Damned if you do...

... and damned if you don't... The Syrians that is. Many Lebanese (especially those of the March 14th persuasion) see the hand of Syria in almost everything that happens. Something negative, the Syrians are at the root of the problem! Something possibly positive, it's a sneaky Syrian manoeuvre of some sort to take advantage of the Lebanese!

So, Syria doesn't have diplomatic relations with Lebanon, hmm, proof positive that they regard Lebanon as a part of Syria (and not an independent country) and want to take over. Syria wants to set up diplomatic relations, hmm, proof positive that they are just trying to interfere (and then take over!). Syria won't coordinate with Lebanon on border security, hmm, proof positive that Syria doesn't recognize Lebanese sovereignty and wants to take over. Syria will coordinate with Lebanon on security, hmm, proof positive that Syria is just trying to interfere (and then take over!)

OK, so it's not in a total vacuum, there is a long history of interference there, and sometimes there really are good reasons to be paranoid (e.g. this), but seeing the evil Syrian boogeyman in everything is a bit much... Given these (and many, many other) examples, this blogger was surprised to see that in a poll published in NOW Lebanon, in answer to the question "Who do you perceive as Lebanon's greatest threat in the region?," only 16% answered Syria!