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February 16, 2005
Mr. Lebanon
A couple of days ago, the former prime minster of Lebanon was killed by a huge car bomb. He was buried today, at a mosque that he built to replace one that had be destroyed by years of civil strife.
Rafik al-Hariri was, mostly, a good man. He put his money where his mouth was and built up the country and Beirut after the civil war. His billions were made in the construction industry and it seemed fitting that his money went into rebuilding.
No one is really sure of the motives for his killing. Responsibility for the assassination was taken by a little known group claiming to have murdered him for his support of the Saudis (his wealth and business got it's start in Saudi Arabia). But many also blame Syria and the Lebanese government.
Whatever the motives, whatever the reasons, the people who do these acts rarely think on their impact. They've got a target and they eliminated him. No thought is given to the grieving wife, the brother or sister, the four children. No thought is given to those relatives left mourning him. No thought is given to the hundreds of thousands that showed up for his funeral. No thought is given to the dreams and aspirations that this one man managed to bring back to defeated and torn country.
He was known as "Mr. Lebanon", a title fitting for a man who had the means to live anywhere he chose to, but came back to his country to help put it back on it's feet. Let's hope Mr. Lebanon's violent passing does not spell the end of the Lebanese dream.
Posted by Samer at February 16, 2005 11:24 PM