Obama must respect the choice of Lebanon’s voters

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Roula Khalaf in the FT, here

Posted by G, Z, & or B at 7:24 AM

Op-Ed Contribution in the NYTimes, here

WHAT could Barack Obama tell the Muslim world tomorrow that we would be happy to hear? He could tell us that he’s going to stay out of our elections.

Around two weeks ago, amid the campaigning for the June 7 parliamentary elections here , the administration made a huge blunder by dispatching Vice President Joseph Biden, the most senior United States official to visit Lebanon in more than 25 years.

Mr. Biden’s decision to meet with the leaders of the ruling coalition, a Western-backed alliance known as the March 14th group, only bolstered charges by the opposition, a coalition of groups including Hezbollah and the Christian Free Patriotic Movement, that Washington was meddling. Mr. Biden then said that American aid to Lebanon would depend on the composition and policies of the new government.

American efforts to isolate the opposition, which could very well win on Sunday, are destined to fail. Many here ask why America respects Israel’s election — which resulted in a right-wing government — and not their own. They also ask why Washington opposes interference in Lebanese affairs when it comes from Syria or Iran, but seems comfortable doing its own meddling.

To restore America’s credibility in the Muslim world, Mr. Obama should promise that come election time, he will respect the will of voters, even if he does not like the results.

— OMAYMA ABDEL-LATIF, a journalist

Posted by G, Z, & or B at 9:49 PM