By The Daily Star

Thursday, June 25, 2009

US President Barack Obama's decision to return an ambassador to Syria after a four-year diplomatic absence was a wise one. Although some observers in Lebanon may be astonished by the rapid pace of rapprochement between Washington and Damascus, the Lebanese need not be alarmed at this development.

Nothing good came out of the policy of Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, of boycotting the regime in Damascus. The move to isolate the Syrian regime only succeeded in cutting off channels of communication through which the Baathist government might have been coaxed into behaving in a more constructive manner.

The Obama administration thankfully understands that agreeing to communicate does not necessarily mean that you need to agree on everything, but rather that you are open to exploring constructive ways of resolving differences. If both the US and Syria are adopting this attitude, it can only be beneficial for Lebanon, which has in the past gotten bruised in the tug of war between the two countries.

One of the main concerns in Lebanon is that a mending of ties between Syria and the US could come at Lebanon's expense. Many are already asking whether this country will be sold out for the benefit of the wider regional objectives of bigger international players.

The answer to that question is simple: Lebanon will only be sold if the Lebanese put their country up for sale. If we abandon all of our principles for the sake of pleasing outside powers, the country will be the price that we will be required to pay for our own neglect.

The alternative is to rise to the challenge of governing Lebanon on our own. This requires investing efforts with a view toward bolstering the state and its institutions in order to preserve this country's long-term independence and sovereignty. It also means enlisting the help of natural allies in our efforts, such as Lebanese who live abroad or countries like Turkey, which has remained a neutral party in various Middle East conflicts. 

The task of running a country is a tall order, especially for those among us who have grown accustomed to the web of sub-state systems that has sprung up over the last two decades. These mini-state systems were designed to fill the void created by the absence of responsible authority. The challenge now is to replace these with constitutional institutions that meet the needs of the people.

If President Michel Sleiman can recruit enough of his fellow countrymen to join the mission of creating a strong Lebanese state, we will have no reason to fear the machinations of either of our neighbors. If he fails, it will only be because too many Lebanese opted to sell their country to the highest bidder.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&article_id=103457&c...