Obama’s Misguided Lebanon Policy

"... Current events in Lebanon vividly evidence how Washington is unwilling to learn from experience. Its insistence on supporting corrupt and discredited Lebanese politicians at any expense is part of a prevailing view among decision makers that a vibrant and democratic Arab society is a threat to Israel. Lebanon has been facing serious issues related to the nature of the direction the country should embark on relative to Israel, the Syrian-Saudi initiative pertaining to the international tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Harriri, and government economic and social priorities.

Washington has been over occupied with the first two issues and has persistently sought to have a weak government in Beirut that is receptive to Israeli dictates and is willing to severely restrict the movement of Lebanese patriotic forces. Indeed, Washington has not only pushed hard to create the international tribunal but has also provided intelligence and financial support to the tribunal with the hope of indicting members of the resistance forces in the killing of Rafik Harriri after it failed to incriminate the Syrian regime.

The Los Angeles Times (January 12, 2011) reported that the Syrian-Saudi initiative was a potential Arab breakthrough that offered a practical solution to Lebanon’s current problems. The initiative, however, was perceived by the Obama administration as an Arab rather than a Western plan which would ultimately legitimize the role of Lebanese patriotic forces in the country’s political affairs and as such would constitute a setback for Washington’s plan for a fragmented Lebanon and a chaotic region. President Obama, on January 11, called King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to inform him about his vision for Lebanon. After this conversation, the King’s son, Abdulaziz, called the President of Syria to inform him that the Kingdom was no longer part of the initiative ..... This, and a previous commitment from Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, emboldened Saad Harriri ........ Clinton announced, while in Qatar, “We view what happened today as a transparent effort by those forces inside Lebanon, as well as interests outside Lebanon, to subvert justice and undermine Lebanon’s stability and progress.” In contrast, her host, Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al Thani, said, “We have enough problems in the region that this problem we have to take care of it, in a way to solve it, not to complicate it.” This remark was dismissed by Clinton who asserted that the work of the special tribunal must go forward regardless of turmoil...."