The Absurdity of Lebanonese Nationalism. Finally: a cure for cancer...from Lebanon. This Lebanonese newspaper would like to report to you that the internationally-known Lebanese chemist, Nabil Habib, discovered a cure for cancer (and that he registered his breakthrough in US and Belarus--oh, ya). He--the proud Lebanonese that he is--named the medicine Lebanus Cedra, after the Cedars of Lebanon. Is that not nice? Is that not sweet? Would you not say that this person, to whom humanity owes a great deal, deserves an award? We don't know how this chemist "discovered" the cure, but my speculation is that he mixed olive oil, hummus, ful, and Baba Ghannuj together. What a potent mixture. (To its credit, the Ministry of Health (and the Minister of Health in Lebanon is one of the few really qualified ministers) prevented this charlatan from his using his cure anymore.)