The Daily Star > Opinion http://www.dailystar.com.lb/rss/reg/opinion.xml Opinion articles Copyright 2009 The Daily Star en-us Saturday, November 21, 2009 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/images/editions/regional.gif The Daily Star - Lebanon - The Middle East's Leading English Language Newspaper http://www.dailystar.com.lb While the White House dithers, a new idea for Afghanistan http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=108964
While military officers wait for President Barack Obama to conclude his agonizingly slow review of Afghanistan policy, they’ve been reading a paper by an Army Special Forces operative arguing that the only hope for success in that country is to work with tribal leaders.This tribal approach has widespread support, in principle.
 David Ignatius Saturday, November 21, 2009 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=108964 Unlock Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=108960

The new Lebanese government would do well to put high on its agenda one of the chronic stress points in the country, but one that now shows glimmers of hope of being resolved: Palestinian-Lebanese relations. This is one of the thorniest issues in a country that has been one of the most turbulent in the Middle East for the past half-century.

 Rami G. Khouri Saturday, November 21, 2009 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=108960 Apathy, as Mahmoud Abbas abandons an irrelevant presidency http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=108958

A political leader’s decision not to seek re-election usually triggers fervent discussion about potential heirs. Yet, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ withdrawal from the presidential election scheduled for January 24, 2010, has produced nothing of the kind in Palestine – not because of a dearth of leadership or a reluctance to mention possible successors.

 Daoud Kuttab Saturday, November 21, 2009 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=108958