This black cloud has been a long time gathering: since 1996, in fact, when the sponsors of war unveiled their agendas. Until the end of 2005 – after the presidential extension, UN Resolution 1559, the assassination of Rafik Hariri, and finally the Martyrs’ Square demonstrations calling for a sovereign nation – the twin forces of conflict and prosperity had been sparring and trading jabs. We were not free. When we woke up from our Independence-Revolution-induced-drunken-stupor, the forces of conflict had merely regrouped, and were still working to stymie progress at every turn and impose the state of war that feeds their very existence. We have learned the hard way that Shebaa farms were of more use to Israel, who saw a land dispute as the perfect tool with which to keep its war options open. And so the drums of war are getting louder. After tasting a sample of what
