Lebanon welcomes the new year in a few hours with stability in stark contrast to the rest of the region. The world is turning the page on a historic year full of transformations. Leaders fell, some were killed, as revolutions swept through the Arab world. Bin Laden rests in the Arab sea and Iraq is paying farewell to occupation forces, opening the doors to an uncertain future. As for Europe, it is turning a new leaf, leaving behind a year that saw the Euro at its worst, hoping to overcome the economic recession, saving their monetary and political unity. Only Iran has made headlines every year since 1979. It is pushing back too hard against Western pressure and is preparing to test long-range missiles in a few days along the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, it is taking its revenge by refusing to provide Arab and European air carriers with fuel, just as Iranian planes experience at international airports around the globe. In parallel, Washington responded by enhancing Gulf defense. In fact, following the fighter aircraft deal with Saudi Arabia, it revealed today a $3.5 billion arms deal with the UAE, within the framework of a wider effort to enhance missile defense capabilities of American allies in the Gulf against Iran.