Anthony Shadid, one of the NYTimes very good reporters, long covering the Middle East (and an Arab speaker, I believe), has this sobering and mind-bending article on the situation in Lebanon (Israel's near neighbor). As usual, things are falling apart there, but Shadid takes a look at who is trying to patch things up. Instead of the United States and Saudi Arabia, it looks like Turkey is stepping forward in a reconciling role. Worth a read: Here"In a series of stalemates from the Arab-Israeli conflict to Lebanon Turkey has proved the most dynamic, projecting an increasingly assertive and independent foreign policy in an Arab world bereft of any country that matches its stature. Its success is a subtle critique of Americas longstanding policy in the Middle East of trying to isolate and ostracize its enemies. From Hezbollah here to the followers of a populist, anti-American cleric in Iraq, Turkey has managed to forge dialogue with Americas enemies and allies alike."A brief historical note: Turkey, previously the home of the Ottoman Empire, is not an Arab country. Until after WWI when Britain and France took over, the Ottomans governed this whole region.Interesting ifTurkey has a repris of sorts in trying to keep Syria, Lebanon, and Lebanon's many factions on the same page.