Civil War in Lebanon, 1975-92 FROM THE PUBLISHER
This is an account of the turbulent saga of the only Arab state that has a nominal Christian majority. Packed with rival religious sects, feudal chieftains, war lords, squabbling political leaders, and in-house and foreign militias, Lebanon has suffered not only periods of civil war and internal infighting, but also invasions by Palestinians, Syrians and Israelis. It has survived as a republican entity, although shattered, exhausted and bankrupt. The 16-year long civil war in which Christian militias fought to eject Palestinian armed forces began in 1975. Western intervention was repelled by suicide-bombing attacks, and Lebanese Christians and Muslims sub-divided to fight each other. This book tells the story of a civil war was notable for massacres, treachery, atrocities, kidnapping, assassination, changing alliances of convenience, and invasions.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
British journalist O'Ballance explains that the war erupted because of dissatisfaction with the Christian monopoly on political power, and was fanned by neighboring predator states both seeking to advance their own interests during the hostilities, and continuing old feuds among themselves on Lebanese soil. He documents the Syrian invasion and dominance, the split in the Christian forces, attempts to partition or separate, and the outcome: a country still intact but occupied by a variety of foreign troops. The information he gained from news sources and interviews. No bibliography. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
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