Leb links

Democracy, the Arab World, and the US. It takes two to tango. It takes three to tangle.

Speaking of that triumvirate, the US is launching a new techy-civil society initiative for the Middle East. So maybe Lebanese civil society organizations will start updating their websites instead of using Facebook? Secretary Clinton Announces Civil Society 2.0 Initiative to Build Capacity of Grassroots Organizations.

Organic food organization Souk El Tayeb is opening restaurant in Beirut.

Is it time Leb explodes again? The UN thinks it might be.

Leb maids and suicide – a major problem. KAFA can help.

Hibr, formerly Sawt Ashabab, is launching in Lebanon.

Hezbollah beefing up security. Great. Just great. All Lebanon needs is another civil war (but is it a civil war if the fighters are foreigners?)

Leb links

A few interesting articles from around the interwebs...

Can Beirut's last synagogue be saved?

Some guy thinks more war in the Middle East is inevitable.

Speaking of that, J Street had a big conference this week. For those who don't know, J Street is the emerging alternative to AIPAC in Washington.

Oh look, another Lebanon government is near article.

Learning to abandon extremism.

Vali Nasr argues that free markets will give rise to a new middle class in the Middle East. Well, we've passed that argument long ago and people now realize that can't happen without political reform.

Lebanon's professional mothers.

Maya Zankoul's rise to fame. I've never seen one of her cartoons that didn't make me LOL.

Conspiracy theories - all part of the culture?