One Giant Step for Lebanon
Monday, February 28th, 2005 10:31 pm by Neal“Out of concern that the government does not become an obstacle to the good of the country, I announce the resignation of the government I had the honor to lead,” Karami said in a brief statement. “May God preserve Lebanon.”
This quote comes to us today from Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami on his resignation and the dissolution of his pro-Syrian government. The speed and manner with which protestors tumbled this government is reminiscent of Eastern Europe circa 1989, and it was practically a foregone conclusion after the remarks of clairvoyant and leader of the Lebanese intifada, Walid Jumblatt, as reported by David Ignatius in last week’s Washington Post, Beirut’s Berlin Wall:
“It’s strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq,” explains Jumblatt. “I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world.” Jumblatt says this spark of democratic revolt is spreading. “The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it.”
The power of millions of purple, Iraqi fingers continues to amaze. Stay tuned.