Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2463 Destroying the Source (First Update, Please Subscribe)
In November of that year, the whole world was watching the Mediterranean Sea and the two naval fleets that had already joined forces.

When and how will they enter Lebanon?

Not only is the world watching, but the Lebanese government is also paying close attention, as this concerns the fate of their nation.

On November 14, four days after the "fall of London," a "Global Express" landed at Beirut International Airport in the morning.

After the plane landed, Frank, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, got into a Thunder Dragon armored SUV, with Antoine sitting next to him. Antoine, of French descent, had been the representative to Beirut for two years and briefed him on the local situation while the car was in motion.

"When Lebanon gained independence in 1943, the various religious sects signed the National Covenant, which allocated power according to the population ratio of each sect at that time. It stipulated that the president would be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister would be a Sunni, the speaker of parliament would be a Shia, and the parliamentary seats would be allocated according to the population ratio of the three major sects."

For decades afterward, under the rule of the Maronite faction and two moderate factions, Lebanon became one of the most stable countries in the Middle East. Tourism, banking, and transit trade brought it high revenues, and the standard of living was comparable to that of European countries. Its capital, Beirut, became an international financial center on par with Zurich and a major transportation, educational, and cultural hub in the Near East, earning it the nickname "Paris of the Near East." At that time, the Lebanese pound was also a strong international currency, comparable to the Swiss franc and the West German mark.

When he mentioned the international financial capital, Frank raised his eyebrows slightly. This "financial capital" is actually an "offshore financial center," and Mindanao and Surabaya have replaced Beirut's position.

The fact that the two places together replaced this place shows how developed Beirut's offshore financial industry was back then, but all of that is in the past.

"However, since the 60s, due to the surge in birth rates among both the Sunni and Shia populations, some extremists have demanded amendments to the National Pact to increase their power, leading to instability in the country. Eight years ago, the PLO members in exile in Jordan were forcibly expelled by the King of Jordan for interfering in Jordan's internal affairs and hoping to establish a 'state within a state,' and most of them went to Lebanon."

Lebanon accepted these armed men at the time; however, their arrival not only disrupted the domestic balance but also allowed them to take the lead, directly intervening in Lebanon's internal power struggle, supporting and arming both factions while attacking the Maronite faction. Lebanon thus descended into civil war.

Meanwhile, with the support of the Arab League, Syria sent 3 troops into Lebanon. They occupied northern Lebanon, and with their support, the PLO and the National Movement coalition launched a massive offensive. In just a few months, the Maronites lost large swathes of their traditionally controlled territory, and civilians fled the region. They also suffered heavy losses in Beirut, losing much of West Beirut.

By the spring of two years ago, they had controlled 82% of Lebanon's territory. Currently, the Lebanese government only controls the coastal area of ​​Mount Lebanon, stretching from the port of Beirut to near Batren…

The situations described by Antoine were all things Frank knew, and Lebanon was even included in high school textbooks as a classic "farmer and the snake" case. The purpose was to let students know the real and cruel side of the world.

In just a few years, the "Paris of the Near East," which was no less impressive than European countries, was destroyed because of the influx of refugees. It has to be said that this is a joke.

A joke that comes at the cost of national destruction.

"Two years ago, Sarkis, a Maronite, was elected President of Lebanon and, with the joint support of the United States and Israel, attempted to establish authority, but with little success. Currently, Lebanon is divided into a northern region controlled by Syrian forces, a coastal region controlled by Christians, and several southern enclaves controlled by radical factions and Palestinian guerrilla groups. This is the general situation, but it is precisely for this reason that President Sarkis hopes for our intervention..."

“He certainly hopes so, because it is the only chance to restore order to Lebanon.”

Frank glanced out the window, where the buildings clearly showed the marks of war—empty windows, dense bullet holes in the walls, and vast stretches of ruins.

The former "Paris of the Near East" is now a mess.

"The support from the United States and Israel can only allow them to maintain control over the coastal areas. It is impossible to reclaim lost territory, including the Bekaa Valley, without the help of external forces. After all, they are not only facing radical armed groups and PLO guerrillas, but also the Syrian army, which has hundreds of thousands of troops. Without the help of external forces, it is impossible for them to restore order in the country."

As he spoke, he looked westward. West Beirut was under the control of the PLO guerrillas. Even the international airport where his plane landed was separated from their controlled area by only a wall. There, not only were there PLO members, but also various local guerrilla groups that fought against government forces and Maronite militias, as well as fighting among themselves.

This is a complete mess.

How chaotic is this place?
With 230 political parties and dozens of religious sects, each with its own army, it was a complete mess.

After all the evidence pointed to Beirut, Frank, like everyone else, had no doubts, because it was such a chaotic place, with so many organizations and so many warlords, that it was impossible to guarantee that no madman had gone insane and carried out the terrorist attacks in London.

Although there is no evidence yet pointing to a specific group, all the evidence suggests that terrorists come from here, receive their training here, are funded here, and leave the Middle East from here to go to Europe.

So this is why he came here. Who carried out the terrorist attacks in London? Although there is no answer yet, this is the place where it originated!
This is an undeniable fact!

Just as countries around the world have emphasized for many years, we must eliminate the source of major wars.

This time, the SEA's choice is to fundamentally eliminate the threat of terrorist acts, that is, to solve the problem at its source.

Lebanon is a breeding ground for terrorism—terrorist organizations reside within various armed groups, where they receive training, raise funds, and ultimately hide.

Simply cracking down on one organization is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause!

Therefore, Chang'an's plan is very clear—they will take military action to fundamentally and completely eliminate the breeding ground for terrorist organizations! "Yes, but, Executive Director, now, in addition to external challenges, Sarkis also faces internal challenges. The Maronite Phalanx is the largest warlord within the group. A few months ago, fighting reignited here, with open conflict erupting between Syria and the Phalanx, ultimately resulting in the Syrian army withdrawing from the Phalanx-controlled areas. Bashir of the Phalanx has become an idol within the Maronite faction, surpassing Sarkis in popularity, which allows him to begin vying for absolute leadership within the Maronite faction. Therefore, Sarkis now urgently needs external support to stabilize Bashir's prestige."

With Antoine's introduction, the motorcade entered the heavily guarded presidential palace, and soon Frank met Lebanese President Sarkis. Upon their meeting, Sarkis said:

"Mr. Special Envoy, just as I said before, we are deeply shocked by the terrorist attacks in London. Our country is also a victim of terrorism. Therefore, we will stand unconditionally with the SEA and the United Kingdom to combat terrorist activities and are willing to provide all possible assistance."

"Thank you, Mr. President."

Frank nodded and said:
"That's exactly why I came here,"

Frank then looked at the other person and said:

"In order to better combat terrorist organizations, we will provide you with more assistance. The SEA will not only provide you with funds and weapons, but also help you train your troops. At the same time, our troops will enter Lebanon to carry out counter-terrorism operations."

Looking at the president in front of him, Frank was very direct. He stated his demand upfront: to enter Lebanon.

The cabinet members beside Sarkis exchanged glances, and without any hesitation, spoke directly.

"We welcome you. Lebanon needs foreign help to achieve true peace. But I'd like to know what your purpose is in coming here?"

Sarkis asked this question because the help provided by both Americans and Israelis was limited and purposeful.

The Americans were merely using them to maintain order along the coast. As for the Israelis, they simply wanted to establish a buffer zone along the border that they supported.

So now that the SEA and the British have arrived here, what are their goals?

If their purpose is merely to eliminate a terrorist organization, or to avenge London, then what is the point of their arrival?

It's fair to say it's meaningless.

Even though they are now promising to help train the Lebanese army and provide weapons, they will eventually leave.

They were left facing a chaotic situation without any change. In fact, the situation would likely worsen by the time they left, as those people would undoubtedly launch a fierce counterattack.

Therefore, he needs to know the goals of the SEA and the UK, only then can he decide whether to fully cooperate with them.

After all, in the past few years, the Americans, Israelis, and their former colonial power, France, have all offered them too much.

"Our goal is very straightforward..."

Frank looked at the president and the Lebanese officials around him and said bluntly.

"We will help you restore order in Lebanon, drive out all foreign powers from this land, and fundamentally eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism. This is the fundamental purpose of our war on terror."

To fundamentally eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism.

President Sarkis looked at the other person in surprise at this answer, and even asked with some uncertainty.

"Is this for real? Will we really help us eradicate all of this at its root?"

Faced with such distrust, Frank replied:
“We are all very clear about why terrorism has taken root here, and we are also very clear about why Lebanon has fallen into war.”

We must eliminate this at its root; only then can the world truly restore peace and be free from the scourge of terrorist attacks.

Then he looked at the other person and said in a serious tone:
"In this process, what we need is your full cooperation, and no more women to back down. After all, you are the ones who enacted the story of the farmer and the snake. It is because of your boundless kindness that you have single-handedly pushed this country into disaster."

(End of this chapter)