Walid Jumblatt

Walid Jumblatt was far more progressive than his father, Kamal Jumblatt, founder of the party he now leads. Before his ascension to power following his father's assassination, he was considered to be a "playboy," wearing jeans and a leather jacket, riding a motorcycle and marrying a non-Druze, Jordanian woman. Because of this impression, his early leadership was rocky at best.

However, during the Israeli occupation and subsequent withdrawal of Lebanon in 1982 and 1983, Jumblatt's militia, backed by Soviet weaponry from Syria, overran sixty Maronite villages, killing thousands, but securing a Druze victory and solidifying his position as leader of the Druze.

During the ongoing Syrian occupation of Lebanon, Jumblatt fought to maintain autonomy of the Lebanese people, often being outright critical of Syria, despite now enjoying both political representation within the Syrian government and popularity within the Druze community.

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