Blogging Lebanon
since 2005
Blogging Lebanon since 2005
Two veteran American commentators who have spent time in Beirut and who are sometimes referred to as the “Liberal Neocons”, have seen what happened in Lebanon and reached similar conclusions.
Mustapha Hamoui · May 15, 2008
A little clarification on the political views expressed in this weblog…In a previous post, many readers expressed a form or another of disappointment — in comments and in emails — that I’m becoming less fair and less balanced.I want to make it clear that I never suggested before that I was somehow dissociated from what is happening in Lebanon, and I never suggested that I was a “neutral” observer. Perhaps I should have made this clearer before, but I do wear a lot of hats in Beirut Spring, and those are not just the writing, the design and the programming. Here’s a rule of thumb for the extra sensitive readers: In posts with the category “Plain Talking”, I write with a layman’s voice, without trying to be measured, fair or balanced. I just write whatever comes through my sometimes-angry, sometimes silly and sometimes rude head. It is in posts with the category “News Analysis” where you should expect the more equanimous, analytical and “balanced” tone that lead some of you to think that this blog was “neutral” . I confess, those are much harder to write (and re-write), and I wish I could write more of them.
Mustapha Hamoui · May 14, 2008
Now that Hezbollah has proven that it can block government decisions it doesn’t like, should it still insist on having a blocking third share of the government?
Mustapha Hamoui · May 14, 2008
Here are pictures of some of the ad-hoc protests that took place in support of the Lebanese government in various places around the world.Opposite the White House, Washington D.C
Mustapha Hamoui · May 13, 2008
I received this release from a high-ranking source in the Future Movement. It makes an analogy between Hezbollah’s invasion of Beirut and Israel’s in 2006
Mustapha Hamoui · May 13, 2008
Bending with the wind, March 14 was apparently neither shocked nor awed.A new theory that is gaining currency is that March 14 intentionally turned the other cheek (and handed their weapons) to let Hezbollah and its allies fall into a trap. Here are some of the arguments being made to support that theory:From Lebanon Updates: “Hezbollah’s failed Shock and Awe”:
Mustapha Hamoui · May 12, 2008
For those who are interested in where the fighting is taking place in Tripoli:
Mustapha Hamoui · May 12, 2008
Just in case you think that this thing is winding down, think again. I’ve said this before, but now Elie Fawwaz writes at Michael Totten’s Blog about the expected push back against Hezbollah.
Mustapha Hamoui · May 12, 2008
Did Hezbollah make a big mistake? Is it Bush’s fault? What will Israel do now?
Mustapha Hamoui · May 12, 2008