SECURITY ISN'T WORTH LIBERTY:

Deep Roots Hold Syrian Influence in Lebanon (Megan K. Stack, February 20, 2005, LA Times)

The sandbags and tanks are long gone, and soldiers are rarely seen in the streets. Syrian military control isn't on display anymore in Lebanon, aside from some army bases and the clutches of soldiers who stand guard at checkpoints on country roads.

These days, Syrian influence has quietly permeated the parliament, the president's office, the financial sector and virtually every other institution. Syrian soldiers were meant to keep the peace after Lebanon's civil war. Instead, Syria has taken over.

"It's a creeping annexation," said former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel. "Syria considers its presence here not as something temporary, not as a foreign occupation, but as something natural. They think that Lebanon is a part of Syria."

Pressure to withdraw Syrian soldiers, whose ranks in Lebanon are estimated to number about 16,000, has swelled since former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated last week in Beirut. Damascus, the Syrian capital, has responded to the calls with defiance.[...]

A few months ago, ordinary Lebanese were afraid to discuss Syria on the streets. Last week, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese — white collar and blue; young and old; Christian, Muslim and Druze — marched through downtown shouting "Syria out," hollering curses against Syrian President Bashar Assad and insulting their own Syrian-linked government. Thousands have signed a petition calling for the resignation of the Lebanese government.

In the first days after Hariri's death, many figures linked to Syria stayed out of sight. A journalist known for supporting Syria spoke only on the condition that his name not be used.

"They gave us security, but what a price we've paid for this security," he said. "They took our money, they took our democracy. I am an ally to Syria, but I can't defend Syria. There are no allies to Syria now."