Disarming Hezbollah

If the Cedar Revolution is going to lead toward a viable, democratic, and sovereign state of Lebanon, and if there is to be peace with Israel, Hezbollah must ultimately disarm. But how do we get there?

Daniel Byman, writing in Foreign Affairs, thinks that instead "of trying to ostracize Hezbollah, Washington should focus on trying to get the organization to stop pursuing its goals through violence." The idea is to weaken Hezbollah's military strength, strengthen its political position, and boost the Lebanese Armed Forces--all simultaneously. Then, at some point in Lebanon's post-Syria future, the Lebanese government, when it is sufficiently strong, will call on Hezbollah to disarm, and Hezbollah will feel more comfortable doing so, since it will be a major power player in the government anyway.