Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
The violence in Lebanon over the past two days, including the clashes in the North and the bombing near a shopping mall in Beirut, ought to serve as a wakeup call to any Lebanese leader who harbors illusions about the state of affairs in this country. Any honest assessment would conclude that the domestic political context and the security situation have progressed well beyond what could appropriately be termed "difficult."
Lebanon’s institutions, which were already buckling under the weight of old crises, must now contend with the compounded pressures brought about by new ones. If something is not done soon to address the core political dispute that has weakened the institutions of the state, this country could soon find itself broken beyond repair. Read more>>
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