LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 07/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15,1-10. The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916), hermit and missionary in the Sahara
Retreat at Nazareth, November 1897/Going after the lost sheep
I was distancing myself more and more from you, my Lord and my life. My life, too, was beginning to become a death, or rather it was already death in your sight. And yet, within that state of death, you upheld me... All faith had gone but my respect and esteem remained intact. You showed me further graces, O my God: you preserved the attraction for study in me, for serious reading, beautiful things, a revulsion for vice and ugliness. I did evil yet I neither approved nor loved it... You granted me that vague uneasiness of a bad conscience, which though it may be asleep is not altogether dead.
I have never felt that same sadness, lassitude, unease except then. Oh my God, was it then your gift? How far I was from doubting it! How good you are! And while, by this invention of your love, you prevented my soul from drowning altogether, you kept my body safe: for if I had died then I should have been in hell... Those dangers of the journey, great and various as they were, from which you enabled me to come out as if by a miracle! That unchanging health in the most unhealthy of places, in spite of such great fatigue! Oh my God, how your hand was upon me and how little I was aware of it! How you protected me! How you sheltered me under your wings when I did not even believe in your existence! And while you were thus protecting me time passed by, you judged that the time was approaching to draw me back into the fold.In spite of me you undid all the wrong attachments that would have kept me away from you; you even undid all the healthy bonds that would have prevented me from becoming all yours one day... Your hand alone carried out the beginning, middle and end in all this. How good you are! It was needed in order to prepare my soul for truth; the devil is too much master of an unchaste soul to let it enter into truth; you would not be able, my God, to enter a soul in which the demon of squalid passions reigned as lord. But you wanted to enter mine, Oh good Shepherd, and so you cast out your enemy yourself.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
A Middle East message to the new American leader.By BRENDA GAZZAR. Jerusalem Post 06/11/08
Obama's election is just the beginning of a long and uncertain road-The Daily Star 06/11/08
Jihad Against Free Speech.By: Deborah Weiss. FrontPage. 06/11/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 06/08
Arab Media Reactions to Obama's Election-By: MEMRI
Livni: There's no real difference between Bush, Obama on Iran-Jerusalem Post
Ex-British soldier convicted of spying for Iran-Jerusalem Post
Sfeir: Dialogue Conditional to Freedom-Naharnet
Maronite Bishops for More Reconciliation Efforts-Naharnet
Aoun Proposes Changing Lebanon into a Resistance Bastion-Naharnet
Saniora: Lebanon is in Real Need for Reform -Naharnet
Pic of Hezbollah chief with Jesus barred at Lebanon show-Reuters
Hariri Meets Lavrov and Russian Friends-Naharnet
Lebanese political rivals adjourn dialogue to December-AFP
Jumblat Pledges Defense Strategy Blueprint-Naharnet
Fatah Uprising Official Denies Link to Israeli Spy Suspect-Naharnet
Assailant Kills One Person, Wounds Four in South Beirut-Naharnet
Suleiman's Participation in U.N. Interfaith Conference Confirmed-Naharnet
Fans Give Wassouf a Rapturous Welcome at Beirut Airport-Naharnet
Armed Group Says it Freed Lebanese Hostage in Southern Nigeria-Naharnet
Human Rights Groups: Lebanon Must Stop Torture-Naharnet
The Jawhar Rifle Killed Pierre Gemayel-Naharnet
Second round of Lebanon's national dialogue adjourned - Summary-Earthtimes (press release)
Iran sees US choppers near its frontiers-International Herald Tribune
APN Welcomes Obama Victory; Urges Engagement with Syria, Iran-Americans for Peace Now
Syria's Murky Motives-Washington Post
Activists urge Lebanon to curb torture-United Press International
Pic of Hezbollah chief with Jesus barred at Lebanon show-France24
Police Probing Arab Party Official for Praising Israeli War Loss-Arutz Sheva
LEBANON: News of Obama's victory spreads via Facebook, text ...Los Angeles Times
Lebanon, Syria hope for change under Obama (News Feature)-Monsters and Critics.com
Lebanese dialogue to resume in December B (AFP)
Fadlallah urges parties to 'build bridges-Daily Star
Fneish: no return to 'four-party alliance-Daily Star
Baroud hopes Syria visit will help relations-Daily Star
Most local politicians congratulate Obama on historic election-Daily Star
The global financial crisis and the Gulf Arab economies: what crisis? By Sabahat Khan
Obama presidency no threat to Gulf crude producers - experts- (AFP)
Salameh offers help for small, medium enterprises-Daily Star
UNESCO holds regional talks in Bir Hassan-Daily Star
FPM student 'stabbed' during clashes at Lebanese University
Obama's victory inspires hope among Lebanese-Daily Star
Solidere bars image of Jesus and Nasrallah at exhibition-(AFP)
Beirut conference focuses on plight of Palestinian refugees-Daily Star

Aoun Proposes Changing Lebanon into a Resistance Bastion
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has proposed a defense strategy blueprint suggesting changing the whole of Lebanon into a resisting community.A March 14 source termed Aoun's proposal "catastrophic" in an apparent reference to rejecting it by the majority alliance.
The Aoun document, according to the source, is based on the understanding between his movement and Hizbullah and aims at spreading the resistance to all Lebanese provinces. The daily An-Nahar said Aoun's proposal was not thoroughly discussed during the dialogue session presided over by President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday. A ranking source with the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance said Aoun's concept of the defense strategy "deserves to be considered." Democratic Gathering leader Walid Jumblat proposed during the dialogue session that each of the two main groups, March 14 and March 8, presents its own defense strategy blueprint for thorough consideration by the 14 leaders involved in national dialogue to work out a joint concept.
President Suleiman asked participants to prepare their defense strategy proposals for consideration in the forthcoming session scheduled for Dec. 22.
Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri, on his part, called for "bolstering national unity and understanding on the various issues to facilitate agreement on any defense strategy plan." As-Safir said Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, cabinet minister Mohammed Safadi and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea would present their own defense strategy proposals to the national dialogue's third session. The daily al-Akhbar said Aoun's blueprint focuses on two main headlines: Collective resistance and defining threats that the Lebanese should be ready to confront. Collective resistance, according to Aoun, means that the defense strategy should be a "bastion" at the economic, political, military and educational levels, noting the defense strategy is "not only related to the topic of resistance, but also includes all issues that should be settled to launch state construction and reform," according to al-Akhbar. The only threat to Lebanon, according to Aoun's blueprint, is the "external threat," the report said, noting that it specifically mentioned Israeli aggressions and the "Palestinian topic manipulated by external sides targeting Lebanon's security." Al-Akhbar quoted a source who had participated in the Conference on National Dialogue as saying Aoun's blueprint "did not mention Hizbullah weapons as such, but it called for resistance-army integration." Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 09:50

Saniora: Lebanon is in Real Need for Reform
Naharnet/Prime Minister Fouad Saniora stressed that Lebanon is in real need for reform, pointing that the road to reform is lonely because very few people take it.
"What we are doing today is important and basic on a not so short a road." The prime minister went on to add," if we consider the issue of reform each according to their own view without looking at the desired outcome, then we won't achieve it." Saniora said. The prime minister statements were made on Thursday at the grand serail during the launching of the Health Card Program. "For us to move forward we need all the efforts and a solid commitment by all, otherwise, we won't be able to hold on and will retreat." He went on to add," We have understand our situation, understand how to behave and how to balance between our expectations and our efforts." "Nothing overcomes the human will, if the state and the people want reform, then reform is not an impossibility." Saniora confirmed.
He went on to point that "the state is not owned by the cabinet nor is it owned by individuals. The state is for all citizens, it is the one that guarantees security and stability in all its forms and for our upcoming generations. The state is the one that contributes in directing energies in the right direction." Saniora called on all Lebanese to work on making the state a reality. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 16:02

Hariri Meets Lavrov and "Russian Friends"
Naharnet/Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday told visiting Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri Moscow is against foreign intervention in Lebanon's affairs. Lavrov said Moscow "highly values the ongoing dialogue in Lebanon that aims at settling problems encountered by the nation."
"We are pleased that the situation in Lebanon has achieved progress," he added. Hariri, talking to reporters after the talks, emphasized on "importance of bilateral relations and dialogue with Russia." Russia, Hariri said, "played a major role in progress achieved in Lebanon." He expressed hope for a Russian role in regaining Lebanon's sovereignty over the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms. Hariri paid tribute to Russian troops serving with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
"Russia plays a major role in the Middle East and Russia has its own style and method in performing this role," Hariri said. "We would maintain contacts with our Russian Friends in this regard," Hariri stressed. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 15:23

Pic of Hezbollah chief with Jesus barred at Lebanon show
Wed Nov 5, 10:46 AM
BEIRUT (AFP) - A photo exhibition by Lebanese filmmaker Jocelyne Saab was on Wednesday told to remove pictures deemed controversial, notably one of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah alongside Christ on a crucifix. "The company Solidere, which owns the venue where the exhibition opened on Tuesday, asked us this morning to remove two photographs they deemed controversial but then proceeded to take down seven others," a visibly upset Saab told AFP.
The photo that raised the most controversy is entitled "American-Israeli playground" and shows Christ on a crucifix surrounded by images of Nasrallah and two Barbie dolls in the background, she said. "I wasn't looking to provoke or shock anyone," Saab said. "This piece symbolises a cemetery and says that Americans and Israelis use us as a playground. "It is a call for us to be vigilant and to cohabitate rather than a call to divide and insult," she added.
Another photo taken down shows Barbie's beau Ken crucified and a dishevelled Barbie with green hair representing the Virgin Mary. Several other photographs show Barbie dolls wrapped in Iraqi currency bearing the image of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
"They removed them to show that they are sensitive to the feelings of all the communities," Saab said, adding that she was "outraged" by the censorship.
"Artists, writers and intellectuals are a means for this nation to vent steam and they are committing a serious error by tying our hands and trying to muzzle us," she said. An official from Solidere, however, said the company wanted to avoid any controversy. "Politics and religion are two very sensitive issues that we don't want to undermine," Joumana Naquib told AFP.Property giant Solidere belongs to the family of slain former Lebanese premier and billionaire Rafiq Hariri.

Sfeir: Dialogue Conditional to Freedom
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Thursday said Dialogue is conditional to Freedom, noting that not all participants in the conference on National Dialogue are free. Sfeir, addressing a delegation from the Syndicate of Lebanese Newspaper Editors, said "we should handle our own issues." "Lebanon suffers from a gap that separates people, from the decline of political rhetoric and from the immigration of one million citizens." In answering a question as to whether he would visit Syria, Sfeir said: "We would look into it." He called for reconciliation among the various Lebanese factions, including Christian factions.
Sfeir congratulated the United States because "it followed its constitution and elected a president chosen by the people." "We hope the forthcoming (parliamentary) elections in Lebanon would proceed along constitutional rules," he added. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 14:42

Maronite Bishops for More Reconciliation Efforts
Naharnet/Maronite Bishops on Wednesday called for exerting "further efforts" to achieve reconciliation among the various factions. The bishops, in a statement issued after their monthly meeting, also expressed hope that the path of national dialogue would strike success. The bishops, who met under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at the church's seat in suburban Bkirki, praised President Michel Suleiman for proposing Lebanon a venue to host dialogue among the various religions and cultures. Such a proposal, if implemented, would allow Lebanon to practice its "message as a nation hosting all religions and beliefs," the statement said. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 09:08

Saniora: Lebanon is in Real Need for Reform
Naharnet/Prime Minister Fouad Saniora stressed that Lebanon is in real need for reform, pointing that the road to reform is lonely because very few people take it.
"What we are doing today is important and basic on a not so short a road." The prime minister went on to add," if we consider the issue of reform each according to their own view without looking at the desired outcome, then we won't achieve it." Saniora said. The prime minister statements were made on Thursday at the grand serail during the launching of the Health Card Program."For us to move forward we need all the efforts and a solid commitment by all, otherwise, we won't be able to hold on and will retreat." He went on to add," We have understand our situation, understand how to behave and how to balance between our expectations and our efforts." "Nothing overcomes the human will, if the state and the people want reform, then reform is not an impossibility." Saniora confirmed.
He went on to point that "the state is not owned by the cabinet nor is it owned by individuals. The state is for all citizens, it is the one that guarantees security and stability in all its forms and for our upcoming generations. The state is the one that contributes in directing energies in the right direction." Saniora called on all Lebanese to work on making the state a reality. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 16:02

Fatah Uprising Official Denies Link to Israeli Spy Suspect
Naharnet/Fatah Uprising official Abu Khaled al-Emleh denied any link to Ali Jarrah, a Lebanese citizen arrested on charges of spying for Israel. In a statement, he also denied having any organizational link to the so-called Fatah al-Islam group, headed by Shaker al-Abssi. He recalled that Abssi had been "sacked" from Fatah Uprising, a Syrian backed group that broke away from the mainstream Fatah faction in 1983. Jarrah was rounded up by Lebanese security agencies in May on charges of spying for Israel. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 12:46

Jumblat Pledges Defense Strategy Blueprint
Naharnet/Democratic Gathering leader Walid Jumblat on Thursday announced that he would present his own blueprint on the defense strategy to empower the army and the state. Jumblat, addressing a press conference at his Beirut residence, said the International Tribunal would be "born soon" to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes, stressing "we have high hopes in justice in Lebanon and throughout the Arab world." Jumblat, noting "we are not terrorists," said the issue of Hizbullah weapons is a "domestic topic." He said he would choose the proper time to meet "the brethren from Hizbullah." Jumblat reiterated calls for implementing the Taef accord, by which parliament would be elected on a non-factional base and a senate would be set up to represent the various sectarian communities. In answering a question on whether the new U.S. president would change Washington's policy on Lebanon, Jumblat said: "I do not think any American president would be able to overstep the principles of sovereignty, freedom and border demarcation." Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 13:11

Assailant Kills One Person, Wounds Four in South Beirut
Naharnet/One person was killed and four were wounded when a gunman trying to escape a joint police-Hizbullah chase opened fire from a pistol in south Beirut's suburb of Mrayjeh. The report identified the assailant only by his initials and the fatality as Hussein Abu Zeid, 35. It could not be determined, however, if Abu Zeid was one of the Hizbullah partisans taking part with the police officer in chasing the assailant. Four other people were wounded in the chase, the report added, saying they were admitted to Hizbullah Grand Prophet Hospital for treatment. Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 10:48

Armed Group Says it Freed Lebanese Hostage in Southern Nigeria
Naharnet/Southern Nigeria's main armed group MEND said Wednesday it had freed a Lebanese hostage from his kidnappers two days after his abduction.
"A commando unit from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) today, Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at about 1700 Hrs conducted a successful rescue of Mr. Milad Nasari as promised, from deep inside the bush where he was confined by his abductors," said a MEND statement.
"During the course of the operation, they heard the frantic shout for help from an individual who introduced himself as Mr. Patrick Akorodu, a manager with Zenith Bank Omoku branch in Rivers state. "He said he was a victim of the criminal gang that abducted the Lebanese national," the statement added.
Both men were in the safe custody of MEND and were now en route to a drop off zone where they would be handed to contacts from the state security service.
Nigerian police said on Monday unidentified gunmen had kidnapped a Lebanese engineer in southern Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt. MEND, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, claims to be fighting for a greater share of the oil revenue for the local population in southern Nigeria. It is the country's most prominent armed militant group and has distanced itself from the abduction and offered to rescue the Lebanese from the kidnappers. "This assistance is purely a goodwill gesture and does not affiliate us with the (Nigerian) government in any way," said MEND on Monday.(AFP) Beirut, 06 Nov 08, 04:42

The Jawhar Rifle Killed Pierre Gemayel
Naharnet/The assault rifle owned by terror ring leader Abdul Ghani Jawhar had been used in the 2006 assassination of then Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.
The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat quoted sources close to the international investigation committee probing the serial killings as saying "a Lebanese suspect had told investigators that Jawhar had waved his assault rifle to him and a group of his aides saying 'This had been used in assassinating Pierre Gemayel,' but did not mention further details." The sources said security forces, at a later stage, "confiscated Jawhar's rifle from his sister's residence in Tripoli's Bab Tabbaneh district and was sent, along with cartridges collected from the Gemayel crime scene, to the Netherlands for further tests by criminology experts."
The daily As-Safir also reported that testimony regarding the Jawhar rifle was "almost identical to the testimony of another suspect from Fatah al-Islam group known as Ahmed Merii regarding the Gemayel crime." This enabled investigators to "reconstruct the crime plan … by Fatah al-Islam militants, some of whom had been killed in the Nahr al-Bared clashes." Documents confiscated from Jawhar's residence in the northern village of Bibnine as well as from his sister's apartment also facilitated "the arrest of a security forces conscript who was among the guard force of the police headquarters" in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district.
The unidentified suspect had "surveyed the headquarters and provided Jawhar with his "duty schedule to help facilitate an attack by a squad with the aim of bombing out the compound," the report added. Beirut, 05 Nov 08, 12:14

Qatar Asks Berri to Block Dialogue Blockers
Naharnet/The Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber al-Thani has asked Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to defuse efforts aimed at blocking the national dialogue conference in its session scheduled for Wednesday. The daily An-Nahar said Berri has reassured Hamad, who also is foreign minister of Qatar, in a telephone discussion that the dialogue conference would not be blocked. Berri also told al-Anwar daily that he would propose to the dialogue a study he has prepared on the defense strategy, which is the main topic on the agenda. Beirut, 05 Nov 08, 10:07

Livni: There's no real difference between Bush, Obama on Iran
By JPOST.COM STAFF
There are no significant differences between US President George W. Bush's administration and the viewpoint of President-elect Barack Obama on the Iranian issue, foreign minister and Kadima chair Tzipi Livni said Thursday.
Slideshow: Pictures of the week "There is a slightly different attitude between the president-elect and the outgoing president, with regards to how the world relates to extremism on the ground. There are those who think that [America] has to be aggressive, and there are those who think that there has to be dialogue. Obama falls into the second group," Livni told Israel Radio.
The difference between the two administrations, Livni claimed, would not be "dramatic."
"The outgoing administration also had people who supported dialogue. Obama's bottom line on the Iranian issue is very clear: America won't accept a nuclear Iran. Israel is working for sanctions against Iran, and not projecting a message of weakness," she said.
Obama's reported willingness to talk to Iran, however, Livni said, could be taken as a sign of weakness in attempts to halt the Iranian nuclear program.
"We live in a region in which dialogue… can be interpreted as weakness," she said.
When asked if she was "Israel's Obama," Livni rejected the comparison, saying, "I am Tzipi Livni, the Israeli, and what we will do here is not relevant to the US elections. Our challenges are specific."
"I looked at American citizens' faces - that was more interesting to me. It was amazing to see the hope they have for their new leader," she continued.
Moving on to address the upcoming Israeli elections, Livni dodged a question about election strategies and instead asserted, "I feel it deep down, Kadima is a centrist party, it leads in a central manner."
Being a centrist party, Livni said, is not a "mix of the Left and the Right - it's an ideology... Kadima has a clear ideology."
"I feel it on the street... from people... they're ready to put their trust in Kadima," she said.
Responding to a question about former minister and MK Bennie Begin's recent decision to rejoin the Likud, Livni commented that she's "happy when anyone with integrity gets into politics," but claimed Begin had not yet made any substantial statements.
Livni strongly backed Israel Beitenu MK Yisrael Hasson's decision to join Kadima: "I've known him for a long time... he's been involved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, he's worked with [Defense Minister Ehud] Barak and [slain former prime minister Yitzhak] Rabin. He's an important addition to the party." Speaking of her own move from the Likud to Kadima some four years ago, she said, "I left [the Likud] when I realized that the ideology - to say 'no' to everything - didn't sit well with me."
Livni reiterated her confidence that Kadima would succeed in February's general elections, and spoke of her plans to assemble a government. "The day after the elections, I will have to assemble a coalition … I hope the factions will have learned that I'm not willing to pay any price... and I hope the public will give us enough power that we won't need so many parties in the coalition." "The prime minister has to decide which issues are critical and can't be abandoned, and which we can compromise on," she added.

Ex-British soldier convicted of spying for Iran
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
A former British army interpreter was convicted of espionage Wednesday for sending emails to an Iranian diplomat whilst serving in Afghanistan.
Iranian-born Cpl. Daniel James, whom prosecutors depicted as an eccentric character who fantasized about being a hero, was found guilty of communicating information to an enemy.
The jury continued to deliberate on two other charges related to a memory stick that contained secret NATO documents and a count of misconduct in public office. His sentencing will not take place until the verdicts on those charges are finalized.
The Defense Ministry said he will be discharged from the military.
In 2006, James was stationed in Afghanistan, where he acted as interpreter for former Gen. David Richards, then-NATO commander in the country.
James, 45, who was born in Iran but moved to Britain as a teenager, denied the charges. He also told the court he was a Voodoo priest and had used black magic to protect Richards from the Taliban.
Prosecutors said James, a former salsa dance instructor, was heavily in debt. They also said he was a fantasist and "something of a Walter Mitty character." The description refers to a character who fantasized about being a hero in a story by the late American author James Thurber.
Prosecutors said James began sending coded e-mails after meeting an Iranian military attache in late August 2006. One read "I am at your service," prosecutors said. "The defendant's loyalty to this country wavered and his loyalties turned to Iran, the country of his birth," prosecutor Mark Dennis told jurors during the trial. "He turned his back on those with whom he was serving in Afghanistan and sought to become an agent for a foreign power."
During the trial, James denied that charge, saying, "nonsense. I am still loyal to Britain. I am still a soldier."
James said his emails were an attempt to set up a deal for Afghanistan to buy gas from Iran, and believed that any arrangement could benefit the US by reducing energy prices. He said the emails weren't a code, but rather an attempt to sound "sexy and important."
James joined the British army reserves in 1987, and was called up to serve a tour in Afghanistan in March 2006. Two months later, he was appointed translator for Richards, who was then the overall commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Analysis: A Middle East message to the new American leader
By BRENDA GAZZAR -Jerusalem Post
Dear Mr. President, congratulations! Not only have you inherited a global economic crisis unmatched since the Great Depression but you have also inherited an increasingly tumultuous and more radicalized Middle East.
Experts use words like "unilateral" and "preemptive" to describe America's foreign policy in the region in the last eight years. Some simply describe US President George W. Bush's approach as "our way or the highway."
Whether or not you choose a more multilateral foreign policy style, you will certainly have to contend with some pressing issues that have arisen or become exacerbated over the past eight years. Thorny issues like the war in Iraq, where more than 4,000 Americans have been killed with no clear end or resolution in sight. Issues such as Iran, which appears intent on pursuing a nuclear weapons program against the wishes of the majority of the world.
And you will have to contend with them at a time that America's global and regional reputation has taken a blow as an honest, neutral and even-handed player in the Middle East. Indeed, many in the region today see the US as a country that only pursues its own interests at the expense of others.
Here are just a few of your challenges:
Iran: This is considered your top foreign policy issue. Your challenge is to figure out how to convince Iran in the next year or two that it shouldn't go forward with developing a nuclear weapon. Sanctions have not worked due to a lack of cooperation by nations like China and Russia. Bush has been very explicit about using force as an option in dealing with Iran. However, some argue that Bush has limited America's options by leading with the threat of military action rather than by using all available tools, such as negotiations or incentives.
Ultimately, however, tough decisions would have to be made in case these tools fail.
Iraq: Your challenge in Iraq is to diminish the American presence while keeping the country and the region stable. You know that any sort of withdrawal will neither be quick or easy. Some experts, Some experts, such as Stephen Grand of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, argue that the key would be to take a regional approach.
In addition to finding a viable political settlement among the various factions inside Iraq, bringing other nations into the fold - countries affected by the conflict such as Syria, Iran and Turkey - is necessary for any long-term solution, he said. "I think that's really what has been missing in the Bush approach; a truly regional perspective."
Israeli/Palestinian crisis: It appears that neither side can resolve the conflict on its own and some kind of international intervention - particularly American intervention - is needed to help bring peace to the region. But American mediation efforts have failed thus far and some say foreign policy here should be reassessed. The Arab peace initiative could well be part of any future peace deal. However, any peace broker must contend with new and rapidly changing realities here: including upcoming Israeli elections and the protracted Fatah-Hamas divide in the West Bank and Gaza.
Syria: Syria is looking to end years of difficult international isolation while maintaining regime stability. It is counting on a new US administration that will support its peace talks with Israel. But Syria also seems reluctant to sever its ties with Iran and militants in Lebanon and the PA. Your challenge will be to help Syria - perhaps through a mixture of sticks and carrots - to end its unsavory ties with extremists and to disassociate itself from radical Shi'ite elements in Lebanon and in Iran.
Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak turned 80 earlier this year, raising questions about his succession and whether or not there could be a political vacuum in this country of some 80 million. Egypt is one of America's strongest and most stable allies in the Middle East, but questions remain about what role, if any, Islamist groups would play in its next government.

US: 3 new Jewish representatives in Congress
Jewish public's representatives in Washington strengthen their hold on both chambers of American lawmaking body, with 13 senators and 33 House of Representative delegates
Yitzhak Benhorin Published: 11.06.08, 08:03 / Israel Jewish Scene
WASHINGTON – Three new Jewish public representatives were elected to the US House of Representatives in Tuesday's elections, bringing the total number of Jewish senators and House of Representatives members in the United States to 46.
One of the new representatives is Jared Polis, 33, of Colorado, who made history as the first openly homosexual man to run and be elected to the House.
House and Senate
Democrats expand majorities in Congress / Reuters
Capitalizing on popular Obama, disliked Bush, Democrats lead Republicans in both chambers of US Congress in Tuesday's election
Jewish House of Representatives member Barney Frank was elected to Congress in the past, but came out of the closet only years later and was reelected without any difficulties.
Three Jewish senators ran for reelection, and two Democrats managed to keep their seats: Veteran Senator Carl Levin of Michigan and 84-year-old Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.
Two Jewish senators from Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman and comedian Al Franken, who starred in the past in late-night series "Saturday Night Live", were separated by a by a hair's breadth, automatically leading to a recount.
Some 2.9 million people voted in the election between the two, with Coleman winning by 571 votes.
All the six Jewish Democratic representatives, who have only been serving in the House of Representatives one term, managed to keep their seats: Steve Kagan of Wisconsin, Paul Hodes of New Hampshire, Ron Klein of Florida, John Yarmuth of Kentucky, Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona and Steve Cohen of Tennessee.
The only Jewish Republican House representative, Eric Cantor of Virginia, was also reelected and is now nominated for a leadership role in the Congress' Republican faction.
However, not all Jews were successful: A blind rabbi named Dennis Schulman lost in the battle for an election district in New Jersey, and JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People reported that Hank Eng, a Chinese man who married a Jewish woman and converted, fell short in the battle in Colorado.
Democrat Annette Taddeo, a Jew of Colombian descent, lost to Cuban-born Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leader of the Republic minority in the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs and a strong advocate for Israel

Arab Media Reactions to Obama's Election
By MEMRI
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, November 06, 2008
Initial reactions in the Arab world to the outcome of the U.S. presidential election focused on several aspects. While some writers discussed which candidate would be better for the Arabs, others compared the democratic process in the U.S. with the situation in the Arab world, where such turnover in government is impossible.
Following are excerpts from some of the reactions:
Al-Qaradhawi: The Democrats Are Like a Snake That "Kill[s] You Slowly Without You Noticing"
In a fatwa published on the eve of the U.S. elections, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi expressed his preference for Sen. John McCain as president: "Personally, I would prefer for the Republican candidate, [John] McCain, to be elected. This is because I prefer the obvious enemy who does not hypocritically [conceal] his hostility toward you… to the enemy who wears a mask [of friendliness]."
Al-Qaradhawi added: "Whoever thinks that the Democrats are less hostile to [the Arabs] than the Republicans should know that the number of Iraqis killed during the siege [of Iraq] by the Democrat Bill Clinton is twice as high as the number of [Iraqis] killed by the Republican [George] Bush.
"The Democrats kill you slowly without you noticing it - and therein lies the danger. They are like a snake whose touch is not felt until its poison enters your body.
"Therefore, I hope that McCain comes to power, so that the motivation for jihad remains in our hearts, and so that we do not [begin to] rely on the infidels - [which will cause us] to be struck by the fire [of Hell]." [1]
Iranian Daily: "That Black Man" Will Never Change U.S. Policy
In an editorial, the Iranian daily Jomhouri-ye Eslami stated: "The most that that black man can do in the White House is to replace some of the staff and change some ceremonial procedures. He will never manage to change the structure of the American regime, which was established by capitalists, Zionists, and racists."
The paper added that President Obama would not bring change to the world, because both the Democrats and Republicans were party to the U.S.'s oppressive and interest-driven foreign policy. Therefore, it said, any changes that do occur would be tactical rather than strategic. [2]
Syrian Daily: "We Hereby Declare Obama the 44th President [Before It's Official]... Even If It Might Be Considered Irresponsible Journalism"
In its headline, the Syrian daily Al-Watan named Obama president even before the official results were announced. The editorial that accompanied the headline explained: "We wanted to declare Obama president... as a show of solidarity with millions of Americans, Arabs, and colleagues in the world media who [all] yearn for 'change' in U.S. foreign policy. They are all betting on Obama - who has been waving the slogan [of change]… in hope that he will be different not only in the color of his skin, but also in his view regarding Washington's policy towards the world…
"Some claim that if Obama wins he will be no better than Bush, if not worse... They may be right, since it is well known that no American president has ever stood on the side of the Arabs - rather, they have all stood on the side of Israel…
"Yesterday was undoubtedly a long, exhausting, and historic day by any standard. The American people [voted] with a vigor not seen in any [previous] U.S. presidential election, in a bid to make history and change the ugly face of the U.S.
"Out of respect for them and for everyone who voted for change, and out for respect for the souls of the Syrian, Iraqi, and Arab martyrs, we hereby declare Obama the 44th president of the U.S., even if it might be considered irresponsible journalism. We are sure that our readers will forgive us if we turn out to be wrong - [a possibility] for which we do not hope."
Saudi Daily: No Difference Between Obama and McCain
The Saudi daily Al-Watan stated in an editorial: "There is no significant difference between Obama and McCain. They disagree only on the means to achieve America's chief goal, which is to rule for another hundred years." [3]
Al-Hayat Columnist/Al-Arabiya Deputy Director: "The Faces [in the White House] Change in a Way That We Find Impressive"
Daoud Al-Shiryan, columnist for the Saudi daily Al-Hayat and deputy director of Al-Arabiya TV, praised American democracy, comparing it to the nondemocratic processes in the Arab world: "The U.S. elections afford a kind of change that does not occur in the Arab 'democracies'... The faces [in the White House] change in a way that we find impressive.
"Over the next few days, the world will see a new staff [there], while the current names will forever disappear from the [stage of] American politics. The [current] stars of American politics will go home, and the day after they leave the White House, the American public will see them standing in line at the airport, at the supermarket, or at the dentist's office...
"While America watches this turnover of personnel [in the White House]... the Arabs are following [attempts in] Algeria to amend the constitution and remove the restriction on the number of consecutive terms allowed the president - so that 'Abd Al-'Aziz Bouteflika can continue with a third term in office, and perhaps [remain in office] until the end of his life.
"In the past few days in Egypt, the [ruling] NDP party showed its impressive ability to retain the same people over three decades. [Egypt] uses ballots just like the U.S. - but does so the Arab way.
" The situation is similar in the other Arab democratic republics as well..." [4]
[1] Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' (Egypt), November 4, 2008.
[2] Jomhouri-ye Eslami (Iran), November 4, 2008.
[3] Al-Madina (Saudi Arabia), November 5, 2008. [4] Al-Hayat (London), November 5, 2008.

Jihad Against Free Speech
By Deborah Weiss
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, November 06, 2008

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is an Islamist supremacist organization. Composed of 57 member states with Muslim majority populations, the OIC is the largest Islamic body in the world. It is also the largest international organization of any kind, second only to the United Nations. It represents an estimated 1.5 billion Muslims across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The purpose of the OIC is to promote Islamic values, to revitalize Islam’s pioneering role in the world, to strengthen and enhance the bond of solidarity and unity among Muslim states, to support “the Palestinian struggle” and to defend Islam. Its charter claims that OIC works to promote peace, tolerance, and fight terrorism. However, its actions are dissonant with these claims, as it strives to define these words through the extraordinarily skewed views of radical Islam.
Since 1999, the OIC has been pushing incrementally and strategically toward its goal of internationally outlawing all criticism of Islam, Muslims, Muslim theocracies, and Islamic extremism. Subsequent to September 11, 2001, it professed concern about alleged backlash against Muslims.
In 2005, the OIC urged the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (“UNCHR”) to pass a resolution called “combating defamation of religions.” Although the title of the resolution referred to religions generally, the text cited concerns only Islam specifically. It lamented negativity towards Islam in the media and the use of broadcast, print and the internet to incite violence, discrimination or intolerance towards Islam and other religions. It revealed alarm over the backlash against Muslims since 9/11, and law enforcement measures that “target Muslims.” It expressed deep concern over statements which “attack” religions generally, and Islam and Muslims in particular, and concern over the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities. It alleged that Islam was frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism. Additionally, it proclaimed that defamation of religions plays a role in the denial of fundamental rights of the target groups.
The Commission urged resolute action to prohibit “racist, and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers… and to protect against acts of discrimination, intimidation, hatred, and defamation of religion.” It called on the international community to begin a “global dialogue” on religious diversity and to combat defamation of religions. It further required the Special Rapporteur to report on the discrimination faced by Muslims and Arabs. Not surprisingly, the countries that voted in favor of the resolution included many Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Sudan, among others. Freer nations such as the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Japan, all voted in opposition to the resolution.
The OIC’s insistence on prohibiting defamatory speech against Islamic countries was without reciprocity. No effort to silence anti-Jewish or anti-Israeli speech has been made. At an OIC Special Session in 2006, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad freely expressed his goal to eliminate the “Zionist regime.” Indeed, the OIC backs Iran’s nuclear program, supports Hamas, and rationalizes 9/11. Moreover, the OIC insists that the definition of terrorism should exclude the killing of innocent civilians where there is a “legitimate resistance to foreign occupation,” i.e. Israel. It is for this reason that the UN has been unable to pass a comprehensive convention against international terrorism.
At the OIC’s 2006 summit in Mecca, it adopted a zero tolerance policy regarding insults to Islam, going so far as to include “hostile glances” in its definition of Islamophic behavior. The immediate goal of the summit was to obtain “protection” for Islam in European parliaments and the UN including the Human Rights Council (which replaced the Human Rights Commission with the failed hope of becoming an effective advocate for human rights). It also proposed the creation of an “Islamic Council of Human Rights” and a “Charter of Human Rights in Islam.” Both would be based on Sharia law and run contrary to the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 2007, the Secretary General of the OIC, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, a “moderate” Muslim from Turkey, used the “International Day of Tolerance” to assert that freedom of speech is defiling Islam. He stated, “[M]uslims around the world are the first victims of intolerance. They are facing a campaign of hatred and prejudice, what is otherwise known as Islamophobia. This growing trend of Islamophobia has subjected them to discrimination including religious profiling and stereotyping. The right to freedom of speech is being used to defile the sacred symbols of Islam.”
He continued, “[I]t is high time that the international community considers enacting legal measures against defamation of religions and religious beliefs. I would urge the Alliance of Civilizations and the Human Rights Council to take pro-active action in this regard.”
The International Humanist and Ethical Union (“IHEU”) warned that UN approval of a law combating defamation of religions would have grave implications for the freedom to criticize a religion or its practices. It explained that countries will have broad latitude in how they penalize the disrespect of religion because OIC’s resolution did not define what constitutes “defamation.” Further, the resolution failed to distinguish between defamation of religion and incitement to racial and religious violence.
In March 2008, the OIC held a two-day summit in Senegal, where it produced a battle plan to combat Islamophobia. It would defend itself against all forms of free expression that could be interpreted as criticism of Islam, including that of cartoonists, film producers, reporters, politicians or governments. Countries that already regularly deny religious freedom and freedom of speech to their own citizens, demanded legal measures to have their oppressive rules be imposed internationally. “I don’t think freedom of expression should mean freedom from blasphemy” explained Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal’s President, and Chairman of the OIC. “There can be no freedom without limits.” To support his argument, some OIC delegates pointed to European laws that criminalize holocaust denial and anti-Semitic rhetoric, as well as to UN charters that condemn discrimination based on religion. As a result of this summit, the UNHRC passed the resolution.

Instead of fighting terrorism to make obvious that Islam and terrorism need not be affiliated, the OIC unveiled at its summit, the first report on Islamophobia. It consisted of 58 pages of real, perceived, and alleged claims of Islamophobia. Under “negative incidents,” it cited numerous occurrences of Muslims threatening or committing violence against non-Muslims in response to factual reports on Muslim behavior. Negative reports about Muslims, even if true, resulted in claims of Islamaphobia.

Some of the incidents reported as Islamophobic included: Wikipedia’s refusal to cave into Muslims’ demand to remove all depictions of the Prophet from its English language website; a report accurately stating Muslims were outraged by the opening of the first church in Qatar and insisting that Qatar is a Muslim country where others have no right to build a place of worship; the fact that Florida Attorney General (and former Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Crime in Congress) showed the movie “Obsession” to his staff; and the fact that the European Union requested Iran to drop the death penalty in its penal code for the crimes of apostasy, heresy, and witchcraft. Reports of threats made to Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders, producer of the documentary “Fitna,” were also deemed Islamophobic.
Finally, the bulletin suggested that Islamophobia poses a threat to global peace and security. It proposed the use of legal instruments to prohibit Islamophobic speech, urged monitoring and compiling lists of Islamophobic incidents, and encouraged the persuading of others to believe that Islam is a moderate, peaceful and tolerant religion.
In June of 2008, the OIC reported on the 2007 opening of its Washington, DC office which works to engage OIC politically. Karen Hughes, then-undersecretary of public diplomacy at the State Department, spoke at the opening ceremony. She lauded OIC’s effort to pass the resolution on combating defamation of religions. She also advocated a program called “citizen dialogue” which she started in order to address Muslims’ sense of isolation. However, Muslims abroad indicated that they were not interested in meeting with U.S. government officials or non-Muslim Americans, so she sent Muslim-Americans as envoys to foreign countries for the so-called dialogue.
The OIC also boasted about the inroads it has made at the UN. It pledged to place Islamophobia at the forefront of its next summit in April 2009.
Additionally, a rule has been implemented at the UNHRC, requiring that all speaker presentations and discussions omit any “judgment or evaluation about religion.” The word “sharia” does not have to be expressly stated to violate this rule. All discussions must avoid making any mention of controversial fatwas (religious rulings) or human rights abuses that are implemented as part of Sharia or in Islamic countries. This includes, for example, protests against the forced marriages of young girls.
The OIC construes the word Islamophobia very broadly, using it to include news reports, observations, and accurate accounts of violence or intolerance on the part of Muslims or Islamic theocracies. In effect, the OIC is requesting a legal exemption from free speech rights of any criticism of the effects of an extremist interpretation of Islam. Any individual, group, or government acting in the name of Islam would be entirely off limits for open debate or discussion.
The obvious result of OIC’s push to internationally outlaw defamation of Islam, would be not only to stifle free speech and freedom of religion, but to devastate efforts to fight human rights abuses and to counter terrorism. Fighting for human rights in Islamic countries might be deemed Islamophobic even if it pertains to the human rights of Muslims.
Therefore, OIC’s comment that Islamophobia jeopardizes global peace and security was not an expression of fear of Islamophobia. Rather, it was a warning that anyone who claims Islam is not a religion of peace might have violence perpetrated against him. Its simultaneous propaganda campaign to convince people that Islam is a “moderate, peaceful, and tolerant religion” demonstrates that its words and actions are at odds with each other.
It’s ironic that countries which follow an interpretation of Islam that disallows religious freedom or freedom of speech at home, are utilizing these very freedoms abroad to achieve their Islamist goals. By turning the definition of freedom on its head, free speech and religious freedom for non-Muslims can now be condemned as anti-Islamic.
Claiming victimhood can score big political points in a free and compassionate society. If the OIC can convince people that those who stone women, behead apostates, sexually abuse minors, fly planes into buildings, and blow up subway systems are really the victims of evil, rather than the perpetrators, then the OIC’s proposed restrictions on free speech will accomplish more damage throughout the west than 9/11 ever could.
It is important to understand that only individuals should be afforded rights. Ideas, thoughts and religions should not be protected from criticism. There is no such thing as defamation of religion. To the degree that it is concocted, the rights of ideas and religions will stand in direct opposition to the rights and freedoms of humans. The right of free speech is, in part, designed to offend others. The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution erected the First Amendment for the purpose of fostering cantankerous political speech. They believed that the way to counter offensive speech and bad ideas is to engage in more speech, espousing good ideas. In this case, however, it is the OIC that clearly has the bad ideas, and not the alleged defamers. Perhaps the reason the OIC seeks to prohibit free speech rather than to rebut it, is because it too knows that free speech works.
**Deborah Weiss is an attorney and regular contributor to FrontpageMag.com.