some guy in lebanon

Although I find their analysis a little hackneyed and sadly standard, this is a nice article about the current calm and the future challenges facing Lebanon. As Nick said, “Using an unknown business man as the central pillar of a tired argument does seem like a stretch.” From the article:

Construction cranes dot Beirut’s Mediterranean skyline. Planes are full of expatriate Lebanese coming home for Christmas and New Year’s, as well as foreign tourists. The number of arrivals at Beirut’s international airport is expected to reach 1.3 million at year’s end – a figure not achieved since 2004.

Downtown Beirut is choked with traffic jams, and shops and boutiques are full of customers. Tourists pack restaurants and street cafes to enjoy Lebanon’s famed cuisine and smoke fragrant waterpipes. Central Martyr’s Square now has a giant Christmas tree next to the city’s biggest mosque, and luxury hotels are planning New Year’s parties at New York and Paris prices – up to $1,500 a plate.

Even the global economic crisis has bypassed the nation for now – thanks to conservative bank regulations long in place that prevented the sort of risky transactions that have undone other countries’ institutions, Lebanese financial officials say. Banks have been flooded with cash from depositors looking for a safe haven.

via Lebanon festive for now, but tough issues ahead – Forbes.com.

Interestingly, the article quotes “Engineer Bashir Khoury, 34, visiting from abroad, says he’s happy to enjoy Lebanon but wouldn’t risk coming home for good.”

It says he’s from Haiti. HAITI? Haiti must be a MILLION times more risky than Lebanon.