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Gloves Off In Beirut

By Mustapha ⋅ May 9, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

If you just heard about the security situation in Beirut and want to know what it’s all about, The Economist’s Intelligence Unit has a decent rundown, check it out here.

Hezbollah’s Endgame?

By Mustapha ⋅ May 8, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

Over at Michael Totten’s blog, various Lebanon experts have weighed in on the meaning of what’s happening in Lebanon today.

The fights came to that bastion of peaceful coexistence, Hamra.
Charles gives his personal account:
About half an hour ago, I started hearing heavy artillery and light arms fire close by. Then, something landed two streets away, but I don’t know what. No loud collision noise. A friend on that street looked from his balcony after [...]

Opposition Supporters Doubtful

By Mustapha ⋅ May 8, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

Even those who support Hezbollah and the opposition are not happy about the latest events:
I spoke to a relative of mine living in Beirut. Loyal to the opposition, my relative (let’s call him Talal) sounded doleful for the first time in a year and a half. Gone from his voice was the tone of righteous [...]

Hezbollah Training Iraqi Militants In Iran?

By Mustapha ⋅ May 5, 2008 ⋅ 2 comments

According to a front page piece in today’s New York Times, Hezbollah are training Iraqi militia fighters in Iranian camps.
Four captured Iraqi militia members, in separate confessions, have said that they were trained by Hezbollah.
The captured men described themselves in the accounts as part of a class of 16 militants who crossed into Iran from [...]

Finally! A President

By Mustapha ⋅ May 1, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

Ok, that was a joke. But This has become so common to Joke about this that even the otherwise sober Economist magazine is telling it:
LebanonA president at last?May 1st 2008 | BEIRUT
Just kidding
THE bold headline on flyers that appeared last month in the capital, Beirut, declared all of Lebanon’s problems resolved. The country’s myriad bickering [...]

Is Lebanon Booming Or Busting?

By Mustapha ⋅ April 25, 2008 ⋅ One comment

It is both at the same time, says CNN.

Assad: We Talk Peace When Bush Leaves White House

By Mustapha ⋅ April 24, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

The Syrian president confirms receiving the offer of “Golan for peace”, but says he can only think of it after the American President leaves office.Syria responded the way it knows best: Buying time.
In an interview with the Qatari newspaper Al-Watan, Assad said the United States is the only country that can sponsor direct Syrian-Israel negotiations. [...]