May 13, 2008 (LPAC)--So far the attempt by the British to create a civil war in Lebanon has foundered. Senior intelligence sources in the Middle East report that those who were surprised by the Lebanese government's challenge to Hezbollah, are just as surprised by the collapse of that effort.

It is widely believed that the Saudis were key to the operation, which is why an anti-Hezbollah resolution which the Saudis put on the agenda was not passed at the weekend's emergency meeting of the Arab League. In fact, the meeting broke up in disarray, totally polarized between Saudi Arabia and the rest. Syria boycotted the meeting. One source said Saudi Arabia launched a wild attack on Hezbollah, comparing them with Ariel Sharon, and calling for sending troops to Lebanon. This led to them being ridiculed with taunts like, ``Why didn't you send troops when Ariel Sharon was crushing the Palestinians?'' The meeting broke up with the Saudi plan to resolve the crisis sent to a committee, which in effect killed it. The Saudis are being blamed for the crisis.

On the ground, a sectarian civil war has not broken out. No one backed the Saudi-financed militias of Saad Hariri, who leads the so-called Future Movement and the ruling government coalition. The Christian community refused to intervene, as did the general Sunni population. Even the U.S.-trained and financed Internal Security Forces of the government did not intervene. If the opposition thought they could internationalize the crisis, that failed too. He said the U.S. made weak statements, which he said might have to do with the fact that the operation failed so quickly.

What has happened is that the Army, which represents all sectarian factions has stepped in to broker an end to the fighting, and has taken over security in areas where Hezbollah has withdrawn.

Media claims that sectarian fighting is continuing is false--insofar as the Hezbollah fighting goes. The violence reported in the Chouf Mountains behind Beirut, the area where the Druze community is based, is in an internal power struggle for control of the Druze. Walid Jumblatt, who was instrumental in launching the anti-Hezbollah operation, reportedly has conceded political control of the community to Talal Arsalan, who leads a Druze part aligned with the opposition.

The question now, the source said, is how a new political settlement will evolve.