Archive

September 2006

• Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association of September 15 published the obituary of Calvin W. Schwabe. He was professor emeritus at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Schwabe began his career in 1956 at the American University of Beirut. During his 10-year tenure there, he was a professor of parasitology and epidemiology, headed the departments of parasitology and tropical health at the School of Medicine, and served as assistant director of the School of Public Health. Dr. Schwabe served as a scientist with the Parasitic Diseases Program at the World Health Organization, and was aware of the impact of animal health on human health, paving the way for veterinarians to assume important roles in responding to threats of emerging infectious diseases.

• Yahoo! Asia News and The Jordan Times of September 13, and Yahoo! UK and Ireland News of September 12 reported on the efforts to clean up Lebanonâ??s beaches after being polluted by the oil spill due to the war between Israel and Hezbollah. A nine-member French navy team has arrived to train the locals on the clean up process, and local non-government organizations like Greenline have complained that they have not received sufficient support from the environment ministry. "Itâ??s hard but essential that the Lebanese clean their coast and not foreigners," added Marielle, a student at the American University of Beirut.

• Electronic Intifada of September 12 reported on how life in Lebanon has returned to normal after the Israeli blockade on the country had been lifted. Some concerns over the economy and recovery remain but the Lebanese economy had proven to be resilient over the years, even during the 15 year civil war. Samir Makdisi, a professor of economics at the American University of Beirut, said that the economic impact of Israelâ??s military offensive was the primary cause of concern for recovery. â??The impact of the blockade needs to be understood within the context of the overall impact of the war," Makdisi said. "Essentially, it constituted the continued loss of income.â? Things are also getting back to the way they were at the American University Hospital, which was under threat of closure due to fuel shortages during the war. "We definitely feel a sense of normalcy now," said hospital director Munthir Uzayye.

• The San Francisco Chronicle of September 11 published the accounts of nine individuals on how the events of September 11, 2001 have affected their lives. Among the accounts was that of Mohammad Qayoumi, an Afghani native who earned his education at the American University of Beirut. Having witnessed the start of the Lebanese Civil War, he said of the events in New York, â??A lot of (what) I had seen over there had a very deep impact on me in how a very nice, comfortable, calm and serene area can, in a very instant or so, turn into a major site of carnage.â? He also added that it is sad to see money going to worldwide security that could have addressed problems such as AIDS, hunger and illiteracy.

• MSNBC of September 11 reported on how the United Statesâ?? popularity in the Arab world has continued to fall, especially after the events of September 11, five years ago. Students at the American University of Beirut explained this discontent by saying that Americaâ??s unwavering support for Israel fuels the anger and that in order to reach some sort of dialogue the US has to change its policies and address the Arab people and not simply their governments.

• The Jordan Times of September 9 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, in which he interviewed Dr. Samir Makdisi, the Lebanese economist and American University of Beirut professor, who had served as minister of national economy in 1992. The interview dealt with the ideas discussed in Makdisiâ??s book, â??The lessons of Lebanon: the economics of war and developmentâ? that includes political and economic analyses of Lebanon before, during, and after the civil war years. Makdisi emphasized the necessity to balance the needs of all citizens in Lebanonâ??s multi-confessional system through serious political reforms that can generate better governance and a new political culture.

• Antiwar.com of September 9 and AlterNet, Media Monitors Network, BuzzFlash, and Common Dreams of September 8 published the views of four non-Americans about President Bushâ??s â??War on Terror.â? Among the opinions were those of Rami G. Khouri, Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut and editor-at-large at the Daily Star newspaper, who said, â??The American war on terror is perceived in Lebanon and much of the Middle East as a sign of the combination of arrogance and confusion that is driving American policy, not only in the Middle East but I think in much of the world.â? He also added that, â??The United States calls â??terroristsâ?? anybody that it doesnâ??t like or that Israel doesnâ??t like, because people like Hezbollah and Hamas who are fighting a war of resistance against Israeli occupation are labeled as â??terrorists,â?? while most of the world sees them as legitimate resistance fighters when theyâ??re fighting the Israeli army.â?

• The Age of September 8 reported on the political situation in Lebanon after the war, with supporters of Hezbollah claiming victory, and those who opposed the war saying that the country is lost. Karim Makdisi, a political scientist from the American University of Beirut, said that Hezbollah has emerged stronger against the opposition group that holds a majority in Parliament, creating a strong divide in the country that may lead to serious consequences in the future.

• Financial Times of September 8 reported on the efforts of Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora during and after the war, in rebuilding a country that has emerged even more divided than before. The main obstacles facing the government are keeping the country unified and disarming Hezbollah. Timor Goksel, a former Unifil official who now teaches at the American University of Beirut, said, â??They [Hezbollah] are adaptable and there is a very lucrative arms market where you can buy weapons and the delivery is guaranteed.â?

• The International Herald Tribune of September 8 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, editor-at-large of the Daily Star in Beirut and director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, about Europeâ??s policy in the Middle East. He called for the Europeanâ??s to not take sides and act as the fair arbiter that looks out for the best interests and legitimate rights of all parties. Khouri added that, â??Europe is not only well placed, but also should be powerfully motivated to revitalize a policy of decisive, law-based impartiality, clarity, inclusion and active engagement in the Middle East to reverse the growing cycle of tension and violence.â?

• The Guardian-Observer of September 7 reported on Lebanonâ??s recovery after the war between Hezbollah and Israel. Samir Makdisi, professor of economics at the American University of Beirut, said that the private sector in Lebanon was strong but warned that the countryâ??s recovery depended on the government avoiding corruption in the distribution of aid money. "The Lebanese economy is quite resilient and the private sector is quite dynamic. The bottleneck will be the government, public sector, and bureaucracy," he said. The country also faces difficulties in other sectors besides tourism, with the embargo severely hampering the economy and the annual growth rate.

• The Times of September 7 reported on the variety of trees growing on the Princeton University campus. Among those trees was a cedar of Lebanon, that had toppled in previous years, and the American University of Beirut had offered to send a new seedling.

• Yale Daily News of September 6 reported on the experiences of foreign students from Yale University in both Lebanon and Israel as the war waged between the two countries. The two students studying Arabic at the American University of Beirut decided to evacuate once the fighting intensified, while the students in Israel were forced to take shelter. Both parties were impressed by the efforts of Yale University that kept in touch with them throughout their ordeal, constantly making sure of their safety.

• Newswise of September 6 published the opinions of several professors on the United States after the events of September 11, five years ago. Among those interviewed was Waleed Hazbun, an assistant professor of political science who will be a visiting assistant professor of political science and public administration at the American University of Beirut in the year 2007. He stated that tourism has risen in the Arab world since September 11, and that American popularity in the Arab world has continued to fall.

• Christian Science Monitor of September 5 and Tri-City Herald and the Modest Bee of September 4 stressed the need to help Lebanon in its reconstruction, adding that the rebuilding should not only include the infrastructure, but the cultural scene as well. The article emphasized the importance of the American University of Beirut as an intellectual and cultural center that has withstood all the conflicts that have afflicted Lebanon since its founding in 1866.

• The New Yorker of September 4 presented a comprehensive article on Jordanâ??s King Abdallahâ??s ambition to build a university similar to the United Stateâ??s Deerfield University that he attended in his youth. His aim is to build a western institution similar to the American University of Beirut. Called the Kingâ??s Academy, the university will be complete in the year 2007.

• Daily Herald - DuPage County, and Kane County, of September 1 reported on recent high school graduate Dana Saleh who visited the Benedictine University as part of the Department of Stateâ??s Middle East Partnership Initiative Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders. In light of the recent war in Lebanon, she has decided to major in Political Science at the American University of Beirut in an effort to maybe take part in a lasting peace.

• TomPaine.com and rense.com of September 1 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, an internationally syndicated columnist and director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about President George W. Bushâ??s recent speech about the war on terror. Khouri accused Bush of maligning history, undermining the intelligence of his own people, and the dignity of over a billion Muslims the world over. He added that Bushâ??s response to terror remains hobbled by three constraints: misdiagnosing the causes and aims of terror; waging a "global war on terror" that has only expanded the problem by giving terrorists new reasons to cause havoc; and exaggerating the nature and extent of the terror threat to Americans and the world primarily for domestic political purposes.

• Yale Daily news of September 1 published an article by an American student who had spent part of his summer studying Arabic at the American University of Beirut. The writer stressed the need for American students studying abroad to defend their culture and politics, stating that, â??Americans overseas have a duty to behave like intelligent, decent peopleâ? adding that communicating pride in oneâ??s country to others does not necessarily require over-the-top chauvinism, that so many people associate with the Americans.