Emile Lahoud vs Omar Torrijos

Emile Lahoud was appointed Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1989, during the final year of the civil war. He oversaw the rebuilding of the army after the conflict, integrating former militiamen and restoring the military's role as a national institution, though under Syrian supervision.

Emile Lahoud was elected President of Lebanon on October 15, 1998, with the backing of Syria. He was the first military officer to become president since the civil war, and his election was seen as a continuation of Syrian influence. His presidency began with promises of reform and anti-corruption campaigns.

In 2004, the Lebanese Parliament, under Syrian pressure, amended the constitution to extend President Lahoud's term by three years, despite opposition from anti-Syrian factions and the U.S. This move sparked the Cedar Revolution and increased tensions between pro- and anti-Syrian camps, leading to the assassination of Rafic Hariri in 2005.

Following the assassination of Rafic Hariri in February 2005, massive protests (the Cedar Revolution) demanded Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. President Lahoud, a Syrian ally, was forced to accept the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April 2005, ending 29 years of Syrian military presence. His authority was severely weakened.

Emile Lahoud's extended term ended in November 2007, but Parliament failed to elect a successor due to political deadlock between pro- and anti-Syrian blocs. He left office as a deeply polarizing figure, blamed for entrenching Syrian influence and obstructing sovereignty. He remained in Lebanon but was politically isolated.

Torrijos, as a lieutenant colonel, co-led a military coup that overthrew President Arnulfo Arias. The National Guard took power, and Torrijos emerged as the de facto leader of Panama, establishing a military government.

Torrijos initiated an agrarian reform program that redistributed land to peasant families. The reform aimed to reduce rural poverty and inequality, but its implementation was uneven and faced opposition from large landowners.

Torrijos negotiated treaties with U.S. President Jimmy Carter that established the gradual transfer of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian control by 1999. The treaties were ratified by Panama in a 1977 referendum and by the U.S. Senate in 1978.

Torrijos died when his De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft crashed in the mountains of Penonom