"The people want to bring down the arms," hundreds of thousands of Lebanese chanted during a mass rally last Sunday in Downtown Beirut, calling for the disarmament of Shia militant group Hezbollah. The demonstration was held in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Cedar Revolution, which ended 30 years of Syrian hegemony over Lebanon.

The rally rejuvenated the March 14 coalition, ushering a new era of its political activism. The speakers told their supporters that Hezbollah's military arsenal is now the primary target. "I came to ask you and I want the world to hear your answer: Do you accept the tutelage of the weapons? Do you accept to have weapons in the hands of anyone but the State? Do you, the people of March 14 and the Cedars revolutionists, accept to have anyone else than the Lebanese State control the decision of the free, sovereign and independent Lebanon?" asked outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The answer was a resounding "no".

Hariri's Christian ally Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea added that "the people want only the Lebanese army to protect them."

The Hezbollah-backed March 8 coalition, expecting a smaller turnout after March 14 lost its Druze leader, was taken back by the number of participants in the rally. However, the massive demonstration against Hezbollah's arms is unlikely to have an influence on the government formation process. Many observers of Lebanese politics are expecting a takeover of the cabinet by Hezbollah and its allies, even if technocrats are included to attempt to escape international isolation. By controlling the country's arms and executive powers, Hezbollah is seeking to end ties with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), trying the assassins of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

In Washington, more than 400 people gathered on Capitol Hill to show support for the ideals of the Cedar Revolution. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Chairwoman of the House Foreign Relations Committee Ileana Ros Lehtinen, and other ranking House Representatives, reaffirmed their commitment to the country's freedom and sovereignty. Congressman Nick Rahall, a founding member of the Lebanese American Caucus, reaffirmed Washington's unwavering commitment to the ideals embodied by the Cedar Revolution, saying that "when it comes to Lebanon, there are no Democrats and no Republicans in the Congress. We are all united in our support for Lebanon." Meanwhile, Congressman Howard Berman said that he is planning to introduce the "Hezbollah Anti-Terrorism Act" aiming "to ensure that US assistance to Lebanon does not benefit Hezbollah in anyway."

The strong demonstration of support was the largest of its kind on Capitol Hill for the Lebanese-American community. It helped show that Lebanese around the world have not abandoned the movement's ideals, irrespective of the shifting positions of particular leaders or parties in Beirut. It would be wise for the new cabinet, in its composition and policies, to reflect this sentiment and to avoid alienating what is perhaps the majority of Lebanese, both in Lebanon and abroad.