LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
June 12/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Matthew 5,13-16. You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its
taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be
thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on
a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a
bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the
house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports-Naharnet
Syria: Between the Brink of the Abyss and Constructive Ambiguity.
By: Abdullah Iskandar 12/06/08
Lebanon's dream is short-lived-By
Sami Moubayed
11/06/08
Electricite du Liban generates more losses - and excuses - than power-
The Daily Star 11/06/08
Hezbollah Attacks Lebanese Villagers.By
W. Thomas Smith Jr. 11/06/08
Attack
Iran? Experts Differ on If and When.By Josiah Ryan.CNSNews.com 11/06/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June
11/08
Still No Cabinet for Lebanon-Naharnet
Lebanese Army to Use Force to Stop Violations-Naharnet
Hizbullah Awaits Response to Trading Ministers Offer-Naharnet
Gazoline Prices Continue to Soar, Exceed LL 1,600-Naharnet
Kouchner: Security Breaches Delay Cabinet Line-Up-Naharnet
EU, U.S. Urge Lebanon Government to Spread Control-Naharnet
Abul Aynein: Ain al-Hilweh Will Not be Another Nahr
al-Bared-Naharnet
Moussa to Use Wedding of Berri's Daughter for Political
Action-Naharnet
Kanaan: Largest Christian Bloc Entitled to Finance
Ministry-Naharnet
UNRWA Pleads for Funds for Palestinian Refugees-Naharnet
Bekaa Mufti Criticizes
Army Performance-Naharnet
Olmert signals readiness for talks with Lebanon-Daily
Star
Continuing clashes defy efforts to restore
stability-Daily Star
Program gives foreign students crash course on
Lebanon-Daily Star
Lebanese cabinet tussle may come down to finance,
foreign affairs-Daily Star
Syria's culture minister solidifies rapprochement
with visit to France-Daily Star
Journalist faces charges of libel, slander against
culture minister-Daily Star
Taking stock of Lebanon's good, bad and ugly-Daily
Star
EU, US Urge Lebanon Government to Spread Control-Naharnet
ANALYSIS: Egyptian snub of Syria to dissolve as Damascus returns ...Ha'aretz
Geagea
for State of Emergency in Troubled Regions-Naharnet
Suleiman for a Security Policy-Naharnet
Saniora
Done with Distribution of Cabinet Posts, Awaits Response-Naharnet
France, Germany Positive About Lebanon's Future-Deutsche
Welle
Olmert hopes for talks with Lebanon-Reuters
Lebanese minister says Doha deal in difficulties-Xinhua
Leaving Baghdad: The View From Syria-New
York Times
HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS LEBANESE VILLAGERS
Posted by W. Thomas Smith Jr. on 10 June 2008 at 2:23 am UTC
Though receiving only sparse coverage in much of the Western media today,
Hezbollah — Iran’s proxy Talibanesque army in Lebanon — launched a series of
armed attacks against civilian villagers (including elderly people, women, and
children) in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley last night and this morning.
Reports are sketchy as to what exactly spawned the latest attacks, though it
doesn’t take much to kick-start Hezbollah’s gunmen. What is known is that
Hezbollah (which, in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701,
justifies its existence and weaponry as “necessary” to resist foreign
aggression) has increasingly turned its weapons on the Lebanese citizenry.
Last month’s attacks, which began May 7, were launched after the legitimate
Lebanese government attempted to remove the Beirut airport security chief after
it was discovered he was directly connected to “Hezbollah,” as well as the
government’s discovery of an extensive Hezbollah telecommunications system which
the government tried to shut down.
In the end — after Hezbollah’s week-long reign of terror against innocent
civilians and pro-democracy supporters (who attempted a brave but somewhat
futile defense of their homes and places of business) — the government caved.
The army had barely fired a shot. The Hezbollah-connected airport security chief
got to keep his job, and his terrorist overlords got to keep their vast telecom
system. To pour salt in the proverbial wound, Hezbollah was granted veto power
in all government decisions and additional cabinet seats.
Then on May 26, the day after pro-Syrian Gen. Michel Sleiman was sworn in as
Lebanon’s president — a deal that was cut in the same regional crisis talks that
awarded Hezbollah (and of course, Iran and Syria) its new veto powers — fighting
again broke out.
Yes, it was a matter of Hezbollah “again” attacking members of the pro-democracy
movement in that country. And, yes, the scope of that reporting was — as it has
been today — negligible.
Now we come to last night: Hezbollah fighters “again” attacked villagers, and
they did so with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and light and heavy
machineguns.
Even worse — according to our sources – it took the Lebanese Army at least eight
hours to respond. And when the Army did finally roll in, it did not confront
Hezbollah directly (with “direct action”).
And don’t get me started on the useless, toothless UN force in Lebanon.
Where is the West in this?!
UPDATE: Just got off the phone with Tom Harb, secretary general of the World
Council for the Cedars Revolution, who tells me:
“The general public and members of the pro-democracy majority in Lebanon are
calling on the UN for immediate assistance. Additionally, Hezbollah has still
not withdrawn from many of the areas of west Beirut they invaded last month.”
More to come.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.
Lebanon's dream is short-lived
By Sami Moubayed
DAMASCUS - The Western media virtually stopped covering events in Lebanon after
Lebanese leaders signed the Doha agreement that led to the election of Michel
Suleiman as president in May. It seemed like a fairytale come true, in which
after years of war and blood everybody made up and lived happily ever after.
But that is not how things operate in the real world; certainly not in Lebanon.
At the Doha conference, it was decided that all parties would immediately elect
army commander Suleiman. That has been done. It was decided that the sit-in
staged by the Hezbollah-led
opposition in downtown Beirut for 18 months would come to an end. That also has
happened.
All parties decided to refrain from using arms - under any circumstances - in
Beirut. That has not happened and there have been almost daily reports on
shootings, quarrels - and deaths - coming out of the Lebanese capital.
One of the most recent was a report of an attack on a partisan of the Future
Movement of parliamentary majority leader Saad al-Hariri, in Bir Hasan, a
neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy in the capital. He was badly injured by
armed men dressed in parliamentary police uniform, ostensibly loyal to
parliament speaker and opposition leader Nabih Berri.
Then three people were wounded in a clash between pro-Hezbollah and pro-Hariri
people in the Bekka Valley, close to the border with Syria. In addition to the
sniping - and armed men roaming the streets at night, looking for trouble -
several attacks have been recorded against the Lebanese army.
Shaker al-Abbsi, the mastermind who led the war against the army in May and June
last year in the northern village of Naher al-Bared, issued a statement this
week (similar to ones issued by Osama Bin Laden), accusing Sunni leaders of
Lebanon (in reference to Hariri) of treason and of receiving funds from the US
government. He then opened fire on Shi'ite Hezbollah, accusing it of terrorizing
Sunni districts in Lebanon in the battle that erupted on May 7 this year.
He said, "The objective of Saad [Hariri], [Hezbollah leader Hasan] Nasrallah,
and [Palestinian President Mahmud] Abbas is to humiliate the people. One is
taking orders from [US President George W] Bush, and the other from the devil's
verses in Teheran." He said the time was ripe for "vengeance" in Lebanon.
Additionally, the media war between opposing camps has not ended, with
Hezbollah's al-Manar TV and Hariri's Future TV spreading nothing but venom
against each other.
The only positive development - apart from the election of Suleiman - has been
the June 7 visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Beirut. In addition to
meeting his new Lebanese counterpart, Sarkozy met with over 80 politicians,
including senior members of Hezbollah, to devise a Franco-Lebanese strategy for
the country's future.
By meeting with Nasrallah's envoy over lunch, Sarkozy was making himself heard
in Washington, effectively saying: "We will do what it takes to get Lebanon up
and running. US concerns over the background and agenda of Hezbollah do not
concern us. We will do what we believe is in France's best interests in the
Middle East."
Earlier, Sarkozy had snubbed the Americans when he invited a delegation from
Hezbollah to Paris for round-table talks held with Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner. When hostilities broke out in Beirut in mid-May, Sarkozy issued a
statement calling for dialogue, falling short of condemning either Hezbollah or
Syria.
One Lebanese, admiring Sarkozy's persistence, commented, "When [former
Palestinian leader] Yasser Arafat was doing the hajj [pilgrimage] to Mecca, he
refused to strike at [the manifestation] of the devil [as done by Muslim
pilgrims during a haj ritual]. Arafat argued, 'Why should I strike at the devil;
I may need him one day, for Palestine'. And this is how pragmatically Sarkozy is
dealing with the Lebanon file, refusing to strike at anybody - despite American
pressure - because he needs all parties to bring peace to Lebanon."
In addition to cuddling up to Hezbollah, Sarkozy made several overtures towards
Syria. The first was to invite President Bashar al-Assad to visit Paris to
attend a Mediterranean conference on July 13. "The Syrian president, whom I
contacted by telephone, expressed his desire to participate. I think that his
presence is most likely," said the French leader from Paris at a press
conference with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi before arriving in
Beirut.
If it materializes, this would be Assad's first trip to Europe since relations
soured, under pressure from the United States, in 2005. Then in an interview
published in three Lebanese dailies on June 6, Sarkozy said his country would
"resume contacts with Syria only when positive, concrete developments occurred
in Lebanon, with a view to getting out of the crisis". He added, "One has to
concede that the Doha accord, the election of President Suleiman and the return
of Fouad Siniora as prime minister are such developments." He wrapped up by
saying, "I have drawn the conclusions and I have called Assad to tell him of my
desire to see the implementation of the accord continue."
Sources close to his office told reporters in Beirut that Sarkozy will send two
envoys to Damascus, Jean-David Levitte, a presidential advisor, and Claude
Gueant, the office's secretary general, to help turn a new page in Franco-Syrian
relations. The source added, "Everything depends on how things develop, whether
at the level of a Syrian embassy being opened in Beirut or respect for civil
peace in Lebanon."
For their part, the Syrians (who refused to comment to these press leaks) have
welcomed the messages coming from Paris. They have expressed, according to
Suleiman, their readiness to exchange diplomatic relations with Lebanon for the
first time since the two countries were separated by France in 1920. Syria has
also stressed it will soon appoint an ambassador to Paris (through the
pro-government daily al-Watan newspaper) a post that has been vacant since 2006,
when relations soured under ex-president Jacques Chirac.
A Syrian source added, "It is also not unlikely that we resume [with the French]
talks over the Syria-European Union partnership agreement, while France chairs
the EU as of next month." That agreement was signed preliminary in 2004 and then
ratified by the EU parliament, but it was then called off after the
assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri in 2005, under pressure
from Paris and the United States.
As part of the economic rapprochement between the two countries, a French firm
has been granted a license to build two large cement factories in Syria, for
US$1.2 billion. This could lead to the Syrians granting France the right to
construct their metro system, a tender that had previously been earmarked for
either Iran or India.
Meanwhile, the Americans frowned at the sweet talk being exchanged between
Damascus and Paris, especially after three phone calls between Sarkozy and
Syria's Assad. "France and the United States share the same wish for peace and
stability in the region," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack,
noting, "Washington will ask Paris for clarification." He added, "At the same
time, the United States has serious concerns over the Syrian government's
behavior."
Making things worse is that the Lebanese have failed - nearly 20 days after
Suleiman's election, on creating a new cabinet. Shortly after everybody returned
from Doha, it was decided that Siniora, the March 14 party heavyweight, would be
called in to form another cabinet. Bringing him down (and preventing him from
creating another cabinet) was one of the pillars of the Hezbollah-led
opposition's program.
They accused him of dividing Lebanon, showing favoritism towards pro-Hariri
Sunnis, and of selling out to the Americans and the Saudis. Hezbollah had
launched a loud war against him after the summer war of 2006, saying that he and
his team had called on Israel, via the Americans, to prolong its war on Lebanon,
hoping that this would crush Hezbollah. It was a sharp slap in the face for the
opposition to see him being called in for another round at the premiership - but
by commanding a parliamentary majority he had the constitutional right to do so,
and in the spirit of the Doha agreement they let it pass.
The second stumbling bloc came with regard to the makeup of the Siniora cabinet.
According to the Doha deal, the prime minister would preside over a 30-man
cabinet. Sixteen of its seats would be held by the pro-Western majority, known
as March 14. And 11 would be held by the Hezbollah-led opposition, giving it
veto power within the cabinet to drown any legislation related to the inquiry
into Hariri's death or regarding the arms of Hezbollah. The final three seats
would be named by the president.
It has now been decided that the three seats will be Defense and Interior, to be
filled by a Maronite and a Greek Orthodox, and the third seat will be for a
Catholic as a minister of state with no portfolio.
The two Shi'ite parties, Amal and Hezbollah, will get five seats, including
minister of foreign affairs, and they will be named by speaker Nabih Berri. The
rest of the opposition's six portfolios would be divided between Sunni, Druze
and Christian forces allied to Hezbollah and Amal.
The March 14 coalition gets the Ministry of Finance (traditionally held by
Siniora) along with services-related cabinets, like Telecommunications.
Opposition leader and presidential hopeful Michel Aoun - who was never too
pleased with the Doha agreement because it denied him his last chance at
becoming president - supposedly gets two of the five Maronite seats in the
Siniora cabinet. He has his eyes set on everybody else's ration; that of the
Shi'ites, Sunnis and fellow Christians. He is demanding the Ministry of Finance
"to see why they [the Hariri team] have monopolized it for so long". He is also
demanding the Ministry of Health, although it is earmarked for his ally Nabih
Berri.
Whenever confronted by friends or allies, he tells the press, "They cannot form
the cabinet without us [the Free Patriotic Movement] and if they want to try,
let them." He always adds, "We are in a hurry, we want the cabinet formed. it
can be formed in a week's time."
Another problem is confessional - rather than political - representation. One of
the conditions of the Doha agreement is that no party walk out on the cabinet
under any circumstances. In 2006, Amal and Hezbollah resigned from the Siniora
cabinet, and immediately labeled it unconstitutional because it no longer
included any Shi'ites. This time, the March 14 coalition gets to name a Shi'ite,
so if Hezbollah walks away, there would still be Shi'ite representation. In
return, Hezbollah gets to name a Sunni. March 14, to date, has been uneasy with
Hezbollah naming Sunni ministers in the cabinet.
Suleiman, the new president, is upset that his era is off to a rough start,
thanks to the bickering of politicians. So is the Maronite patriarch, Mar
Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. This week, sources close to Siniora mapped out their
own version of the cabinet - without naming ministers - and put forward a draft
cabinet, which was immediately and flatly rejected by Hezbollah and Michel Aoun.
The euphoria following the Doha agreement is fast dissipating.
**Sami Moubayed is a Syrian political analyst.
**(Copyright 2008 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please
contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)
Still No Cabinet for Lebanon
Naharnet/Squabbling between the majority and the opposition over who should control the
powerful defense and finance ministries is holding up formation of a new
government in Lebanon.
Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora held a series of meetings on Tuesday with
the various politicians again failing to reach a compromise on the defense and
finance ministry portfolios.
The daily An Nahar on Wednesday said that while the pro-government ruling
majority insists that the defense and interior ministries stay with the
President, Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun apparently wants the defense
post on grounds that Saniora still clings to the finance portfolio.
It said this demand, however, was not only rejected by the majority, but by
President Michel Suleiman himself "who does not believe in separating his
security role" between the defense and the interior ministries.
The opposition also insists on not giving up on the foreign ministry post.
But former President Amin Gemayel denied that Saniora was clinging to the
finance ministry.
News reports had quoted Saniora as saying that he would rather "go home" than
relinquish a powerful post he held for several years under the late premier
Rafik Hariri.
Sources close to Nabih Berri said the speaker hailed Saniora for remarks in
which he said that no one confession should monopolize any cabinet portfolio.
Press reports said Berri was likely to meet with Suleiman on Wednesday.
The pro-opposition newspaper Ad Diyar, meanwhile, said the latest cabinet
make-up provided the following breakdown of the key posts:
- Berri's AMAL Movement to take the foreign ministry
- MP Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement to take the finance ministry
- Suleiman to take the defense ministry
- Aoun's FPM to take the interior ministry
Ad Diyar said the interior ministry portfolio remains the "major obstacle."
It said Hariri has yet to agree with giving the interior ministry to Aoun's
bloc.
MP Wael Abu Faour of Druze leader Walid Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party
has suggested that Aoun chooses one of two portfolios – finance or foreign.
In the last cabinet, the foreign ministry was the only one held by the
opposition. It was held by Fawzi Salloukh of the AMAL movement.
"We agreed in Doha that the sovereign (cabinet) posts should be equally divided
between the opposition and the parliamentary majority," Abu Faour said.
"Given that the interior and defense portfolios would go to the President, I
suggest that Aoun declares which of the finance and foreign portfolios he
wants," Abu Faour added, insisting that the opposition cannot "get both
ministries."Aoun is adamant he wants the finance ministry, a stand rejected by Lebanese
Forces chief Samir Geagea and other pro-government leaders.
Beirut, 11 Jun 08, 07:05
Lebanese Army to Use Force to Stop Violations
Naharnet/The Lebanese army on Wednesday said it will use force to stop violations in
Beirut.
A communiqué issued by the army command said "some youths seek to gather and
carry out provocative, irresponsible acts in various areas of the capital."
The statement called on "everybody" to refrain from such acts "in an effort to
reduce tension and spread peace and stability."
The army warned violators that it would "deter them by force" if needed. Beirut,
11 Jun 08, 13:35
Gazoline Prices Continue to Soar, Exceed LL 1,600
Naharnet/Gazoline prices continued to soar upward Wednesday.
The price of 20 liters of 98 and 95 octane gasoline rose LL 1,600 while the
price of 20 liters of kerosene rose LL 1,400 and diesel by LL 1,700.
Beirut, 11 Jun 08, 14:12
Kouchner: Security Breaches Delay Cabinet Line-Up
Naharnet/French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said hazards still exist in the
formation of a new Lebanese government.
"Frequent security breaches, in most cases serious, delay the formation of the
government," Kouchner was quoted as telling the French parliament. Beirut, 11
Jun 08, 10:49
EU, U.S. Urge Lebanon Government to Spread Control
Naharnet/The European Union and the United States have called on the Beirut government to
spread control over all Lebanese territories.
The call came at a summit between U.S. President George Bush and EU leaders in
Slovenia.
A statement issued Tuesday at the end of the summit expressed hope that the Doha
agreement would be implemented.
The leaders renewed their "commitment to the principles of sovereignty and
independence of Lebanon." They also pledged support to the Lebanese government.
They called on all political parties, including Syria, to commit to U.N.
Security Council resolutions 1559, 1701 and 1757.They also requested "full cooperation" with the international tribunal to try
suspects in the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri.
Beirut, 11 Jun 08, 10:47
Hizbullah Awaits Response to Trading Ministers Offer
Naharnet/Hizbullah said Tuesday it has not received a response to its offer to trade two
Shiite ministers for a Sunni and a Druze.
The stand was outlined by head of Hizbullah's parliamentary bloc Mohammed Raad.
Raad, talking to Hizbullah's al-Manar television, said "some logic is needed to
overcome obstacles facing the government line-up. The mission could be
accomplished in a week time."He said putting the Israeli-occupied Shebaa farms under the guardianship of the
United Nations "wouldn't regain the territory to Lebanese sovereignty." Beirut,
10 Jun 08, 21:35
Moussa to Use Wedding of Berri's Daughter for Political Action
Naharnet/Arab League chief Amr Moussa will travel to Beirut on Friday to attend the
wedding of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's daughter.
The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Moussa is likely to use the wedding, which is
due on Saturday, to hold contacts with the various political parties to inquire
about the "obstacles" facing formation of the new government.
Beirut, 11 Jun 08, 09:25
Kanaan: Largest Christian Bloc Entitled to Finance Ministry
Naharnet/MP Ibrahim Kanaan believed that Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc is entitled
to the finance ministry portfolio in the new cabinet.
"Why is the largest Christian parliamentary bloc not entitled to the ministry of
finance after it was taken over by one political group in 1990?" Kanaan
questioned.
Kanaan denied in a television interview that delay in announcing the cabinet
line-up was related to Aoun's request for the finance ministry post, but rather
the ruling majority's "desire to monopolize power."
He believed that the slow formation of the new government was a means to kill
time until the 2009 parliamentary elections.
"But this will not take place," he stressed.
Beirut, 11 Jun 08, 08:28
Bekaa Mufti Criticizes Army Performance
Naharnet/Bekaa Mufti Sheikh Khalil al-Meis on Tuesday criticized the Lebanese Army
performance in regions contested by Hizbullah and Mustaqbal Movement partisans.
Meis, addressing a press conference, said the army was launching arrests in
Saadnayel-Taalabaya region "targeting victims more than criminals."
He urged a halt to the wave of arrests at present so that it would not provoke a
confrontation with the army.
Mufti Meis made the remarks after a meeting he sponsored at the Bekaa Azhar
complex grouping leaders of the Sunni community in the central and western Bekaa
sectors.
The meeting was also attended by Christian personalities and heads of municipal
councils in the Bekaa.
Meis expressed hope that clashes would not be renewed and declared commitment to
peaceful coexistence among the various communities.
Beirut, 10 Jun 08, 20:33
Suleiman for a Security Policy
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman called for adopting a security policy, saying only
politics can safeguard civic order.
Politics, according to the president, also sponsors security and security leads
to prosperous economy.
Suleiman made the remarks to a delegation representing Lebanon's economic
authorities headed by ex-minister Adnan Kassar.
The president spoke of the ordeal that the Lebanese people are going through due
to the ongoing economic hardships.
"Lots of proposals and good ideas (in this regard) should be considered.
However, the priority is to safeguard Lebanon," Suleiman said.
Beirut, 10 Jun 08, 18:08
Geagea for State of Emergency in Troubled Regions
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has called for declaring a state of
emergency in areas contested by Hizbullah and majority partisans.
Geagea, in an interview with al-Markaziya newsletter, said those involved in
acts of violence should be apprehended and referred to the military tribunal and
held accountable for what they have done.
He said naional dialogue should be launched at the Republican Palace under the
auspices of President Michel Suleiman immediately after formation of the new
cabinet.
The nation's priorities, according to Geagea, are "security, security and
security."
Beirut, 10 Jun 08, 17:43
Attack Iran? Experts Differ on If and When
By Josiah Ryan
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
June 10, 2008
(CNSNews.com) - Iran's support of Iraqi insurgents and the nuclear threat Iran
poses to Israel warrants a U.S. military strike, argued former U.S. Ambassador
to the U.N. John Bolton and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.).
But experts from the libertarian Cato Institute and the conservative Heritage
Foundation urged a go-slow approach.
"Attacking Iran at this stage would be horribly premature, both in terms of the
state of their nuclear program and in terms of their activities in Iraq,"
saidChristopher Preble, director of foreign policy Studies at the Cato
Institute.
"As with any country, if I were to advocate attack, I would have to be convinced
that the threat that they pose to us was sufficient and that there were no other
means available and that action was likely to put us in a more secure position,"
he said.
"I think we've got to be prepared to take aggressive military action against the
Iranians to stop them from killing Americans in Iraq," Lieberman said on CBS's
Face the Nation on June 10, 2007. "To me, that would include a strike over the
border into Iran, where we have good evidence that they have a base at which
they are training these people coming back into Iraq to kill our soldiers."
John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told The Telegraph on
May 6, that he favors a strike on facilities where Iran is believed to be
training Iraqi insurgents.
"This is a case where the use of military force against a training camp to show
the Iranians we're not going to tolerate this is really the most prudent thing
to do," Bolton said. "Then the ball would be in Iran's court to draw the
appropriate lesson to stop harming our troops."
But Jim Phillips, a senior analyst at The Heritage Foundation, told Cybercast
News Service Friday that until Iran is involved in a terrorist attack against an
American target somewhere other then Iraq, he would not advocate a U.S. military
strike.
"I think it [attacking Iran] should remain an option, but it should only be
considered once all other possibly are exhausted. It should be a last resort,"
Phillips said. "It's certainly not something I would push to do right away
unless there is some kind of intelligence report I am unaware of."
Press reports on Friday quoted Israel's deputy prime minister as saying that
Israel would attack Iran if it continues to pursue its nuclear weapons program.
"Other options are disappearing," Shaul Mofaz was quoted as saying. "The
sanctions are not effective. There will be no alternative but to attack Iran in
order to stop the Iranian nuclear program."
But Preble and Phillips said the U.S. should try to deter Iran from its nuclear
program and from its involvement in Iraq by exploring other options.
"A lot of other countries have chosen not to develop nuclear weapons even though
they have the technical ability to do so. The crucial question is, why have they
chosen not to do so?" said Preble.
"The U.S. has put as many economic sanctions as it can on Iran but it needs to
pressure its friends and allies to follow suit. It should also be supporting
separatist groups around the periphery of Iran in retaliation for Iran's support
of Iraqi insurgents," said Phillips.
But Lieberman said that if the U.S. does not act against Iran, "they'll take
that as a sign of weakness on our part and we will pay for it in Iraq and
throughout the region and ultimately right here at home."
"We can tell them we want them to stop that, but if there's any hope of the
Iranians living according to the international rule of law and stopping, for
instance, their nuclear weapons development, we can't just talk to them,"
Lieberman said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a press conference on Apr. 23 that Iranian
involvement in the Iraq war has been responsible for up to 200 American deaths
in Iraq. "What the Iranians are doing is killing American servicemen and women
inside Iraq," he said.
A true example about Hezbollah
way of governing
10, 2008 4:17:22 PM
1- This is what Hezbollah believe in and take order from
2- This is what considered the best governing system (Wileyat el Faqih) by
Hezbollah
3- This is what Hassan Nossralla is proud of
UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF ASKS IRAN TO STAY EXECUTION OF FOUR JUVENILE OFFENDERS
The top United Nations human rights official has asked Iran not to execute four
people sentenced to death for crimes they committed when they were under the age
of 18, reminding the country of its obligations under international law.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour expressed her concern today
over reports that the four men – Behnoud Shojaaee, Mohammad Fadaaee, Saeed Jazee
and Behnam Zaare – are at imminent risk of execution.
Ms. Arbour “acknowledged the steps taken by the Iranian authorities to subject
these cases to closer judicial scrutiny, and to encourage settlements between
perpetrators and victims’ families,” according to a news release issued by her
office.
“But she reminded the Iranian authorities of the absolute prohibition on the
application of the death penalty for juvenile offenders under international
law,” it added.
New York, Jun 10 2008 9:00AM
Lebanese cabinet tussle may
come down to finance, foreign affairs
Rival parties lay competing claims to last remaining sovereign portfolios
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
BEIRUT: Lebanon spent another day waiting for the formation of a new unity
cabinet on Tuesday, but senior figures from both the ruling March 14 camp and
the March 8 opposition alliance expressed confidence that the difficulties would
be ironed out. Former President Amin Gemayel met Prime Minister-designate Fouad
Siniora, telling reporters afterward that the latter had forwarded two different
formulas to the rival parties and was awaiting their responses.
Gemayel denied that Siniora was insisting on keeping the Finance Ministry in the
hands of one of his confidantes, contradicting news reports quoting the premier
as stating that he would rather "go home" than relinquish control of a portfolio
he held for several years under the late Rafik Hariri.
Gemayel also defended the principle of empowering recently elected President
Michel Sleiman by giving him major ministries in the new cabinet.
Political sources said Tuesday said that both of Siniora's formulas have given
the president two out of the four sovereign - defense, finance, foreign affairs
and interior - portfolios, leaving one each for March 8 and March 14. It has
been widely reported that Sleiman is keen on the security-related interior and
defense ministries.MP Ibrahim Kanaan of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) told
The Daily Star on Tuesday that the opposition had no fears about the
implementation of the Doha agreement despite the delay in the formation of the
new cabinet.
Kanaan added that Siniora has not yet presented a "complete" proposal on how the
next cabinet would look.
"None of the proposals that reached us were complete ones," Kanaan said.
He also reiterated FPM leader MP Michel Aoun's demand that the finance
portfolio, currently held by March 14 loyalist Jihad Azour, change hands.
"We are trying to say that true democracy requires the rotation of power ...
Some parties are acting as if they own some ministries," he said, referring to
Siniora's alleged insistence on retaining the Finance Ministry.
However, a source close to Siniora told The Daily Star on Tuesday that the
incumbent prime minister believes that no party has the right to monopolize any
portfolio.
"Siniora is not against Aoun's position when it comes to power rotation," the
source said. "On the contrary, the prime minister believes that adopting such a
principle contributes to reform in state institutions."
Progressive Socialist Party MP Wael Abu Faour suggested that Aoun get the
opposition's sovereign portfolio. The Foreign Ministry was the only one held by
the opposition in the last cabinet, and it went to Fawzi Salloukh of Speaker
Nabi Berri's Amal party.
"We agreed in Doha that the sovereign portfolios should be equally divided
between the opposition and the parliamentary majority ... Given that the
interior and defense portfolios would go to the president, I suggest that Aoun
says which of the portfolios of finance and foreign he wants ... The opposition
cannot get both ministries," Abu Faour said.
Aoun has made it clear that he wants finance, a stand rejected by Lebanese
Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea .
"Aoun is saying that no party should monopolize any cabinet portfolio," he said.
"If this is his position, why doesn't he take the Foreign Ministry from his
allies in Amal? ... The Foreign Ministry has been in the hands of Amal for the
past 18 years."
In a separate development on Tuesday, Sleiman received Russ-ian Ambassador
Sergey Bukin at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. Bukin told Sleiman that
Russia was looking forward to enhanced economic and military cooperation with
Lebanon.
Sleiman stressed the need to develop bilateral relations and expressed gratitude
for Russia's support of Lebanon in both regional and international forums.
Sleiman also received a delegation headed by the head of the Palestinian
diplomatic mission in Lebanon, Abbas Zaki.
"I am glad to see the different Palestinian factions united in one delegation
... Palestinian unity is essential in order to avert Israel's plans to divide
the Palestinian people," the president was quoted as saying, referring to the
feud between Hamas and Fatah.
Zaki congratulated Sleiman on his election as president and said that the
Palestinians were looking forward to open a new page of relations with Lebanon.
Sleiman said unpleasant past experiences in Lebanese-Palestinian relations
should be set aside and voiced support for the right of Palestinian refugees to
return to their homes. Sleiman also said he backed efforts aimed at
reconstructing the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared near Tripoli, which
was destroyed during last year's battles between the Lebanese Armed Forces and
the Fatah al-Islam militant group
Syria: Between the Brink of the
Abyss and "Constructive" Ambiguity
Abdullah Iskandar
Al-Hayat - 11/06/08//
It seems, perhaps for the first time since the assassination of former Lebanese
Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in February 2005, that Syria has moved away from the
"brink of the abyss" policy that it has adopted as part of its defiance
strategy, whether in Iraq or in Lebanon, in inter-Arab relations, or in its
focus on the special strategic ties with Iran. During this period, Syria was
openly and practically determined to engage in wide scale confrontation through
domestic tools in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. It was also
involved in verbal war with the international community, especially with the
tight American-French alliance and with the majority of Arab countries, hence
the low level Arab representation at the Damascus Summit last March. For a
while, Syria appeared alone in its commitment to a form of escalation that
almost brought down all the fundamentals of joint Arab policy and evolved into a
regional military confrontation.
Since the Annapolis Conference for peace in the Middle East last November, and
more specifically since the election of General Michel Suleiman as president on
25 May, Damascus has ambiguously and vaguely transformed its management of the
inflammable regional issues. To retrieve unprecedented diplomatic activity in
Arab and international directions, and since Annapolis, Syria has suggested that
it is pursuing the mainstream peaceful path as expressed in the Arab peace
initiative. With its mere attendance at the conference, it signaled that it did
not object to pushing the Palestinian-Israeli track forward with American
sponsorship. Then came the revelation of the indirect Syrian-Israeli
negotiations with Turkish mediation to show that Damascus was not maneuvering
over its peace choice with Israel. With the election of a president in Lebanon,
Syria was showing responsiveness to the general Lebanese, Arab and international
calls to end political void in the land of cedars and to allow institutions to
play their role in resolving domestic conflicts.
While no one will risk offering a decisive interpretation of Syria relinquishing
the brink-of-abyss policy, it is still difficult to predict how far the new
Syrian approach will go, especially that Damascus has yet to offer a new reading
of this approach while it confirms the continuity of its policy and indicates
that change - in case there was any - was the result of a change in behavior on
the other side. This ambiguity in the "new" Syrian positions is most likely
intended to preserve the mobility and flexibility required in the coming period.
Similarly, ambiguity is maintained with respect to changes in decision-making
positions in Damascus in concurrence with the Syrian diplomatic offensive.
In this context, it is significant, at least for Syria, that President Bashar
Assad is a guest in several Arab capitals, if only in his capacity as the head
of the Arab summit which demands action to handle general Arab issues. All this
precedes a foreign tour for President Assad, a tour for which the Syrian
diplomacy is mobilizing all efforts in an attempt to highlight its significance.
At the time when Washington still attempts to keep Syria under siege, calm
preparations are underway for a French-Syrian summit in Paris, even if it only
came on the sidelines of the Mediterranean Union Summit next month. France,
which had until recently severed any contacts with Syria, is interested in
returning to normal relations with Damascus on the eve of assuming presidency of
the European Union. This move has upset Washington which has announced that it
will seek an explanation from Paris over this change in position.
The diplomatic siege surrounding Syria has been broken. Yet, basic questions
have yet to find convincing answers. How far will the talks with Israel go given
the expiring presidential term in the US and the political instability of Ehud
Olmert's government? How far will Damascus go in encouraging the internal
Palestinian dialogue? Will it pressure its Palestinian allies to offer the
necessary concessions to ensure the success of this dialogue? How far will
Damascus go in translating into actions its declared concern over domestic peace
in Lebanon and interest in normalizing relations there? Will it utilize its
relations with its Lebanese allies for this purpose? Most probably, the
ambiguity in responding to all these questions is more a part of the new
approach rather than a change in the positions over these issues. Ambiguity is a
necessity for the policy of keeping the door ajar, which has allowed Syria to
partly break the imposed siege