Vice President Joe Biden visited Lebanon, weeks before the country's June 6 election. Joe is the most senior American official to visit in 26 years. He offered advice to the Lebanese people who suffered a pummeling from Israel in 2006.
Joe delivered the usual American carrot and stick. Funny, voters don't like implied threats."I do not come here to back any party," he said after talks with President Michel Suleiman, but added that future U.S. aid to Lebanon would depend on the nature of the next government.
"We will evaluate the shape of our assistance program based on the composition of the new government and the policies it advocates," Biden declared.
Biden later joined Defense Minister Elias al-Murr at Beirut airport for a display of U.S. military equipment, including tanks, given to Lebanon in the past few years.
Recall the U.S. equipment remained silent during Israel's razing of Lebanon, climaxed in an orgy of cluster bombs. Did Joe check up on the removal of millions of bomblets?
Democracy surprised Condoleeza Rice in Gaza. How will the Lebanese people vote in early June? It could be ugly, if they remember America's month long silence while their democratic neighbor to the south pummeled their country.
