Ref: AD-2918
Summary: Western pressure to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon, framed as a technical fix for sovereignty and stability, is a neo-colonial imposition that ignores the group’s deep political and social roots. By overlooking Lebanon’s sectarian realities and historical grievances, this external demand risks further fracturing the country rather than healing it.
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It seems that matters have progressed recently. The dialogue seems to have shifted from “disarmament” to “containment” as an interim measure ahead of an Israeli withdrawal that would pave the way to a broader internal agreement wherein Hezbollah and its arms will be integrated in the Lebanese armed forces. I hope this is not wishful thinking.
Lebanon has been ruled by many imperial powers. Some the Lebanese like, such as the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines, and some they did not, any variation on “Turkik”. Some they fought and some they fought for. Some they integrated with and some they did not accept. At the moment, the feeling is that the country has become an outpost of the American Empire. In my opinion, most are in favor. Do not forget that most Lebanese have family members in the US, very many are educated there and very many have had successful careers with American corporations. The Americans are certainly no strangers to the Lebanese and the Lebanese would not look at them as occupiers. I am not sure that the country therefore is on its knees.
You should not forget, in addition, that many years of internal government, or lack thereof, makes any sane person look for an alternative. This alternative was not chosen but sounds and looks and feels a lot better than the local variety (witness, for example, the Abu Omar scandal).
No one should forget that the Lebanese always look West. This must have a lot to do with the fact that Beirut had its roots as a Phoenician village but as a city was built by Augustus Caesar as a retreat for his retiring officers and flourished dramatically under Roman rule (and that of Byzantine). Its roots are those of a tree west leaning.