
Shia is a friend, but this is wishful thinking: "The United States and its partners should also demand that the Lebanese government outlaw Hezbollah’s economic activities, ban its ministers from the cabinet and limit the participation of some of its candidates in the May elections. Paired with a comprehensive strategy to professionalize the army, such political commitment would also put the Lebanese military in a better position to completely disarm Hezbollah and deploy to Hezbollah-dominated areas after Israel withdraws, and prepare those areas for reconstruction." Look there is no bigger peace advocate than I am, but there is a line between what I hope will happen and what I know will not happen. The sociopolitical culture in Lebanon remains underdeveloped and unable to sustain a modern state. This means that Lebanon is a congregation of tribes, and as long as this is the case, Hezbollah will stay. As long as Lebanon in incapable of playing by international rules, Israel will have to do what it must do to protect itself. I'm sorry this is reality and I don't like it, but I can't sugarcoat it. Also, there will be no May election. nytimes.com/2026/03/19/opi…



