Crisis in Lebanon: The Emergence of a Hezballah State?

Following the recent decision of Prime Minister Siniora's government to sanction and dismantle Hezballah's illegal activities, the organization and its allied militias have begun instigating violent clashes in the cities of Lebanon.

These events mark the latest blow to Lebanon's governing coalition following the 17-month political standoff over presidential succession between the Hezballah-led opposition supported by Iran and Syria and the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Given the muted U.S. and Arab response to this crisis, is a free Lebanon on the brink of collapse? How will the potential defeat of moderate and democratic forces in a free Lebanon reverberate across the country and the region? How is this crisis empowering regional actors, particularly Iran and Syria?

Hudson Institute's Center for Middle East Policy has assembled a panel of prolific and insightful commentators on Lebanon. Introduced by MEYRAV WURMSER, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, they will include:

FIRAS MAKSAD, Executive Director, Lebanese Renaissance Foundation
TONY BADRAN, Research Fellow, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy
HUSSEIN ABDUL HUSSEIN, Washington Correspondent, Al Rai Newspaper (Kuwait)
DAVID WURMSER, Former Senior Middle East Advisor, Office of the Vice President
HASSAN MNEIMNEH is the executive director the Iraq foundation.