The assassination of anti-Syrian Lebanese leader Pierre Gemayel should put to rest fantasies about Syria and Iran being partners for peace. The problems in the Middle East aren't America's fault.Unlike Iraq, Lebanon is no stranger to democracy. From its birth under French colonial rule in 1943, it has flourished as a multicultural democracy, with power shared among its Muslim, Christian and Druse residents. Today, Lebanese democracy, like the fledgling democracy in Iraq, is under siege by those who would subvert and destroy it, a casualty in the clash of civilizations that too few in the West are willing to recognize.
Gemayel is just the latest casualty in a war that's seen three prominent anti-Syrian politicians assassinated in two years. Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive car bombing in February 2005. Legislator and anti-Syrian newspaper publisher Gibran Tueni was killed by another car bomb in December.