reveals his inability to face this epidemic that has become impossible to hide or disregard.

Here, we have to ask ourselves: Who is responsible for the outbreak of this epidemic? Who is in charge in the Southern Suburb? Is it enough for a man to fast and pray to be a Muslim? Is this the essence of Islam? Doesn’t the real meaning of Islam reside in how we behave and treat each other and in the integrity of our views and positions?

Hezbollah is seeking to accomplish a series of objectives through its Secretary-General’s speech:
First, Hezbollah wants to give the people the impression that it cares about their concerns and worries and wants to preserve their welfare and offer them social security.
Second, Hezbollah wants to become seemingly closer to the Lebanese State and appear to be collaborative and cooperative with the Government in view of blinding it.
Third, Hezbollah does not want to engage in a narcotics control procedure in view of maintaining a favorable image with its public and partisans, whom it has always protected”.

Nevertheless, this new drug control initiative will remain limited and restricted, for it is intended against the simple and unprotected citizens, who will be the ones to pay the price and be held responsible, while the members of Hezbollah, the partisans of Hezbollah and the beloved followers of Hezbollah shall not be pursued.

It is noteworthy that Hezbollah has imposed upon the Government to coordinate with Hezbollah’s security forces beforehand if it should decide to arrest or inquire any of Hezbollah’s members or any others under Hezbollah’s custody.

The main and essential question that requires an immediate answer remains: What about Hezbollah’s illegitimate weapons that are found abundantly in the Southern Suburb, beyond the control of the law? What about the arms that were used on May 7, contradicting the saying that they would never be used locally and would only be used to fight off the Israeli enemy? Will the Lebanese Government suffice by observing these weapons from afar? Will it allow these weapons to determine what is acceptable and what is not?