The crackpot Lebanonese presidential candidate. You had to see the crackpot Lebanonese presidential candidate, Shibli Al-Mallat, on Al-Arabiyya TV. The host (one of the best interviewers on that channel, Hasan Mu`awwad) grilled him and pointed out the absurdity of his launching his campaign for the presidency in Lebanon from...the US, and the fact that he has no popular basis. I really feel that Mallat is losing his mind. He even said that "the world" knows him from his "new theories in various intellectual systems." I swear. So you readers around the world have heard of Mallat from his "new theories." I mean, aside from his theory for a new Hummus recipe, what are these theories? Please tell me. He, this former secular and leftist, praised the sectarian system (a "guarantee" he called it), and said that he can never disagree with the Maronite patriarch. This is Lebanon (and the new Iraq). If you have no popularity, latch on the garb of sectarian religious leaders. He was asked about his friendship with Fouad Ajami, and he denied having met him, but added that he admires some of his writings but disagree with him on the question with Israel. When asked about his position on Israel, he said: "I have a civilized stance on Israel." Dont you love those Hummus eaters: they are all civilized. It is the tahini I bet.