The discussion about Lebanon was focused on a soon to be published essay by Nicholas Noe entitled “Re-Imagining the Lebanon Track: Toward a New US Policy.” Noe, founder and editor-in-chief of the Beirut-based translation news service www.mideastwire.com, argued that a major fault in U.S. policy toward Lebanon has been the lack of nuanced and strategic understanding of Hezbollah and the broader situation of Lebanese domestic politics.

Noe argued that Hezbollah is first an organization with political motivations, which are based on a legitimate set of grievances. By alleviating grievances such the Israeli occupation of Shebaa Farms and the illegal Israeli military flyovers in Lebanon (along with other specific issues of dispute), the political base of Hezbollah can be eroded and the organization itself dissolved. Thereafter or in concurrence with this process, a “Grand Bargain” between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government can be reached that grants Hezbollah political status in the government in exchange for a relinquishing of military arms.

Bilal Saab, specialist on Lebanon and Hezbollah, argued that Noe’s position was naïve and did not grasp fully the domestic, Shi'a religious goals of Hizbollah as an organization, which would not be tempered merely by giving in to a set of smaller grievances. Moreover, the real problem with Hezbollah is its massive military cache, which is provided by officials in Tehran, Iran. Consequently, the road to disarmament of Hizbollah runs through real rapprochement between the U.S. and Iran, a scenario regarded by Mr. Saab as unlikely.

Mona Yacoubian, former North Africa analyst at the U.S. State Department, agreed largely with both Mr. Saab and Mr. Noe, but added that nation-building initiatives are also needed to prop up the central Lebanese government and provide for needed domestic social services that could otherwise be provided by Hizbollah as a way to shore up domestic support.

- - Event Summary by Josh Meah, Intern, American Strategy Program