The Divide

While the lights go off in celebration of President Bush's visit to Jerusalem, some folks in Lebanon begin planning protests if the American President decides to add Beirut to his list of destinations. Personally, I don't see how his presence would serve to advance his goals. With March 14 likely to be engaged in negotiations surrounding the Arab League initiative, the last thing the Siniora government needs is to be painted as a puppet of the American government.

For the past seven years, the Bush Administration and Israel have acted in virtual lock-step. However, Haaretz has a perceptive editorial about the sole issue where there's space between the two countries' positions:

"When President George W. Bush arrives in Israel in the next few days, it is possible that Syria will be a major topic and not just the Palestinians and Iran. Damascus is one issue which Washington and Jerusalem view very differently. Those in Israel pressing for a revived Syria peace track have failed to identify the problem with the U.S.; nor do they realize that the solution to this policy difference between the two friends may be found in Beirut.