I just can't help but comment on the dichotomy of the US presidential candidates with respect to Lebanon. It is widely believed and commented on in other blogs that McCain would serve better Lebanon's interests than either Hilary Clinton or Barrack Obama. 
McCain is regarded as a hawk who's been through the Vietnam war and understands the politics of the autocratic and despotic syrian regime. He is not likely to be intimated by neither the Syrian nor Iranian rulers. On the other hand, the Democrats, being more liberals and wanting always to give peace a chance, are likely to cut deals with Syria and Iran at the expense of Lebanon.
The bottom line question is: Who would be better for Lebanon? David Kenner addresses this question very eloquently in this article on the Now Lebanon web site. However, no compelling evidence or opinion is given to favor either candidate. The bottom line is that all 3 candidates will be bad for Lebanon in the sense that they will put Israel on a golden platter before caring an inch about Lebanon, essentially because the Jewish lobby is so powerful the US and to a large extent controls US politics.
An American friend of mine, very Republican and deeply knowledgeable about foreign policy, keeps telling me:"Why should we care about Lebanon? What is Lebanon to us ? You guys were better off under syrian rule. At least you could go and visit your family."
The painful truth is that he is absolutely right and unless we, Lebanese, find a Lebanese solution to our problems, we will be treading water and keep looking for the US candidate that is best for us. Unless we put put our fate in our own hands and force our leaders to take on painful and dangerous decisions, we would still be waiting for Godot.
The bottom line question is: Who would be better for Lebanon? David Kenner addresses this question very eloquently in this article on the Now Lebanon web site. However, no compelling evidence or opinion is given to favor either candidate. The bottom line is that all 3 candidates will be bad for Lebanon in the sense that they will put Israel on a golden platter before caring an inch about Lebanon, essentially because the Jewish lobby is so powerful the US and to a large extent controls US politics.
An American friend of mine, very Republican and deeply knowledgeable about foreign policy, keeps telling me:"Why should we care about Lebanon? What is Lebanon to us ? You guys were better off under syrian rule. At least you could go and visit your family."
The painful truth is that he is absolutely right and unless we, Lebanese, find a Lebanese solution to our problems, we will be treading water and keep looking for the US candidate that is best for us. Unless we put put our fate in our own hands and force our leaders to take on painful and dangerous decisions, we would still be waiting for Godot.
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