Yes + the democratic win(d)s post Afghanistan/Iraq/Palestinian Authority

Submitted by David J. Blumberg (United States), Mar 2, 2005 at 20:38

Daniel,

Your comments are insightful and on point. Another important causal factor I would add is what the WSJournal referred to recently as "The Good Intifada".

In other words, the Lebanese people are seeing, feeling and adopting the momentum arising from the string of non-violent, popular movements for elections in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestinian Authority and Iraq, local elections in Saudia Arabia and Mubarak's promise of multi-candidate elections in Eqypt.

The catalyst was the assassination of Hariri, but the insight that popular demonstrations could push the Pro-Syrian government to resign and eventually to get Syria to withdraw is borne on the wings of our refreshing new US foreign policy of remaking the Middle East - regime change - all pushing towards more consensual governance in that region.

What a great time to be alive.

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