DIFFERENT STROKES:

With Lebanon, Washington Shows 'Soft' Side of Power (Tyler Marshall and Sonni Efron, March 23, 2005, LA Times)

In crafting a policy on Lebanon, the Bush administration has adopted a more measured approach, departing from the more rigid style that characterized its diplomacy during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq.

As a result, the U.S. has enlisted more allies in its campaign to free Lebanon of Damascus' grip. It has also shown greater flexibility as it grapples with the task of how best to strengthen Lebanon's democratic process once Syrian forces are gone.

Foreign diplomats and many U.S. critics of Bush's handling of foreign affairs have praised his actions during the crisis in Lebanon that followed the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"The change is from a diplomacy of statements to a discreet, active diplomacy in the traditional sense," said a European diplomat who declined to be identified. "It's the use of America's soft power rather than its military power."

Explained entirely by the absence of Saddam and by the spped with which we're winning, as contrasted to 12 years of Iraq flouting the cease-fire resolutions.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 23, 2005 6:06 AM