Lebanon Under Seige

Economist Middle East correspondent Max Rodenbeck takes us on a painful amble through the history of modern Lebanon.   He sees Lebanon as a Manichean society where the wealthy live next to the poor, the religious coexist (sort of) with the secular, the pro-Syrian are at odds with the pro-Israeli.

Rodenback concludes that, while there are many internal squabbles and lots of polarization in Lebanese society, ultimatley the Palestine conflict drives all issues and dictates the future. (More Lebanon stories.)