The Lebanese Crisis and Iran’s Nuclear Program
The Lebanese Crisis and Iran’s Nuclear Program
Witnessing the latest round of barbaric violence against Lebanon, many have
been wondering as to why Israel has decided to end its normally limited
reactions to Hizbullah’s aggression and to ferociously and widely escalate its
response. Many analysts and spectators have been wondering what could
happen next. Is the US initiative in the Middle East over? Will the US and the UN
be forced to cut a deal with Syria and/or Iran to curb Hizbullah, and would such a
deal bring Syria back to Lebanon? Will Israel invade Lebanon, again? When will
this barrage of death and destruction end?
Screening the latest political maneuverings in the broader Middle East region
(including Iran) as well as the latest fierce bombardment against Lebanon and
the Palestinian territories, it seems that Israel has decided to launch its own war
on terrorism. Meanwhile the Bush Administration’s policy, supported by most
Arab states, is to place the whole world (the United Nations, the European
Union, the Arabs states, Iran and Syria as well as the Lebanese people and
government) before their responsibilities by forcing them to take a clear and
cautiously calculated stance from the latest developments. Hence, it is without
a doubt that some of these players are being squeezed between a rock and a
hard place.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can no longer issue fancy
presidential statements and crafty resolutions with empty slogans for fear to
upset the feelings of this rogue state or that dictator, or to avoid the veto of China
and Russia whose actions have been frustrating due to their sympathetic
sentiment towards their strategic allies in the region i.e. Iran, Syria, and their
terrorist proxies-Hamas and Hizbullah. Thus, this escalation will impose a
higher standard of ethics and responsibility on the shoulders of the concerned
states. If they fail, they will deem the UNSC irrelevant in today’s world order. The
same applies to the European Union.
The Arab leaders must clearly declare their stance. Since Israel has succeeded,
so far, to portray its war on Hizbullah and Hamas as a war on terrorism, it will be
nearly impossible for most leaders to side with the terrorists. The not so implicit
criticism of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and Jordan falls within this framework of
understanding, but it must be clearer. Furthermore, since Hizbullah and Hamas
are the long arms of Iran, through which Ahmadinejad is influencing, if not
dictating, the politics of the region through terrorist attacks and through
spreading the Shiite Islamic Revolution, which has began in 1979 by Ayotallah
Khomeini, the Arabs can no longer sit idle for this aggression is double edged;
Persians vs. Arabs and Shiites Vs. Sunnis. Historic facts indicate that such
threat poses an Iranian clear and present danger to the Arab Sunnis in the ME
region, which have been witnessing an overwhelming increase in Shiite
population. Such demographic change is of great danger to a region which is
adopting democratic political systems. On the other hand, Israel poses no direct
threat to any Arab state ideologically, economically, or militarily. Therefore, it
should not be a surprise if the Saudis and their allies end up in one way or
another financing the bombs and ammunitions being dropped in today’s battles.
As for the US initiative in the ME, it is far from being dead. In fact, the Israeli war
has provided the US Administration another path through which it can deal with
Iran’s nuclear program. This added dimension gives the US the option to go on
its own or through NATO away from the UN frustrating and rather ineffective
declarations and maneuverings. This may occur through the Defense Treaty
between Israel and the USA, if the latter decided to take military action against
the Hizbullah-Syrian-Iranian axis, especially if these two rogue states decided to
intervene along side Hizbullah. Otherwise, Hizbullah will eventually be crushed
and defeated.
Furthermore, the Israeli aggression has helped the US Administration for it
showed the world, Middle Easterners in particular, the alternative to the US
peaceful initiative and partnership program. Notwithstanding, when the Director
of Public Diplomacy and MEPI affairs at the US Agency for International
Development (USAID) Mr. Walid Maalouf traveled to Egypt and Lebanon, June
11-18, where he met with religious leaders, influential civil society members,
and students to discuss U.S. foreign assistance, Syria and Hizbullah accused
him of being an Israeli agent and a Zionist. Today’s aggression highlights that
nothing can be further from the truth than these allegations. Mr. Maalouf’s visit
was supported by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who affirmed that “our
Arab speaking diplomats must tell America’s story, not just in translated op-eds,
but live.”[i]
It is hard to predict the end of this crisis, but it seems that Israel will keep
escalating its aggression even after defeating Hizbullah in order to provoke Syria
and Iran to join the fight. This will serve as a perfect justification to bombard Iran’
s nuclear facilities. Unfortunately, a successful assault on Iran’s nuclear
facilities is the only way to end this aggression against Lebanon and its
innocent people for the road to Tehran goes through the Southern Suburb of
Beirut. This is due, regrettably, to the fact that Hizbullah and his allies placed
Lebanon’s fate in the hand of the Iranian radical regime.
In conclusion, it is time for the Lebanese people and government to take a solid
stance against any official or organization that acts independently through
channels outside the government institutions, especially the cabinet, which is
the executive branch of the government. It is also time to implement UNSCR
1559 aimed at disarming militias, deploying the Lebanese Army in southern
Lebanon, electing a new president, and reforming Lebanon’s political and
economic systems. Furthermore, the Lebanese government must hold
Hizbullah, Iran, Syria, and Israel accountable for the deaths of innocent people,
as well as for the destruction of Lebanon’s infrastructures by suing these
culprits in the International Court of Justice.[ii] By order form the proper
authorities, the Lebanese Central Bank must seize the accounts of Hizbullah in
order to pay retribution for all the deaths and damage they caused to Lebanon’s
infrastructure and its people. Moreover, the Lebanese government must
confiscate all properties owned by Hizbullah and its affiliate organizations. Last
but not least, the Lebanese people must hold accountable the officials who are
responsible for this crisis. This includes anyone who participated in supporting,
planning, and or participating in Hizbullah’s latest miscalculated aggression,
which brought Lebanon to its knees.
The civilized world should be outraged regarding the inhumane treatment and
the suffering of the innocent Lebanese people who are being massacred and or
living in constant fear and now disease and poverty. It is for this reason that we
support Secretary Rice’s adamant quest to reach a comprehensive solution to
the Lebanese crisis, which will result in disarming Hizbullah and in curbing Iran
and Syria’s constant destructive intervention in Lebanon’s internal affairs,
instead of a brief ceasefire that will maintain the troublesome status quo.
For those who harbor ill-sentiment toward a free and democratic Lebanon, we
assure them that Syria will not return to Lebanon; Iran’s Nuclear Facilities will be
destroyed; Hizbullah’s Jihadist movement will cease to exist; the US initiative for
a free, democratic, and sovereign Lebanon will prevail for it is the wish and the
will of the Lebanese people.
Pierre A. Maroun
Senior Policy Advisor
American Lebanese Coalition
ALCC
727-641-9764
July 26, 2006
[i] Mr. Maalouf’s speeches and negotiations were conducted in Arabic.
[ii] http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/igeneralinformation/inotice.pdf
