WASHINGTON — Twelve months ago, President George W. Bush warned Americans there would be new sacrifices in Iraq, but called for optimism. On the eve of 2007, Bush seems to have sacrificed that hope. Gone is the talk of Iraq becoming a beacon of democracy in the Middle East. Bush …

DAMASCUS  (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday gave his full support to Arab League mediation to end the long-running political crisis in neighbouring Lebanon, the head of the Arab League said. “We are moving toward reaching a Lebanese reconciliation,” said Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa after meeting …

BEIRUT (AP) — Police on Thursday arrested four people and seized large quantities of weapons, explosives and fuses in raids on members of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. The party leader, Ali Kanso, condemned the police action, telling a press conference hours afterward that it was unjustified and that the …