Beirut: Sleiman Must Play The Game

SLEIMAN MUST PLAY THE GAME NowLebanon.com Thursday, July 3, 2008 Lebanon The time has come for Michel Sleiman to play Christian politics or else run the risk of becoming a bit player in what is becoming a very nasty bit of power play. While the new president might be applauded for his cautious approach to the recent cabinet crisis, the time has come for him to step up to the plate and fulfill the role expected of him, that of a mediator, a head of state and a Christian figurehead. At the moment, his three portfolios are not going to give him much clout in the cabinet, if and when it is formed, and so his goal, assuming he wishes to have a stake in how the country is 'run', should be to develop - as he has said he wants to do - his own parliamentary bloc, allowing him influence in the various parliamentary committees and by... [read full story]