Ep.272 (Video): Crossroads with Tala Ramadan

0:00 Intro 4:39 The Last Few Weeks 11:55 Crossroads 15:08 Dysfunction 29:10 Determination 33:24 Iran's Needs 42:38 False Equivalencies 1:01:26 Warzone 1:08:14 Salvageable System? 1:22:55 Departure We're with Tala Ramadan for Episode 272 of The Beirut Banyan. We discuss the immense challenges over the past few weeks and rampant dysfunction making daily life enormously difficult in Lebanon. Our conversation includes a reflection of Iran's security needs in Lebanon, disagreement over what I consider false equivalencies and whether Lebanon would be better described as a war-zone. We also talk about the governing system's viability with or without geopolitical conflict and the departure of too many friends and relatives from Lebanon. Tala Ramadan is a Beirut-based journalist and reporter for L'Orient Today. The education-related piece briefly mentioned in this episode is linked below: https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1272303/pursuing-education-in-lebanon-in-the-midst-of-a-financial-crisis-power-outages-and-internet-disruptions.html Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.