National Security Online Resource Center

Here is a quick overview of whats been going on:

Lebanon held its elections last week and the American-aligned coalition won 71 seats whereas the Syria-Iran coalition, including Hizbullah, won only 57. The election is a positive sign for U.S. efforts for peace in the Middle East as Hizbullah’s loss reduces its influence in Israel’s northern neighbor. Hizbullah and Israel fought a war in 2006, where Israel was forced to withdraw following intense international pressure.

The tide of public opinion may be turning against the Taliban in Pakistan. Until recently, Talibani insurgents were hailed as heroes by most of Pakistani society, including columnists and media outlets. However a video released showing a young girl being flogged by members of Taliban created a sensation within the society. For the very first time, Pakistanis saw the changes Taliban wanted to make to their society and were unwilling to surrender their freedoms, albeit a limited number available, over to the fundamentalists.