Lebanon & Syria: the background

Following yesterday's news of the Lebanese government's collapse Juan Cole puts recent events in context with some extremely useful background on that country's troubled history. His account of French and US interference over the years, particularly US backing for the Fascistic Maronite regime, should be read closely by anyone tempted to shoehorn the current situation into the old template of freedom loving western nations struggling to drag autocratic regimes into the modern era, as should the reminder that the Syrian presence in Lebanon was once entirely desirable, no matter how brutal and repressive, since it served the west's purposes.

Incidentally, when Cole says that Washington will be blamed for events whether or not it has anything to do with them, I think its worth venturing the thought that an overtly aggressive US stance toward Syria has opened up political space in the region, encouraging the enemies of Damascus to make their stands. This is not to say that this is all part of a grand American design. But nor is it to say that the US is an innocent and disinterested bystander. Not that I think Cole is suggesting this.

For more context and informed commentary as events unfold try Syria Comment written by Joshua Landis, Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oklahoma who, with impeccable timing, is spending 2005 in Damascus and Beirut.