Lebanese unity? Not at the point of a Hizbollah gun

Emile Hokayem
The National (UAE)
17 December 09

(Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? ... Sesame Street)

After six months of political drama and wrangling, Lebanon has a government. Congratulations poured in from abroad as soon as cabinet proposals by the prime minister, Saad Hariri, won overwhelming parliamentary support.

On a delicate visit to Washington, the president, Michel Suleiman, felt confident enough to promise a sceptical audience of US officials and Lebanese Americans that this national unity government would usher in a period of stability.

In fact, what happened between the elections in June and the formation of the new government was the political weakening of the March 14 coalition that nominally leads the cabinet, and the erosion of its tenets; from delineating borders with Syria to bringing suspects in the assassinations of anti-Syrian figures before an international tribunal. Mr Suleiman did not even raise these issues in his discussions in Washington.

The reasons for this collapse will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of those who hoped this tiny and volatile country could establish full sovereignty and authority over its own territory and people, and worked so hard towards that end.

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