Reports from Lebanon and Video Coverage of the New America Foundation's "Briefing on Beirut"

On Tuesday, May 13, the New America Foundation hosted an event featuring two journalists reporting from Beirut on the unfolding security and political crisis in Lebanon. Rami Khouri, editor-at-large of the Daily Star, discussed the large scale political and social trends have led to the current crisis. Nir Rosen, a fellow at the New America Foundation, reported live from the streets of Beirut on the tactical gains made by Hezbollah as well as its broader strategy. They were joined by a panel discussion featuring Daniel Levy, former Israeli negotiator and advisor to the Israeli prime minister's office, and current director of New America's Middle East Policy Initiative, Senior Fellow Flynt Leverett, who directs the Geopolitics of Energy Initiative, and Al Arabiyah's U.S. Bureau Chief Hisham Melhem. Director of the New America Foundation's American Strategy Program Steven Clemons, who publishes The Washington Note blog, moderated the event.

Video from the event is on our website: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2008/briefing_beirut

Some notable quotes from the event speakers:

"The people of Lebanon are caught between two cultural and political influences, the West in the form of America and Europe and the East in the form of Iran. A distinct possibility is the formation of a unity government that is secured by a powersharing arrangement between the U.S. and Iran," said Rami Khouri.

"'Bush's policy of attaching onto the leaders of the Ceder Revolution' and 'using it as a fulcrum to push for the withdrawal of Syrian troops' has failed miserably. It has damaged the United State's ability to influence more important actors such as Iran. In fact, Iranian influence has only increased," remarked Flynt Leverett.

"Hezbollah has essentially won the first round. They are extremely competent and well trained and they were aided by the Lebanese army," remarked Hisham Melhem.

"There does not appear to be any ethnic cleansing taking place. Hezbollah is not attempting to segregate religiously mixed neighborhoods at this point," said Nir Rosen.

"'Does the internal trump the external?' Will external influences play a larger role in diffusing Lebanon's political crisis than internal political developments?" asks Daniel Levy.

To arrange an interview with Daniel Levy, Nir Rosen, or Steven Clemons contact: Erin Drankoski, New America Foundation, (202.997.8727; drankoski@newamerica.net)

About the New America Foundation:
The New America Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse. Relying on a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum. New America is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and also has offices in California.

Learn More About: Daniel Levy, Flynt Leverett, Nir Rosen, Steven Clemons
Related Programs: American Strategy Program, Middle East Task Force
Topics: Foreign Policy, Middle East