Lebanon's Economic Meltdown And Political Infighting Creates An Epic Crisis In The Middle East Says Frances Fuller, Award Winning Author Of 'In Borrowed Houses'

    WILMINGTON, NC, April 02, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With world leaders such as the American ambassador to Lebanon calling on the president and prime minister to put aside their differences and form a government, the Lebanese people continue to suffer the consequences of the 90% devaluation of the Lebanese lira.

Why are the Lebanese president and prime minister unable to agree on a new cabinet? How did Lebanon become a battleground in the Saudi-Iran contest for supremacy in the Middle East? Why did Auon join forces with Hizballah? What is behind the continuing chaos in Lebanon? Why does Lebanon matter so much to the world?

These are questions dealt with in Frances Fuller's recent interview on the Lebanon crisis.

Asked if there was some basic flaw in the Lebanese system that causes the government nor to function, Frances replied: "There are basic flaws. But I need to say that we have some of the same issues here with similar results. But because Lebanon is very small, and still very complicated, the problems seem more evident and more destructive. I think we have to understand Lebanon, and you have to realize that it's very diverse; you feel in Beirut that the whole world is there. And part of it is geography, it's so small and compact, and vulnerable. Lebanon can't seem to defend parts of its borders. And it has to receive, whoever shows up, whoever comes in is just there. And this has resulted in a population that includes all the surrounding people groups, anybody in the area who becomes a refugee winds up in Lebanon---the Armenians, the Kurds, Palestinians, Syrians---they arrive and Lebanon tries to absorb them. In recent years, this has had a devastating effect on the country's resources; it's led to shortages of all kinds and unemployment."

In an article published by Al-Jazeera on March 27, it was stated that, "Lebanon's financial crisis intensified on Monday after Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri publicly repudiated President Michel Aoun, saying the latter wanted to dictate cabinet membership and grant veto powers on policy to his political allies.

"After the latest of more than a dozen meetings with the president to form a new cabinet, Hariri called Aoun's demands 'unacceptable'. Hariri's televised announcement dashed hopes for an end to five months of political deadlock between the two and a reversal of the country's financial meltdown.

"The Lebanese pound dropped to over 13,000 to the dollar on the informal market after news of the outcome of the meeting, having traded earlier in the day at around 11,000.

"Lebanon's economic crisis, which is posing the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-1990 civil war, has seen the Lebanese pound sink by almost 90%, plunging many into poverty."

"They need a charismatic leader," Fuller stated, "one who is pure and wants nothing else, but to save his country. And they need a strong ally."

The full interview is available at Fuller's website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

The Syrian occupation of Lebanon during that country's long civil war is part of Fuller's experience in the Middle East, related in her memoir. Told in short episodes, Fuller's book reveals the alienation, confusion and courage of civilians in the Lebanese civil war, introducing to the reader a variety of real people with whom the author interacts: editors, salesmen, neighbors, refugees, soldiers, missionaries, lawyers, shepherds, artists, students. With these people she works, studies, plays games, prays, laughs and cries, all to the accompaniment of gunfire. Together these small stories tell what war is like for civilians caught on a battlefield, and they create the impression of the Lebanese as a fun-loving, witty, patient and resilient people. Fuller's stories compose not a political history, but a historical document of a time and a place.

'In Borrowed Houses' has taken three industry awards. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have praised 'In Borrowed Houses.' A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' " . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ". Another reviewer described the book as "Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .". Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, " . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope."

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at [email protected]. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

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