How Does Aoun Protect the Interests of Christians?
It is not unusual for Deputy Michel Aoun to visit Iran. What is unusual is that this trip has been delayed till now, hence delaying the benefits that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and his assistants could gain from someone such as the leader of the Change and Reform Bloc in Lebanon, especially since the Iranian ambassador in Beirut praised his rightful and deep strategic perspective on matters.
Since Aoun”s "understanding" with Hezbollah regarding the project endorsed by the party for Lebanon”s future, it became natural for Tehran”s doors to be open for the man who considers himself the "strongest Christian leader". Since this leadership requires foresight when it comes to their interests, Aoun believes that these interests can only be served by the existing alliance between himself and Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, then through sponsorship by Iran – which is known for its tolerance, not only with its own minorities, but also with the prominent figures of the Islamic Republic who were pushed to the opposition by the current practices of the regime.
To pinpoint this tolerance, it is sufficient for Aoun to ask during his Iranian visit about the political chances available for former President Mohammed Khatami or his predecessor Hashemi Rafsanjani, or even a family member of the revolution”s leader Ayatollah Khomeini; or let him ask about Ayatollah Hussein Montazeri, Khomeini”s former potential succor and who complains today saying: if this is how they treat me, then how do they treat ordinary people?
It is also unusual for Aoun to time his visit to Iran in a way that offers him an opportunity to attack Saudi Arabia, accusing it of being a partner of Syria during the mandate over the Lebanese decision following the Taif Accord, and announcing that 2005 witnessed an end to the security dimension of the Syrian-Saudi formula that left Lebanon dependent on Saudi Arabia and the US. This is outrageous not only because decency requires avoiding such attacks at a time when the President of the Republic is making his first official visit to Saudi Arabia accompanied among others by an official from Aoun”s movement, Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abou Jamra, but also because the facts of that period and what happened to Aoun himself do not support his claims. The transformation that affected the implementation of the Taif Accord after the assassination of President Rene Moawad and the full transfer of power into Syrian hands no longer needs any evidence. Perhaps Aoun”s memory, now an expert on digging the past, may assist him by reminding him of the campaigns that he used to wage against the "Syrian occupation" during that period, long before things ended the way they have today at Rabieh.
In all cases, the Iranian penetration of Christian ranks in Lebanon through the alliance with Michel Aoun represents an opportunity for the Christians to reinforce their divisions and to undermine all attempts to regain their unity. This penetration also represents an opportunity for the Christians to rethink their reality and to initiate a real search for their interests, away from the vagaries of the slogans that currently dominate the Christian street. They”d also better read the context of the region and the extent to which decisions by governments in this region affect the lives of people. At a time when Christian leaders in Iraq complain about campaigns of murder and displacement, Lebanese Christians are asked to ponder the vast opportunities available for them in a number of countries in the region, especially in the Gulf. Hopefully these opportunities will not suffer as a result of the campaigns waged by Aoun who claims to "care" for the interests of Christians.