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My aplogees for the corny title. Couldn't think of anything more appropriate. After last night’s short but intensive thunderstorm, it is a gorgeous day in West-Beirut today. A little hazy, due to a fire raging in one of the TV studios of Hariri in the neighborhood. There is still sporadic gunfire. But nevertheless, considering the circumstances, a gorgeous day. I say!

I went out today, walked over the neighborhood with a friend who is trying to deal with some very frightened American business partners who just happened to get stuck in the middle of it all. Some people just don’t ever get any action in their lives, and then they get it full-force. There doesn’t seem to be extensive damage, mostly broken windows. And cut phone lines.

Hamra is teeming with militia men however, armed to the teeth. I couldn’t quite see from what militia they were, but was told that Amal, Hezbollah and the Awmiyeh (sorry, phonetic spelling, Syrian Socialistic National Party) were on the ground. Of course, don’t let these names fool you. Socialistic Party, right! No socialism in this town, it’s all hard-core capitalism or islamic dictatorship. Well, there may be 'some' shades of grey in between.

I wasn’t allowed to take any pictures of them. They take their orders very seriously, and are in no way charmed by the attention of some blond ladies in semi-advanced stage.
The soldiers of the army however, fell like rock for our smiles, and we were invited at every single group of soldiers to join them in their lunch. And so, because Liesbeth missed lunch the other day, she couldn’t pass this one up.

'The New Kid in Town'
Some of the militias had very fancy metal ammo boxes with a leather strap. Would make a fantastic fashion accessory. The gentleman in question however, was not willing to part with it. “Still some ammo in it,” he said.

‘Well, then, shoot it, young man,” I was thinking.
Better not said; after a battle a sense of humor –which they are sorely lacking anyway - may be a little far fetched.
I saw some new spraying. It is clear who is in charge of this part of the neighborhood now (this one is the logo of the SNNP, the Syrian Socialistic National Party). And so we have gone back to the days of one militia per neighborhood. How long this will last, I don’t know.

I hear from Dutchies in other parts of Beirut that things are ‘absolutely normal’ there. So it is just us who are the lucky ones. There’s quite a bit of a Dutch contingent here in the Hamra neighborhood, where most of the fighting of last night took place. But I must say; we’re chillin’!

It is still uncertain what tonight will bring. More fighting? Or a deal? Doesn’t look like the government is in the position to broker a deal. Maybe just a ‘Yes Sir!”