Syrian Parachute?

Josh Landis' post about the reaction in Damascus to the mega-demonstration held in Beirut yesterday to show support for Syria brings home the importance of Hezbollah in the political process and the extent to which the Syrians are convinced that they've done the right thing by occupying Lebanon.

My reaction to the pro-Syrian rally, however, is not as negative as that of many Lebanophiles. I think Nasrallah's rally could be the parachute that President Assad needs to get out of Lebanon without losing face at home. He's got the momentum now to hold a big event with Nasrallah, hand him the keys to the city, and say that Lebanon has graduated and the Syrians are pulling out - of their own volition, of course. It gives him a chance to lose without looking like a loser. And that would make us all winners.