Hussam Itani

Lebanese Elections: Perpetuating Ties with the 'Resistance Axis' or Being Canceled

The objective of the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections is nothing less than tightening the country's ties with the "axis of resistance" and its project for the region. Several impediments stand in the way, which raises the specter of the electoral process being sabotaged at the last minute…

The Difficulties Hindering a Victory Day Celebration

May 9th, the day that marks the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, which Russia usually celebrates with large military parades and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, is still the date Moscow is expected to announce major progress in its war on Ukraine. However, this May 9th, which is…

Europe’s Future is Our Present

The Europeans are terrified by the prospect of Ukraine’s flames reaching their countries. They are afraid that their safe countries, thriving economies, and free societies will be Russia’s next target. The specter of losing today’s privileges is a major motive for their cautious and confused…

History as Putin Sees it: Unity or Else

In an article published in July, President Vladimir Putin invokes historical arguments to refute the legitimacy of the Ukrainian state. During his speech recognizing the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, he reiterated this position, saying that Ukraine lacks the foundation of an independent entity…

'Brave New World'

Hate speech is reverberating from India to France, and victims of ethnic and sectarian violence are falling from Ethiopia to Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya and Uyghurs have been expelled from their homes, and the Amharas and Muslims of India are being persecuted because of differences…

Lebanon’s Regime and its Opponents’ Illusions

Civil war is the magic word that should startle the Lebanese and awaken them to the fact that what awaits them in the months ahead will be miles worse than the crises they have seen so far. Facing these warnings of war are predictions that the corrupt ruling clique is on the brink and a new, civil…

Sudan and the Future of Democracy

The United Nations initiative to hold talks to find a solution for the Sudanese crisis does not inspire much optimism. The apathy with which all parties received UN envoy Volker Perthes’ call for talks, especially the opposition, highlighted that the initiative has no practical dimension or vision…

When Cities Are Empty... Armed Men Mobilize

Two years after the October 17 protests began in Lebanon, the scene has gone back to normal. The revolution, whose participants had claimed they wanted to evade the fatal curse of civil wars, it seems, with all its crowds, supporters, songs and slogans, very far from today’s reality of armed…

Sudan and Tunisia: Two Cases in Danger

Sudan and Tunisia were relatively successful in their attempts to rid themselves of tyranny through popular revolutions that toppled regimes that had empowered the security services and army while suppressing freedoms for decades. Today, the two countries are both in deep political crises that…

9/11 as an Arab Event

From an Arab perspective, the September 11 attack marked the beginning of catastrophes that continue to unfold in the region and ravage its residents, undermining any opportunity to achieve development or improve conditions of life. This attack was the epitome of nihilistic terrorism that…