The alleged involvement of four pro-Syrian generals in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri (Terrorist Incident and see photo) comes as little surprise to anyone. Even before the investigation commenced, Lebanon , and the world alike, seemed to agree that Syrians were behind the attack. The questions were of the nature of involvement: how far the plot to kill Hariri went up the chain in the Syrian government and whether pro-Syrian Lebanese were involved, individuals who could still present a danger to the fragile independence in the country, even after their Syrian patrons had withdrawn.

The detainment of these four men may bring answers to the latter question, if not, in time, the former. In the meantime, the tremors following these arrests may shake the Lebanese government all the way to the top. The generals were all Lebanese President Emile Lahoud?s men; one was his head of security, the chief of the Lebanese Presidential Guard, Mustafa Hamdan. Pressure is mounting on the President, considered a Syrian proxy, to resign. According to a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, interviewed by the New York Times, the Lebanese president has become increasingly politically isolated and will only become more so as the UN-led investigation into the Hariri killing proceeds.