Lebanon

Hizbullah's second-in-command Sheikh Naim Qassem has set three conditions for the “speedy success” of the national dialogue to be re-launched next Tuesday. 1- Participants should unanimously agree that Israel is the only enemy. 2- They should be convinced of building a capable, just, well-balanced, strong and clean state which would put an end to all […]

I went tonight to the movies. I felt I need some time on my own. Get Smart is a 007 kind of film but more fun. I don't remember seeing so many kids, not to offend them, pre-teens and teens, at ABC mall during the day. Quite a picture to look at. I am not […]

A car bomb explosion on Wednesday killed a ranking official of Druze leader Talal Arslan's Lebanese Democratic Party in the eastern resort of Baisour and wounded six people, police reported. Saleh al-Aridi, in his late 40s, a member of the party's central council, was killed instantly when the bomb ripped through his Mercedes car in […]

 In the beginning the motive was clear. The majority had to become a minority by killing, not by elections. At that time the country had no president and the assassination trend was meant to stop the majority from electing a president by 65 votes out of 128, which is the 50 + 1 formula. However, […]

The minimum wage was raised. Finally a piece of good news although at the prices they have here its far from being decent. Maybe some should slow down the corruption and use the money for the people. What an awkward idea, no? President Suleiman invited all camps [realistically there are more than two] to attend […]

The spotlight remains on Tripoli this weekend, especially in light of Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri's three-day visit, during which he has met representatives from the city. Hariri's efforts to create a climate that will foster reconciliation come after he had earlier warned that Syria “is trying to return to Lebanon through Tripoli.”  Talks […]

An interview that you may find interesting. There is a story behind the interview. Maybe someday I will share it. Walid Jumblatt: It is important to have President Michel Sulayman convene the national dialog session to discuss the issue of the arms of Hizballah. It will take a long time to settle it, as it […]

At a press conference in Damascus following a quadripartite meeting that joined Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy alongside Assad, the Syrian president commended the Doha Agreement, which he said had erased the specter of civil war in Lebanon. "Yet the situation in […]

Today I went to Sassine in Ashrafieh and after the meeting, I thought of wandering the streets close to the ABC Mall. The weather is not as hot as before, though humid [and yes  I still hate it] and anyway I needed some time off from work…. I absolutely loved the experience and Ashrafieh is […]

Yesterday, AMAL celebrated Musa Sadr in Nabatyeh. I attended the event, and as soon as I have some free time, I will tell you more about it. It was an interesting first hand experience. For the rest of the world, the disappearance of the imam Moussa al-Sadr is probably at most a footnote in the […]

Finally, Lebanon's army has a Commander in the person of Brigadier General Jean Kahwaji. The position has been vacant since General Suleiman was elected as a consensus President in May. NOW Lebanon reports: Shortly before the session convened, Defense Minister Elias al-Murr said General Kahwaji, who was commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces' 12th brigade, […]

The army is under attack from more than one side. A Lebanese officer was killed on Thursday when a military helicopter came under fire in southern Lebanon. First Lieutenant Samer Hanna was killed when gunmen opened fire on the helicopter, which was flying over the village of Tilal Soujoud in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army […]