ABSTRACT
the rise of Gamal Abd al-Nasser in Egypt increased the US administration's interest in Lebanon. Arab nationalism was seen as the enemy, and its policy on nonalignment was viewed as a tactic alliance with the Soviet camp. In 1953, Lebanon received six million dollars in US arms and economic aid. In 1954, President Chamoun (from 1952 to 1958) allowed the US to use Lebanese airspace. Chamoun's politics not only alienated Muslim elites and the Muslim “street” that was massively attracted to the Nasserist nationalist and anticolonialist discourse (Traboulsi 2007:130), but they divided Christian ranks, too. In May 1957, demonstrations against Chamoun and his backers left fifteen people dead. Clan feuds, sabotage, bombing, arms smuggling, and clashes between armed bands and security forces became daily routine. Khalaf observed that “slowly, but perceptibly, Lebanon was descending into anarchy and anomy” (2002:109).
