The Making of a Martyr

Syria has come under a tremendous amount of pressure from the international community to withdrawal from Lebanon since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. It is widely believed that Syria is directly responsible for Hariri's death, however their plan clearly backfired. Instead of silencing an influential critic Syria has made Hariri a martyr and brought international attention to the situation in Lebanon. Hariri's death has breathed new life into the opposition. On Monday over 100,000 Lebanese took to the streets of Beirut in protest yelling "Out with Syria!" It was the largest demonstration in over 10 years.

Lebanon gained its independence from France in 1944, but in 1975 a civil war broke out between Lebanon's Muslim and Christian populations. The conflict left the country vulnerable to manipulation by neighboring states and terrorist groups. Many Syrians have long considered Lebanon rightfully part of "greater Syria," and in 1976, the Arab League supported a Syrian military intervention after attempts by Western and Arab countries to mediate Lebanon's civil war failed. In 1991, Syria's control of Lebanon was cemented by the Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation, and Coordination.

Syria has said that it will eventually withdraw its troops as agreed to under the 1989 Taif Accord, but that promise – much like its overtures of peace to Israel – are simply a tactic to relieve international pressure. The 1989 Taif Accord obliged Syria to withdraw its forces at the end of the civil war in 1990. But 14 years have passed and 14,000 Syrian troops remain in Lebanon. Last September, international pressure heightened after the United Nations passed Resolution 1559 calling for Syrian troops to leave. Resolution 1559 was sponsored by the United States and France and supported by Lebanese reformers like Hariri, it calls for the disarmament of militias, the withdrawal of Syrian troops, and the end of Syrian involvement in Lebanese politics.

Lebanon has long been a haven for terrorists. Terrorist organizations operating in Lebanon include the radical Shiite militia Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine among others. Armed Palestinian groups began launching attacks against Israel from Lebanon following the Six Day War in 1967. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in refugee camps in Lebanon.

President Bush and his European counterparts would like to see Lebanon make peace with Israel and become a strong, independent nation. However if Syria does withdraw there is a chance Lebanon could slip back into civil war. Experts also fear that Iran might attempt to fill the void left by Syria, effectively eliminating any possibility of peace with Israel. Lebanon is a poor, middle-eastern nation, smaller than the state of Connecticut. Most Americans probably couldn't identify it on a map, much less identify its importance in international politics. However the assassination of Rafik Hariri and the possible expulsion of Syrian troops from Lebanon could have serious repercussions for Israel, the Middle East, and the world as a whole.