Submitted by Dany, Nov 19, 2007 10:50

In the article, you mention that Lahoud's term officially ends this Friday. In reality, his term officially ended 3 years ago but Syria forced this extension which should not be termed as official. Lebanon's current crisis is a product of neglect by the international community to recognize the ills that can so easily develop in a country too small for its various religions, beliefs, and ideas. There simply isn't enough room for them and whatever action comes from a rational side has always been too little, too late. In Lebanon, the West has no time for procrastination. Though seemingly insignificant, Lebanon is historically and geographically a crossroads with the unique ability to influence ideas on both sides of the divide. While often stated, it should be treated as gospel truth by the west. In as much as Lebanon is a weathervane showing the signs of collapsing relations and failed strategies, if you want changes in the social fabric of the middle east, Beirut is the place to start. The west's constant near-sightedness in Lebanon has allowed for extremist elements to build and strengthen with no one to oppose them. Forces like Hezbollah exist because of the West's failure to understand the consequences of its actions. If you let billions of Iranian dollars reach a group of extremists, what do you expect will happen in 25 years? For the west to conquer Lebanon, it must win the heart and souls of the people, not back them into a corner - a constant failure in Western (not to mention Israeli) strategies concerning the middle east. The mythological Phoenix (from the term Phoenicians - Lebanon's ancient inhabitants) always rises from the ashes and so Lebanon's people (even if certain groups claim no connection to the ancient Phoenicians) always feel they can survive because for thousands of years, they have done just that. Even mighty Hezbollah could have dissipated and faded away had the west taken away the reason for them to thrive, not their ability to survive. Hezbollah can not be defeated in war without sacrificing the morals critical and vital in western identity. The only way to destroy Hezbollah is to make them irrelevant to the point where their traditional followers would rather live their lives than fear for their survival. Three months ago, I spent 2 weeks in Lebanon, my first trip in five years and the first time in my life being there without obvious Syrian presence. It was bitter sweet. On the one hand, I saw my country of birth without the heavy handed Syrian presence that I despised all of my life. On the other hand, I saw the failure of the west to take advantage of a period in time where there was real room for change in Lebanon. Now I am afraid that the time has gone and the country will collapse again. Of course, Lebanon is only the first of the dominoes. And being the Phoenix, it will rise, but what will the ashes come to form this time?

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