Published in The Washington Post

The Failings of a Lebanese Leader

Wednesday, August 23, 2006; A14

In his Aug. 16 column, David Ignatius said, "The surprise hero of the conflict was Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora." Mr. Siniora was a "hero"?

When his country was being blown to smithereens, he chose to reject a cease-fire offer outright and then made new demands that had nothing to do with the conflict at hand. He applauded Hezbollah's efforts when it was launching rockets from civilian neighborhoods, which led to the deaths of many Lebanese and the destruction of Lebanese cities. If this is a hero in David Ignatius's world, who else is on his list -- Attila the Hun?

MICHAEL BERENHAUS
Potomac
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