US Diplomat’s ‘Animalistic’ Remark Exposes Diplomatic Tone Deafness Amid Lebanon Tensions

When Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy juggling delicate diplomacy in Turkey, Syria, and now Lebanon, described Lebanese journalists as “animalistic” during a tense press conference, it wasn’t just an unfortunate choice of words—it was a symptom of a broader problem plaguing America’s foreign policy approach. The incident unfolded at Beirut’s presidential palace during talks about disarming Hezbollah and stabilizing a fragile ceasefire with Israel—two critical issues where American interests should align with respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and supporting regional stability. Does Condescension Undermine America’s Leadership? Barrack later apologized, insisting he meant no derogation but acknowledged the remark was inappropriate. Yet his...