Angelo J. Pompano
Most recently its geographical position -- next to Israel, Syria and Jordan, led it to be the site of a complicated civil war in which Syria, Israel, the US, and some European powers intervened. Lasting from 1975-1991, it left its mark on a generation of children. Just as people of our country who lived through the Great Depression were left with character traits developed from that experience, the parents of the current children of Lebanon still have the Civil war of 1975-1991 firmly embedded in their minds. Before the war the country was a prosperous banking center for the Middle East. It enjoyed a high standard of living, along with good educational opportunities and health care. As might be expected the war disrupted that standard of living. The country is slowly coming back. One day it may regain its former status as a banking capitol.