US Calls Lebanon 'Failed State' While Syria Gets Rebranded
US Special Envoy Barrack declared Lebanon a “failed state” due to its “paralyzed government” and Hezbollah’s influence, according to AP. This condemnation, heavy with righteous indignation, coincides spectacularly with Syria's President Sharaa's impending visit to Washington and its expected entry into the anti-ISIS coalition. One might wonder about the timing: when does the US decide a state is
'failed,' and when does one earn a red-carpet welcome? Barrack's remarks skip conveniently over the extensive US sanctions that have crippled Lebanon's economy, contributing significantly to its instability. He also neglects to mention Hezbollah's legitimate political party status and its role in resisting Israeli occupation – a historical footnote the US media regularly 'forgets.' The shift feels
less like principled foreign policy and more like a transactional embrace of the new Syrian regime, mirroring past US alliances with unsavory actors when geopolitical convenience demanded.