Setting Out

11 thoughts on “Setting Out”

1. 

   QN – This blog has been long in coming. Here is my blurb on SC:

   Qifa Nabki has started his own blog!! QN has been a regular contributor to SC on Lebanese matters and mixes biting satire with fine judgement and a unique sensibility that would make Rumi evaporate into nothingness and everythingness.

   Posted by Joshua Landis | September 30, 2008, 11:28 am
2. 

   QN ,

   Congratulation .

   Posted by norman | September 30, 2008, 1:28 pm
3. 

   Congratulations and good luck!

   Posted by AIG | September 30, 2008, 2:27 pm
4. 

   Bravo ya QN!

   1) The blog looks great. Elf Mabrook

   2) You seem to be approaching the tipping point where you can generate conspiracy theories about as fast as you anyone else. Its like Abbas is Robert Redford and you are Brad Pitt in the movie Spy Game. 😀

   Posted by Akh | October 1, 2008, 11:32 am
5. 

   Nice to know that a guy who is neither too sweet nor too bitter, just right, have a blog.

   Looking forward to your future posts.

   Posted by trustquest | October 1, 2008, 1:12 pm
6. 

   i’m very excited that my favorite SC commentator has his own blog now.

   As for your friend i will have to respectively disagree as i have been disagreeing with the notion of Syria re-entering Lebanon in the near future with several syrian and lebanese friends. I think there is still the option of striking a deal with several world or regional powers to convince Riyadh to cease their support of the salafist groups/

   That said I believe the possibility of such a move into Tripoli is not out of the ordinary, in fact its quiet plausible considering that Tripoli’s salafist movements are a threat to Syria’s national security. might sound like an excuse to some, nevertheless it’s a fact. But there are several factors that will at the very least delay such a move.

   1- US elections – any move into lebanon will require US green light to syria which is difficult to be given with a lame duck administration in power.

   2- Saudi Arabia – A DIRECT deal with the Saudis over this is nearly impossible especially since the Syrians are blaming Riyadh and Prince Bandar specifically with endorsing these movements. And while a full blown war of words has long been raging between the two countries, a move into tripoli will take this conflict to a new level which obviously will need extra consideration. That’s where a new US administration or other common friendly states can intervene with the Saudis

   3- Hariri- obviously this links up with the Saudis and if they won’t bless an entry into lebanon then neither will Hariri. Especially considering that these groups are his closest thing to an armed militia. He cannot afford losing his sunni base in the north by striking a deal with Syria and staying hush about such moves. And its in Syria’s interest to have Sunni blessing against what can be called “Rogue Elements” before committing to what will be a very unpopular move in Lebanon.

   Posted by Innocent Criminal | October 1, 2008, 3:03 pm
7. 

   Teslam habibi IC,

   I agree entirely with your analysis. I can’t see Syria moving into Lebanon. I think that this action is probably meant to send a signal to the Salafists, and perhaps to provide the secondary claw of a pincer operation to be conducted in combination with the Lebanese army.

   Before that happens, however, they will need to scapegoat them.

   Posted by Qifa Nabki | October 1, 2008, 3:51 pm
8. 

   Yah QN:

   About Time that we proved to those Pesky Syrian (brothers and sisters) that we are genetically superior, more articulate, better looking, produce better songs, our home grown hashish has moore oomph to it, that we are nobler, wiser, etc etc etc

   Your Slogan (s) should be:

   ” Moshing for Lebanon”

   “Propogandah leaves us Blinded”

   “An undertaking of great and insurmountable importance”

   If you ever need help drop me a line!

   Posted by Enlightened | October 2, 2008, 1:30 am
9. 

   Enlightened,

   Are you trying to send this thing off the rails before we even get started?!

   🙂

   Good to hear from you.

   Posted by Qifa Nabki | October 2, 2008, 4:13 am
10. 

    QN,

    I won’t repeat myself in congratulating you on this wonderful venture. But I will make a non sequitur… by suggesting that “Mabrook” and “MacBook” are very similar! Hence, I move to recommend Apple’s “MidEast”-version hardware be labeled “Mabrook” from now on. And, of course, the Mabrook Pro. 🙂 (Sorry… it’s getting late here.)

    Posted by Shai | October 2, 2008, 2:35 pm
11. 

    Ya QN:

    Don’t limit yourself to “rails” they are too constrictive.

    I was just ensuring that enough artistic and literary musings will be given enough scope on the blog, I wouldn’t derail your efforts, your writings and analysis (and wit) give me too much pleasure in the blogosphere.

    Hows Beirut?

    Posted by Enlightened | October 2, 2008, 9:48 pm