Fuad Shihab

He was Commander in Chief during the Lebanese civil war. When President Chamoun ordered the military to stop the revolt he refused and Chamoun was forced to call in the United States. They brought the war to an end. When Chamoun's presidency was over he stepped aside and Shihab became the president. His conduct during the civil war had won the respect of both Christians and Muslims. During his time as president Christian-Muslim relations improved. He launcehd several ambitious programs of political and economic reforms. As part of this he reduced the power of the mafia-type bosses and increased centralized government. He also started the framework for a social welfare system. Shihab served as positive force in Lebanon but did get rid of the sectarian politics. Which would arise again in the 1982 Israeli-led invasion.