"... What could more powerfully symbolize the weakness of the US than a client PM flying to Washington as the leader of his country and returning home out of a job?.."

 

"... In Lebanon’s strange dual politics, the Lebanese state struggled to remain close to the U.S. even as the most powerful force inside the state – Hezbollah – deferred to Iran. Now even the state seems to be succumbing. The succumbing began even before the Hariri government collapsed. Saad Hariri had paid a visit to Tehran back in November. But it does seem symbolic though that the final collapse occurred during a visit to Washington. What could more powerfully symbolize the weakness of the U.S. than a client prime minister flying to Washington as the leader of his country and returning home out of a job?."