With Lebanon, Washington Shows 'Soft' Side of Power

The new cooperation between Bush and Chirac and the almost daily contact that U.S. and French officials have maintained during the crisis contrasted with the bitter rift that emerged between the two countries over Iraq two years ago.

In crafting a policy on Lebanon, the Bush administration has adopted a more measured approach, departing from the more rigid style that characterized its diplomacy during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq.

As a result, the U.S. has enlisted more allies in its campaign to free Lebanon of Damascus' grip. It has also shown greater flexibility as it grapples with the task of how best to strengthen Lebanon's democratic process once Syrian forces are gone.

Foreign diplomats and many U.S. critics of Bush's handling of foreign affairs have praised his actions during the crisis in Lebanon that followed the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"The change is from a diplomacy of statements to a discreet, active diplomacy in the traditional sense," said a European diplomat who declined to be identified. "It's the use of America's soft power rather than its military power."

One example of the administration's flexibility is the president's response to questions about the future of Hezbollah, which advocates the destruction of America's longtime ally, Israel, and is on a U.S. list of terrorist groups.

Twice last week, Bush raised eyebrows by hinting that the United States would not object if Hezbollah emerged as a political force in a free and democratic Lebanon. Still, the president emphasized that administration policy toward the group had not changed.

Israeli officials are particularly concerned about the stability of Lebanon after a Syrian withdrawal. They want the Lebanese army to move into southern Lebanon and secure control of the area. Hezbollah continues to launch sporadic guerrilla attacks against Israeli army positions in disputed territory near Israel's northern frontier with Lebanon.

So far, Israel has not reacted publicly to Bush's remarks.