Via the AP/NYT: Bomb Kills Anti-Syrian Politician in Beirut
A bomb blast killed a politician who was a harsh critic of Syria’s power in Lebanon as he rode in his car Tuesday, police said, the second slaying of an anti-Syrian figure this month.The explosion that killed former Communist Party chief George Hawi came a day after Lebanon finished elections in which the anti-Syrian opposition won a majority in parliament, breaking the hold of Damascus’ allies on the legislature.
[...]
Hawi, a Christian, frequently spoke out against Syrian intelligence and interference in Lebanese affairs and against Syria’s allies in the security forces.
He was a prominent leader during the 1975-90 civil war, and his followers fought alongside Muslim and Palestinian militias against right-wing Christians. But Hawi in recent years distanced himself from the war and espoused Christian-Muslim dialogue. His communists in the 1980s were in the forefront of resistance to Israeli occupation in Lebanon.
It would seem that the Syrians remain active in ebanon, although no one has taken responsibility this attack (nor, for that matter, has anyone taken responsibility for the prior two).
While it is clearly possible that the goal here is to drive a wedge between pro- and anti-Syrian forces in the government, this tactic of assassinating anti-Syrian politicians has, to date, damaged, not enhanced, Syrian influence in Lebanon. As such, one wonders what the goal here is.
