Post Hariri scenario

Lebanon with its track-record of violence and proclivities to it, attributable to some inner political contradictions and neighbourhood complications, went through a relatively peaceful, balanced, constructive and modernist phase of administration during Hariri's incumbency.

Four months before his assassination, he had stepped down in what was perceived to be a row with president Emile Lahoud over Damascus' role in Lebanon's political affairs and presence of Syrian troops in the country.

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The regional and international repercussions of his brutal murder have not remained confined to expression of condolences, these seem to have entered the realm of geopolitics, so to speak.

There have been suggestions from the West that the Syrian government was to blame for Hariri's death. Damascus' arch-foe Israel thought Syria had a hand in it. The assassination has raked up US allegations of Syria having 'allowed busloads of jihadis into Iraq to try to defeat US forces'. The Syrian association with Hamas has been referred to in connection with Israel. Ramsfeld has spewed out a litany of charges against Syria in a congressional testimony following the killing of Hariri.

Whilst Syrian representatives abroad keep vehemently refuting suggestions Damascus was responsible for the death and speak of 'constructively engaging the US,' Washington seems bent upon mounting pressure on Syria to behave. Rumsfeld keeps reeling off the charges against Syria whose behaviour, in his words, was proving harmful to US interests in Iraq. Damascus has been alleged to be facilitating with Iran Hezbollah's operations into 'Lebanon and Israel'.

On the other hand, Syria and Iran appear poised to from a common front 'against external threats'.

The Middle East is teetering at the edge of deeper trouble.