Lebanese husband, tourist visa?

hi guys, my husband is lebanese and i am british, we live in bahrain together, we want to take my son to California for a vacation next summer, but i was thinkin, because im british i dont need to apply for a visa to visit USA as the UK is under the visa wavier programme, my son is covered by this to, but as my husband is lebanese he would have to apply for a visa before we go? Is this right, is there any way around this? i mean it seems stupid that me and my son dont have to apply but my husband does. Thanks for your help