A New Reality for Syria

Syria sent troops next door to Lebanon in 1976, not long after the civil war started. It took 14 more years for the fighting to stop, and the troops stayed on for 15 years beyond that. Small wonder that Lebanese cheered heartily Tuesday as Damascus finally withdrew its soldiers. The withdrawal does not end Syria’s influence over Lebanon. Damascus has infiltrated Lebanon’s government, including its intelligence agencies, as well as many of its businesses, such as cellphone networks and auto dealerships. It also has a powerful influence over Hezbollah, which foments terrorist acts against Israel but also runs schools and social agencies.

Most Lebanese blamed Syria for the February assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri; hundreds of thousands demonstrated in Beirut against the occupation. But that led to counterdemonstrations organized by Hezbollah, illustrating the ominous divisions and fragility of the country’s peace.

Months before the killing of Hariri, France and the United States found rare common ground to win adoption of a United Nations resolution demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Both countries kept up forceful campaigns for that goal after the murder. Israel wisely stayed quiet, though it will benefit from a reduction in Damascus’ influence over Beirut. Trumpeting that fact could have given second thoughts to Arab nations that joined in pressuring Syria.

President Bush last month encouraged Hezbollah to transform itself from a terrorist group into a political party. That would be a major advance, as would its heeding the other part of the U.N. resolution, which called for it to disarm. The group has a dozen members in Parliament. Its leaders should understand that Lebanese foes of Syria see Hezbollah as contaminated by its Damascus links; campaigning in next month’s parliamentary elections as a party independent of Syria and more interested in politics than terrorism could encourage dialogue with the U.S., France and other nations.

Syria too could benefit from the changed circumstances. Pushing Hezbollah to disarm and increasing patrols along the border with Iraq could gain favor with the U.S. So would ending support for groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad that attack Israel. If Syria acts responsibly, Washington should review the sanctions it imposed in 2003. Damascus’ economy is cratering with its loss of oil smuggled from Iraq while Saddam Hussein was in power and the return of thousands of migrant workers it fobbed off on Lebanon. The U.S. sanctions also make U.S. allies wary of dealing with Syria. Damascus could do well for itself and its neighbors by accepting the new reality next door.