The murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has unleashed mass protests in Lebanon. The demonstrations calling for the departure of Syrian forces from Lebanon have been tagged the "Cedar Revolution" in the West as if they, too, reflect the spirit of the democratic movements that swept Eastern Europe at the collapse of the Soviet Union and the "Orange Revolution" that brought Mr. Viktor Yushchenko to power in Ukraine last year. But the drama unfolding in Lebanon is no mere replay of events surrounding the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
It is still unclear what the result will be. Encouraging as recent portents appear to be, it is far too early to assume that the yearnings of many of the Lebanese people, for a life free of Syrian influence, will prevail.
It is still unknown who was responsible for the massive car bomb that killed Mr. Hariri on Feb. 14. Now as then, however, suspicions point to Syria, or Syrian supporters within Lebanon, who opposed Mr. Hariri's efforts to free his country from Syrian control. Damascus keeps 14,000 troops in Lebanon and holds the allegiance of key players in the Lebanese government and security services. Since the killing, daily protests by Lebanese have called for the withdrawal of the Syrian forces.