Iranian hackers attack news service of US government

The Iranian Cyber Army (ICA), a group known for attacks on Twitter as well as Baidu, replaced the landing page for Voice of America (VOA) on Monday with a message of their own. In addition, they claim to have hit more than 90 other websites in the same attack.

“Mrs. Clinton Do you want to hear the voice of the oppressed nations will from heart of USA? Islamic world doesn’t believe USA trickery. We call on you to stop interfering in Islamic countries,” reads the message left by the ICA. (more…)

Beirut landmark to be restored as Beit Beirut museum

By Chirine Lahoud
In the area of Achrafieh now called Sodeco, once known as Nasra, there sits a gorgeous ruin.

Syria is facilitating the formation of Lebanon’s cabinet

Syria has moved from the stage of urging premier-designate Najib Mikati to speed up the process of cabinet formation to the stage of actively facilitating his mission, the Central News Agency reported Monday.

The Syrian leadership has started trying to resolve the dispute over shares in the new cabinet “between its new and old allies, and between President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun,” Damascus visitors told the agency. (more…)

Mahfoud: Hezbollah is ready to impose its will on Lebanon

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with the leader of the Movement for change, Elias Mahfoud, who said that “Hezbollah is acting today as if Lebanon is Gaza,” listing a whole list of atrocities and crimes committed by Hezbollah since 2005, including the case of Captain Samer Hanna, the events of May 7, 2008, the attacks against the army, and fighting in Burj Abi Haidar last year. (more…)

John McCain and Joe Lieberman visit Hariri in Lebanon

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri received U.S. Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, and Hariri’s political advisors Mohammad Shatah and Hani Hammoud. The discussion focused on the situation in Lebanon and the region and bilateral relations. (more…)

Gaddafi: I am in Tripoli, not Venezuela

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared on state television on Tuesday signalling his defiance and saying he had not fled a revolt against his 41-year rule.

“I want to show that I’m in Tripoli and not in Venezuela. Do not believe the channels belonging to stray dogs,” Gaddafi said, under a large umbrella, leaning out of the front seat of a van. (more…)

Arab Awakening, Lebanon and Economics

By Ghassan Karam 
Joseph Schumpeter one of the greatest minds in economics coined the term “creative destruction” in an effort to describe how capitalism moves forward by encouraging innovation and creativity. I believe , rather strongly that this idea applies rather neatly to the field of political science in general and to what is taking [...]

Gaddafi orders jets to bombard protesters

The faltering government of the Libyan strongman Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi struck back at mounting protests against his 40-year rule, as helicopters and warplanes besieged parts of the capital Monday, according to witnesses and news reports from Tripoli. Eyewitness reports state that at least 250 people were killed in the past 24 hours alone. (more…)

Western silence over Libya is deafening says Jumblatt

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat criticized on Monday the West’s “suspicious” silence over the developments in Libya that are similar to the confusion it felt when confronting the anti-regime protests in Egypt. (more…)

Gaddafi threatens with civil war as security forces switch sides [Video]

At least 60 people were killed in clashes in Tripoli on Monday as anti-government protests that began in eastern Libya spread to the capital. The protests appeared to be gathering momentum, with demonstrators saying they had taken control of several key towns in the country.

“Libya is at a crossroads. If we do not agree today on reforms … rivers of blood will run through Libya,” Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the Libyan leader, said in a speech on Monday. (more…)