Are we there yet?
The Daily Star of Lebanon startles with CNN to air ad campaign promoting Lebanon as tourist destination:

The Trade and Economy Ministry has signed a contract with international news channel CNN to start an advertising campaign to lure potential tourists into the country.

The contract, inked last December, is "the beginning of a broader plan to show the beauty of Lebanon and its potential as a tourist destination," according to Trade and Economy Minister Basil Fuleihan.

The campaign is expected to begin in March or April, "after the budget for the campaign is approved and as soon as the first money transfer is received by CNN," Fuleihan told The Daily Star.

The price for the promotion is tagged at $1 million and will be aired for one full year on CNN International. The amount will be payable over a two-year period with no interest, allowing the government to easily pay for the investment.

Each advertisement will run approximately twice a day and the film, which will last 60 seconds, is currently in the process of being produced by a CNN team.

"The CNN advertisement will be a very practical medium of communicating to people that Lebanon is a safe, unique tourist and business center boasting many different options of natural, cultural, sports and entertainment activities," added Fuleihan.

Reading another top story in the Star makes me wonder what kind of weapons the tourists should bring?

Walid Jumblatt lashed out Sunday against Western politicians and "the Jews," calling on Arab leaders to hold popular referendums before allowing in foreign troops for a war against Iraq.

The Progressive Socialist Party leader also said he felt "great joy" at Saturday’s destruction of the United States space shuttle Columbia, because it carried an Israeli astronaut who had taken part in aggression against "Lebanon and Iraq."

"The true axis of evil that rules the world today is an axis of oil and Jews," Jumblatt said at his family home of Mukhtara, Chouf.

Hey, maybe it's open season year round on assholes with no bag limit. Still, who would want Walid on the wall above the fireplace?