Hariri Revisited

Take a look at this lefty article de-mythologizing Hariri. Here's what the author, writing for The Nation, has to say about the current narrative of the big man:

"The problem with this confectionary tale is that it does almost nothing to explain why downtown Beirut is today the center of a battle for the future of Lebanon, a brewing proxy war for the soul of the Middle East--and for America's tarnished image abroad. To understand why the playground of downtown Beirut has become a battleground once again, you have to look past the glittering surfaces of its luxury stores, past the pretty flags and banners of the so-called cedar revolution. The secret history of downtown Beirut and the man who rebuilt it is more complicated than the fairy tale; because it doesn't go down as smoothly, and is not as easy to report, it remains largely untold. Which is a shame, because compared with the fable, it's every bit as much of a thriller. "

The article doesn't shy away from listing Hariri's alleged crimes -- underpaying middle-class people for their property, cozying up to government officials for sweetheart deals, even being too close to the Syrians (!!). Sometimes, it hits its target, sometimes not so much. The interesting point is that the author comes around on Hariri at the end. Sure, she writes, he gamed the system as much as the next guy. But at least he made friends across sectarian lines, and was able to lessen the old tribal rivalries that threaten to tear Lebanon apart each day. That's a quality that is in short supply these days.