The ugliest thing in politics is that betrayal or lack of loyalty seem to be constant. History is replete with proof of this. Modern history, from the fall of Tunisian President bin Ali to the events in Lebanon, confirm this reality of political life. When the French president affirms that France is committed to searching for stolen Tunisian wealth, to return it to the Tunisian people, one can remember how he and his predecessors Mitterand and Chirac praised bin Ali's actions and achievements in Tunisia in terms of society, politics and the economy. The astonishing thing is that the deposed Tunisian president, who in the eyes of his supporters and defenders was a distinguished leader, found no state from among his European friends to receive him; instead, these countries rushed to close their airspace to him. Modern and ancient history is full of such incidents. We cannot forget the coup that toppled the Shah of Iran, when all of the states that were friendly to him, except Egypt, refused to accept a sick man who had been made an outcast by his people. We are also seeing the same betrayals in Lebanon, whether on the pretext of satisfying the Syrian sponsor, or achieving the aspirations to holding ministerial posts. Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the entire March 14 camp should learn a bitter lesson about politics. Unfortunately, loyalty is not a mark of politics and in Lebanon its price is high, because the control over political life in the country has been regained by Syria, its neighbor, and Iran. The March 14 revolution for independence and free self-determination is once again clashing, until further notice, with the hegemony of regional powers. The government of Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati will be recognized by all countries of the West, which have remained silent about the new situation. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon will continue and no one doubts this, even if Lebanon pulls out of it. The court has been created and more funding will be found, and it will reveal who carried out the assassinations. At the least, this is reassuring, although the prosecution, arrests and trial remain a question-mark. Nevertheless, we will learn the truth, no matter how much the new-old Lebanon, whose decision-making power has been once again dominated by foreign powers, tries to bury this truth. It is also certain, and based on the notion that there is no loyalty in politics, that all of Hariri's friends of yesterday in the countries of the world, such as France, the United States and others, will give their blessing to Mikati's government and its actions, and will continue to support it, especially if he injects it with technocrats, which will attract the friendship of the West. Unfortunately, Western democracies quickly abandon their values, commitments and promises. The affirmation by the leaders of France, the US and others of Lebanon's independence means nothing. They are supporting the side that serves their interests. France is committed to its close friendship with Syria; it has 1,500 troops in South Lebanon and wants an umbrella of protection for them. It also is searching for a role that it has yet to obtain, but is still trying, even though Syria has not given it a role in the proposed Contact Group for Lebanon! The US, meanwhile, has returned its ambassador to Damascus, amid the developments in Lebanon. A new chapter in Lebanon has begun, with the influence of Hezbollah, Michel Aoun and Syrian-Iranian forces, relying on a civilized cover and a new prime minister who enjoys international respect. Politics does not match up with loyalty. The history of democratic life in France is strong testimony to this. Wasn't President Chirac betrayed by one of his closest allies, the prime minister of coexistence under President Mitterand, Edouard Balladur, and his then-ally, the current president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who for a long time paid the price of this betrayal during the Chirac era? Hence, whatever the betrayals and coups, the days will pass and the role of pro-independence groups will return. Prime Minister Saad Hariri is a key political leader in the country; the assassination of his father was meant to destroy his political standing and this did not take place, even though he was killed. The attempt to eliminate Saad Hariri, despite the upheavals against him, is impossible.
