I think Lebanese people should understand things a bit more, Syria's regime was up to 2001 a socialist one, of course Socialism cannot survive completely when the system cannot support its self and does not have complete self-sufficiency & reliance, therefore it was using Lebanon(the Liberal system) to cover its needs, whether using its banks or other services which used to be forbidden in Syria, since 9/11 and since the death of the late Hafez El Assad (Adoplh Hitler's imitator) (who used to think that National Socialism works even in modern world), his son Bashar decided to change the system slowly into an open market one (almost Capitalist System) which is the smart solution for the people of Syria.
However, you can resemble Syria and Lebanon to China and Hong Kong 10 years ago, today China is open and there is really no need for Hong Kong.
Therefore, if the people of Lebanon are smart enough which i am sure they are; i think they should see Syria as an opportunity and not as an enemy, me as a Syrian expat, i believe that Syria in 10 years from now will be totally a different place and would be a pleasant one with new generations (modernized, educated, multi-lingual) and if the Lebanese people can find business opportunities at this stage before the big giant corporations jump-in then that would be the correct thinking.
As far as i see, Lebanese banks were the first to go into this market and adapt to it, and later on we will see big corporations and financial institutions like (Morgan-Stanley/Citi Group, HSBC, Standard Chartered & others), and when these are in then Syria will be a very good place in the middle east in terms of (Investments, Population, Land Spaces, touristic destination, Oil production, Geographic location and other advantages).
Furthermore, no Syrian and no Lebanese want to merge the two countries at this stage, although i think that modernizing Syria is not so difficult and can be done in one year time to make it look like Lebanon in a touristic point of view but the important thing that Syria needs is the infra-structure which lacks investments and lots of money, and this will come very soon i guess.
By that time i think the Lebanese people will truly want to merge with Syria as it will be a place with a lot of potential, since the people have the same ethics and culture base of Lebanon, they just need to be educated more and then the two people would look alike.
Dont forget, throughout all the middle east, there is no place that allows other religions to act freely and protects minorities like Syria, look how the Christians and other religions are enjoying the respect of other dominating religion, it is a blessing of the regime, on the other hand Lebanon is a small land and it starts at Casino du Liban and ends at Jemaizeh, all other places in lebanon are from another planet, and look very much like Syrian villages, therefore lets not be so emotional about this and lets think smart, i also believe that the grand LEVANT should be done (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel), these countries can join together economically and have a united currency and trade accords, it should also unite its security systems, and have open borders between them.
I believe that this can be done when Israel signs a peace agreement with Syria, which will be done soon.
The syrian president though is a very smart and diplomatic person (With the glamorous first lady), he knows what he has and what he doesn't and he understands the right ways to do things..
I truly wish that one day i see different point of views from Lebanese people about Syrians and i really wish to see a united Levant, that would be the big project for the entire area and a benefit for all of us.
I also wish to see the Syrian Television sold to a private sector because even as a Syrian i see it is very embarrassing and irritating.
Cheers..