David Hale, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, will reach the end of his term of service within a few days and has been confirmed as ambassador to Pakistan. The State Department has appointed no one to take his place in Lebanon.
On August 22 the Beirut Daily Star suggested that the failure to appoint a replacement for Hale is evidence of American apathy toward Lebanon. But I wonder, “How can that be? How can we show so little concern for such a crucial country at this dangerous moment in history?”
Searching for answers I discovered that anyone can ask the State Department a question, so I asked: Is there a plan to appoint a new ambassador to Lebanon? If not, why not?
“VACANT”
I received an answer that was not an answer. The form letter told me: “…when ambassadors are confirmed they are listed on the website.” So several times a week I check the list of countries and our ambassadors. Always after the name Lebanon is the word “VACANT.” And I keep asking myself what this means. As I see it, there is no country more in need of friendly support from the West. And there is no Middle Eastern country for whom support is more appropriate.
I confess that what I know about the working of our State Department is approximately equivalent to what a worm knows about birds in the sky. I do know a bit about what it is like to get snatched up by a sharp beak. And, though I have never seen an ambassador’s job description, I have an exciting vision of what a creative American ambassador could mean to Lebanon right now. And I am certain that we will miss a historic opportunity, if we don’t have an ambassador in Beirut.
Lebanon is the most Westward-leaning Arabic-speaking country and the most free, making it a bridge between East and West. Don’t we desperately need bridges between East and West?
“the prime example”
Lebanon is the most diverse Middle East country, making it the prime example of a root cause of conflict in the area. The Middle East has not learned to live peacefully with diversity. Maybe it was because of being the most diverse that Lebanon was the first to collapse into violence. But then its diversity was its salvation. Through 15 years of civil war, the Lebanese probably learned just this one thing, that no group is strong enough to dominate the others. The people of Lebanon know now that they have to live with their diversity. The truth is that we Americans are in the same situation; we have to live with our diversity and we don’t do it perfectly. Is this not an opportunity to work as equals with a Middle Eastern country, hoping we can learn from one another?
For the past several years Lebanon has absorbed battles on her borders and turbulence from conflicts all around her. And she has stood determinedly neutral. No one knows the cost of war better than the Lebanese, and they do not want it. They will grab anything that will keep them from falling over that precipice. Aren’t we interested in maintaining peace wherever this can be done?
Lebanon is the most Christian country in the Middle East, a true home for an endangered people group. Are we not concerned for the welfare and continued existence of Christians and the Christian faith in the place of its birth?
“Microcosm of the whole Middle East”
Lebanon is a microcosm of the whole Middle East. Anything that exists in the M.E. can be found in Lebanon, whether it is a product, an art, an ideology, a need or a problem. Working constructively with Lebanon could teach us how to find non-violent solutions to the same issues in other countries. Don’t we still believe in ambassadors more than bombs?
While pressured on all sides by current Middle East wars, Lebanon has absorbed a staggering number of refugees. No other country in the world has taken in, per capita, so many homeless, needy people. This refugee population has stretched the resources of Lebanon to the breaking point. For instance, the Ministry of Education used double shifts in its schools last year to accommodate 105,000 refugee children, but there are still 400,000 school age children on the street. In an effort to include half of them the ministry has established 100 more schools but lacks money to pay the teachers. Such programs have great potential for keeping refugees in the Middle East, reducing the stress on other countries. Does this not prove that Lebanon is worthy of our attention?
“Lebanon is in big trouble.”
In addition to all this, Lebanon has her own built-in problems. The political process which was designed to balance the influence of 17 sects has reached a stalemate and for more than a year the government has been unable to function in accordance with the constitution. The inability to replace an outgoing president has led to breakdown in numerous practical matters, such as the provision of electricity and the disposal of garbage. Thousands of people have demonstrated in the streets against these failures, and the protest against garbage in the streets has led to a protest against the bigger issues of corruption and inefficiency. Finally demonstrators are demanding that the government resign. The elite families holding power in the Parliament, the very people who have proved unable to rule, are now saying that the protesters will cause the collapse of the country, if they make the government fall. The summary of all this complication is simple: Lebanon is in big trouble.
Is this why we have not chosen a new ambassador? We don’t want to be there if things get ugly? If so, I have to ask, Is this how we treat our friends? We leave if they get sick?
I confess that the situation is grim, but I remember a time during the civil war when it crossed my mind that Lebanon might not survive. In my memoir I described it as “a sinking ship, twisted by conflicting winds, wallowing in powerful waves, the engines dead, the lights out, the crew murdering one another, mutineers trying to wrestle the commander overboard, the passengers struggling with lifeboats, clinging to the tilting deck or hiding in their cabins to pray.” And it survived. Illogically. Without drama. During all those years we Americans continued to say, “If this country didn’t exist, it would have to be invented.” I don’t know who originated this saying and I don’t think I ever heard a Lebanese say it, but I believed it then and believe it still.
“a free, diverse Lebanon…, the best hope of the Middle East”
At this crucial moment it is apparent that Lebanon must change, and the change is bound to be painful, but the existence of Lebanon is essential to the health of the Middle East. If we are going to have any positive impact in the region, we need our relationship with Lebanon.
If Syria falls, something will take its place. That something may not be any better and could be a lot worse. More than 250,000 dead will not come back, wrecked lives cannot be put back together, but probably the Middle East will regroup and survive. If a free, diverse Lebanon goes away, the best hope of the Middle East goes with it. The whole landscape will change.
America, the need is now; the opportunity is now. Show a little sense. Send an ambassador.