The Lebanon Idea of The Middle East

Lebanon’s Power, Is it only in its Military or in its People’s Innovative Ideas?

Lebanon’s military is powerful and I will expound on this latter on which may be in the form of something totally different then man and weaponry strength. But, we must agree the real power of Lebanon lies in its cooperation between its factions. Whenever possible, Lebanon strives to have a strong military ready for the right time. Religion is the force behind Lebanon’s strength. So, the very power of influence in compromising has worked for Lebanon. Lebanon has “formed cross-religion alliances the Christian Franjyahs aligned with the Muslim Syrians against their co-religionist.” (The World Factbook.)

Although real military power in men may not be controlled by all factions. There is reason to believe now Lebanon’s military (is persuaded by Syrians, and Israelis) fell into a trap that the U.S. may fall into, because the enemy in Lebanon is hidden. Christians no longer are “reflecting the distribution of power in the country.” (The World Fact Book) And, so this weakens the US stance, (if its Christian ally base is minimized). Never the less, the USA still supports Lebanon in hopes that Lebanon will be a key player to ease Islamic militant’s stance on jihad and quite them down. To do this the USA must gamble and provide Lebanon aid in the form of weaponry. “Powerful missiles, advance aircraft,” other countries provide to Lebanon’s needs for weapons also. (Ahmed & Schielberg) “Lebanon is a country one-third the size of Maryland that is nestled between Syria and Israel, and has become the fifth-largest recipient of the US military aid.” (Ahmed & Schielberg) But sometimes strength comes in the form of something totally different than physical and artillery strength. Its strength can come from innovation and ideas of peace, to be strong within, to do what’s right for the world and the children in it, I will expound on this towards the end of the essay.

The U.S. is very worried about supporting Lebanon, but, if it doesn’t they can lose even more military and Christian allies. Unfortunately, Hezbollah is intertwined in the military structure of Lebanon and are very powerfully known for their paramilitary activities. The problem and gamble the US makes giving arms to Lebanon is that they might get in the hands to some that would use them in a mission to support Hezbollah actions. The U.S. is against Hezbollah and dislikes them namely,” the ones that are against Israel.” (Ahmed & Schielberg)

Lebanon is definitely unique and because of this uniqueness of sharing it’s military power the state can actually show hard and soft power. Hard power can be taken by Lebanon to the U.S. by “not undertaking an undesirable” action that one of the factions don’t like. So, in a way, Lebanon can compel with “threats tied to actual or threatened coercion.” (Boyer 36) Soft Power can be taken by Lebanon to many countries because each faction can persuade a common faction to undertake or not undertake a position. Also, Lebanon can “use or prospective use of ideational power assets,” to have its military in a favorable position. (Boyer 36)

Hezbollah's support to keep Lebanon’s military safe is unfortunately true. Hezbollah fights "directly alongside the Lebanese soldiers and it just may be why Lebanon stays pretty much an in-tacked country. Lebanon's history is such that cooperation just happens between "Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army.” “Hezbollah claimed it saved the military from a massacre, “and it seems the Lebanese army will take the help (instead of retaliation). (Ahmed & Schielberg) It may be that Hezbollah is on the side of the Syrian Assad no on the side of ISIS and so it’s better to support Hezbollah with organized government, then the radical terrorist group ISIS that want power. Hezbollah see's ISIS & Al Qaeda as a threat to its way of life, because they are only in it for themselves to win the Middle East to create another Saddam Hussein. ISIS & Al Qaeda are against each other also, and, they are both against Assad & Syrian Nationalist rebels.

Lebanon’s army may co-exist with Hezbollah but not collaborate. Although of course the best thing for Lebanon is if they could be independent from Hezbollah because the US would make sure Lebanon would be "stronger" so it could be "independent of Hezbollah." (Ahmed & Schielberg) But for the meantime, the US is hoping it's not fueling the problem by supporting weaponry to the Lebanese, in which the wrong group may get a hold of it. Although there is no clear date in time that Lebanon can control its own power, I'm sure Lebanon’s youth has its own vision of greatness it can achieve to get one step further in the direction of true sovereign power for its country.

Lebanon 2020 Vision

Indeed, Lebanon youth does have its own vision which includes peace and hopes it will be there by 2020. It's called Lebanon 2020 which invites innovation and ideas to the forefront and brings hope in a new frontier. A frontier that will not be solved with how Lebanon is governed currently, it would be much deeper than that. A new method you can say that will invest in Lebanon’s future including "Investment and Development capital, human and intellectual capital, technology capital, educational, cultural and tourism capital between now and 2020.” (Lebanon 2020)

The Nation Summit of Lebanon 2020; for Lebanon’s Vision

This National Summit is Lebanon’s hope to be what its people and government has always wanted it to be a true national & powerful respected country. But, first this National Summit needs to get through a few hurdles which it will try to do. Of course it would like the "Political Soap Operas to end along with the debt and corruption in its country. Does Lebanon have a particular art and a particular music/sound that will define it as only Lebanese? Can it achieve "health and national happiness?" (Lebanon 20202) Is there a certain city in Lebanon that can be the "creative power,” and where will the true environmental movement start? Can it achieve competiveness starting to “strengthen its companies, theatres and universities?" (Lebanon 2020) These are the questions that the National Summit will answer and put to use. But all Lebonese must get inspired to be "critical thinkers and "innovate" ideas “for peace." And, only then will a powerful Lebanon emerge and possibly "Beirut becoming the next great financial capital of the Middle East." (Lebanon 2020)

Innovation of Peace, is that the next big thing to have power under a countries belt?

I personally always thought after 2001/911 that peace (innovation) was the only way countries would have control of their own country, because peace is power, along with a national military that is respected by its people. Juxtaposing what we have now in the Middle–East which is total chaos, except not so much of Northern Middle-East which can get better and be an example to the mid and southern parts of the Middle –East. Then let’s take what Lebanon can do to be that example of an innovator of peace, which in turn results in power. When there is a call for change, you must answer the call in the form of (taking advantages of) civic opportunities. Nabatieh pronounced “ Nabaṭīya,” a southern town in Lebanon started a program called “Week of Joy” using “traditional music and folk dancing as a form of public protest against the political conservative environment.” (Wuerth) This is a peaceful way to speak out without violence, and when people come together this way government takes notice. It sends a strong message that people won’t accept anything but change, because they all support the same cause, and will create answers peacefully with or without its leaders. This is all possible by just gathering, having fun and talking to each other about the cause. It’s a sense of belonging as this Lebanon Youth Network calls themselves the “Eco Warriors.” It is an “approach to engage youth as peace builders.” (Wuerth) With different youth factions coming together and sharing skills they all become friends and thus “tensions disappear.” We must give the youth room for the chance to engage in this civic duty of activism, “rather than lecturing them on theories of conflict resolution.” (Wuerth)

In Conclusion, we must thank Lebanon a “(an amalgamation of the major religious communities)” society’s push for the innovation of a peace project. Lebanon is the only country where (other than the US and the only country in the Middle East) Christian and Muslims live side by side in peace. And some families are mixed with both religions, may I add that Lebanon “houses 17 different religious denominations.” (Wazala) Just as the last 3 Popes had, we must too, support Lebanon’s innovation of peace and hope that it will never collapse. Because if Lebanon fails, “its positive influence will be withdrawn,” and cease to spread its influence of peace through the Middle East. And finally a statement from Wazala.org I like very much that will end this essay appropriately, (Wazala)

“God chose these lands, I think, to be an example, to bear witness before the world that every man and woman has the possibility of concretely realizing his or her longing for peace and reconciliation!” (Wazala)

(Work Cited)

Boyer, Global politics, Engaging a Complex World, 2013

JEFFREY B. WHITE, A Different Kind of Threat, Some Thoughts on Irregular Warfare, The World Factbook, Library, Ethnic and Religious Factors, Central Intel. Agency, current

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/vol39no5/html/v39i5a07p.htm

Akbar Shahid Ahmed, Jessica Schulberg, To fight isis , Obama Risks Empowering Iran’s Favorite Terror Group, Huffpost Politics, Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lebanon-hezbollah-iran_55d1f479e4b07addcb43674a

The National Summit, Our Future ,Inspired By Our People ,LEBANON 2020 is an initiative of GLT Nov 20 2009

http://www.lebanon2020.com/09/...

Oriana Wuerth, 4 lessons on youth and peace building in Lebanon , devex impact, devex, March 09, 2015,

https://www.devex.com/news/4-lessons-on-youth-and-peace-building-in-lebanon-85649

Wazala, Sat-7, Lebanon: Seeking Peace in diversity, , March 2013

http://www.wazala.org/2013-03-...