The Beirut Disaster, what elected leaders should have spoken..
“I have failed you.
I stand in front you now with words that will not mend anything.
What happened is beyond imagining.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected in this unacceptable disaster.
A dark hour has just happened under our watch. I personally have failed you.
I gave my orders to the national guard, police, military and all civil institutions of the government to deploy immediately to help us with this catastrophe. All the means of the state are on high alert now and fully available for this national emergency.
Funds and field hospitals are being set up. We will donate and deploy also all our party’s resources and manpower in addition to that of the state to assist.
We urge all other parties to do also. Let us collaborate.
We already reached out through our diplomatic channels towards all friends of Lebanon internationally to help us and assist urgently .
We urge all Lebanese to help each other now in any means possible. We know you already started.
Facing this reality, our state will stay strong and so will our good people.
But our ruling titles no longer mean anything in this failure. Nor playing blame games.
We will launch promptly an independent investigation into what happened in cooperation with the United Nations to guarantee impartiality.
I promise you answers, I promise you accountability, I promise you justice.
I place myself open to investigation transparently to guarantee this justice.
All the chain of historic corruption, militarism and complicity that have led our country to this cataclysmic path and event can no longer be allowed to continue. You no longer trust us. This can’t continue.
Everyone in power since the last decade is held responsible. First and foremost this podium that represents the elected officials of the state.
You voted for us, and you will vote us out also if need be.
We only seem to deliver you new disasters. I am sorry.
The state is mobilized to help everyone and our institutions will not rest until the truth comes out about what just nuked half of our capital to oblivion.
This event will draw the line for a new course correction for our future.
Please don’t lose hope.
We will be judged by history by our actions and words for eternity.
The young volunteers now represent the spirit that will heal this country more than any of us could in power.
None of what is happening now will be forgotten.
Stay safe, and may god be with our country.”
This is what should have been spoken.
But three full days now after the devastating explosion that rocked Beirut from its Port and killed, destroyed and displaced countless people and property, all Lebanese political party leaders, in and out of government, still didn’t stand up to the occasion, nor to reality, nor to their responsibility in fomenting this latest, but surely not first nor last national disaster.
We have though a lot of good quality platitudes and switching the blame speeches by past and present officials.
A disaster like this was long time in the making when the mainstream political culture is to avoid accountability while hording resources.
Irresponsibility your name is Lebanese politics..
Just a few month ago it took the economy as a victim.
After the economy got leveled, now this happens under the precious system Lebanese politicians built very carefully since 1990. A system that sowed division, encouraged wars, tribalism and nepotism til it dried up the country of all hope and resources.
May god be kind to the people of Lebanon and Beirut for baring this tragedy. It is unspeakable. Walking around Port Beirut is unbearable.
Mar Mkhayel, Gemayze, Downtown districts are totally leveled. The rest of the city heavily damaged. The spirit of youth, light, music and business was buried in literally 1 second.
And it wasn’t an earthquake, an act of god, it wasn’t war either, nor terrorism, it was simply business as usual.
May god also grant this down trodden people now, my people, the wisdom to stop voting into power this same cadre of politicians that literally mismanaged a rich proud historic country with millions of expats, riches and potential into a million shades of despair and oblivion.