Former President of Lebanon Amine Gemayel emphasized the need for establishing partnerships in the Middle East at a Monday luncheon of nearly a hundred at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG).

The speech, which was followed by a brief question-and-answer period, proposed a new model for partnerships in the Middle East in the aftermath of the war in Iraq—one that “incorporates conflict resolution, dialogue and eventually reconciliation.”

Gemayel was introduced by KSG Dean Joseph S. Nye, who welcomed the former Harvard affiliate back to Cambridge for the event, sponsored by KSG’s Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation.

According to Gemayel, the U.S. faces great responsibilities and challenges with the fall of Baghdad, as it becomes “more than a superpower.”

“In effect, the U.S. is now itself a Middle Eastern power,” he said.

Gemayel did not directly comment on America’s legitimacy in entering the war, but focused instead on its present responsibilities resulting from the intervention and use of preemptive military tactics—and how best to proceed to avoid further violence.

“Preemption has been elevated to the level of official doctrine by the world’s only superpower,” he said.

The question people in the Middle East are asking regarding the nature and purpose of the U.S. intervention, Gemayel said, is, “Where will this dominance lead?”

Gemayel served as president of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988, six tumultuous years of political uncertainty which saw the seizure of West Beirut by Israeli forces and increasingly precarious national autonomy.

After his presidency, Gemayel joined Harvard’s Center for International Affairs for a year, serving as a fellow and lecturer.

Two of Gemayel’s most prominent objectives as president—reestablishing Lebanese national autonomy and unifying its diverse communities—were themes in the afternoon’s speech and remain important in his current political activity.

Gemayel stressed the need for including Arabs in the process of rebuilding Iraq, deploying a contingent of Arab peace keepers in the area and establishing a republican council to speak for the people before official elections.

Despite America’s political preeminence, he said, “the Arabs alone will decide whether the U.S. is successful.” He warned that pursuing an occupation in lieu of a partnership, as post-World War history has shown, would lead to violent resistance spurred by nationalism and religious fundamentalism.

But Gemayel remained optimistic of a positive American influence in the region, as “the U.S. enjoys a real opportunity to spur a new Middle East.”

Gemayel also stressed the utmost importance of addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in restoring stability in the region. In turning the focus of the speech to his native Lebanon, he called his country “the crossword of the Middle East,” and a potential bridge between troubled Middle Eastern countries. Its diverse, internal communities, he said, made it a positive example for establishing “harmony amidst diversity”