"The victory by a pro-U.S. faction in last June's parliamentary election has given way to a situation in which Hezbollah will keep its large arms stockpile and a veto over major government decisions, while efforts are underway to repair relations with neighboring Syria.
The compromises made by new Prime Minister Saad Hariri as he assembled a governing coalition are seen by supporters as unavoidable in a country in which complex internal politics and the influence of outside powers can make governing difficult. But they also show the practical limits of the Obama administration's overture to the Islamic world.
The June election victory by Hariri's coalition came just after Obama delivered a major speech from Cairo and just before violent street demonstrations rattled the government in Iran, considered an important influence in Lebanon because of its support for Hezbollah. Some Obama advisers went so far as to attribute Hariri's success to the mood of reform the president had brought to the region.
But victory at the polls did not translate so smoothly on the ground. Hariri spent six months trying to form a government, and could do so only after accepting key Hezbollah demands and giving up on a main aim of his coalition: to curb the Islamist group's influence.
He also agreed to visit Damascus and meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad, a difficult symbolic step because of Syria's suspected involvement in the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former prime minister Rafiq Hariri. A United Nations tribunal is still investigating the killing. It is one of a number of political assassinations that led to a U.N. resolution and other outside pressure, prompting Syria to end its longstanding military presence in Lebanon. Washpost
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What a shame! The Bush Administration had managed Lebanese politics into a completely frozen mass of parties and aspiring caudillos. All the while Israel looked on in satisfaction as any efforts to resolve its problems with either Lebanon or Syria were stalemated by the impasse in both Damascus and Beirut. It was a triumph.
But, alas, the wretched Lebanese got tired of the whole complex (but enjoyable) web of intrigue and whispers about who killed whom. They made a deal amongst themselves. How dare they!
Unreliably folk, these Lebanese. They do not seem to understand the proper behavior of pawns.
To be fair, Obama's policy gave them just enough wiggle room. Well, I hope they keep on wiggling. pl
Sir. While Im a cynical of the current administration as the next guy, you might find it in you to spare a hopeful thought to the ME people the administration has taken in from the cold, such as Lynch and the CNAS crew. I dont think that group of people, nor some of the military folks from what I read, are very unhappy with a strong, politicaly involved Hezbollah. Even Israel has toned down some of its rhetoric lately, preferring to whip the Gazans to keep their macho.
Erdogan was out today being strongly anti-Israeli policies, and that seems to me to be a new and major development. It is noticable that one of Obamas first stops were Turkey, putting down a wreath on Ataturks grave. (And bowing, lol). It may hopefully be that slowly, over the next two years, the stranglehold on US policy by Israel may be loosened as I see it. Nethanyahus gamble that a sufficient number of political actors would be able to continue to over-ride professional actors is a bold one, i must say?
Question to you US folks: How terrorized are folks really? Because the reaction to the testicle-bomber seems totaly out of proportion.
Hope Im not still banned here ;-)
Posted by: fnord | 11 January 2010 at 12:42 PM
Now if the Lebanese can just keep the Israeli's stealing mitts off their Lebanese water supplies.
Posted by: J | 11 January 2010 at 01:34 PM
fnord
Ah, still with the CNAS crowd.... pl
Posted by: Patrick Lang | 11 January 2010 at 04:32 PM
fnord,
The reaction in the US media to the underwear bomber is totally out of proportion. US citizens aren't terrified. If we were, we wouldn't get on our own roads because driving is more dangerous than the occasional terrorist.
Posted by: Jackie | 11 January 2010 at 04:57 PM
fnord, none of the Americans I know are in the least afraid. Of course I live in a blue state not a red one, and we are not as fearful.
My husband and I fly frequently, just came back from Central America and will be flying back in May, we have family there.
I feel Republican bank on keeping Americans fearful. During the election I wanted to get a bumper sticker that said No Fear, I'm a Democrat.
Having said that, I have many friends that are Republicans, here in Calif., and they are not fearful either.
Posted by: Nancy K | 11 January 2010 at 06:08 PM
Whew... was reading about Lebanon demographic. It is less than 4 million people (same as population of LA. Just the city, not the entire county) Everybody practically knows everybody. Man, one does not want to pick a fight in such place. Old and byzantine history plus major ancient port. A grudge will last forever and more. People remember.
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I love wiki summary btw,
Lebanon's religious divisions are extremely complicated, and the country is made up by a multitude of religious groupings. The ecclesiastical and demographic patterns of the sects are complex. Divisions and rivalries between groups date back as far as 15 centuries, and still are a factor today. The pattern of settlement has changed little since the 7th century, but instances of civil strife and ethnic cleansing - most recently during the Lebanese Civil War - has brought some important changes to the religious map of the country. (See also History of Lebanon.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Lebanon
Posted by: curious | 11 January 2010 at 07:47 PM
Not to worry, Israel stands ready to show those pesky peaceniks a thing or two before the cancer spreads.
"U.S. to store $800m in military gear in Israel
The U.S. Army will double the value of emergency military equipment it stockpiles on Israeli soil, and Israel will be allowed to use the U.S. ordnance in the event of a military emergency, according to a report in Monday's issue of the U.S. weekly Defense News. . . .
The deal allows Israel access to a wider spectrum of military ordnance, and the U.S. official said his government was considering which forms of military supplies would be added to stores in Israel. Missiles, armored vehicles, aerial ammunition and artillery ordnance are already stockpiled in the country.
The agreement is expected to aid Israel in its effort to bolster its weapons stockpiles for use in an emergency. Israel's stores of aerial and artillery ammunition were depleted during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, nearly reaching levels the IDF considers dangerously low. "
"http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1141745.html"
Now they'll be ready to deal with the peace clouds looming on the horizon.
Posted by: Charles I | 12 January 2010 at 03:24 PM
And one day a Chinese ship shows at Palestine and Isreal say thank you, please dock and give all you wish to Gaza -- for Uncle Sam told the Knesset that we want PEACE WITH CHINA.
A good joke!
Posted by: N. M. Salamon | 12 January 2010 at 05:12 PM
Very informative post. I liked it. Thanks for your posting. :)
http://www.webroyalty.com
Posted by: Nick Matyas | 12 January 2010 at 05:31 PM
Off topic:
Why they hate us: by Osama bin ladin:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6537.htm
What MSM and the USA/UK po;litician dare nopt mention.
Posted by: N. M. Salamon | 13 January 2010 at 10:38 AM
Fnord, there is some interesting reporting on Turkish-Lebanese and Turkish - Arab relations in general that naturally touches on the Turkish-Israeli relationship, under ham-fisted assault by the latter this week over at Asia Times.
"Turkey embraces role as Arab 'big brother'"
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LA14Ak01.html
I was surfing Haaretz today where it was pointed out that the extraordinary apology pried out of the Israeli FM after the "the tarring and feathering of the Turkish ambassador by Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon." only occured because Obama didn't intervene with the Turkish insistence on an apology.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1142501.html
I think the latter a bit simplistic. After Gaza a worm has turned for Israel that will not be undone by Obama or continuous Israeli provocation, mostly because Israel is incapable of rationally governing itself, with pernicious effects all around.
Rather than perceive the "cultural message" that the complained of Turkish tv show depicting Mossad/IDF murdering children - "This is how we see your behaviour" - Israel chose to publicly act out like a complete asshole for all the world to see, at tremedous harm to relations with a very important long term ally whose government just spent the last two years complaining about same.
Hariri's ability to finesses things like the mandated disarming of Hezbollah by declaring them naturally incorporated by reference into the nation's defenses as a function of their status in government, where they gain access to the delights of Turkish diplomatic legitmacy is intolerable.
Israel seems incapable of anything nearing rational government and I expect attacks on Gaza, Iran and Lebanon in due course.
Wait'll Mubarak dies, maybe they can piss his successor off too, be back to the bad old sea of enemies days - only this time with China playing its energy hands with the enmies
Posted by: Charles I | 14 January 2010 at 05:57 PM