A US Lebanese narrative

What exactly is it that Lebanon's ruling clique seem hell bent on implementing, if not servitude to the US

By Azmi Bishara
Al-Ahram Weekly

"......The Lebanese sometimes caution others against meddling in their domestic affairs. But this has not stopped them from theorising and meddling in the affairs of whomever they please through their media and in other ways. Nor has it stopped them from welcoming and even inviting foreign powers to come and tamper to their heart's content. One look at the amazing train of Western ambassadors parading into Lebanon and their statements is sufficient to make that clear.

All international dialogues on Lebanon (the most recent being between George W Bush and Nicolas Sarkozy) are taking place between supporters of the current government in Beirut. The subject of their talks is whether to risk setting off another explosion in the region by imposing the international balance of power onto Lebanon or to engineer reconciliation between international and domestic balances of power until the opportunity presents itself to lash out at the Lebanese resistance and/or its regional supporters. The discussions are always about how and when to take on the resistance, never about its right to exist (that it shouldn't is taken for granted). It would be hard for anyone to deny this.

About a year or so ago, of course, certain parties in Lebanon talked about a strategic alliance with the resistance. Today they're talking about getting rid of it through dialogue because sufficient force is not yet available, or by force when it becomes strong enough -- say after America's war on the resistance's regional supporters. There's nothing like honesty, as they say. How nice it is to hear someone say that he is proud to be part of America's project for this region, as surprised as we might be at how wildly his positions have swung over the past two years. Still, this should not prevent us from responding, with equal frankness, "What is the American project in the region? As far as Lebanon is concerned, for example? To expunge the resistance, of course? And what about Palestine, honestly? To support Israel and Israel's project of unconditional occupation? And the American project in Iraq? Duh ... " It's alright, people, to be part of all this, and proud of it too, as long as you know that you're part of a project that aims to destroy you. That project, so far, has a very brutal record of war and aggression, of the demolition of Iraq, of the use of internationally banned cluster bombs in Lebanon......."