As the battle in Tripolie continues between the Lebanese Army and Fateh El Islam and as another explosion occurs, this time in Aley, the Lebanese seem to be ALMOST united once again.  It’s sad how such matters unite us.

On Facebook, groups have been emerging calling for the support of our army, the love of Lebanon, encouraging people to vacation in Lebanon, and much more.

Almost every Lebanese I know, has changed their MSN display picture to some sort of symbol of patriotism such as the flag, or the army’s emblem and almost every one of them have placed a flower (F) before their display name symbolising their support for the Lebanese Army.

I was just checking news updates and am wondering how the current episode in Lebanon will end.  AFP just stated that Fateh El Islam has announced that they are responsible for the last 2 bombings in Achrafieh and Verdun.  Last night, one of the news channels stated that Fateh El Islam claimed they are not responsible for the bombings.  Who and what to believe?

The Lebanese Army were chasing 3 armed men in Me2atein street when one of the armed men blew himself up, so now we have suicide bombers in Lebanon as well.

Most of the Fateh El Islam fighters seem to be from countries such as Afghanistan, Tunis, Saudi, Syria, Pakistan, and Libya who reside in Palestenian camps.  This is extremely unsettling.

The battle is getting intense, and seems out of control.

I can only hope this will end well.

… and the peoples’ nerves are a wreck again!

The Lebanese Army has been fighting Fateh El Islam in Tripoli the past couple of days.  Latest I heard, 57 have been killed so far. The Lebanese Army has been doing a great job.  Great respect goes out to them and my prayers to those soldiers who were killed in action.  So this is why we allow the Palestenian camps to be armed?? So that they kill our soldiers?  That’s a long post by itself that I don’t want to get into right now.

The explosion that hit Achrafieh last night was heard in Jal El Dib, Antelias, and Sa7el il 3alma! (Friends I was chatting to in those areas heard it!) I expected the explosion to be a lot larger than it really was! Are we back to explosions?

Recently, most of the Lebanese I have been talking to seem very optimistic about Lebanon’s future.  Several seem to think the presidency will make a difference.  I guess that’s all they have to live with… hope of a better future…

I just read on Naharnet that 60% of teenagers in Lebanon are smokers. 80% of teenagers in Lebanon smoke narguileh/shisha/arguileh.

That is an alarming figure.  How can this be taken care of? By not allowing smoking in public places? I don’t think so.

Most parents tend to allow their children to smoke narguileh rather than cigarettes therefore, the children can smoke it at home or at narguileh places.

I think the best way to deal with this is not to allow people under the age of 18 to buy cigarettes or narguileh.  Make it illegal for teenagers, not the rest of the country.  I also think it should be illegal for those under 18 to be drinking either as well as to enter clubs (that has been implemented in most places).  They should create clubs that open at earlier hours for teenagers.

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