November 22, 2008
A door opens in Lebanon
As Syrians depart, Lebanese have a chance to come out from under military rule
Syrian soldiers lean out of the windows of their bus at a crossing point on the Syrian-Lebanese border as they celebrate their return from Lebanon on April 26. Syria ended its 29-year military domination of Lebanon. (AP/Bassem Tellawi)
BEIRUT, Lebanon - After 29 years of military dominance over its smaller neighbor, Syria withdrew the last of its troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon yesterday.
The pullout followed nearly three months of international pressure and mass protests in Beirut, calling on Syria to end its meddling in Lebanese affairs. With the Syrians out, the next challenge is for Lebanon to hold parliamentary elections by May 31, when the current legislature's term ends.
Since the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri plunged the country into a crisis, the Lebanese political system has been paralyzed. Many speculate that the elections will be delayed, which could shift the world's attention from Syria and its allies in the Lebanese government.
With the Syrian military gone, the Lebanese opposition could quickly splinter because it no longer has a unifying issue. The opposition has found it much harder to mobilize average Lebanese to protest the delays in forming a government and holding elections.
"The democratic revolution in Lebanon has come to a halt," said Chibli Mallat, a law professor at Beirut's Saint-Joseph University and an opposition activist. "The political system is well-entrenched and very difficult to dislodge."
While the bulk of Syria's 14,000 troops had been withdrawn from Lebanon by Sunday, about 250 soldiers remained to take part in a farewell ceremony at a Lebanese military base near the border between the two countries.
"We have accomplished the sacred mission of defending Arab Lebanon and its dignity," the Syrian army chief of staff, Gen. Ali Habib, said at the ceremony. "Syria gave, and will continue to give, anything to protect Lebanon."
Habib then unveiled a monument honoring the 12,000 Syrian soldiers killed in Lebanon, most of them during the 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. A Lebanese commander told the assembled Syrian troops, "Our brothers in arms, thank you for your sacrifices."
Lebanese and Syrian commanders said their two armies would continue to cooperate closely, especially against their common foe, Israel, which is far superior militarily. "Together we shall always remain brothers in arms in the face of the Israeli enemy," said Gen. Michel Suleiman, the Lebanese army commander.
As they headed toward the border, the Syrian soldiers chanted, "We will sacrifice our blood and our souls for you, oh Bashar!" - referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Perhaps the most symbolic departure was that of Maj. Gen. Rustom Ghazali, the feared head of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon. For years, Ghazali summoned Lebanese politicians to his headquarters in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley to give them instructions.
At yesterday's ceremony, Ghazali kept a low profile. When his convoy reached the border crossing, a small group of Lebanese civilians cheered him and waved posters saying, "Thank you, Syria." When Ghazali got out of his car and took one of the posters, the crowd broke into applause.
Away from the cameras and cheering crowds, some of Syria's allies in the Lebanese security services were being forced out of office. Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, the head of Lebanon's internal security forces, resigned Monday after months of opposition pressure. Another key security commander left Lebanon last week.
Responding to concerns from the Lebanese opposition that Syrian intelligence agents might still be operating in the country, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said a UN team would verify whether Syria had fully withdrawn. In a report yesterday to the UN Security Council, Annan said the Lebanese government must still disarm the Shia group Hezbollah, which waged an 18-year guerrilla war that forced Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in 2000. Annan also cautioned against delaying parliamentary elections.
Syrian dominance in Lebanon extended over most parts of political life and the country's security. Syria first sent its troops in 1976 at the request of Lebanon's Christian president. At that time, Syria fought alongside Christian militias and against Palestinian guerrillas and Muslim militias. The Syrians later switched sides, as the Lebanese Christians became allied with Israel.
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