Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) On Lebanon's centenary Tuesday, French jets whizzed over the mountains of its former mandate as a French president planted a cedar tree declaring the country's "rebirth." It was beginning to feel a lot like 1920. Back then, General Henri Gouraud declared a new Lebanese state whose first Prime Minister would be Auguste Adib. Even for a country notorious for being subject to heavy external interference, Macron's tour of Lebanon has been extraordinary. In one fell swoop, he seemed to stand in for Lebanon's despised leadership, and it has aroused mixed feelings.

Source: CNN September 01, 2020 12:55 UTC