Lebanon Loses Peacemaker, Echos of War Ring Too Loud

On February 14, 2005, ex-Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiki Hariri and many in his motorcade were killed in a suicide car bombing in Beirut. Hariri was prime minister from 1992-1998 and in 2000-2004. That was shortly after Lebanon's 15 year civil war that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dead, a shattered country, and Beirut in ruins. Hariri was a Sunni Muslim, not a Phalangist or Maronite Christian or a Shiite. Hariri was a moderate voice, now fallen silent.

The Lebanese government blamed Syria for the attack, along with the pro-Syrian Lebanese authority. Even mourners blamed this death on Syria. The situation is so tense the US has recalled its embassador and may recall all US staff and civilians from Damascus.

Many in Beirut recall this is eerily too much like the chaos of the 1980s where the West and The Syrians were tugging at Lebanon. In 1982-1983, Lebanon went through several leaders. One Prime Minister Bashir Gemayel was bombed in his military HQ, by a suicide Bomber. Gemayel was a Christian. Hariri was a Muslim. Both deaths are eerily similar. Both men were seeking a solution for Lebanon free of Syria. Someone did not want that.

Hariri was a rebuilder of Lebanon, like the millions scarred by the civil war. Lebanon still has terrorists coming to and fro into Israel and Syria, but it is not as chaotic as the 1980s and 1990s. Lebanon is tense again, and it is a shame in light of steps taken to rebuild itself.

Over 200,00 have come to mourn Hariri, and possibly a hope for stable peace. The former PM was instrumental in helping keep Lebanon together and trying to get Lebanon free of Assad.
Those voices of peace are now silent. War may be imminent. Sadly this happened before.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4263893.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4269547.stm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,147747,00.html