BEIRUT — Let’s imagine for a moment what Lebanon means by the word. In that alternate world, “neutrality” could mean rejecting any foreign interference, “interference” could mean bombing residential areas, and “sovereignty” could include radical concepts such as opposing drones in the skies.
But in the real-world lexicon of Lebanese diplomacy, “neutrality” now means sitting politely while Washington scolds Iran for its influence and looking the other way when Israel’s enemies “accidentally” drop explosives on its territory.
When President Trump’s deputy special envoy for the Middle East asked Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Razi about his intentions to visit Iran, he proudly replied that he was open to “all countries except those that interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs.”
wonderful. Does this mean that Washington will magically not interfere in Lebanon, or has its interference simply been elevated to a sovereign right?
What’s notable is that Mr. Raji doesn’t seem concerned about the Israeli occupation regime’s continued airstrikes, assassinations, and daily border violations – apparently because a bomb must be signed by an Iranian minister to be considered “interference.”
A few months ago, Mr. Ortagus shattered diplomatic protocol by summoning Mr. Raji to the U.S. embassy — reminding him that in this relationship, the United States was expected to sit at the head of the table and Beirut would nod, listen, and take notes.
Nothing screams “non-interference” more than being ordered to appear in your own capital for instructions in another’s capital.
Meanwhile, US special envoy Thomas Barrack very sympathetically assures us that the Lebanese army will never use “lethal force” to disarm “large parts of Lebanese society.”
Translation: Washington understands that Hezbollah is not just a political faction with weapons, but a deeply rooted social force, and that forcing a confrontation would lead to civil war.
This beautiful concern for Lebanese unity was there until one remembered that occupying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was simultaneously promising a devastating military operation against Lebanon.
Are Americans and Israelis at odds? Only if you believe stage plays are real.
Washington is not avoiding civil war, but preserving the chaos as a bargaining chip while the Israeli occupation regime presides over the bloodshed.
The equation is simple. Washington applies sanctions, pressure, and diplomatic influence. Israel’s enemies provide air power and use threats and intimidation. Different tools, same policy.
Let’s stop pretending to be polite. The United States is not trying to prevent bloodshed, it is trying to outsource it. The goal is simple. The goal is to weaken Lebanon, break its resolve and force it to negotiate from a position of fear.
The only real obstacles in this entire geopolitical scenario are resistance, deterrence, and clarity of vision. Without it, “neutrality” would already be enforced by fire and iron, and lectures on sovereignty would be delivered 30,000 feet from the cockpit of an F-35.
In Lebanon’s political lexicon, “neutrality” has been redesigned to mean submission. And every time an official pretends otherwise, the irony is written right into it.