Aoun the Leader - infamous recollection written by Dr Pierre Raffoul

Aoun the Leader
(infamous recollection written by Dr Pierre Raffoul, 1999):

During General Aoun's historical visit to Australia last year, a Lebanese citizen, a friend of mine, living in Sidney, approached me and whispered in my ears:

"I thought Aoun was a pompous and conceited leader, but to my surprise, I found him to be extremely humble, humane, authentic and down to earth in his behavior.

He added:
His closeness to people makes you love him,
His concepts are extremely conceivable and logical,
His argument is strong and makes you respect his analytical predictions and admire whatever he says.

He is the brave, educated leader whom the Lebanese people have been waiting for years, to save them from the conspiracy and open their eyes to the truth. The truth that has been shadowed by collaborators, puppet officials, mercenary media men, opportunists and all those betraying Lebanon and its people for their own interests.

Since then, my friend has been calling me regularly whenever he reads any of Aoun's articles, or listens to any of his speeches. He calls to express his admiration and to remind me of his positive impressions after he met the leader. Last week my friend was fascinated by Aoun's article (published in The Middle Herald) under the title, "Waiting Is a Sickening State". Aoun in his article differentiated clearly between an empty, aimless waiting, where there is no effort or courage involved, and waiting that is hope-filled, patriotic, with genuine handwork involved in the aim of achieving the final goals.

The zeal of my friend made me go back to the book I published under the title "Aoun, a Lebanese Awakening State", and chose from its contents some opinions focusing on my friend's observations.

Michel Aoun was one of the few Lebanese Army officers who were accepted to the Military Academy without any mediation from influential politicians. Aoun said in this regard: "After I wrote the Military Academy entrance test, the Mayor of Haret Hrayek, (a suburb in South Beirut, Aoun's home town) visited my father and asked him in my presence why he does not call on Mr. Henry Traboulsi to talk to the Academy and ensure my acceptance? My father declined from doing so, and looked at me to hear my opinion in the presence of the Mayor. I said "dad, in case you did ask Mr. Traboulsy to mediate and as a result of his mediation I was accepted, don't you think I will be for the rest of my life a hostage to his favor; at the same time I shall never know the reality of my success: was it because of my qualifications and aptitude or because of the mediation, I refuse to be accepted as a result of mediation".

Late Colonel Khalil Kenaan, a close friend to Aoun, described him by saying: " General Aoun is one of the few Lebanese Army officers who were very successful in their military higher studies in France. It is a rule that officers who do well abroad are good ones. Aoun was never an opportunist or a coaxer. He was, and still is, a brave, honest, humble, intelligent, patriotic and open minded man. He is a straightforward man in his attitudes, always seeks the truth and never, ever compromises his beliefs or convictions".

From his day one, at the Military Academy, Aoun refused to accept the traditional concept that a soldier is a slave, and an officer is a God. He believed the military life is an interacting process between subordinates and their seniors and between soldiers and officers based on loyalty and on the respect of the subordinate to his superior. At the same time he believed it is based also on the superior's understanding to his subordinate and on a genuine will for help and support. Aoun stressed the fact that, a relationship based on fear between subordinates and superiors does not build an effective and strong army, but bodyguards and appeasers.

Mr. Fayek Khoury, Aoun's friend for thirty years, said: " Michel Aoun's relationship with his friends was extremely good. We were like brothers with each other and Aoun was very proud of his past and his family. He always said proudly and openly:'"I am the son of Naiem Aoun the farmer." Aoun is very humble, does not speak about himself and never brags about what he has achieved. His speech is logical, analytical and down to earth, although he does not speak much."

Aoun's cook, "Im Elias", said: " Aoun was never picky, he is a very humble and an ordinary man. He did not have any food preferences, he used to eat happily whatever I cooked, and most frequently one or two courses only."

In this regard Mr. Al -Akhtar Al -Ibrahemy, the Arabic envoy, once said after meeting and having a meal with Aoun at the Baabda Palace: " I have had the poorest meal ever, but with the most honest man."

An army officer told me this story: Mr. Naiem Elias Aoun, General Michel Aoun's nephew applied to the Military Academy during General Aoun's reign (as Prime Minister 1988-1989). Mr. Naiem wrote the designated Academy entering exam, and fulfilled perfectly, all other pre-requisites. General Aoun personally insisted on participating actively in the preparation of that test. He made it very tough and decided on a high average for acceptance.

A few days later, after the results of the examination were known, but not officially announced, I took the list of those who scored the needed average, and went with some colleagues to see General Aoun, at the presidential palace. I approached him, and whispered in his ear: I have the Academy potential cadets passing list, what do you want us to do in regards to your nephew? Speak loudly, he said, did Naiem pass? I answered, according to the required average, no, he did not. Aoun responded: then he failed, and there is no need to continue discussing the matter. One of my colleague officers intervened to say: General, Colonel Naief Kalaas, has joined General Lahoud's forces, why don't we replace his son with your nephew? Aoun replied: my dear friends, Kalaas's son is qualified to enter the Academy, not my nephew, this is the end of the matter.

When we started the Central National Co-ordination Bureau in 1988, General Aoun told us: Do not focus on money, because if you do, the track of your objectives will be lost. Money is used to serve the needs only, otherwise it becomes tiresome and a burden. You earn one thousand, and start thinking how to earn more, and more. You spend the rest of your life anxious, restless, unhappy and endeavoring to save a fortune; you become a slave to your money.

A few weeks after his appointment as Prime Minister, the Libyan ambassador to Lebanon called asking for an urgent appointment, which he got within a week. During his meeting with General Aoun, the ambassador said: General, in the name of the Libyan Republic, and Colonel Mohamar Khadafi, I extend my congratulations, and the Colonel asks you to accept this cheque, as an initial aid for your Excellency. Aoun refused to accept the cheque (Millions of Dollars). He said to the ambassador: I genuinely thank you, and his Excellency the Colonel, for your greatly appreciated gesture. Please tell the Colonel on my behalf, that I would like our relationship to be of a different type. We ask him to help Lebanon by cutting his financial and other aids to the Lebanese militias, help we need badly. Our relationship as brothers, Aoun added, I hope will be built on solid basis and mutual convictions...the financial help would then be appropriate.

A delegation from the northern town of Mezraya's immigrants visited Aoun in his office at the Baabda Palace. While discussing with them the critical Lebanese situation and answering their inquiries. a member of the delegation whispered in my ear: look the General's socks are loose and not fancy. General Aoun noticed what was going on, he smiled and said: this what we have, a man's value is not in his shoes or socks.

General Aoun told us this incident: in the year 1978, he was appointed a member in an official military delegation assigned by the Lebanese army to visit the USA and negotiate with the Pentagon, the needed aids for rehabilitating the Lebanese army. In Washington Aoun met with a high rank USA military officer in-charge of the Lebanese affairs.

The officer asked Aoun:
Why do you want to strengthen the Lebanese army and provide it with modern weapons? Aoun replied: to be able to liberate our country from foreign occupations.
The officer responded: Your country is occupied, and more than fifty thousand foreign troops are present there. How could you force them to leave, and you are a small country?

Aoun quietly but surely answered: Every body knows the USA, the mightiest nation on earth, had sent thousands of its troops to fight the Vietnamese revolution. At the end you were forced to leave, and Vietnam the small country was victorious.

One day, the well-known Lebanese journalist Fawzi Mubarak, came to visit General Michel Aoun at Marseilles, France, after Aoun was forced into exile in 1990. While both men were chatting with each other in my presence, Mubarak said: General Aoun, Mr. Elias Hrawi (Syrian installed Lebanese president) has arrived to Paris today on an official visit, and at this hour, he is delivering a speech on democracy and freedom. Aoun responded instantly, he is like the man who is attending his wife's wedding". Mr. Mubarak, who was surprised by the response, asked Aoun for more explanation. Aoun said: as you can see, the installed officials in Lebanon have sold every thing, the country, their honor, democracy and freedom. What is really sarcastic, added Aoun, is they are bragging now, and talking about things that do not exist any more, except in their fantasies. their status applies to a Lebanese popular proverb that says: a man sells his wife and his honor, then dresses the best of his cloth and attends her wedding with apparent pride.

In 1985, General Aoun was celebrating, as he used to do every year, the St. Elias day, at his friend's house, Mr. Joseph Chosen, Abu Elias. He noticed a portrait hanged near the door entrance portraying a verse from Gobran Khalil Gobran. It read: God help a nation that believes a tyrant could be fair. Aoun said to his friend, it seems Gobran did not encounter other hardship. He took a pencil and wrote beside Gobran's verse: God help a nation that sacrifices its youth for the sake of its elderly.

Aoun always loved the Lebanese proverbs, because he believed they genuinely portrayed the Lebanese sufferings throughout history. These proverbs delineate clearly the Lebanese stubbornness, resistance and courageous endurance of pain and grievance. At the same time Aoun frequently expressed his disgust from some of the proverbs that do not represent the actual Lebanese character, like: lying is the salt of men, it is a shame to say the truth, kiss the hand that you cannot defeat, and pray it would be fractured. Aoun hated these proverbs because they belittle the Lebanese intelligence and courage. He commented on the last proverb by said: instead of praying the hand would be fractured, we have to build our efforts to be able to fracture it.

At the beginning of the liberation war in 1988, a journalist asked Aoun: how could you fight Syria, and you know very well its army, is much more stronger than ours? Aoun responded: The weaker always wages wars of liberation against powerful tyrants, and always the weaker is victorious because his cause is righteous...We have to be perseverant, fight courageously, never give up, cling to our rights, defend our freedom and maintain our faith and self confidence. The regional and international status will change one day, and the world will come to our support in liberating our country after recognizing the righteousness of our cause. Aoun one day told us the story of the sickle-toothed bird, which personifies persistence and perseverance. He said: one day while I was hunting in an area close to the borders known as Tim Lobia, I saw a sickle-toothed bird fighting for his nest, he was attacking a big venomous snake who was trying to get into the nest and eat his eggs. He kept attacking the snake, although he knew, she was stronger and more powerful, he refused to give up. I was fascinated by his perseverance and shot the snake to save the nest.

Aoun is a very courageous individual, he never feared death, he believed it is always in the hands of God. He frequently repeats this verse from the bible: the hair of your head is counted, and not even one hair falls without God's will. When I visited him in Marseilles, France, after he was forced into exile, I found his faith as strong as it always was, he was full of faith, and hopeful more than ever in the ultimate victory. He told me this incident, he said: while I was trying to get to the French embassy at the Hezmieh area, after leaving the Baabda palace on the 13th of October 1990, and while seeing hundreds of bombs exploding all over the area, I envisaged the thousands of the Lebanese people praying and asking God for victory and liberation outside the Baabda palace. I contemplated their holy faces and felt their faith. When I reached the embassy safely, I was sure that their prayers saved my companion and me.

fter the unsuccessful coup d'état of the Syrian Socialist National Party (SSNP) on New Year's Eve of 1961, Lieutenant Junior Michel Aoun was assigned responsibility for the two arrested captains (coup d'état leaders), Chawki Khair-Allah and Fouad Awad. A few days after the coup, the Intelligence Bureau came to take the two arrested Colonel's for torture, but Aoun refused to allow it, and considered the act illegal. Aoun's stance annoyed the Lebanese army leadership, who failed to mistreat the two officers while under Aoun's custody.

To change Aoun's assignment, the leadership sent him on a meaningless mission to the City of Sidon. Aoun, on discovering the nature of his sudden redirection, and on learning about the torture of the two officers in his absence, became extremely angry, and described the act as Nazi and unacceptable. Dr. Chauki Khair-allah remembered with gratitude Aoun's noble conduct. He wrote an article in February 1989, under the title "Aoun is the army spiritual leader", in which he said: "Some officers in the Lebanese army refused to supervise the torture inflicted on the SSNP members, like Abdel Latief Hajj, Michel Aoun, Khalil Khanaan, Issam Bu Jamra and Kana Kanaj".

Colonel Fayez Karam told me this incident: In 1988, in the midst of the liberation war against the Syrian occupation troops, and while the area under Aoun's control was under heavy shelling, Aoun called Colonel Karam at 1 a.m. in the morning. Karam thought something very urgent must have forced Aoun to call him at that time, but was surprised when Aoun asked him to investigate an alleged report stating that a Lebanese army officer had assaulted an Egyptian worker at a gas station. Aoun asked Karam to reprimand and punish the officers if found guilty.

Michel Aoun was humane in his life, and in all his acts and conduct. He did not believe in revenge, or in injustice. He refused adamantly to be involved in the assassination dirty game. He always said: "Blood inherits blood, and nations cannot be built on avenge and revenge".

In 1969, Captain Michel Aoun protested against the Cairo Accord (signed between the Lebanese government and the Palestinians). Aoun said openly and loudly the agreement was an infringement on the Lebanese sovereignty. He was the only Lebanese army officer to protest against the Accord in writing. He wrote to the army leadership saying: "my acceptance of this illegal Accord means dishonoring my military oath".

When Aoun's protest letter reached the headquarters of the army leadership, his supervisor was called and exposed to a lengthy investigation. The supervisor after the investigation called Aoun to say: "What is going on, Captain Aoun, why you are talking politics and creating problems?" Aoun response was: "Sir, I had no intention to talk politics, or to create problems for you. What I wrote was in response to your request for the army officers to give their opinion in the Accord. If you do not like what I wrote, tear up the letter, and put an end to this issue".

After the approval of the Cairo Accord, the Lebanese army had to fight with the armed Palestinians in 1973, The fight ended after reaching a new Accord between the two sides, known as the "Melcart Accord". Aoun found this new accord to be a new infringement on the Lebanese sovereignty, and a fragile truce that will fall apart soon.

Aoun was right and the clashes between the two sides escalated. Aoun even wrote a play based on the ongoing clashes between the Lebanese army and the Palestinians. Al Sherah Magazine spoke about Aoun's play in an article it published. It said in the artillery day in 1974, a group from the Lebanese army presented a play written by Lieutenant Michel Aoun.

The play portrayed a story of tourists who were visiting numerous historical locations in Lebanon. They saw a group of armed men in training. They were not soldiers in the Lebanese army. The tourists asked the Lebanese guide who was escorting them, are these armed men soldiers in the Lebanese army? The guide answered no, they are not, they are Lebanon's enemies and have made themselves a substitute for the army. One of the tourists responds, what is your army doing? The guide said, our politicians want the army to do everything, but without providing him with anything.

Lieutenant Michel Aoun clashed with the Palestinians several times and in more than one location. He wrote in his diary: "My battles were not with the Palestinian revolution, but those with infringing on the law, and jeopardizing security and peace in my country". Aoun in his capacity as an army officer arrested many Palestinians breaking the law, but to his surprise all of them were released by the second day, without being exposed to any legal measures. He always respected those he arrested and refused to infringe on their human rights, he respected rights and never humiliated or tortured any of them.

Aoun's noble conduct left positive impressions among many Palestinians. Many of them still maintain friendly relationship with him. Even in the midst of the Tal-Zaatar Palestinian siege and fierce battles between the Lebanese Arm and Palestinians, Aoun kept his good relationship with the Palestinians and was able with their cooperation to solve many mutual problems, and to rescue and save many of them.

Colonel Sami Al-Chidiac served with General Aoun at Lebanon's South border in the late sixties. He quoted Aoun describing the Lebanese situation as follows: " The Lebanese people are dancing on the tenth floor, while the fire has reached the eighth floor, and the stairs are burning".

Lieutenant Adel Sasyn, chief of the Military police, served with Captain Michel Aoun at Sidon City in the late 1974 when he was still a junior lieutenant. According to Sasyn, Aoun one day took him with a group of army officers to a location overlooking Tel-Az-zatar Palestinian camp in the suburbs of Beirut and told them to thoroughly study the entrances, roads and exits of this camp. Pointing to the camp, Aoun said to the officers, "If the Palestinian continue with their atrocities, and the Lebanese leadership keeps its negligent and indifferent stance by ignoring the imminent dangers, the first battle is going to take place here and very soon".

In the mid eighties, Captain Antoine Sawan, told me this incident. In 1975, I was serving with Michel Aoun in Sidon City, and both of us had the same military rank. Following the raging of the civil war in that year numerous promotions and news appointments took place in the military institution, most of them were against the law. At the same the country went into a security crisis resulting in widespread killing, kidnapping, assassination and other infringements. Aoun was extremely annoyed at the way the regime officials were handling such a critical situation. He submitted to the Army leadership an extensive report addressing the deteriorating security status. Aoun presented in his report, a scientific vision for the unfolding events and cautioned of the security crisis' consequences. He proposed numerous practical solutions to contain the infringements and correct the defects.

Captain Sawan added, "In my capacity as in-charge for the recruiting Department I went to see Brigadier Simon Saied, the South region chief, and get his signature for some purchasing and organizational forms. When I entered his office I found him busy arguing and debating with a group of army officers. I asked what is going on, and why every body is tense and angry? One of the officers answered, 'Look how much is your friend, Michel Aoun, is pessimistic'. He submitted an official distressing report scares even those who have never experienced fear in their life. Adding, according to him the war is going to last for fifteen years, 'who knows if we will survive at the end or not'. I said this is his opinion. He responded, 'his opinion is right, but he must be reasonable, there is no need for all this pessimism'. What is happening is a transient cloud, it will soon dissolve".

Captain Sawan continued his anecdote by saying: "the same day after I went back to my office, I met Captain Michel Aoun at night. I asked him, Michel, what you have done? His response was, 'what do you mean? I answered: your report has created a state of confusion and an angry debate at the headquarters. Aoun smiled and said, 'my friend, it is their problem, why they have to be confused and angry, I gave them my opinion in what is happening and tried to propose means for preventing imminent hazards and dangers.

My friend Antoine, Aoun added, the problem with most of our army officers is that they don't read, and when they do, they don't memorize. When they memorize, they don't comprehend, and when they do comprehend, they do not assimilate. When they do assimilate, they don't take any precautions; they forget and simplify events and issues. They avoid bearing any responsibility and don't possess any readiness to work. Accordingly disaster happens, the army suffers, people pay high prices, many lose their lives and chaos prevails before action is taken. When they do take action, it is always retarded, and through enthusiasm for holding meetings and formation of committees in a bid to put forth plans for defense and confrontation. Unfortunately, all their interest takes place after disasters already have hit the country and the people'".

That evening, Captain Sawan added, "Aoun explained to me the contents of his comprehensive courageous report as well as his vision for the needed solutions and ended by saying, 'My dear Antoine, if things remain as they are, God help us, and help the country'. Captain Sawan ended his story by saying: ' I swear all Aoun's predications and anticipations have happened through the first ten years of the Lebanese war. Myself, and my colleagues used to remember Aoun with each and every incident, remember with admiration, what he said and he wrote in 1975'".


In the beginning of 1976, after the Syrian troops entered Lebanon, Colonel Michel Aoun, criticized the stance of the Lebanese Intelligence Bureau chief, Joul Bostani. Although Aoun had respected and admired Bostani a great deal, for his patriotism, efficiency and devotion, he could not standstill while Boustani was promoting the Syrian military role and portraying it to be in Lebanon's advantage. Aoun said openly, and in my presence: the Syrians have deceived Colonel Bostani,, they used him, like they did with others to achieve their aims. Aoun added, but there will be no significant future role for Bostani or other Lebanese officials or military personnel as long as the Syrian troops remain in Lebanon. The Syrians used Bostani and then, he was disposed of. Aoun elaborated more by saying: the entrance of Syrian, Israeli or any other foreign troops to Lebanon is a frank and blunt occupation act, it will weaken the state's authority and paralyze Lebanon's army role. The solution, as I see it, is through an Arabic-international consensus, yielding a serious commitment through which an effective embargo can be imposed on all support for all factions involved in the war. An effective role, that will strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese troops, army, police and security forces. Aoun ended by saying: I feel sorry for Colonel Bostani, his role is finished, he has lost his credibility. Since that date, Colonel Bostani, lost both, his power and status. Boustani had played an effective and vital role in building the army, maintaining the unity of the Intelligence Bureau, and in supporting and training the army youth to be able to confront the conspiracy.

Michel Aoun predicted the Gulf war would take place one year before it happened. He cautioned the Arab world against its devastating consequences and called on them to show more interest in Lebanon as an effective precautionary measure. He asked them to help solve the Lebanese conflict and put an end to its ordeal or it would bounce back on them.

Aoun in most of his statements and speeches stressed and confirmed the fact, that with the Taef Agreement, Lebanon would cease to be a free, sovereign independent, democratic, liberal country. The current Lebanese status quo confirms the righteousness of his predictions. During a news conference he held at the People's Palace (Baabda Presidential Palace, during his reign between 1988-1990) a female journalist kept bombarding him with irritating and instigating questions. She was aiming to embarrass him, and show that his Taif opposing stance was wrong. Aoun quietly and with self confidence responded by saying: Listen my friend, now, feel free to ask any question you want, the way you like and take advantage of this opportunity as much as you can. As from this moment I can tell, you would not be able to do so, when the Taef Agreement that apparently you support, is imposed on the country. When the time comes, I want you to remember what I have just said today. You, as well as other journalists will not be allowed such kind of freedom

Who from the Lebanese people can forget Aouns numerous appeals and calls to Dr. Samir Jaja (Leader for the Lebanese Forces). He called on Jaja not to be a Trojan horse in the eastern region of Lebanon ( The free region under the control of the legitimate military government headed by Aoun between 1988 and 1990). He said to Jaja: You are cornered, and in a no win situation. Do not bombard the presidential palace, this palace is your safe gate, if you win, you will surrender, and if you lose you will surrender too. Ask yourself why you are fighting the Lebanese army, and be sure if you win, you shall never take over my place, the Taef is between us, it will take over. In case I lose, this shall mean the end of the free Lebanon.

Last year, in a friendly conversation, with General Aoun, at the Haute La Maison, in France, we talked about the last year of his reign, and recalled the unfortunate events that lead to the Syrian invasion. Aoun said: As a rule of thumb, man surrenders in a bid to avoid a fight, nobody in the world has waged a war because he wanted in advance to surrender. It has never crossed my mind that there will be a deviation from this general global rule. I was quilty of believing that no one would fight in a bid to surrender. The Lebanese Forces, followed this odd deviation; they fought the Lebanese Army to surrender to the Syrian troops.

The military mail, has never ever in the history of Lebanon, carried more letters from Diaspora as it did, during Aoun's reign. The letters brought financial donations from Diaspora to support the army and commended the nationalism and courageous stance of its leadership. One morning, in 1989, General Aoun, asked me, if I knew Mr. Fouad Nemaan Al-Khoury, a Lebanese immigrant poet living in Australia. Definitely, I do, was my spontaneous reply, he was my classmate, and comes from a neighboring village in North Lebanon. Where did you meet him, I asked? I did not have that honor, Aoun replied, but today I received a letter from a group of Lebanese immigrants living in Australia with a poem he wrote. With tearful eyes, Aoun handed me the letter, and said passionately: How great are our Lebanese people, it is crime for anybody to deceive, mislead, cheat or manipulate them. A leader can not even maneuver with them; they are so eager to learn the truth. They shall admire, respect and support leaders who fulfil their eagerness and patriotic aspirations. Leaders who betray their cause and underestimate their intelligence and devotion shall be doomed and alienated.

Upon his return from an Arabic summit, President Sheik Amin Jomayal, handed to General Aoun, the army chief, an official Syrian invitation to visit. Aoun accepted and paid an official visit to Damascus shortly after. The Syrians received him with great respect, in a ceremony, usually given to visiting presidents only. They made their best to make him feel at home and extremely welcomed. A member of the delegation that escorted Aoun in his visit told me this anecdote: During a banquet the Syrians held in Aoun's honor, Syrian Minister for Defense, General Mustafa Talas said to Aoun: General Aoun, the Lebanese dignitaries as a general rule carry too many gifts and presents when visiting us, it is clear you did not bring us any thing. Aoun smiled, and replied spontaneously: Your Excellency, believe me, you left us nothing in Lebanon, that could be offered as a gift.

In a session with mediators, General Aoun said: "My dear friends, the Syrians are requesting a kind of significant relations with Lebanon. We are more than ready to respond positively to their request, but we can't do so, until after the withdrawal of their army from our country. Please do convey to the Syrians this advice from Michel Aoun: Lebanon is a land of quick sand, all those who attempted to mingle with Lebanese affairs unfairly were sucked in by it, they ought to be aware of this fact."

In his capacity as Chief army commander, during the last few months of President Amin Gemayal's reign, General Aoun met with an American official delegation at his residence in the Al-Rabieh area. The delegation was composed of Mr. David Newton, Mr., David Sutterfield and the USA Military attaché in Lebanon, Mr. Renekia. The delegation informed General Aoun that an agreement was reached between the USA envoy, Mr. Richard Murphy, and the Syrian President Hafez Assad to appoint Mr. Michael Al-Daher President for the Republic of Lebanon. Aoun's response was: "It is great to be able to have agreements between you and the Syrians, we are really happy for you." Aoun continued to say: "but in regards to the Lebanese President, we request a free election session under the auspices of the Lebanese Army. We ask for Washington's help in this matter and we have no objection to the session being under the American's supervision. In my capacity as army chief commander, Aoun added: "I shall accept happily the outcome of the election. You [Americans] have to be very cautious in what you are requesting, because it is a dangerous precedent. You are recognizing a Syrian role in Lebanon for an unlimited time frame. Accordingly, I insist you avoid such recognition for a Syrian role that will lead for endless Syrian hegemony over Lebanon." Aoun ended by saying: "What you are trying to impose will be a dangerous precedent and will set an unfair model for other places in the world in future international affairs.

The American delegation rejected Aoun's proposal and stressed the fact that the Syrian-American agreement is final, and accordingly there is no chance at all for any change or even slight modification. Aoun told the members of the delegation: "Your decision puts us on a war track because we refuse to give up our sovereignty and independence. We would have loved to thank you for assisting us in executing a free presidential election, not to impose on us a president." Aoun went on to say: "This is a shame, you claim to be protectors for freedom and defenders for democracy and still impose on us such an agreement? What you are trying to do is not acceptable on the verge of the twenty- first century. We are not a herd of sheep; we are a deep-rooted civilized people and will resist this infringement on our rights."

That day when I came to Aoun's residence accompanied by a group of dignitaries, we found the place crowded with military and political personnel. The main topic was the shameful Murphy-Assad agreement. Aoun's eldest daughter Mira was furious for what has been going on. Out of her innocence she was trying to understand and inquire by what right others can impose on the people of Lebanon a president. She approached her father tearful and fuming with anger and asked him: "Dad, why they want to impose a president on us, don't we know how to select one on our own?" Aoun trying to calm her down, answered: "All the powerful nations deal like this with small helpless countries." " What is your stance?" she asked. "I refused to accept", replied Aoun.
At that point I said: "General Aoun, we all refuse to accept such a mockery. Is it possible after fourteen years of war, distraction, sacrifices, martyrs and displacement to reap such an outcome?"

Few hours later, General Aoun, met with his media councilor, Mr. Youssef Al-Andari in a side room for few minutes. He went out after that to say: "a press release will be announced in a short time stating our national stance, we reject this agreement of subservience." General Aoun conveyed his stance of rejection to President Amin Jemayal through Colonel Simon Kasies, chief Intelligence Bureau. He also notified Dr. Samir Gega, Leader for the Lebanese Forces through Mr. Nader Sukar who returned to tell Aoun that Dr. Gega is in complete agreement with his rejecting stance. Aoun assigned Father George Nehme and General Ghabi Arsoni to visit Bkerke and make his Beatitude Patriarch Sfier aware of the stance taken. His Beatitude was in full agreement with the stance, and asked the two envoys to tell General Aoun of his approval, describing the taken stance as historical.

The same day the Lebanese Army leadership, Department of Guidance, issued the following press release: The leadership extends its genuine thanks to the Syrians and Americans for the efforts they have taken to facilitate the election of a president for our country. At the same time the leadership reiterate its stance that has been announced numerous times lately. This stance is based on two solid facts:

1- The Lebanese army still honors its declared commitment in providing the needed security and freedom for the presidential election and for those running for the position.
2- Based on the army's oath to protect and safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty, and its parliamentary democratic system, it can't accept the principle of appointing a president. No body has the right to appoint a president for Lebanon. Such matter has to be handled by the Lebanese Parliament that legitimately and solely looks after the Lebanese national interest.

Following the announcement of the press release General Aoun was somewhat relieved, but was still extremely worried. He kept pacing at the sitting room of his residence, while we went on discussing the unfolding events. Aoun at that time had a Fractured arm supported by a splint. In spite of Aoun.s anxiety he seemed to be relieved from the heavy load that was bothering his conscience after taking a clear patriotic stance. He suddenly stopped pacing, turned toward us and said:

Remember this day, it is going to be the start of a new era. Very few will be able to resist, but they shall be sufficient to continue the struggle .

As from today no one will be allowed to give us orders, take decision or thing on our behalf.

We are free to decide for ourselves, we are the ones who will say: yes, or no, and decide freely what is acceptable and what is not.

As from today there will be no more mockery and no more betrayal for the truth, every thing has to be in the open, and the people have to be well informed and fully aware to what goes in the country.

As from today we are going to say what and who is good or bad, no more compromises on our existence and rights, and all citizens shall be equal in all rights."

General Michel Aoun is an outspoken and extraordinary leader. He adopted explicit openness, honesty, frankness and a firm style in exposing facts. He founded a solid role model and healthy criteria for national conduct and relations. In an open, friendly get-together with the army officers, he addressed them by saying: "I am not inviting you to a delicious plate, but for a tough struggle full of hardships, pain and oppression. I know some of you are not going to continue with me, either due to certain geographical affiliations, or because you don't believe in my views and proposals. But those who do stay will be enough to engage in the confrontation and save Lebanon and its people.

General Michel Aoun is an outspoken and extraordinary leader. He adopted explicit openness, honesty, frankness and a firm style in exposing facts. He founded a solid role model and healthy criteria for national conduct and relations. In an open, friendly get-together with the army officers, he addressed them by saying: "I am not inviting you to a delicious plate, but for a tough struggle full of hardships, pain and oppression. I know some of you are not going to continue with me, either due to certain geographical affiliations, or because you don't believe in my views and proposals. But those who do stay will be enough to engage in the confrontation and save Lebanon and its people.

In an educational, military event, on the occasion of signing a book under the title "The History of the Lebanese Army" written by Colonel Sami Reyhana, General Aoun said: The era of those raised at the embassies' doors and nurtured by consulates, and those who build their stances and take their decisions from foreign whisperings is over. A new mentality shall govern Lebanon, manage its affairs and pull it out of the trap that for the last fifty years we have been paying for in mistakes and disadvantages. To differentiate between the status Lebanon has been suffering under, and the new reality that started to take place under his reign, Aoun said in a news conference: "They killed Lebanon and put its corpse in a coffin and while marching in its funeral procession, suddenly Lebanon rose out of the coffin and shouted loudly, I am still alive. This resurrection annoyed them all, because they yearned to get rid of it. This reality has to be explained to all those concerned...Lebanon is nation that deserves life. It was not accidentally founded, and is a nation with seven thousand years of deep-rooted history. It has granted civilization and human progress more than any other nation.

During Aoun's reign (1988-1990) the American Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. John Macarthy, used to ask Aoun every time they met to appoint advisors, and used to recommend certain people for the proposed posts. Aoun's adamant response was: I have many advisors, but because of the current situation their names have to remain unknown. One time Aoun said to Mr. Macarthy: You, Mr. Ambassador could be one of my advisors on certain matters, but there is no need to name any person in particular as an advisor. After one of the meetings with Mr. Macarthy, I noticed General Aoun to be angry, with a sullen face. I asked him, what is the matter? Aoun answered: imagine all that Mr. Macarthy cares about is to convince me to appoint advisors, and what is strange is that he proposes those to be appointed, although each of them is fed at an embassy kitchen. It seems what he could not take from me directly, he is trying to get through the proposed advisors.

During his visit to Tunisia with a high-ranking delegation to attend the Arabic summit held there, General Aoun's official reception was a significant in its warmth. Upon his arrival, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and head of the Summit's committee requested to meet with him. The meeting was initially an introductory one through which each of men tried to explore the other and get to know his views and stances. Sheik Sabah addressed General Aoun with many titles, like General, Mr. General, Your excellency, the General, but his tongue slipped and called him, your excellency the President. Aoun noticed that Sheik Sabah was not relaxed and somewhat tense. He said to him: please feel free to call me with what title you like, but let us be open and straightforward with each other. Sheik Sabah was fascinated by General Aoun, and this was apparent in his behavior and attitude all through the summit and after it. Sheik Sabah said loudly and openly and in the presence of many leaders who attended the summit: As God is my witness, we have not been fair with this man (General Aoun), he is an authentic Arabic and it is not true that Israel supports him.

General Aoun entered the Summit's hall wearing his civil cloth, and it was the first time he took off the military suit during an official meeting. He presented a detailed study on the Lebanese conflict and used large colored maps showing locations of foreign armies and militias on the Lebanese soil. He also presented documents proving the ties of each militia with a foreign source and exhibiting its support and financing resources. After that he moved to explain his project tailored to save Lebanon and the means needed to execute it. His plan was simple, practical, straightforward and was based on both the people and the army for its implementation because nether of them were tied to or supported by foreign powers. The priorities in his proposal were to solidify sovereignty, independence and unity of the country. Aoun refused to be lead to discuss detailed projects by saying: It is not logical or practical to go into at the present time to discuss in depth projects like the reform one which I fully support and advocate for. We can't do so with the current imposed status on Lebanon through occupying armies, militias supported by foreign powers and a paralyzed state and while the legitimate Lebanese troops surrounded and crippled. He insisted on scheduling the withdrawal of all foreign troops, controlling the militias activities, cutting its foreign enforcement and support, and entrusting the security duties to the Lebanese army. He said clearly and loudly and cautioned that Lebanon cannot be ruled from Damascus, while the regime in Lebanon should not anti-Syrian.

General Aoun's presentation at the Arabic Summit Conference held in Tunisia, lasted for few hours. It was holistic and comprehensive. It covered the Lebanese conflict from all angles and dwelled on its both regional and international dimensions. The content was solely patriotic, devoid of any sectarian or denominational implications, and far from personal interests. At the end Aoun called on the Arabs to support the united strong Lebanon, its sovereignty, independence and freedoms. He called on them also, to utilize authentically and firmly all their efforts and potentials in a bid to save Lebanon from its current hardships, or otherwise they will suffer the consequences. He cautioned that Lebanon's hardships would soon be transferred to their own countries, if not defused in Lebanon

The Arabic leaders who attended the Summit Conference did not conceal their admiration to what Aoun has presented or to his genuine patriotic intentions. All their formal and informal comments expressed a great deal of respect and appreciation to the man. Most of them said openly: "honestly we did not think there are Arabs among the Maronites, General Aoun is an honest, strong and straightforward, patriotic man". This positive impression prevailed all through the conference, and was a positive element during the talks they held with each other, and with other international officials and leaders.

The following is a verbatim anecdote for a conversation that took place between the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Soud Al-Faysel, and his American counterpart, Mr. James Baker:

Al Faysal: I learned that you have assigned Mr. Mackarthy, as a new ambassador to Beirut, if I am not mistaken, he gave lately a statement in which he stressed the need for the withdrawal of the Syrian troops from Lebanon.

Mr. Baker: We never asked him to do so, or to say what he has said. But you personally know Mr. Mackarthy, at times he says what comes to his mind, or what goes on in his head. We will ask him to be very firm with Aoun, and by the way, how do you see Aoun?

Al-Faysal" Our friends in Lebanon told us the man is very popular, even among the Shiites. Definitely, not with Nabih Berri or Hizbollah, but you know our way of thinking, and our concept. Aoun is calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon including the Israelis. This matter has created a significant Lebanese nationalism phenomenon that we have never witnessed before. Mr. Baker, to be honest with you, when we, the Arab leaders, met lately both Aoun and Salim Hoss at Tunisia, we were all in favor of Aoun. The man addressed us as a Lebanese and an Arab, not as a Christian, while Dr. Hoss was trying to play on our emotions as Muslims to support him.

Baker: This attitude sounds very wise, but I need you to understand our stance, Aoun has disrupted all our plans. We have notified both the French government and the UN General Secretary Mr. Dequeyar that they have been giving the Lebanese, I mean Aoun, and his people too much of encouragement. We have asked both of them to take it easy. Accordingly the French marine vessels have returned to Toulon, and since that time we have not heard any thing from Mr. Dequeyar. This man, Aoun has grown bigger than his size.

During his stay in Tunisia, Mr. Yasser Arafat, PLO Chairman phoned and asked General Aoun, if it is okay with him to get together. Aoun said: why not, you are most welcome. Mr. Arafat was taken by surprise by Aoun's spontaneous acceptance and repeated the question saying: General, are you sure you don't have any objections? General Aoun laughed and responded: He who fought you at Tal-AlZatar camp without taking permission from any body, will meet with you in Tunisia too, without taking permission from any body, Dear, Abu Amar, I am a free man, no body embarrasses me, or dictates what should I say or do.

Aoun and Arafat met at the Lebanese Ambassador's residence in the Tunisian capital, Mr. Sulieman Farah, and the meeting took place without the presence of the media. Both men hugged each other when they met; talked about events in general in the presence of their escorts and then held alone a session that lasted for 45 minutes.

Colonel Habib Fares, an army Lebanese officer who was among Aoun's delegation to Tunisia told me later on, that Arafat's escorts were very happy, relaxed and friendly. One of them said: "our old man (a nick name for Mr. Arafat) told us a great deal about General Aoun, he described him as being a brave knight, clear and straightforward. We envy you for having him, because with him, you have an opportunity to save your country. We advice you strongly not to miss it, support the man, do not lose Lebanon as we have lost Palestine.

The meeting as expressed by both Arafat and Aoun was excellent. They decided to put an end to the Lebanese-Palestinian fights and and initiate a new start with dialogue and cooperation. Abu Amar (Arafat) declared that day, that he has returned the Palestinian riffle that was legalized through the Cairo Agreement in 1969, to his Excellency General Michel Aoun. Arafat said: This riffle has been put now in the hands of General Aoun in his capacity as representative for the Lebanese legitimacy. He can utilized it freely in any decision he should take to extend the Lebanese State's authority all over its territories.

The Arab leaders at the Tunisia Arabic summit conference assumed General Michel Aoun will not be willing to meet with Mr. Hussien Al-Hussaini (Lebanon's House speaker) or with Dr. Salim Hoss (Lebanon's ex- Prime Minister, Syria forced him to claim himself as Prime Minister), but they there wrong in their presumptions. On the third day of the Summit, Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Foreign Minister and head for the Arabic Committee asked Aoun if is okay for him to be his guest at a lunch with Dr. Hoss and Mr. Hussaini. Aoun responded with spontaneous approval and said: This is what I have been asking for in Beirut since a long time; but I am afraid they would not be able to attend because their decision making process is not free. Sheik Sabah returned after half an hour Shiek and informed Aoun that both Hussaini and Hoss refused to accept the invitation. Aoun commented by saying: It seems they have received directions from a foreign source. He smiled and added your Excellency as far as I know they are not banned from eating. Mr. Hoss is not suffering from high cholesterol neither Mr. Hussaini has an indigestion problem.

I learned later on, that Hoss and Hussaini tried to call Syria's Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Haliem Khadam and see how he felt about their potential meeting with General Aoun. Khadam hanged up before giving then a definite clear answer, they tried to call again several times, but Khadam's line kept on giving busy signals. The French Ambassador Mr. Paul Belan commented on this incident (as documented in Karim Bakradoni's book, "the Disgrace of a Nation", page 193) by saying: it is a new precedent in the history of diplomacy, it is the busy phone lines policy, not the opened or the closed lines one

At end of the Summit General Aoun returned to Lebanon with positive, but cautious hopes. When we met him for the first time after his return, he was somewhat content, but afraid of the kind of pressures exerted on the Arabs. He said: The Arabs possess the sense of justice and the nobility in relations. I was open with them in relation to all relevant issues. They were very receptive and fully convinced with my concepts and with the accuracy of my proposals. The side meetings cleared my issues and were fruitful and important, we have gained the confidence and friendship of our fellow Arabs. We have won the Palestinian riffle and the Arabs are now sure that we are free, while our other fellow Lebanese are not. He added: But I am afraid from the hesitation in executing what the Arabs promised to do because of the American's administration hegemony on the majority of the Arabic decision making processes. The American hegemony on the Arabs is very similar to what Syria is trying to impose on Lebanon …. They want to manipulate and control our decision.

At the begging of 1989, we, a group of youth, paid a visit to the Dean of the foreign diplomats in Lebanon, Vatican's Ambassador, and Monsignor Angeoloni. The aim of the visit was to exchange concepts and points of view in regards to the Lebanese status and the unfolding events. His Excellency addressed us by saying: General Michel Aoun is a positive transformation in the Lebanese cause. There is hope for a solution because Aoun is well trusted by both the people and the Army, and his platforms are comprehensive and Lebanese. He added: This is what I keep hearing from the Lebanese, besides he is an efficient officer with a wise foresight and very clear patriotic concepts. He is above all, and based on my own personal experience with him honest, courageous and a straightforward person.

At the beginning of the Liberation war (declared on March 14.1989) we met again with his Excellency the Monsignor. He reminded us of what he had said in our first meeting and added: This war has identified clearly the causes standing behind the on going Lebanese agony, and addressed the real issues by its actual names, it is a positive significant move and apparently there will be no backward retreat.

During the Liberation war Dr. Salim Hoss enrolled to take an active vicious part in the conspiracy against Lebanon and its people. In a bid to conceal his fear from the Syrian nightmare that has become integrated in his personality, and to camouflage his submissiveness to the American orders, and to cover the conspiracy, he carried a series of field visits to certain Beiruti residential areas, public schools and humanitarian institutions. During his visits he explored the damages caused by the shelling. Mr. Hoss in stead of being content with the painful scenes, he assumed the role of a forged witness. During one of his charade visits he boldly and in front of T.V cameras held the remaining of a 240-millimeter bomb and started pompously and stupidly blaming General Aoun and the Lebanese Army, claiming they are responsible for the shelling and the destruction. He stupidly did so, when he knew very well in his capacity as an ex-Prime Minister that the Lebanese Army does not have have in its arsenal such bombs. Mr. Hoss and because of his guilty feelings wrote article, gave lectures and even published books defending his wrong stances through fabrication and imagination of events, meetings and contacts.

A Lebanese Beiruti Sunni dignitary, who was the contact between General Aoun and Dr. Hoss said to me: I can say with full peace of mind that what actually happened has nothing to do with what Dr. Hoss has documented in his writings. He added: but what is in fact traumatic, painful and frustrating, is to witness the kind of degradation, cowordniss and deception that has taken place in forging facts. What also makes me angry is that General Aoun does not want currently to uncover the truth. He keeps on telling us: let Dr. Hoss conceal his fear, let him tell what he has, it is too early to uncover the truth.


After the Lebanese Army was victorious at the Souk Al-Kareb battle, the USA, instead of condemning the new Syrian assault, its ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. John McCarthy, asked to meet with the Prime Minister, General Michel Aoun. The meeting that took place at the Baabda presidential Palace was stormy, as was apparent on Mr. MacCarthy's face on leaving the palace. He could not control his anger or conceal his reaction and assaulted the journalist, Samir Constantine who asked him about the outcome of his meeting with General Aoun. He uttered obscenities and behaved in a hostile manner far from a diplomatic ethic.

During the Aoun - McCarthy meeting, Mr. McCarthy addressed Aoun with intimidation and advises to stop Lebanon's confrontation with Syria and in effect to accept the American plan. Aoun interrupted the Ambassador to ask where Lebanon falls on the priority list of the USA.

Mr. McCarthy: Lebanon is not currently existing on our Middle East list of interest.

General Aoun: But we exist and are defending our land and our rights to a free and decent life in spite of the divisions created and nurtured by foreign occupations.

Mr. McCarthy: You do not have any role at the present time, because the mutual programs and interests do not include you.

General Aoun: Have we even been on your agenda at any time?

Mr. McCarthy: No, not as far as I know.

General Aoun: Are we going to be among your interests in the future?

Mr. McCarthy: I do not know, this depends on the circumstances and unfolding of events.

General Aoun: Give us a guarantee for the continuity of Lebanon or even a period of time when Lebanon will be on your agenda of interests.

Mr. McCarthy: I cannot do so.

General Aoun: You have told many of those who met you that I am the obstacle, for not finding a solution to crisis.

Mr. McCarthy: Yes I did.

General Aoun: Mr. McCarthy, I am more than willing to abandon everything and leave, provided you choose witnesses and give me, in their presence, a guarantee, even a verbal one, that Lebanon is going to remain an independent and free country. Aoun added: At that time I shall publicly inform the Lebanese people that the USA's ambassador had given me guarantees that Lebanon will remain an independent, sovereign, free country and that my mission is over. When this is done, I will collect my personal belongings and leave the presidential palace immediately.

Mr. McCarthy: I cannot do that.

General Aoun: As long as in your opinion Lebanon has been cancelled, has no role and is not on Washington's agenda of interests, why then did you come to see me?

Mr. McCarthy: I am trying to rescue you.

General Aoun: No sir, you are trying to destroy us according to your timetable, but we have decided to die in the way we want and when we choose to do so.


On the night of fourth of September, Mr. Jobran Tuiani and Mr. Masoud Ashkar came to the presidential palace and informed General Aoun of their intention to organize a demonstration the second day (the fifth) in front of the American embassy. Aoun said: The Americans are going to evacuate the embassy and leave Lebanon, so do not give them the justification to do so. They responded by saying that the aim of the demonstration is pressuring the USA to change its policy towards Lebanon. Aoun responded: You have the full freedom to demonstrate and express your opinion, but the Army will be there to protect the embassy and will facilitate everything you need. He added: you should know that the army has orders to abort any terrorist act and will interfere if any of the embassy's personnel are to be exposed to assaults or humiliation.


General Michel Aoun held several lengthy meetings with the Arab Committee representative, Mr. Akhtar Al-Ibrahimy, during which numerous solutions to the Lebanese crisis were explored. General Aoun conferred extensively for days with Lebanese leaders, officials and all those concerned and involved. He was able to reach an agreement on a proposed solution approved by Patriarch Sfier, the MP's and Dr. Samir Geaga. To show his good intentions towards the Arabs, and to negate the false claims that he is an obstacle to a solution, Aoun agreed on September 23/1989 to discuss the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon with Al - Ibrahimy and to put a time schedule in this regard. But he declined from committing himself or the country to any of the other Syrian proposals and requested they be changed to safeguard Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and integrity.

With the fast pace of unfolding events, General Aoun met with dignitaries of the region under his government's control (Eastern Region), and conferred with them about all solutions proposed. These meetings were capped with a get-together of all the MP's residing in the Eastern Region at the Baabda Palace on September 23, 1989. It was friendly and quiet, and Director for the Palace, Judge Joseph Jraiesati, took the minutes. The participants discussed items on the agenda related to the coming Taef talks, and were unanimous on the following issues:

1- Concentrating on the withdrawal of the foreign troops.
2- Refusal for discussing any matter related to internal Lebanese affairs.
3- No presidential election outside Lebanon.
4- Whatever agreement is reached it has to be discussed and approved in Lebanon.
The MP's added that discussing any topic or approving any project at the Taef would not be done without coming back to General Aoun for his approval.

During the meeting General Aoun cautioned the MP's about backing off from their national convictions at the Taef when they see themselves forced to agree on projects they actually refuse, or do so out of embarrassment. Aoun added: If I go to Taef and King Fahed asked me to agree on a certain project for his own sake or because he guarantees it, I might feel overwhelmed and accept. MP, August Bagous responded angrily: General Aoun, do you think we are children to do so?

The people In Lebanon were not in favor of allowing the MP's to go to Taef. Their gut feeling was the MP's would give up sovereignty and independence. A group of demonstrators met with General Aoun and conveyed to him the peoples' feelings and asked to discuss with him the issue of allowing the MP's to go to Taef, or not. Aoun said to them: It is not acceptable to declare a war against injustice, oppression, dictatorship and restrictions on freedom, and then do exactly the opposite. If I stop the MP's by force from going to Taef, and I am capable of doing so, some of you would have demonstrated against my practice and call me a dictator.

On the 10th of October 1989, General Aoun appealed to the MP's to leave Taef and return to Lebanon. He repeated his appeal several times for nine successive days, but it fell on deaf ears. On the 20th of the same month he declared publicly his opposition to the Taef Accord project. On the 23rd he held a press conference and addressed the people of Lebanon by saying: you have two choices, the Taef is on one side and I am on the other, you have to choose. If you choose the Taef I will resign immediately and go back to my home, but if you refuse the Accord we can continue the struggle together.

On October 22,1989, fifty-eight out of sixty three MP's agreed on the imposed Taef Accord (at the Taef City in Saudi Arabia). Mr. Al-Ibrahimy came to Lebanon to invite General Aoun to visit Al-Taef City. Previous meetings between Aoun and Al-Ibrahimy were friendly, but this one was tense. Al-Ibrahimy explained the Taef Accord project and tried to convince Aoun of its advantages. Aoun refused to give in, and asked Al-Ibrahimy: Do you personally accept what you are offering me? Al-Ibrahimy said: We support your point of view and understand your opposition, but we cannot change a comma in what has been already decided. After that a dialogue between the two men took place and focused on people's struggle and liberation of nations.

General Aoun said to Al-Ibrahimy: My friend, frankly I can not understand how an Algerian fighter and a resistance figure as prominent as yourself, who fought courageously against the French for the independence of his country, could now take a stance against the Lebanese who are fighting for the liberation of their country by supporting the Syrian occupier? Al-Ibrahimy was unable to respond for few seconds and then started to praise Aoun's nationalism, courage, honesty and decency that all Arab leaders are aware of. Al-Ibrahimy felt so embarrassed and did not want to continue the conversation, he wanted his conscience to be at peace, so he said to Aoun: Let us go together to Taef, You will sit there on the right of King Fahed and return afterwards as president to Lebanon. Aoun smiled and said: If I agree with what you are proposing I would be a traitor to my people and my country, and most importantly I would not be Michel Aoun.

On October 5, 1989, the Central National Coordinating Bureau's Higher Committee met with representatives of its affiliated groups at the "Remal Complex". They were unanimous in calling the Lebanese people for a sit-in at the Maronite Patrirchate at Bkerke to condemn what the dissolved MP,'s have committed against the people's will. All decisions taken in this regard were announced through media. The same day, at 8 PM, the presidential palace switchboard called me to say His Excellency, Prime Minister General Aoun would like talk to me.

Aoun asked: What did you decide on?
Raffoul: We decided on a sit-in tomorrow at Bkerke.
Aoun: I was just informed that a demonstration has reached Bkerke and it is trying to enter the Patriarchate premises by force.
Raffoul: We have information in this regard, but Mr. Joubran Tueini, an hour ago, called Mr. Toni Helou, in charge of the "Promise Movement" who participated in our meeting today at the Remal and asked him to join a demonstration that would be heading to Bkerke tonight. The aim as I was told was to make Patriarch Sfier adopt a clear stance in relation to the Taef Accord.
Aoun: Can you head to Bkerke and deal with the situation there in full coordination with the Army troops stationed at the Patriarchate?
Raffoul: I will do that immediately with the help of some colleagues.

We were able to reach as far as "Al-Louz curve" but because of the jammed traffic and the many demonstrator's cars parked in the middle of the road, we left the car and decided to walk to Bkerke. On the way, many demonstrators returning from Bkerke identified us. They were angry, sad and frustrated and told us that a group of the demonstrators broke into the Patriarchate, destroyed some containers, torn down pictures and assaulted his Beatitude the Patriarch.

I returned immediately to nearby City of Jounieh, phoned General Aoun and informed him. He sighed and said: Dear Pierre, what has happened is a big disaster and they will definitely taken advantage of it.

It is worth mentioning that General Aoun did not have any objection to Mr. Renee Moawad as a person. His objection was on Moawad the president who was elected illegally by a dissolved Parliament and who emerged from the Taef Accord that the Lebanese rejected. Aoun said openly and more than once: Mr. Moawad is a friend and a moderate politician; we could have cooperated with each other. But those who made Moawad president wanted him to finish me not cooperate with me. Mr. Moawad focused on a comprehensive national conciliation and on comprehensive legitimate authority and on a national unity government. He did not even once threaten to resort to force in the face of any opposition. On the contrary apparent realism and modernism characterized his statements.

Mr. Moawad asked the Syrians to withdraw their troops from the Batroun area as a gesture of good will for supporting the Lebanese legitimate authority and as a proof of their commitment for the continuity of the State of Lebanon. They responded instead by sending Mr. Abdel Haleem Khadam to meet him at the Town of Ehden to force him to accept specific individuals for his first cabinet. Moawad rejected strongly the Syrian offer. The Syrians were not deterred by Moawad's rejection and did not put an end to their interferences. The Lebanese media facilities as directed by Syria attributed a statement to Moawad saying: the people of Lebanon and Syria are one. Moawad refused to give in to this strategy of intimidation and announced publicly that the alleged statement was fabricated. The second the media a similar statement To Moawad's wife, she took the same stance.

During a meeting with General Aoun at the Baabda Palace, Aoun stated: Mr. Moawad did not comprehend the Syrian message. I believe his life has come into great danger. Based on his knowledge and hunches, Aoun asked a mutual friend to advise Mr. Moawad on his behalf to refrain from moving to West Beirut.

During a meeting with a delegation from the City Of Zkarta, Aoun asked how is the situation in your City? A member in the delegation answered: Every thing is okay except that Mrs. Naaela Moawad has been accusing you continuously of assassinating her husband (Mr. Renee Moawad). Aoun responded by saying: We should all understand Mrs. Moawad's situation and her stance at the current time, for if she does not say so, she will be the next victim.

The Army Commander's position was offered to the Air Force Commander Brigadier Fahiem Hajj, but he declined it after notifying General Aoun and the military high command. Brigadier Emil Lahoud who had dreamed of the position for a long time could not believe it when it was offered for him. He accepted without question, collected his luggage and left the East Beirut area heading to West Beirut on foot through the Al-Mathaf crossing post. It was very significant that Lahoud's military driver refused to escort him in his journey.

The Lebanese Army officers and soldiers assigned the security and defense mission at the Mathaf crossing post (frontier) identified Lahoud and immediately notified the Army command. General Aoun asked the officer in charge to let Lahoud cross the post peacefully. He said: "Let him leave and continue executing the plan he has had in his head for a long time."

The last meeting that took place between General Aoun, in his capacity as Prime Minister and Army Commander, and Dr. Samir Geagea, Leader for the Lebanese Forces, was on October 2, 1990 at the Baabda presidential palace. The activity at the palace that day was unusual: hundreds of delegations from several villages, cities, towns, schools, clubs, syndicates and universities came to the palace to show their support for the leader. Twenty-two representatives gave speeches that day on behalf of the delegations they headed.

All at the palace felt happy, hopeful and relieved when Dr. Samir Geagea arrived in the afternoon. He headed directly inside to meet with General Aoun for few minutes, after which Aoun, Chamoun and Geagea came out to the palace balcony in unity holding each other's hands. The thousands of people who were waiting impatiently outside in the Palace Square cheered with happiness when the three leaders emerged together. They welcomed them delightedly with screams of joy and chants for free Lebanon, unity and coordination. Aoun delivered a speech and then went inside with Geagea, Chammoun and other dignitaries and officials, where a lengthy meeting took place and lasted till almost midnight.

I was in General Aoun bodyguard's office when Dr. Samir Geagea left Aoun's office and walked quickly, heading to his car without giving any statement. I went immediately to where Aoun, his adviser Youssef Al-Andarry and his Escort Colonel Habib Faris were engaged in a heated conversation. I approached Al-Andary, who looked at me with anger and said: Look what the General has done. What did he do, I asked? Colonel Habib said: He agreed to give Dr. Geagea the Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Interior Ministries. I was taken by surprise and stared at the General, who smiled and said, let's go inside and continue our conversation.

We all walked to the basement where Aoun and his family have been residing lately and there we continued the conversation. Aoun said: Dr. Geagea has asked for the Interior Minister to avoid any future field confrontations between his forces and the Lebanese Army. He has asked for the Defense Ministry to unify the military leadership. He has asked for the Finance Ministry to be able to keep his forces on the government payroll. And he has asked for the Foreign Affairs Ministry because believes the Lebanese Embassies abroad will side with the Syrian-appointed president, Mr. Elias Hrawi, so the Lebanese Force's offices all over the world will be our embassies.

I learned later on that there was a consensus in giving Dr. Geagea the Foreign Affairs Ministry, for the justifications he presented, but there was a negative reaction to his request to have the other three ministries, except from General Aoun. Aoun said: I am ready to give the Lebanese Forces more ministries than Dr. Geagea has requested in a bid to keep our national decision free over the regions that we control. He added: Do not be surprised if I ask you now to pray to Almighty God that the Lebanese Forces will accept participation in the government and assume responsibility for the four portfolios Dr. Geagea has requested. If they do, then we will have saved our country a big disaster. He ended by saying: But I have an gut feeling that Dr. Geagea has already been involved with a different plan and his decision is not free any more. Aoun's gut feelings were right and the following day Mr. George Adwan visited the presidential palace to inform Aoun that Dr. Geagea and the Lebanese Forces had decided not participate in the proposed government.

Sixty hours after the fight erupted between the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese Forces, the Army was successful in fully controlling The Ain Al-Roumay suburb. The army officer-in-charge for the attack informed General Aoun that the whole suburb had come under the control of the army. On his part, the Army Intelligence commander for the capital, Beirut, Colonal Camelle Atta, called Aoun and made him aware that a group from the Lebanese Force fighters had surrendered to the army troops and they had been held at the intelligence headquarters at the Mathaf area.

I was with General Aoun at the operation room in the palace during these critical hours. He was anxious, sad and worried, in spite of the victories the army had achieved. He was preoccupied in his conversations with others, and unhappy at all that had been happening. He received the army's full victory news without any reaction of joy. The victory news was conveyed to Aoun over the phone. He then laid down the phone handset and entered into a deep contemplation. All those who were in the room kept quiet and were looking at each other, waiting for him to say something. Aoun noticed the tension and anxiety that prevailed and that was apparent on the faces. He addressed them by saying: How many times have I tried authentically to avoid this kind of war, and how many times have I hesitated in giving the order to attack Ain Al-Roumany. Every time I was close to taking an attack decision, the image of the people of Ain Al-Roumay and Fourn Al-Chobaak used to come in front of my eyes. They were demonstrating outside the presidential palace, dancing, singing and chanting for a free, independent Lebanon…wars are always dirty, I prayed that no man would be exposed to them.

When the state TV station started to show photographs of the Army martyrs with a biography of each of them (Officer Saied Yamin, Officer commando Bassam Gergy, and three other commandos), General Aoun, who was in the palace salon with some of officials and friends, could not continue watching. He changed his seat and chose a distant one shadowed by a big refrigerator and he started to cry silently. I approached and stood beside him without uttering one word in respect of his feelings. He looked at me, wiped his tears and said: "Pierre, I can't help it," and started sadly reminiscing and sharing with me memories related to the shown army martyrs. He started by recalling those army officers and soldiers who gave their life happily to Lebanon. Sadly, with a sigh, he named Khalil Kenaan, Mohamad Baydown, Fahmi Awydat, Paul Maalouf, and then paused to add Saied Yamin and Bassam Gergy's names. He continued after a few moments of silence by saying: Saied personified the army history in heroism: although he was young, he always acted like a leader and fulilled his duties. What really makes me sad is that I knew Saied for a long time and he had never asked my permission to execute an assignment. This morning I was at the Defense Minister's headquarters and passed by the Eighth brigadier leadership. Saied and the rest were there, Saied approached and asked me if it was okay for him to visit the artillery posts, and I laughed and was surprised by his request. Saied headed to the front and was killed by a bomb at the Baykout frontier. Aoun became tearful again and concluded by saying: " The heroes die to keep the nation alive and we the cowards stay alive."

The Army modified its plan and waged a new attack. Within a very short time it was able to reach the borders of Bourj-Hamoud. The army's progress on the frontiers coincided with a series of mediation attempts from numerous sources. General Aoun was very receptive and ordered the army units to stop the attack and return to the original post.
Monsignor Boulous Nemaan and Mr. Chaker Abu-Slieman agreed with the Vatican representative Monsignor Danyallo, that he would call General Aoun and convey to him a papal wish to stop the attack and save lives and property. The call took place from Bkerke, but it was a false and deceptive call. The Lebanese Forces at the same time threatened to explode all road bridges as well oil and gas tanks under their control. What happened later on proved that these threats were actual and very serious. The military committee assigned to open the Dawra -Naher El-Kaleb highway discovered a huge amount of TNT and other explosives tied to the concrete bridges bases. The Syrian leadership on its part conveyed to General Aoun a warning through army officer Michel Rahbani to stop the attack against the Karatyna, or otherwise the Syrian troops would storm the Eastern region under the control of General Aoun's government.

All the above listed factors made General Aoun change his plan and stop the attack against the Karantyna suburb. He also decided to cancel all the military activities and plans for attack. Aoun took his decision after he found that all potentials and options for a political change in the country were blocked. He justified his new stance by saying: assume I continued the attack and the army accomplished its mission, then we will be facing two bitter options. First, if we continue the attack there would be massive destruction and thousands of victims would fall. I am not aiming for a burned land but to liberate the people while they are alive, not corpses. Second, if we liberate the whole of the Eastern sectors, we will remain under siege in a much bigger area. Aoun added: Further, let us assume that the army was able to force its way till the Mafoun post, what would be the situation then? We would still be under siege, but in a bigger cage with more casualties, more losses and with more people in need consuming daily living necessities. We can't cope with such a situation while the sea, land and air siege is in place and crippling us in getting any fuel. Our situation would have been different if the Lebanese Forces had not destroyed the ships and the other means we utilized to penetrate the siege imposed on us during the Liberation war. Aoun concluded his justification by saying: the siege is a siege either we were in a small or in a somewhat bigger cage, for all these facts and reasons we will give the Vatican and the other good-will mediators the opportunity to act on their peaceful plans.

Patriarch Sfier took the initiative and called for a meeting at Bkerke on April 10, 1990. Dr. Samir Geagea, some of his aids and a number of ex- MP's responded to the Patriarch's call. Coming out of the meeting at the Bkerke main door, Dr. Geagea told the journalists that the war between the Army and the Lebanese forces was over. Contrary to his overt public statement, Dr. Geagea left Bkerke to immediately begin finalizing a premeditated military plan to wage an attack on the government's regions starting from the Kleaat frontier. The attack started in the early morning of April 11, 1990. It was unsuccessful and the army was capable of aborting it, inflicting many casualties on the attacking Lebanese Forces members and capturing many of the attackers. On the evening of that day General Aoun sent a televised message to the Lebanese Forces fighters in which he said: Why did the Lebanese Resistance pay 600 martyrs to abort the triple Agreement? Is it because the agreement did not provide Dr. Geagea with a ministerial portfolio? Or because the Taef Agreement is less dangerous than the Triple Agreement?

On July 23, 1999, another meeting was held at the Baabda presidential palace between General Michel Aoun and Mr. Al-Akdar Al-Ibrahimi, the Arabic envoy. Al Ibrahimi did not carry any answers related to the previously forwarded inquiries. He called on Aoun to join the "Taef," because this is exactly what is required. General Aoun came out of the meeting with very apparent disgust in facial expression, to say: " How many words have lost their actual meanings these days. They ask for a dialogue, we extend our arms and agree with no reservations to later discover that dialogue is banned. They want us to accept their plans with no conditions. It would have been less time and effort if they had sent these plans by registered mail requesting a response within 24 hours.

On July 4, 1999 the fourth and last meeting between Aoun and Ibrahimi took place. Aoun summarized his demands into four items and handed then to the Arabic envoy in writing. They were:
1- Disarming all militias and handing over the arms to the Lebanese Army.
2- Entrusting the security measures to the Lebanese legitimate security forces and scheduling the withdrawal of all foreign and occupying forces.
3- Performing a free parliamentary election under Arabic and international supervision.
4- The freely elected parliament shall look into the "Taef Agreement", make the needed amendments and ratify it.

With the start of the Syrian siege on the free regions, the Syrians put their artillery on attack status. They intensified significantly their military presence on all the entry posts to the free regions. On October 1, 1990, General Naiem Ltief, the Security General Director, made General Aoun aware of a report indicating increased Syrian troops on the frontiers surrounding the free regions. Aoun told Ltief, the increased Syrian troops should not be a problem for us, even if their number reaches one hundred thousand. They will not be able to penetrate our lines, because we are experienced, know very well the posts, the nature of the land and because we are in a defensive position. Lteif asked: what would be the situation if the use their air forces? Aoun said: "That will mean that the USA has sold us to Syria. We will confront as much as we can, they might defeat us, but we will not recognize the Taef Agreement or sign to give up our country. By doing so we, as well as our children will retain our right to reclaim what was stolen from us by force.

On October 9, 1990, a delegation from the Central National Coordinating Bureau (the writer was among its members) met with a delegation from the National Syrian Social party. It was agreed during the get together to meet with Syrians. When we returned back to the presidential palace, I informed General Aoun about the arranged meeting with the Syrians. His response was, "I doubt it very much the Syrians will agree to meet with you."

On October 10, 1999, I met with General Aoun and made him aware of the information we were able to collect. It all confirmed that the Syrian Army has become ready to attack and that many tanks have been heading towards our besieged region. Aoun said: " We have already gained 10 days, the Syrian attack was scheduled at the end of the last month, then he sighed and mumbled with a low voice, "The carrying of the cross is already happening and we could even march towards the Galilee, it is okay because the resurrection will come one day".

On the afternoon of October 12, 1990, the Presidental Palace square was crowded with thousands of citizens who decided to execute a sit-in and shield the palace and the leader with their bodies. At that time the Lebanese Forces started its sniping and artillery. General Aoun went out on the palace balcony, greeted the crowd who chanted loudly, long live free Lebanon, we will protect our land with our blood and souls and waved proudly with Lebanese flags. Aoun started his speech by saying: " My people, people of great Lebanon", and at this point a citizen who had sneaked among the crowd, named Francios Halal shot four bullets towards Aoun from a military hand gun. The bullets missed Aoun but flew overhead and near his feet. He was shielded by the metal fortified anti-bullet stage designed for this purpose. The assailant was arrested by the people and handed over to the army unharmed.

Aoun went inside the palace for few minutes and then returned to deliver an emotional speech and ask the people to go home. His call at that moment was interpreted as a precautionary measure from the Lebanese Forces shelling, but later on said it was based on his knowledge about the imminent attack against the free region.

On that evening Aoun asked me if we are still going to meet with the Syrians as previously arranged, I told him yes, we are. He paused for a while and said: "I am not comfortable with this meeting, but let us depend on God's will and do all we can to make our point of view and stances known to all those parties. After that myself, General Aoun and Mr. Youssef Al-Andari met and finalized the proposed solution plan I was supposed to present to the Syrians. The items of the plan could be summarized as:
1- Disarming all militias in an effective and final manner.
2- Confirming that the Lebanese Army has become capable to guarantee the security and spread the state's sovereignty.
3- Put a hold on the Taef Agreement clauses.
4- Performing a public referendum to decide on the Taef Agreement, or performing a free parliamentary election under Arabic and international supervision. The freely elected Parliament will study the Taef Agreement, make the necessary amendments and ratify it with all the reforms needed after a Lebanese consensus on them.
5- The readiness and the good will for a stable, solid, everlasting and mutual brotherly relationship with Syria. This relationship has to respect both countries, sovereignty, freedom and independence


On the second morning the fight broke between the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese Forces, Mr. Chaker Abu Sliman, Chairman for the Maronite league and Journalist Joubran Tueni met with General Aoun at the Presidential Palace. I participated in that meeting during which Mr. Tueni presented his point of view and understanding to the events. He focused on the right of the Lebanese Army to put an end to the imposed odd status that the people are paying unnecessary high prices every now and then. Mr. Abu Slieman fully agreed with Mr. Tueni and added, "It is not acceptable that things stay as they are with no control and under the mood of the Lebanese Forces. The state has to be decisive, take action and put an end to all obstacles hindering its efforts". He continued to say: " every body has to support General Aoun who gave Lebanon back its respect and the people their freedom and dignity. He concluded by calling on all the Lebanese to choose between a state and a farm, between security and chaos and to announce their choice with no ambiguity. That morning ended on this theme of transparency and with a unanimous call for putting an ultimate end for the odd status.

The second day Mr. Abu Slieman returned to the presidential Palace with a sullen face perplexed mood. And a completely different tone. During his meeting with Aoun he seemed to be irritable, very restless, not him self and tense. He said to Aoun in a shaky vice tone: "this war is a dirty one, it should not have happened, every one must give a little bit from his own rights and compromise".

General Aoun: "I am the head of the State and entrusted by law to be responsible for the welfare of all the Lebanese people. The rights you are denoting to, are the rights of each and every citizen. The Army is experiencing its righteous obligations and duties, it is trying hardly to provide the security needed for the country and the people.

Abu Slieman: You are right General, but still you have to soften you stance.

Aoun: Soften my stance, am I the one who is escalating? Dear Chaker, you are living the events, know very well the truth and already suffering from the atrocities.

Abu Slieman: Again you are right, but you have to find a solution.

Aoun: Yes, for sure, we have to find a solution, but not on the account of the States authority or the people's security.

Those of us who attended the meeting were extremely surprised to see Mr. Abu Slieman adopt a new stance in contrary to what he was calling for a day before. After the meeting was over, I asked General Aoun what is going on and why Mr. Abu Slieman has changed his stance? Aoun said: "no doubt Mr. Abu Slieman is a decent and good man, but this rotten mentality in adopting contradicting stances has led Lebanon to its current disastrous status.

In 1990, Mr. Raffic Hariri through foreign sources offered to pay General Aoun a huge sum of money to resign and leave Lebanon. Aoun responded joyfully by saying: "if this sum of money Hariri is offering becomes mine, I would not be able to spend in my life, and if it is a price to sell Lebanon ii is definitely too little".

Our meetings with General Aoun were extremely necessary, for he was the leader, the inspirer, the encourager and the incubator for the unique public ongoing patriotic revolt. We were the organizational, executive and practical frame for this great revolt. We used to meet with him on regular basis to exchange views and get directions. His focus was always on the people and on the need to give them the main role in every activity. In almost every meeting he used to say: " encourage the people and help them to be able to express their opinion and beliefs freely, the way they deem appropriate, no matter who they support or oppose. These approaches and practices are very basic for the building and change process, as well as for liberation requirements and public orientation needed for achieving the revolt objectives, Aoun added.

General Aoun has never objected any of our initiatives in contacting politicians, but he always stressed the importance of staying close to the people. He continuously advised us to listen to the people, inform them of what is going on, and always tell them the truth even when painful. He believed that national unity could not be reached without first uniting the people around well-defined holistic national convictions and mutual commonalties.

His assistant's and supporters' conduct at work was extremely vital and very important to General Aoun. He encouraged us to be honest, humble, understanding, straightforward and transparent. He used to tell us: " do not bother to posses fancy offices, expensive furniture and numerous secretaries. If this becomes your focus, you would lose your innocency at work and the people's trust. Look what happened to those who ignored the main objectives and engaged themselves with superficial matters, be sure that with only a chair, a desk, a phone and a solid belief in what you are doing, you can achieve the unachievable. You can not be successful in achieving your patriotic goals if you are not modest, tolerant, unbiased, sincere, well mannered, see-through and truthful.

General Aoun dealt with the rhetoric challenges of some mercenary politicians who viciously asked: "what is the General's political project, we are sure he does not have one, and in case he has It, let him make it public then we either support or oppose him". We constantly used to urge him to call for a press conference and announce his project, or to publish it in the newspapers. Every time we asked him to do so, he smiled and said: they are trying to provoke me by their questions and requests, they want me to do exactly what you are asking for. If I do, the project will be damaged and become like the "Ottoman shirt" (an Arabic proverb), a cheap merchandise for biding. Many projects were proposed during the last twenty years, as potential means for a national long-lasting solution, but all of them did not work and ended on shelves and in drawers. I am going to hold on my project till we as Lebanese become ready and able to talk with other openly and freely. At that time announcing the project will be appropriate and it would then be liable for a fruitful, civilized, dialogue in a peaceful quiet milieu without rigid stances or any kind of abuse.

Every time we discussed the regional and the international situation and its effects on Lebanon with General Aoun, he answered: There will be no solution in Lebanon without an international consensus on the regional level. Meanwhile we, as Lebanese, have to be ready and prepared to play our role effectively in the solution. Internally, we have to prove that we are capable of ruling our country and make the whole world respect us for our efficiency. We have to be a stabilizing factor in the area, not a problem for others. Yet we should not fool ourselves that things will go back to normal easily. Lebanon is in a very difficult regional situation among the surrounding countries: every one wants it on his side and under his control". Aoun added, "the situation in Lebanon will not be stable before the ultimate peace process becomes a reality. The solution has to involve equally and openly Syria, Lebanon and Israel, but such achievement requires for its success internal effort and time to pave the right milieus and prepare the people in the area psychologically. But we can not meanwhile standstill and be idle."

Aoun continued to say: "We have to fix our internal situation, help the army and the security forces to protect the people and secure their safety, encourage industry, plan for a modern productive economy, encourage the return of immigrants and prepare the appropriate milieus for national reconciliation. We have to establish a healthy and stable relationship with Syria and remove all factors of irritation, tension and hostility. The Lebanese-Syrian relationship should not remain a hostage of moods and circumstances. It has to be the result of a public conviction in both countries. The people, through a free democratic election, will choose their MP's and those through the public mandate given to them will be legally entitled to decide on the kind of relationship between the two countries. The relationship that the Lebanese are eager to build with Syria must respect the freedom, independence, sovereignty and distinctivity of each country".

Aoun concluded by saying, " We have already started to advocate among our people for such a mutual relationship: the people are very receptive. The Lebanese-Syrian relationship is a crucial national issue and accordingly, we and the Syrians should arrive with an acceptable mutual solid, mutual effective solution once and forever. The Lebanese people in the Eastern region believe this is a priority."

On January 20/1990, on the "North support day", thousands of citizens from the North Governarate came to the Presidential Palace at Baabda. General Aoun greeted the crowds and delivered a speech in which he said: "I call on the Lebanese people to abide with the essence of the "Ontelias" declaration, so we all can rebuild Lebanon on common living and national foundations and not on a sectarian basis."

From the first day that General Aoun became Prime Minister, the idea of public intermingling began to take place. This positive public attitude was encouraged because the free regions were now under the control of legitimate authority and the Lebanese army. The army institution was a role model in national unity, cohesiveness and patriotism in spite of all the restrictions and obstacles inflicted on it by the politicians in a bid to cripple its role in protecting both the people and the country. The Defense Ministry headquarters as well as the Military Hospital remained accessible to all military personnel providing them with all services needed, in spite of isolated individual negative conduct displayed by some army officers.

Prime Minister Michel Aoun encouraged mingling among the people of Lebanon, he opened freely the crossing roads and removed all physical and human obstacles. He called on all those who left the Eastern regions because of the war or due to political or religious affiliations to return back, claim their houses and practice their political rights freely with no violence, terrorism, intelligence activities or use of weapons.

Aoun's call and the measures executed were welcomed by the people living in regions under occupation. Accordingly people started moving freely among the different areas with no fear, even some members in the National Syrian Social party and some "Hobeika" supporters started to visit the Free regions under the control of General Aoun, to check on their property, relatives and friends with no fear.

The road to the Presidential Baabda Palace was open and accessible for all the Lebanese. Baabda Palace, the People's house, became a place for all Lebanese who believe in unity and liberation to meet with each other. Thousands and thousands of Lebanese from all over Lebanon came to the presidential palace to show support to the leader and his national stances. They carried Lebanese flag proudly and waved with patriotic slogans quoted from different Lebanese leaders they support e.g., "My country is always right. for President Slieman Franjea", "Our struggle is for Lebanon, the 10452 km2…for Shiek Bashir Chomayel", "The foreigner brought them, let the people kick them out", "Life is a stance of dignity…for Antoine Saade" etc. One could see slogans from Camilla Chamoun, Bashir Chomayel, and Slieman Franjea embracing those from Mufti Hassan Khalid, Kamal Jumblat, Antoine Saade, Shiek Mohamad Hussien Fadlalah and Shiek Subhi Saleh.

On May 19/1990, The Swiss newspaper "La Swiss", conducted an interview with General Aoun. This is some of what he said: "I personally consider the 1983 war that took place in Mount Lebanon region between the Lebanese Forces and the Druz, a historical mistake. In general, the reaction was much worse than the action itself. A positive atmosphere is prevailing and taking place again. I hope it will help in healing the wounds created by that war and pave the way again for the re-establishment of historical national unity in Mount Lebanon. I keep hearing some people talking about what they call the 1860 massacre or the civil war. We have to remember that after that war the Lebanese in Mount Lebanon lived for 120 years (1860-1980) in peace and harmony. Accordingly the Christain-Druz coexistence is the foundation and the norm, while the war is an exception, and no one should ignore the foreign interference.

In his famous speech on Lebanon's Independence Day in 1988, General Michel Aoun said: "We believe in one Lebanon, that has complete sovereignty and independent. A Lebanon that has no partners on its own land, no custodians for its national decision-making process or its freedoms. We believe in a sovereign Lebanon that deals with others on equal basis and refuses to allow them interfere in its own interests, decisions or land. We believe in a Lebanon that affiliates historically and shares a similar fate with others in the Arab world. A Lebanon that is a messenger of civilization between its milieu and the whole world.

After Aoun went into exile, he settled temporarily In Marseillaise (Gabby Vila) France. Few weeks later, I went there to visit him. My self, General Aoun and Colonel Habib Faris started recalling certain events during the General's reign in Lebanon. Colonel Habib Faris, is a patriotic knight who chose to endure the pain of exile far from his beloved family and country, sacrificed his military status and income to be with the leader. Faris began listing the names of those who were close to the General when he was in office and stated where they stand now, some could not hold on to their stances, others boldly changed sides, and yet many others are still loyal. Aoun intercepted Faris to say: "Habib, my friend, why you are going through this headache, every opportunist would have left us even if we had to tie him by chains, and only patriots with self-respect will be with us, that is, those who actually count".

After Aoun had moved to the Haut La Maison, France, a Lebanese journalist during an interview impudently queried the General: " Don't you think that you should have been more flexible in your political stances". Aoun responded: " If I had taken my stances in an ordinary time, I would have been considered a criminal, but my stances under the given circumstances emerged from the fact that we were and still are struggling for survival. We are not pursuing power, positions or personal gains. Our cause revolves around existence, identity, sovereignty, freedom, dignity and independence, my stances are not transient political ones".

In 1994, I wondered why a Frenchman of almost 100 years of age would visit Aoun. I was told later that this centenarian visits the General on regularly to commend him on his stances. His name was Aujol, the famous French lawyer who trained Syria's late Prime Minister Marouf Al- Dawalieby in his law office. Aujol was King Faysal's lawyer and he also participated in putting together the Lebanese constitution with Edmond Rabaat, Michel Chiha and others. Aujol during one of his friendly meetings with Aoun, declared: " General you are the symbol for a free Lebanon and the symbol for the free Lebanese. What is unique about you is that your legacy was great while you were still young, As a rule, such reputations are only afforded to those who have experienced a lifetime of years.

General Aoun has consistently refused to meet with any of the "Taef Agreement" installed Lebanese puppets, despite the numerous attempts in this regard. He believed they are only robots devoid of autonomous action. Aoun has always offered: " I am ready to meet with their masters the Syrians provided they first withdraw all their troops from all Lebanon. Negotiations with them will then take place later on. Aoun was and still is open to dialogue with any party, or individual, provided sovereignty and independence are not placed on the negotiation table…They are holy and should never be compromised by any means or under any circumstances.

By the end of January 1994, I left France to settle as a refugee in Australia. Aoun spoke with great admiration about the Lebanese-Australian Community. He asked me to convey his heart-felt wishes and greetings to each and every Free National Current supporter and to convey that what they are doing is great and highly admired. He said "the Lebanese- Australian community is an ideal example for all the Lebanese in Diaspora. I am sure the efforts invested in Australia will yield fruitful crops". Aoun. Further, he asked me to convey his hope to soon meet with every Lebanese in a free, liberated and sovereign Lebanon.

With the end of this series of articles (twenty) I will quote what Shiek Farid Nadder said in the a meeting held in Saint Paulo, Brazil to establish a chapter for the International Lebanese Liberation Front. In fact what he said speaks for the majority of the Lebanese: "Almighty God has given us numerous leaders in the past, but this is the first time He gives us a leader able to gain the confidence of all the Lebanese, Muslims, Christians and Druz. He is our hope to save Lebanon and unite the Lebanese to be able to overcome the current ordeal…. General Aoun is addressing all the Lebanese and talks about all Lebanon and on behalf of us all."


Sources:

Part 1: http://www.generalaoun.org/126raffoul.html
Part 2: http://www.generalaoun.org/127raffoul.html
Part 3: http://www.generalaoun.org/128raffoul.html
Part 4: http://www.generalaoun.org/129raffoul.html
Part 5: http://www.generalaoun.org/130raffoul.html
Part 6: http://www.generalaoun.org/131raffoul.html
Part 7: http://www.generalaoun.org/132raffoul.html
Part 8: http://www.generalaoun.org/133raffoul.html
Part 9: http://www.generalaoun.org/134raffoul.html
Part 10: http://www.generalaoun.org/135raffoul.html
Part 11: http://www.generalaoun.org/136raffoul.html
Part 12: http://www.generalaoun.org/137raffoul.html
Part 13: http://www.generalaoun.org/138raffoul.html
Part 14: http://www.generalaoun.org/139raffoul.html
Part 15: http://www.generalaoun.org/140raffoul.html
Part 16: http://www.generalaoun.org/141raffoul.html
Part 17: http://www.generalaoun.org/142raffoul.html
Part 18: http://www.generalaoun.org/143raffoul.html
Part 20: http://www.generalaoun.org/145raffoul.html