LEBANON If This Is Peace . . .

Notes LEBANON If This Is Peace . . .

"Failure is not allowed," Muslim patriarch Saeb Salam instructed 63 surviving members of the Lebanese parliament elected in 1972 as they sat down to ponder a solution for their country's devastating 14-year civil war. In fact, failure in Lebanese peace efforts has become almost customary. But after two weeks of consultations in the Saudi Arabian resort of Taif, the parliamentarians -- 33 Christians and 30 Muslims -- were close to agreement on a plan to establish a "government of national reconciliation." It calls for Muslim-Christian power sharing and phased withdrawal of the 40,000 Syrian troops who have been in Lebanon under...

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