I think that the cedar revolution was probably mostly influenced by other color revolutions. What was happenning in general in Jordan was also factor. Syria's bad mismangement and of course most importantly the action by Lebanon leadership.
But removing Saddam was also a factor.
The key point was of course, is what Rafik Hariri did in terms of leadership and his assassination. With UN resolution 1559 underlying this, and France's response to Rafik Hariri assassination.

Key exterior forces being of course Syria [and Syria being Iran client state/ally/supporter] countering this was UN and mostly French leadership. The problem is the UN is weak in specific actions on the ground in Lebanon. Obviously, this lastest conflict could be opportunity to strengthen UN involvement on the ground- particular with Egypt being part UN effort [with Saudis behind this]. The US needs work closely with Egypt and France with US putting money into this to help Lebanon rebuild it's infrastructure in short period of time.

In addition US needs to get Israel to end miltary action, but you can't have Hizbollah in the position of threating Israel with missiles nor Hizbollah acting as a miltia force inside Lebanon. What is needed is political deal which will work better at removing Hizbollah's miltary threat than the rather wasteful miltary operations by Israel. What might be done is to buy all these heavy weapons, and store them in an armory. The armory being owned controlled by Lebanon govt and these weapons could used in emergency. Of course something needs to be done to stop Israel from bombing this armory- so UN could guard it and Israel assurance that they wouldn't bomb this target while UN guards it. This is mostly a way to save face and after hostility ends within say 5 to 10 years the armory [or at least Israel agreement not to bomb it, could end].