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November 9, 2006
Memo From Lebanon
Christians Struggle to Preserve a Balance of Power
By MICHAEL SLACKMAN

BSHARRI, Lebanon � For 11 years, Tony Khalife refused to baptize his daughter, Sarah. Mr. Khalife is an observant Maronite Catholic, but his was a personal protest against the imprisonment of Samir Geagea, leader of Lebanese Forces, and the only militia chief from Lebanon�s civil war who was jailed on charges of war crimes.

But Mr. Geagea was released more than a year ago as part of an effort at national reconciliation after the assassination of the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri. And so the baptism was finally taking place, high on a mountaintop, inside a well-guarded compound that is Mr. Geagea�s home.

�He represents everything to me,� Mr. Khalife said, as he explained why he waited so many years when there was never any certainty Mr. Geagea would ever be freed. �My life depends on him. I believe in him.�

Lebanon is facing a political crisis that has two faces: the emerging power of Lebanon�s Shiite population, evident in Hezbollah�s political strength and press for power, and the Christians� feeling of isolation and vulnerability, so evident in this small, makeshift church on the mountaintop. Lebanon�s Christians, whatever their political allegiance, are trying to hold on to their place and power in Lebanon � shading a conflict over control of the government with political and social dimensions that cut to the heart of Lebanese national identity. Lebanon remains the most pluralistic society in a region monopolized by the two main sects of Islam, Sunni and Shiite. In Lebanon there are 18 different confessional groups.

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