In these days of fear and distrust in Lebanon, there may be no man who inspires more venom than General Michel Aoun. Since returning from 15 years of exile to the joyful cheers of his followers last year, the Christian leader known simply as "the General" has overturned this fragile country's intricate network of allegiances. First he formed a surprising political alliance with Hezbollah. Then he sent his followers into the streets for massive antigovernment demonstrations.With rising religious and political tensions threatening to pitch the country into fighting, many of his embittered countrymen hold Aoun squarely to blame. But after decades of war and exile, Aoun is in no mood to apologize. Watching from a fortified perch in Beirut's well-heeled Christian suburbs as the country unravels, he is calm and self-assured. He politely acknowledges his many, vociferous critics -- and describes himself as a misunderstood savior of Christians and Lebanon. "A leader must be a leader. Sometimes he could make choices against the opinions of his followers because he has to go through a crisis and to save them. The vision is not for everybody," says Aoun, peering over his desk through round eyeglasses. "He has to make a choice, and maybe after, the people will understand why he has done what he has done."
It's no secret that Aoun would like to emerge from Lebanon's political paralysis as president, a post reserved for a Christian under Lebanon's system of setting up the government according to religion. Many Lebanese believe that he made a Faustian bargain with Hezbollah in hopes of assuring his ascendance. His rivals say he is so blinded by ambition that he's willing to destabilize the country -- and turn Christians against one another -- to get the power he wants. But Aoun insists that he is working to secure a better government for Lebanon, and that the presidency is an afterthought.
Whatever his motives, he has boosted Hezbollah's fortunes at a delicate time: As it pushes to topple the government, Hezbollah has minimized its image as an armed Islamist party of Shi'ite Muslims. Hezbollah now speaks of itself as a mainstream movement with a populist, cross-sectarian appeal.
Critics fear Aoun is being used by Hezbollah, and warn that his newfound allies will toss him aside when they no longer need him. They call him a traitor to Christians, and a tool of Syria and Iran, Hezbollah's main backers. "He's a destructive figure in recent Lebanese history," said Michael Young, opinion editor for Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper. "Lebanon has never been so divided, and the Christian community, since his return, has never been so divided. Like many a demagogue, he lives off division."