Trump’s Envoy Embarrasses Him in Baabda… Aoun: Her Words Bind Her, Not Us /  Induction With“Saidi” Fails … Delivering a Government Now Awaits a C-Section

 February 08, 2025

The political editor wrote

The provocative remarks made by Morgan Ortagus, Deputy U.S. Envoy to the region and head of the ceasefire oversight committee in southern Lebanon, have sparked questions about the credibility of her statement regarding an Israeli withdrawal by February 18. She acted more like an Israeli settler venting on social media than a representative of a global power expected to uphold diplomatic decorum as an impartial mediator between warring parties. From a Lebanese podium, she openly thanked Lebanon’s enemy for killing thousands of Lebanese citizens, destroying thousands of homes, and displacing tens of thousands – completely undermining any trust in her role as an arbiter of the ceasefire’s implementation.

To make matters worse, as the Lebanese saying goes, she “piled thorns on the burden” by presuming to dictate who should and should not be in the Lebanese government. She ignored the fact that she was speaking from the podium of a head of state who is considered a friend of her country and its president. In doing so, she not only disrespected him and his authority but also displayed an unacceptable level of impudence in handling diplomatic relations.

Her remarks provoked widespread public and political backlash, prompting President Joseph Aoun to distance himself from her statements. In response to the uproar, the Baabda Presidential Palace issued a clarification, stating that Ortagus’s comments reflect her personal views and do not represent the presidency. Meanwhile, sources close to Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri reported that he rejected Ortagus’s statements outright and intends to respond should she repeat them during her scheduled meeting with him today.

On the government front, amateur maneuvering continued as reports circulated about a supposed breakthrough involving the appointment of former minister Nasser al-Saidi. However, it was soon revealed that Saidi had not agreed to take the position, causing the attempt at an induced political birth to collapse – because the injection had expired. Now, a C-section is inevitable, requiring patience, deliberation, and a professional approach to the government formation process. This also means sidelining the reckless amateurs and grandstanding antagonists who keep steering Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam into political dead ends with ill-advised statements and consultations.

In the northeast, clashes resumed between local tribes and militants from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Reports last night indicated that Lebanese tribes had recaptured the border town of Jermash, expelling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s fighters. Earlier in the day, President Joseph Aoun held a phone call with Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to offer his congratulations. According to the Lebanese presidency, the two leaders agreed to coordinate efforts to stabilise the Lebanese-Syrian border and prevent civilian casualties.