The US Department of Treasury imposes sanctions on four Lebanese and Syrians to punish their attempt at "undermining Lebanese democracy." But one item got my attention. One of the offenses listed by the Treasury Department is "bribing politicians." As is well-known, the US is adamantly opposed to bribery, which explains why Prince Bandar Bin Bribes was shunned in Washington, DC, and it explains why the US government shuns the Hariri family which uses bribery on a most massive scale, in Lebanon and beyond (except in France where "pure" friendship existed between Chirac and Rafiq Hariri). (thanks Kamal)