US, France, Saudi Plan to Bolster Lebanon's Army (for whom, exactly?)
The US, France, and Saudi Arabia are joining forces to back Lebanon's army, ostensibly for regional stability. This comes after years of Lebanese political paralysis, economic collapse, and persistent Israeli incursions. One might wonder why these specific nations, allies all in previous destabilization efforts, are now so keen on 'bolstering' the country's defenses. It's almost as if the
instability they decry is useful for their geopolitical aims, and now they need a new local enforcement arm. Is this about genuinely strengthening Lebanon's sovereignty, or ensuring that any future Lebanese resistance to Israeli aggression is contained by a US-funded, Saudi-approved military? History, particularly in 1982 and 2006, suggests the latter, given the consistent US vetoes at the UN
Security Council against resolutions critical of Israel's military actions in Lebanon. This 'good neighbor' diplomacy looks suspiciously like an attempt to manage Lebanon's internal affairs to benefit Israel's security Doctrine—not its own.