On the Cedar Revolution...

Managing A Mideast Revolution

By David Ignatius

There's an obscure branch of mathematics known as "catastrophe theory," which looks at how a small perturbation in a previously stable system can suddenly produce dramatic change. A classic example of the theory is the way a bridge, after bearing immense weight for many years, can suddenly collapse because of a new stress.

URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64395-2005Mar1.html

I would love to hear people's answer to this analysis. Personally, I tend to concur with the author. One must be very careful - especially in the Middle-East, not get ahead of oneself, or else...