MANAMA (Realist English). U.S. Ambassador Thomas Barrack described Lebanon as a “failed state” governed by “dinosaurs,” casting doubt on the country’s capacity to meet Washington’s demand to disarm Hezbollah, during a speech at a regional conference in Bahrain.
Barrack said Lebanon’s decades of political chaos, recurring wars, and a cycle of short-lived governments have left it “incapable of reforming itself.” He pointed to the dominant role of Hezbollah, which he argued functions as a “state within a state” by providing public services and maintaining a well-funded military force in southern Lebanon.
“A Hezbollah fighter earns about $2,200 per month, while a Lebanese army soldier makes just $275,” Barrack said, underscoring the imbalance in power and resources between the militia and state institutions.
The ambassador also urged Lebanon and Syria to normalize relations with Israel, despite heightened cross-border tensions and continued Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
Barrack’s remarks mark one of the sharpest U.S. criticisms of Lebanon in recent months and reflect Washington’s frustration with Beirut’s inability to rein in Hezbollah’s influence — an issue that has complicated Western aid and mediation efforts amid the country’s economic collapse.
