LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 29/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 8,5-17. When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." And Jesus said to the centurion, "You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you." And at that very hour (his) servant was healed. Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him. When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: "He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases."

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Religious and Political Shiism in Syria.By Manal Lutfi.Asharq Alawsat - 28/06/08
Syria glitters, but glare hides woes-By Liz Sly.Chicago Tribune 28/06/08
The Rebirth of Conflict.by Sharad Venkat 28.06.08
Another vote for the obvious: Lebanon's need for free and fair courts. The Daily Star 28/06/08
A debate in Dubai would be good political theater.By David Ignatius 28/06/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June 28/08
MP Zahra: “Aoun’s presidential ambition was used by Hezbollah”-iloubnan.info
Mufti Qabbani Condemns Tripoli Crime-Naharnet
Deadly Blast Rips Through Tripoli Building, Kills one Wounds 29-Naharnet
Bomb kills two in north Lebanon city of Tripoli-Reuters
Safadi for Guarantees that Hizbullah Weapons Won't be used Domestically-Naharnet
Sami Gemayel for Unity to Protect Christian Community -Naharnet
Japan Raises Contribution to the International tribunal in the Hariri Murder-Naharnet
Baal Mohsen Assailants Attack Tabbaneh Overnight-Naharnet
Aoun Embarrasses Opposition-Naharnet
Earthquake Reported in South-Naharnet
Gemayel: Hizbullah Expands Military Capacities from Jezzine to Laqlouq-Naharnet
Report: Satellite Imagery Shows Syrian Troops in Lebanon-Naharnet
AIPAC: Increased U.S. Aid to Israel Helps in Facing Gaza, Lebanon 'Radicals'-Naharnet
Six Lebanese die in unusual string of unexplained criminal incidents-Daily Star
Local media 'promotes hate propaganda-Daily Star
Conference finds youth opposed to emigration-Daily Star
AI chief cites need for independent judiciary-Daily Star
California-inspired eatery finds home in Beirut-Daily Star
Rival leaders hint that Beirut will have new unity cabinet within days - or not-Daily Star
Israeli strike on Iran not likely - local analysts-Daily Star
Italian peacekeeping unit has long history-Daily Star
Ban 'disappointed by lack of progress' on unity cabinet-Daily Star
G8 calls on Iran to act in 'more responsible' manner-AFP
Deal with Barak saved Olmert's job for now, but public remains unconvinced.By Inter Press Service

Bomb kills man in north Lebanon city of Tripoli
TRIPOLI, Lebanon, June 28 (Reuters) - A bomb killed a man and wounded 27 other people at an apartment block in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli on Saturday, medical and security sources said. The blast at dawn caused heavy damage to the building in the Bab Tibbaneh area, close to the frontline of clashes on Sunday between Sunni supporters of the government and Alawite followers of the opposition. Nine people were killed in the fighting.
Rescue workers picked through debris left by the blast and took the wounded to hospital. Residents carried belongings from their badly damaged homes. The dead man was named as Mohammad Aloush, a Sunni. Tripoli is dominated by Lebanon's anti-Syrian, Sunni-led majority coalition. The Alawites, whose faith is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam, have close ties to Syria and the Lebanese opposition, which is led by the Shi'ite Hezbollah group.
The Arab Democratic Party, an Alawite group, called on the security forces to bring the situation under control.
In a phone call with Prime Minister-designate Fouad Siniora, Sheikh Malek al-Shaar, the Sunni mufti of Tripoli, called for more troops to secure the city, the National News Agency reported. A Qatari-mediated accord in May ended 18 months of political conflict between the governing coalition and the opposition.
The standoff led to a violent showdown that threatened a new civil war. Since then there have been frequent minor security incidents.
The deal which ended the political crisis included an agreement on a national unity government in which the opposition is guaranteed effective veto power. But wrangling over portfolios has held up the formation of the new cabinet. (Writing by Tom Perry in Beirut; Editing by Caroline Drees)

Report: Satellite Imagery Shows Syrian Troops in Lebanon
Naharnet/Imagery obtained by a publishing house specialized in military matters shows Syrian troops deployed on Lebanese territory in the east and being reinforced in early 2008, the Middle East Times reported. The U.S. newspaper said that the images obtained by Jane's published house from DigitalGlobe show Syria continuing to deploy troops in the remote and rugged hills north of the town of Rashaya al-Wadi, despite the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in April 2005. Jane's article says that the Syrian bases are purely aimed at creating a defensive line in the case of any Israeli advance and not as conduits for weaponry smuggled from Syria to Hizbullah. Further commercial satellite imagery obtained from DigitalGlobe between Dec. 24, 2006 and March 12, 2008 suggests that Syria has undertaken a moderate increase in its equipment and therefore its activity at the apparent military bases. The new equipment includes what appears to be towed and self-propelled artillery and a T-54/55 tank.
"Human intelligence verification of the increase in activity is impossible," according to the Jane's report, which goes on to say that "in late 2005, the Lebanese Armed Forces sealed off the hills to the east of Kfar Qouk." According to Jane's, the Syrian reinforcement took place just ahead of Israel's largest ever civilian and military war drill. "The deployment suggests mutual mistrust remains and hence peace negotiations will struggle to succeed," the Middle East Times quoted Jane's as reporting about Turkish-brokered indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria. "Both countries are negotiating from a position of domestic weakness and hence agreement is likely to be difficult," the publishing house said.
Furthermore, the level of mistrust between the long-time protagonists is reportedly rendering the peace talks much more difficult. That in turn has been reflected on the ground by Syrian deployment on Lebanese territory. The "little-known presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon demonstrates that, despite the peace talks between the two sides confirmed in simultaneous announcements in Syria and Israel on 21 May 2008, mutual mistrust continues to characterize regional relationships.
"As a result…negotiations are likely to be fraught while military preparedness will remain high," Jane's said, according to the Middle East Times.
The publishing house's Country Risk Managing Editor Christian Le Miere is quoted as saying that "securing a lasting peace deal between the two countries is unlikely in the near future for two main reasons. First, the leaderships of Israel and Syria are operating from positions of weakness. Second, Syria is refusing to drop its backing for groups such as Hizbullah and to distance itself from Iran." Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 06:10

Earthquake Reported in South
Naharnet/An earthquake registering 3.4 on the Richter scale struck south Lebanon early Saturday. No casualties were reported. The tremor was reported at 6:44am in the village of Srifa and its environs, sparking panic among the population. Residents in the region, northeast of the coastal town of Tyre, deserted homes and sought refuge in fields, fearing possible aftershocks. The area has been the scene of repeated quakes for nearly a month. Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 08:08

Baal Mohsen Assailants Attack Tabbaneh Overnight
Naharnet/The daily newspaper al-Mustaqbal reported that an unidentified assailant hurled a hand grenade from Tripoli's Baal Mohsen district to neighboring Tabbaneh late Friday, wounding two people. The wounded, Saaduddine and Khaled al-Taleh were evacuated to the Islamic Hospital for treatment, the report added. Also unidentified assailants from Baal Mohsen set fire to a coffee shack and a commuting station. Army troops intervened to contain the situation, the report added without further elaboration. Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 11:33

Mufti Qabbani Condemns Tripoli Crime
Naharnet/Grand Mufti Sheik Mohammed Rashid Qabbani condemned the Tripoli blast as a "crime aimed at sparking factional fighting."The Mufti, in a statement, warned against the apparent "determination to spark unrest in Tripoli.He said attempts to contain the situation have so far failed to achieve security and stability for the citizens. Qabbani urged the various factions to facilitate the mission of Premier-designated Fouad Saniora in forming the new cabinet quickly "due to the extraordinary situation" Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 13:

Safadi for Guarantees that Hizbullah Weapons Won't be used Domestically
Naharnet/Cabinet Minister Mohammed Safadi said Saturday citizens need to be assured that Hizbullah's weapons would not be used domestically. Safadi made the remark in an address to a medical conference. He emphasized that the "Sunnis never felt the need for sponsoring militias or auto security because we believe in democracy and constitutional institutions." "The Sunnis have always embraced religious and ethnic minorities," Safadi stressed. The people, he concluded, want a government that provides them with security, stability and looks after their economic needs. Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 13:57

Sami Gemayel for Unity to Protect Christian Community
Naharnet/Phalange Party official Sami Gemayel launched a vehement attack on Hizbullah vowing that the party would defend Lebanon's Christians against any threats. Gemayel was obviously referring to the reported deployment by Hizbullah gunmen in the mountainous range of Sannine-Zaarour that overlooks the traditional Christian hinterland in Mount Lebanon. "We say, to whoever believes that he can set up a foothold in Mount Lebanon, we are the highlanders, we are the children of the resistance," said Gemayel, the younger son of party leader ex-President Amin Gemayel. "We advise all not to re-awaken the beast that is called Christian resistance that was born 1.500 years ago," added the young Gemayel."I tell all the Christians, even those with whom we don't agree politically, it is time to forget everything and re-units forces … only our unity can protect us" he said. "We tell all the Christians we want you on our side to reject what is happening in Sannine, to reject the deployment of weapons domestically and to reject mini-states within the state," Gemayel stressed. Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 12:50

Japan Raises Contribution to the International tribunal in the Hariri Murder
The Japanese Government has decided to raise by one million dollars its contribution to the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes. The Japanese Embassy in Beirut announced the move in a press release on Friday. It said Japan's Foreign Minister Komura made the announcement to the ministerial conference of the eight industrial states meeting in Japan. Japan hopes that its contribution would facilitate security and stability in Lebanon and the region, the embassy statement reportedly said. Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 11:56

Aoun Embarrasses Opposition
Naharnet/Opposition media outlets reported Saturday that Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has embarrassed Hizbullah and AMAL movement by rejecting a proposal they had sponsored to facilitate efforts aimed at forming the new cabinet. Al-Akhbar newspaper headlined its main report: "Aoun embarrasses the opposition by insisting on the public works and telecommunications portfolios." "Saniora halts negotiations, Murr-Geagea threaten to withdraw," the headline added. "Is the problem now within the opposition …?" the report asked. It said the proposal was originally declared by Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah, and relayed by a Hizbullah delegation to President Michel Suleiman backed by "guarantees" that Aoun would accept it. The proposal, which gave Aoun the right to choose a minister for the public works portfolio, was also relayed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to the March 14 majority alliance through Democratic Gathering Leader Walid Jumblat. Aoun, however, informed a representative of Premier-designate Fouad Saniora that he also wants to control the telecommunications portfolio, in addition to other seats in the cabinet, and practiced veto on seats to be allotted to other Christian factions. Al-Akhbar said unnamed government sources blamed blocking the cabinet formation on Aoun. Hizbullah and AMAL, according to the newspaper, kept a low profile and avoided comment on the issue to avoid further embarrassment. Aoun declared Friday evening that he was officially informed by a Saniora representative that the offer relayed to him earlier has been "withdrawn." Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 10:01

Gemayel: Hizbullah Expands Military Capacities from Jezzine to Laqlouq
Naharnet/Phalange Party leader and former President Amin Gemayel accused Hizbullah of expanding its military capabilities into non-Shiite areas – from Jezzine in the south to Laqlouq in Mount Lebanon, raising doubt about the resistance. "There is some sort of military preparation starting from Niha in Jezzine all the way across the entire Western mountain range with military surveillance posts set up from Jezzine to Sannine all the way up to Laqlouq" in Mount Lebanon, Gemayel told Kalam el-Nass talk show late Thursday. He said other military surveillance posts were also obvious across the Eastern mountain range. Gemayel said that the preparations became evident after an incident two weeks ago when hooded gunmen kidnapped a number of youths who were vacationing in Sannine. He said after that incident a "fully equipped encampment with wireless radios was discovered" in the area. Asked whether Hizbullah was behind this move, Gemayel said: "Who else but Hizbullah is capable of carrying out these activities in Jezzine and Sannine?" Gemayel questioned Hizbullah's "resistance" in light of its military expansion. On the issue of peace talks with Israel, Gemayel favored indirect negotiations with the Jewish state and through a mediator "just as it is done with Hizbullah … and Syria." "Why does Hizbullah have the right to hold negotiations through a German mediator on the prisoners' issue, while it is not right for the Lebanese government to negotiate via a mediator on the issue of the Shebaa Farms?" Gemayel wondered. Beirut, 27 Jun 08, 08:21

AIPAC: Increased U.S. Aid to Israel Helps in Facing Gaza, Lebanon 'Radicals'
Naharnet/The U.S. pro-Israel lobby has welcomed a congressional approval of a $170 million increase in security assistance to Israel, saying the aid package would help the Jewish state to face challenges from Iran and the growing influence of Gaza and Lebanon militants.
"The U.S. commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge is the cornerstone of American policy in the region," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) said in a statement Friday. "This year's package holds heightened significance for U.S. security interests, as the U.S. and Israel face new challenges from Iran's drive to acquire nuclear weapons as well as the growing influence of radical anti-western forces to Israel's south in Gaza and to the north in Lebanon."The Congressional approval was part of the new 10-year, $30 billion defense aid commitment to the Jewish state, and AIPAC said the action would increase U.S. aid to Israel to $2.55 billion in fiscal year 2009, up from $2.38 billion this year. The money for Israel was part of a larger supplemental spending bill that included $162 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation gained final approval in a 92-6 Senate vote late Thursday. The package was unveiled by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 as part of a new military pact with U.S. allies in the Middle East in a bid to "counter the negative influences" of al-Qaida and Hizbullah as well as Iran and Syria. The aid includes a $20 billion weapons package for Saudi Arabia, a $13 billion package for Egypt, and reportedly arms deals worth at least $20 billion for other Gulf states.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 28 Jun 08, 04:47

Six Lebanese die in unusual string of unexplained criminal incidents
By Anthony Elghossain
Daily Star staff-Saturday, June 28, 2008
BEIRUT: A string of bizarre criminal acts plagued Lebanon on Friday, with three shootings occurring in the village of Aintoura in the Metn region, Corniche al-Nahr in Saifi and the Chouf town of Kfarhim, claiming a total of six lives. In Aintoura, which lies on the Dhour-Choueir road leading from Bikfaya to Zahle, a local resident named Riad Hajj opened fire on a construction site adjacent to his home at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, killing Jean Abdo Hajj, Raymond Karaki and a Syrian citizen who was identified as "Adnan." Using tear gas, units from the Internal Security Forces (ISF) forcibly entered Hajj's home, a security source told The Daily Star. For reasons that remain unclear, Hajj then shot himself before the ISF could apprehend him and he was transferred to Bhannes Hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his wounds. Elsewhere, a murder was uncovered in Corniche al-Nahr, an area in the Saifi district of Beirut, after a corpse was found in a gray Toyota bearing the license plate number B-3534. ISF investigators were able to identify the man as Joseph Elias Baaklini and determined that the car was registered in another person's name. A well-informed source said Friday that the late Baaklini had withdrawn thousands of dollars from a bank, and added that authorities hope the identity of the owner of the automobile and efforts to track the funds may lead to progress in the case.
In Kfarhim, a Chouf village in the hinterland of the Damour coastal region, a 17-year-old Syrian national killed his father with two shotgun blasts to the face during the early morning hours on Friday. A source said the dead man had been sexually abusing one of his daughters, and cited this as the son's motive in gunning down his father.

28 Peace Body Members Shot Dead In Pakistan
GMT 6-27-2008 20:31:26
Assyrian International News Agency
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Peshawar, Pakistan, (AINA) -- Islamic militants in South Waziristan killed at least 28 members of a peace committee, who were taking part in a peace talks between Islamic insurgents, who are demanding Islamic Sharia Laws in the country, and moderate pro-government tribes.
Mr. Barkat-Ullah Marwat, a high ranking district official in the South Waziristan Political Administration, told AINA "According to our information 28 corpses of the Peace Committee members have been found in Kariwam village. Some of the dead were shot and some had their throats slit," adding that they were among the 30 tribesmen kidnapped by the pro-Islamic radical militants on June 25th. Marwat also said that the men's hands were tied behind their backs and the dead bodies left in a drain, just off the road in the rural area of Kariwam in the northwest frontier province. The blood-soaked, trussed-up bodies were discovered on June 26.
The 30 member peace committee was formed by the Bhittani Tribe to end the restlessness in the Province, especially in the Taank region. The elders of the Bhittani Tribe confirmed receiving 28 bodies, identified as members of the peace committee.
Maulvi Omar, the spokesman for the far-right group of radical militants, called Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan, headed by Mehsud, claimed responsibility for killing. Maulvi Omar told the media over the telephone "the men we killed were involved in thefts and robberies and had unleashed a reign of terror on the people. They were being patronized by the Government."
By Jawad Mazhar
Copyright (C) 2008, Assyrian International News Agency. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use.

The Rebirth of Conflict
by Sharad Venkat on June 27, 2008 in Blog, Live from Beirut
Today, while walking near downtown Beirut, I came across the Hariri memorial, a large tent-like structure that serves as a tomb as well as memorial to those who died in the bomb blast that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. I decided to take time out and explore the memorial.
Rafik Hariri was the former Prime Minister of Lebanon. He served from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until 2004. Hariri was loved by many and hated by many, which is a sure sign of political success here in Lebanon. Hariri was hated by the Syrians and by the pro-Hizbullah contingent, and he openly demanded the withdrawal of the Syrian presence. He was also incredibly rich, amassing billions of dollars thru business ventures, most prominently in Lebanon and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During his tenure Hariri’s accomplishments were a mixed bag, but he was praised for his role in reconstructing Beirut after the long and destructive civil war of the 1970’s and 80’s.
Here in Lebanon there is the pro-government coalition, called March 14, and the opposition, called March 8- both derive their names from the events that transpired after the assassination of Hariri. On March 14, 2005, one month after the assassination, which was widely believed to have been plotted by the Syrians, there was a massive show of solidarity in downtown Beirut. More than 1 million Lebanese showed up to mourn Hariri and peacefully protest the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. One month later Syrian president Bashar Assad put an end to the occupation by recalling the roughly 14,000 Syrian intelligence officers and troops that had been stationed in Lebanon since 1976. These events also led to the disbanding of the government and the removal of pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud. The pro-government coalition thus took its name from this day of mass protest, the ‘cedar revolution, as it was coined by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky, more commonly known to the Lebanese as the Intifada-al-Istiqlal, or Independence Uprising. The opposition, the March 8th coalition, took its name from a Hizbollah rally held on March 8, 2005 to show solidarity for the Syrian occupation in Lebanon. The events of March 14th were a direct response to those of March 8th.
Outside the tent, there are large posters that depict the events surrounding Hariri’s death. I walked down the road looking at each poster- some show the March 14 gathering, people dressed in red and white, screaming and waving Lebanese flags, some have Hariri’s smiling face superimposed over the crowd as if he is looking down at them with pride. One shows policemen and inspectors standing in the crater left by the explosion. It looked to be more than four times the size of my hotel room.
Inside, pictures of Hariri are everywhere. His tomb is covered with flowers and in another room, the tombs of his seven bodyguards are arranged in a row. Photos of each one surround their tombs, and atop each one are flowers and prayer beads. My eyes are drawn immediately to one of them. He looks much younger than the rest- only in his early or mid-twenties.
According to the guide at the memorial, the bomb was the equivalent of about 1,700 kg of TNT. It exploded as his motorcade drove past on February 14, 2005, killing him instantly, along with a prominent minister, his seven bodyguards, and a number of joggers running nearby. What can 1,700kg of TNT do? The crater itself is telling. This was no grenade or rpg, it was an incredible force, a cataclysmic event that left no room for doubt, and no chance for its intended victims. Even now you can see the damage. The buildings around the blast site are wrecked. Their facades are completely gone and the stages are sagging and pockmarked as if still suffering from the shrapnel wounds. I asked the guard about the force of the bomb and he pointed at the picture of the crater, ‘you can see for yourself. I live 3 km from the site and when it went off my building shook. The glass of every window of Hamra street (1-2 miles away) exploded’.
I had asked others about the blast too. The American University of Beirut (AUB) is about a mile away from the site of the explosion. Everyone who was there when it happened say the same thing: ‘my building shook from side to side, windows exploded and glass was everywhere’. One Lebanese woman told me that in her class, they thought that it was a science experiment gone bad that had blown up the science lab. It was a science experiment of sorts, one that aimed to see how big a bomb you needed to ensure the death of a moving target.
The Lebanese are no strangers to sudden explosions, and their familiarity sometimes borders on the absurd. Another person who lives a little under a mile from the site said she heard the blast and ran home. Inside there was shattered glass and furniture strewn everywhere. Her father sat on a chair in the living room, surround by a heap of upended furniture and broken glass. He was talking on the telephone and laughing. ‘Dad’ she cried, ‘the windows are all shattered and the furniture is everywhere. There was a bomb!’. Her father looked at her, looked at the destruction around him, turned back to her and said ‘yes, I guess it is’. Then he went back to his phone conversation.
Just across the street from the Hariri memorial is Martyr’s Square, named for the nationalists who were hanged by the Ottoman’s during World War I. There is a large monument at the center of the Square depicting the bravery of the martyrs. The significance of the martyrdom statues is continually renewed, as they are martyred over and over again even in effigy. On close inspection you can see the figures riddled with bullet holes from the civil war and more recent conflicts, the arm of one is completely blown off.
Sadly there is no lack of martyrs in Lebanon, and often times a politician can do more in death than in life. The killing of Hariri resulted in the end of the Syrian occupation one month later, something the Lebanese couldn’t do in the 15 years since the end of the civil war. But it also hardened the opposition forces, hastened the return of Lebanese Forces leader and war criminal Samir Geagea from an indefinite imprisonment, and left the country once again without a working government.
Every event here seems to creates both a positive and a negative force, so varied and polarized is the landscape. The assassination of Bashir Gemayel in 1982 saw the Israelis lose the influence they had worked so hard for militarily, but it again left the Lebanese fighting each other to fill the power void. If Hizbullah had not taken West Beirut, which hastened external intervention and the convening of the Leaders in Doha, Lebanon today would still most likely not have a president. With so many forces at play there are very few right answer. There is perhaps only one sequence of events among millions that could lead to a lasting solution, a sequence determined not only by a government composed of a group of leaders who have fought each other for almost half a century, but also by states that have vied for control over Lebanon for much longer.
The pictures at the Hariri memorial remind me of the forces that exist everywhere in Lebanon, the invisible discord that pulls constantly at the Lebanese national fabric . It is an unpleasant reminder that the beautiful architecture and beaches and the crowded energy of the streets came at a price, and that something ugly is hiding beneath all this beauty.
It is no surprise that many of the older generation of Lebanese here, those old enough to have witnessed the civil war and the many political assassinations that followed, are not optimistic about peace treaties or Lebanese unity. As I looked at that picture of the gaping bomb crater just a few hundred meters from the sea, I could understand why they believe that the only certainty here in Lebanon is the certainty that the next war has already been conceived. Many believe that today and always, Lebanon sits at the brink of a volcano. When they stand at its edge and look down into its silent depths, they don’t feel relief- they hear only the quiet gurgling of the next eruption, the coming conflict kicking gently from within the womb.

Syria glitters, but glare hides woes
Troubled ties with U.S., dwindling oil reserves affect psyche of nation
By Liz Sly | Chicago Tribune correspondent
June 29, 2008
DAMASCUS, Syria — In the evenings, the glitterati of Damascus gather at Z-Bar, a zinc and crystal confection perched on the roof of one of the city's hotels. As the cocktails flow and the music pumps, the green neon lights of a dozen mosques twinkle down on the revelers from the nearby mountainside.
By day, any one of a half-dozen cafes serves flavored lattes to trendy young Syrians. The latest European fashions are on sale in newly opened stores. Shiny glass offices house private banks, and flashy late-model cars zip among the battered yellow taxis.
Despite the Bush administration's efforts to isolate Syria for allegedly supporting terrorism, the country is flourishing—at least on the surface. In the eight years since President Bashar Assad took office, Syria has opened up its economy to private ownership and foreign investment, breathing new life into a country long stifled by its Baathist socialist rules.
An oasis in the Mideast
A nearly fourfold increase in tourism since 2001 has seen foreigners flocking to the spruced-up streets of Damascus. And while its neighbors struggle to contain sectarian and religious conflicts, Syria boasts that it remains an outpost of secularism, a bastion of tolerance in a region of growing extremism.
"We've been placed on the axis of evil, and that has made things really difficult," said Abdulsalam Haykal, head of the Syrian Young Entrepreneurs Association. "But still in some miraculous way the country has managed to survive, and it is thriving."
Yet behind the facade of new wealth and confidence lie some deep insecurities, about Syria's future role in a turbulent region and about an economy whose resilience cannot be counted on to endure indefinitely.
Assad has consolidated his power domestically and now is vigorously working to improve Syria's international standing. He has embarked on indirect peace talks with Israel, traveled on a high-profile visit to India earlier this month, and is due to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris in July—offering evidence, Syrian officials say, that the U.S. effort to isolate Syria has failed.
On the French trip, Assad will be attending the same forum as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and though direct contact between them is thought unlikely, it's a further sign of the thaw in Syria's foreign relations even with its archfoe, Israel. Syria, meanwhile, is upholding its long alliance with Iran.
But one key prize remains elusive—a normal relationship with the United States. Accusing Syria of supporting insurgents in Iraq, the Bush administration imposed sanctions against the regime in 2004, and they have since been expanded amid continuing allegations that Syria supports terrorism in Iraq and Lebanon.
Syrian officials, while quick to criticize U.S. policy, say they are baffled by America's attitude and express a yearning for friendlier ties. They deny the allegations, and say Syria is doing everything it can to secure its border with Iraq and bring peace to Lebanon, a claim the U.S. rejects.
"We are more than offended," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad said in an interview. "It's mad not to have a relationship with the superpower. We recognize that the U.S. is a great power, it has a big influence on the life of the international community, and we recognize the great achievements of the people of the United States."
As long as Syria has hostile relations with the U.S., as well as Israel, there will always be a lingering worry that either—or perhaps both—will seek to wage war to dislodge Assad's regime, just as Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime in Iraq was removed, said Samir Altaqi, an influential political analyst with the Orient Center for Studies.
"There is a threat perception that is very strong," he said. "We're talking about the survival of Syria as a nation, not only the regime. People wonder about an attack from the U.S. They fear that Iraq is a black hole sucking all the region into chaos."
Shaking off perception
And as long as the perception hangs over the country, the investment Syria badly needs to sustain its expanding population and substitute for declining oil revenues will be lacking. The $800 million or so in foreign investment over the past year is paltry compared with the $5 billion poured into Egypt, and, at a time when the region is overflowing with oil wealth, Syria could expect more.
U.S. sanctions have had a relatively limited effect, restricting access to U.S. technology and financial services, Syrians say. Far more significant, said Haykal, is the impact the sanctions have on perceptions of Syria.
"When the superpower with its media machine says Syria is in the axis of evil, it has a psychological effect," he said. "I've had Europeans tell me they can't do business because of the sanctions."
At the same time, Syria's modest but fiscally significant oil reserves are starting to dry up. Production has fallen from 600,000 barrels a day in the 1990s to 340,000 today. Last year, Syria became a net oil importer, and it is projected that its reserves will run out in the next decade or two, according to Nabil Sukkar, head of the Syrian Consulting Bureau for Development and Investment.
Though higher oil prices have helped cover some of the shortfall, Syria is going to have to find alternative sources of revenue in the coming years, he said.
Meanwhile, the liberalization of the economy has widened the gap between rich and poor, as it has in newly privatizing economies elsewhere. The effect has been exacerbated by soaring prices, and last month the government was forced to lift fuel subsidies, prompting some louder-than-usual grumbling among ordinary Syrians.
While Egyptians, for example, have attributed global price hikes to corruption in their U.S.-backed government and have staged angry demonstrations, Syrians are more inclined to blame President George W. Bush than their leaders.
"It's an international phenomenon. It's not the government's fault," said Nizar Abdul Haq, 52, who fixes air conditioners for a living and has recently started driving a taxi at night to make ends meet. "I blame George Bush, who is responsible for all the trouble in the region. Because of the war, the price of oil went up, and then everything became more expensive."
Haykal said the government would be wise to heed the concerns of the poor. "This is an issue that can create instability, and the government has to deal with it," he said. "There is a gap, and it is increasing."lsly@tribune.com

Religious and Political Shiism in Syria
By Manal Lutfi
28/06/2008/London, Asharq Al-Awsat - Strategic relations between Iran and Syria are crucial for both states. However, these relations have been consolidated in Syria, rather than Iran. Today, most inter-political, -economic, -cultural and -religious projects are established in Damascus, which has become a hub for Iranian religious tourism.
Iranian tourists to Syrian religious sites number between 500,000 and one million, and dozens of Shia theological centers, or hawzas, as well as Iranian cultural and educational centers have been established across Syria. However, bilateral relations have also generated tension, especially in Syria.
Iranian activity in Syria, particularly restoring and building Shia shrines, has Syria worried about the spread of Shiism in the country. The Ahlul Bayt Society, headed by former Iranian ambassador to Syria Mohammad Hassan Akhtari, is active in Syria. The Society, which is affiliated to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei and plans and finances Shia centers around the world, expanded a theological center in Damascus, making it the third largest hawza in the world, after the Hawza al Ilmiyah in Qum, Iran and Najaf, Iraq.
Syria hosts 500 hawzas and Husseiniyat, which edify thousands of Iranian clerics. The Ahlul Bayt Society will soon inaugurate an Islamic bank, a television channel and an Islamic financial institution to promote multilateral relations among Islamic countries.
Regarding the activities of the Ahlul Bayt Society, Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leader Ali Sadreddin Al-Bayanouni said to Asharq Al-Awsat: "The real problem is not that a number of people have become Shia, but that Shiism has been disseminated and caused problems within Syrian society. When people convert from being Sunni to Shia, it provokes Sunni scholars and individuals and creates problems within the fabric of the Syrian society. I know that significant divisions have occurred in some villages due to the dissemination of Shiism. Many reports have declared unlimited Iranian support to Shiism in Syria. There is an attempt to establish cultural centers for disseminating Shiism in Syria in different governorates and cities that have never known this before."
Al-Bayanouni also discussed the causes of the spread of Shiism in Syria: "There is a religious doctrinal reason and a political one. The wave of Iranian progress in Syria hasn’t been limited to Shiism. There is cultural, charitable and even military Iranian activity. Iranian influence in Syria is not only doctrinal, but also political, social and military. Husseiniyats are being built for the Shia minority in Aleppo, Idlib and the new Shia villages in Jaser Ashour and others. On the radio in Damascus, the call to prayer is broadcast at times from the shrine of Sayyeda Zainab or Sayyeda Ruqayah according to the Shia method; that is, they add 'come to the good deed' after saying 'come to prayer and come to success.' This wasn’t the case before in Syria."
However, Mohamed Habash, an official in the Syrian parliament's Iranian-Syrian Relations Committee, played down these fears. Habash told Asharq Al-Awsat: "The Iranian revolution happened 29 years ago. For 29 years, there have been strategic relations between Syria and the Iranian revolution. The Iranians have existed and been active in Syria for 29 years and none of these fears ever materialized. We live in Syria and see what the Iranians produce and there are no dangers of this kind that they are talking about. Preaching does not change demographics, as some think. Yes, the Iranians are undertaking some activities to restore some shrines however this sensitivity doesn’t exist in Syria towards the shrines of Ahlul Bayt [the Prophet's family]. We have shrines in Syria, such as those of Ibn Arabi and Sheikh Khaled Al-Naqshbandi, and we haven’t demolished our shrines. When a Shia restores, with Iranian funds, the shrines of Sayyeda Ruqayah, Sayyeda Sakinah, the daughter of Hussein, or Ammar Bin Yasser, this doesn’t worry the Syrians; rather it makes them happy because they feel that it is their duty to build these shrines."
Habash continued: "Administrations will certainly be established and consequently, scholarly circles and studies and research centers will be founded. All of this doesn't worry the Syrians. We are working in the Islamic field, ascending pulpits and meeting the Sunnis and Shia in Syria. We don’t feel there is resentment towards matters. It is certainly bad when someone comes with foreign funds to convince a man to change his doctrine. However, we have heard such claims for 29 years. There was nothing more than specific individual cases and these could have taken place even without what is called an Islamic revolution. What is taking place in Syria, including the revived interest in Shia religious shrines, is normal; there is great sympathy in Syria with Ahlul Bayt among the Shia, Sunnis and other denominations."
The Ahlul Bayt Society in Damascus is not subject to the supervision of any Syrian governmental department. It is only affiliated with the Iranian embassy in Syria, which finances and supervises the construction of Husseiniyat and hawzas. This financing is also free from the supervision of Syrian authorities.
This is, perhaps, responsible for the difficulty in measuring the expenditures of the Society in Syria. Regarding this, Abdul Halim Khaddam, former vice-president under late Syrian President Hafez Assad, told Asharq Al-Awsat: "There are figures that come from Tehran, whether they are sheikhs or preachers, to the Iranian embassy. The Iranian embassy arranges their program for them. The line that they follow is that there are some graves of the Prophet’s Companions, who were close to Ali Ibn Abi Talib in Syria. The Iranians began to take an interest in these graves, erecting a shrine at each grave and establishing a Husseiniya beside it."
"The process began in such a manner. If there is any trace that a person is related to the Prophet in any city, they go to this city and establish a shrine. Therefore there are a large number of shrines in Syria. In addition, Damascus is home to the Sayyeda Zainab district, visited by Iranians and Shia from all over the world. There were large groups of Iraqi refugees in Syria, including clerics, who established a number of Husseiniyat," he added.
Today, in Damascus, particularly in regions with shrines dedicated to Ahlul Bayt, the Iranian presence is noticeable in everyday life; visitors are frequent, Iranian commodities are everywhere, Iranian currency is circulated among Iranian visitors and shops are owned by Iranians in Sayyeda Zainab (12 kilometers south of Damascus) and Sayyeda Ruqayah.
A Syrian source, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity to Asharq Al-Awsat, said: "The Iraqi and Iranian refugees are the largest groups today [in Syria]…in Sayyeda Zainab, it is difficult to differentiate between Iranian or Iraqi visitors, especially women, unless you hear what language they speak. Over 600,000 Iranian visitors travel annually to the shrine of Sayyeda Zainab, according to the official Iranian figures, although the circulated figures indicate twice as many visitors in total, including visitors from Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and the Gulf countries. However, the majority of these are Iraqi residents and Iranian visitors. Their number increases during certain occasions, such as the birth and death of Sayyeda Zainab, Ashoura and Arbaeen Al Hussein [a Shia religious observation that occurs 40 days after Ashoura in commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein Ibn Ali]. It is difficult to find a vacant room to rent, whether in a hotel or an apartment, during these occasions. There are no less than 200,000 people in the region [during these occasions], while the number of its registered inhabitants does not exceed 10,000 people."
Outside Sayyeda Zainab, Iranian visitors fill Emara market behind the Ummayad Mosque in the old city and, to a lesser extent, Al Amin Street, Al Bahsa and Al Halbouni districts, which host many two and three star hotels, indicating that most of the visitors are lower-middle class and have come to visit the sacred thresholds, mostly on Ashoura. Asharq Hotel in Al Halbouni, which hosted meetings between Syrian leaders during coup and independence periods and was historically known as the Orion Palace, hosts mostly Iranian guests.
The shrine of Sayyeda Ruqayah underwent several expansions, the first of which was during the Ayyubid era, and subsequently three times under the Ottomans. It remained a small shrine visited by dozens of the region's inhabitants until Iran financed a large-scale expansion over two decades.
The renovated area is estimated to cover 4,000 square meters, of which 600 meters are yard, and the remaining is portico, arena and the mosque, which stands adjacent to the shrine. Khaddam observed that Syrian authorities have succeeded so far in preventing the spread of Shiism to the Alawi sect, which Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad belongs to. He continued: "What is striking is that the Iranians have failed to spread Shiism to the Alawites. They have built Husseiniyat; however, no one has attended them."
Some have suggested that Syrian authorities purposefully allow Iranians to conduct Shia activities in the Sunni regions to distract them from spreading to the Alawite sect. Khaddam added: "As a result of poverty, [the Iranians] could establish Husseiniyat and focus their activities in some Sunni regions. In Syria, the concern is not about Syria being converted to Shiism. However, this issue remains a sensitive one. Playing with issues related to creeds, religion and doctrines is dangerous. Currently, intellectuals began to recount the same speech not in regards to sectarian fanaticism, but with regards to concern over Iranian intervention in Syria's affairs."
Many believe that Shiism extends beyond the religious arena to the political one. They consider political influence rather than religious conversion to be the main objective of spreading Shiism. A prominent Western diplomat, who served many years in the American embassy in Damascus, said to Asharq Al-Awsat: "We have information on Shia activities undertaken by Iran in Syria. Without doubt, this is, to some extent, true. The same can be said about the Arab Maghreb. However, my analysis is that the issue has been exaggerated. In Syria, there is more religious Shia enthusiasm than political, as exhibited by conversion from one denomination to another. Naturally, there are some people converting to Shiism. However, it is not a considerable phenomenon."
Many Syrian elites, especially the Sunni clerics, have been concerned by the spread of Shiism and the political influence of Iran. Some circles in Damascus feared that the growing relations among Tehran, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad might negatively affect the Palestinian factions, as was the case with Hezbollah.
Khaddam said: "Akhtari's relations with the Palestinian factions were strong. He has established these relations between the Palestinian organizations and Tehran since the early years of his service in Syria, even before Hamas came to Syria with the rest of the factions. His ties were good with most factions and he took a number of Palestinian delegations to Tehran. For instance, he organized a conference about Jerusalem in Tehran with Palestinian authorities and other regional powers. The factions' relations with Tehran are financial; Iran finances and gives assistance to the factions based on the alliance of the Islamic Jihad, Hamas and General Commander [of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command] Ahmed Jibril. Then it turned from finance to politics."
Khaddam continued: "Today, we can say that convergence of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Iran is wider than that of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the regime in Syria. The reasons are: Firstly, both Islamic Jihad and Hamas are Islamic movements, and secondly, they have no roots in Syria since their presence is a new one. Hamas' political commitment to Iran is the strongest; however, this doesn’t mean that there is no commitment with Syria; there is a limited commitment. Even with Iran, there is a limit to commitment. Let us suppose that Bashar Al-Assad reconciles with Israel and says to Hamas: 'Go and reconcile with Fatah.' They will pack their bags and leave Syria. They are influenced by Iran rather than Syria in strategic issues but with certain limits. Their strategic objectives are in line with Iran's on their position toward Israel as an entity and the peace process. When it comes to Syria, it is different."
Regarding the reception of Hamas in Damascus, Khaddam said: "When a problem arose between Jordan and Hamas and there were tensions between Syria and Yasser Arafat, Hamas was hosted in Damascus. The Palestinian factions used to take into account Syrian internal matters and didn’t embroil themselves in them. There is a margin in political issues. The condition of that margin is that it must not contradict the logic of Syrian politics. For instance, when a political difference took place between us and Abu Ammar [Arafat], we helped stir up dissension in Fatah and Fatah Al-Intifada emerged in 1983. Fatah Al-Intifada was a disgruntled bloc in Fatah. We employed its complaints to hasten the dissension process. Hence, it was a Syrian production intended to deal with Abu Ammar."
Although Syrian-Iranian relations are strong, they have disagreed on their positions regarding the policies of Palestinian factions in Damascus. The most recent of these divergences concerned Syria's participation in the Annapolis Peace Conference. A Palestinian official in Damascus indicated that tensions arose between Tehran and the Palestinian factions when Akhtari left Damascus.
The official, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat: "Akhtari has played a role in trying to invite the Palestinian factions to Tehran following the Annapolis conference. He informed the Palestinian factions of a conference to be held in Tehran instead of Damascus. He sent airline tickets to all factions. Naturally, he told the Iranian government that the Palestinian factions agreed. However, the Iranian government was surprised by the Palestinian factions' refusal and then problems arose."
The official asserted that although Akhtari has contributed significantly to building relations among Tehran, Damascus and the Palestinian factions, "a clever man's mistake is worth a thousand mistakes."
Before Syria accepted the invitation to attend the Annapolis conference held in the US last November, Palestinian and Syrian factions had agreed to hold a conference in Damascus. However, the Damascus conference was postponed when Western-informed sources alleged that the conference's real objective was to announce an alternative organization to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) comprising of the Palestinian factions in Damascus to create a legal framework for their movements in Gaza and the West Bank. The sources further indicated that Syria postponed the Damascus conference in the wake of Arab interventions to urge Syria to attend the Annapolis conference.
After the postponement, Iranian officials began criticizing the Annapolis conference, casting doubts on the potentials of its success and speculating about Damascus' participation. Shortly after that, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had invited all the Palestinian factions to attend a conference in Tehran in response to the Annapolis conference. The invitation and the conference's title, 'Against Annapolis', were sources of embarrassment to the Palestinian factions in Damascus.
However, the embarrassment was not publicized; rather, some factions announced their approval of attending the Tehran conference, while others suggested postponement, and still others remained silent. During the short period of preparation for the conference, public tensions between Syria and Iran emerged.
Ali Badwan, Palestinian political writer and a former member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Damascus told Asharq Al-Awsat that the allegation that the Damascus conference aimed to establish an alternative to the PLO was false.
He continued: "The factions' conference in Damascus didn’t present itself on behalf of the PLO. There was an agreement, among all the participating powers, that the conference is a political media station and nothing else. The Tehran conference is another thing. When Damascus' conference was first postponed during the Annapolis conference, Iran asked to hold another conference but the factions naturally refused. They refused to avoid the appearance of a Syrian refusal and an Iranian approval on the subject. The factions refused and informed Iran that they would not accept Tehran arranging a conference. Tehran prepared invitations and everyone turned them down on the grounds that any conference must be discussed with them ahead of time. Therefore, the factions all refused. The first faction to refuse was Hamas. Therefore, I would say that Tehran's conference failed at that time."
Elaborating on the subject, Abu Sami Marawan from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said to Asharq Al-Awsat: "When there was talk of holding the Annapolis conference, factions prepared to assemble an anti-Annapolis popular conference in Damascus. However, at the last minute, the conference was postponed and then cancelled. Then, the Iranians offered to host this conference in Tehran. The Palestinian factions unanimously apologized for declining the invitation due to the misunderstanding it would cause to many of our people and others. Nonetheless, this subject didn’t constitute any kind of sensitivity between the Palestinian factions and the Iranians."
"Then, Damascus' conference was held last January, but under another title. Instead of 'Against Annapolis' it was entitled 'Supporting the Palestinian Fixed Points'. This had varied attendance of Damascus' factions. The PFLP, the Democratic Front and the Palestinian People's Party apologized for their lack of participation. The PFLP's apology was based on the following considerations, including that the conference may not fill its stated objective of consolidating national unity. On the contrary, it might lead to more division as some factions didn't attend it, leading to a kind of split in the Palestinian ranks," he added.
Marawan said that Iranian-Palestinian coordination was established by meeting each faction separately. He explained: "Sessions between the Palestinian factions and the Iranian brothers are not held based on the social formula. There might be separate meetings between the factions and the Iranian brothers. This takes place on the basis of exchanging points of view and not that of coordination; each one of these powers has its own vision. Finally, the Palestinian-Iranian Relations Society was established. The Society began some activity within the framework of a department to follow relations between both the Palestinian and Iranian peoples. This committee was newly formed; it consists of representatives of all factions of the resistance in Damascus without exception."
He denied that Tehran and Damascus compete with each other over the Palestinian factions. He continued: "Neither my brothers from other factions nor I felt this. If there is a Syrian-Iranian competition to pay court to the Palestinian factions, it is known by the dignitaries and intelligence agencies. As for us in the Palestinian factions, I can say that we have never felt this, neither in the Popular Front nor in others. Consequently, if there is something of this kind, it comes from intelligence of which I'm not informed."
Although the Palestinian factions in Damascus and Iran disagreed about the Tehran conference, creating evident resentment in Iran, the tension did not, as some believe, infiltrate Syrian-Iranian relations for two reasons: First, the significant influence of the Iranian ambassador to Syria, and secondly, the nature of relations between Tehran and Damascus. Habash did not deny the powerful role of the Iranian ambassador to Damascus, indicating to Asharq Al-Awsat: "Is this issue a secret? Is there a reason for denying it? Of course Iran's ambassador links Iran and its allies whether they are the Syrian state or the Palestinian factions of resistance and Hezbollah. This conclusion doesn't require intelligence, it is natural. If we supposed the opposite, we would need additional intelligence to understand why they would be creating another channel. This is not ascribable to an ambassador. This is the sort of relationship between the Syrian state and Iran, not of an ambassador."