Some Saudis wonder, why we care this much about Lebanon. It is not powerful or even a neighbor! Why do we need them? Since its independence (1943), we have invested immeasurable amount of support that might be better invested in our country and for our people. What do we get in return? "Love and loyalty cannot be bought," they say. "At the end, look where their hearts took them. They stood with the Iranians who gave them nothing but war, strife and destruction, against their Arab brethren. So, why should we go down the same road that led us to such enmity, disloyalty and ingratitude? Shouldn't we cut our losses, and let them go where their hearts lead them? Shouldn't we send all Lebanese home to enjoy Iran's promised paradise?" I tell them that Lebanon is an integral part of the Arab body. When one part gets sick, the rest vibrates with fever. We saw this in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. When we let them face their Persian fate alone, they became our major source of war, hate and destruction. The Decisive Storm, as I explained to my Lebanese friends since its inception, is not just a military operation exclusive for Yemen, but an awakening that aims to restore cohesion, solidarity and order in the Arab and Muslim world. Together we stood, as we did at the Northern Thunder drills, to send a message to all terrorists and their sponsors in Tehran, that we will accept no more intervention and "fitnah" in our lands. Eradication is our answer to your cancer. The Lebanese Arabs still stand for their commitment to the Arab cause and solidarity. Lebanon, as its constitution stipulates, is an Arab nation, period! The majority do not accept Hezbollah's project to transfer the country into an Iranian province under "Alwali Alfaqeeh." Even among our Shia brothers, not all share this ideological commitment, or accept Hasan Nasraallah "proudly announced" slavery to Iran's Ayatollah. Many, under the "Party" guns, have dared to denounce its dictatorial rule and Persian project. They need, expect and deserve our steadfast support. The question then, is: Do we give up and surrender another Arab country to Iran? Do we let the firestorm that has been raging through Syria, Iraq and Yemen burn Lebanon, too? Or do we stand up united, and defeat them, as we did in Bahrain, Yemen and Sudan? The answer to this question is determined by our confidence and ability to respond, as an Arab and Muslim nation; our belief in the divine call to unite and enlighten the "Ummah"; understanding the consequences of surrendering to the mother of all evils, Iran. Saudi Arabia is aware of its place and responsibility, as the Land of Islam, Home of Arabs, Kingdom of Humanity, and therefore defined the vision, carried the banner and led the Arab and Muslim Alliances to fight terrorism and its sponsors. Lebanon, as any Arab country, is entitled to the same protection and support offered to the rest of us. The withdrawal of Saudi military aid to the Lebanese army and security forces was for two reasons. One is to guard against equipment falling into the wrong hands of the "ruling party." The second is to send an awakening call to the free Arab Lebanese to stand up once again to foreign hegemony. They did it before when they revolted for independence in 1943, and against Syria in 2005. It is high time to rise once more against Hezbollah and its Persian masters. The followers of "Alwali Alfageeh" have two choices: either to give their allegiance to Lebanon and the Arab nation; or to the Persian colonizer, as they did before to France, Israel and Syria. Either way, Lebanon will get its independence, and those who betrayed it will pay dearly ... with interest! Our relations with Lebanon are bound by family. Half a million Lebanese chose Saudi as their home. Many Saudi reside, visit and invest in Lebanon. Compare this to the zero existence of Iranians and Lebanese in either country. The same could be said about investment and bilateral trade. Most Lebanese products are sold in the Saudi market, while none is exported to Iran. More than $70 billion were given to the Lebanese government since 1980, but only empty promises were received from Tehran (according to Russia Today). All Iranian donations and support were given exclusively to its agent (Hezbollah) and was mostly military and drug manufacturing equipment. The permanent relations between us will remain, and the temporary Persian hijacking will eventually, lose out. Lebanon will return to its Arab family, and Iranian slaves to their masters! Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at Twitter:@kbatarfi
