UPDATE: Lebanon's Aoun Backs Army Chief For President - AFP

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Source: AFP

BEIRUT (AFP)--Prominent opposition leader Michel Aoun said Thursday he backed the army chief, General Michel Sleiman, to become Lebanon's new president, a move that could help to fill a week-long political vacuum.

A fractious parliament is due to meet Friday to elect a successor to Emile Lahoud, whose term expired last Friday, but it wasn't clear whether constitutional obstacles to Sleiman's candidacy could be cleared by then.

"Yes of course, I back him and I am very happy," Aoun told reporters. "If the majority wants and other parties in the opposition want, then it is okay."

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Hezbollah has declared that it would only back Sleiman if Aoun accepted.



Read more: DowJones

[Teaser]

1. Scary in light of this speculation

at roadstoiraq.com.

I usually take things at rti with a grain of salt. But getting Lebanon "off the table" is necessary before any serious Iran campaign can begin.

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2. One can think of other explanations too ...

A butt-covering retreat for example, by the "anti-Syrian" forces. But it is an interesting speculation, and he makes some good points. I don't see attacking Iran being in the cards any time soon, so his background rationale does not work for me.

[Teaser]

3. I like your explanation better

I had been dismissing the other author's post...but now I can't dismiss it. damn.