Daily Star
Opinion Editor for the Daily Star, an English-language newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon and Contributing Editor at Reason magazine in the US; author of The Ghosts of Martyrs Square: An Eyewitness Account of Lebanon’s Life Struggle
PROFILE
Michael Young
Guest
FROM Michael Young
Which Way, L.A.?
Will Syria Be Swept Up by the Winds of Change? All eyes are on Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad is determined to hold on to power despite the resignation of his cabinet and with protests expected again tomorrow after Friday prayers. In a major speech to the nation yesterday, Assad disappointed expectations that he would repeal repressive emergency laws that have been in place for nearly 50 years. The US has been fairly moderate in its comments on Syria and its violent crackdown on protesters. Israel and Syria are considered the "best" of enemies, with no violence on their shared border for decades. Will Assad respond with another bloody crackdown? But will he be able to hold off the kind of protests that have unseated other leaders in the Arab world? What would a new regime in Syria look like?
To the Point
Will Syria Be Swept Up by the Winds of Change? All eyes are on Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad is determined to hold on to power despite the resignation of his cabinet and with protests expected again tomorrow after Friday prayers. In a major speech to the nation yesterday, Assad disappointed expectations that he would repeal repressive emergency laws that have been in place for nearly 50 years. The US has been fairly moderate in its comments on Syria and its violent crackdown on protesters. Israel and Syria are considered the "best" of enemies, with no violence on their shared border for decades. Will Assad respond with another bloody crackdown? But will he be able to hold off the kind of protests that have unseated other leaders in the Arab world? What would a new regime in Syria look like?
To the Point
UN to Create Tribunal on Hariri's Death This week's decision by the United Nations Security Council to establish a tribunal for prosecuting those responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri , has been greeted with cheers and fears. Lebanon's current US-backed Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, asked the UN to step in after the country's opposition-aligned parliament speaker refused to convene a session to ratify the creation of a tribunal. The UN's intervention has raised hopes for justice, fears about fresh violence, and has been condemned by militants. Michael Young is opinion editor of Lebanon's Daily Star .
To the Point
Speaker Pelosi Conducts Her Own Diplomacy in Syria Despite President Bush's objections, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met today in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Afterward, Pelosi told reporters she "expressed concern" about Syria's support of Hamas and Hezbollah. She also carried the message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Omert that he is ready for peace talks. Describing the meeting, Syrian cabinet minister Bouthaina Shaaban said praised Pelosi for sending the right message to the Arab people and for coming to the region to "solve problems rather than to launch wars." The meeting--which Syrian officials are calling a "victory"--is being carefully watched in Lebanon. Is Pelosi's international diplomacy in Syria undermining President Bush or is it time for a breakthrough? We hear from journalists in the US and Middle East, historians and policy experts.
To the Point
What's the Immediate Future of the Middle East? With the United States bogged down in Iraq, and President Bush, the Congress and leaders around the world debating the Iraq Study Group's report , there's talk that the "American era" in the Middle East has ended. Without Iraq to offset it, Iran is becoming the strongest Islamic nation—with Israel the region's other major power. We get several views on the changes to come and how they'll affect American interests. Can increased democracy counter radical Islam and be a vehicle for peace and prosperity? Should the US put less emphasis on the military and more on diplomacy?
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To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.