American Ambassador Tom Barrack delivered a blunt ultimatum to Lebanese officials seeking peace talks with Israel, according to Axios: disarm Hezbollah or there's nothing to discuss.
The crude diplomatic exchange – "Stop with the bullsh*t," Barrack reportedly said – reveals deep skepticism in Washington about Lebanon's commitment to genuine peace after decades of government paralysis on the Hezbollah issue.
Lebanon's government has approached the United States seeking to broker direct negotiations with Israel to end fighting that has intensified as part of the broader regional conflict. However, American officials view Lebanese overtures as attempts to preserve Hezbollah's military capabilities while obtaining relief from Israeli strikes.
"This is not the language of traditional diplomacy," noted one Middle East analyst. "Barrack's bluntness reflects Washington's frustration with decades of Lebanese government claims that it can't control Hezbollah while simultaneously defending the organization's right to maintain an independent military force."
Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by the and several other countries, operates as both a political party in and a heavily armed militia backed by . The organization's military capabilities exceed those of the Armed Forces, and it has used that strength to maintain effective veto power over government decisions.
