LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 22/09

Bible Reading of the day
Luke 11/5-13 He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Will pro-independence Lebanese get another chance?/By: Hussain Abdul Hussain/November 21, 09
Soccer hooliganism reflection of despair/The Daily Star/November 21/09 

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 21/09 
Gemayel Hopes Unity Government Leads Lebanon to Safety Shore/Naharnet
Hariri: I am the PM of 'All of Lebanon' Government/Naharnet
Arslan Visits Jumblat in Mokhtara/Naharnet
Jumblat Phones Baroud in Solidarity, Urges Respect of Hierarchy in Ministries/Naharnet
Wreaths Laid on Graves of Independence Figures/Naharnet
Opposition Rejects 3 Formulas Proposed by March 14 Christians on Policy Statement's Resistance Article/Naharnet
Feltman: Syria Said the Right Things Following Lebanese Polls/Naharnet
Baroud Awaits Apology from Rifi, Denies Resignation Reports/Naharnet
Berri Vows Full Implementation of Taef Accord/Naharnet
Egypt Resumes Trial of So-Called Hizbullah Cell/Naharnet
Opposition Rejects 3 Formulas Proposed by March 14 Christians on Policy Statement's Resistance Article/Naharnet
Syria and US wish prosperity for Lebanon ahead of Independence Day/Daily Star
Baroud boycotts committee meeting over ISF, police row/Daily Star
Body believed to be British journalist undergoing tests/AFP
Analysis Donations expected to arrive as Nahr al-Bared reconstruction begins/Daily Star
Lebanon ranks second in Arab world in economic freedom/Daily Star
Ministerial Statement fails to address nationality law/Daily Star
Mother kills herself and daughters to spite husband/Daily Star
Middle East coastline faces devastation if climate warms by a single degree/Daily Star
Child labor rises as Palestinian children lose faith in learning/Daily Star
LF-Phalange alliance thrashes FPM-Marada in NDU elections/Daily Star
Last of the glass-blowing Phoenicians joins country's best-kept secrets/Daily Star
Lebanon warns of possible Israeli attack/Ha'aretz

Gemayel Hopes Unity Government Leads Lebanon to Safety Shore
Naharnet/Phalange Party and the Gemayel family on Saturday observed the Third Commemoration Mass of Pierre Gemayel, the assassinated late industry minister, at Mar Antonios church in Jdeideh. The mass was attended by representatives of President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, March 14 leaders, and a number of ministers and MPs. Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir was represented by Bishop Bechara al-Rahi who delivered a sermon that said: "He (Pierre Gemayel) was the rock of love on which nations are built upon. He followed a political path that was open on all political forces in order to preserve the emblem of Lebanon especially in freedom of expression and practicing democracy in the frame of sovereignty." Al-Rahi added that "Pierre's movement was for correcting the relations with Syria and protecting constitutional institutions as well as abandoning the policy of imposing conditions."The representative of Patriarch Sfeir said that Pierre Gemayel restored trust in youth's minds in their pioneering role regarding building their country in order to restore the Christian position in the political decision so that Lebanon becomes the centerpoint of civilizations in the East. After the sermon, Phalange Party leader former president Amin Gemayel delivered a speech that was charged with emotional meanings as he addressed his son Pierre reassuring him on the family and Phalange Party, he also reminded of Pierre Gemayel's relations with political leaders. "Your brother is keeping the oath," said Gemayel addressing his assassinated son about the emerging role of his brother MP Sami Gemayel.
"The party that you (Pierre Gemayel) loved and served till the last breath will remain as the conscience of Lebanon," added Gemayel.
The Phalange leader said that he was visited on Saturday by a delegation from March 14 students in NDU who came to dedicate their electoral victory for the soul of Pierre Gemayel. "You are alive in each one of those youth," added Gemayel addressing his assassinated son. Gemayel said that the gathering of the leaders who attended the mass was an expression of solidarity and determination to press on with his son's struggle and "the struggle of all martyrs." "A national unity government was formed and it gathered all of Lebanon, all of sects and sides, and we ask you (Pierre Gemayel) to pray for us from above so that we do not lose way. We want for this government to be a government of consensus. We want it to succeed and lead Lebanon toward the safety shore," stressed Gemayel. Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 19:06

Feltman: Syria Said the Right Things Following Lebanese Polls
Naharnet/Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said U.S. officials avoided making visits to Lebanon during the cabinet formation process in order not to give the impression that the Obama administration was interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs.
However, Feltman told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in an interview published Saturday that he expected Lebanese and U.S. officials to exchange visits as soon as the new government gets the vote of confidence. Feltman rejected claims that the U.S. wasn't enthusiastic about the Syrian-Saudi rapprochement or the 15-10-5 Lebanese cabinet formula.  He said Syrian statements in the aftermath of Lebanese elections in June came in "conformity with international resolutions." He refused to make further comments out of respect for "protocol."Asked if he believed that Syria played a role in ending the Lebanese cabinet crisis, Feltman said: "I believe that the government came as a result of Lebanese engineering."He told al-Hayat that the U.S. wants to back Lebanon not only through bilateral ties but also through using its influence with regional and international partners so that Lebanon gets a strong support. Feltman concluded by saying that the U.S. ambassador to Syria will arrive in Damascus "in the near future." Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 09:06

Hariri: I am the PM of 'All of Lebanon' Government
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed that the government is a national unity one, and added that he will be the PM of "all of Lebanon" government where each minister represents all of Lebanon and not just a certain party. "This is how I see the unity government, and this is the way I think and the way I will work accordingly," added Hariri. Hariri was speaking at a dinner in honor of the participants in the twentieth conference of the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME). He hoped for the new government to gain the Parliament's vote of confidence soon. "We are working on accomplishing the ministerial Policy Statement draft, and it takes time in the making, especially that we have several ambitions, and we hope that the Lebanese people would have a government soon that works for the sake of everyone," added Hariri. Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 15:48

Wreaths Laid on Graves of Independence Figures
Naharnet/Lebanese officials laid wreaths on behalf of the president, the speaker and the premier at the graveyards of independence figures on the eve of celebrations to mark 66 years of independence. Wreaths were laid on the graves of former Speaker Sabri Hamadeh, independence figures Salim Taqla, Habib Abi Shahla, Adnan al-Hakeem and Mohammed Beq al-Fadl, Former Prime Minister Saeb Salam, ex-presidents Fouad Shehab and Beshara al-Khoury and former Premier Rafik Hariri. Lebanese Independence Day commemorates the country's liberation in 1943 after 23 years of governance by French Mandate that succeeded Ottoman rule. Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 13:11

Arslan Visits Jumblat in Mokhtara
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat met with Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan in the Mokhtara Palace on Saturday. The meeting was described as "family-like". After the meeting, Jumblat said: "Together with prince Talal (Arslan) and through his efforts, we have crossed a long distance toward unity and removing the remnants inside the Arab Druze sect, and in avoiding any sectarian clashes. Where were we on May 7 and where have we become today?" Jumblat added that there remain some problems and remnants to be treated in Shoueifat-Der Qoubel area, and that he meets with Arslan on the main headlines and constants of the Taef Accord.
"We hold onto the former ministerial Policy Statement and its formulation, and I don't see a reason to change the old formulation," said Jumblat on the policy statement issue. On his part, Arslan said that Jumblat is keen "since May 11 (2008) on the unity of stances and rapprochement as well as on renouncing violence and rejecting to take the country's course toward sectarian strife that the country was sadly heading into whether we admitted or not." Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 19:43

Opposition Rejects 3 Formulas Proposed by March 14 Christians on Policy Statement's Resistance Article
Naharnet/Bickering between March 14 Christians and the Shiite parties of March 8 forces is delaying the drafting of the ministerial policy statement amid insistence by the first party to introduce changes to the article on the resistance and Hizbullah's resolve not to accept the formulas proposed by their foes. Informed sources told An Nahar newspaper that the Phalange party played the main role in coordinating with Christians in the parliamentary majority their stance to reject the article on the resistance as adopted in the previous cabinet. However, Amal and Hizbullah refused to adopt any other proposal. The sources said that during previous meetings of the policy statement drafting committee, the Christian team proposed three formulas that were rejected by the opposition. As Safir newspaper said that Premier Saad Hariri and Minister Wael Abou Faour insisted on adopting the same article under former PM Fouad Saniora's cabinet. The seventh committee meeting will be held on Monday. Labor Minister Boutros Harb told An Nahar that the committee needs further time to discuss the economic as well as political chapters of the statement. He expressed optimism on the committee's ability to adopt a consensus formula. Harb refused, however, to set a date for the formulation of the final draft. However, an opposition minister expected discussions on the policy statement to end on Monday-Tuesday. Friday's sixth session under Hariri discussed the economic policy and privatization issue. Committee sources told An Nahar that discussions were calm and constructive. The newspaper said that the article on privatization will be redrafted so that it comes in conformity with the Paris 3 reform program. Beirut, 21 Nov 09,  

Baroud Awaits Apology from Rifi, Denies Resignation Reports
Naharnet/Interior Minister Ziad Baroud has denied reports that he would submit his resignation against the backdrop of the squabbling between the leaderships of the Internal Security Forces and Police. "I am just calling for the implementation of the law on everyone without any exception. It is unnatural for a director-general to ignore the orders of the minister no matter who that director-general is," Baroud told An Nahar daily in remarks published Saturday. Baroud had expressed frustration over ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi's decision to suspend Police commander Brig. Gen. Antoine Shakkour for failing to obey orders. "I don't have a personal problem with him (Rifi). But I gave him instructions and he neglected them. I won't accept to continue working with him this way. There has been a mistake and there should be a pledge not to repeat it," Baroud told An Nahar. The minister declined to go to his office on Friday and refused to attend the meeting of the ministerial committee tasked with drafting the policy statement. Opposition ministerial sources told An Nahar that President Michel Suleiman and PM Saad Hariri worked on finding a solution by asking Rifi to apologize to the interior minister. Beirut, 21 Nov 09,

Jumblat Phones Baroud in Solidarity, Urges Respect of Hierarchy in Ministries
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat phoned Interior Minister Ziad Baroud "to express solidarity and to urge respect for the organizational hierarchy in ministries", adding that it was important "not to trespass that rule in any ministry for the work of institutions to be orderly." Earlier, Baroud denied reports that he would submit his resignation against the backdrop of the squabbling between the leaderships of the Internal Security Forces and Police. "I am just calling for the implementation of the law on everyone without any exception. It is unnatural for a director-general to ignore the orders of the minister no matter who that director-general is," Baroud told An Nahar daily in remarks published Saturday. Baroud had expressed frustration over ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi's decision to suspend Police commander Brig. Gen. Antoine Shakkour for failing to obey orders. Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 17:04

Egypt Resumes Trial of So-Called Hizbullah Cell
Naharnet/Egypt's state security court resumes the trial of the so-called Hizbullah cell on Saturday. Twenty five defendants are accused of plotting attacks against ships in the Suez Canal and tourist sites. Four of the defendants, among them the alleged Lebanese ringleader Mohammed Qabalan, are being tried in absentia by the state security court after they fled the country. Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 11:41

Berri Vows Full Implementation of Taef Accord
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri called for the full implementation of the Taef accord's articles, welcoming those who want to walk in his path and saying "those who don't want to, let them say it honestly."Berri told An Nahar and As Safir newspapers that he won't give up attempts to relaunch the national commission for the abolition of political sectarianism, adding he was fully ready to implement all of Taef's articles starting with administrative decentralization all the way to establishing a senate. The speaker also vowed to work on adopting the election law based on the governorate system and implementation of proportionality. He said he wants parliament to ratify the government's decision to reduce voting age from 21 to 18. "The Taef is not just a billboard. It is a constitution that should be implemented," Berri stressed. Defending Hizbullah, the speaker said: "Militias have been disbanded. If (by militias) they mean the resistance, then (I tell them) that the Taef stresses the liberation of our land in all means. This is one of the rights of the Lebanese."
On Palestinian arms, Berri called for the implementation of decisions reached at the national dialogue table in terms of refusing the presence of Palestinians weapons outside refugee camps and organizing such arms inside the shantytowns. Beirut, 21 Nov 09, 10:20

Baroud boycotts committee meeting over ISF, police row
By Elias Sakr
/Daily Star staff
Saturday, November 21, 2009
BEIRUT: Another conflicting issue between the opposition and the majority emerged over the course of the week; however, this time over arguments between police and the Internal Security Forces (ISF), which invoked the disapproval of Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud. On Friday, Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud boycotted the meeting of the ministerial committee tasked with drafting the Cabinet’s policy statement, underscoring his disapproval of the latest turn of events in the ISF institution.
The dispute between head of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) General Ashraf Rifi and head of the police Brigadier Antoine Shakkour escalated Thursday night after Rifi filed a dismissal order discharging Shakkour of his duties, the daily As-Safir reported on Friday.
On Thursday, Baroud expressed his discontent with Rifi’s decision when he left the meeting of the ministerial committee tasked with formulating the cabinet’s policy statement after he was informed of the issue, the daily An-Nahar reported on Friday. Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said on Friday that Baroud demanded from Rifi to suspend taking any decision to discharge Shakkour from his duties but the former did not comply with the interior minister’s demand. “Despite putting on hold the above procedures [the dismissal of Shakkour], we announce our rejection to disregard the role and position of the interior minister since Baroud’s performance always fell in line with constitutional norms,” Zahra said. But a compromise preventing the dispute from escalatinge further and threatening the ISF unity, was reached early Friday. The compromise consists of Shakkour’s approval of Rifi’s earlier memorandums concerning the transfer of certain officers to new positions while the latter would withdraw the dismissal order. Media reports said representatives of opposition groups held a meeting Thursday overnight during which they stressed that the decision taken to dismiss Shakkour constituted a “dangerous precedent that could not be disregarded.” The meeting was followed by contacts between President Michel Sleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Premier Saad Hariri, Baroud, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Progressive Socialist Party head Walid Jumblatt and Marada Movement Sleiman Franjieh which led to the above compromise.
In remarks published on Friday, Baroud expressed to As-Safir his discontent with the tensions governing the ISF institution, adding that the issue was escalating since three years and threatened the institution’s role and the sacrifices of its members. Baroud added that since the new Cabinet did not receive the vote of confidence from Parliament, it was still in a similar position to a caretaker government which prevents the ministry from taking decisions. “I would not accept after the Cabinet receives the vote of confidence that any institution affiliated with the interior ministry does not operate in accordance with the governing laws,” Baroud said, adding that “the grace period was over.” Aoun has demanded last Wednesday sweeping reforms in the institution urging Baroud to conduct a full investigation in the ISF to determine responsibilities. “There is a hierarchy and a higher authority that should judge the situation,” Aoun said as he called on Baroud to instigate a full investigation. “I [urge] Baroud not to take disciplinary measures against any officer, but to submit everyone to a full investigation to point out their responsibilities, since what is happening is a scandal that would make official institutions lose their prerogatives,” Aoun said.

Syria and US wish prosperity for Lebanon ahead of Independence Day
Daily Star staff/Saturday, November 21, 2009
BEIRUT: The presidents of Syria and the United States wished Lebanon prosperity on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day marked on November 22. US President Barak Obama said his administration looked forward to building a partnership with Lebanon and working hand in hand with the Lebanese to promote the sovereignty and independence of the country. Congratulating the Lebanese people ahead of their Independence Day, Obama stressed that the US would continue to strongly support Lebanon at a time when the Lebanese are working on implementing reforms to ensure a better future for their country. Syrian President Bashar Assad Also stressed on Friday his country’s continued support for Lebanon and its readiness to participate in all efforts toward the progress which benefits Lebanon’s interests. Assad congratulated President Michel Sleiman and the Lebanese people ahead of Independence Day, praising Sleiman’s efforts to preserve stability in the country and his role in promoting Syrian-Lebanese bilateral ties. Separately, Lebanese Army commander in chief General Jean Qahwaji, in his order of the day, praised the army’s commitment to the nation’s independence and sovereignty, urging the military to stay united at all times.
“True independence is not achieved if the Lebanese state does not impose its sovereignty over all Lebanese territories,” Qahwaji said. – The Daily Star

Will pro-independence Lebanese get another chance?
Hussain Abdul Hussain , November 21, 2009
Now Lebanon/The massive pro-independence protests of March 14 that ended up forcing Syria to leave – for a while. (AFP/Haitham Mussawi)
On July 3, 1982, 20 days into the Israeli siege of West Beirut, then-Prime Minister Saeb Salam and seven other Sunni leaders demanded that Yasser Arafat, chairman of the PLO, and his 6,000 fighters leave Lebanon to spare the country further destruction.
Arafat agreed but suggested a gradual withdrawal, hoping such a move would open the dialogue with Washington Arafat desperately wanted. Salam and his Sunni allies insisted on immediate departure, and on August 21, as Arafat led his men into exile in Tunisia, the Israelis lifted their siege.
The 1982 Sunni initiative paralleled in its importance the declaration of Lebanese independence in 1943, when the Sunni leadership turned a deaf ear to pan-Arabism and – together with the Maronites – started practicing sovereignty.
Yet the 1982 sovereignty-in-action was to be undermined through a combination of terror attacks, domestic sellouts and regional deals. President-elect Bachir Gemayel was murdered, signaling, to this day, the end of effective Maronite leadership. For their part, the Sunnis were compromised and replaced by pro-Syrian Shia and Druze “de facto forces.”
In 1990, the shattered Lebanese sovereignty was dealt a final blow when both Riyadh and Washington traded Syrian participation in the coalition war against Iraq for complete Syrian domination over Lebanon.
During Damascus’s “rule”, the pro-sovereignty Maronite leadership was further weakened. Dani Chamoun of the National Liberal Party was murdered with his family in their home, the maverick army commander Michel Aoun sent into exile, and the Lebanese Forces boss, Samir Geagea, was imprisoned for his alleged role in the murder of former Prime Minister Rashid Karami. Thus began what came to be known throughout the 1990s the “Christian frustration.”
Damascus remained wary of the Sunni leadership, which was reinvigorated by the emergence of the Saudi-backed billionaire, Rafik Hariri. Syria restricted Hariri’s movement. Throughout his premiership he was not allowed to visit the predominantly Sunni north, and his reputation as a man of economic salvation was tainted by wholesale Syrian corruption and embezzlement, while he was told to focus on the reconstruction process and leave the foreign and domestic security policies to Syria.
Starting 1998, Damascus tried to replicate its own police state in Lebanon. It was a bad call. It marginalized allies such as Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and further frustrated an already disillusioned Hariri.
To Syria’s misfortune, however, the world changed after 9/11 and by 2004, a new Middle East coalition had ensured that Syria had lost Saudi consent to rule Lebanon.
Jumblatt, arguably Lebanon’s smartest politician, and Hariri, legendary for his quick mastery of Lebanese politics, saw an opportunity to push for a Syrian withdrawal. They instantly forged a common cause with the still “frustrated” Christians.
The rest, as they say, is history. On February 14, 2005, Hariri was killed and a momentarily shell-shocked Syria withdrew its army from Lebanon in April 2005, ending 29 years of occupation.
For the third time, following the 1943 independence and the Palestinian withdrawal of 1982, harmony between the Sunnis and the Maronites produced immediate results. Lebanon practiced sovereignty and achieved independence. By doing so, it commanded the world’s attention and support.
But also like in 1982, opponents of Lebanon’s sovereignty employed a similar combination of tactics to ensure that the next five years would be blighted by assassinations, conflict and civil unrest that at one point took Lebanon to the brink of civil war.
Earlier, in the beginning of 2006, Damascus hit the jackpot when exiled Maronite leader Michel Aoun agreed to join the ranks of the opposition March 8 coalition, thus dealing the Independence ‘05 movement an early blow by abandoning the traditional Christian pro-sovereignty line.
Even without Aoun, the majority of the Sunnis, Druze and the remaining Maronites – armed with international support for their cause – persisted in their push for a genuinely independent Lebanon.
Running out of options, on May 7, 2008, Syria unleashed its local proxies, who swept onto the streets of Beirut. It was now or never for the regime in Damascus. A few months earlier an exceptionally pro-Lebanon French president had left office, while a pro-Lebanese US administration only had a matter of months in office.
Regional dynamics were also at play. Saudi Arabia had grown wary of a strongly assertive Iraqi cabinet, led by a Shia who Riyadh believed to be close to its archenemy Tehran. Like in 1990, Riyadh went to Damascus for a trade over Iraq in a deal that included Lebanon.
Jumblatt caved, and shortly after, the new Sunni leader, Saad Hariri, despite his best efforts, knew the game was up. Even Geagea and his Christian followers, who until this point had stood defiant against Damascus, accepted that the June 2009 election victory was nothing more than a memory.
A new era of indirect Syrian rule in Lebanon has started again, given the havoc Aoun has wreaked, and the traditional pro-Lebanese sovereignty line has been compromised like never before.
Will the future give the Lebanese a fourth chance to practice sovereignty? No one can tell. But history will certainly remember that the Lebanese, the regionally-dependent leaders and their blind followers missed yet another golden opportunity for self rule, a chance that might not come again in our lifetime.