Qifa Nabki
Lebanon
The Saga Continues: Nicholas Noe Responds to Schenker, Hokayem
Nicholas Noe sent me this commentary to publish at QN; it’s a response to the debate about U.S. military funding for the Lebanese Army that we’ve hosted here over the past week. In other news, check out a preview of Jesse Aizenstat’s book on surfing in southern Lebanon. Also, the new Arab Reform Bulletin is … Continue reading
The Beginnings of Another Lebanon-Israel Conflict?
Everybody and their brother thinks that 2010 will witness a second round between Hezbollah and Israel. I hope, for Lebanon’s sake, that this will not be the case and I’m not as convinced as some that a conflict is inevitable in the near term. The current situation benefits both sides, in my opinion: Israel gets … Continue reading
U.S. Military Assistance and the LAF
A reader, Emile Hokayem, contributes this commentary in response to recent discussions about U.S. military assistance. Emile is a non-resident fellow at the Stimson Center. The starting point of any discussion on the LAF and its needs must begin with an honest assessment: it is a dysfunctional and inefficient organization that has no vision, no … Continue reading
Foreign Domestic Worker Abuse in Lebanon
I recently received an email from a reader, Ali, about the pitiful state of Lebanese labor laws. He agreed to let me publish it as a commentary. * There is a troubling issue which I feel is not getting enough coverage or condemnation: the issue of foreign domestic worker abuse in Lebanon. I don’t know … Continue reading
Armed Caravans
In an article published yesterday in Forbes, Washington Institute fellow and former Pentagon official David Schenker weighs recent critiques of America’s efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces. He writes: “Many in Lebanon are concerned that U.S. weaponry enables the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to defend the state neither from Israel nor from local al-Qaida … Continue reading
Qifa Nabki 
And the people say…