New Cabinet: Not that Great

I'm glad there is a new Lebanese government (for information on political affiliation, see NOW Lebanon. However, their data is not entirely correct. For example, they list both Ibrahim Shamsedine and Tarek Mitri as Information Minister). I am not happy with the cabinet composition.

Last year, Michael Young predicted in the Daily Star that if Saad Hariri wanted to assume the office of prime minister, he would be forced to appoint a cabinet of ministers composed of major sectarian political players from different regions in Lebanon. Although Saad is not PM, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's cabinet seems to have this composition, which is a major disappointment.

The good:

1. Ziad Baroud, Minister of Interior. Baroud brought together a diverse and encompassing group to create a new electoral law for Lebanon that represents minority and majority interests from all different perspectives. The law is infeasible in Lebanon's current climate, but sets the standard for humane, ethical, and equitable democratic representation in Lebanon.

I have no doubt he will ethically and competently serve Lebanon in his capacity as the chief law enforcer in Lebanon. [Full disclosure: I know the Minister personally, and happen to like him].

Baroud's appointment is also a statement of President Sleiman's commitment to Lebanon. Baroud is one of President Sleiman's 3 cabinet appointees. I know nothing of their personal or familial relationship, but the fact that Baroud is serving in this cabinet is encouraging.

2. Elias Murr, Minister of Defense. Minister Murr is a political appointee, but serves as if he is a technocrat. He was an excellent Interior Minister, and even better as Minister of Defense. He knows the political obligations of his position, but ensures that his ministry is constantly improving and working to meet international standards.

Politically, he and his father, Metn MP and za'im Michel el-Murr, balance between the competing influences in Lebanon. He supported former President Emile Lahoud, then support the 14 March Coalition when the situation required it of him, and is now representing President Michel Sleiman.

This could be interpreted as political opportunism or the machinations of a political family trying to constantly maintain their grip on power, however, the excellent job Murr has done in his position suggests a realistic and competent defense of Lebanon and Lebanese sovereignty.

President Sleiman appointed Murr, as well.

3. Raymond Audi, Minister of the Displaced. I know little about Raymond Audi's political background. I have an account with his bank, and I have met him on a few apolitical occasions. The Minister collects and appreciates art, which is a shared interest.

Regardless, a banker and financier assuming a ministry allegedly reputed as one of the best for graft and embezzlement, could be a positive development.

However, it is not necessarily a positive development that one of the wealthiest and most prominent Lebanese citizens is filling a position that could go to a less prominent and wealthy expert in the field.

4. Muhammed Khalifeh, Minister of Health. Khalifeh was an excellent Health Minister in the previous government. Unfortunately, his Amal political affiliation forced him to resign from his position before the end of his term, but he still upheld the highest of standards.

A few months ago, Hezbollah spread rumors that the Future Movement would support Khalifeh as Minister of Health in the next government, given his capabilities. This was not just a swipe at Amal (rumored to actively endorse embezzlement), but a vote of confidence in a capable minister.

5. Tarek Mitri, Minister of Information. I am not sure what the Minister of Information does. I know that journalists receive their press credentials from the Ministry. PSP MP Ghazi Aridi has occupied the position for so long, I generally associate it as the ministry for eloquent government spokespeople.

Regardless, Mitri is a technocrat par excellence. He joined the previous government as one of President Lahoud's appointees, but continued to serve in a prominent capacity in the 14 March government as the "opposition" resigned.

Mitri was the best post-war Minister of Culture, and (no insult to Minister Aridi - who has received a portfolio boost) will probably be the best post-war Minister of Information. He's competent, qualified, dignified, and highly competent.

The bad:

1. Elie Skaff, Minister of Agriculture. Do I need to explain? It has been publicly alleged that Skaff profited massively from his previous Ministerial posts.

Skaff dominates Zahle and West Bekaa politics. The man is quite genial. He has an excellent sense of humor, and his politics are not sectarian. Future Movement Sunnis in the West Bekaa love Skaff just as much Greek Catholics in Zahle.

However, naming him to this portfolio is a blatantly political attempt to provide aid to Bekaa farmers in an effort to win over votes in the next parliamentary elections for himself, Michel Aoun, and pro-Syrian allies (perhaps, Abdel Rahim Mrad), against supporters of the Future Movement and other 14 March parties.

2. Gebran Bassil, Minister of Telecommunications. Telecommunications? Seriously? Why, because he dominates the Lebanese airwaves so much?

Bassil is regularled criticized for being ill-prepared for television interviews. His political rise is entirely tied to his marriage to Michel Aoun's daughter. FPM members claim he is brilliant, and singlehandedly crafted their "Memorandum of Understanding" with Hezbollah. 14 March supporters claim the man is the incompetent scion of the Aounist establishment.

Such an important Ministry? Really?

At this time, Lebanon needs a truly competent person in this position. Why not the allegedly competent Issam Abu Jamra? (Oh, yeah. That's because Aoun wanted to steal the ceremonial "deputy prime minister" from Elias el-Murr).

Former Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamade was reputed to leave the majority of day to day business to his operations officer, who is also the head of Ogero. However, Hamade's political view - primarily his interest in safeguarding his personal safety (he was a target of assassination in 2004) and that of his associates - provided impetus to guarantee that the Interior Ministry and UN investigating team had access to the necessary telephone files.

I know the former Minister personally, and he is a highly intelligent man. His political view, however, might have also stifled the privatization of Lebanon's telecommunications networks, as his Future Movement chief operations officer is rumored to be making present decisions based on an interest in becoming the future CEO of a privatized Ogero. The head of Ogero is competent, but I hear there needs to be a bit more oversight in the ministry. Will Bassil provide it?

Hamade's son also owns a telecommunications firm, which was a blatant conflict of interest for the former minister, which is sadly expect in Lebanon (please don't cancel my internet account).

If Bassil takes aggressive action, I will support him the entire way. If, while in this position, he behaves like the Aounist political partisan he has for the last three years, I will be utterly disgusted, especially at this crucial time.

Thankfully, the heads of Ogero, MTC, and Alfa are highly intelligent and competent individuals. Given their competence, if Bassil decides to use his post for political purposes alone, Lebanon will be fine. If he chooses to stifle March 14 investigations into assassinations, his post will be devastating for Lebanon.

3. Talal Arslan, Minister of Youth and Sports. Seriously? Arslan? Come on, opposition. Do you really hate Waleed Jumblatt that much? I guess so. Thanks for letting him know where you stand. If you nominated Wiam Wahhab during the cabinet negotiations for the position, you would have even more blatantly let all of us know your fealty to the Syrian regime. Oh, wait. You did that by annointing Ali Qanso as a Minister of State.


The expected:

1. Bahia Hariri, Minister of Education. I understand the political calculations for naming Hariri to this position, but is there any way she could be construed as a technocrat? Sadly, I don't think so.

Hariri has suffered significantly with the assassination of her brother, the daily attacks on her family's reputation, and the threats to her personal safety. Regardless, I can think of no other reason to appoint her to this ministry other than in preparation for the next elections. Hezbollah, the Saad family, and other powerful families in Saida have the strength to sweep Bahia Hariri out of her seat in the qada during the next elections, if 14 March is not aggressive.

But seriously, education? I guess the Hariri's used to give a lot of education grants, but they significantly decreased those efforts in 1998.

Hariri deserves a cabinet seat. My disappointment is that there are so many qualified educators in Lebanon who truly deserve this position who would make it their personal priority to better the quality of education in Lebanon. If Lebanon produces anything, it is educated and brilliant minds, many of whom serve as teachers and professors in Lebanon, and also the majority of others who pursue careers abroad.

2. Muhammad Chattah, Minister of Finance. Chattah is a smart man. He is dignified and loyal.

He also happens to be from Tripoli, which will be the sight of a major electoral battle during the next elections, especially if Muhammad Safadi, Najib Miqati, and Omar Karami unite and throw money at the locals.

Chattah has the required experience for this crucial position. He is also one of the most trusted Hariri/Siniora aides. Yet, Jihad Azour was excellent as Minister of Finance. He won international awards, was loved by his staff, and has international credibility.

I understand that the Future Movement was limited in the number of Christian ministers it could appoint. I understand that Hezbollah/Amal tried to name all of the Shia ministers, so Future tried to name all of the Sunni ministers. I understand that Chattah is competent and credible and will probably do an excellent job. But shouldn't Future fight to be able to appoint competent Christian ministers, or at least urge Future's Christian political allies to lend a spot to a technocrat? Shouldn't the Future Movement award competence?

I am happy that a competent person is in the position of Finance Minister. I am also happy that Chattah was named as a member of the cabinet. He would serve well in any cabinet position.

However, I do not like that his appointment can be construed as being made for blatantly political and sectarian reasons, and that a highly competent, technocratic, successful, admirable person was removed from the cabinet.

3. Khaled Qabbani, Minister of State. Seriously, Future Movement, what does Qabbani do for you? I'm being entirely serious.

In the previous government, he was education minister. Did he serve with particular distinction?

In the previous government, he made a ridiculous fuss about the Habtoor Grand Hotel being a story too tall. It was a non-decorous move.

Is he that important for the next elections? Siniora, is he that good of an adviser? Or, do you just like his tinted glasses, and the fact that he follows you around everywhere and looks like a pious Muslim when you pray in front of television cameras?

4. Tamam Salam, Minister of Culture. Come oooooooon, Future Movement. This move is so blatantly political, it is ridiculous.

Salam is a good guy. He's from a prominent Sunni Beiruti family. Getting him on your side helps you prevent Salim al-Hoss and other pro-Syrian Sunnis in Beirut from winning a seat or two in the newly apportioned Beirut parliamentary districts.

However, after an excellent technocratic Minister of Culture like Tarek Mitri, Salam seems like an entirely political appointee. I'm not saying that he will not do a phenomenal job. He might. But your reasons for choosing him, Mitri's excellent tenure, and the huge possibility that he will use the trappings of his office without returning the favor to the Lebanese people who democratically elected the parliament that appoints him is reason enough for me to be disappointed. Please, please, please, surprise me with your competence, sense of duty, and interest in defending Lebanon's cultural freedom, Minister Salam. I apologize for my skepticism in advance.

5. Everybody else. Pretty much all of the other ministers are expected and their appointments made for political reasons, so I won't comment on them. The above ministers are the ones that most inspired/ disappointed me.


Obviously, many ministers received their positions based on pragmatic politics, not competence. However, this cabinet is much better than it would have been if political views were the only justification for appointments. There is plenty of competence.

Obviously, I am also much more disappointed with the Future Movement than with other parties. This, obviously, shows my bias and the fact that I expect more from PM Siniora than I do from, say, Elie Skaff and Ali Qanso.

I have come to expect a certain type of behavior and a certain display of moral and ethical values from Amal and Hezbollah, which makes me surprised when a compentent and qualified person like Muhammad Khalifeh is appointed as a minister.

The PSP cabinet selections are expected. I am surprised that Marwan Hamade is not a minister in the current government. However, losing a seat to Talal Arslan was probably a difficult compromise to make, as well.

I do not know why Waleed Jumblatt continues to appoint Wael Abou Faour to positions. This is not to say anything about about Minister of State (ie, without portfolio) Abou Faour. I have never met him. However, he is obviously providing value to his party and people. I say this merely because I do not know much about Abou Faour, which is entirely my fault.

The ministers representing the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb, and the Qornet Shehwan Gathering are untested commodities. Much would be expected of Qornet Shehwan cabinet member Nassib Lahoud. However, he does not have a portfolio. This means that he will probably dominate Lebanese microphones between now and the next parliamentary elections. His cabinet seat might also put him in a better negotiating position with Amine Gemayel, Michel el-Murr, Karim Pakradouni, and Hagop Pakradounian in getting elected as a parliamentarian from Metn.