Painting Lebanon Orange?

Several hundred thousand pro-Syrian protestors hit the streets of Beirut on March 8th. Interestingly, the assembly was a counter-protest designed to show the international community that earlier protestors calling for Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon did not speak for all (or even for a majority) of Lebanese.

During the preceding week, tens of thousands of Lebanese Muslims, Christians, and Jews staged a Ukraine-esque protest in the wake of the February 14th car-bomb assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, allegedly by Syrian intelligence officers operating inside Lebanon. The pro-Syrian group (which assembled at the urging of Hizbullah) was estimated at seven times the size of the anti-Syrian group (who many outsiders have declared agents of reform and democratization).   continue >>

Palestine has a new leader: bets anyone?
[1.13.05]

Due in large part of Richard Gere's urging on behalf of all the American people who were not able to make it down there in the post-holiday shuffle (oh, how it is a bear this time of year), Palestinians came out in droves and voted in Abbas for president, and as Yassar Arafat's replacement.

What does this mean? Well, not too sure. He vowed today to get back on the roadmap to peace, saying specifically that it meant reigning in Palestinian violence. Hamas is less enthused, but said they are willing to adjust their tactics if Israel stops conducting raids.

Shall we cross our fingers?