There is considerably more to this particular Lebanese problem than meets the eye. Events there often serve as indicators to developments not only in the Middle East, but in the entire region extending from Kabul in Afghanistan to North Africa. The murder of the country’s prime minister, Rafik Al-Hariri, several months ago is one of those indicators. The Lebanese administration has not been able to identify the perpetrators of the murder; however both the Lebanese government and people — and with them the whole world — is anxiously awaiting the report from the United Nations team led by the German investigator Detlev Mehlis. The date for the submission of the report, originally set for Sept. 15, is according to current rumor, likely to be postponed.
Should you ask any Lebanese man or woman who killed Hariri, you will be flooded with a variety of answers. One will surely be an oft-repeated conspiracy theory, which is regularly used to explain away any unfortunate development in the region. Hardly any other country in the world has been confronted with a dilemma similar to that facing Lebanon. The country’s sovereign government was ordered to hand over all its documents pertaining to the murder to the international investigating team which includes not even one representative of Lebanon. Behind the facade of a politically advanced state, Lebanon in fact is little more than a testing ground for Third World experiments.
It has been holding periodic elections and has a parliament with elected representatives. It also boasts a free press along with relatively unfettered political parties. On the other hand, the country has been experimenting with the coexistence of various sects with tribal tendencies and political parties with sectarian interests. The concept of a single nation is a noble goal that has been lost in the wrangling of various sectarian parties and groups in Lebanon. Even the Pillar of the Martyrs in Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut shows bullet marks that betray the unreality of a unified Lebanon. Sadly, the Lebanese people have failed, despite their bitter experiences and untold miseries, to reach a consensus on common issues of national interest.
Rumors also help keep Lebanon divided. If you ask a Lebanese about Hariri’s murderers, the unequivocal and sure reply will be that the United States was the real villain. He will also produce quite a bit of evidence to support his contention. If you ask him what he thinks of the coming Mehlis Report, he will say that it will be doctored to protect American interests.
Though geographically small but politically diverse, Lebanon still hopes for unity. Some believe that the goal could be achieved by giving everyone his rights with the help of a new election law based on the proportionate representation of various sections in the country.
The real reason for Hariri’s murder is not difficult to guess. He was the first political leader belonging to a sectarian power who ventured to address large national issues. There are many forces that will not tolerate such actions. Thus a close observation of what is happening in Lebanon is significant not only for understanding the situation in that country alone, but also for understanding the entire Middle East with its crises and flashpoints.
