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Who is to blame for Beirut’s airport security gap?

The Lebanese government rift and lack of a clear and effective policy for dealing with security gaps at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut may lead international and Arab airlines to suspend their flights to Lebanon.

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Passengers sit next to their baggage as they wait for their flight at Beirut's international airport, Nov. 21, 2015. — REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

With the trash crisis still pending, having tainted Lebanon’s image around the world and exposed its government’s division and incompetence when it comes to performing a basic duty like waste collection, another crisis looms on the horizon: Lebanon’s airport security and its compliance with international safety standards are now called into question.

This time, too, the government has failed yet again to perform one of its essential duties: preserving security and protecting a vital economic facility at a critical time when terrorism is striking in many world capitals and airports, with the latest incident at Brussels airport on March 22.

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