Anjar after Syria

Anjar, since the withdrawal of Syrian troops, is no longer the efffective political capital of Lebanon. This change of status has affected its economic activity.

"The Syrian officers, their families, day-trippers from across the border - including the Syrian elite - provided an important customer base for the town's opulent restaurants and other businesses. . .

The irony of the Syrian presence in Lebanon - that its army controlled the country, but its people worked like serfs for Lebanese masters - is etched into his weather-beaten face. . .

"That is one of the biggest changes since the Syrians left.

"When they were here, we had 24-hour electricity, unlike the rest of Lebanon. Imagine telling Rustum Ghazali there is no power! But now we are truly Lebanese.""

Forbes' richest Lebanese man

Who's the lucky Lebanese making it on Forbes' World Richest People?
Nobody.
But don't be sad...
That is not to say that there are no names familiar within Lebanese politics. They happen to be Saudis.
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, worth $23.7 bil, is ranked 5th worldwide.
While Saad Rafik Hariri, worth (only) $1.2 bil, is ranked 548th.
Both of them have been known to be strong candidates for the position of Prime Minister of Lebanon. Hariri, who controls the largest parliamentary bloc in the history of the country, seems to have better chances at the current time.

The truth of power

How to raise the ratio of Syrians among those arrested in relation to the violent demonstration against the Mohammad caricatures:
"On 7 February, Lebanese media reports quoted the acting Interior Minister as stating that more than 400 people - 223 Lebanese, 138 Syrians, 47 Palestinians, seven Bedouins and one Sudanese - had been arrested in connection with the violence. Those detained included some 42 Syrian nationals who, according to information received by Amnesty International, were arrested by Lebanese police at an apartment building in Tariq Jdeide, four kilometres away from the Danish Embassy, some of them while the protests were still in progress. They were arrested, apparently, after another Syrian who resides at the same building, was arrested at the demonstration.

Upon arrest, the 42 Syrians are reported to have been taken first to the local police station and then to the Barbar Khazen prison in west Beirut, which the Internal Security Forces (ISF) control. They were held there for five days, during which they were denied access to legal counsel. Some were beaten by ISF interrogators in an apparent attempt to force “confessions” about their involvement in the protests. On 10 February, they were taken before a military court in Beirut, which ordered their release."