Peace in Tripoli? I talked to a Lebanese politician in Tripoli (and he was one of the signatories of the peace treaty in the city). I was rather confused at the turn of events: that mini-Hariri would suddenly show up in the city and sponsor peace efforts and would meet with his rivals. This is very uncharacteristic of the Hariri family that never recognizes rivals within the Sunni community. Basically, I am under the impression that Hariri moved, not so much because of Saudi pressures, but becasue of U.S. and French (and even Egyptian) pressures on the Saudis to act. I am learning of some degree of factionalism within the Saudi government/royal family that is effecting Saudi foreign policy. The Saudi ambassador who visited the city sent a message of sectarian defiance to the city. The armed Sunni gangs fighting have many masters: Hariri, Miqati, and Karami, and some answer to princes in the Gulf who pay them money. Some Saudi officials wanted to use Tripoli to humiliated Syria and Hizbullah, and they even spoke of overrunning Ba`l Muhsin (the `Alawite stronghold). That was not easy to accomplish, and my source tells me that fighting in the city--no matter how prolonged--will stay in a stalemate--very much like clashes during the civil war. Clearly, Hariri rivals, espeically `Umar Karami, are beneficiaries and they received their rival's ackowledgement of their stature in Tripoli. Some said that the French were willing to support a Syrian military entrance into Tripoli becuase the French and the Americans became alarmed at the rise of Bin Ladenite groups in the city. But what is not talked about much is that the Hariri-controlled Jihaz Al-Ma`lumat (Intelligene Apparatus within the Internal Security Forces--Al-Akhbar has been publishing series of articles about it) played a big role in arming and financing the Sunni armed gangs. Personally, I think that peace will not last in Tripoli: I am more of the view that there are those in Saudi Arabia (and perhaps elsewhere) who will not allow a parliamentary election to talke place in Lebanon becasue indications are that given the electoral law of qada', Hariri will lose the majority within parliament.