Helping Lebanon before the chaos was a lost opportunity

As countries beg Hezbollah to stop launching rockets into Israel, maybe the White House needs to consider what would have happened if the U.S. gave money to prop up the pro-western government in Lebanon before all this went down?  Last year, if you recall, Syria lost control over Lebanon.  They were forced out as a pro-western revolution took shape. 

This was such a great opportunity for the United States.  Instead of leaving the new democracy to struggle for itself, we could have lended aid to it.  But no, our attention was diverted elsewhere.  During that entire year before this Mideast violence all of a sudden erupted, the United States spent $9 billion per month in Iraq.  Think if just half of that monthly money went to Lebanon.  Think how it could have been used to strengthen their infrastructure, put kids in school, kick gangs off the streets, and force Hezbollah back into Syria.

This is what happens when we look at Iraq and lose focus of everything else.  While our backs have been turned, Iran and North Korea are expanding their nuclear programs.  Hamas won majority in the Palestinian cabinet.  Even though we have been in Iraq, the place is in the midst of a civil war.  Meanwhile, Lebanon was just sitting there by itself without any help, even though its neighboring country is Syria.  What were we thinking?

After this Middle East conflict is over, if Syria has not reclaimed Lebanon, then we need to help the pro-western Lebanese government.  When President says he wants to protect democracy around the world, he had better mean it.
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Other blogs writing about this issue: Gorilla's Guides, Democratic Space, Poetic Remi, Global Justice Online, The Glass House.