LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 26/09

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,1-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;  the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
 Syrian "Debts" and the Lessons of the Lebanese/By: Zuheir Kseibati/Al Hayat/December 25/09
Iran’s Time Bomb/By: Hassan Haidar/Al Hayat/December 25/09
Lebanon and Syria: Slow Steps/By Diana Mukkaled/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 25/09
2010: The year of regulation/Now Lebanon/December 25/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December 25/09
 Sfeir: Lebanon in Dire Need for Calm/Naharnet
 Bishop Rai: Syria Hasn't Invited Patriarch Sfeir to Visit Damascus/Naharnet
Al Akhbar: Jumblatt's road to Damascus is thru Baabdat/Ya Libnan
 Geagea, Aoun Shake Hands Accidentally/Naharnet
 Aoude: Government Must Select Only Competent Official Employees from Each Sect/Naharnet
 Suleiman Vows to Launch Institution-Building/Naharnet
 Syria Names Delegates to Border Demarcation Committee/Naharnet
 Washington: Hariri's Damascus Visit at Right Time, New U.S. Ambassador to Syria Soon/Naharnet
 Jumblat, Taymour Visit Sfeir to Wish Him Merry Christmas/Naharnet
 Geagea, Gemayel Satisfied with Outcome of Hariri's Damascus Visit/Naharnet
 Hariri in Paris Seeking to Stimulate Fund Grants/Naharnet
 Abul Aynein: Ready to Organize Palestinian Arms Inside Camps/Naharnet
 Harb: Appealing Article 6 Directed Against Ministerial Policy Statement/Naharnet
 Raad: Our Right to Resistance is Beyond Discussion/Naharnet
 Zoaiter Urges Suleiman, Hariri to Dismiss Phalange's Minister/Naharnet

Sfeir: Lebanon in Dire Need for Calm
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Friday used his Christmas sermon to praise the "calm atmosphere" among the various sects in Lebanon and urged Lebanese citizens to be loyal to their nation. Lebanon today when they need to atmosphere of calm and cooperation among all sects and generations""Lebanon today is in greater need of this atmosphere of calm and cooperation among all sects and generations," Sfeir told worshipers during his sermon. "The social climate has improved and (political) assassinations have declined," Sfeir pointed. "People seem to be shying away from violence. This is a good thing and something we had hoped would happen for a long time," he said from Bkirki. "Loyalty to the nation requires every citizen to work for his homeland," Sfeir stressed. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 14:52

Bishop Rai: Syria Hasn't Invited Patriarch Sfeir to Visit Damascus
Naharnet/Maronite Bishop of Jbeil Beshara Rai on Friday said that "pending issues between Syria and Lebanon are not related to the (Maronite) Patriarchate," and added that "the Syrians have not sent any invitation to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to visit Syria." "I hope relations between Lebanon and Syria follow the diplomatic path and that the previous chapter has ended," added Rai in an interview with MTV network. Rai described the current Maronite role in Lebanon as "gloomy," and admonished the Maronites "for their disintegration." "We want the Maronites to play their role … and we support diversity within unity, Lebanon is characterized by diversity within unity and it loses its value in absence of diversified opinions and visions," added Rai. The prominent Maronite bishop added that Bkirki still supports inter-Christian reconciliation and said that the dispute in Lebanon, which is incited by foreign powers, is between Sunnis and Shiites, calling on everyone to avoid the slide toward civil strife. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 17:19

Geagea, Aoun Shake Hands Accidentally
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun were among several officials who attended Friday morning Christmas mass in Bkirki.
President Michel Suleiman also attended the service along with Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Defense Minister Elias Murr and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
When Geagea left Bkirki, he shook hands with Sfeir and those standing around him. Aoun happened to be one of them. Suleiman held a closed-door meeting with Sfeir only minutes ahead of the mass which began at 11am. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 12:40

Aoude: Government Must Select Only Competent Official Employees from Each Sect
Naharnet/Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Aoude on Friday hoped that the new government will appoint the most competent individuals from each sect to fill in the gaps in posts allocated to each community. Aoude said during his Christmas sermon mass in Saint George's Cathedral: "Sectarianism in Lebanon is a great scourge, as sectarian leaders use it for their personal interests." He added that Lebanon is in dire need to abolish the politicians' exploitation to their sects, by raising the new generation on the values of serving their country instead of exploiting it. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 17:38

Washington: Hariri's Damascus Visit at Right Time, New U.S. Ambassador to Syria Soon
Naharnet/U.S. officials said a visit by Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Damascus "came at the right time," adding that a decision by President Barack Obama to return a U.S. ambassador to Syria after a four-year hiatus will come soon. An-Nahar daily, citing senior U.S. Administration officials, said Friday that the new U.S. ambassador will be appointed "in just a few weeks."
It said the new U.S. action also includes a visit by Regional Affairs for Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell to Syria and Lebanon early in 2010.
The U.S. officials said Mitchell's regional tour will focus on "chances to move the Syrian-Israeli path forward." When asked about what Lebanon's status would be in light of renewed U.S.-Syrian relations, the officials stressed that Washington would "continue its strong support for Lebanon." "Any improvement in ties with Damascus won'tt take place at Lebanon's expense," one official said. Washington withdrew its ambassador from Syria in 2005 to protest ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination. Relations between Syria and the U.S. improved, however, after Obama took office in January and U.S. officials said he was committed to seeking a peace deal between Syria and Israel as part of an overall Middle East peace deal.
But Syria remains under U.S. sanctions, partly because of what the United States describes as a Syrian role in helping insurgents infiltrate Iraq. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 08:33

Geagea, Gemayel Satisfied with Outcome of Hariri's Damascus Visit
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Phalange Party chief Amin Gemayel have reportedly expressed satisfaction at Prime Minister Saad Hariri's outcome of his visit to Damascus. Pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, citing well-informed sources, said Geagea and Gemayel each made his comment at the end of separate meetings Hariri held with them Wednesday evening. The sources said Geagea and Gemayel "positively assessed" Hariri's talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad which stressed the need for having state-to-state relations.
Al-Hayat said it has learned that Hariri met upon his return from Damascus Druze leader Walid Jumblat to brief him on the outcome his visit. It said Hariri will hold similar meetings with his allies to brief them on his Damascus visit. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 10:15

Suleiman Vows to Launch Institution-Building
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman vowed Friday to launch institution-building and hoped for political, security and economic stability. His remarks came following a closed-door meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki only minutes ahead of the Christmas mass which began at 11am. Suleiman was proud to recognize 2009 accomplishments at all levels in the government – political, security, diplomatic and economic. "Who would have imagined … that we will emerge from our national crisis?" he asked in remarks published earlier Friday by As-Safir newspaper. "Who could have imagined all those get-togethers and reconciliation that took place after (parliamentary) elections? And who would have imagined that Prime Minister Saad Hariri will visit Damascus?  Suleiman said that in the wake of these accomplishments it was time to move toward institution-building and reform. "We are on the threshold of launching institution-building and reform," he said in an interview published Friday by As-Safir newspaper. He said reform will begin with administrative appointments. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 11:24

Harb: Appealing Article 6 Directed Against Ministerial Policy Statement
Naharnet/Labor Minister Boutros Harb considered Phalange Party's intended appeal before the Constitutional Council -- against article 6 of the ministerial Policy Statement related to Hizbullah's arms -- as inappropriate, unconstitutional, and against the law. "It is directed against the ministerial statement, without a legal basis, and it is a political stance. Dealing with it (article 6) should be through either granting vote of confidence to the government, or through a no-confidence vote," added Harb. In a statement on Thursday, Harb said that Phalange Party has not filed the appeal yet, adding that "it seems that the appeal won't be filed due to a lack of enough number of MPs to sign the appeal." "In case the appeal was filed, it would be dismissed because it is not a topic under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Council," added Harb. On the political front, Harb considered that the appeal would embarrass Phalange's minister in the government and would put him in an uneasy position. "When he (Social Affairs Minister Salim al-Sayegh) discussed the issue with me, I gave him my point of view and advised him not to file the appeal, and I hope the appeal won't be filed -- because I'm keen on any stance coming from my ally, Phalange Party, to be immune, robust, and leading to positive results ,not the contrary," added Harb. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 19:24

Syria Names Delegates to Border Demarcation Committee
Naharnet/Syria has named its delegates to the Border Demarcation Committee, well-informed sources told An-Nahar daily in remarks published Friday. They did not, however, reveal the names of the delegation. Lebanon was yet to announce the names on the Border Demarcation Committee, which is expected to hold a meeting at the beginning of the new year. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 09:32

Jumblat, Taymour Visit Sfeir to Wish Him Merry Christmas
Naharnet/Druze leader Walid Jumblat and his son, Taymour, on Friday visited Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to wish him merry Christmas. Asked whether he has plans to stay to attend a meeting between Sfeir and President Michel Suleiman, Jumblat said jokingly: "I will leave before the adults show up because when the grown-ups show up the young ones leave. "There is no longer big and small in this country," Jumblat acknowledged. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 12:06

Hariri in Paris Seeking to Stimulate Fund Grants
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri has flown overnight to Paris on a private visit. Al-Anwar daily, citing government sources, said Friday that Hariri will seek while he is in Paris to stimulate fund grants allocated for Lebanon during the Paris 3 Conference. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 10:02

Abul Aynein: Ready to Organize Palestinian Arms Inside Camps
Naharnet/Head of Fatah in Lebanon Sultan Abul Aynein on Thursday stressed that "Palestinians are ready to commit to organizing arms inside the (refugee) camps."
After an emergency meeting for Fatah officials in Lebanon, Abul Aynein said: "I don't think that anyone can reject what our Lebanese brothers agree on."
"We won't object on what the Lebanese government decided, because we are guests in this country," added Fatah's top official in Lebanon.
On the internal affairs of Fatah Movement, Abul Aynein said that his movement has a sole leadership in Lebanon at the present.
"The visit of Premier Saad Hariri to Syria and his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad has resolved a lot of obstacles, related to Palestinian arms outside the camps, which are under the command of a Palestinian opposition faction," added Abul Aynein. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 19:54

Raad: Our Right to Resistance is Beyond Discussion
Naharnet/Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc leader MP Mohammed Raad on Thursday said that "the resistance is practicing its defensive duty for the sake of Lebanon, its people, and its security against any possible Israeli aggression or threat," and added that "our right to resistance is beyond discussion, but those who want to discuss the resistance's role and its position in the defensive strategy can do that at the national dialogue table." Raad, who was delivering a speech in Sidon, added that the right to resistance cannot be subject to questioning neither on the moral level nor on the international and human level. On the other hand, Raad hailed President Michel Suleiman's stances during his last official visit to the United States, saying the president "stressed upon all the Lebanese national constants that preserve the strength of Lebanon and its ability of defiance." "We look with great positivity at the national consensus atmospheres that have started to dominate, especially after the last visit of Lebanon's premier (Saad Hariri) to Syria," added Raad. Raad hoped for Lebanon to seize the local, regional, and international opportunities to reestablish the State's scheme and to start implementing it upon the basis of national agreement. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 15:30

Zoaiter Urges Suleiman, Hariri to Dismiss Phalange's Minister
Naharnet/Development and Liberation bloc's MP Ghazi Zoaiter urged President Michel Suleiman and PM Saad Hariri to dismiss Minister Phalange Party's minister Salim al-Sayegh following the Phalange's intention to challenge article six of the ministerial Policy Statement -- related to Hizbullah's arms -- before the Constitutional Council.
Zoaiter said that "from a constitutional standpoint, neither the statement nor any of its articles can be revised (before the Constitutional Council)."He added: "We have the right to resist Israel, and the party, which intends to file the challenge, should either withdraw from the National Unity government, or adopt that article." Zoaiter stressed on the importance of the Lebanese people's unity in support of the Lebanese army and the resistance in order to liberate their land. "Humans' right to liberate their lands is higher than any constitution," added Zoaiter. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 15:56

Lebanon and Syria: Slow Steps
25/12/2009
By Diana Mukkaled/Asharq Al-Awsat
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=19277
Despite all the preparations for [creating] Lebanese public opinion, the pictures coming out of Damascus remain in their dramatic place and full of diverse sentiments. The meanings embodied in the scenes that were replayed on the television screens from Damascus over the past few days will not die down quickly. Perhaps the most powerful scene was the one that showed the slow and hesitant steps taken by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to shake hands with Syrian President Bashar al Assad. These steps alone cannot turn a new page [in Syrian-Lebanese relations] before we understand what this page is all about and upon which basis that will take place.
But, inasmuch as there is a need for [giving] new meaning and a fundamentally different structure to Syrian-Lebanese ties, and inasmuch as it was stressful conditions that led to that meeting being held between Hariri and al Assad, caution and doubt will remain stronger feelings than any kind of reassurance, especially if that reassurance includes slogans from the history of the Lebanese who paid a heavy price.
What concerns us as citizens and in the media is that there are many reasons for caution, not least [with regards to] politics and its consequences, which are definitely bigger than Lebanon can handle.
As for the media, which appeared to be a center for control and [launching] attacks at present, it echoed the voices of people in Damascus and some in Lebanon (not missing a single moment of the Syrian embrace). These voices considered the visit a victory for the logic of “resistance” and “opposition” and said that the “Syrian embrace takes in even those who wronged it.” In fact it exaggerated greatly believing that the March 14 slogans have collapsed and what’s most dangerous is the semi-consensus among general commentators and writers themselves that the Lebanese Prime Minister must control those around him, his media and allies in a clear and precise manner. Some of them did not hesitate to use a direct cautionary tone with Saad Hariri if he does not take control of this media or part of it.
Today there are people who consider it easy to theorize about the results of the Hariri-al Assad meeting with the same set of slogans that controlled Syrian-Lebanese ties before 2005. There are those who returned with slogans from the archives such as “one nation in two countries,” and [slogans about] “the geography and history” and “brotherhood” and “excellent relations.”
What Lebanon achieved on March 14 and what it accomplished in spite of the bitterness and the heavy price the Lebanese paid for the Syrian army to leave Lebanon and to put a stop to political dependence on Damascus are gains that nobody can take away or destroy. Regardless of the visit, what follows it, and the need for it, it remains the case that what must be maintained is media control in an attempt to rectify any distortion that could harm the new Syrian-Lebanese ties and which, with no doubt, has a rocky path ahead. The possibilities of deviation in these relations do exist [and so do] the fears of the Lebanese of the return of Syrian influence to their country like the influence that dominated the country before 2005. The media’s role of control will not be part of an assumed battle over the new relations but rather to rectify any potential slip ups and cases of deviation.
Lebanese-Syrian relations should have been based on different foundations and post-2005 facts cannot be ignored, nor can we forget or conceal the facts pre-2005.

Syrian "Debts" and the Lessons of the Lebanese
Thu, 24 December 2009
Zuheir Kseibati/Al Hayat
http://www.daralhayat.com/portalarticlendah/90117
The warmth of the French reception for the beginning of the process of normalization between the Lebanese and Syrian States – which started with Prime Minister Sa'd al-Hariri's visit to Damascus – did not conform to the stance of Washington, which continues an intermittent dialogue with Syria over regional issues, including the Lebanese dossier. Despite the atmosphere of relief entailed by the visit, after the formation of a national unity government, a French-American consensus over raising the issue of Hezbollah's arms has surfaced once again, after the government referred this issue to the table of dialogue.
All the Lebanese remember that the American Administration under George Bush, and the French Administration under Jacques Chirac, tightened the sanctions on Damascus and Tehran because they refused for Lebanon to remain an arena for the feuding regional interests, among other reasons. Today, President Barack Obama expressed to President Michel Suleiman in the White House the American concerns over the smuggling of arms into Lebanon, while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that Hezbollah's arms represent a "serious issue" that hinder negotiations between Syria and Israel. These two statements practically link the Lebanese issue with the regional dimensions. Although it has not been confirmed yet whether the complaint of the American president and the French minister is a mere attempt to respond to hints made about the need to cancel Resolution1559, Washington and Paris certainly sought to deliver a message to Al-Hariri's cabinet to the effect that the grace period given for the Lebanese State to address the issue of Hezbollah's arms will not be extended forever.
The national unity government's desire to avoid the outbreak of the conflict over the arms of the resistance cannot be questioned, a conflict that mobilized the street after the July war, as well as its desire to fold the chapter of instability and lack of security, while Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki believes it was a chapter of stability and security, attributing it to his country "over the past years."
After Al-Hariri's visit to Damascus and his meeting with President Bashar al-Asad, Mottaki opted to learn about the results of the major turnaround in the Lebanese-Syrian relations from Beirut, as he was keen on reminding about the efforts Tehran made with the political leaders in Lebanon, and with the "regional mechanism" it consolidated to make them reach an accord. Speaker Nabih Berri's assessment of the implications of this turnaround did not touch on the Iranian role. It seemed that Mottaki wanted to secure a seat for Tehran in the train of normalization between Beirut and Damascus.
Prime Minister Sa'd al-Hariri's approach is of course difference, as he places his visit to Syria in the framework of the inter-Arab reconciliation channels and the realistic vision of the half-filled glass. Readings of the implications of the new chapter in the history of the Lebanese-Syrian relations which started in the last days of 2009 are different. Some sides are reassured that this step is an achievement that avoids a Sunni-Shiite sedition in Lebanon and are confident about "a settlement that consolidates the resistance." Most importantly, the beginning of 2010 will be a test to correct the relations between two states, after the recognition of "two nations in two states" reality was consolidated for the first time.
Regardless of the results of linking the interests to the framework of seeking an economic integration between Syria and Lebanon, one that starts with amending the texts of the "Fraternal and Coordination and Cooperation Treaty," it is clear that the realistic aspect of the "half-filled glass" does not involve essential concessions. Al-Hariri's cabinet thus accepts that the demarcation of the border starts from the north, a step that will not take many weeks, only if Syria proves determined to draw lessons of lengthy years of crises and disappointments.
Between politics and the interests of business and economics, the Lebanese should learn how not to entice Syria's interference in their affairs, and how not to empower themselves by Syria against their domestic political rivals. Only then, the relations among institutions are regulated, the concerns of power and custody and tutelage and the upper-hand fade away, and the ambitions of the opportunists and those who outbid nationalism and Arabism dwindle. The ambitions of those who trade with the spirits of the sects and their rights, with decent living with or without them, and those who burry the project of naturalization forever, most of whom practice a racist policy with the refugees and curse the darkness of the camps days and night also disappear.
A state-to-state relation between Syria and Lebanon mean all of that, and perhaps much more. It means primarily that the Lebanese should learn how to protect their homeland by empowering their state, and should learn to adopt dialogue as a language for reform which is never bought from abroad…so they stop slaughtering their country whenever the ambitions of one party triumph…
Syria has many obligations that are akin to "debts" it has to pay for Lebanon, some of which have already matured decades ago…It is time for the big test.

Iran’s Time Bomb
Thu, 24 December 2009
By: Hassan Haidar/Al Hayat
http://www.daralhayat.com/portalarticlendah/90116
It is as if history were repeating itself in Iran. Those who rebelled against the Shah’s dictatorship, tyranny and contempt towards his people are playing today more or less the same role, after the effect of the “bribes” made to the people for deluding them with the promise of difference and change has expired, and after they had become themselves a system that represses to survive, oppresses to govern, and bends wills to impose itself.
The current clashes have not yet reached the momentum witnessed in the 1979 revolution against the Shah's regime, for the clashes at the time had begun as a result of a long accumulation and daily growing public discontent caused by Reza Pahlavi’s domestic and foreign policies for decades. At that time, the political forces - especially the Left - had prepared themselves for the great explosion and the massive confrontation with the regime’s bodies. This was achieved through the organization of cadres and supporters within networks that ensured continued contact with their leaders in case the repression campaign escalated and also ensured the reception of necessary instructions on the location and mechanisms of demonstrations including how and where to gather and act. What enabled them to achieve this is their long-term experience which they earned in dealing with security agents and its terrifying repressive secret police, the SAVAK. This technique was later imitated by the religious movement led by Khomeini with the help of Muslim clergy secret networks.
The same scenes are being witnessed today in the various Iranian cities. Not intimidated by the Revolutionary Guards’ or the Bazeejs’ sticks, weapons, and prisons, protestors wear green arm bands and rush into the streets, calling for the fall of the new “dictator”. Suppression only increases their determination to express their opinion and claim their right for change. Every time the regime confirms that the “election conspiracy” is over, they show that murder, imprisonment, and tear gas grenades will not stop their movement. They are like a slowly burning fuse that is inextinguishable and will eventually reach a “gunpowder store” and confirm that the Iranian bomb, which the world fears, is not capable of concealing the time bomb which swells in the streets of Tehran, Isfahan, and even Qom.
A simple review of the statements made by Iranian officials yesterday and today unveils the similarity in attitudes and beliefs: the Shah also could not believe that his reign would fall and remained convinced until the last moment before he fled that nothing he did during his mandate justifies his departure or calls for such rage, and that he would regain control of the situation as soon as the “conspiracy” is over.
Only a few months after the success of the revolution against the Shah, Khomeini surprised the Iranians by inviting them not to use the term “democracy”, for it is a “western concept”. By that time he had established a plan to banish all “his enemies” who took part in the overthrow of former regime, through bombings and assassinations, then executions, imprisonment, and exiles based on mock trials. And thus Khomeini was able to impose himself as the sole supreme reference whose orders and opinions were not to be opposed, following his intentional mixing between religion and politics culminating in the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (or Wilayat el faqih) which meant the abolition of any independent role of the state institutions and apparatus, including the judicial one. The strongest evidence for his rejection of any opposition – including this which came from within his own regime – was the expulsion of his designated successor Ayatollah Montazeri who dared to question Khomeini’s disregard of human rights and excessive suppression of freedom.
Thirty years later, an increasing number of Iranian people share the opinion of Montazeri, who passed away a few days ago, as they wish to stop wasting the country’s power and wealth in policies that have put Iran in a confrontation with almost the whole world and which, moreover, rely on the control of the secret services to silence any dissenting voices. And yet, what is happening now is nothing but the beginning.

New Opinion: 2010: The year of regulation
December 25, 2009
Now Lebanon
Two millennia after Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior saddled up and headed for Bethlehem, another group of wise men, this time those nice people at Standard & Poors (S&P), have sent us a festive gift: the announcement that their Lebanon rating has improved from B-/C to B/B. In plain English it means that S&P, arguably the world’s leading rating agency, sees Lebanon in better health than it was a year ago.
“We believe that the new government is prioritizing structural reforms in line with IMF and Paris III recommendations, which include privatization of the telecom and electricity industries, expenditure cuts and revenue-boosting measures,” S&P said, adding, “if successful, these reforms could lower fiscal deficits, cut government debt-to-GDP [ratio] and reduce Lebanon’s contingent liabilities.”
Yes, it’s true that, while many of the world economies have been brought to their knees, Lebanon –so often a byword for chaos, mayhem and instability – has been quietly racking up 6% growth in 2009 by using nothing more than good old Levantine ingenuity and hard work – and this in a year when its democratic aspirations were viciously (and cynically) buffeted by the winds of regional politics.
So, in a week in which it was also announced in An-Nahar that we will see “significant” – no doubt political – changes as a result of the meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, it would also be prudent for the new government in 2010 to seriously and wisely build upon 2009’s relatively robust economic gains.
It remains to be seen if all the IMF and Paris III recommendations will be acted on, while, when it comes to coaxing major foreign investment, Hariri still has one hand tied behind his back. Modern communications for example, so crucial to investment opportunities, are either too slow – as in internet speeds – or too expensive – as in our cell phone tariffs. But it doesn’t stop there. Even if the new Telecom minister, Charbel Nahhas, auctions off the two mobile telecom licenses, cutting cell phone costs by a conservative 50% and no doubt improving bandwidth, the fact remains that Lebanon still cannot guarantee its own stability and security, two items that, understandably, rank quite high on investors’ wish lists.
So what’s to be done if Hariri wants to repay S&P’s confidence? The answer must surely be that his government must focus on supporting Lebanon’s core sectors, namely banking and financial services, and tourism and hospitality. The ingenuity of Lebanese entrepreneurship is beyond doubt. The challenge now is to consolidate the demand by improving the quality of services by creating a stronger infrastructure and greater regulation, and it is in doing this that the government must play its part. The financial sector is by and large self-regulated, but the private sector that has injected such dynamism into Lebanon’s tourism and hospitality industry must have the constructive backing and input of the state to create a genuinely world-class enterprise, cementing Lebanon’s reputation as a genuine world-class destination.
And while we are on the subject of state intervention, it appears we are already heading for a Dubai-style build-now-and-deal-with-the-traffic-later scenario when all the new residential developments, especially those in Achrafieh, are completed. It doesn’t take a PhD in Urban Planning to see that with these new homes will come new families (not to mention the legions of friends who will visit them), swelling the already-precarious numbers of vehicles on Lebanon’s streets to unsustainable levels.
The real estate sector is going nuts to satisfy the apparently insatiable demand for new homes, but here too the state needs to intervene and regulate. Rigorous urban planning in such a frenzied period of expansion is a must or we will never get anything done, because we will spend our time sitting in traffic, and that will reflect on the nation’s balance sheet.
So while the S&P have given us much to be happy about this festive season, their optimism is conditional on wise policy. In the meantime, we wish you all a very merry Christmas…and advise you to walk whenever possible.
 

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 26/09

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,1-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;  the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
 Syrian "Debts" and the Lessons of the Lebanese/By: Zuheir Kseibati/Al Hayat/December 25/09
Iran’s Time Bomb/By: Hassan Haidar/Al Hayat/December 25/09
Lebanon and Syria: Slow Steps/By Diana Mukkaled/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 25/09
2010: The year of regulation/Now Lebanon/December 25/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December 25/09
 Sfeir: Lebanon in Dire Need for Calm/Naharnet
 Bishop Rai: Syria Hasn't Invited Patriarch Sfeir to Visit Damascus/Naharnet
Al Akhbar: Jumblatt's road to Damascus is thru Baabdat/Ya Libnan
 Geagea, Aoun Shake Hands Accidentally/Naharnet
 Aoude: Government Must Select Only Competent Official Employees from Each Sect/Naharnet
 Suleiman Vows to Launch Institution-Building/Naharnet
 Syria Names Delegates to Border Demarcation Committee/Naharnet
 Washington: Hariri's Damascus Visit at Right Time, New U.S. Ambassador to Syria Soon/Naharnet
 Jumblat, Taymour Visit Sfeir to Wish Him Merry Christmas/Naharnet
 Geagea, Gemayel Satisfied with Outcome of Hariri's Damascus Visit/Naharnet
 Hariri in Paris Seeking to Stimulate Fund Grants/Naharnet
 Abul Aynein: Ready to Organize Palestinian Arms Inside Camps/Naharnet
 Harb: Appealing Article 6 Directed Against Ministerial Policy Statement/Naharnet
 Raad: Our Right to Resistance is Beyond Discussion/Naharnet
 Zoaiter Urges Suleiman, Hariri to Dismiss Phalange's Minister/Naharnet

Sfeir: Lebanon in Dire Need for Calm
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Friday used his Christmas sermon to praise the "calm atmosphere" among the various sects in Lebanon and urged Lebanese citizens to be loyal to their nation. Lebanon today when they need to atmosphere of calm and cooperation among all sects and generations""Lebanon today is in greater need of this atmosphere of calm and cooperation among all sects and generations," Sfeir told worshipers during his sermon. "The social climate has improved and (political) assassinations have declined," Sfeir pointed. "People seem to be shying away from violence. This is a good thing and something we had hoped would happen for a long time," he said from Bkirki. "Loyalty to the nation requires every citizen to work for his homeland," Sfeir stressed. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 14:52

Bishop Rai: Syria Hasn't Invited Patriarch Sfeir to Visit Damascus
Naharnet/Maronite Bishop of Jbeil Beshara Rai on Friday said that "pending issues between Syria and Lebanon are not related to the (Maronite) Patriarchate," and added that "the Syrians have not sent any invitation to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to visit Syria." "I hope relations between Lebanon and Syria follow the diplomatic path and that the previous chapter has ended," added Rai in an interview with MTV network. Rai described the current Maronite role in Lebanon as "gloomy," and admonished the Maronites "for their disintegration." "We want the Maronites to play their role … and we support diversity within unity, Lebanon is characterized by diversity within unity and it loses its value in absence of diversified opinions and visions," added Rai. The prominent Maronite bishop added that Bkirki still supports inter-Christian reconciliation and said that the dispute in Lebanon, which is incited by foreign powers, is between Sunnis and Shiites, calling on everyone to avoid the slide toward civil strife. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 17:19

Geagea, Aoun Shake Hands Accidentally
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun were among several officials who attended Friday morning Christmas mass in Bkirki.
President Michel Suleiman also attended the service along with Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Defense Minister Elias Murr and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
When Geagea left Bkirki, he shook hands with Sfeir and those standing around him. Aoun happened to be one of them. Suleiman held a closed-door meeting with Sfeir only minutes ahead of the mass which began at 11am. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 12:40

Aoude: Government Must Select Only Competent Official Employees from Each Sect
Naharnet/Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Aoude on Friday hoped that the new government will appoint the most competent individuals from each sect to fill in the gaps in posts allocated to each community. Aoude said during his Christmas sermon mass in Saint George's Cathedral: "Sectarianism in Lebanon is a great scourge, as sectarian leaders use it for their personal interests." He added that Lebanon is in dire need to abolish the politicians' exploitation to their sects, by raising the new generation on the values of serving their country instead of exploiting it. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 17:38

Washington: Hariri's Damascus Visit at Right Time, New U.S. Ambassador to Syria Soon
Naharnet/U.S. officials said a visit by Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Damascus "came at the right time," adding that a decision by President Barack Obama to return a U.S. ambassador to Syria after a four-year hiatus will come soon. An-Nahar daily, citing senior U.S. Administration officials, said Friday that the new U.S. ambassador will be appointed "in just a few weeks."
It said the new U.S. action also includes a visit by Regional Affairs for Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell to Syria and Lebanon early in 2010.
The U.S. officials said Mitchell's regional tour will focus on "chances to move the Syrian-Israeli path forward." When asked about what Lebanon's status would be in light of renewed U.S.-Syrian relations, the officials stressed that Washington would "continue its strong support for Lebanon." "Any improvement in ties with Damascus won'tt take place at Lebanon's expense," one official said. Washington withdrew its ambassador from Syria in 2005 to protest ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination. Relations between Syria and the U.S. improved, however, after Obama took office in January and U.S. officials said he was committed to seeking a peace deal between Syria and Israel as part of an overall Middle East peace deal.
But Syria remains under U.S. sanctions, partly because of what the United States describes as a Syrian role in helping insurgents infiltrate Iraq. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 08:33

Geagea, Gemayel Satisfied with Outcome of Hariri's Damascus Visit
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Phalange Party chief Amin Gemayel have reportedly expressed satisfaction at Prime Minister Saad Hariri's outcome of his visit to Damascus. Pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, citing well-informed sources, said Geagea and Gemayel each made his comment at the end of separate meetings Hariri held with them Wednesday evening. The sources said Geagea and Gemayel "positively assessed" Hariri's talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad which stressed the need for having state-to-state relations.
Al-Hayat said it has learned that Hariri met upon his return from Damascus Druze leader Walid Jumblat to brief him on the outcome his visit. It said Hariri will hold similar meetings with his allies to brief them on his Damascus visit. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 10:15

Suleiman Vows to Launch Institution-Building
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman vowed Friday to launch institution-building and hoped for political, security and economic stability. His remarks came following a closed-door meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki only minutes ahead of the Christmas mass which began at 11am. Suleiman was proud to recognize 2009 accomplishments at all levels in the government – political, security, diplomatic and economic. "Who would have imagined … that we will emerge from our national crisis?" he asked in remarks published earlier Friday by As-Safir newspaper. "Who could have imagined all those get-togethers and reconciliation that took place after (parliamentary) elections? And who would have imagined that Prime Minister Saad Hariri will visit Damascus?  Suleiman said that in the wake of these accomplishments it was time to move toward institution-building and reform. "We are on the threshold of launching institution-building and reform," he said in an interview published Friday by As-Safir newspaper. He said reform will begin with administrative appointments. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 11:24

Harb: Appealing Article 6 Directed Against Ministerial Policy Statement
Naharnet/Labor Minister Boutros Harb considered Phalange Party's intended appeal before the Constitutional Council -- against article 6 of the ministerial Policy Statement related to Hizbullah's arms -- as inappropriate, unconstitutional, and against the law. "It is directed against the ministerial statement, without a legal basis, and it is a political stance. Dealing with it (article 6) should be through either granting vote of confidence to the government, or through a no-confidence vote," added Harb. In a statement on Thursday, Harb said that Phalange Party has not filed the appeal yet, adding that "it seems that the appeal won't be filed due to a lack of enough number of MPs to sign the appeal." "In case the appeal was filed, it would be dismissed because it is not a topic under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Council," added Harb. On the political front, Harb considered that the appeal would embarrass Phalange's minister in the government and would put him in an uneasy position. "When he (Social Affairs Minister Salim al-Sayegh) discussed the issue with me, I gave him my point of view and advised him not to file the appeal, and I hope the appeal won't be filed -- because I'm keen on any stance coming from my ally, Phalange Party, to be immune, robust, and leading to positive results ,not the contrary," added Harb. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 19:24

Syria Names Delegates to Border Demarcation Committee
Naharnet/Syria has named its delegates to the Border Demarcation Committee, well-informed sources told An-Nahar daily in remarks published Friday. They did not, however, reveal the names of the delegation. Lebanon was yet to announce the names on the Border Demarcation Committee, which is expected to hold a meeting at the beginning of the new year. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 09:32

Jumblat, Taymour Visit Sfeir to Wish Him Merry Christmas
Naharnet/Druze leader Walid Jumblat and his son, Taymour, on Friday visited Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to wish him merry Christmas. Asked whether he has plans to stay to attend a meeting between Sfeir and President Michel Suleiman, Jumblat said jokingly: "I will leave before the adults show up because when the grown-ups show up the young ones leave. "There is no longer big and small in this country," Jumblat acknowledged. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 12:06

Hariri in Paris Seeking to Stimulate Fund Grants
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri has flown overnight to Paris on a private visit. Al-Anwar daily, citing government sources, said Friday that Hariri will seek while he is in Paris to stimulate fund grants allocated for Lebanon during the Paris 3 Conference. Beirut, 25 Dec 09, 10:02

Abul Aynein: Ready to Organize Palestinian Arms Inside Camps
Naharnet/Head of Fatah in Lebanon Sultan Abul Aynein on Thursday stressed that "Palestinians are ready to commit to organizing arms inside the (refugee) camps."
After an emergency meeting for Fatah officials in Lebanon, Abul Aynein said: "I don't think that anyone can reject what our Lebanese brothers agree on."
"We won't object on what the Lebanese government decided, because we are guests in this country," added Fatah's top official in Lebanon.
On the internal affairs of Fatah Movement, Abul Aynein said that his movement has a sole leadership in Lebanon at the present.
"The visit of Premier Saad Hariri to Syria and his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad has resolved a lot of obstacles, related to Palestinian arms outside the camps, which are under the command of a Palestinian opposition faction," added Abul Aynein. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 19:54

Raad: Our Right to Resistance is Beyond Discussion
Naharnet/Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc leader MP Mohammed Raad on Thursday said that "the resistance is practicing its defensive duty for the sake of Lebanon, its people, and its security against any possible Israeli aggression or threat," and added that "our right to resistance is beyond discussion, but those who want to discuss the resistance's role and its position in the defensive strategy can do that at the national dialogue table." Raad, who was delivering a speech in Sidon, added that the right to resistance cannot be subject to questioning neither on the moral level nor on the international and human level. On the other hand, Raad hailed President Michel Suleiman's stances during his last official visit to the United States, saying the president "stressed upon all the Lebanese national constants that preserve the strength of Lebanon and its ability of defiance." "We look with great positivity at the national consensus atmospheres that have started to dominate, especially after the last visit of Lebanon's premier (Saad Hariri) to Syria," added Raad. Raad hoped for Lebanon to seize the local, regional, and international opportunities to reestablish the State's scheme and to start implementing it upon the basis of national agreement. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 15:30

Zoaiter Urges Suleiman, Hariri to Dismiss Phalange's Minister
Naharnet/Development and Liberation bloc's MP Ghazi Zoaiter urged President Michel Suleiman and PM Saad Hariri to dismiss Minister Phalange Party's minister Salim al-Sayegh following the Phalange's intention to challenge article six of the ministerial Policy Statement -- related to Hizbullah's arms -- before the Constitutional Council.
Zoaiter said that "from a constitutional standpoint, neither the statement nor any of its articles can be revised (before the Constitutional Council)."He added: "We have the right to resist Israel, and the party, which intends to file the challenge, should either withdraw from the National Unity government, or adopt that article." Zoaiter stressed on the importance of the Lebanese people's unity in support of the Lebanese army and the resistance in order to liberate their land. "Humans' right to liberate their lands is higher than any constitution," added Zoaiter. Beirut, 24 Dec 09, 15:56

Lebanon and Syria: Slow Steps
25/12/2009
By Diana Mukkaled/Asharq Al-Awsat
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=19277
Despite all the preparations for [creating] Lebanese public opinion, the pictures coming out of Damascus remain in their dramatic place and full of diverse sentiments. The meanings embodied in the scenes that were replayed on the television screens from Damascus over the past few days will not die down quickly. Perhaps the most powerful scene was the one that showed the slow and hesitant steps taken by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to shake hands with Syrian President Bashar al Assad. These steps alone cannot turn a new page [in Syrian-Lebanese relations] before we understand what this page is all about and upon which basis that will take place.
But, inasmuch as there is a need for [giving] new meaning and a fundamentally different structure to Syrian-Lebanese ties, and inasmuch as it was stressful conditions that led to that meeting being held between Hariri and al Assad, caution and doubt will remain stronger feelings than any kind of reassurance, especially if that reassurance includes slogans from the history of the Lebanese who paid a heavy price.
What concerns us as citizens and in the media is that there are many reasons for caution, not least [with regards to] politics and its consequences, which are definitely bigger than Lebanon can handle.
As for the media, which appeared to be a center for control and [launching] attacks at present, it echoed the voices of people in Damascus and some in Lebanon (not missing a single moment of the Syrian embrace). These voices considered the visit a victory for the logic of “resistance” and “opposition” and said that the “Syrian embrace takes in even those who wronged it.” In fact it exaggerated greatly believing that the March 14 slogans have collapsed and what’s most dangerous is the semi-consensus among general commentators and writers themselves that the Lebanese Prime Minister must control those around him, his media and allies in a clear and precise manner. Some of them did not hesitate to use a direct cautionary tone with Saad Hariri if he does not take control of this media or part of it.
Today there are people who consider it easy to theorize about the results of the Hariri-al Assad meeting with the same set of slogans that controlled Syrian-Lebanese ties before 2005. There are those who returned with slogans from the archives such as “one nation in two countries,” and [slogans about] “the geography and history” and “brotherhood” and “excellent relations.”
What Lebanon achieved on March 14 and what it accomplished in spite of the bitterness and the heavy price the Lebanese paid for the Syrian army to leave Lebanon and to put a stop to political dependence on Damascus are gains that nobody can take away or destroy. Regardless of the visit, what follows it, and the need for it, it remains the case that what must be maintained is media control in an attempt to rectify any distortion that could harm the new Syrian-Lebanese ties and which, with no doubt, has a rocky path ahead. The possibilities of deviation in these relations do exist [and so do] the fears of the Lebanese of the return of Syrian influence to their country like the influence that dominated the country before 2005. The media’s role of control will not be part of an assumed battle over the new relations but rather to rectify any potential slip ups and cases of deviation.
Lebanese-Syrian relations should have been based on different foundations and post-2005 facts cannot be ignored, nor can we forget or conceal the facts pre-2005.

Syrian "Debts" and the Lessons of the Lebanese
Thu, 24 December 2009
Zuheir Kseibati/Al Hayat
http://www.daralhayat.com/portalarticlendah/90117
The warmth of the French reception for the beginning of the process of normalization between the Lebanese and Syrian States – which started with Prime Minister Sa'd al-Hariri's visit to Damascus – did not conform to the stance of Washington, which continues an intermittent dialogue with Syria over regional issues, including the Lebanese dossier. Despite the atmosphere of relief entailed by the visit, after the formation of a national unity government, a French-American consensus over raising the issue of Hezbollah's arms has surfaced once again, after the government referred this issue to the table of dialogue.
All the Lebanese remember that the American Administration under George Bush, and the French Administration under Jacques Chirac, tightened the sanctions on Damascus and Tehran because they refused for Lebanon to remain an arena for the feuding regional interests, among other reasons. Today, President Barack Obama expressed to President Michel Suleiman in the White House the American concerns over the smuggling of arms into Lebanon, while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that Hezbollah's arms represent a "serious issue" that hinder negotiations between Syria and Israel. These two statements practically link the Lebanese issue with the regional dimensions. Although it has not been confirmed yet whether the complaint of the American president and the French minister is a mere attempt to respond to hints made about the need to cancel Resolution1559, Washington and Paris certainly sought to deliver a message to Al-Hariri's cabinet to the effect that the grace period given for the Lebanese State to address the issue of Hezbollah's arms will not be extended forever.
The national unity government's desire to avoid the outbreak of the conflict over the arms of the resistance cannot be questioned, a conflict that mobilized the street after the July war, as well as its desire to fold the chapter of instability and lack of security, while Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki believes it was a chapter of stability and security, attributing it to his country "over the past years."
After Al-Hariri's visit to Damascus and his meeting with President Bashar al-Asad, Mottaki opted to learn about the results of the major turnaround in the Lebanese-Syrian relations from Beirut, as he was keen on reminding about the efforts Tehran made with the political leaders in Lebanon, and with the "regional mechanism" it consolidated to make them reach an accord. Speaker Nabih Berri's assessment of the implications of this turnaround did not touch on the Iranian role. It seemed that Mottaki wanted to secure a seat for Tehran in the train of normalization between Beirut and Damascus.
Prime Minister Sa'd al-Hariri's approach is of course difference, as he places his visit to Syria in the framework of the inter-Arab reconciliation channels and the realistic vision of the half-filled glass. Readings of the implications of the new chapter in the history of the Lebanese-Syrian relations which started in the last days of 2009 are different. Some sides are reassured that this step is an achievement that avoids a Sunni-Shiite sedition in Lebanon and are confident about "a settlement that consolidates the resistance." Most importantly, the beginning of 2010 will be a test to correct the relations between two states, after the recognition of "two nations in two states" reality was consolidated for the first time.
Regardless of the results of linking the interests to the framework of seeking an economic integration between Syria and Lebanon, one that starts with amending the texts of the "Fraternal and Coordination and Cooperation Treaty," it is clear that the realistic aspect of the "half-filled glass" does not involve essential concessions. Al-Hariri's cabinet thus accepts that the demarcation of the border starts from the north, a step that will not take many weeks, only if Syria proves determined to draw lessons of lengthy years of crises and disappointments.
Between politics and the interests of business and economics, the Lebanese should learn how not to entice Syria's interference in their affairs, and how not to empower themselves by Syria against their domestic political rivals. Only then, the relations among institutions are regulated, the concerns of power and custody and tutelage and the upper-hand fade away, and the ambitions of the opportunists and those who outbid nationalism and Arabism dwindle. The ambitions of those who trade with the spirits of the sects and their rights, with decent living with or without them, and those who burry the project of naturalization forever, most of whom practice a racist policy with the refugees and curse the darkness of the camps days and night also disappear.
A state-to-state relation between Syria and Lebanon mean all of that, and perhaps much more. It means primarily that the Lebanese should learn how to protect their homeland by empowering their state, and should learn to adopt dialogue as a language for reform which is never bought from abroad…so they stop slaughtering their country whenever the ambitions of one party triumph…
Syria has many obligations that are akin to "debts" it has to pay for Lebanon, some of which have already matured decades ago…It is time for the big test.

Iran’s Time Bomb
Thu, 24 December 2009
By: Hassan Haidar/Al Hayat
http://www.daralhayat.com/portalarticlendah/90116
It is as if history were repeating itself in Iran. Those who rebelled against the Shah’s dictatorship, tyranny and contempt towards his people are playing today more or less the same role, after the effect of the “bribes” made to the people for deluding them with the promise of difference and change has expired, and after they had become themselves a system that represses to survive, oppresses to govern, and bends wills to impose itself.
The current clashes have not yet reached the momentum witnessed in the 1979 revolution against the Shah's regime, for the clashes at the time had begun as a result of a long accumulation and daily growing public discontent caused by Reza Pahlavi’s domestic and foreign policies for decades. At that time, the political forces - especially the Left - had prepared themselves for the great explosion and the massive confrontation with the regime’s bodies. This was achieved through the organization of cadres and supporters within networks that ensured continued contact with their leaders in case the repression campaign escalated and also ensured the reception of necessary instructions on the location and mechanisms of demonstrations including how and where to gather and act. What enabled them to achieve this is their long-term experience which they earned in dealing with security agents and its terrifying repressive secret police, the SAVAK. This technique was later imitated by the religious movement led by Khomeini with the help of Muslim clergy secret networks.
The same scenes are being witnessed today in the various Iranian cities. Not intimidated by the Revolutionary Guards’ or the Bazeejs’ sticks, weapons, and prisons, protestors wear green arm bands and rush into the streets, calling for the fall of the new “dictator”. Suppression only increases their determination to express their opinion and claim their right for change. Every time the regime confirms that the “election conspiracy” is over, they show that murder, imprisonment, and tear gas grenades will not stop their movement. They are like a slowly burning fuse that is inextinguishable and will eventually reach a “gunpowder store” and confirm that the Iranian bomb, which the world fears, is not capable of concealing the time bomb which swells in the streets of Tehran, Isfahan, and even Qom.
A simple review of the statements made by Iranian officials yesterday and today unveils the similarity in attitudes and beliefs: the Shah also could not believe that his reign would fall and remained convinced until the last moment before he fled that nothing he did during his mandate justifies his departure or calls for such rage, and that he would regain control of the situation as soon as the “conspiracy” is over.
Only a few months after the success of the revolution against the Shah, Khomeini surprised the Iranians by inviting them not to use the term “democracy”, for it is a “western concept”. By that time he had established a plan to banish all “his enemies” who took part in the overthrow of former regime, through bombings and assassinations, then executions, imprisonment, and exiles based on mock trials. And thus Khomeini was able to impose himself as the sole supreme reference whose orders and opinions were not to be opposed, following his intentional mixing between religion and politics culminating in the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (or Wilayat el faqih) which meant the abolition of any independent role of the state institutions and apparatus, including the judicial one. The strongest evidence for his rejection of any opposition – including this which came from within his own regime – was the expulsion of his designated successor Ayatollah Montazeri who dared to question Khomeini’s disregard of human rights and excessive suppression of freedom.
Thirty years later, an increasing number of Iranian people share the opinion of Montazeri, who passed away a few days ago, as they wish to stop wasting the country’s power and wealth in policies that have put Iran in a confrontation with almost the whole world and which, moreover, rely on the control of the secret services to silence any dissenting voices. And yet, what is happening now is nothing but the beginning.

New Opinion: 2010: The year of regulation
December 25, 2009
Now Lebanon
Two millennia after Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior saddled up and headed for Bethlehem, another group of wise men, this time those nice people at Standard & Poors (S&P), have sent us a festive gift: the announcement that their Lebanon rating has improved from B-/C to B/B. In plain English it means that S&P, arguably the world’s leading rating agency, sees Lebanon in better health than it was a year ago.
“We believe that the new government is prioritizing structural reforms in line with IMF and Paris III recommendations, which include privatization of the telecom and electricity industries, expenditure cuts and revenue-boosting measures,” S&P said, adding, “if successful, these reforms could lower fiscal deficits, cut government debt-to-GDP [ratio] and reduce Lebanon’s contingent liabilities.”
Yes, it’s true that, while many of the world economies have been brought to their knees, Lebanon –so often a byword for chaos, mayhem and instability – has been quietly racking up 6% growth in 2009 by using nothing more than good old Levantine ingenuity and hard work – and this in a year when its democratic aspirations were viciously (and cynically) buffeted by the winds of regional politics.
So, in a week in which it was also announced in An-Nahar that we will see “significant” – no doubt political – changes as a result of the meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, it would also be prudent for the new government in 2010 to seriously and wisely build upon 2009’s relatively robust economic gains.
It remains to be seen if all the IMF and Paris III recommendations will be acted on, while, when it comes to coaxing major foreign investment, Hariri still has one hand tied behind his back. Modern communications for example, so crucial to investment opportunities, are either too slow – as in internet speeds – or too expensive – as in our cell phone tariffs. But it doesn’t stop there. Even if the new Telecom minister, Charbel Nahhas, auctions off the two mobile telecom licenses, cutting cell phone costs by a conservative 50% and no doubt improving bandwidth, the fact remains that Lebanon still cannot guarantee its own stability and security, two items that, understandably, rank quite high on investors’ wish lists.
So what’s to be done if Hariri wants to repay S&P’s confidence? The answer must surely be that his government must focus on supporting Lebanon’s core sectors, namely banking and financial services, and tourism and hospitality. The ingenuity of Lebanese entrepreneurship is beyond doubt. The challenge now is to consolidate the demand by improving the quality of services by creating a stronger infrastructure and greater regulation, and it is in doing this that the government must play its part. The financial sector is by and large self-regulated, but the private sector that has injected such dynamism into Lebanon’s tourism and hospitality industry must have the constructive backing and input of the state to create a genuinely world-class enterprise, cementing Lebanon’s reputation as a genuine world-class destination.
And while we are on the subject of state intervention, it appears we are already heading for a Dubai-style build-now-and-deal-with-the-traffic-later scenario when all the new residential developments, especially those in Achrafieh, are completed. It doesn’t take a PhD in Urban Planning to see that with these new homes will come new families (not to mention the legions of friends who will visit them), swelling the already-precarious numbers of vehicles on Lebanon’s streets to unsustainable levels.
The real estate sector is going nuts to satisfy the apparently insatiable demand for new homes, but here too the state needs to intervene and regulate. Rigorous urban planning in such a frenzied period of expansion is a must or we will never get anything done, because we will spend our time sitting in traffic, and that will reflect on the nation’s balance sheet.
So while the S&P have given us much to be happy about this festive season, their optimism is conditional on wise policy. In the meantime, we wish you all a very merry Christmas…and advise you to walk whenever possible.