1) Quick thread on US sanctions on #Lebanon officials. No sympathy for those who pillaged country. BUT, motivation & how sanctions applied matter. I don’t believe this is about anti-corruption & there is a risk that a selective approach undermines broader anti-corruption drive
2) This is really about US putting squeeze on Hezbollah & its allies. The anti-corruption motivation feels like an afterthought. Otherwise, they could have elaborated more on the corruption claims or broadened them to corrupt pro-US allies (and they are many)
3) There is a risk that such sanctions end up politicizing drive against anti-corruption into another March 8/14 battle and we lose the bigger picture. It is one thing to use sanctions as a drive to get rid of a whole political class vs. instrumentalizing it in partisan battle
4) Shows again need for a more thoughtful strategy on sanctions. If US, France and others want to help Lebanese hold their corrupt politicians accountable, then let them reveal facts about their assets, help recover stolen assets etc. This will drive real accountability.
5) Coming days/weeks will reveal extent of US tactics (I dare not use word strategy anymore). Until then, let's see how these sanctions affect gov formation & behavior of our warlords in #Lebanon
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