According to these comments, Mousa feels that Lebanon is intrinsically tied to the problems in the Middle East, and the solution to the Lebanese problem cannot be found internally - Lebanon’s political, social and economical turmoil is naturally caught up in the myriad of Arab disputes and regional interests. With the USS Cole warship’s deployment of the coast of Lebanon adding another element to the already precarious situation, and Mousa's latest comments, Lebanon is clearly entering into a political crisis where its existence and identity is at stake.

Studying the political map of the region, political analysts are worried that the Middle East is on the verge of a huge explosion. The area has the potential to slip into chaos, lawlessness and anarchy. Three different civil wars are in the making: in Lebanon, in ‘Gaza, and the West Bank’, and Iraq. These countries are on the verge of collapsing and the region is like a pressure cooker ready to blow.

Mousa’s words only serve to confirm what many political analysts are predicting--Lebanon’s political identity is caught among two polarized camps and this has put the country in a particularly vulnerable position. These different ideologies are driving the area into anarchy. One camp, which is claiming to be the voice for democracy, security and stability, and the second, a substantial force claiming to be in defiance of perceived occupation and imperialism. Both of these powers have direct and indirect political and military roles in shaping the political events in the Middle East and both are being influenced by external actors.

Dr. O.R. Young, a professor of political science, stated in his article, Intervention and International Systems, (Journal of International Affairs, p177) that “Intervention is a targeted, organized activity to revolutionize or avert change in the political structure of another country, through various means and tools. Intervention creates new alliance among political actors that would lead to polarization that disrupts the internal political arena, which leads to an increase in violence.”

So, the questions to ask are: is Lebanon’s fate truly connected to Iraq’s stability, the peace process, the numerous Arab disagreements, the Sunni-Shia dynamic and Iran’s, Syria’s and American visions for the region? If so, how much influence does each of them play? Are the consistent interventions by the external actors detrimental to Lebanon’s security or is Mousa right?

Degradation of a nation and civil wars do not happen from a vacuum; they ensue and develop because of different reasons; foreign intervention, a change in the balance of power, corruption, deprivation of a group’s rights, the rise of new political and religious powers, internal disputes, a ‘survival of the fittest’ attitude among a nation’s citizenship, poverty, a lack of institutions and a weak central government, to name a few.

Lebanon’s feeble political system is encouraging external powers to dictate events on the internal political arena, and hindering any positive initiative that presents a satisfactory solution for this period of unrest. Obviously, with no solution on the horizon, the actions of the political parties in Lebanon are being directed and manipulated through the ‘partisanship’ of their ideologies and the ‘supervision’ of the external actors. This affiliation leaves the political arena vulnerable and consistently targeted by terrorism, which can create trepidation and lawlessness among the citizens. These external powers, with their different, often competing, dynamics are overshadowing the Lebanese government’s and opposition’s discussions, and wish to alter the balance of power in the region, serving to create an air of tumultuous uncertainty in the Middle East.

The region is on the verge of mini wars breaking out, such as the present incursion of Turkey in Iraq, and Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which are conducted in the name of curbing terrorism and attaining security. With the USS Cole’s presence off the coast of Lebanon, along with Israel’s incursion in Gaza, the region’s tensions have already been raised. The Lebanese army should be on high alert for any potential terrorist activity against any foreign entity in Lebanon. Any act of violence can spark a regional war. The army’s responsibility, in the current situation, is to co-ordinate with Hezbollah on an internal security plan that can keep the country intact from any sabotage or subsequent acts of violence. They both have a stake in ensuring the stability of the country.

Lebanon, again, is caught in the middle of all these opposing powers and has, once again, become a battleground for regional squabbles; all of which threaten its existence and very identity. Mousa feels that, presently, more effort on the part of regional neighbors and other external actors is required to solve the Lebanese problem. However, the Lebanese need to, now more than ever, step up and fix their own problems, free of external interference and foreign agendas. They can then bring the external actors in on their terms. There is growing feeling among the Lebanese public that their politicians are becoming puppets in the hands of foreigners. The ‘puppet masters’ are trying to ‘cosmetically’ restructure the social and political fabric of the area by imposing their own solutions, so as to suit their interests, while ignoring Lebanon’s unique identity. It is the Lebanese who should choose the future of their country, in the end discarding their superfluous, colorful flags, and uniting under one flag--the Lebanese flag.

There is no true governmental and political representation from all the parties in the government, or a sense of unity, placing the country’s welfare on hold. The responsibility lies on all the internal political parties to steer the country from the problems of the Middle East and back onto what is best for Lebanon. They should create the right atmosphere for a positive dialogue, so as to spare the Lebanese people from the agony of another civil war. They should remember that today’s majority are tomorrow’s minority. Consensus should be attempted by all the parties, for the country has now been paralyzed for over a year. It is the time for the Lebanese politicians to keep their promises and prove to the people that Lebanon is entering a new phase of independence, one where democracy and freedom can flourish. God help Lebanon!

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