From Israel to Damascus

 Table of Contents

This story is about the secret life of three powerful men in Lebanon's history.  The three friends who began as brothers: Elie Hobeika, Bashir Gemayel and myself, Cobra.  We were brothers fighting for a Christian Lebanon until the lust for power and money corrupted the mind and heart of Hobeika resulting in the betrayal of his country to Syria.

Three friends:  One man lost his life due to the betrayal from his own house that lead to his death.  Bashir Gemayel only ruled for a short period of  time as president of  Lebanon.  One man became a powerful politician protected by the Syrian mechanism that currently rules Lebanon. His name is Elie Hobeika.  And I, Cobra, his closest bodyguard and friend, defected to France to live in exile fearful from any unknown retaliation by Hobeika because I knew too much about him to live in Lebanon.  This is my story about Lebanon's political underworld.  This is my experience, one man who witnessed the betrayal of the Christian society by a leader who switched sides from Israel to Syria for individual power and position.  I was the closest man to Hobeika during his Syrian adventures.  I followed his every move and went anywhere he went.  I faithfully watched his back and followed him blindly as he positioned for power in the highest inner circles of Damascus.

My autobiography also depicts the story of a straight soldier who believed in the Christian cause.  It tells how I grew up believing in my leaders and followed orders even when they contradicted the morals of life.  I know now that I committed wrongs and I ask God to forgive me for my acts.  When I realized the extent of my wrongdoings, left Lebanon and decided to write this book to tell the unknown truth of what really happened.

Today, I am a hunted man in Europe.  My former leader, Hobeika, his Syrian masters and allies, are tracking me to keep me from exposing the truth.  Hobeika once burnt be many years ago with the United States government because I obeyed his orders.  I now ask the United States to read my story and consider my value as a human being because of my mixed loyalty as a faithful soldier under H.K.'s command.  I plead that the United States reconsider my entry into the United States to live out the rest of my days in peace, far and free from any threats of death.

Today, I am a broken and weak man fighting against powerful giants who have millions of dollars and military forces behind them, they did not miss the chance to use terrorism to combat democracy in the world to gain their own political purposes.

The United States is a superpower that protects the weak nations of the world defending freedom and democracy.  Do not forget Lebanon.

Today, Syria is ruling Lebanon through terrorism.  The Syrians  have killed most of  the Lebanese leaders through assassination and car bombs, exiled some of the leaders and jailed the leaders who posed threat on them. They imposed their candidates into Lebanon's politics so they can govern it forever and make it part of Greater Syria.

I decided to expose my story so that everyone will know that freedom and democracy does not currently exist in Lebanon.
 

Robert M. Hatem  -Cobra-