Qifa Nabki

General Aoun’s Interview with Marcel Ghanem

Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun went on Kalam al-Nas (the most widely-watched political talk show in Lebanon) last Thursday, and had a long conversation with Marcel Ghanem, the show’s famous host. The entire interview is available on YouTube in ten-minute installments. You can catch the first one here, and then navigate to the … Continue reading →

Defensive Strategy

(The scene: a Beirut cafe) Abu Michel: Says here in as-Safir that the next Israel-Lebanon war is gonna happen next April. Abu Samir: You still read that rag? An-Nahar says that the war is gonna be sooner than that. January, February, maximum. Abu Michel: Impossible. Abu Samir: Suit yourself. Abu Michel: The Israelis won’t attack … Continue reading →

Neoliberalism & the Syrian Economy

There’s an interesting debate going on in the previous post about Dr. Charbel Nahas, and whether or not he’s likely to spearhead an FPM-sponsored assault on Haririan neoliberalism. If that’s just a tad too much “inside baseball” for you, then check out the following couple of links, which shed light on the future of Syria’s … Continue reading →

Charbel Nahas: The FPM’s Secret Weapon?

For a period of a couple months, the cabinet formation was help up by a dispute about the appointment of Gebran Bassil — Michel Aoun’s son-in-law — as Telecommunications Minister. Aoun wanted him re-appointed; Saad Hariri did not. Eventually, a compromise was reached: the FPM was allowed to keep the Telecommunications Ministry as long as … Continue reading →

Hail to the Chief