Fire Management

Did yesterday's violent outbreaks in Beirut surprise the opposition?

Now go back home

The spiraling violence that left many dead and injured in Beirut yesterday seemed to have surprised the let's-block-roads-and-burn-tires-and-provoke-people crowd; Nabih Berri and Hassan Nassrallah appeared genuinely freaked out as they made their "please calm down and go back home" televised fatwas.

Moreover, the Beirut curfew wouldn't have materialized if it weren't for unanimous political approval. March 8 seemed to be surprised by the violence. But were they really?

Nassrallah's "If I only knew" speech comes to my mind. The pro-Syrians are consolidating their reputation for their uncanny ability to be shocked by things everyone else sees coming.

Too much PR energy is being spent on a blame-game that rings increasingly hollow. When you and your opponent are pumping sectarian fuel in your media, it becomes irrelevant who started the fire and who's fanning the flames (although Al-mustaqbal gave us a hint this morning: A Syrian and a Palestinian sniper who were shooting at the crowds were caught by the army yesterday.)

The opposition can't forever talk about peaceful demonstrations and then burn tires and provoke people. They should know that people out there would be more than happy to let us kill each other (I say Syrians, they say Americans).

You can't put this Genie back in the bottle every time.