Optimism that mass public upheaval would precipitate a ?Cedar revolution? lost a little of its buoyancy last week when Hizbollah brought 500,000 supporters out into the streets in favor of the Syrian occupation. The pro-independence side recovered on March 14, matching Hizbollah?s half million and raising them 300,000.

Responding to this and pressures from the UN, the US, and other countries, Syrian forces continued to evacuate their western positions and pull back toward the Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border. Syria announced that its intelligence bodies would be ?leaving? the Lebanese capital, Beirut (although the greater likelihood is that this means they will be staying, but keeping a lower profile).