LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 14/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5,27-32. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.'But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports-Naharnet
How the Jihadi Propaganda Machine Will Win the Guantanamo Trials. By: Dr. Walid Phares 13/06/08
Thank Sleiman for putting an independent judiciary on the agenda- The Daily Star 13/06/08
Iranian power comes with responsibility-By Volker Perthes 13/06/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June 13/08
Opposition Slams Cabinet Line-Up as a 'Trap'-Naharnet
Opposition Hints at Escalating Measures if Cabinet Delayed-Naharnet
Assad Comfortable with Tribunal Objectivity, Lebanon Visit Linked to New Cabinet-Naharnet
Moussa in Beirut on Dual Mission…Attend a Wedding, Meet with Political Leaders-Naharnet
Poll: Lebanese Have Strong Expectation Next U.S. President Will Worsen Policies-Naharnet
Ban to Discuss International Tribunal's Hearings Schedule with Lebanon's Government-Naharnet
Bush Nominates Sison as New U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon-Naharnet
Mufti Qabbani: Hizbullah's Apology Key to Reconciliation-Naharnet
Saniora Agrees With Berri on Progress Towards a New Cabinet-Naharnet
Geagea Accuses the Opposition of Practicing Political Blackmail-Naharnet
Assad Invited to France as Ties Suspended over Lebanon Thaw-Naharnet
Assad: Israel never asked Syria to cut ties with Iran-Ha'aretz
Assad Comfortable with Tribunal Objectivity, Lebanon Visit Linked ...Naharnet
Assad: Peace talks should pick up from where Rabin Left off-Ynetnews
Lebanon – dangerous days-InTheNews.co.uk
Olmert, go home-Ha'aretz
UN helping farmers in South Lebanon rehabilitate crops and livestock-Daily Star
Riyadh, Tehran 'near deal' on Lebanon, etc.-Daily Star
Cluster bombs claim another victim in South Lebanon-AFP
Israel frets revenge for Mughniyeh hit-Daily Star
Media reports on UNIFIL 'misinformed-Daily Star
Sappers dismantle two roadside bombs in North Lebanon-Daily Star
Siniora predicts general public approval of new cabinet-Daily Star
Would-be donors get guided tour of Nahr al-Bared-Daily Star
Lebanese private sector reels as fuel prices soar-Daily Star
After the clashes, what does one tell the children?-Daily Star
Rural Rachiine presents escape from Beirut buzz-Daily Star
Syrian president headed for india, too-AFP
Rehabilitation continues as Assad gains invite to Paris-AFP
Aoun's stubbornness threatens to torpedo Doha accord-Ya Libnan
Chavez Recruiting and Training for Hezbollah?Jawa Report
Israel fears Hezbollah may try to 'settle score' over Mughniyeh-Ha'aretz
Hezbollah Steams Ahead-The National Interest Online
Lebanon MP urges Hezbollah to apologize to the people-Ya Libnan
Earthquake Rocks South Lebanon-Naharnet
Bush says US-Europe Stand Firm with Reformists in Lebanon, World-Naharnet
Quake in Lebanon shakes northern Israel-Ynetnews
New Lebanese President Has Tough Job Ahead-Middle East Times

Riyadh, Tehran 'near deal' on Lebanon, etc.
By The Daily Star
Friday, June 13, 2008
BEIRUT: Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Wednesday he had reached a "preliminary deal" with Saudi King Abdullah over how to coordinate efforts concerning Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and the region. Rafsanjani, who still occupies a high-ranking post in the Iranian government, made his comments during an interview with Saudi daily Al-Riyadh. Also commenting on the situation in Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the situation is gradually stabilizing, adding that his country has played a positive role in the Doha accord.
"The situation is heading towards more stability in Lebanon after the different political sides reached an agreement in Doha," Mottaki said during a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Paris Wednesday. Concerning Syria, Mottaki said Iran backs Syria's demand for the return the Golan heights, "which are part of Syria, as should the [occupied] Lebanese Shebaa Farms be liberated." Separately, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu al-Gheit slammed Iran for working on "monopolizing power" in the region and Lebanon." Abu al-Gheit told the Egyptian daily Rose al-Youssef on Thursday that the course of events in Lebanon represents a dangerous trend toward the division of the country, and later, the division of the Islamic world. "Thus, Iran, which currently owns a number of political cards, would be the winner." "It could be Iran's right to pursue its own interests, but it is also Egypt's right to defend Arab lands," Abu al-Gheit said.
He touched upon Iran's "growing" influence in Iraq, and on Hamas and Hizbullah, calling on Iranians "to exercise a more positive role in the region."Regarding Egypt's diplomatic role in solving the Lebanese crisis, the former ambassador dismissed allegations Egypt's regional influence was diminished. Following armed street clashes in early May pitting pro-government against opposition forces, the Arab foreign ministers, during an extraordinary meeting in Cairo, formed a committee to follow up the Lebanese situation and sooth the tensions. Abu al-Gheit also expressed surprise over accusations directed against Egyptian diplomacy. "Egypt played a central role in the Arab Ministerial Meeting from which the commission was founded," Abu al-Gheit said. "It was Egypt who suggested that Qatar be president of the commission," he added. Abu al-Gheit said that Syrian officials informed Egypt that they did not wish to see a committee on Lebanon established, "because what was happening was an internal Lebanese matter, and Qatar had some reservations." - The Daily Star

Israel frets revenge for Mughniyeh hit
By The Daily Star
Friday, June 13, 2008
BEIRUT: Israel believes Hizbullah may try a major attack against the Jewish state in order to "settle accounts" over the assassination of top military commander Imad Mughniyeh, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Thursday. Hizbullah blames Israel for Mughniyeh's death in Damascus in February.
"Concerns of a Hizbullah action are increasing in part because of estimates that the organization will try to counter critics in Lebanon for its use of arms against its political opponents by attacking Israel," the daily said. "One scenario is a hit against an Israeli public figure, particularly someone with a defense background," the paper added. "The military is particularly concerned with attacks on officers, and security for high-ranking officers has been increased recently.
Senior military intelligence officials told Haaretz that Hizbullah's "victory" in armed clashes in Lebanon in May, "could lead Hizbullah to launch a violent attack against Israel."The May violence erupted after the March 14 governing coalition moved to dismantle Hizbullah's communications network and voted to remove Brigadier General Wafiq Shouqair from heading security at Rafik Hariri International Airport. At least 65 people died and scores were wounded in the ensuing clashes, which were the heaviest in Beirut and the Chouf. Pushed by the civil strife, feuding politicians traveled to Doha where Qatar brokered a May 21 accord which ended the violence, led to the election of a president, and established the framework of a new electoral law. The government also rescinded its previous decision concerning Hizbullah. "In previous years, particularly ahead of the summer 2006 war, Hizbullah secretary general [Sayyed] Hassan Nasrallah vowed not to use the resistance's weapons to settle internal Lebanese political conflicts, and that armed struggle would only be used against Israel," one of the intelligence officials interviewed by Haaretz said.
"That was one of Nasrallah's arguments against the disarming of Hizbullah, as opposed to other ethnic militias operating in Lebanon," the source added.
According to the sources, the use of Hizbullah's arms against Lebanese "led to sharp criticism of Nasrallah and could motivate him to approve action against Israel on the northern border." In addition, Haaretz reported that although the incident was no longer making headlines in Israel, the intelligence community believes Hizbullah was "still seeking revenge" for the killing of Mughniyeh, which it attributes to Israel's Mossad.
The military alert declared at the time is still in effect and various security measures are being implemented on the northern border and at potential Israeli targets worldwide. Alerts have even been heightened recently, despite progress in indirect talks between Israel and Hizbullah regarding a prisoner exchange as well as the return to Lebanon of Nassim Nisr, an Israeli citizen who recently completed a prison sentence in Israel after being convicted of spying for Hizbullah. In turn, Hizbullah handed over the remains of Israeli soldiers fallen during the summer 2006 war. Lebanon on Wednesday dashed Israel's hopes that Beirut would follow Damascus in beginning peace talks with Israel, saying that Israel must withdraw occupied Lebanese land.
"There are pending bilateral issues between Lebanon and Israel which are governed by international resolutions which Israel must respect ... and which cannot be the object of political negotiations," said a government statement. "Lebanon seeks to enforce these two decisions completely especially regarding an end to the occupation of the Shebaa Farms," it added. The statement said that once Israel withdrew from Lebanese land, Lebanon got back its prisoners and received maps of land mines and cluster bombs which were used in previous wars, "a truce agreement between Lebanon and Israel will be in effect." Lebanon's response came after Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert told the Cabinet earlier this week that he hoped Lebanon would consider talks with Israel.
The caretaker Lebanese government said Israel must withdraw from the occupied Shebaa Farms area, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. - The Daily Star

Media reports on UNIFIL 'misinformed'
Plans for Tel Aviv office are public knowledge, peacekeepers say
By Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star staff-Friday, June 13, 2008
SIDON: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Thursday that reports circulating in the media about the peacekeeping force planning to launch an office in Tel Aviv or working on introducing changes to the forces' mandate were "not properly informed."
"Recent media reports have referred to certain deliberations in the United Nations, New York, with respect to the establishment of a UNIFIL office in Tel Aviv and have suggested that possible changes in UNIFIL's mandate are in the offing; these media reports are clearly not properly informed," a statement issued by UNIFIL's information office said. According to the UNIFIL statement, the meetings and resolution referred to in the reports relate to the annual budget of UNIFIL undertaken by the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly. The Fifth Committee deals with budgetary and administrative matters and, contrary to the assumption made in the media, this committee has no prerogative to take decisions or issue resolutions on any political matters relating to the mandate of UNIFIL.
Al-Akhbar newspaper had recently reported that UNIFIL was working on opening an office in Tel Aviv, "without getting the approval of the General Assembly and are trying to secure the funding of the office through the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly."
The newspaper also reported that that Lebanon's representative in the Fifth Committee "learned while attending one of the committee's meetings that the Lebanese government already knew about UNIFIL's plans to open an office in Tel Aviv and did not object to the matter."
The Lebanese government issued a statement on Wednesday saying that Al-Akhbar reports that UNIFIL intended to set up an office in Tel Aviv in coordination with Lebanese Premier Fouad Siniora were "at best a pure figment of their imagination, if not deliberately made up."
"Issues relating to the mandate of UNIFIL are decided by the UN Security Council," the UNIFIL statement said.
Also, according to the statement, UNIFIL's operations and activities in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces are solely determined by Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006) and 1773 (2007).
UNIFIL's current mandate expires at the end of August 2008. Prior to this, the Security Council will review UNIFIL's performance and take an appropriate decision on the extension of the mission's mandate.
"Therefore, the media claim that the Fifth Committee resolution seeks to modify UNIFIL's mandate has no basis," UNIFIL said.
With regard to the UNIFIL office in Tel Aviv, the UNIFIL statement said "liaison and coordination between UNIFIL and all the parties is of vital importance to ensure full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, including maintenance of the cessation of hostilities, respect for the Blue Line and other relevant provisions. It is in this context that the UNIFIL office in Tel Aviv is being established."
"The decision to establish this office was taken in the United Nations immediately following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in August 2006," the statement said, adding that "progress on establishment of this office has since been routinely reported in subsequent reports of the Secretary General, which are public documents.""The plan for establishment of the UNIFIL office in Tel Aviv is therefore a well-known fact and not a new proposal as the media reports suggest," the statement stressed.
"The discussion during the recent Fifth Committee meetings referred to in the media reports were related to the financial implications of the establishment of this office," it added
In other UNIFIL-related developments, Italian news agency AKI quoted Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini as saying on Thursday that efforts are being made to find ways to make UNIFIL more efficient without going against international rules. "I hope attacks against Israel will not be carried out from Lebanon," Frattini said in a meeting between the Italian Parliament's defense and foreign affairs committees. "We are committed to looking for new ways that would completely respect international rules set by the international reference [the Security Council]," he added.
"UNIFIL's mission is held by everyone in high esteem, and it has participated in ensuring stability in the region, which was for decades a base for confrontations which have led to open struggles," he said. Previously, AKI had quoted Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa as saying that it was no longer necessary to change UNIFIL's rules of engagement, and that the era of political tension in Lebanon "is now over with the election of President Michel Sleiman."

Sappers dismantle two roadside bombs in North Lebanon
By Hussein Abdallah and Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star staff
Friday, June 13, 2008
BEIRUT: Military experts on Thursday defused two roadside bombs near a military base in the northern town of Aabdeh.
A security source told The Daily Star on Thursday that the two small bombs, placed on the Aabdeh-Homs road, were connected by a wire and ready to be detonated. The source added that the bombs were concealed in powdered-milk cans.
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed heavily in the area and conducted search operations using sensors in a bid to make sure no other bombs were planted in the area. "A special bomb-disposal unit defused the bombs which were placed on the side of the road leading to Qoleiat airport where the army has a base," a security official told AFP. He said the explosive devices weighed 2-5 kilograms and were similar to the one that killed a soldier on May 31 at an army intelligence post located in the same region. Late on Wednesday, A gunman was seriously wounded and a Lebanese officer slightly injured in a shootout with Lebanese soldiers near the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in South Lebanon.
The incident occurred when three unidentified assailants opened fire on the troops from a Renault Rapide truck as they tried to force through an army checkpoint outside the camp, near the southern city of Sidon. The soldiers returned fire, seriously wounding one gunman, arresting another while a third fled.
Security reports said the wounded gunman was Palestinian national Issa Qiblawi, but Palestinian officials in the camp denied the reports, saying Issa had been killed during last year's battles between the LAF and Fatah al-Islam militants in the Northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared.
A well-informed source told The Daily Star on Thursday that the unidentified wounded militant was from the Gulf.
Security reports said the arrested gunman was identified as Mohammad Qiblawi, Issa's brother, who was reportedly driving the car.
A Palestinian official from Ain al-Hilweh said the three assailants were members of the Islamic Jund al-Sham group and Issa and Mohammad Qiblawi were the brother of Saleh Qiblawi, killed in 2004 in Iraq while fighting for Al-Qaeda. The incident came almost two weeks after a would-be suicide bomber was shot dead by Lebanese soldiers as he tried to activate an explosives belt at a checkpoint on the edge of the camp, Lebanon's largest with 45,000 inhabitants.
A Palestinian official said on Monday the suspect killed on May 31 had probably been a Saudi national.
Lebanese Army officer Nadim Soueid was wounded in the shootout and is still being treated at Hammoud Hospital in Sidon. Acting LAF commander Brigadier General Shawqi Masri visited Soueid Thursday and said the army was committed to fighting terrorism. "Palestinian camps will not be a safe haven for terrorists," Masri said, highlighting the importance of the ongoing security cooperation between the LAF and the different Palestinian factions inside the camps.
Members of extremist groups believed to have links with Al-Qaeda have settled in Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camps in recent years, especially in Ain al-Hilweh, which is partly controlled by Jund al-Sham. The camps are outside the control of Lebanese authorities, with Palestinian factions in charge of security.
Meanwhile, Internal Security Forces (ISF) chief Brigadier General Ashraf Rifi told the Lebanese As-Safir newspaper Thursday that the security situation in Beirut had been calm in the past 48 hours after a number of areas in the capital witnessed tensions and minor clashes between opposition and pro-government supporters.
He said the "improving political situation is reflecting positively on the security situation."
Rifi added that the four-point plan that had been launched by the Central Security Council last week would gradually be implemented by the security and armed forces. The council called on security authorities to conduct and implement a plan that includes the removal of provocative pictures and propaganda material, an immediate halt to media political campaigns, helping Beirut residents return to their homes and the return of party offices and centers to their rightful owners.
The ISF chief also called on the media to play a positive role by promoting dialogue and staying away from all forms of incitement. - With AFP

Aoun's stubbornness threatens to torpedo Doha accord
Published: Thursday, 12 June, 2008
Beirut- As Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora struggles to form a government satisfactory to both the majority and opposition, MP Michel Aoun has once again assumed the role of spoiler.
The General has recently raised eyebrows - and blood pressure levels - by demanding one of just four sovereign ministries for his own bloc, despite having already received nearly half of the opposition's total share of ministers. At present, there is a general consensus that of the sovereign portfolios - Justice, Interior, Finance and Foreign Affairs - the first two will go to President Suleiman, while the majority and opposition will each take one of the latter. In recent years, Finance has traditionally gone to the Future Movement, and Foreign Affairs to Amal. Both parties have expressed their desire to retain the posts in the next government.
Aoun's demand therefore risks upsetting not only the majority (Aoun has specifically asked for the Finance portfolio) but also his opposition allies, who do not want to see him granted their only key post.
In an attempt to mitigate the latter, Aoun is demanding that the opposition receive two sovereign ministries, effectively stripping one portfolio from the president. But the majority will not accept having less sovereign ministers than the minority: If it doesn't block the formation of the government altogether, Aoun's ploy could ultimately leave the president empty-handed, further weakening the country's highest Christian officeholder.
Allocating the ministries
Speaking to NOW Lebanon, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan argued that it was fair for the opposition to take two sovereign ministries, as the majority had already secured a sovereign post in the government by nominating Fouad Siniora to be the new prime minister. "This is a super-sovereign ministry with many privileges, and we are entitled by the law and custom to ask for whatever ministry we want," he contended.
When asked about the FPM's reasons for choosing the Finance Ministry in particular, Kanaan stressed that they primarily wanted to break the Future Movement's hold over the ministry. "This is all still unresolved, and the media talk about who gets what is premature. All parliamentary blocs demanded ministries, and like everybody else, we are waiting for Siniora to present his formula."
Future MP Jamal Jarrah told NOW Lebanon that the prime minister's position cannot be considered a "sovereign ministry" because it is simply part of the division of authorities under the Taif Agreement. "This is just another invention by Aoun to circumvent Taif and challenge political norms," he said.
Nasir al-Asaad, a columnist for Al-Mustaqbal daily, also confirmed that the prime minister's election is separate from the government's formation. "No one has 'given' the prime minister's office to anyone," he stressed.
A key component of Aoun's strategy has been to cast himself both as part of the opposition and as the primary Christian representative, demanding a share in both capacities. "He cannot do that. He has to realize that he is representing the Christians in the opposition, and he cannot claim his own share away from the opposition," Jarrah added.
Asking for the impossible
Jarrah remained firm that the president would be able to appoint both the Interior and Defense ministers, leaving only two sovereigns up for grabs. While the opposition can choose between the Finance or Foreign Affairs ministries, he said, it cannot have both - a position reportedly reflected in the proposal conveyed from Siniora, via his adviser Mohammed Chattah, to Aoun in Rabieh last night. "We are not clinging to the Finance Ministry, as ministries do not belong to certain sects or parties. But we are also aware that the General is trying to get the Defense Ministry by targeting the Finance Ministry."
Aoun had initially shown an interest in the defense portfolio, and some have speculated that he may be demanding Finance at this stage as a negotiating strategy to get the majority to offer him Defense as a compromise.
Theories on Aoun's motives abound, and range from delusional to dangerous. Aoun might be taking a maximalist position in order to eventually receive key service ministries in a compromise, which could help him bolster popular support ahead of the 2009 elections, or to extract other concessions for himself - or his allies - later on.
But watching this drama unfold, Lebanese may experience a sense of déjà vu. In the summer of 2005, Aoun also hindered Siniora's efforts to form the first government following the withdrawal of Syrian occupation forces. Negotiations eventually broke down with Aoun demanding the Justice Ministry and that all of his ministers hold portfolios. While in 2005, this led to the Free Patriotic Movement entering the opposition to the Siniora government, the consequences of the General's obstruction in 2008 could be far graver. With the formation of a national unity government one of the pillars of the Doha Agreement, Aoun's intransigence threatens to torpedo the cabinet - and the fragile consensus reached in Doha itself.

True Facts
Suddenly and without any prior notice paving the way to this transformation, General Michel Aoun and his bloc began to talk about “the Christians’ interests” without any consideration of the need to refine rhetoric, even sectarian rhetoric, to suit a group concerned with keeping up appearances in front of other Lebanese groups.
First, the Aounist bloc started the post-Doha Agreement period with an intensive advertising campaign promoting the following slogans: “Aoun restored the rights to their holders,” and, “Aoun restored the rights to Christians.” This naïve expression, which is a distortion of the truth, also has alarming implications, among them, that that the rights which have been lost in Lebanon are only those of the Christians, as if a Shia citizen whose son was killed on his way to school does not have any rights, or has rights that are not the type of rights which the Aounist bloc would fight for and restore.
At first, we said this was a post-Doha whim, a moral compensation for the loss of a central ambition to accede to Baabda’s presidential palace. But this advertising campaign was followed by the activity of the bloc’s MPs, centered on the narrow conviction that what was accomplished in Doha is limited to seizing parliamentary seats in Beirut and annexing them to districts with Christian majority.
This allegation contradicts the slogans [announced] by this same bloc, which has always turned against his own slogans. The injustice in the Taif Accord, mentioned by the bloc, is restricted, therefore, to moving some parliamentary seats from Mazraa district to Ashrafieh district. Everybody in Lebanon is aware that this wasn’t the Aounist bloc’s achievement, and that the Future Movement’s consent to divide Beirut was also required by its alliances with forces more Christian than the Aounist bloc and more attached to the meanings of Christian representation, even in the bad sense of the word.
The main problem is that the Aounist bloc wore the dirty gloves a bit too late. Indeed, one of the few positive attributes of this bloc is the ambition that has overcome more than once the sectarian connotations. But today, while civil division is at its peak, it is recalling the choices of the Christian parties, knowing that these parties have been working for years to dismiss the reputation which has stuck to them since they launched these slogans. After all, doesn’t the slogan “Aoun restored the rights to Christians” recall the expression that prevailed during the war: “The security of the Christian community comes first”?
Aoun’s major problem is that it will not take long for Christians to realize that his allegations are deceitful, and they probably know it already. The key Christian position, supposed to be protected today after 20 years of marginalization, is the presidency of the republic. Aoun started his battle against the president of the republic, Michel Sleiman, on the first day of the latter’s term. The squabbles over the government’s formation are only attempts to show the president that he is not the strongest Christian. This will ultimately hinder the recovery of the “Christian” presidency to its position in the Lebanese equation. This will be Aoun’s mission, while his bloc’s MPs declare on television channels that “Aoun restored the rights to Christians.”

Israel fears Hezbollah may try to 'settle score' over Mughniyeh
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Israel believes Hezbollah may try a terror attack against Israel in order to "settle accounts" over the assassination of second-in-command Imad Mughniyeh. Hezbollah blames Israel for Mughniyeh's death in Damascus in February.
Lebanon on Wednesday dashed Israel's hopes that Beirut would follow Damascus in beginning peace talks with Israel, saying that Israel must withdraw from what Beirut considers its occupied land.
"There are pending bilateral issues between Lebanon and Israel which are governed by international resolutions which Israel must respect ... and which cannot be the object of political negotiations," a government statement issued Wednesday said.
"Lebanon seeks to enforce these two decisions completely especially regarding an end to the occupation of the Shaba Farms...."
The statement said that once Israel withdrew from Lebanese land, Lebanon got back its prisoners and received maps of land mines and cluster bombs which were used in previous wars, "a truce agreement between Lebanon and Israel will be in effect." Lebanon's response came after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet earlier this week that he hoped Lebanon would consider talks with Israel. Israel and Syria have been holding indirect talks under Turkish auspices. Additional meetings are scheduled to be held in Turkey later this week.
The caretaker Lebanese government said Israel must withdraw from the disputed Shaba Farms area, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. The site, a small area in the foothills of the Golan Heights, is considered Lebanese by Beirut, but the United Nations says it is Syrian land. Israel took over the area in the 1967 Six-Day War, a move not recognized by the international community.
Concerns of a Hezbollah action are increasing in part because of estimates that the organization will try to counter critics in Lebanon for its use of arms against its political opponents by attacking Israel.
One scenario is a hit against an Israeli public figure, particularly someone with a defense background. The military is particularly concerned with attacks on officers, and security for high-ranking officers has been increased recently. It is considered likely Hezbollah would consider such an assassination an appropriate response to the assassination of Mughniyeh.
Last month, Hezbollah gained an impressive political victory in Lebanon, crowning a sympathizer (former chief of staff Michel Suleiman) president and bolstering its presence in the cabinet to acquire a veto on matters of state. However, senior military intelligence officials believe the way Hezbollah garnered that victory could lead to its violent attack against Israel. This opinion has been expressed in a number of recent discussions, including an intelligence review presented to Barak.
In previous years, particularly ahead of the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah vowed not to use "the weapon of resistance" for internal Lebanese political purposes, and that armed struggle would only be for "liberation" against Israel. That was one of Nasrallah's arguments against the disarming of Hezbollah, as opposed to other ethnic militias operating in Lebanon.
But last month Hezbollah used arms against its opponents within Lebanon, mostly from the anti-Syrian camp. Deaths in clashes lead to sharp criticism of Nasrallah and could motivate him to approve action against Israel on the northern border.
In addition, although the incident is no longer making headlines in Israel the intelligence community believes Hezbollah is still seeking revenge for the killing of Mughniyeh, which it attributes to Israel's Mossad. The military alert declared at the time is still in effect and various security measures are being implemented on the northern border and at potential Israeli targets worldwide.
Alerts have even been heightened recently, despite progress in indirect talks between Israel and Hezbollah regarding a prisoner exchange as well as recent reciprocal gestures which included the return to Lebanon of Nissim Nassar, an Israeli citizen who recently completed a prison sentence in Israel after being convicted of spying for Hezbollah.

Lebanon MP urges Hezbollah to apologize to the people
Published: Thursday, 12 June, 2008
Beirut- MP Mohammed Hajjar of the Democratic Gathering bloc said the only way to end the chaos and eliminate the repercussions of the clashes in Beirut was for the offenders to "confess their sins." "I mean Hezbollah," he clarified, calling on Hezbollah to apologize to the people and regions affected by the events.
After visiting with the Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, Hajjar stressed that Beirut should be "safe and demilitarized," where the only legitimate weapon were those of the Lebanese Army and security forces.
The formation of a national-unity government had faltered due to the opposition's reluctance to apply the clauses of the Doha agreement.
Hajjar said Hezbollah's words that they wished that the situation would calm this summer should be coupled with action to make sure the summer is calm
Hajjar said he was shocked by Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad statement about Shebaa Farms. Hajjar said during the 2006 dialogue talks it was agreed that Lebanon will try to recover this area from Israel through diplomatic means and that Lebanon will demarcate its borders with Syria . He added Raad statements do not providing optimal conditions for the restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. "

Chavez Recruiting and Training for Hezbollah?
Is it true that Hugo Chavez's government is recruiting and training young men to fight the US as part of Hizbollah forces? I dunno, sounds kind of far fetched -- but not so far fetched as to dismiss it outright. We've seen some Hizbollah related activity in Venezuela in the past. See for instance this post about Hizbollah in Venezuala's website threatening the U.S. and a two part video report on the subject at Hot Air (part 1 & part 2). But if memory serves me correctly the group got in to some trouble after they were exposed and Chavez was forced to shut them down. A ploy, perhaps? I'd like to see some investigation into these allegations. Chavez has certainly embraced the revolutionary and anti-American agenda of the Iranians, who sponsor Hezbollah. We've also long noted the Left/Islamist convergence of agendas. Stranger bedfellows have been made in the past. Go check out Infidels are Cool who has the original Spanish language article and Fausta who has an English translation.

Hezbollah Steams Ahead
by Rebecca N. White
06.11.2008
Three weeks ago Lebanese political factions came to an agreement in Doha that ended a week of Hezbollah-driven violence, bringing the country back from what many saw as the brink of civil war. On Wednesday at the Nixon Center, Geneive Abdo, a fellow at the Century Foundation, and Mona Yacoubian, Special Advisor to the Muslim World Initiative at USIP, reflected on the situation in the aftermath of the crisis. They looked at what factors led to Hezbollah’s turn to violence and what we can expect to happen in Lebanon over the summer. Though violence may be quelled, the ever-complex situation within the country is certainly still in flux.
The phrase proxy war is often used when describing happenings in Lebanon. And this time around, Ms. Abdo argued the impact of regional forces on Hezbollah’s actions is not to be underestimated. Iran plays a particularly important role. On this point, though, the panelists differed.
Hezbollah may not be acting as a direct arm of the Tehrani government, but Abdo maintained that the organizations’ actions were certainly influenced indirectly by changing dynamics and new forces in the region—and that Iran provides more direct monetary support to the organization. The vocal rise of players like Iran, particularly those that challenge the United States’ influence in the region, have encouraged movements like Hezbollah to make themselves heard even more loudly. “The growing strength of Iran in the region has given these movements a sense of confidence that didn’t exist before,” Abdo argued.
Yacoubian, though acknowledging that external forces certainly played a role, said domestic factors were a greater influence on Hezbollah’s actions in early May. The crisis was “internally driven” and not a “result of external meddling”; the organization is not an Iranian proxy and it was a miscalculation by the Lebanese government pushed Hezbollah to violence, she argued. Two state actions—declaring Hezbollah’s telephone network threatening to the state’s sovereignty control of its own territory and trying to fire a Hezbollah ally in government—she stated, directly provoked the organization.
The results of the violence are also open to discussion. Commentators have labeled the agreement reached in Doha a win for Hezbollah. Geoffrey Kemp, the moderator of the event and Director of Regional Strategic Programs at The Nixon Center, questioned whether the deal represented a regional sellout and Hezbollah victory when offering his introduction. Both panelists, though, believed that the organization made a miscalculation.
It is difficult to underestimate, Ms. Yacoubian put forward, the adverse impact turning arms on the Lebanese population will have on Hezbollah’s standing. She said the price Hezbollah will have to pay to make up for the violence and repair its reputation will be high. Driving this home, Abdo reminded the audience that Hezbollah’s leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, once stated that Hezbollah would only use its arms externally, specifically against Israel, and never on the Lebanese people. The organization lost much legitimacy when it took up arms this time around.
Yacoubian believes Hezbollah understands this, though, and has attempted to remedy the situation. The organization knows that no one party can control Lebanon and recognizes that to succeed politically in the country, factions need to build consensus. This is evidenced in part, she said, by the steps the organization has taken to quell the anti-Hezbollah “sectarian furor” in the country since the crisis.
The panelists differed with some attendees on this issue of Hezbollah’s miscalculation. One audience member argued that this was not a misstep, but a deliberate response provoked by the Lebanese government’s actions. With communications networks threatened, the organization had little choice but to strike back. Plus, Hezbollah’s actions successfully demonstrated, another argued, that the organization can do what it wants and is a force to be reckoned with. Hezbollah succeeded in gaining control of west Beirut and showing their superiority over the Lebanese army, among other things. This is key because, as yet another attendee added, the organization seeks to be feared, not adored.
After the Doha agreement, the Lebanese people felt “collective sigh of relief,” Yacoubian said. The agreement provided a respite—if only brief—from violence and political infighting. But she firmly believes that this is a “fluid time” in Lebanese politics and that many issues are yet to be ironed out. “It’s hard to know what Hezbollah will do,” Yacoubian noted.
The organization began as a resistance force but has increased its political clout over time, now gaining veto power in the cabinet as part of the Doha agreement. But Yacoubian argued that Hezbollah was not looking to gain control of the government by its actions in early May. It just wanted a bigger piece of the political pie, and in Lebanon, power-sharing arrangements are usually changed by violence. Either way, the organization and other factions will have to iron out the precise arrangement of the new parliament, particularly the ministerial positions.
How Hezbollah proceeds will depend on many factors. The direct and indirect support from foreign governments like Tehran and particularly President Ahmadinejad, who has achieved de facto folk hero status in the region according to Abdo, could stir up the pot. Israel’s interactions with Iran and Syria could have spillover effects on Lebanon, with different factions taking different sides in these conflicts. Domestically, increasingly angry Salafist extremists carrying out suicide bombings could further destabilize the new government and spark conflict with Hezbollah.
The panelists and attendees continually returned to the point, though, that the country has long been characterized by complex and often violent interactions between political factions, confessions, foreign actors and other forces. With all this in the mix, Abdo said, Lebanon is an interesting test of how the myriad forces across the broader Middle East may find some sort of agreement. Food for thought for the current and coming U.S. administrations.
**Rebecca N. White is an apprentice editor at The National Interest.

Lebanese-Canadian writer wins lucrative international prize for first novel
By The Daily Star
Friday, June 13, 2008
DUBLIN: Lebanese-Canadian author, visual artist and curator Rawi Hage has won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (IIDLA) for his debut novel "De Niro's Game." At 100,000 euros ($155,000), the IIDLA is the world's most lucrative prize for a work of fiction.
Hage's novel relates the story of his narrator, Bassam, and his childhood best friend George. Both men have grown up in Civil War Beirut and now must choose whether to stay in the Lebanese capital and consolidate power through crime or to go into exile overseas.
Bassam chooses to embark on a series of petty crimes to pay for his emigration. George enriches himself in the Beirut demimonde, embracing the profitable but deadly and drug-laced life of a gunman.
IMPAC's five judges (from Ireland, the UK, Spain and the US) selected Hage's work from a field of 136 competing books from 45 countries. In their statement, the judges described the book as "an eloquent, forthright and at times beautifully written" first novel.
"Ringing with insight and authenticity the novel shows how war can envelop lives - how one doesn't have much choice in such circumstances. It's a game where there are no winners, just degrees of survival," continued the statement from the judges who chose it from a shortlist of eight books.
"His unflinching gaze pours the blood-red sands of our moral dilemmas over every page. It's a wonderful debut and a deserving winner."
The 44-year-old Hage was born in Beirut and lived through nine years of civil war before emigrating to Canada. "I am a fortunate man," he said after Dublin's Lord Mayor, Councilor Paddy Bourke, presented him the award on Thursday.
"After a long journey of war, displacement and separation," he continued, "I feel that I am one of the few wanderers who is privileged enough to have been rewarded, and for that I am very grateful."
Hage said he sought to follow a tradition of authors "who have chosen the painful and costly portrayal of truth over tribal self-righteousness."
The other IIDLA finalists were "The Attack" by Algeria's Yasmina Khadra (the pseudonym of Mohammad Moulessehoul); Israeli-Arab Sayed Kashua's "Let it Be Morning"; "The Woman Who Waited" by Andrei Makine; "The Sweet & Simple Kind" by Yasmine Gooneratne; "Dreams of Speaking" by Gail Jones; "The Speed of Light" by Javier Cercas, and "Winterwood" by Patrick McCabe - the lone Irish finalist. - AP and AFP, with The Daily Star

How the Jihadi Propaganda Machine Will Win the Guantanamo Trials
By Walid Phares
Jihadism in the 21st century has plans for all types of situations, including Mujahada (Jihadi activity) in a courtroom when needed.
This is now what the world will witness during the trials of the al Qaeda detainees in Guantanamo, Cuba. Both the inmates on the inside and the Jihadi-mates on the outside were waiting for this moment to strike, politically and psychologically, using the media as their weapon. To the well-trained and -indoctrinated five standing trial, the objective is not to gain as many rights and freedoms as possible under current U.S. and international law; rather it is to resume what they began before 9/11 which they deeply wish to fulfill - as they said in their own words - using the trial as a global media opportunity.
This attitude has been anticipated by most experts who have followed the Guantanamo "ideological" battle, particularly the al Qaeda-Jihadist treatment of the issue. It was fully predicted that at least Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and Ramzi bin al Sheeba will take the lead in counter-prosecuting the United States and all its allies. Unlike in other comparable cases, analysts know how important it is for al Qaeda and their supporters around the world to bash the United States - and any other democracy that prosecutes Salafi terrorists - when the trials are ongoing. At that juncture, three elements will converge into one powerful force, all determined to score points against America.
First, there is the Bin Laden organization which thrives on fiery declarations issued by its members on trial. Their goal is, of course, to maximize the propaganda dividends. Every word in the statements made by KSM and al Sheeb, and the others as well, will become gold for the as Sahab machine, the maker of the video and audio material. To al Qaeda, the fate of the men in Guantanamo is not the issue, for in their Jihad they don't count. Rather, it is the amount of Jihadi propaganda material they can get out of this "battlefield" that really matters to them.
Second, and more importantly, there are the other Jihadists worldwide. These are the Jihadists who still have their freedom and will be able to carry out virulent attacks against the trials and the United States. In doing this, a political price will be paid by America, even for trying the most obvious terrorists - the planners and backers of the 9/11 operation. Organizations, movements, parties, ideologues, militants and a vast constellation of Salafists - and also Khomeinists - are and will continue to attack Guantanamo itself while ignoring the defendants.
The goal of these other free Jihadists is to deter Washington - and other Western countries - from trying the incarcerated Jihadists. Their thinking is that if the U.S. gets condemned in the global media for prosecuting and trying and eventually sentencing the worst of the worst, America will be intimidated when it tries to prosecute non-al Qaeda Jihadists. In addition, other "hidden forces" sympathetic to the goals, but not the methods, of Bin Laden will support the campaign against the trial by enlisting their resources in the media to serve the "anti-trial" campaign (even though this is not a pro-al Qaeda trend).
Third, the conglomeration of all anti-American political forces, including many radical circles within the United States, will unleash its attacks against Guantanamo and what it represents, meaning the existence of the "War on Terror". A significant ideological segment of the political establishment in America has been pushing the slogan of an "orchestrated war" which must be ended. To them, the trial of the terrorists in Guantanamo is an opportunity to bleed U.S. efforts in the confrontation, thereby enhancing their own domestic political fortunes and agendas.
These three elements are converging into (what is to them) the Battle of Guantanamo. Here is how it will take place.
First, the "team" on the inside of the courtroom will unleash any and all statements needed to create the environment for a martyrdom case: istishaad. They will claim the tribunal is not legitimate, the Guantanamo process is not legal, the procedure is not acceptable and that they want to receive the death penalty so they may become shuhada, or martyrs.
Then, the "production" will be picked up by al Qaeda and other Jihadi-Salafist entities around the world and will reappear in videos, audio and texts, as well as circulate around the world of militant networks.
The in-court "drama" will also be used by the Wahhabi and Muslim Brotherhood networks, that is the long term Jihadists, not praising the defendants but rather promoting some of the arguments made by the al Qaeda detainees. This stealth use of the "production" will serve to produce more incitements and solidify the Jihadi agenda.
For example, the campaign will target American credibility and the concept of a war on terror. Some of the statements by the defendants will be stressed, such as "we do not recognize your laws, but only Sharia." In short, a control room is already in place to feed off the Guantanamo trials and turn it into a victory in the War of ideas. The al Qaeda detainees will make their statements and will be sentenced, but the international Jihadists will thrive on these words.
Meanwhile in America, we have two indicators that we aren't really winning yet on this front. One indication is that elements within our government bureaucracy are now using the absolute wrong words (the so-called "lexicon") to fight this battle. The second indication is the stunningly paltry coverage of what should be known as the trials of the century, in favor of hyped coverage of trials much less significant.
Until these indications change, we are not contenders.
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Dr. Walid Phares is the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the author of "The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad."
June 12, 2008 10:54 PM Print