The New York Times
has found reason to be optimistic about Middle East, and not just on its
predictable editorial page (after all, at that venue all it would take is
for the Israelis to be reasonable) but on its news pages. This
morning, in fact, on its front page. Michael Slackman, writing from Beirut, notes
the "distinct change of direction" in the tone and even
substance of diplomacy. Here is Slackman's litany: "Syria is being welcomed out of isolation by
Europe and is holding indirect talks with Israel. Lebanon has
formed a new government. Israel has cut deals with Hamas (a
cease-fire) and Hezbollah (a prisoner exchange)." Forgive
me. But I believe all of this will amount to nothing. Alas, Slackman
is known as a gull, an intellectual schlemiel. Apparently, he has now
been shifted from Cairo (where nothing
reportable happens) to Beirut
(where no one is honest about what is reportable).
"Lebanon
has formed a new government," writes Slackman. And each and every
person and personage in this government trooped to pay homage to the new
hero of Lebanon,
Samir Kuntar, a clear-headed and clear-hearted murderer of children. The
tribute to Kuntar was also homage to the Ayatollah Nasrallah, whose name
does not even appear in Slackman's dispatch.
I cannot deny that this is a victory for Hezbollah...and a defeat for what
was left of subtle and even gracious Lebanon. But what was
left before, with the Sunni Hariri movement and the perfume soldiers of
the Maronites, was precious little.
Maybe Lebanon
will have another chance at life. But I doubt it. It is now
under the boot of Hezbollah, true-believers and cut-throats. They will yet
cut the throats of those who paid tribute to Kuntar, a coerced gesture.
I want to examine what gave Hezbollah (and Nasrallah and Kuntar) the victory
in Beirut. It
was Security Council resolution 1701 which the Israeli government accepted
because of its own confusions and its own lack of military skill. But
this would not have occurred had not Condi Rice bludgeoned its members
into acceding to it. Unfortunately, it guaranteed nothing. UNIFIL
turned out again to be the phony operation it has been since 1978, an
"interim" force by name with not a single achievement, even an
interim one.
Instead of disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon's south it averted its
lazy eyes from the rearmament of the terrorist militia and its reinstallation
in the south of the country. Read about this in a devastating article, "The
sole achievement has been erased," by Israel Harel in Ha'aretz of July 10.
I look forward to Michael Slackman eating his words.