Dear Dr. Kareem


The existence of Syria in Lebanon is a source of power for the Lebanese people and for the Arab nation.

Anybody can see that... Ummm... How?

Syria is the leader of unitary ideology in the Arab world, and it has the right to support its neighbor Lebanon to enhance the modern Arabic renaissance after the unbelievable number of disasters over our heads.

Exactly what gives it this 'right'? Where's it enumerated?

It is great mistake for any native Arabic speaker and those who have Arabic blood to adopt the ideology of those who resist and fight any idea that might irrigate the idea of unity among Arab countries.

Why? What if the person, even if he's a native Arabic speaker or has a drop or two of Arab blood, doesn't agree that unity should be imposed across the Arabic-speaking world? What if he/she/it thinks there are legitimate national interests in the existing Arab countries and even in propsective Muslim countries that wouldn't be represented by a Baathist regime?

Any country asks for the Syrian withdrawal definitely doesn't look for the Lebanese interest, but rather wants to separate Arab countries from each other and undo and lateral relations between them.

What if there are legitimate historical reasons for thinking that Lebanon doesn't necessarily have to bow the knee to Syria? Syria's historically tried to be Lebanon's hegemon, and Lebanon's historically tried to maintain its independence. Its moments of greatness have come when it hasn't been anyone else's footstool. Rather than wanting to be Syria's lapdog, if I was Lebanese I'd be thinking "Phoenecian," rather than "Arab." But what the hell do I know?

Alzoabi from Michigan