Fear of money falling into the hands of Hezbollah has kept the Gulf Arab states from bailing Lebanon out of its current economic crisis, as they have in the past.
Indians see West Asia as one uninterrupted wash of Islam, but the reality is more complex. For the Druze, support from Israel—where they are a recognised minority—is now critical.
Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.
India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.
Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.
Prior to the influx of the Palestinian refugees in the wake of the 1967 conflict, Lebanon was called Paris of east, where the second rung Arabs used to go womanizing and for keeping European mistresses in fancy apartments and villas. While the rulers did the same in Europe and UK. It was a place where one could go skiing and sun bathing on the same day. The Christens were 60% and Muslims 40% with a well-established power sharing arrangement.
Lebanon had no economy, other one run by touts with low morality and unimaginable corruption with established smuggling routes to IRAQ and Syria. A heaven for the shadow banking touted as the financial hub of east. It was only a matter of time before the governance collapsed and then, free for all, stating from late 70s.
The main players supported by various powers are, the Marinate Christens, the Druz, Shia, Sunni groups and private armies of gangsters. The moneyed moved to France and a big lot to places like Nigeria, Venezuela and Caribbean, fertile lands for sustaining corrupt practices.
The Ammonium Nitrate has blown up but there must be warehouses full of toxic chemical wastes prohibited or very expensive to destroy being stored for a price.
The country is finished. A living example of what will happen to other counties of the middle east with raging uncontrolled conflicts under a potent mix of religion and corruption.
Prior to the influx of the Palestinian refugees in the wake of the 1967 conflict, Lebanon was called Paris of east, where the second rung Arabs used to go womanizing and for keeping European mistresses in fancy apartments and villas. While the rulers did the same in Europe and UK. It was a place where one could go skiing and sun bathing on the same day. The Christens were 60% and Muslims 40% with a well-established power sharing arrangement.
Lebanon had no economy, other one run by touts with low morality and unimaginable corruption with established smuggling routes to IRAQ and Syria. A heaven for the shadow banking touted as the financial hub of east. It was only a matter of time before the governance collapsed and then, free for all, stating from late 70s.
The main players supported by various powers are, the Marinate Christens, the Druz, Shia, Sunni groups and private armies of gangsters. The moneyed moved to France and a big lot to places like Nigeria, Venezuela and Caribbean, fertile lands for sustaining corrupt practices.
The Ammonium Nitrate has blown up but there must be warehouses full of toxic chemical wastes prohibited or very expensive to destroy being stored for a price.
The country is finished. A living example of what will happen to other counties of the middle east with raging uncontrolled conflicts under a potent mix of religion and corruption.