Lebanon, a nation that once proudly called itself the Switzerland of the
Middle East, is today a country in name only. Its government controls
little more than half of the nation's capital, Beirut. Its once-vibrant
economy is a shambles. And its society is fragmented - so fragmented, some
believe, that it may be impossible to re-create a unified state responsive
to the needs of all its varied peoples.
Lebanon lies on the eastern shore of the Mediterranea n Sea, in that part
of southwestern Asia known as the Middle East. Because of its location -
at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa - Lebanon has been the center
of commerce and trade for thousands of years. It has also been on the
route of numerous conquering armies.
With an area of 4,015 square miles, Lebanon is one of the smallest
countries in the Middle East. …
