Losing hearts and minds

Is the government losing to Hizbullah in the battle of hearts and minds over reconstruction from last year’s devastating month-long war? Although much has been achieved in the past 12 months, the government, crippled by political crises may have also fallen victim to its own innovative plan to help rebuild the country. In the aftermath of the war, the government opted for a direct investment scheme allowing donors to adopt and supervise the spending of their funds on projects of their choice, thus bypassing the cumbersome — and often corrupt — bureaucracy of the state. It was a novel scheme and has allowed wealthy Gulf states to charge ahead with rebuilding war-shattered villages and towns in the south, earning gratitude from the residents who have named some main streets after Gulf rulers and hung banners thanking them for their support. Prime Minister Fouad Seniora encouraged the Gulf state sponsorship of