LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
August 09/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16,24-28. Then Jesus said
to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up
his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with
his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to
his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste
death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Saint [Padre] Pio of Pieltrecina
(1887-1968), Capuchin friar
FSP, 119; Ep 3,441; CE,21; Ep 3,413/"Let
him take up his cross, and follow me"/Christ does not ask you to carry the whole
of his heavy cross during your life but only a small part of it, by accepting
your suffering. You have nothing to fear. To the contrary, consider yourself
happy to have been accounted worthy of taking your share in the sufferings of
the Man-God. There is no question on the Lord's part of either abandonment or
punishment; quite the opposite – it bears witness to his love, his great love
for you. You must offer God thanks and accept to drink the chalice of
Gethsemane.Sometimes the Lord lets you feel the weight of the cross. This weight
seems unbearable to you and yet you carry it because the Lord, who is full of
love and mercy, holds out his hand to you and gives you the strength you need.
Our Lord needs people who will suffer with him in the face of men's lack of
piety. That is why he leads me along the painful paths you speak of in your
letter. Yet may he be blessed for ever since his love puts sweetness into what
is bitter; he changes the passing suffering of this life into merit for
eternity.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Spy Case Casts Light on Hezbollah Recruitment in
Germany-Spiegel Online
08/08/08
Expelled from Iraq, Rejected by Syria-Asharq
Alawsat 08/08/08
Analysis: Subtly and determinedly, Syria is taking
over Lebanon-By JONATHAN SPYER
Jerusalem Post 08/08/08
Playing for time.By: Bassel
Oudat-Al-Ahram Weekly
-08/08/08
Members
of Parliament can wield their power to protect Lebanese
-The Daily Star 08/08/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
08/08
Parliament Sees its First Debate in
Two Years-Naharnet
Alloush
Attacked by Angry Protesters in Tripoli-Naharnet
Hizbullah Snubs Syria: We Don't Believe in
Negotiating with the Enemy-Naharnet
Israel: Lebanon responsible for Hezbollah
actions-Ha'aretz
Lebanese Forces For Commitment to State Authority-Naharnet
Parliament to Launch its First
Debate in Two Years-Naharnet
Alloush
Predicts Tough Discussion of the Policy Statement-Naharnet
Speedy
Appointment of Lebanon's Military-Security Generals-Naharnet
Jumblat, Geagea for Better
Coordination by March 14 Factions-Naharnet
PSP-Hizbullah Committee to
Deal with Security Problems in the Mountains-Naharnet
Syrian-Lebanese Higher
Council to Survive-Naharnet
Top Officials Agree on
Steps to Improve Lebanon's Prison Conditions-Naharnet
Berri to EU Parliament:
Resistance is Our Pride-Naharnet
Minister Takla: The
Countdown to Reclaim Shebaa Farms has Started-Naharnet
Gemayel: State Taken
Captive by Iran-Naharnet
Maronite bishops hope stability
will be restored.Daily Star
UN calls on Lebanese judges to quit
for Hariri court roles-Daily
Star
Christian parties call for
reconciliation within sect-Daily
Star
Assailants rob office of
international rights envoy-Daily
Star
Israel vows to halt Hizbullah arms
smuggling - report-Daily
Star
Gemayel accuses Iran of using Hizbullah to hold Lebanon hostage-Daily
Star
Berri: Lebanon fully committed to implementing 1701-Daily
Star
Artist wins gold medal for Lebanon in Bejjing Olympic Games-Daily
Star
Parliament Sees its First Debate in
Two Years
Naharnet/Parliament opened its gates Friday to lawmakers engaged in their first
debate in over two years, focusing on the policy statement of Premier Fouad
Saniora's cabinet upon which it would be granted the go ahead to rule. At least
65 MPs have asked to address parliament in what is usually a national event
broadcast live by local radio and television networks. The Lebanese army and
Internal Security Forces are threw a security dragnet around the house in a way
that wouldn't obstruct the flourishing business at the tourist sector of
downtown Beirut. Deliberating the cabinet's policy statement is expected to last
about four days. Several MPs said they expect the cabinet to win a vote of
confidence with an overwhelming majority. Predictions had it that MPs who would
oppose the policy statement and refuse to grant the cabinet a vote of confidence
wouldn't exceed five legislators. Berri said he also would call the house to a
legislative cycle after the confidence function to "tackle several bills related
to the people's needs, which cannot wait." The daily An Nahar quoted Berri as
telling Saniora "we are required to focus on economic hardships and services."
Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 08:14
Pakistani Politics Shaping War on Terror
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,400305,00.html
Friday, August 08, 2008
This is a rush transcript from "America's Election HQ," August 7, 2008. This
copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
HEATHER NAUERT, HOST: NAUERT: A constitutional crisis over there could further
destruct Pakistan from the fight against al-Qaeda. So how will this impact the
war on terror?
With us now is Walid Phares. He's a FOX News terrorism analyst and the author of
the book called "War of Ideas."
Welcome, Walid. So how much of a chance is there of this happening, that
Musharraf gets impeached or, as others are suggesting in the country, forcing
him to resign?
WALID PHARES, FOX NEWS TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, first of all, we have two things
happening at the same time. One, Pakistani politics; and two, the consequences
of these politics and of this impeachment are now national security and the war
on terror, begin with politics quickly, Heather.
• Video: Watch Heahter's interview with Walid Phares
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Video
•
Video: Watch
Heahter's interview with Walid Phares
Airs Weekdays at 5 p.m. ET
E-mail the show: billandmegyn@foxnews.com Bill Hemmer's bio Megyn Kelly's bio
Transcript archive One, the man, the politician leading this movement is the
former husband or the husband of the slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
He wants to unseat the president, but he himself is under criticism within his
own party for not being elected. So, we don't know if he's successful, and
removes the general, General Musharraf from power, if he himself is going to
continue.
Then, the other politician is the head of the Muslim league, the former Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has a score to settle with General Musharraf but, I
think, don't have enough influence over the army. So, complicated politics and
consequences on the war on terror.
NAUERT: OK. So, it may or may not happen, but nevertheless, any sort of
tumultuous stuff going on over there negatively impacts us, because it helps
take or takes their focus off the war on terror. We want — the United States
wants Musharraf to remain in power, correct? PHARES: We do want to see him
remaining in power in constitutional terms. His party doesn't have a majority in
their House. His party has just 50 percent in their, equivalent of our Senate.
So, it's going to be very difficult for the government/opposition to remove
Musharraf, but what is more dangerous than that than the constitutional gains,
two things — al Qaeda and the Taliban — who do they want to see as the head of
state there and the nukes. We need to make sure that the next president if he is
removed, will be an ally of the United States, and that's where U.S. policy is
very much combined here. Would Musharraf, despite all his problems or remove him
— and then, it's the unknown. NAUERT: But one of the complicated things in
Pakistan is just because you have control in the capital, doesn't necessarily
mean, as we've seen in Pakistan, they have control over that northwest frontier
province where all the — where the terrorists are. PHARES: Look, for the last
six years, General Musharraf, then President Musharraf, basically, has promised
the United States to remove the Taliban, to dismantle al-Qaeda, and to clean up
Waziristan, he didn't do so. Now, he says that his army basically is not able to
do so because this would lead to a civil war.
So now, it's a big question. If he is removed and he is the only leader we know
who has some influence over the army, what would the next leader do if this one
who has all that influence won't be able to achieve the goal?
NAUERT: Right. A lot of uncertainty. Walid Phares, thanks for joining us
tonight. We'll check back with you on this issue as it develops. Content and
Programming Copyright 2008 FOX News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Transcription Copyright 2008 ASC LLC (www.ascllc.net), which takes sole
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rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes
of litigation
Israel: Lebanon is responsible for Hezbollah's actions
By Barak Ravid - Haaretz
Israel will hold Lebanon responsible for any attacks against Israel, in
particular for any Hezbollah efforts to avenge the death of its military leader
Imad Mughniyeh. This decision on Wednesday by the security cabinet represents a
change in Israeli policy, after always firmly separating Hezbollah and the
Lebanese government.
According to defense establishment recommendations adopted by the security
cabinet, Israel will treat the Lebanese unity government, which is headed by
Fouad Siniora and includes Hezbollah, as responsible for any event that takes
place in its sovereign territory or events for which Lebanese nationals are
responsible.
A senior Jerusalem source said if Hezbollah attacks Israel from inside Lebanese
territory, shoots at Israel Air Force aircraft or carries out a terror attack
abroad as revenge for the Mughniyeh assassination (which it attributes to
Israel), then Israel will hold Lebanon responsible and respond appropriately. In
the coming weeks, Israel plans to start transmitting this message to the United
Nations, United States, Russia and European nations, and primarily to Syria and
Hezbollah itself.
In the Second Lebanon War, Israel avoided damaging Lebanese civilian
infrastructure such as power stations, ports or government institutions, despite
the recommendation of then-chief of staff Dan Halutz, due to pressure from
Washington on Israel. The U.S. claimed that bombing Lebanese infrastructure
would topple the moderate Siniora government. Defense officials noted in the
cabinet meeting that two developments supported a change in policy. The first is
the fact Hezbollah is now a partner in a Lebanese unity government and holds
veto rights. The second is that the guidelines of the new Lebanese government
guidelines, approved by President Michel Suleiman, allow Hezbollah to continue
its military activity against Israel. The defense establishment believes these
new conditions improve Israel's deterrent power as Hezbollah understands the
severe ramifications of the new situation should there be any action against
Israel in Lebanon or overseas.
Hizbullah Snubs Syria: We Don't Believe in Negotiating with the Enemy
Naharnet/Hizbullah said Friday "no threats or accusations" would prevent its
Islamic resistance from acquiring weapons. Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah
outlined the stand in an interview with the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai prior to
national dialogue that President Michel Suleiman is to sponsor to tackle such
controversial issues as Hizbullah arms. "All accusations and threats cannot
limit the resistance capabilities or prevent (practicing of) its right in
acquiring all the means," Fadlallah said. "The resistance has all the
capabilities to confront Israel," he added. Hizbullah, he added, is not
concerned about the ongoing negotiations between Syria and Israel through
Turkey. However, Fadlallah declared: "Our basic stand is that Arab rights can
only be regained through the resistance and liberation strategy." "Syria speaks
for itself. We don't believe that this affects our right and duty in defending
our homeland. Negotiations are negotiations and the resistance is resistance,"
he explained. Fadlallah declared: "We don't believe in negotiating with the
enemy. If some states want to try this option, let them try. The resistance
persists irrespective of these negotiations." The policy statement of Premier
Fouad Saniora's cabinet has "acknowledged the right of the resistance in
liberating Lebanon and defending it," he said. "Those who expressed reservations
over the policy statement do not want to acknowledge this right," Fadlallah
concluded. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 08:49
Spy Case Casts Light on Hezbollah
Recruitment in Germany
By Ulrike Putz in Beirut -Spiegel Online
A young Israeli man who studied in Germany has been arrested on espionage
charges in Israel. Khaled K., of Palestinian descent, allegedly spied for the
Hezbollah Shiite militia. His case is expected to highlight Hezbollah recruiting
activities in Germany.
When Khaled K. stepped off the plane from Germany to start his summer vacation,
it wasn't his family that awaited him at the gate. Instead Shin Bet agents and
police greeted the 29-year-old Israeli man of Palestinian descent when he
arrived on July 16 at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. He was arrested
and disappeared into custody for two weeks until Israeli officials filed charges
against him on Wednesday and lifted a gag order on coverage of his arrest.
Hezbollah might be more active in Germany than officials thought. The charges
filed by state prosecutors are serious. They allege the man, who comes from the
Israeli-Arab town of Kalanswa, sought contact with an agent with connections to
Hezbollah in an effort to pass on information.
The indictment alleges he also supplied names of potential recruits to the
Shiite militia and that he had expressed his preparedness to take a job at the
Rambam Hospital in the Israeli city of Haifa after completing his studies in
Germany, where he is enrolled as a student at the University of Göttingen near
Hanover. Israeli soldiers in the 2006 war against Hezbollah are still being
treated at the Rambam Hospital, and K. was apparently supposed to sound them out
in order to obtain information that could be useful to Hezbollah.
Prosecutors also allege that the Israeli-Arab was paid a total of €13,000 for
his services. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, he has
confessed to the charges.
Suspect Khaled K. is to be tried on espionage charges in Israel.
The Khaled K. case has attracted tremendous interest in Israel -- not least of
which because he is the embodiment of the Israeli secret service's ultimate
nightmare of the "enemy within." In recent months, Palestinians holding Israeli
passports or residence permits perpetrated several attacks, and the problem
ranks high on the agenda of the country's terrorism experts.
"This incident provides new proof that Israeli-Arabs are attractive recruiting
targets for Hezbollah," an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement read. Close to 20
percent of all Israeli citizens are so-called Israeli Arabs -- mostly
Palestinians and Druze.
But the case also comes as a surprise to German security officials. SPIEGEL
ONLINE has learned that German authorities first learned from Israeli
authorities that Khaled K. was under suspicion of espionage.
An acquaintance of K's, however, is well known to the Germans. According to
files from the Israeli state prosecutor's office, K. met with a Lebanese surgeon
named Hicham H. in Germany sometime in 2002 or earlier. H. is the head of the
Orphans Project Lebanon (Waisenkinderprojekt Libanon), which, according to the
Israelis, is a cover organization for the Lebanese Martyr Institute. That group
is suspected of collecting money for Hezbollah.
For three years, Hicham H. and Khaled K. are suspected of having met every two
weeks -- before H. suggested that K. should meet one of his acquaintances. This
contact person, also Lebanese, operated under the aliases Rami or Mazen and
suggested during their first meeting in Erfurt in 2005 that K. should get
himself an unregistered mobile phone. He also said that further contact should
only take place via e-mail, according to Israeli investigators.
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Security authorities say that K. thus slipped into the orbit of senior officer
Mohammed H., a 50-year-old Lebanese man whose task was to recruit spies for
Hezbollah in Europe.
The senior officer allegedly met with his recruits at least four times -- twice
in the eastern German city of Erfurt and twice in Frankfurt. At the final
meeting, the group is thought to have discussed the exact layout of Hicham H.'s
village Kalanswa using Google Earth.
Just why Kalanswa, located near Israel's border with the West Bank, caught the
attention of the Hezbollah man is unclear. But the officer asked his protégés to
find other natives of the town living in Germany. If they were found to be in
financial difficulties, it was thought they might be receptive to becoming
well-paid Hezbollah informants.
If Israeli state prosecutors are correct, the case could indicate that Hezbollah
is much more active in Germany than previously thought.
Parliament to Launch its First Debate in Two Years
Naharnet/Parliament opens its gates Friday to lawmakers engaged in their first
debate in over two years, focusing on the policy statement of Premier Fouad
Saniora's cabinet upon which it would be granted the go ahead to rule.
At least 65 MPs have asked to address parliament in what is usually a national
event broadcast live by local radio and television networks.
The Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces are to throw a security dragnet
around the house in a way that wouldn't obstruct the flourishing business at the
tourist sector of downtown Beirut.
Deliberating the cabinet's policy statement is expected to last about four days.
Several MPs said they expect the cabinet to win a vote of confidence with an
overwhelming majority.
Predictions had it that MPs who would oppose the policy statement and refuse to
grant the cabinet a vote of confidence wouldn't exceed five legislators.
Berri said he also would call the house to a legislative cycle after the
confidence function to "tackle several bills related to the people's needs,
which cannot wait."
The daily An Nahar quoted Berri as telling Saniora "we are required to focus on
economic hardships and services." Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 08:14
Lebanese Forces For Commitment to State Authority
Naharnet/The Lebanese Forces on Friday emphasized on the need to adhere to state
authority "especially in the defense sector" and called for ratifying the
elections law as soon as possible.
The Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc also called for adopting "measures to
ease the economic burden" endured by the people.
The bloc said it was keen on not wasting "sacrifices by members of the Lebanese
Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement" in confronting Syrian hegemony and
rejecting Hizbullah weapons. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 13:35
Alloush Predicts Tough Discussion of the Policy Statement
Naharnet/MP Mustafa Alloush predicted "tough discussion" of the cabinet's policy
statement at Parliament, especially when related to a clause on Hizbullah's
resistance.
Alloush, a member of the Mustaqbal Bloc, said representatives of the Hizbullah-led
March 8 alliance would emphasize on their interpretation of the policy statement
along the line that it has recognized the resistance.
However, representatives of the March 14 majority alliance would adhere to their
concept based on the state right to "lead resistance and defense activities."
Nevertheless, Alloush said the cabinet of Premier Fouad Saniora would win a vote
of confidence at parliament, saying opponents of its policy statement would not
exceed five MPs.
Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 12:23
Speedy Appointment of Lebanon's Military-Security Generals
Naharnet/Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet is headed to appoint a new army
commander and directors for the nation's security agencies prior to President
Michel Suleiman's visit to Syria tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday.
The daily al-Liwaa said Israeli criticism of the cabinet's policy statement
prompted speeding up efforts to fill in the vacancies so that the nation would
be prepared to face "regional-international" developments.
The report spoke of "information" about a trend to appoint a Maronite for
director general of the General Security apparatus and a Shiite for director
general of State Security following "consensus by the opposition and a pledge by
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun
that Maronites would regain the post."
The new army commander, according to the report, would be one of four nominees:
They are Director of Military Intelligence Brig. George Khoury, Brig. Marwan
Bitar who heads the Lebanese-Syrian military coordination bureau and holds the
post of liaison officer at the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council; Brig. Jean
Kahwaji, commander of the 12th brigade; and deputy chief of staff Brig. George
Masaad.
Khoury enjoys the "full support" of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, but is
opposed by a "major trend" within March 14 "in light of the Military
Intelligence performance in the past three years," the report said.
Bitar is opposed by "the majority" for his role in coordinating with Syria.
Kahwaji faces "reservations from some sides due to backing by a major opposition
leader for his nomination," the report added.
Masaad, the report added, "is close to retirement age."
Suleiman, the report noted, "has not given his final word regarding his
successor."
Sources close to Suleiman say it is better to have a "moderate" new army
commander similar to Suleiman who had commanded the regular force for over nine
years, the report noted.
Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 10:27
Jumblat, Geagea for Better Coordination by March 14 Factions
Naharnet/A meeting was held on Wednesday night away from the media spotlight
between the head of the Democratic Parliamentary Gathering, Walid Jumblat, and
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat reported.
The meeting took place at Jumblat's house, and it was attended by minister of
state Wael Abou Faour and former minister MP Nehme Tohme, the newspaper said on
Friday.
It quoted sources close to the conferees as saying that the meeting tackled
in-depth gaps in the performance of March 14 factions in the previous era and
the needed coordination in the future. Geagea said late last month that the
March 14 alliance was determined to bolster the coalition to achieve all its
aims.
He also denied allegations about differences with Jumblat, saying that they
aimed at poisoning the atmosphere.
Geagea also visited al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri last week.
Media reports said that Geagea stressed during his talks with Hariri the need to
revive the coalition and prepare for the upcoming elections. Beirut, 08 Aug 08,
10:36
Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council to Survive
Naharnet/Beirut media on Friday quoted Baabda Palace sources as saying that the
Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council will not be disbanded after the establishment of
diplomatic ties between Damascus and Beirut. The Council "will continue
(operating). Its structure or missions will remain intact unless some parts
contradict the exchange of embassies between the two countries," An Nahar quoted
the sources as saying. They said that President Michel Suleiman will visit
Damascus on August 13-14 and will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Fawzi
Salloukh and Secretary-General of the Council Nasri Khoury.
Khoury last month warned that disbanding his Council would take Beirut-Damascus
relations "back to zero level."
An Nahar said Friday that the agreement to keep the Council operating was made
between Suleiman and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during their meeting in
Paris last month. The newspaper quoted the same sources as saying that Suleiman
and Assad will discuss next week all bilateral issues, including the
establishment of diplomatic relations, border demarcation and treaties signed
between the two countries. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 07:26
Top Officials Agree on Steps to Improve Naharnet/Lebanon's Prison Conditions
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud have met with
the chairman of the parliamentary committee on human rights MP Michel Moussa to
discuss conditions in Lebanese prisons. Thursday's discussions focused on the
situation of certain detainees in Roumieh prison, who are demanding an
acceleration of the processing of lawsuits and complaints that have been filed
against them. The officials announced that they were satisfied with the measures
that are being taken in order to "respect the principles of a fair trial,
including limiting as much as possible states of provisional detention, which
lead to overcrowding in the prisons."They also said that they would work towards
improving the situation of prisons "legislatively, administratively, and
practically." This would include building modern prisons, so as to limit
overcrowding and to make sure that they conform to the necessary international
standards.
The conferees also announced that they would maintain communication and
cooperation among the legislative, executive, and judicial authorities "in order
to reach agreement on a practical program for reforming prisons and improving
their conditions" to ensure human dignity and prisoners' rights. Beirut, 08 Aug
08, 13:05
Gemayel accuses Iran of using Hizbullah to
hold Lebanon hostage
Tueni slams party's may 'military operation' as unjustified
By Hussein Abdallah -Daily Star staff
Friday, August 08, 2008
BEIRUT: Former President Amine Gemayel said in remarks published Thursday that
Lebanon was being held hostage by Iran, adding that Hizbullah's authority
stretched beyond that of the Lebanese state. "Lebanon is the captive of an
Iranian strategy that is being implemented by Hizbullah," Gemayel told the
Arabic daily Ash-Sharq al-Awsat. Gemayel added that Hizbullah's arms were not
aimed at liberating the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms.
"These weapons are part of a broader regional strategy ... Hizbullah is part of
Iran's strategy and nothing else ... the entire situation will change if Iran
reconciles with the West."The Phalange Party leader said that the situation in
Lebanon will remain fragile as long as one party was using its weapons to impose
its will on others. "As long as this is the case, the truce that was achieved in
Doha will continue to be under threat," he said, referring to the Doha
Agreement, which was signed on May 21, ending an 18-month political crisis in
Lebanon.
"Hizbullah's arms are the core problem in Lebanon. All other problems are
marginal compared to it," he added.
On the Shebaa Farms issue, Gemayel said that Syria was not offering Lebanon the
necessary help to prove its sovereignty over the occupied territory.
"In the eyes of international law, the Shebaa Farms belong to Syria, which in
turn did not present any documents to the UN supporting Lebanon's claim" to the
territory, he said. Gemayel added that relations between Lebanon and Syria would
not return to normal before establishing diplomatic relations and settling the
issue of missing Lebanese in Syrian jails.
Meanwhile, MP Ghassan Tueni said that Hizbullah's possession of arms was part of
the party's ideology. "When Hizbullah arms itself, it is indirectly encouraging
every other party to do so," he told the local Orange television late on
Wednesday. Tueni argued that it was unjustified for Hizbullah to "launch a
military operation" in reaction to the former government's decision to sack the
head of airport security Brig. Gen. Wafiq Shoucair and probe Hizbullah's private
phone network. Tueni was referring to the early May clashes between Hizbullah-led
fighters and gunmen affiliated to Future Movement leader Saad Hariri and
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Youssef Taqla said on Thursday that the countdown
to the return of the Shebaa Farms through diplomatic means "has started." He did
not elaborate. In an interview with the Arab weekly Al-Osbou al-Arabi, Taqla
also addressed the issue of Lebanese-Syrian ties.
"Diplomatic ties start by appointing ambassadors and setting up a legal
framework for the relations between the two states," he said.
He also called on the families of the Lebanese who are missing or detained in
Syrian jails to deal seriously with their problem by resorting to judicial
means.
President Michel Sleiman would be visiting Damascus next week to discuss
bilateral relations with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad.
Establishing diplomatic ties and the fate of Lebanese prisoners in Syrian jails
are among the issues that are likely to be discussed during the visit.
In another development, Hizbullah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Thursday
that a meeting between Hariri and Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was
"possible" in the near future.
Commenting on the draft ministerial statement, which will go to a vote of
confidence in Parliament on Friday, Fadlallah said the document had secured
Lebanon's right to liberate its occupied territories and defend itself against
Israeli threats. Also on Thursday, the Shiite Higher Council said that Lebanon
should embrace and protect "the resistance" in order to confront all forms of
Israeli aggression. "The resistance and the armed forces are both sources of
power for Lebanon," it said.
Berri:
Lebanon fully committed to implementing 1701
Speaker tells visiting EU Parliament chief that Israeli violations 'are only
source of disturbance'
By Hussein Abdallah and Eugene Yukin -Daily Star staff
Friday, August 08, 2008
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said after meeting European Parliament
chief Hans-Gert Pottering on Thursday that Lebanon was fully committed to
implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, while accusing Israel of
violating the resolution, which put an end to the 34-day war. The speaker added
that the Lebanese Armed Forces had the best of relations with the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
"South Lebanon is living in peace and harmony and Israeli air and sea violations
of Lebanon's sovereignty are the only source of disturbance," he said.
Addressing a lunch banquet at Phoenicia Intercontinental hotel in Beirut, Berri
thanked Europe's chief legislator for the European Union's support to Lebanon
during the summer 2006 war with Israel, adding that Lebanon was "proud" of
Hizbullah's resistance.
"We are grateful for the EU position during the summer 2006 war ... from day
one, the EU was pushing for a cease-fire," Berri said.
The lunch banquet was also attended by Premier Fouad Siniora, who met separately
with Pottering earlier Thursday.
At a news conference held at Parliament earlier on Thursday, Pottering spoke of
his and the European Union's deep devotion to peace in Lebanon and the wider
Middle East. "For me it's a great pleasure to be in Beirut on the invitation of
Speaker Berri," he said. Pottering held talks with Berri for about 40 minutes
before speaking to reporters. This is Pottering's second visit to the
Middle East as president of the European Parliament.
Citing "security concerns" he explained his inability to visit Lebanon earlier.
"We have discussed a broad range of challenges, what the EU can do, what the
European Parliament can do," Pottering said. "It is my ambition as president of
Parliament ... to promote with all modest means of course the peace process in
the Middle East," he added. Speaking on the efforts that he would undertake to
promote peace, Pottering said he would try to convince other EU leaders to
contribute to the region. "I am personally and deeply convinced that a peace in
the Middle East to solve the Palestine problems which is one of the core
questions is really decisive for the relations between the European Union and
the Muslim and Arab World," he said, adding that "all countries, including
Israel" had the right to live in peace. As part of his visit to Lebanon, the EU
Parliament president will be getting a tour of South Lebanon on Friday.
When asked if he was afraid, Pottering replied: "I am always aware of the
situation but it is our political ambition to make the development possible that
we are not afraid."Pottering, who arrived in Beirut late on Wednesday, started
his Thursday meetings by visiting President Michel Sleiman at the Presidential
Palace in Baabda. The EU Parliament chief told reporters after meeting Sleiman
that the European Union supported the establishment of best relations between
Lebanon and Syria.
Pottering will spend three days in Lebanon before heading to Damascus shortly
ahead of Sleiman's scheduled visit to the Syrian capital, scheduled for August
13. "I found that it was convenient to visit Lebanon during this period and I
will head from here to Syria where I am scheduled to meet Syrian President
Bashar Assad ... and you all know that President Sleiman will also be visiting
Syria next week," he told reporters.
Pottering added that the European Parliament was willing to play a major role in
reviving the Middle East peace process . "The EU will play its full role in
reviving the peace process in the region on both the political and economic
levels."
Pottering then headed to the Grand Serail where he discussed with Siniora
bilateral relations between the European Union and Lebanon.
The European legislator reiterated the European Parliament's support to Siniora
and the Lebanese government in a bid to achieve a "fully sovereign Lebanon.""We
are committed to helping Lebanon in becoming a sovereign state which embraces
many cultures and religions," he said.
"Lebanon can be a model for the entire region," he added. Pottering, who focused
in most of his statement on the Middle East peace process, also said that the EU
was looking forward to see an Israeli and a Palestinian state living in peace
next to one another. Asked if he will drop a specific message to Syrian
officials during his visit to Damascus, Pottering said that it was necessary to
bring Syria back to the peace process.
"We hope Syria takes some steps to enhance the peace process," he added.
Pottering also met Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, and representatives of
different Lebanese parties.
Maronite
bishops hope stability will be restored
By Maroun Khoury -Daily Star
correspondent
Friday, August 08, 2008
DIMAN: The Council of Maronite Bishops on Thursday voiced hope that the new
national unity government would try to unify the Lebanese people and restore
tranquility, prosperity and peace to the country in cooperation with its
officials, particularly President Michel Sleiman.
The bishops, in a statement following their monthly meeting headed by Patriarch
Nasrallah Butros Sfeir at his summer residence in Diman, also hoped for the
return of stability to the country and expressed regret over security breaches
"here and there."
"We hope that stability will be restored to the country, especially as several
Lebanese emigrants have lately flocked to their homeland seeking tranquility,"
said the statement. The bishops also called on the Lebanese state and people to
be "vigilant" and avoid the reoccurrence of forest fires.
"The fires that have recently erupted in several parts of the country and
destroyed thousands of pine and oak trees are not spontaneous," the bishops
said. "This is regretful and requires that perpetrators be caught if they
intended to cause such damage to the country."
Members of
Parliament can wield their power to protect Lebanese
By The Daily Star Friday, August 08, 2008
Editorial
Today the national spotlight will be trained on a national institution that
enjoys tremendous power to make a significant difference in the lives of
Lebanese citizens: the Parliament. Although this evening's highly publicized
session will be devoted to remarks on the new Cabinet's policy statement, the
more important work of lawmakers tends to take place away from the media frenzy,
in quiet, thoughtful sessions and committee meetings where important legislation
is drafted and adopted into law. One example of an issue of enormous public
concern that MPs can address in the course of their work in the upcoming weeks
is that of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
The problem of fake medicines is one that plagues many developing countries, and
Lebanon, despite its wealth of educated doctors, pharmacists and other health
professionals, is no exception. In fact the National Health Commission reported
in 2004 that some 35 percent of the prescription drugs on the Lebanese market
were fake. And these illegal drugs, which can range from mere placebos to highly
toxic cocktails, can seriously harm or kill the healthiest of citizens.
Moreover, fake medicines, which can be found in pharmacies and hospitals across
the country, can have a doubly deadly effect when given to patients with serious
ailments like cancer or heart disease.
Lawmakers, particularly those in the parliamentary majority, can help protect
citizens from this dangerous threat by making the issue of counterfeit
medications one of their top priorities. The Parliament's Health Committee is a
good place to start drafting new legislation aimed at improving safeguards and
imposing tougher punishments on those who produce and distribute illegal
medications.
As the legislative branch of government takes center stage today, the Lebanese
ought to be reminded of the relative power that lawmakers hold: Cabinets come
and go - and sometimes very quickly, as in the case of the current government -
but the legislation that MPs enact can have a lasting effect on the lives of
citizens. There is no better way that they can weild that power than to use it
to protect the people.
Analysis: Subtly and determinedly, Syria is taking over
Lebanon
Aug 7, 2008
By JONATHAN SPYER
Jerusalem Post
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is to visit Syria next week, to discuss the
opening of diplomatic relations between the countries, a Lebanese official told
reporters this week.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy last month hailed President Bashar Assad's
expression of willingness in principle to establish diplomatic relations with
Lebanon as "historic progress."
The establishment of a first-ever Syrian Embassy in Beirut is probably not
imminent, for various reasons. Nevertheless, the signs of normalization in
relations between Syria and Lebanon are significant. They are the latest
indication of Syria's growing confidence, and far from being a harbinger of more
peaceful times in the neighborhood, they offer clues as to the shape of possible
further strife.
The formation of the new Lebanese government after the Beirut clashes in May
represented a very significant gain for the pro-Syria element in Lebanese
politics. Hizbullah now controls a blocking 11 of the 30 cabinet seats. With a
Lebanese government of this type, there is no reason for Syria to be in dispute
there. The short period when Damascus felt the need to express its will in
Lebanon solely in a clandestine way is drawing to a close.
Still, Western hopes for the rapid establishment of formal relations between the
two countries are probably exaggerated. Damascus is in no hurry. Syria's return
to Lebanon is a work in progress. Assad has listed the preconditions for the
establishment of diplomatic relations to become a real possibility. These
include the passing of an election law, and the holding of the scheduled May
2009 general election.
Behind Assad's honeyed words, one may glimpse the contours of Syrian strategy in
the next stage. The election of May 2009 will be conducted under the shadow of
Hizbullah's independent and now untouchable military capability.
Intimidation will go hand in hand with the real kudos gained by the movement and
its allies because of recent events - including the prisoner swap with Israel,
and the Doha agreement that followed the fighting in May. The result, the
Syrians hope, will be the establishment of a government more fully dominated by
Hizbullah and its allies, in which the pro-Western element will have been
marginalized.
Such a government would mark the effective final reversal of the events of the
spring of 2005, when the Cedar Revolution compelled the Syrian army to leave
Lebanon. Damascus would then go on to conduct friendly and fraternal relations
with the new order in Beirut. Mission accomplished.
If this strategy plays out, however, it will represent not the normalization of
Syrian-Lebanese relations, but rather the enveloping of Lebanon into the
regional alliance led by Iran, of which Syria is a senior member.
On the ground in Lebanon, this regional alliance is still engaged in
consolidating its gains. The lines separating the official Lebanese state from
the para-state established by Hizbullah continue to blur. The new government's
draft policy statement, which is still to be discussed by the parliament,
supports the "right of Lebanon's people, the army and the Resistance to liberate
all its territories."
This statement thus nominally affords the Resistance. i.e. Hizbullah, equal
status with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and appears to consider it an organ of
official government policy.
The new organ of government policy, meanwhile, is building its strength.
Ostensibly for the mission of "liberating" 20 square kilometers of border
farmland, Hizbullah has built a capability of 40,000 missiles and rockets, is
frenziedly recruiting and training new fighters, and is expanding and developing
its command and logistics center in the Bekaa.
The latest talk is of Iranian-Syrian plans to supply Hizbullah with an advanced
anti-aircraft capacity that would provide aerial defense to the investment in
rockets and missiles. Such a move would represent a grave altering of the
balance of power. Serious moves towards it could well prove the spark for the
next confrontation.
In all its moves, the Iranian-Syrian-Hizbullah alliance has known how to combine
brutal military tactics on the ground with subtle and determined diplomacy. Its
willingness to throw away the rule book governing the normal relations between
states has been perhaps its greatest advantage. While the West sees states as
fixed entities possessing certain basic rights, Iran and Syria see only
processes of rising and falling power. They see themselves as the force on the
rise, and the niceties of internationally fixed borders as a trifle unworthy of
consideration.
The region has known the rise of similar systems of power and ideology in the
past. Experience shows that such states and alliances have become amenable to
change and compromise - if at all - only after experiencing defeat, setback and
frustration.
The Syrians and their allies, of course, are far weaker in measurable military
and societal terms than their rhetoric would suggest. Western (including
Israeli) actions over the last years have tended to blur this fact. The general
acceptance of the transformation of Lebanon into a platform for this alliance -
and the lauding of it as 'historical progress' - is the latest example of this.
The reacquaintance of rhetoric with reality on all sides is long overdue.
**Jonathan Spyer is a senior research fellow at the Global Research in
International Affairs Center at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya.
Playing for time
By: Bassel Oudat-Al-Ahram Weekly
After four rounds of indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations,
progress appears slow, but the game is still on, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus
The fourth round of indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations, held in Istanbul with
Turkish mediation, has come to a close. A fifth round will follow -- also in
Istanbul and with Turkish mediation -- in mid-August. A Turkish source close to
the negotiations has stated that the outcome of the fourth round was positive,
yet the two parties have not yet agreed to begin direct negotiations.
Syrian political circles are tight-lipped about what is taking place in the
indirect negotiations. Syrian newspapers print brief references only to the
negotiations and observers and journalists are being left in the dark. Ahmed
Al-Hag Ali, former advisor to the Syrian minister of information, and close to
decision-making circles, told Al-Ahram Weekly that, "the current level of
negotiations is still at the stage of learning positions. There is no
justification for drawing any conclusions or developing any visions based on
mere fancy. Under such circumstances, we believe that the discussions are a mere
process of enquiry that remains within a general and theoretical framework.
Israeli prevarications continue to impose themselves on the situation."
The Israeli side is also tight-lipped about the issue, with the exception of
some details printed by the Israeli Maariv newspaper last week that were neither
supported nor denied by anyone. It appears that both the Syrian and Israeli
sides are playing with gained time and are interested only in gaining more. Each
party has an interest in continuing negotiations even if they don't bring
results, so as to avoid being accused of losing an opportunity for making a
historic peace.
The Syrian side wants to continue indirect negotiations even if they are nothing
more than that. Syria would find it difficult to halt them because that would
contradict the new foreign policy stance it has presented to Europe and the
United States -- a positive, moderate one that would help calm and stabilise the
region. This policy seeks friendly political relations with Europe and for the
(current or future) US administration to normalise relations with Syria and
sponsor Syrian-Israeli negotiations.
Haitham Menaa, a Syrian activist and spokesperson of the Arab Committee for
Human Rights, believes that the Middle East "can no longer bear a state of war
without war, which leads to psychological and social instability and disturbs
the economy and development." He described Syrian-Israeli discussions to the
Weekly as "discussions about a political settlement and not peace negotiations."
Syrian political circles believe that the Israeli government wishes to engage in
the negotiations either due to the weakness of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, or
because the government and security agencies, and particularly the army, see an
opportunity to reach a peace agreement with Syria. They believe that Israel also
sees the negotiations as a means of fending off the Iranian threat and the
danger of its Lebanese ally Hizbullah. Whatever the reason, both sides appear to
be using the negotiations as a means of buying time.
Menaa said: "We are in a transitional stage in all meanings of the word, between
the Bush-Cheney stage and what follows it, between the Olmert stage and what
follows it, and between two approaches to dealing with the Syrian authorities.
The first approach sees Syria as undesirable and the second accepts it in the
game of regional nations. This transition has made us believe that Olmert is
opening up the Syrian file in order to lessen the pressure on his domestic file.
In turn, the Syrian government is lessening its losses in the time gained by
waiting for 2009."
Not much has been leaked about the negotiation rounds, but it appears that the
two sides are discussing all the issues that will form an agenda for future
direct negotiations. They also seem to be trying to confirm that each side is
prepared to reach a settlement, offer concessions, and pay the price of an
agreement. Likewise, they are seemingly trying to decide on negotiation methods
and levels, the degree of expected withdrawal from occupied territories, and
security arrangements that would precede that.
Other issues that appear under discussion include a general framework for
disarmed areas, the conditions and stages of normalisation, the distribution of
water, the exchange of diplomatic representation and future relations.
The Syrian side wants, and might demand, that the US administration sponsors
direct negotiations with European assistance. It won't concede such a
stipulation, and this was stated by President Bashar Al-Assad during his visit
to Paris last month when he said, "direct negotiations might not begin until
after the new American president assumes his duties at the beginning of the new
year, for the current American administration is not interested in the peace
process."
Al-Haj Ali said: "Syria has sufficient desire to move the negotiations from the
indirect stage to the direct stage, and it wants the United States to play a
major and public role in those negotiations. But none of this has yet taken
place, and there is not yet enough of a basis to move the discussions to a
direct form. There are no major topics clearly agreed upon, and Israel has not
settled on any way of applying the resolutions of the international community
and fully withdrawing from the Golan Heights."
Syrian policy views acceptance by the US administration to sponsor negotiations
as implicitly signalling the lifting of the American "siege" on Syria and the
possible return of the US ambassador to Damascus. More importantly, US
sponsorship would guarantee implementation of any agreement made and prevent
probable Israeli non-commitment that Israeli governments have grown accustomed
to resorting to in most of their agreements with Arab countries.
Among the difficulties facing negotiations is the instability of the Israeli
domestic situation, especially since Ehud Olmert will resign in mid-September
and it remains unknown who will succeed him as the head of the government or
what coalition of parties will participate in a future Israeli government. The
Syrian side admits that the resignation of Ehud Olmert "may affect the indirect
peace discussions". Yet no one in Syria believes that Israeli domestic changes
will stop the negotiations. Indeed, Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli vice- premier,
recently stated: "Negotiations will continue even after Olmert leaves."
Mofaz is one of the strongest candidates for succeeding Olmert. "It is necessary
to continue peace efforts without prior conditions," Mofaz said, calling for
"peace in return for peace", but declaring that he is "against agreeing to
return the Golan Heights." Olmert has said that he will "not offer any such
agreement to the Syrians." Yet the Syrians hold that full withdrawal from the
Golan Heights is something not open to negotiation.
The Syrians are betting that European and American interests will be met by the
success of a peace process in the Middle East. This will drive the West to
increase pressure on the future Israeli government in order to make its
positions more moderate. This bet may encourage Syrian policy to continue with
negotiations and strengthen its confidence in reaching an agreement.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
China discovers al Qaeda in its backyard
By Walid Phares
In a video accusing China’s Communist Government of “mistreating
Muslims” a Jihadi group threatened to attack the Summer Games in Beijin. A
spokesman of the Turkistan Islamic Party accuses China of “forcing Muslims into
atheism and destroying Islamic schools. The “Turkistan Islamic Party” is most
likely based across the border in Pakistan, where sources affirm it received
training from Al Qaeda.
Weeks ago the organization claimed responsibility for a bombings across the
country. The latest video shows graphics of a burning Olympics logo and
explosions. This week, attackers killed 16 police and wounded more than a dozen
in the Xinjiang city of Kashgar using homemade bombs.
But according to AP reports few months ago, Chinese Police broke up a terror
plot targeting the Beijing Olympics while a flight crew foiled attempt to crash
a Chinese plane. Per Communist Party officials in the North Western province of
Xinjiang, materials seized in a January 27 raid in the regional capital, Urumqi,
suggested the plotters' planned "specifically to sabotage the staging of the
Beijing Olympics." Earlier reports said police found guns, homemade bombs,
training materials and "extremist religious ideological materials" during the
January raid in Urumqi, in which two members of the gang were killed and 15
arrested. The immediate question becomes: Is China targeted by a Terror
organization? And since the material found was characterized as “extremist
religious ideological”, does that mean it is al Qaeda or one of its affiliate?
The answer to these questions could change the face of geopolitics in Asia.
Interestingly the Associated Press runs to frame the Terrorists to a local
ethnic conflict in one of China’s Western provinces. AP wrote: “Chinese forces
have for years been battling a low-intensity separatist movement among
Xinjiang's Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim people who are culturally and ethnically
distinct from China's Han majority.” The news agency has tried to set the agenda
of the debate by scoring three points for the “radicals.” They are separatists,
they are representative of a local ethnicity and they are Muslim. In addition
the description of the struggle is informative: Chinese forces versus a Uighur
movement. In a way a parallel to Kosovo, Chechnya and Kashmir with two projected
effects. As framed by AP, the struggle of these “Terrorists” is indeed
legitimate even though the means are violent. But is it the case?
Evidently the Chinese Communists are repressive against all other minorities and
political dissidents. But as in Russia and India’s Wahabi cases, one would
investigate if these particular Terrorists in China are local patriotic elements
with liberal outlook. Not really. As under the Russians in Chechnya it looks
like the Communists in China are battling another form of totalitarianism to
come: Jihadism.
Chinese officials said the group had been trained by and was following the
orders of a radical group based in Pakistan and Afghanistan called the East
Turkestan Islamic Movement, or ETIM. The group has been labeled a terrorist
organization by the United Nations and the United States. East Turkestan is
another name for Xinjiang. So the “movement” is indeed Terrorist-identified by
the international community. But other than its violent means, is that group
linked to al Qaeda? There is a double answer to this question. First the group
is indeed Jihadi Wahabi-Salafi as its long term objective is to separate a
particular province from China but only to establish an Emirate, a prelude to
join the world Caliphate. Hence ideologically it is part of the world web of
internationalist Jihadis, who identify with Bin Laden’s school of thought.
Second in many instances, al Qaeda produced material showing Chinese Jihadists
training in their camps. In the chat rooms, the Salafi commentators often cite
the presence of “brothers” from the Xinjiang. And let’s remind ourselves that
upon the fall of Tora Bora in 2001, Chinese officials asked US military to
extradite Chinese nationals who we part of the Taliban and al Qaeda networks in
Afghanistan. So the bottom line is that the Bin Laden cohorts included Jihadis
recruited from inside China’s Western province. As in Chechnya a local ethnic
separatist claim exists but the struggle was hijacked by the Jihadi terror
forces.
Hence as China is discovering al Qaeda in its own backyard, this begs powerful
questions:
1. If these Jihadists will escalate their Terror against Chinese cities and
installations -and the recent discoveries indicate this trend- will Beijing find
itself in the same trench as Washington that is against al Qaeda and the
Salafists?
2. And if that becomes the case, will China continue to pursue a policy of
support to other Jihadist forces, including the Islamist regime in Khartoum?
3. If Communism and Jihadism clash again in the 21st century inside the Asian
superpower, will its resources rich Western province becomes a new Afghanistan
with Jihadists converging from central Asia and other parts f the world?
For now Chinese officials are downplaying the danger altogether and dismissing
the threat: "Those in Xinjiang pursuing separatism and sabotage are an extremely
small number,” said a pro Government Uighur leader. “They may be Uighurs, but
they can't represent Uighurs. They are the scum of the Uighurs," regional
communist official Bekri said. But that is what Russian officials always said
about Chechnya and their Indian counterparts argued about Kashmir. Jihadism has
demonstrated that its adherents can swiftly recruit and expand, especially if
international Wahabis are generous and committed. Hence the answer to this
critical new “Jihad” will come from as far as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia but also
from the smaller principality of Qatar, where al Jazeera can transform a local
separatist movement into an uprising in the name of the Umma.
***********
Dr Walid Phares is the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a visiting scholar at the European
Foundation for Democracy. He is the author of The Confrontation: Winning the War
against Future Jihad
August 7, 2008