Lebanon's War of Words

"With Hizballah raising the level of its anti-government rhetoric and prime minister Fouad Siniora virtually under siege, any chance for compromise in Beirut looks increasingly dim. The Grand Serail, an Ottoman-era palace that houses Lebanon's government, began its life as a...

Losing Lebanon to Civil War? ? ? ?

"Once a beacon of democracy in the Middle East, Lebanon is veering toward civil war. Here's what went wrong. It's never a good sign for a country when the Prime Minister and most of his Cabinet members spend their days barricaded in an Ottoman-era compound. That's what Fouad...

Hizballah's Rally Highlights the Government's Weakness

"U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's grip on power is further eroded as hundreds of thousands in Beirut demand his ouster. The Hizballah security teams — identifiable by their combat boots, black fatigues and beards — that gathered Friday morning in the...

Stoking the Fires in Lebanon

"Beirut isn't burning just yet, but if the U.S. continues to cross a red line by pushing for a politically charged trial that Syria won't stand for, a full-scale blaze will surely erupt. Beirut is boiling, as a Lebanese friend called to tell me. Over the weekend, Hizballah...

Rice Makes Surprise Visit to Beirut

"Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice made a surprise stop in the besieged Lebanese capital today to try to prop up the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and to reassure Arab allies who have become increasingly impatient with the Israeli air assault, which has killed...