Lebanese are taking to the streets to demand Syria withdraw its troops from Lebanon, who have been there since 1975. Chants of "Syria Out" and "We don't want a parliament that acts as a doorkeeper for the Syrians" are reported by the AP (HT: Instapundit). I still appreciate the "Remove Your Dogs from Beirut" chant myself.
They Lebanese protesters are wearing red and white scarves, the colors of the flag as they protest. Can this not be a show of solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians with their orange scarves in the streets of Kiev?
Democracy is contagious. The old paradigms will not work. Once the yoke of oppression begins to lift in a region, it is impossible for neighbors not to want the same freedoms.
The catalyst for this has to be the Iraqi elections and the potential Syrian overreach if they are, in fact, responsible (directly or indirectly) for the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon. Even the Baathists of Iraq are reportedly at the bargaining table to move into the political process (see The Adventures of Chester and the Belmont Club with great takes).
We should show solidarity and support to the Lebanese. Let us hope and, better yet, apply maximum pressure for Syria to quit Lebanon. The signs are here. The people of the Middle East want liberty.
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