...With a little help from their friends

Gibran Tueni, one of the leaders of the opposition in Lebanon and the editor of Lebanon's largest newspaper, An-Nahar, gave an amazing interview to Fox's Jennifer Griffin last Thursday (March 3rd) on Special Report with Brit Hume.

I was waiting for a transcript (and even emailed FNC for one), but they don't seem to be releasing one. So, with the aid of my trusty VCR, here it is (could be a blog 'exclusive'...who knows? Just remember you read it here first!!!)

Jennifer:
In his State of the Union address, President Bush vowed American help in spreading freedom throughout the Middle East. A leader of Lebanon's opposition, Gibran Tueni, editor of Lebanon's largest newspaper, says that was a turning point for their movement to get Syria out of Lebanon.

Gibran:
Huge impact. A huge impact. You know, really, people felt very happy when President Bush was re-elected. Believe it or not, we had a headline that day which was on eight columns--one word--Bush. Like that. You know why? Simply because, we think that is the first time that an American president is speaking clearly about democracy and is serious about implementing democracy in the Middle East.

Really, the Lebanese were always cautious about the American policy in the Middle East. The Lebanese always thought that the Americans bartered them with the Syrians. Lebanese are still cautious and afraid that one day or another, you will have a Syrian/American agreement, you know, and Lebanese will pay the price.

What helped a lot also, I think, really, is that this is the first time that we felt that maybe we are not going to pay the price alone. Because at the time we were outspoken, but you were killed.

Jennifer:
Lebanon is not the only place in the Arab World where people once too scared to express themselves are speaking up. The gun is quickly being replaced by the ballot box and free speech. Iraqis and Palestinians have just voted in their first free and fair elections. And now the Lebanese are throwing off the yoke of Syrian occupation.

Gibran:
If President Bush is serious about talking about democracy in the Middle East, you have a democratic state here. Just help us to preserve the democracy. We are not asking, you know, for the six feet of Marines here. We don't need it. We know how to deal by ourselves.

Jennifer:But they need a little help from their friends.

Imagine the impact. A free and democratic Middle East, whose citizens feel a debt of gratitude to the United States for our support....