Tony Frangieh
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Antoine Frangieh (1 September 1941 - 13 June 1978, better known by his diminutive, Tony, طوني فرنجية ) was a Lebanese politician and militia leader during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War.
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[edit] Education and early political career
Frangieh was educated at the College Des Frères, first in Tripoli then in Beirut, the latter from 1958 to 1960. He was furthering his study before his death.
On 25 October 1970, he succeeded his father, Suleiman Frangieh, as a member of the Lebanese Parliament for Zgharta, following his father's election to the Presidency. He was also appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in his father's government.
In the early 1970s, Tony Frangieh became synonymous with mismanagement and corruption. Stories about his alleged illicit involvement in the hashish trade abounded. As minister of post, telephone, and telegraph, he was accused if pocketing huge sums of money as fees for a major modernization scheme. So blatant was his greed that television via satellite was delayed for a decade when potential customers, especially the American networks, refused to pay the exorbitant installation costs that Tony demanded as a hidden payoff.
[edit] Civil war
In the early 1970s, when factions within Lebanon started to form militias, the Frangieh clan formed the Marada Brigade, also known as the Zghorta Liberation Army, under the command of Tony Frangieh. The Marada mainly operated out of Tripoli and northern Lebanon, the base of the Frangieh clan.
The Lebanese Civil War witnessed many shifting alliances where the allies of today became the enemies of tomorrow. One such falling out occurred between two of the leading Maronite clans, the Frangiehs and the Gemayels. The Frangiehs, who were close to Syria, were critical of Phalangist militia leader Bachir Gemayel's growing alliance with Israel. Militia from the Phalange and Marada also clashed over protection rackets.
This conflict led to the murder of Tony Frangieh by Phalangist militiamen. Bachir Gemayel himself was suspected by some of having ordered the killing. The rumour persists, although it has never been proved. On the morning of 13 June 1978 at 4am, a Phalangist squad led by Samir Geagea and Elie Hobeika attacked Tony Frangieh’s mansion in an attempt to capture Ehden,Tony Frangieh would be murdered after the assault.Approximately 10 Phalangists were captured and killed.Many versions tell the story of that morning.One of them is that Samir Geagea who was injured while fighting the Marada Brigade told Elie Hobeika(HK)to continue the operation, HK(known for his mafia like ways)is believed to have later on murderered Tony Frangieh during the raid on the Frangieh mountain mansion.Another version sites that Tony Frangieh was killed in combat after he refused to hand over the Marada militiamen responsible of the murder of a Phalangist member.
It was a failed attempt in taking over the Marada Brigade.
Suleiman Frangieh vowed revenge and subsequently sought an alliance with some of his former enemies, including Druze chieftain Walid Jumblatt and former Prime Minister Rashid Karami. The three formed the pro-Syrian National Salvation Front.
The murder of Tony Frangieh was one of the factors which many commentators blame for the longevity of Lebanon's war and was the start of strong division between christians.
[edit] Personal life
Frangieh had two children, Suleiman II and Jihane, with Vera el-Kordahi, whom he married in 1962. His son Suleiman first became a Minister of Public Health at the age of 22, and he recently held the ministry of Interior from 2004 to 2005). He is known as a staunch supporter of Syria, and despite his defeat in the general election of 2005, may run for the Presidency in 2007.
