How To Turn The Cease Fire Into A Victory For Lebanon

Lebanon was the clear loser of this latest regional war that was fought on its soil. The next step will be to turn this cease-fire into a victory, so that all of the death and destruction would not have been in vain.

The key to a Lebanese victory will be to remove Hizballa's weapons and prevent it from resupplying. The main ingredients of such a victory are:

1. Ensure that the International force that is to be deployed in Lebanon secures the border between Lebanon and Syria, and prevents the re-supply of Hizablla's arsenal.

2. Provide the International troops with a clear mandate that includes the use of force if and when necessary. This will ensure that the troops are respected by all sides and that they are able to enforce their mandate.

3. Once the hostilities are over, the Lebanese politicians need to make it clear to the public and the world that Hizballa bears at least part of the blame for starting this war. The aim of such an initiative is to weaken Hizballa politically before holding elections.

4. Hold new parliamentary elections with the aim of weakening the pro-syrian elements in Lebanon, including Hizballa. One of the pre-requisites for doing so is to bring the Aounist movement back into the March 14 coalition.

5. A strong Lebanese government that is able to rebuild Lebanon and deal with the thorny issue of Hizballa and its weapons.

These 5 points will ensure that Lebanon regains its stability and economic recovery.