Neither the government nor the opposition could agree on who should succeed Emile Lahoud, and while Lebanon’s army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman has emerged as the latest candidate for the post, even while enjoying the support of prominent opposition figure Michel Aoun, Aoun’s conditions - which include the appointment of a neutral prime minister - have previously been rejected by the governing coalition. So Lebanon might return to square one, but the addition to the dangerous power vacuum is the growing sense of alienation among the once-powerful Maronite Christians.
During its 15-year civil war, Lebanon became a playground for foreign machinations of all kinds. The current political problem could once again expose the extent to which Lebanon can be prey to outside meddling and plotting. Hence, this largely domestic issue has become both a regional and an international affair. Access the full article>>