SYRIA HAS PULLED OUT OF LEBANON ahead of schedule:

Hundreds of Syrian troops left the country over the weekend after burning documents, demolishing walls and filling bunkers. Yesterday, Syrian intelligence abandoned Anjar, the headquarters of Rustum Ghazaleh, the intelligence chief who was once the most feared man in Lebanon. He was reported to have left for Damascus last night but was due to return for today’s ceremony.

Meanwhile, Michael Totten is explaining why Lebanon matters.