(Christian Science Monitor) Ghassan Rubeiz - Many Lebanese would argue that both Syria and Hizballah protected Lebanon at critical moments in the recent past. But they would hasten to add that the new political realities require the Lebanese state to assume the full responsibility of running the country and to resume a monopoly on the use of force. A civic transformation of Hizballah, integrating the militia into the Lebanese army, would be a positive development for this Shiite political party and a victory for Lebanese unity. The key to influencing Hizballah's future in Lebanon has now shifted from Syria to Iran. Syria is exhausted economically, morally and politically, while Iran is gaining political strength from Iraq's new Shiite power.
2005-03-09 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive