The peaceful and measured way the Hizbullah-FPM-Amal axis demonstrations have gone for the past several days have confirmed the optimism I expressed in my previous post. While the sectarian factions in Iraq are heading recklessly into the precipice, some in Lebanon are taking a step back. Could it be? could it really be possible that leaders from our Middle East have learned the lessons of the past. It is not that the political high-stakes game has abated, it is just that civil strife is no longer a looming danger (never say never).
The large, one million (give or take), demonstration on Friday has clearly shown that the opposition is a popular force to reckon with. It makes the shrill mantra of the March 14 alliance that Hizbullah is nothing but a tool of Iran and Syrian interest seem more than a little silly. The oppisition alliance has to be reckoned with politically as they represent a significant percentage of the population (at least 25% judging form the size of the demonstration). Hizbullah has played its hand very shrewdly in this confrontation and giving the March 14 people a taste of its own medicine. Yet, I don't know that a solution of this political crisis is any closer unless backroom deals are being struck at this very moment.
Stay tuned!
1 comment:
Sadly, I spoke too soon (http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=77379).
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