When the US administration talks to Lebanese sectarian leaders. So the US government wanted to engage in dialogue with Lebanese sect leaders. So they invited Sa`d Hariri (who based on latest opinion surveys represent around 85% of Sunni public), and they invited Walid Jumblat (who represent some 90% of Druze public), and they invited Samir Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent) (who represent some 35% of Maronite public), and then they invited Ahmad Al-As`ad. Ahmad who, you are asking. Well, he represents some 0.000001% of the Shi`ite public. Let us put this way: Salam Fayyad represents more of Palestinian opinion than Ahmad Al-As`ad does among Shi`ites. (Back when I was in college he once complained to me that his father (former speaker Kamil Al-As`ad) screwed up his education because one week he would tell him: Get ready. You will be the next Shi`ite za`im. And another week, he would tell him: our leadership is over. Get a professional degree.)