This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel with my colleagues, Hussain O'Connor and Bill Rajo.

Mr. Ambassador, news since last we spoke.

Lebanon's new president, Aoun, starts consultations on naming prime minister.

His election required two-thirds of the legislature, I understand, according to the polity of Lebanon, and that was not possible unless Hezbollah lent him some credibility.

Clearly, his success means that Hezbollah has changed or altered its approach towards national government.

Aoun previously was a commander of the military, or in some fashion related to the military,

the Lebanese armed forces.

In general, is this a positive move for the region that Aoun is back in the president's office

and Hizmala has apparently made some concession.

Could it? Thank you.

It is good that Lebanon finally has a president.

The very fact that it did not have a president meant that the Republic of Lebanon was virtually

non-existent during that period.

And Hizbullah was the shadow government. Hezbollah was the shadow government.

Hezbollah is militarily quite significantly harmed.

I don't think it's been eliminated, but it's very, very weak.

And Lebanon has a president.

He has promised that he will disarm everybody except the Lebanese armed forces.

If he can carry out that promise even 60, 70%, that would already be an improvement on the past.

Lebanon deserves to have a government that functions for its own people and not have a military

force within the country that answers to Tehran.

And so in that sense, the election of General Ong is definitely a positive development.

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