Qifa Nabki
Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Lebanon’s Latest Game of Chicken: Who Will Resign First?
Today has been a very silly day in Lebanese politics. A cabinet session scheduled to address various issues unrelated to the funding of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) had to be canceled because ministers belonging to General Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement decided not to turn up. The reason? According to various sources, … Continue reading
Hizbullah, Mikati, and the STL Funding Showdown
Ever since Najib Mikati took over as Prime Minister of Lebanon earlier this year, things have gone relatively smoothly. With no opposition in the cabinet, there have been few opportunities for conflict (with the exception of the odd squabble between Michel Aoun and his disgruntled allies). All that could change next week. The cabinet must … Continue reading
A New IHT/NY Times Blog
Greetings to all from Beirut, where I’ve been meeting with MPs, civil society folks, and good friends about the Lebanese senate project I’m working on. Will have more to say on this score when I’m back in Cambridge, but for now, I thought I’d direct you to a new International Herald Tribune / NY Times … Continue reading
Al-Akhbar’s Recent UN Tribunal Coverage Likely Based on Pure Speculation, Not Actual Reporting
On October 11th, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar published a story by Omar Nashabe entitled “STL’s Cassese: Resignation Likely Sign of Infighting, Not Ill Health.” In the piece, Nashabe (who is the paper’s judicial affairs editor) claimed that the previous day’s resignation of Antonio Cassese from the presidency of the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) was “likely prompted … Continue reading
News and Notes, August 25 2011
Greetings from Beirut, and apologies for the brief blogging hiatus: I’ve been busy, and I anticipate that next week will be even busier than this one. Here are some thoughts on the week’s big news items. Blanfordgate I don’t quite understand what all the fuss is about TIME Magazine’s interview with someone claiming to be … Continue reading
Qifa Nabki 
And the people say…