Monday, June 23, 2008

The vices of peace

Fighting rages in northern Lebanon for a second day – half a dozen dead, many dozens wounded. I spoke with my grandmother in Tripoli yesterday – “we’re fine” she said, “just nervous.” I’m nervous too. One month since the Doha agreement and still no cabinet – making peace, it seems, is harder than making war.

There’s nothing further here for a warrior. We drive bargains – old men’s work. Young men make wars and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men – courage and hope for the future. Then old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men – mistrust and caution. It must be so.
- Prince Feisal (Omar Sharif) in Lawrence of Arabia