Rafik Hariri

Rafik Hariri, who was killed by unknown assailants as he drove in his motorcade through Beirut on February 14, age 60, was a man who got things done, but who neither let his pragmatism nor the power of office get the better of him. Thus, while he was progressing on his path as leader on the Lebanese political and socio-economic scene, he grew with his experiences and many times surprised both his admirers and detractors. What was to be his greatest battle in the completion of Lebanese sovereignty ultimately cost him his life, because his enemies, unable to beat him on a level playing field, descended to the lowest and most heinous means to see him off. It is as challenging to do justice to the work of Rafik Hariri in his 40-year career as entrepreneur and political mover and shaker, as it is to account for his philanthropic achievements