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The Lebanese really blame Hezbollah

Michael Young

Wednesday, 19th July 2006

Michael Young says that some of Beirut’s citizens even welcome the Israeli bombardment, praying it will bring to an end the suffering caused by the Islamists

Beirut

The smoke from the countless fires burning in Beirut’s southern suburbs have turned the city’s skies battleship grey. It makes mid-July seem almost autumnal and saps Beirut of what remains of its spirit. Even the busiest high streets are largely empty now, and most shops close quickly at midday, not wanting to release their employees too late.

Outside central Beirut, the effect of Israel’s attacks is more dramatic. Many of the country’s roads are pocked with craters, the damage to the infrastructure could take years to repair, 235 are dead so far — most of them civilians — and buildings burn. On Wednesday morning, Israeli troops crossed into southern Lebanon to carry out what they call ‘pinpoint attacks’.

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Labour’s U-turn on social housing for non-immigrants is welcome but too late

Rod Liddle

Rod Liddle says that metropolitan liberal ideology is too deeply ingrained in local councils, social services and the judiciary to be overturned by one panic measure driven by Labour’s sudden fear of the BNP

To become an extremist, hang around with people you agree with

Cass Sunstein

Cass Sunstein — co-author of the hugely influential Nudge and an adviser to President Obama — unveils his new theory of ‘group polarisation’, and explains why, when like-minded people spend time with each other, their views become not only more confident but more extreme

Who would have thought a herd could moonwalk?

Mark Earls

The acclaimed web theorist, Mark Earls, says that the death of Michael Jackson unleashed the extremes of collective action: mass mourning and sick jokes

A splendid lunch with Jimmy McNulty

Deborah Ross

In the first of an occasional series of interviews over meals, Deborah Ross talks to Dominic West about The Wire and the challenge to an Old Etonian of playing an American cop

Michael Jackson Notebook

Emily Maitlis

The news cycle of a dead celebrity is a curious thing.

‘Those who’ve suffered least compromise least’

Mary Wakefield

Mary Wakefield takes a postwar tour through Gaza and surveys a psychological landscape warped by conflict and suffering — and hear whispers of a further Israeli incursion