LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
February 06/09
Bible Reading of the
day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 6,7-13. He summoned the
Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over
unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a
walking stick--no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to
wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, "Wherever you enter
a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome
you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony
against them." So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many
demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them
Saint Pius X, Pope from 1903 to 1914
Encyclical « E supremi apostolatus »/Sent by Christ into the whole world
"No one," the Apostle admonishes us, "can lay other foundation than that which
has been laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1Cor 3,11). It is Christ alone "whom the
Father sanctified and sent into this world" (Jn 10,36), "the splendor of the
Father and the image of His substance" (Heb 1,3), true God and true man: without
whom nobody can know God with the knowledge for salvation, "neither doth anyone
know the Father but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal
Him" (Mt 11,27). Hence it follows that to restore all things in Christ and to
lead men back to submission to God is one and the same aim. To this, then, it
behoves Us to devote Our care - to lead back mankind under the dominion of
Christ; this done, We shall have brought it back to God. When We say to God We
do not mean to that inert being heedless of all things human which the dream of
certain philosophers has imagined, but to the true and living God, one in
nature, triple in person, Creator of the world, most wise Ordainer of all
things, Lawgiver most just, who punishes the wicked and has reward in store for
virtue. Now the way to reach Christ is not hard to find: it is the Church.
Rightly does Chrysostom inculcate: "The Church is thy hope, the Church is thy
salvation, the Church is thy refuge." It was for this that Christ founded it,
gaining it at the price of His blood, and made it the depositary of His doctrine
and His laws, bestowing upon it at the same time an inexhaustible treasury of
graces for the sanctification and salvation of men. You see, then, Venerable
Brethren, the duty that has been imposed upon Us...: ... to form Christ in those
who are destined from the duty of their vocation to form Him in others... It is
the same mission... as that which Paul proclaimed in these tender words: "My
little children, of whom I am in labor again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal
4,19). But how will they be able to perform this duty if they be not first
clothed with Christ themselves? and so clothed with Christ as to be able to say
with the Apostle: "I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2,20). "For
me to live is Christ" (Phil 1,21).
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
Iran’s Fear of a Velvet Revolution?By: Dr. Walid Phares 05/02/09
Thirty years on, Iran is still behaving like a fledgling nation-
The Daily Star 05/02/09
Two
octogenarians may be a way to go with Iran-By
David Ignatius 05/02/09
An
effective Europe needs new credibility with Israel-By
Shlomo Ben-Ami 05/02/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for February 05/09
Israeli Force Crosses into South Lebanon-Naharnet
Barak: Lebanese Aid Boat Towed
to Israeli Port-Naharnet
Iran's New Satellites: The Pasdaran in Space-Human
Events
Israel seizes Gaza-bound aid ship-BBC
News
Study: 28 Percent of Lebanese Qualify as Poor-Naharnet
Riad
Salameh Named Best Middle East Central Bank Governor-Naharnet
Posters, Political Slogans Removed from Streets East of Sidon-Naharnet
Fatah Islam Detainee
Admits to Attack on UNIFIL-Naharnet
Mini Wiretap Debate Likely
to Be Hot One-Naharnet
Saudi Donations to be Paid
by End of February-Naharnet
Lebanon:
Briefcase Causes Bomb Scare at Beirut Highway-Naharnet
Israel Intercepts Lebanese Ship Carrying Aid to Gaza-Naharnet
Maronite Bishops Slam Declining Political Rhetoric-Naharnet
Michel Murr to Compete in Elections, Says He was Victim of Alliance with Aoun-Naharnet
Shibani for Setting Up
Non-Judicial Committee to Follow Up On Issue of Missing Iranians-Naharnet
Tor Sarkisian Demands
Summoning Ambassadors of U.S., Canada, Iran-Naharnet
March 14 Renews Call for
Massive Turnout to Commemorate Hariri Assassination-Naharnet
Michel Murr to run in polls as independent-Daily
Star
Peacebuilding in Lebanon-Daily
Star - Lebanon
Politicians trade more blows in wiretapping row-Daily
Star
Lebanon and Syria: Geopolitical Dynamics-Washington
Report on Middle East Affairs
Discovery of five Katyusha rockets near Naqoura raise tensions-Daily
Star
Belgium to assume control of UNIFIL's naval wing-Daily
Star
Lebanon to crack down on cell-phone smuggling-Daily
Star
BMI sees lower growth rate for Lebanon in 2009-Daily
Star
Hariri confident financial crisis spared Lebanon-Daily
Star
AUB hosts training course on photograph preservation-Daily
Star
'Disgusted' May Chidiac announces departure from LBC airwaves-Daily
Star
Some
28 percent of Lebanese live below poverty line - study-Daily
Star
Canada Protests Seizure of Gaza Relief Supplies
February 4, 2009 (11:55 p.m. EST)
No. 32
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable
Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today issued the following
statement on the seizure of relief supplies by Hamas:
“Canada is deeply concerned by Hamas’s seizure by force of international aid
supplies, including over 3,500 blankets and some 400 food parcels that were
intended for distribution to 500 Palestinian refugee families in Gaza.
“Humanitarian actors operating in Gaza must be allowed to carry out their work
independently, without hindrance, in order to support those who need emergency
assistance. Refugees must not be made to suffer as a result of Hamas’s
irresponsible actions.
“The Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development
Agency, provided $4 million in emergency aid in response to the humanitarian
situation in Gaza in January 2009.
“Just as Hamas precipitated the recent crisis by its rocket attacks on Israel,
Hamas is now once again acting to the detriment of Palestinians by seizing
crucial aid intended for those most in need. Canada reiterates that Hamas is a
terrorist organization, and these actions do nothing to benefit the interests of
the Palestinian people.
“Hamas must renounce violence, recognize Israel’s right to exist and abide by
all previous agreements between the Palestinians and Israel.”
Canada Expresses Concern over Iranian Satellite Launch
February 4, 2009 (8:30 p.m. EST)
No. 31
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, today
expressed deep concern over the implications to international security of
yesterday’s satellite launch by Iran.
“Canada calls on Iran to cease its ballistic missile programs and to use its new
rocket technology exclusively for peaceful purposes,” said Minister Cannon.
“There is great concern in the international community that Iran will apply this
new technology to its missile programs.”
The launch of Omid, a small telecommunication satellite, was Iran’s fourth
attempt to place a satellite into orbit. The issue is that space launch vehicles
and ballistic missiles use many of the same components. Iran is developing
ballistic missiles that could carry weapon payloads over vast distances, such as
the long-range Shahab-3 missile the country tested last July. Combined with
Iran’s failure to provide adequate reassurance that its nuclear program is for
solely peaceful uses, yesterday’s launch is worrisome.
“The international community must remain vigilant on exports of dual-use goods,
services and technology to Iran to ensure that these are not used for military
purposes,” added the Minister.
The United Nations Security Council has passed several resolutions imposing
economic sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to take steps to reassure
the international community of the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear
program. “Canada calls on Iran to comply immediately and fully with its
obligations, as set out in the UN resolutions,” said Minister Cannon.
'Disgusted' May Chidiac announces departure from LBC
airwaves
Daily Star staff
Thursday, February 05, 2009
BERIUT: In a tearful and impromptu on-air announcement Tuesday night, May
Chidiac, a leading Lebanese journalist and anchorwoman, informed viewers that
she would be resigning from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC). "At the
end, with heartache, yes, with heartache, I have decided to leave. I will say it
simply: The time has come for me to say goodbye," Chidiac said, in an address
that surprised her viewers, her guests and the LBC.
"I stop today because my dignity is at stake. I can no longer hold back my
tears. I can no longer appear objective and against my convictions. I am
disgusted," she said.
Chidiac survived an assassination attempt in 2005 that took her left arm and
leg. She has had a series of surgeries since the explosion.
In the address, she chided colleagues who "have waged a relentless war against
me," and said that her decision to resign could come because they had "lost all
of their battles.""I cannot betray the blood I've shed," she said, condemning
those who had interfered with the guests on her show. She also expressed the
hope that the international tribunal charged with trying the suspects in the
2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri would "punish the criminals."
Chidiac spoke with love of LBC chairman Pierre Daher, and expressed the hope
that he and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea would reconcile. The two have
been engaged in a bitter law suit over control of the LBC, which Geagea left to
Daher before he was imprisoned.
Speaking Wednesday, Geagea called Chidiac a "woman of dignity." - The Daily Star
Iran’s Fear of a Velvet Revolution?
By Walid Phares
Over the past few weeks more reports about Iranian suppression of opposition
surfaced, including by Iranian-backed media. One particular report revealed a
number of arrests among Ethnic Azeris inside Iran, only months after other
reports about significant incidents in the Ahwaz southern region. Azeris in the
North West and Arab ethnics in the south West are among the largest minorities
in Iran. However arrests in Iranian Azerbaijan can be a significant development
as traditionally the region has not been as agitated as other ethnic provinces.
Interestingly, Iranian regime sources described their action as "counter
intelligence" accusing the United States of inciting against Tehran. Even more
surprising was Iranian intelligence accusations against US-based NGOs and a
number of American public figures on the left of the political landscape of
fermenting these unrest. This is happening as the Obama Administration is
bracing for the long expected talks to come with the Mullahs regime.
In the wake of these Iranian reports about arrests of Azeri opposition elements,
I had a conversation with military commentator Thomas Smith published in the
World Defense Review and other outlets. Following is the text:
Interview with Walid Phares
by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
on 3 February 2009
PRESS TV, the Iranian-government-owned English-language web and television
broadcasting company, recently published a report contending Iran’s intelligence
ministry had uncovered and publicly disclosed details regarding an alleged
“’US-backed’ spy ring which had plans to topple the Tehran government.”
According to the report:
“Following the arrest of four Iranian nationals on charges of plotting to
overthrow the government with Washington’s support, head of the counterespionage
department in the Intelligence Ministry said Monday that the group intended to
build social and political tension in the country.”
The official, whose name was not revealed, added “organizing anti-government
public rallies and creating ethnic division in the country” were among the
tactics to be employed by the network.” [The report may be read here.]
In our ongoing conversations with Dr. Walid Phares – director of the Future of
Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies who now also
serves as secretary general of the Trans Atlantic Legislative Group on Counter
Terrorism — we asked for his interpretation of any underlying message within the
report.
We know what the report says. What are the Iranians not saying?
DR. WALID PHARES: First, the Iranian regime has always conducted arrests among
its opposition. It has done so since coming to power in 1980. The regime has –
for all intent and purposes – physically eliminated Iranian citizens – thousands
of them – by labeling them as being “U.S.-backed” and/or “Zionist” elements
inside the country.
If you look at the archives of the various international human rights
organizations, or country reports in various foreign ministries; and of course,
if you review the information collected from the many Iranian opposition groups,
you’ll easily discover a continuous and systematic suppression of freedoms in
Iran for the last 30 years. The arrest campaigns have covered nearly every
sector of Iranian society: students, women, labor, artists, but also ethnic
minorities such as Arabs, Kurds, Baluch, Azeri and others. Also, religious
minorities such as Christians, Jews and Bahais have also been persecuted.
The news regarding arrests of Azeri ethnics in Iran is not unusual. We’ve been
reading open sources reports about Bahais arrests in recent weeks, as well as
arrests of Ahwaz Arabs over the past several months, and women over the last
year. So, the reports by the Iranian regime about a “U.S. conspiracy” is neither
strange nor exceptional.
W. THOMAS SMITH JR.: The Iranian press reported the unnamed intelligence
official as saying “the group” had been successful in fomenting dissent among
Azeri people in the Azerbaijan Province. Why the regime’s focus on this
province?
PHARES: This is very telling in that anti-Khomeinist sentiment is spreading in
the northwestern part of the country and among the single largest ethnic
minority in Iran. Azeris are the second group after the Persians, and they form
a contiguous group settling the entire northwestern part of Iran in what is
known as southern Azarbaijian. It is historically a part of the Azeri nation and
they speak a Turkic language. Traditionally the Iranian Azeris have been loyal
to the Iranian nation, and many among them have served in Iran’s military. But
with the radicalization of the regime and the economic crisis now underway in
Iran, many ethnic minorities are protesting bad socio-economic conditions in
their areas. They mainly accuse the Mullahs in Tehran of concentrating wealth
among their own elite in the center while letting the provinces decay. The
Azeris aren’t happy with the state of affairs in the so-called ‘Islamic
republic.’ Hence we’re witnessing the rise of local opposition movements in
their areas. The regime responds with preemptive arrests, and of course labels
any protest as a ‘pro-American’ conspiracy: Classical Khomeinist narrative.
SMITH: Why would the Iranian press quote ‘Intelligence officials’ and not the
justice ministry?
PHARES: Because most likely when the opposition is widening, the regime
unleashes its strongest arm, the intelligence services. If anything this is an
indicator that the Azeri movement, and all other movements are getting stronger
with time.
SMITH: The report states:
“Tehran’s Islamic Revolution Court sentenced the four suspects without
announcing the length of their sentence.
“‘They have confessed to trying to distance the people of Iran from the
government and introduce the United States as their sole savior,’ the court said
in a statement.
“Two of the detainees are internationally renowned doctors Arash and Kamyar
Alaei, who specialize in HIV/AIDS.
“In the Monday press conference, the top Iranian counterespionage official said
that the US intelligence agencies had resorted to ‘soft overthrow projects’ over
the past decade, as there is no international statute law against such
measures.”
What are we to deduce from such arrests?
PHARES: It means the middle class in Iranian Azarbaijian is fed up with the
Mullah regime. When the Khomeinists begin striking out at citizens – doctors as
in this case, or professors and bloggers as in other cases – we’re talking about
a serious development. When educated people are accused of political
‘incitement’ against the regime – which translates to political opposition – it
means that many more activists are mobilizing civil society, and that of course
is a red line to the regime.
SMITH: The report also mentions the U.S. having spent $32 million on “soft
overthrow projects,” a means by which the U.S. could “infiltrate elite and
expert circles” and therein gain access to information regarding national
“infrastructure, microbiological achievements, and defensive capacity.” They
also named names of Americans. Why?
PHARES: It is an act of desperation. It shows the regime is angry and wants to
send a message to the U.S. government, which by the way is preparing to open
dialogue with Tehran. By naming names and agencies, the Iranian Pasdaran
[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and intelligence services are sending a
message to the Obama administration telling them that if they want to open
dialogue, they will have to shut all these ‘democracy operations.’ What is
ironic is that the Bush administration was criticized for doing so little to
help the Iranian democracy movement. If indeed the Iranian regime is complaining
about $32 million spent allegedly by the U.S. on democracy activities, this is
peanuts compared to the billions of dollars spent on the war on terror and the
hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the war of ideas. This amount is
ridiculous: Yet the Iranian regime wants Washington not to spend a penny on any
program that would help democracy groups in Iran. This pressure is aimed at
preempting the Obama administration.
SMITH: The report said “Iranian intelligence operatives had been able to
infiltrate the network and ‘launch an intelligence war with the CIA by leaking
false information.’” It also said the UK and Israel were involved.
PHARES: Typical of the regime to try to frame all three governments of the U.S.,
UK, and Israel in one giant conspiracy. For by linking alleged Israeli
activities to alleged U.S. and British activities against the regime, they would
create a ‘radioactive’ environment in the region. Again, Tehran is trying to
build a big bargaining chip for the day of dialogue. Thus the Iranian
negotiators hope to be in a position of strength: Hold the high ground and lead
with other subjects before the discussion of the most relevant ones, i.e. the
nuclear issues.
SMITH: The report mentions the claim by Mohammad-Javad Zarif, the former Iranian
ambassador to the United Nations, that “the White House is taking essential
measures to orchestrate a ‘Velvet Revolution’ in Iran.”
PHARES: It is a reminder of the last decade of the Soviet Union when Soviet
citizens invited to the West were eager to learn about open and free societies.
They were often punished by Moscow for concocting revolutions against the
Communist regime. The Iranian establishment lives in the paranoia of a similar
situation. They spy on their own citizens when they travel and accuse them of
being recruited by the West. When the Khomeinists start talking about a
so-called ‘American support’ of a so-called ‘Velvet Revolution’ inside Iran, it
means they are indeed afraid that seeds have already been sown for such a
revolution. In fact, what worries the regime are not these scientific
conferences but the narrative on many Iranian web sites talking about
‘democratic revolution.’ Ali Khamenei’s Pasdaran can feel the sentiment inside
Iran’s civil society. Thus they want to suppress these sentiments by connecting
them to an alleged American and Western activity.
[Dr. Phares, who has provided similar analysis to U.S. government – and who
regularly conducts Congressional and State Department as well as European
Parliament and UN Security Council briefings – has been providing exclusive
analysis to us for nearly five years.]
[The Iranian Press TV report also states: “Investigative journalist Seymour
Hersh revealed in July that U.S. Congressional leaders had secretly agreed to
President George W. Bush’s $400-million funding request for a major escalation
in covert operations inside Iran.” Our sources coordinating with the Iranian
opposition groups, have informed us that members of those opposition groups “are
wondering why Hersh is leaking such information, which is in turn used by the
regime against them.”]
February 4, 2009 03:50
Thirty years on, Iran is still behaving like a fledgling
nation
By The Daily Star
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Editorial
Iran is currently celebrating its 30th birthday, with the passing of three
decades since the nation's people succeeded in bringing down the monarchy of the
US-backed shah and creating a government of their own. Yet despite having
survived several external attempts to reverse the revolution, the Islamic
Republic still behaves less like a confident, functional 30-year-old nation and
more like a nervous teenage rebel fending off the authority figures in the
United States and the United Nations Security Council.
Part of Iran's paranoid stance can be explained as the natural result of having
been the openly declared target of a US campaign for regime change. But Iran's
own delusions of persecution must also be counted among the reasons that the
country has not yet assumed its rightful, respected place within the community
of nations. While most Iranian leaders are typically experts in Islamic
jurisprudence, few have demonstrated a solid understanding of the political
workings of foreign states, and many appear to have been operating under the
assumption that much of the outside world is waging a covert war against them.
Most senior officials seem not to have noticed that the world around them -
especially the United States - is rapidly changing course.
Many Iranians have reacted skeptically to US President Barack Hussein Obama's
call to turn the page on the last three decades of sour relations between
Washington and Tehran. But Obama's new stance was reinforced on Wednesday by
Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, who issued a
joint statement voicing common commitment to seeking a diplomatic solution to
the row over Iran's nuclear program. This softer tone marks a dramatic shift in
style away from George W. Bush's "axis of evil" rhetoric, and could herald a
significant change in substance as well.
The Iranians will need to adjust their own positions in order to adapt to a
world with an America that is being reinvented each day that Obama is at the
helm. The US president is widely popular around the world, and failing to
respond to his challenges would risk allowing the Islamic Republic to be
portrayed as the villain who seeks to thwart a sincere peacemaking mission. The
best strategy for the Iranians would be to focus on the two arenas in which
their country has most noticeably failed: public relations and diplomacy. Iran
has never been able to successfully defend its controversial policies in the
global arena, even though the country has arguably operated in accordance with
international law. And although Iran is the most populous country in the Middle
East, the country has so far been outfoxed by smaller, PR savvy nations that
seek to demonize the Islamic Republic as a result of their own paranoia. The
only way to change the current score is to join the PR and diplomacy game
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs,
January-February 2009, pages 56-57
Waging Peace
Lebanon and Syria: Geopolitical Dynamics
(L-r) Dr. Bassam Haddad, Dr. John Duke Anthony, Ambassador Edward Gnehm, Prof.
Daoud Khairallah, and Ambassador Imad Moustapha (Staff photo J. Najjab).
THE NATIONAL Council on U.S.-Arab Relations conference included an Oct. 30
session on the geopolitical dynamics of Lebanon and Syria. Panelist Daoud
Khairallah, adjunct professor of international law at Georgetown University Law
Center, stated, “In Lebanon at this time Hezbollah and radical Sunni militants
are the two groups that preoccupy most Lebanese” as well as international
powers.
Critics of Hezbollah believe the group has become a state within a state, but
according to Khairallah, Hezbollah in reality is a state in the absence of the
state. “It is a byproduct of a dysfunctional sectarian system that prevents a
level of solidarity necessary to establish a properly functioning state,” he
explained. Hezbollah came into existence as a response to the Israeli invasion
in 1982, he reminded his audience, while Lebanon was still in the throes of its
civil war.
Most Lebanese, however, are far more concerned by the radical Sunni militants,
Khairallah said. Some see the militants as a counterweight to Hezbollah, but
Khairallah said that a small number of these militants, who are inspired by
al-Qaeda, are stirring up most of the unrest in the country.
He warned that Israel and the U.S., who are supporting these Sunni militants,
may soon discover that although today these radicals are opposing an influential
Shi’i Hezbollah, they have no love for Israel and America’s actions in the
Middle East. The situation could easily change, Khairallah noted, and not to the
U.S. or Israel’s liking.
In the end, he concluded, Lebanon is the right environment for true and organic
democracy to flourish, which is what Washington has been promoting for the
region. “If secular democracy has any chance of succeeding this is where it
should start,” he said. “This is where the internal and international efforts of
secular democratic forces should be invested to stem the tide of
fundamentalism.”
Syrian Ambassador Dr. Imad Moustapha said he and his country have accepted that
they will not be able to have any dialogue with the United States while the
current administration is in office. This is true despite the fact that the
ambassador has conducted extensive outreach with both Republican and Democratic
congressmen and senators. “It does not serve the national interest of Syria or
the national interest of the United States to portray us as enemies,” he pointed
out—this despite the fact that Damascus is playing a very active role in trying
to resolve many conflicts in the region. And also despite the fact that Bush
administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have
been meeting with the Syrian ambassador.
A week earlier, on Oct. 26, four U.S. helicopters entered Syria from Iraq and
fired on a village near Abu Kamal, killing eight people, all unarmed Syrian
civilians, the ambassador said. To add insult to injury, U.S. soldiers exited
the helicopters and fired more bullets into the bodies to make sure they were
dead. “It was a criminal terrorist attack against unarmed innocent civilians,”
Ambassador Moustapha charged. “One father and four of his sons died. Another
couple died. And an eighth man, a fisherman died. Totally, totally,
unjustified.”
The Syrian diplomat speculated that the whole Rambo-style affair may have been
some sort of October surprise undertaken to stir the emotions and minds of the
American people before the November presidential elections. “Well, thank you
very much,” he said, “but don’t come and kill Syrian innocent civilians in order
to manipulate the domestic elections here in the United States.”
Finally Dr. Bassam Haddad, director of the Middle East Studies Program at George
Mason University, took the podium. When it comes to Lebanon and Syria, and
indeed the rest of the Middle East, he stated, the U.S. is inconsistent in its
policymaking: “We want democracy, but we don’t like the winners,” Haddad pointed
out. “We want pluralism, but we don’t want everyone represented. We want
stability without balance of power.”
Haddad offered a few suggestions to American policymakers, including that they
not take their own classification of what a terrorist is too seriously, because
the rest of the world doesn’t. Secondly, there can be no true balance of power
in the region without the support of Syria and Iran. Thirdly, he advised, don’t
meddle in the internal affairs of these two countries—the alternative may be far
worse than the current situation. Additionally, don’t think that the Syrians
will be interested in a peace track that doesn’t include a comprehensive peace
plan for the Palestinians. This is not just because the Syrians want to see
justice for the Palestinians; it is simply in their overall interest. And
finally, Haddad said, the U.S. must stop taking the advice of think tanks and
Arab intellectuals who say they know the ultimate workings of the Arab mind and
society. “You are being taken on an expensive and costly, often irreversible,
ride,” he concluded.
A full transcript of the panel is available at
<http://ncusar.org/programs/08-transcripts/1030-LEBANON-AND-SYRIA.pdf>.