Dr. Sohail Ahmed Dar shares his views on the recent crisis in Lebanon.

THE WORLD WATCHES on as the Israelis are given the green light and the thumbs up to inflict upon the Muslims of Lebanon, what the US and the British have inflicted upon Muslims far beyond the boundaries of the current siege.

Turning back the clocks, one will recall the long drawn out civil war that destroyed Lebanon. A war in which the enemies of the Muslims were supported and funded by the Israelis. A war in which Ariel Sharon engineered the Massacre of Muslims in Shabra and Shatila. Is anything different now?

Well, the world over thought it may have been. With Ehud Barak pulling the Israeli troops out of Southern Lebanon and the first successful elections in Lebanon, the people were in for better times. These times were seen as an opportunity for the Lebanese to get back on their feet and for Beirut as her Capital to regain her previous status as the ‘Pearl of the Middle East’ Alas, the party was shortlived and the celebrations were soon overshadowed by events that would plunge Lebanon and the Muslims into the current crisis.

Although less significant, the assassination of Rafik Hariri paved the way for the Western Leaders to blame Syria and intensify its pressure on her by carving in stone the World’s perception of her as a State that sponsors terrorism.

The thousands of troops that were amassed in Lebanon, at a blink of an eye, were gone. Although met with rejoice by some Lebanese, namely the Nationalists, the implications of the Western expulsion of Syria was clear to most others. That Lebanon was a totally defenseless and powerless State, akin to that of the Palestinian territories, offering no security to its own borders and no protection to its citizens. And if that wasn’t clear then, it certainly has become so now. Had that not been the case we would have seen the Lebanese Military offer some opposition to the Israeli assault. However, we wait in vain.

Instead, what we see are the Muslims of Lebanon stranded, besieged by the fallen rubble of what was once their homes, schools and hospitals. But as yet, not a single member of the Lebanese Armed Forces are seen doing what would otherwise be expected of an Army or an Air force.

Again, what is clear now, if not then, is that Syria was the protectorate of Lebanon, and when she left, Lebanon, again, became the lamb out to be slaughtered.

With Afghanistan suffering occupation, with Iraq savaged by Israel’s co-conspirators, with Syria still recovering from her humiliating expulsion from Lebanon, with Iran muted over her nuclear issue, with Pakistan’s allegiance to the Star Spangled Banner in the ‘War against Terror’ and finally with the likes of Jordan, Egypt and Turkey all signed up partners of Israel, offering her peace and security, we find one last real obstacle for the US in the region; Hizbullah.

Had the Lebanese Government been able to control or influence Hizbullah, perhaps such savagery would not be witnessed. But is this not the very fact that the Israelis, Americans and British depend on? That they would rather themselves control Hizbullah than rely on the Lebanese Government. In much the same way the Israelis never really trusted the Palestinian Authority to do the job of controlling “terrorists” effectively.

The fact that the Lebanese do not have the ability to influence Hizbullah, has effectively given the Israelis a de-facto mandate to eliminate “the terrorist threat” themselves. Is it any wonder why such an unopposed act of war by the Israelis has been met with little or no condemnation by the leading western powers?

The Americans and the British have stated very clearly that a temporary ceasefire is not on the cards. And knowing that a permanent ceasefire is nothing more than a fairy tale story, it gives the Israelis the rubber stamp they need to continue bombing and killing whilst idle discussion takes place to discuss the terms of what can never exist. And under the pretext that ‘Israel has every right to defend herself’, whilst Condoleeza Rice meets and discusses with delegates in Rome and elsewhere, she left the Middle East effectively telling the Israelis to keep after Hizbullah (and everyone who supports it and its vision; the Muslims of Lebanon).

Rather than working genuinely toward terms of an imaginary coexistence, the US decides to further arm her ally in the Middle East. Mention of tragedy and humanitarian disaster in Lebanon is not met with the supply of food and medicines to the crippled population, but with plane loads of bombs casually stopping off in the UK, as they head for Israel.

No doubt then that on the minds of the US and the Israelis is that the much talked about peace and security can only realistically be achieved when the entire region is destroyed and devastated. The Muslims of Lebanon will then be left to pick up the pieces and line up in front of the doors of the likes of the IMF or World Bank.

The Saudi Foreign Minister, was noted to have said that Israel was doing a big favour to Saudia Arabia, since Hizbullah had been a thorn in her side for many years. I seem to recall Saddam being that thorn! And remember the words of the then newly elected President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmedinajad? He stated, that Israel should be wiped off the face of the Earth.

Will the President’s words transform into something meaningful? Not likely. And yes, have we forgotten already the relationship that exists between Israel and Jordan, Egypt and Turkey? So who do the Muslims in Lebanon have left to depend on? No doubt that there will be several more summits.

No doubt that there will be several options for peace tabled at these summits. And no doubt there are some options which the West will work hard at preventing and obstructing. Of the options tabled and discussed, will any offer anything satisfactory? Surely not Does such a single option actually exist? Surely, yes. Surely, the Khilafah.