Lebanon - Syria diplomatic relations

[Mosche]

I am jaded. I hope that this is a real development, but I fear that it is maneuvering. I've come to think that many of these nations are doomed by local leaders who refuse to yield to the power of the state. The local leaders just play small world politics in order to strengthen their local power. Even in this forum--in another thread--Saudi used the old excuse of tribalism. If these tribes are still as powerful as they seem to be, it seems unlikely that any real progress toward civility will be made for generations to come.

[Tonto]

Years ago, when I worked up north, I had a friend who went to his home town of Tibneen for a visit (had to be around '78). When he got back he said a heavily armed palestinian demanded his papers, and told him he'd get his head blown off for any argument....in the street of the town where he was born!!!! I asked how he knew the guy was a palestinian, and he said "from his accent"....so I was wondering. Sounds like I need more in depth education about this.

[Phoenicia]

Syria has no respect for Lebanon.

Indeed correct, but let's look on the bright side, now Fatah al Islam has a worthy target

Really, this could be the moukhabarat base like anjar all over again.

[dayag]

"A small flag was raised and a golden plaque displayed outside an office building on a busy commercial street in Beirut, and a little piece of history was made this week.

With little fanfare, Syria marked its embassy in Lebanon on Friday, a first in the tangled saga of the two countries and a step toward normalization of a relationship that resembles that of a dysfunctional married couple.

The embassy is set to open for business next week"...

source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/baby...lebanon-d.html

[dayag]

Update:

"A Lebanese parliamentarian praised the opening of his county's first-ever embassy in Syria on Monday but warned that much remained to be done to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

Monday's move sealed the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time since they gained independence from France in the 1940s. Syria, which has dominated its small neighbor for nearly three decades, opened an embassy in Beirut in December..."

source: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

[Tonto]

Question: Was Lebanon at one time a part of Syria or was Lebanon a seperate part of the Ottoman empire? Why does Syria feel it has so much authority over Lebanon? Ther was some connect wasn't there?

[dayag]

Question: Was Lebanon at one time a part of Syria or was Lebanon a seperate part of the Ottoman empire? Why does Syria feel it has so much authority over Lebanon? There was some connect wasn't there?

Lebanon was ruled separately from Syria as the Vilayet of Beirut and Mount Lebanon by the Ottomans.

The French mandate of Syria treated Lebanon separately as well. You can read more about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Mandate_of_Syria