Qifa Nabki
Bashar al-Assad
Moving On
It had to happen sooner or later. I can imagine that when Majd al-Assad died last week, Saad Hariri’s advisors all reached for their cell phones at the same time and called Qoreitem. “This is our chance. Let’s get it over with.” On the occasion of Hariri’s visit to Damascus, I found myself reflecting on … Continue reading
The Ironies of History
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri visits Damascus to pay his condolences to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad upon the death of the latter’s brother, after nearly five years since the assassination of the former’s father, widely blamed on the latter, to whose own father he has now, suddenly, developed an uncanny physical resemblance. Get it?
Hariri’s Visit to Damascus
There’s been a lot of chatter about when, if, and how Saad Hariri will make his first visit to Damascus. Some even believe it could happen as soon as this weekend. I’m not as interested in the “when” as in the symbolic potential of this event. Therefore, I thought we’d have a poll and a … Continue reading
Impending Anticlimax Looming?
Like farm animals before an earthquake, the Lebanese daily newspapers are beginning to shift anxiously ahead of what they now believe to be, yes… I think we can confirm… yes, uh huh, there’s absolutely no question this time… it’s gonna… it’s, it’s… oh my God… it’s happening! THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING, THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING! … Continue reading
Bashar: “I will work to involve Hizbullah and Hamas in the negotiations…”
I hate to say “I told you so…”, but this time I just can’t resist. Do y’all remember our lovely discussion from a few days ago, when I wrote a post about Lebanon’s role in the peace talks? The QN groupies (is it alright if I call you that?) said I was crazy to imagine … Continue reading
Qifa Nabki 
And the people say…