LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
August 19/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Matthew 19,16-22. Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good
must I do to gain eternal life?" He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the
good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the
commandments." He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not
kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear
false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your
neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All of these I have
observed. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went
away sad, for he had many possessions.
Clement of Alexandria (150-c.215), theologian
Homily «How can the rich be saved?»/«Happy
the poor in spirit» (Mt 5,3) We should not reject those goods that may
potentially be of use to our neighbor. It is in the nature of possessions to be
possessed and that of goods to spread good. God intended them for man's well
being. Our goods lie in our hands like tools, instruments that we can put to
good use so long as we know how to wield them... Nature has made a servant of
wealth, not a mistress. So we shouldn't decry it since it is neither good not
bad in itself but completely neutral. We ourselves are alone responsible for the
use, good or bad, which we make of it. Our minds, our consciences are entirely
set free from disposing as they choose of the goods entrusted to them. What we
should destroy are not our goods but the covetousness that perverts their use.
When we have acquired integrity then we shall know how to use them with
integrity. Those goods we are told to get rid of we should understand to be the
unregulated desires of the soul... You gain nothing from depriving yourself of
your money if you remain rich in unregulated desires...See how the Lord
conceived of the use of external goods: we need to detach ourselves, not from
the money that enables us to live, but from the forces that cause us to use it
badly, namely sicknesses of the soul...We need to purify our souls, that is to
say, make them poor and naked and, in that state, listen to the Lord's call:
«Come, follow me.» He is the way along which the pure of heart walk... Here is a
man who thinks of his fortune, his gold, silver, houses, as graces from God, and
he shows Him his thanks by succoring the poor from his own resources. He knows
well that he possesses these goods more for the sake of his brothers than for
himself; he remains stronger than his wealth and is far from becoming its slave;
he does not lock it up in his heart... And if, one day, his money is about to
disappear, he accepts his ruin with just as joyful a heart as in the days of his
prosperity. Now this man, I say, God declares blessed and calls «poor in spirit»
(Mt 5,3); he is a certain heir of the Kingdom of heaven, which will be closed to
those who could not look beyond their own wealth.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Phares on
Hezbollah’s telecommunications expansion.by W. Thomas Smith Jr. 18/08/08
Arab
leaders note: Another fallen autocrat who defied laws of legitimacy-
The
Daily Star 18/08/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
18/08
Hizbullah Weapons into the Babylon Tower Dialogue-Naharnet
Hizbullah Signs Controversial
Understanding with a Salafi Faction-Naharnet
Zaki:
Trial or Freedom for Nahr al-Bared Detainees-Naharnet
Sleiman describes Lebanon-Syria
summit as first step toward brotherly ties-Daily Star
Salloukh: 100 Lebanese Citizens Serve Jail Sentences in Syria-Naharnet
Army Chases Tripoli
Saboteurs-Naharnet
Saniora After Cheap Iraqi
Oil-Naharnet
Jordan's Foreign Minister
in Beirut-Naharnet
Hizbullah Stresses 'Need
for our Strength' to Fight Israel-Naharnet
MP Saad: 2009 Elections
Cannot Be Held if Hizbullah Remains Armed-Naharnet
Lebanese Forces for
Supremacy by State Constitution and Weapons-Naharnet
Hizbullah: Only the
Resistance Can Lead to a Capable State-Naharnet
Khalil Warns Against a
Plot to Separate the North From Lebanon-Naharnet
Hizbullah to sign memorandum of understanding with Salafists-Daily
Star
Grenades rock Tripoli in wake of deadly bombing-Daily
Star
Lebanese
widow sells world's most expensive villa-AFP
Relatives demand release of Fatah al-Islam suspects-
AFP
Kouchner to visit Lebanon on Middle East tour-AFP-Daily
Star
Graziano raps Israel for breaches of Resolution 1701-Daily
Star
Metn
residents protest against installation of power lines-Daily
Star
Nabatiyeh exhibition pays tribute to slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh-Daily
Star
US
says Hizbullah training Iraqi hit squads in Iran-Daily
Star
The Region: Israel's grand strategy-Jerusalem
Post
Lebanon's travel and tourism economy expected to generate $4.43 billion in 2008
Egypt
to provide Lebanon with electricity, gas-Daily
Star
Sidon
fishermen cry foul over use of illegal fishing methods-Daily
Star
As
national political and security conditions improve, resort town of Aley sees
tourism resurgence-Daily
Star
Just
sand and seawater: Hundreds of Lebanese enjoy holiday at public beach in Ramlet
al-Baida-Daily
Star
BEYOND THE DROPZONE
Phares on Hezbollah’s telecommunications expansion
Posted by W. Thomas Smith Jr. on 17 August 2008 at 2:09 pm UTC
In a conversation last week with Middle East terrorism expert Dr. Walid Phares
regarding Hezbollah’s recent strategic positioning and repositioning since the
2006 war with Israel – more specifically since the attacks on the Lebanese
government in May 2008 – the subject came up of Hezbollah’s extensive
telecommunications system.
I was reporting the existence of Hezbollah’s telecommunications system – and
Hezbollah’s control of much of greater Lebanon’s telecom system – as early as
September of 2007 (when I was in Lebanon). Dr. Phares has also been writing
about it, and with much greater specificity than perhaps any other writer or
analyst to date.
On Wednesday, Phares told me:
“Before the invasion of West Beirut and the assault on the Druze mountain,
Hezbollah’s telecommunications systems were up-and-running and fully operational
in half of Lebanon. They showed the structure of absorption for thousands of
Hezbollah fighters and Iranian Pasdaran already deployed in Lebanon. The swift
takeover of half of Lebanon’s capital and the multi-axis advance on the Shuf
heights demonstrated that this system can insure an internal “hard”
communications which can instruct, direct, guide, and move large units from one
side of Lebanon to another.
“Following the political victory of Hezbollah in Doha and the surrender of the
Lebanese first cabinet of Seniora and the March 14 Coalition to the
Syrian-Iranian agenda, Hezbollah’s TC system not only survived, but we believe
was extended and expanded. Reports – including those from media open sources –
tells us that the TC system was stretched across the line of summits from the
Metn area in the center northbound to Kesruwan and Jbeil mountains, deep in the
Christian heartland of Lebanon. Hezbollah operatives and special forces have
been seen on the commanding heights and summits of central Mount Lebanon where
they’ve established “security zones.” The Iranian-backed militia today controls
better strategic location than that which was ever controlled by the Syrian
occupation forces before 2005.”
More to come.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
Hizbullah Signs Controversial Understanding with a
Salafi Faction
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Monday signed a document of understanding with a Salafi faction
that drew sharp criticism from the highest Salafi authority in Lebanon Dai
al-Islam al-Shahhal who termed it mere "media crackling in favor of Hizbullah
and the Shiite community."
"The Salafi movement totally rejects this document … and who signed it has no
right to claim belonging to the Salafi movement or representing it," the ageing
Shahhal said.
"This document is … harmful to the Sunni community and would end up in vain, God
willing," he added.
"Those who signed have no influence, and whoever wants to defuse tension should
talk to forces that do exist," he stressed.
The document was signed by the head of Hizbullah's politburo Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed
and another Shahhal who goes by the name of Hassan Shahhal who heads the Belief
and Justice Movement (BJM).
Sayyed was quick in declaring that Hizbullah's understanding with the BJM would
be "doubted … by enemies of the nation."He said signing the understanding is "a step in the right direction."
BJM leader Hassan Shahhal said the understanding is a "bold step to heal
wounds."Sheikh Hassan claimed the understanding with Hizbullah has been "coordinated"
with Saad Hariri's Mustaqbal Movement.
There was no immediate comment from the movement on the step.
The document banned and denounced "any aggression by a Muslim faction on another
Muslim faction."It also called for confronting the "American agenda.""In case either Hizbullah or the Salafis was subjected to injustice by domestic
or external sides it should be backed (by the other side)," the document noted
in what could be interpreted as an alliance between Hizbullah and the Belief and
Justice Movement.
Beirut, 18 Aug 08, 12:35
Hizbullah Weapons into the Babylon Tower Dialogue
Naharnet/Hizbullah appeared heading to flooding the proposed
national dialogue with an expanded agenda and an expanded list of participants
as Premier Fouad Saniora warned that such a trend would only end up in a
"Babylon tower" disarray. The Hizbullah trend was outlined by its second in
command Sheik Naim Qassem who said the agenda for the forthcoming National
Dialogue Conference that would be sponsored by President Michel Suleiman, "is
not made up of only one item."
"The defense strategy is only one of many items. Other items are included, the
main topics are an economic perspective, tackling the social status, adopting a
mechanism to implement decisions of previous dialogue sessions and keeping
Lebanon away of regional and international policies," Qassem told a Hizbullah
Rally.
However, Saniora responded quickly by emphasizing on a single-item agenda for
the proposed national dialogue. "The National Dialogue Conference has a sole and
clearly defined topic (to tackle) that is the defense strategy," Saniora told
al-Mustaqbal daily. "If we open the door to expanding the dialogue we would end
up like the Babylon Tower," Saniora stressed. He cautioned against flooding the
dialogue agenda with other topics than the defense strategy, which in Lebanese
political parlance refers to Hizbullah weapons, saying such an attempt would
contradict with the role of constitutional institutions. "Then, what would be
the role of the cabinet and that of parliament?" Saniora asked. The March 14
majority alliance insists that only the 14 leaders who took part in previous
dialogue sessions should be invited to resume their deliberations under the
auspices of President Suleiman, while Hizbullah appears pressing for including
more participants in the discussions.
Sources close to the minority said MP Bahij Tabbara, who had broken away from
the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc, is to visit Baabda Palace early this week to
inform Suleiman of his proposal to invite "independent" figures to the national
dialogue. Beirut, 18 Aug 08, 08:43
Arab leaders note: Another fallen autocrat who defied laws
of legitimacy
By The Daily Star -Monday, August 18, 2008
Editorial
In the business of statesmanship, some lessons are worth re-learning over and
over again. One of the most recurring pertains to leaders in the developing
world who rely on political support and occasional lifelines from foreign
powers. The president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, is a classic and timely
example. He sways in winds emanating from storms created in large part by his
own intemperance over the past decade of his heavy-handed rule. His foreign
minister said this weekend that Musharraf must resign at once or face
impeachment proceedings.
Also running out of time is the tendency of third world dictators to derive
comfort and incumbency from foreign support and their own military, rather than
the democratic legitimization of their people. This is a particularly timely
lesson for many Arab leaders who often look to the US, France, Iran, Russia, the
UK or other foreign powers for money, arms and political ballast. Musharraf
should be a wake-up call for Arab leaders that any semblance of eternal power
anchored in foreign backing always turns out to be a chimera, when local,
regional and global conditions change, as they always do.
The draft charges against Musharraf - including violation of the constitution
and gross misconduct - should also be very familiar for many incumbent Arab
leaders. Musharraf probably sealed his own political doom in 2007 when he fired
the chief justice and nearly 60 judges so that they could not overturn his
re-election as president. Such indecent governance practices are common in
today's Middle East. Those who indulge in this kind of dishonesty and autocracy
and think they can escape the inevitable reckoning of history and their own
people should go to Pakistan for vacation Monday, and perhaps also check out
some retirement homes.
Musharraf reportedly is in negotiations to consider his options, including
exile, impeachment, a mild reprimand, retirement to a quiet life in a remote
area of Pakistan, or some combination of those. How sad but just it all is at
the end, when once mighty military men who thought they could crush civilian
democrats and legitimate representatives of the citizenry end up trying to
negotiate the least humiliating arrangement for their forced early retirement
and political disgrace. Good riddance to all the autocrats, especially if they
are retired through democratic means.
Zaki: Trial or Freedom for Nahr al-Bared Detainees
Naharnet/Palestine Liberation Organization representative to
Lebanon Abbas Zaki on Monday called for a speedy solution to the issue of
Palestinians held in connection with the Nahr al-Bared clashes. Zaki, talking to
families of the apprehended Palestinians, said a settlement to the thorny issue
is expected "soon."
Hundreds of Palestinian, Arab and Lebanese citizens were arrested in line with
the clashes between the Army and Fatah al-Islam militants in the northern
refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared more than a year ago. However, they have not been
referred to a court of justice. Beirut, 18 Aug 08, 13:12
Washington: No Restrictions on
Military Assistance to Lebanon
Naharnet/Deputy head of the U.S. diplomatic mission to Beirut Bill Grant on
Monday denied claims that Washington had refused to provide the Lebanese Army
with weapons. The Army sets its needs and requests for assistance, Grant told
the daily an-Nahar. The United States, he added, does not impose limits on what
the Lebanese Army can request. The Army can request whatever it wants and the
united Sates does not set conditions for using the weapons it provides, Grant
added.
U.S. military assistance is not linked to certain threats, be they Israeli or
other threats, but aims at helping the Lebanese Army safeguard stability in
Lebanon, which is part of regional stability, he added. Beirut, 18 Aug 08, 13:50
Salloukh: 100 Lebanese Citizens Serve Jail Sentences in
Syria
Naharnet/Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said Damascus has
presented to Beirut a list of 100 Lebanese citizens jailed in Syria as
criminals.
Salloukh said "there are more than 100 Lebanese citizens serving verdicts in
criminal cases in Syrian jails.""This requires talks between the justice
ministries of both countries to find out if it is possible for these prisoners
to serve the remaining periods of their sentences in Lebanon," Salloukh added.
"The Syrians also gave us lists of Syrian citizens missing in Lebanon," Salloukh
explained without further elaboration. Beirut, 18 Aug 08, 09:54
Saniora After Cheap Iraqi Oil
Naharnet/Lebanon and Iraq are expected to discuss oil and trade
during a visit by Premier Fouad Saniora to Baghdad, al-Mustaqbal daily reported
Monday.
It said Saniora has stressed that he would discuss soon with Iraqi officials,
including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, ways to benefit from Iraq's oil and to
improve trade between the two countries. The newspaper also quoted him as saying
that "Iraq is an Arab country and it is important to open up to it."
Saniora was in Egypt on Saturday where he met with President Husni Mubarak. He
said Egypt would supply his energy-starved country with electricity and gas.
Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates
the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to
power supply.
The country suffers daily power outages, including in Beirut. Al-Liwa daily
quoted sources from the delegation to Egypt as saying that Mubarak stressed to
Saniora the need to "upgrade the path of stability" in the country. Meanwhile,
the prime minister's advisor, Aref al-Abd, denied accusations in a phone call
with ANB TV network that Saniora's visit to Egypt was against the constitution.
Al-Abd's comment came after some ministers complained that the energy issue was
a cover up for a political agenda.He also denied that Saniora was planning to
meet with Saudi King Abdullah during his visit to Egypt. Beirut, 18 Aug 08,
08:21
Hizbullah Stresses 'Need for our Strength' to Fight Israel
Naharnet/Hizbullah said on Sunday the ongoing verbal campaign
"against the resistance does not call off the need for our strength to resist
occupation."
Hizbullah's second in command Sheikh Naim Qassem made the remark in a rally at
the Bekaa Valley town of Hermel. "The organized campaign against the resistance
and its weapons is not tantamount to dialogue … and does not cover up the fact
that our land is occupied and does not call off the need for our might and
capabilities to resist the occupation," Qassem said. Qassem said the United
States policy is failing and the latest step of its failures is in Georgia.
"Don't place bets on the United States," Qassem said. Beirut, 17 Aug 08, 20:38