Béatrice Patrie is a European MP. This former president of the French syndicate of the Judiciary currently heads the inter-parliamentarian delegation for relations of the Machreq countries ( Jordan , Lebanon , Syria , and Egypt ). Emmanuel Español is a historian. Both were among the European observers that guaranteed the sound undertaking of legislative elections in June 2005 in Lebanon . Thus, they are the best located and the most credible for describing us the Lebanese quagmire of these last three years. Because the journalists and politicians very often forget to embrace in their totality the reported, commented events since, without a global vision, no one can really understand. Therefore, this test is it essential, indispensable for untying the knots, seeing the reality of facts, and proposing to us a coherent future project?

Before anything else, the postulation of initiation. Unique. Cold. Unstoppable but Authentic. The war of summer 2006 was not the result of coincidence. Despite the assassination of Rafic Hariri, fervor on the streets has yielded a dynamic. A nonsensical act but a proved result: the departure of the Syrian Army from Lebanese territory. Afterwards, legislative elections have consecrated a victory to the March 14 Front. The coalition favorable to independence was in power. At last, the future seemed possible. In fat, political assassinations were still ongoing (Bassel Fleihane, Georges Haoui, Samir Kassir, Gebran Tuéni…). But Fouad Siniora, the Prime Minister, gave impulse. Economic takeoff was taking place. The tourist season seemed to be promising… thus, war came at a crucial point breaking the spring dynamism of Beirut .

The planning of this conflict by Israel was a plausible hypothesis as it corresponded to the traditional methods and objectives of the leaders of that country:  drive to community outburst in order to remain the only regional democracy, use collective sanctioning in order to punish the Lebanese for hosting the Hezbollah militia. Just as Israel punishes the Palestinians for having democratically brought Hamas to power.  

Lebanon shadows his neighbor. Not only at the economic level. Israel wants to impose its model of democratic coexistence. The Hebrew state does not tolerate anymore the assertion on its borders of a pluralist democracy, multi-confessional and multi-cultural. Because Israeli deception is based on the impossibility of the Arab peoples to live according to a democratic standard. Or, like the Palestinians who managed to achieve their legislative electoral process (We are aware how Tsahal, the Israeli Defense Army, repressed the newly elected). The Lebanese also demonstrated that their institutions are working. This was the majestic crime: the demonstration that Israel was not the only democratic state in the region.

Divide and conquer. This could be one of the attempted maneuvers during the war of summer 2006, with lack of success. The division of Lebanese communities was a strategic objective, confirmed by the declarations of the second in command of the chief of staff on February 2006. Hence, this explains the targeted bombings (Shiite villages in the South wiped out, neighboring Christian villages a few kilometers away spared). But in the end, the expected implosion did not take place. On the contrary, it was an impulse of national solidarity that bound the people. Once again, the will to break the Lebanese spirit – the supposed aim of Hariri assassination – regretfully failed. Lebanon was even able to revive national unity likelihood.

Israel never acts alone. We are aware of that. Only the idiots believe otherwise. Therefore, we should look from the American viewpoint, and that of their allies in the region. But, then, who wants to destroy Lebanon ? Why? And who is able to show a real, strong political will for playing the role of constructor?  These are the questions to which this book intends to provide elements of reply. Clear, pragmatic, logical, and argumentative. All the mentioned elements score the bull’s eye. The phoenix of the Levant shall rise, but must also be assisted. Because, as Ghassan Tuéni says, Lebanon , such a small country, but so great the message it delivers… should not be sacrificed on the capitalist altar. Since the economy is not everything. Lebanon not only has a destiny. It should make a destiny for itself: that of becoming the beacon of democracy in the Middle East . For that, it should above all question its history, even the most recent.

And not to surrender to resignation. Because, in view of so much calamities, it is the sentiment of impotence that prevails. as so rightfully reminded to us by Samir Kassir in his book Considerations on  the Arab ordeal: impotence is undoubtedly the emblem of Arab ordeal nowadays. Impotence to be what we think should be. Impotence to act for asserting what we think should be. Impotence to act for asserting your will to exist, is it not like a possibility, facing the other who denies you, despises you and now, once again, dominates you. Impotence to silence the sentiment that you are nothing more negligible surplus on the planetary chessboard, when the game is played in your location… It is against this vision that Lebanon should nowadays edify itself.