Lebanese Children Debate the Country's Sensitive Political Issues

Following are excerpts from a televised debate featuring children representing the various factions in Lebanon, aired on New TV on February 26, 2006.

Nader Nueiri: The [pro-Syrian demonstration of] March 8 was not Lebanese. Most of them were of other nationalities, not Lebanese. If we want to be honest - it was not Lebanese.

Interviewer: What do you think, Nadine?

Nadine Meqdad: Why wasn't it Lebanese?

Nader Nueiri:You know who participated in it... I don't want to say...

Interviewer: Did you participate in it?

Nadine Meqdad: On March 8? No, I didn't. My sisters did. I was at school, and couldn't participate. But it is not true that most of them were not Lebanese.

Interviewer: What do you think?

Nadine Meqdad: Most of them were supporters of the resistance, people who want to defend Lebanon, and not... he means that they were Syrians, but...

Nader Nueiri: I didn't mean only Syrians. There were many...

Nadine Meqdad: Who?

Nader Nueiri: it is well known. You can figure it out for yourself.

[...]

Shihab Ghanem: I hope that Syria pulls out its intelligence agencies, just like it pulled out its military forces.

Interviewer: You think some of them still here?

Shihab Ghanem: I'm certain.

Nader Nueiri: I agree with Shihab.

Interviewer: How do they affect the country?

Shihab Ghanem: They destroy everything.

Interviewer: Like what?

Shihab Ghanem: There is no freedom...

Eddie Sam'an: They can go on with the assassinations...

Interviewer: Who told you that?

Eddie Sam'an: There are people who are against Lebanon. It is well known.

Nader Nueiri: It's clear. The assassinations are still going on, threats are still being made against Lebanese MPs, and especially the leaders. I hope the president resigns, because he is not Lebanese, in my opinion. He is under the thumb of another country. This other country is still present in Lebanon. Okay, it pulled out its army. Okay, but the intelligence agencies are still present. It is the intelligence agencies that assassinate MPs...

Interviewer: Are you sure about this?

Nader Nueiri: of course I am. It is well known. If you read the newspapers...

Interviewer: Do you read newspapers?

Nader Nueiri: Of course. if you study history, and look back on the days of the leader Kamal Jumblatt, and even before Kamal Jumblatt - the story is well known. The Syrians enter, their intelligence agencies whisper here and there, there's an explosion – may he rest in peace.

[...]

I am not only talking about Syria, but about the president as well. He clings to his chair. It's like a comedy. He clings to his chair. What does the president do? He sits all content, watching the assassinations, he eats, he drinks, he gets paid, he lives in a palace. It's very good. He feels very good.

[...]

Nadine Meqdad: The Shab'a Farms are Lebanese, because if they weren't, the resistance would not have kept its weapons. When everything is resolved in Lebanon, the resistance will disarm, and if it doesn't, everyone will confront it.

Interviewer: So, in your opinion, only when Lebanon is liberated, the resistance should disarm?

Nadine Meqdad: There will still be other Arab countries... The resistance can help other Arab countries... against Israel.

Interviewer: You mean the resistance should keep its weapons until all the Arab countries are liberated of Israel.

Nadine Meqdad: If all the Arab countries, including Lebanon, support the weapons of the resistance, they will drive Israel out. After all, the resistance does not use its weapons for civil wars. Why should the weapons of the resistance bother them? These weapons do not affect them.

Interviewer: Eddie, why are you bothered by the weapons of the resistance?

Eddie Sam'an: We've all handed over our weapons.

Interviewer: What do you mean by "all of us"?

Eddie Sam'an: All the political players, like he said...

Interviewer: And you think that everyone, even the resistance, should hand over their weapons?

Eddie Sam'an: Yes.

Interviewer: Why?

Eddie Sam'an: Because they are strong, and Syria is with them. This will make them stronger and keep this weapons.

Interviewer: Because in your opinion, they are Syria's allies?

Eddie Sam'an: Yes.

Interviewer:But she says that the resistance is Lebanese. Are you afraid of the weapons of the resistance?

Eddie Sam'an: Yes.

Nader Nueiri: The Lebanese resistance answers to Iran and Syria. It wants to bring them in and to establish an Islamic state. We do not want to be like that. We don't want America, Israel, Iran or Syria to enter. We are Lebanese, we should be in charge of Lebanon, and not someone who wants to occupy Lebanon. Lebanon should be free, sovereign, and independent.

Eddie Sam'an: I support him a hundred percent.

Interviewer: But Nasrallah is not Lebanese, in your opinion?

Nader Nueiri: Nasrallah is Lebanese, but whose interests does he serve? The interests of Iran and Syria. Where does Nasrallah bring his weapons from? This is well known, Nadine.