Visiting Lebanon on Friday, a senior State Department official said all the right things.
While it’s not up to America to decide who leads Lebanon, David Hale observed, U.S. loans can be released to Beirut “only when Lebanon’s leaders undertake a credible, visible, and demonstrable commitment to reform.”
That’s the right message for this nation wracked by protests. Those on the streets have a moral cause. They are calling for wholesale political reform that would see government ministries led by technocrats rather than divvied up between sectarian parties. That sectarian system has fostered deep corruption and mismanagement as various political parties use ministries only to reward their supporters and pilfer state coffers. And, as in Iraq, Iran’s hand lurks close to the corruption.
But Hale’s words are especially important for their timing. Lebanon’s president has just nominated a new prime minister, Hassan Diab. If, as is expected, Diab receives parliamentary approval this weekend, he is pledging to form a technocratic government that addresses protester concerns.
Perhaps he will do so. But Lebanese protesters and the Trump administration are rightly skeptical.
After all, Diab is supported by the Lebanese Hezbollah and its Amal ally, those most responsible for the cronyism that protesters want to end. Perhaps Diab will show courage and take on Hezbollah. But it’s doubtful. Iran sees Lebanon only as a tool for its foreign policy agenda. It won’t want any serious reform, and neither will its paramilitary handmaiden, Hezbollah.
That’s why the Trump administration’s approach here is the right one: Show support for Lebanese people’s right to set their own destiny, but make clear that American financial support will only follow if true reform occurs. This ensures that protesters know to blame Hezbollah and Iran if international aid is not forthcoming.
It’s up to Diab to make the next move. If the new prime minister acts courageously, he will both deserve and need generous support. If he chooses to kneel to Hezbollah and cronyism, Diab should receive only American isolation.
