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Lebanon – Hedonism and War

Text and Photos: Andre Vltchek, first published on New East Outlook

“Invader’s Graveyard” – Israeli tanks in Hezbollah museum


Palestinian refugee camps are up in flames, across the country, a result of the disputes between the rival factions, but also of ‘unsavory’ influences from abroad. As everyone knows here, there are, for instance, the Al Qaida-affiliated militants hiding in the South.
There are Israeli incursions into Lebanon, both by land and by water. There are also drones, flying habitually from Israel into and through the Lebanese airspace.
There is great tension between Israel and Hezbollah, over Syria, but not only.
Lebanese forces are fighting DAESH, mainly in the Northeast of Lebanon, on the mountainous border with Syria. Hezbollah is fighting DAESH, too, but ‘independently’.
In the 7th year into the war in Syria, there are still more than 1 million Syrian refugees living on Lebanese territory, some in awful conditions and many with extremely uncertain future. The exact number is unknown (UNHCR stopped the registration of all new arrivals approximately 2 years ago), but is believed to fluctuate between 1 and 2 million.

Picture taken in Palestinian camp in south Lebanon


There is mounting tension between the Syrian and the Lebanese communities, as they are now competing for already sparse jobs and public services (including such basic utilities like water), while Palestinian refugees have been stranded in Lebanon already for decades, with very little social, political and economic rights.
There is a drug epidemic, from its production (mainly in the Bekaa Valley), to its unbridled consumption in Beirut.

Hezbollah flag overlooking Israeli border.


A new government has finally been formed in December 2016, after more than 2.5 years of absence of any functioning administration. However, the Prime Minister is a Sunni Muslim, Saad Hariri, who is openly hostile to Syria and has directly expressed support for the recent US attacks against the neighboring country. Mr. Hariri has long been accusing Hezbollah and Syria of assassinating his father, Rafik Hariri, in February 2005. Mr. Hariri has dual citizenship, that of Lebanon and also of Saudi Arabia where he was born (in Riyadh). On the other hand, the President of Lebanon is now a Maronite Christian, 83-years old Michel Aoun, who came to power thanks to the unfailing support given to him by Hezbollah, the fact that puts him at odds with the Prime Minister.
There is an ongoing struggle, even deadlock, amongst the ‘political parties’ (in Lebanon often synonymous with sectarian divisions), over such varied issues as the electoral law, waste management, international political alliances, foreign military funding, gender-based discrimination, employment as well as all basic social services (or acute lack of them).

*

Lebanon-Israel border wall


Lebanon is literally surrounded by perpetual conflicts. Syria, the country in great agony is right ‘next door’, north and east of tiny Lebanon, while mighty and aggressive Israel is threatening the country from the south. The United Nations troops are patrolling the so-called “UN 2000 Blue Line” or the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel. In fact, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon) has for years been ‘covering’ a large part of the country’s territory. It all feels like a war zone.
In fact the region consists of a series of temporarily dormant conflicts that are ready to explode again, at any moment, with destructive, murderous force.
The occupied and devastated Golan Heights is just across the borderline, too. Officially, The Golans are still part of Syria, but the Israelis have already purged most of its population, resettling it with their own citizens. During my visit, some 4 years ago, the situation was already dire, the area scarred by barbed wires, with Israeli military posts and vehicles everywhere. Many local houses were destroyed, as ‘punishment’. If you drive to the geographical extreme, you can see the Golan Heights from Lebanon. You can also see Israel, while Syria is ‘always there’, right behind the majestic and bare mountains.

UNIFIL vehicle parked in front of Hezollah poster


The UN peacekeepers come from all parts of the world, including South Korea, Indonesia and Europe. Right before the Coastal Highway ends, near the city of Tyre, the motorists pass through the last Lebanese checkpoint. The UNIFIL protected area begins, with armored vehicles, sandbags and watchtowers. It reads, on the concrete blocks intended to slow down the traffic: “Peace to Lebanon, Glory to Korea!”
Palestinian refugee camps are overflowing. Syrian refugees (some in awful conditions) are working like slaves in the Bekaa Valley, begging for money in Sidon and Beirut, or if they are wealthy, renting lavish seafront condominiums on the Corniche of the capital city.

*

Despite all the bravado, Lebanon is scared; it is petrified.
Everybody knows that Israel could hit at any moment, again. It is said that Israelis are already stealing Lebanese oil from the seabed, but the weak and almost totally defenseless country can do almost nothing against one of the mightiest military forces on Earth.
All over the country, there are ‘dormant cells’ of ISIS (DAESH) and of other extremist militant groups, overflowing from war-torn Syria. The ISIS is dreaming about a ‘caliphate and the access to the sea’. Lebanon is right there, a ‘perfect location’.
Both Russia and China are keeping a relatively low profile here, not too interested in operating in this divided and uncertain political climate. In Lebanon, there are very few permanent loyalties left; allegiances are often shifting and are frequently dependent on outside ‘funding’.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are always present here, and so is the West. Hezbollah (on several ‘lists’ of the terrorist organizations of the West) is the only pan-Lebanese force capable and willing to provide at least some basic social services for the poor, as well as determined military and ideological defense against Israel.
Many political analysts are predicting that Lebanon will collapse, totally, and soon. But it is still here, determined and defiant. How, nobody knows. For how long, is a total mystery!
Patrolled by the UN, overflowing with refugees, Lebanon is shining into the night. Its Ferraris are roaming through its streets, without mufflers, until early morning hours. Its nightclubs are seducing hedonist visitors from the Gulf. Its art cinemas are as good or even better than those in Paris. At the AUB Medical Center, the best Middle Eastern surgeons are treating the most horrid war injuries from the area.
Here, war and self-indulgence are living side by side. Some say it is nothing else other than a bare cynicism. Others would argue: “No, it is life! Life of the 21st century world; exposed, brought to the extreme, but in a way honest.”

*

Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. Three of his latest books are revolutionary novel “Aurora” and two bestselling works of political non-fiction: “Exposing Lies Of The Empire” and “Fighting Against Western Imperialism”. View his other books here. Andre is making films for teleSUR and Al-Mayadeen. Watch Rwanda Gambit, his groundbreaking documentary about Rwanda and DRCongo. After having lived in Latin America, Africa and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides in East Asia and the Middle East, and continues to work around the world. He can be reached through his website and his Twitter.

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duplicitousdemocracy
duplicitousdemocracy
May 14, 2017 8:03 PM

Israel has a wonderful imagination when it comes to the immoral and deceitful aspects of life (or death). If Vitcheks analysis is accurate and there is no reason to doubt him, the multiple pronged effort to weaken Lebanon (just like the other neighbours of Israel) is almost complete. Israeli cowardice is there for all to see in its behaviour, its total lack of morals and its ability to show no mercy. Mainstream media continues hiding their crimes, even if its just long enough for them to then use the, ‘lessons have been learned’ mantra. They appear to be unstoppable, using their skillful manipulation that creates chaos for others.
I think back to when I was younger and the newspaper headlines convinced me of the illogical suicide bombings ‘blamed’ on an unprovoked hatred of Jews. The media planted the seed of ‘crazy Arabs’ versus ‘poor innocent Israelis’. We weren’t told of any reason the Arabs would want to hate, or even resent the Israelis. Historical truth is only available to those with an inquisitive mind. Don’t expect to read it in a British curriculum text book anytime soon. Western education planners are as good at hiding it as their counterparts in the Jewish Israeli system are of promoting a fictitious unblemished past. Western media fall over each other to quote the explanation and reasoning from an IDF officer of why they sadly had to slaughter hundreds of Palestinians. The headlines scream about how dozens of rockets fired from Gaza forced them into ‘defending themselves’. Everything is related and the one constant throughout the history of Israel is it’s remarkable positive publicity machine. Criticism is rare and only ever fleeting. Attempts to sustain it result in the writer suddenly being mired in a career wrecking scandal. Mild ‘Fisk like’ condemnation is allowed although punishment is assured if they go over the top. Jeremy Bowen is one of the few to survive the wrath of Israel.
What is the solution to continued Israeli meddling and the ongoing infliction of pure misery on the people of Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza amongst others? I don’t know. What I do know is that there are far more intelligent minds than mine working on it. Israel can’t possibly maintain its military and political control, maybe someone should inform them. The declining American Empire could well have urgent problems of its own soon and expensive outposts like Israel will be the first to go. We have all seen that when the IDF are confronted by a well organised enemy, they crumple and fold.

BigB
BigB
May 14, 2017 12:08 PM

“Sometimes I feel I am living in a future that has already taken place.”
[Dr Robert Laing (Tom Hiddlestone) in the recent film version of J.G. Ballard’s ‘High Rise.’]

All credit to Andre: not only for an insight into the deprivation, degradation and hedonism that is current in the Lebanon – but also a glimpse into the coming near future dystopia. Ferraris and late night parties in a failing state fragmented by war – a motif surely lifted straight out of the pages of a J.G Ballard novel? Or your local newspaper? When will this future arrive in the Imperial heartlands? That I can’t say – but for the bulk of humanity, it is happening today.
Is it unrealistic to point out that we are riding on the down curve of a ‘Kondriatev wave’ (Capitalism’s 80 year boom and bust cycle) of a system that peaked – for most of those who benefit – nearly fifty years ago? Is it unreasonable to point out that for the rest (the bulk of humanity) the system bypassed and failed them completely? Is it unrealistic to point out that we are in an economic overshoot – and already beyond the ‘natural’ point of collapse? Is it unreasonable to point out that the means of ‘recovery’ (or ‘life support’) has been to pump trillions of ex nihilo fiat currency to feed the growing cancer of ‘The System’ – our deified master? Is it unreasonable to point out that the ‘recovery’ is jobless, erratic, unsustainable and stalling – that the benefit has been only for the few of the few – and that the rest of humanity (including our shared biosphere) has been jettisoned as we reach the Doldrums or ‘Horse Latitudes’? Jettisoned like a cargo of (debt) slaves – which to the Money Gods – is what we have become. No, it is utterly realistic.

Rationality = Self-Maximizing Choice
= Always More Money – Value for the Self is Good
= Self-Multiplying Sequences of Ever More Money to the Top as the Ruling Growth System
= All Else is Disposable Means to this Multiplying Pathogenic Growth

According to Professor John McMurtry: this is the source code, the DNA, of ‘The System’ decoded. Everything we – the moral majority (if that is what we are) – value is disposable means. The bulk of humanity is disposable means. The life support systems of the planet are disposable means to the “Ruling Growth System.”
It’s a sobering reality – one that most do their best to deny – even as they continue to buy into ‘The System.’ Most who read this have long ago sought an alternative – be it Anarchy, Marx, or Buddha – or other. For the present: like it or not, this is how it is. Andre has the last word – “No, it is life! Life of the 21st century world; exposed, brought to the extreme, but in a way honest.” I hope enough can wake from this dystopian dream reality in time.

George
George
May 14, 2017 8:16 PM
Reply to  BigB

John McMurtry is a geat writer. If I were to name just one book to give an insight into the world we’re living in, it would be the second edition of his “Cancer Stage Of Capitalism”.

BigB
BigB
May 14, 2017 9:22 PM
Reply to  George

I’ll second that!

Dead World Walking
Dead World Walking
May 14, 2017 12:39 AM

The dens of iniquity flourish as the sun sets.
Permanently.