Lebanon is arguably the most democratic Arab state. It also has one of the most complex political systems in the Middle East, based on the premise that a careful balance in all aspects of political life must be maintained among the 18 recognized religious communities. |Full Story
United States State Department Report "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2004 - 2005" Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor on 28 March 2005.|Full Story
The Sharm el-Sheikh summit was a success by almost any reckoning. But let's not get carried away.Even the complete end to terrorism and reprisals would not signify an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It would only free the two sides to start negotiating over the issues which produced the violence in the first place. |Full Story
Upon hearing the terrifying explosion that claimed the life of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14th, Beirutis looked up at the sky searching for Israeli fighter planes that violate the Lebanese airspace almost daily. In the meantime the plotters of the assassination rushed to enforce its repercussions and quickly pointed fingers at Syria. |Full Story
A week after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, events in Lebanon and Europe this week may clarify key points of convergence and divergence among American, European and Lebanese opposition positions, along with the Lebanese and Syrian governments' policy replies to the barrage of criticism they have endured. |Full Story
Local and global reactions to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri have quickly shifted attention to another country and another issue. The country is Syria, and the issue is American-orchestrated pressures to force the Damascus government to change its behavior - or possibly to risk greater pressure to change the regime.|Full Story
Breath-taking, and often disturbing, photographs from the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Sudan were among this year's winners at the 2004 World Press Photo contest, taking home several awards on Friday. |Full Story
