The following is an example of how the war in Lebanon was commonly reported.

Routinely, "Maronite" Roman Catholics were labeled as generic "Christians."

I urge the reader to carefully consider the following [mis]use of the label "Christian."

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Novemer 25, 1994

Associated Press

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- A court Friday called a one-day postponement in the trial of a former warlord whose name once spelled terror across Lebanon's Christian heartland. Chief Justice Philip Khairallah said the postponement of Samir Geagea's trail resulted from a sudden ailment of one member of the five-man tribunal handling his case.

Geagea, former commander of the outlawed Lebanese Forces Christian militia, faces a possible death penalty if convicted of bombing a church in February and killing a rival politician four years ago.

Khairallah said judge Wajih Alawiyeh had presented medical reports that he could no longer serve on the tribunal because of illness and that court would reconvene Saturday after Alawiyeh were replaced.

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