Are We Witnessing the Rise of Another Fouad Chehab?
Johnny Kortbawi 10/01 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Joseph Aoun Presidency
In Lebanon, history tends to repeat itself in times of crisis, seldom during moments of progress, as we have grown accustomed to hardship that we often forget the fleeting moments of light. However, one cannot help but notice the striking similarities between the newly elected President Joseph Aoun and one of the pillars of Lebanon's First ...
Hajj Safa... Threaten As You Will!
Johnny Kortbawi 07/01 10:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The most telling sign of a shift in Lebanon's political landscape and the fading of Hezbollah’s longstanding aura of fear became evident following Wafiq Safa's remarks about the country's current state of affairs. This public appearance, his first since the airstrike targeting him during the war, marks the significant shift in the dynamics at ...
Electing a President vs. Agreeing on One!
Johnny Kortbawi 03/01 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
In the forthcoming session, Lebanon does not need to elect a president but rather to agree on one. This distinction is significant and critical, especially given the current circumstances. Electing a president could have been achieved before former President Michel Aoun left office, during successive and uninterrupted parliamentary sessions that ...
The Century's Most Pivotal Year
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-31 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Since Lebanon’s founding in 1920, no year has been as defining as the one we’ve just experienced. While our history is marked by critical turning points, this year eclipses them all. From the outbreak of the Civil War in 1975 to the 1982 departure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the assassination of Bachir Gemayel; from the ...
No Economic Solution from the Presidency
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-27 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
A growing narrative is emerging in private discussions among decision-makers in Lebanon – even if only at the surface level – that the new presidency will restore prosperity and usher in a renewed economic boom capable of resolving the current crisis. Those involved are counting on Gulf and European aid to open the door to improvement across ...
The Maronite Curse…
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-24 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Europe Free Patriotic Movement Maronite Presidency election
During World War I, a remarkable event, known as the Christmas Truce, occurred on Christmas Eve. Along the Western Front in Europe, opposing soldiers, without an official ceasefire or wide public announcement, gathered to share a meal in the spirit of Christmas. This holiday has the power to inspire miracles, provided faith is present. As Jesus ...
Beirut's Humiliating Street Names
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-20 14:38 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Syria Beirut Streets Names
In Beirut, there is a specific mechanism for naming streets, involving the municipality and the Ministry of Interior, as well as third parties proposing names, provided they are approved by the concerned official authorities. Beirut’s streets carry various names, ranging from those of intellectuals and artists to individuals celebrated for ...
Those Who Bear Arms Are Not the New Faces of Revolution
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-17 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah Revolution
The concept of counter-revolutions is far from novel. Throughout history, each revolution has been met with an opposing force determined to challenge the revolutionaries and regain lost ground. As political movements evolved alongside society, the nature of revolutions changed, increasingly relying on military coups, shifts in power dynamics and ...
Unless the Syrian Regime Is Involved…
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-13 18:24 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The fall of the tyrannical regime in Damascus has unleashed decades of repressed anger – anger we’ve been holding on to for fifty years, as we endured Syria’s constant interference in Lebanese politics, along with the vile assaults that accompanied it at all levels. The Assad regime, with its allies, worked tirelessly to thwart the ...
What Unbearable Fate and Injustice Is This?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-10 12:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria Bashar al-Assad Prisoners Saadnaya
Bashar al-Assad has fled—escaped after securing his safety and future, carving out a quiet life in Russia—the country that has shielded him, defended him, and propped up his regime for more than 14 years. Following his disgraceful flight, prisoners emerged from the decay and injustice of his dungeons, standing tall and victorious, finally ...
Our Issue with Hezbollah and Its Finances
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-06 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
There is much to address regarding our frustration with Hezbollah and its economic and financial conduct. This frustration reached a peak yesterday with the remarks of its Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, as he outlined how aid is being distributed: a thousand dollars here, a hundred there—some for those affected in the South, and some for ...
The Middle East Turns the Page on 1967
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-12-03 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Palestine Saudi Arabia Camp David
The current developments in the region are a direct result of the political, social and economic repercussions stemming from a pivotal moment in the history of the region — the 1967 war. During this conflict, Nasser and the Arab states suffered significant territorial losses in Egypt and Jordan, with the capture of Jerusalem being the most ...
The Legalization of Surrender
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-29 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Ceasefire Surrender
We have become accustomed to victory cries, as victory is ultimately a matter of perspective. Yet, the jubilant cheers in the streets, whether amidst destruction or not, fail to capture the true geopolitical landscape. Hezbollah has, in effect, signed a total surrender agreement, irrespective of its public or private statements. By agreeing to ...
Divine Justice: With or Without Ghada Ayoub
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-26 13:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Lebanese Forces Ghada Ayoub
Since her election as a representative of Jezzine two years ago, Ghada Ayoub has become one of the most fiercely attacked members of the Lebanese Forces (LF). Some of these attacks exploit her southern constituency amidst the ongoing conflict, dragging her into controversies for which she bears no responsibility. Others use her gender in a ...
A Surge of Poeticism in Festive Times
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-22 13:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Refined comments pour in during the national holidays: Independence Day, Flag Day, the First Liberation Day, the Second and the Nineteenth. Yet, no one truly believes in the poetry written for these occasions. The mandate era is increasingly seen as more merciful than the independence we now endure, constantly violated by those surrounding ...
When Hezbollah Ends Up Serving Israel’s Interests...
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-19 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel weapons Kfarshouba Shebaa Farms
For the past forty years, Hezbollah’s anti-Israel rhetoric and war cries — echoed as fervently in times of peace as in war — have failed to convince public opinion that it genuinely opposes Israel under all circumstances. The latest conflict has exposed a different reality: Hezbollah is far more committed to defending its arsenal than to ...
Why Fear the New When We Know the Old?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-15 15:16 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The idea of a "new Middle East" often takes on more weight than it deserves, as it is always associated with assumptions, fears, and troubling considerations as if this new Middle East is inherently an enemy of everything we know today. If we look back at World War I, when the concept of a "new Middle East" was first discussed before the ...
Divine Justice and the Principles of Retribution
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-12 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Damascus Rafic Hariri Assassination
Two key figures orchestrated the assassination of the martyred former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, although the International Tribunal for Lebanon had initially accused four suspects and later added a fifth. Mustafa Badreddine and Salim Ayyash were the main perpetrators. The others were primarily accused of fabricating the Abu Adas video and ...
The New-Old World Order... and Trump's Promises
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-08 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The United States, as the leading global power, holds a decisive role in shaping the world’s future. From this perspective, many recognize that an election in the US is, in essence, an election for the entire world. Following Donald Trump’s victory, and his attempt to avenge his previous defeat, it is striking how the emerging new world order ...
Democracy as It Should Be!
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-05 11:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
United States Lebanon Elections Democracy
For anyone involved in US politics, either directly or indirectly, the nation's democracy stands out as one of the most dynamic globally. Its freedoms extend far and wide, allowing for robust criticism of presidential candidates and the president himself. American elections carry substantial weight and serve as a profound lesson in democracy for ...
Demographic Shifts Amid the Roar of Rockets
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-11-01 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon's demographic landscape has undergone continuous transformation since the country’s independence, up to the present date. For instance, a large number of Christian residents from the south gradually migrated over the years, driven by various occupations and conflicts. Many formally changed their civil registrations to new areas, ...
All Eyes on the White House
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-29 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon USA White House President
Many Lebanese are pinning their hopes on the United States presidential election to bring clarity to the ongoing war in Lebanon and broader regional tensions from Gaza to Iran. While there is some truth to this perspective, the tendency among Lebanese to overanalyze and speculate often outpaces the reality on the ground. Historically, the US has ...
What if Hezbollah Were to Return the Deposits?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-25 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Ghada Aoun Gulf Palestine
Hezbollah's financial capacity is estimated to be around one and a half billion dollars, based on general assessments, as the true extent of its funds remains unknown. What is certain is that this money exists outside the banking system and is not part of any financial or economic framework affiliated with the Lebanese state. From these funds ...
When the Media Is Accused of Complicity With Israel
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-22 17:49 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The attitude of the supporters of the pro-Iranian Moumanaa axis or so-called “axis of resistance” is puzzling. There's no doubt that the shock they are experiencing is overwhelming and hard to process. The ongoing war is undoubtedly pushing them to cast accusations in all directions, in a desperate attempt to restore some dignity or shift ...
Electing a President Today: A Painkiller for a Cancer
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-18 09:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Dahyeh Joseph Aoun Israël war Gaza
This situation is widely recognized. Fortunately, for the first time in Lebanon's history, the current state of vacancy may actually be advantageous. Had a president been elected within the constitutional deadlines in 2022, the new leader would have had to navigate the fallout from the October 7 crisis, the repercussions of the Al-Aqsa flood, and ...
Hezbollah's Strength Stems From the Weakness of Its Opponents
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-15 09:18 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon Opposition Lebanese Forces
Hezbollah’s opposition forces have once again revealed their division and inability to achieve real unity, unlike the solid cohesion among the party’s supporters, despite occasional disagreements surfacing for various reasons. For instance, if a meeting was required for Hezbollah’s supporters, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the ...
Class Hatred Veiled in Humanitarianism
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-11 05:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Class hatred runs deep in Lebanon, and it's a reality that no one can deny. This stems from the country's unresolved economic identity. In the capital, liberals who champion free-market economics coexist with the remnants of old communists, who are still committed to the ideals of social justice from the days of Lenin and Trotsky. In this ...
Why the Israeli Offensive Won’t Lead to a Presidential Election
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-08 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Many draw parallels between the Israeli invasion of 1982, the election of President Bachir Gemayel, and today’s invasion, along with the possibility of electing a president under similar circumstances. It’s important to discuss the 1982 events in detail, especially since opposition parties often link Gemayel’s election to the ...
Political Shiism and the Void Ahead
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-04 09:46 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The assassination of Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, marked the conclusion of the fourth phase in Lebanon's history, known as political Shiism. Each phase has been characterized by the dominance of one of the major sects over the others in various ways. Political Maronitism prevailed from independence until the assassination of ...
Nabih Berri, at the Heart of the Lebanese Equation
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-01 08:47 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri now bears the burden of the crisis alone. In the absence of a president, and with a non-executive government that is not meeting due to the absence of ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement, the international community has no one to negotiate with except for Berri. Although Caretaker Prime Minister Najib ...