LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 21/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 9,30-37. They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them,
Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
How Iran is changing the balance of power in the Middle East?-Middle East Online 20/05/08
The heart of Lebanon's strife-Christian Science Monitor - By Mohamad Bazzi 20/05/08
Interview of the President by Richard Engel, NBC News-Whitehouse.gov (press release) 20/05/08
For once, a political declaration on which all Lebanese can agree-The Daily Star 20/05/08
LEBANESE CIVILIANS: “Taking matters [against terrorism] into our own hands”. By:W. Thomas Smith Jr. 20/05/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for May 20/08
Opposition Rejects Qatari Proposal at Doha Talks-Naharnet
Jumblat for Dialogue to Pacify Lebanon-Naharnet
Lebanese peace talks in Qatar on brink of collapse-The Associated Press
Hariri Rejects Aoun's Electoral Division Proposal, Okays Murr's-Naharnet
In Houston visit, Maronite cardinal tells of countries' threat to ...Houston Chronicle
Lebanon Talks in Qatar Falter, But Mediators Hope for Deal-Voice of America
Qatari mediators intervene to salvage Lebanon talks-Reuters
Lights Out Temporarily in Lebanon-Human Events
Mr. Bush’s Travels-New York Times
Lebanon Braces for Failure of Talks-TIME
Chairman of Lebanese Political Movement Brings Anti-Hezbollah ..PR Newswire (press release
In New York, Maronite patriarch discusses plight of Lebanese-Catholic News Service
Lebanese make progress in Qatar-The National
Civil society groups praise debate of new electoral law-Daily Star
Graziano plays down chances of conflict in South-Daily Star
Doha: no breakthrough, but no breakdown either-Daily Star
Ban calls for 'visionary' deal to outlaw cluster bombs-AFP
Jordan hopes Doha talks will result in deal-Daily Star
Quarrel turns violent in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp-Daily Star
Lebanon's fundamental need for political compromise-Daily Star
Classes resume at AUB with 'remarkably high' attendance-Daily Star
UNIFIL vows to continue peacekeeping tasks as usual despite recent unrest-Daily Star
Mild earthquake rattles South Lebanon-Daily Star
'Two Lebanons' even applied to journalists stranded abroad-Daily Star
Lebanon on brink of 'major catastrophe:' dire water crisis-Daily Star
Economist warns of meltdown if no political solution is found-Daily Star
Paris rocks boat by revealing 'contacts' with Hamas-AFP
Kuwaiti Cabinet steps aside in wake of elections-AFP
Iraqi Chaldean archbishop comes out against death penalty for convicted killer of colleague-AFP
Opposition Rejects Qatari Proposal at Doha Talks-Naharnet
Negotiating through the drums of war-Jerusalem Post
Lebanon opposition rejects Qatari compromise at crisis talks-AFP
LEBANON: Saudis disown Sunni militia-Los Angeles
Germany Tightens Truck Sales to Iran, Syria Over Rocket Fears-Bloomberg
Lebanon grapples with hatred unleashed by violence-Reuters
Fatfat: Opposition Seeks to Finish Off Doha Talks-Naharnet
Opposition Wants Government, Parliament Prior to President-Naharnet
Pro-, Anti-Government Lebanese Leaders Negotiate Qatari Proposal to End Crisis-Naharnet
Geagea Proposed Arab Peacekeeping Force to Protect Beirut-Naharnet

Hariri Rejects Aoun's Electoral Division Proposal, Okays Murr's
Naharnet/MP Saad Hariri has rejected a proposal by Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun regarding Beirut's electoral distribution, while approving that offered by MP Michel Murr, press reports said Tuesday. They said Aoun suggested that Beirut's first constituency include eight Christian and Armenian seats from Ashrafiyeh, Rmeil and Mdawwar, while Beirut's second and third constituencies are drawn so as to allow Muslims to be elected from Islamic parliamentary blocs (11 seats). Hariri, according to reports from Doha, rejected Aoun's proposal, but expressed willingness to "build on" an offer made by Murr which he described as "balanced."Hariri has reportedly said Murr's offer "does not frighten anybody. On the contrary, it is reassuring."
Murr's proposal called for dividing Beirut into three constituencies such as:
-The First (250,000 voters) includes Mazraa, Musayitbeh, Zoqak al-Blat, Ain Mreisseh, Mina al-Hosn, Ras Beirut and the port area such as the 10 seats are distributed as follows: 5 Sunnis, one Shiite, one Greek Orthodox, One Druze, one Anglican and one from the minority.
-The Second (110,000 voters) includes Bashoura, Mdawwar and Saifi. Seats to be distributed as follows: 3 Armenians, one Shiite and one Sunni.
-The Third (80,000 voters) includes Ashrafiyeh and Rmeil. Seats to be distributed as follows: One Greek Orthodox, one Maronite, one Shiite and one Sunni.
Murr uncovered that Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah informed him that they approved his offer. He said he got their okay during a Monday meeting.
Murr said he was entrusted by Berri and Hizbullah to discuss details of the offer with Hariri.
"I heard his (Hariri's) remarks … and we agreed to continue consultations in this regard," Murr said.
Press reports said Qatar's prime minister shuttled between the majority and the opposition late Monday with suggestions regarding the government seat ratio.
They said Qatar's emir Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani also joined the talks along with eight Arab League ministers in an effort to come up with new suggestions before holding one-on-one talks with Druze leader Walid Jumblat and MP Saad Hariri. Meanwhile, the Qatari prime minister met with Speaker Nabih Berri.
Beirut, 20 May 08, 09:15

Opposition Rejects Qatari Proposal at Doha Talks
NaharnetCrisis talks between rival Lebanese leaders hung in the balance on Monday after the Hizbullah-led opposition rejected a Qatari proposal aimed at ending a crisis which took Lebanon to the brink of civil war. The rebuff threatened to derail the talks with majority representatives on their third day.
The Qatari hosts had put forward compromise proposals calling for the immediate election of a new president by parliament and the formation of a unity government while postponing discussion of a proposed new electoral law. But the Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition refused to postpone discussion of a new electoral law, while stressing that it remained committed to a deal brokered by the Arab League in Beirut last week which paved the way for the Doha talks.
"The Lebanese opposition stresses its adherence to... (firstly) agreeing on the representation (of parties) in the formation of a national unity government, and (secondly) to agree on a new electoral law," an opposition statement said. "The agreement would be crowned by electing General Michel Suleiman as president as agreed." The two sides have agreed on the army chief as a consensus candidate to succeed Damascus-backed Emile Lahoud, who stepped down at the end of his term of office in November without a successor in place.
But differences over the makeup of a new unity government and proposed changes to the electoral law have blocked his election, worsening a crisis that began in November 2006 when six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet. The 18-month-old deadlock erupted into bitter sectarian fighting earlier this month that saw 65 people killed, and Hizbullah and its Shiite allies briefly seize Sunni areas of west Beirut. On Sunday, Qatar proposed the formation of a unity government of 30 ministers, with 13 from pro-government parties, 10 from the opposition and seven chosen by the newly elected president.The opposition has insisted that it wants more than a third of cabinet posts. The proposed changes to the electoral law could prove decisive in determining the outcome of parliamentary elections due next year. The two sides differ over the size of constituencies for the elections amid opposing assessments of their political advantage.
Government delegates said the next step was up to the Qatari hosts after the opposition's rejection of their proposals.
Acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri accused the opposition of showing insufficient respect for the efforts of the Qatari mediators to find a compromise.
Prominent Christian leader Samir Geagea said the dialogue had been dealt a "heavy blow" by the opposition, which he charged "took matters back to square one."
Qatar has also proposed including a clause in the final statement of the talks requiring all sides to renounce any new resort to armed violence in internal Lebanese disputes. Disagreements between the two sides over Hizbullah's large arsenal have proved an additional stumbling block in the talks, with the government representatives insisting that it be on the agenda. Qatar sought to bridge the rift by offering to come up with a compromise proposal.
The head of the Hizbullah delegation, Mohammed Raad, said on Sunday: "The issue of the resistance, its arms and capabilities is not up for discussion."
Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Fatfat hit back by saying that "if the arms issue is not specifically addressed... then there will be nothing."
Druze MP Akram Shohayeb said the pro-government bloc wanted to address only the issue of the weapons used "against the Lebanese people in Beirut and the mountains" in the recent clashes. "The weaponry of the resistance is a Lebanese issue which will be debated in a (subsequent) dialogue led by the president in Lebanon," he said.(AFP) Beirut, 19 May 08, 14:16

May 19, 2008, 11:21PM
Far from home, a plea to neighbors
Maronite cardinal tells of countries' threat to Lebanon
By BILL MURPHY
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
During a visit in Houston two days before he heads to the White House, the head of the Lebanon-based Maronite Catholic Church called on his country's neighbors not to take actions that could destabilize democracy in his land. Syria, Iran and Israel are among countries that can influence politics in Lebanon, Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir said Monday at Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Catholic Church in southwest Houston. "We need to be assured that neighboring countries will not attack, invade, undermine or compromise the sovereignty of Lebanon," said Sfeir, during the first visit by the head of the Maronite Catholic Church to Houston.
Sfeir said he would press home the same message while meeting with Bush on Thursday in the Oval Office.
"I have a message to him. I am asking for his help so Lebanon will be sovereign and independent and have the best situation with all her neighbors," he said.
Sfeir comes to the U.S. at a time of unrest in his country. Earlier this month, the Iranian-backed forces of the radical Shiite group Hezbollah took over much of Beirut. Lebanon's pro-Western government grew out of the Cedar Revolution in 2005, when Syrian troops were pushed out of Lebanon. Bush has cited Lebanon as a success story in his effort to foster democracy in the Middle East.
Sfeir said he worries that Lebanon will not be allowed to determine its future. The country has been without a president since November.
Lebanon's politics are complex and factionalized, with Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims of Hezbollah, Druze (a Muslim sect), Maronites and other Christian sects all looking for influence. Outside countries also exert influence.
"We need all of our constitutional institutions to be active and effective," he said. "Lebanon, by nature, is pluralistic, a country governed by a consensual democracy. This special character of Lebanon should be safeguarded and never lost."
Sfeir is the patriarch — leader — of the Maronites, one of the largest Eastern rite communities of the Roman Catholic Church. He is also a cardinal in Rome. The religion traces its origins to the early 5th century. Maronites share with other Catholics the same doctrine but have their own liturgy in an ancient Syrian language.
Sfeir said Christians continue to leave Lebanon because of the country's political instability. "We need the help of all nations to safeguard and support their presence and status," he said. Alberto Tohme, a parishioner at Our Lady of Cedars who follows political events in Lebanon, said, "It has been a very difficult path for the Maronites and Christians in Lebanon." There are 9 million Maronites worldwide, said Christine Dow, spokeswoman for Our Lady of Cedars, the area's only Maronite church. The Maronite community in Houston has grown since the early 1990s, and about 500 families belong to Our Lady of Cedars, Dow said.
william.murphy@chron.com

For once, a political declaration on which all Lebanese can agree
By The Daily Star
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Editorial
Among Lebanon's diverse (and sometimes highly divided) communities, it is somewhat rare to find a political stance or position upon which large majorities can wholeheartedly agree. But the prevailing sentiment in Lebanon right now is one that is shared by opposition supporters and government loyalists alike: The leaders who are gathered in Doha for talks on the Lebanese crisis should not return until they have reached a settlement to all of the outstanding issues that have needlessly plagued this country - and even threatened to bring about its demise.
Parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri announced on Monday that he would not return to Beirut until a settlement is reached. We speak for the vast majority of Lebanese in saying that we hope that Hariri will honor this promise, and that other Lebanese leaders will make the same pledge to continue negotiations until all outstanding issues are resolved. Whatever the disputes involved, none are as important as the stakes at play: the lives and the livelihoods of the Lebanese people.
Even if Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, the two principal mediators of the talks in Doha, must leave Qatar on Tuesday to attend to other pressing matters as has been reported in the media, there is no reason for the Lebanese leaders involved to call an abrupt halt to their negotiations. Surely they can continue holding meetings in the absence of a chaperone, even if their recent behavior suggests otherwise. Surely they can manage to put the interests of Lebanese citizens, who stand to suffer the consequences of any failure to reach a deal, above their own. If they cannot, history - and this newspaper - will not be kind to them.
Already, ordinary Lebanese citizens have endured far too many deprivations as a result of this absurd political dispute. The leaders gathered in Doha might be tempted to think that their own objectives, like securing a future electoral victory, for example, are more important than the wellbeing of their fellow citizens. But the prevailing sentiment on the Lebanese street is one that was best expressed by a group of disabled Lebanese citizens, many of whom had been maimed during Lebanon's 1975-1990 Civil War, who gathered along the airport road on Friday carrying a message to their departing leaders: "If you don't agree, don't come back

Doha: no breakthrough, but no breakdown either
Talks hung up on usual disagreements as emir tries last-minute mediation ahead of gcc summit
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Hopes for a breakthrough to solve Lebanon's 18-month-old political deadlock dimmed considerably on Monday with neither camp willing to make concessions at talks being held in Qatar's capital, Doha. An indication of how convoluted the talks were came late Monday evening, when Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani joined talks with the rival leaders for the second day in a row in a bid to help break the impasse - or at least to keep the talks going.
Sheikh Hamad and other senior Qatari officials were to attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, beginning on Tuesday, and there indications that the Lebanese delegations might return to Lebanon.
Parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri vowed earlier, however, that he would make no such move. Speaking to Al-Arabiya satellite news channel, the MP said he refuses to return to Beirut "until an agreement is reached."As The Daily Star went to press, Sheikh Hamad was meeting with representatives of both Hariri's March 14 coalition and the opposition March 8 alliance. It was unclear how many other leaders from the two sides would follow Hariri's lead.
Also on Monday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani called for an urgent meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee tasked with steering the talks. A press conference by the Arab mediators had been scheduled for late afternoon but had not been held by the time The Daily Star went to press.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa told reporters that the talks were "in the middle of the road" but added that the sides were each "talking about something else." "We are trying to get them closer to each other," he said. The talks follow an Arab-mediated deal that got the two sides to end a week of the country's worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 Civil War, and agree to hold negotiations on overcoming the standoff that has paralyzed Lebanon.
The issue of the electoral law was a source of considerable controversy on Monday. The two sides differ over the size of constituencies for the elections - especially in Beirut - amid opposing assessments of their political advantage.
A six-member committee was created Saturday to discuss a new election law. Reports said the panel had made progress and was now working out the details of how to divide the capital. The issue is significant because it will heavily influence the outcome of the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Following a large-scale meeting in Doha on Monday, the Hizbullah-led opposition issued a statement demanding that both key issues - the formation of a national unity government and the drafting of a new electoral law - be resolved in Doha before striking a deal that would be topped off by electing a new president in Parliament.
On Sunday, the talks' Qatari hosts had put forward compromise proposals calling for the immediate election of a new head of state and the formation of a national unity government while postponing discussion of a proposed new electoral law. Qatar also proposed the formation of a national unity government of 30 ministers, including 13 from pro-government parties, 10 from the opposition and seven chosen by the newly elected president.
In its statement, the opposition refused to postpone discussion of the electoral law and said it was committed to the Arab-brokered agreement in Beirut, which led to the Doha talks. The ruling coalition had previously argued for a need to elect a new president before discussing other pending matters, a demand the opposition has repeatedly rebuffed.
Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun told Lebanon's Orange TV that the pro-government side was offering the opposition veto power in a future national unity government, as long as the Hizbullah-led side agrees to a government-drafted election law. He called the suggestion "childish" because the national unity government would only sit until 2009."They wanted to share a government with us for 11 months, and then take the state and presidency for four years," Aoun said.
Government delegates said the next step was up to the Qatari hosts after the opposition rejected it proposal.
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea demanded on Monday the deployment of Arab troops in Lebanon to provide security following last week's deadly clashes between opposition and pro-government gunmen.
"I put forward a clear proposal to the Arab committee, [to deploy] Arab peacekeeping forces," Geagea told AFP in Qatar. "This demand will become more pressing" if the Doha talks fail, he added.
"If we want real stability this is the solution," Geagea said, adding that the situation remains precarious after at least 65 people were killed in the fighting, and Hizbullah and its Shiite allies briefly seized Sunni areas of western Beirut before handing over pro-government offices and other positions to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which remained neutral during the crisis.
A so-called "Arab Deterrent Force," consisting mainly of Syrian troops, was deployed in Lebanon following an early escalation of the Civil War in 1976, but the force became purely Syrian after other countries withdrew their troops.
Syria did not end its military presence in Lebanon until 2005 after it was accused of being behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a charge it has denied.
Geagea said that while Lebanon's past experience with Arab peacekeepers was disastrous, things could be different now if contributing states do not have political agendas to pursue. He did not identify which states might be without such agendas.
Disagreements between the two sides over Hizbullah's large arsenal have proved an additional stumbling block in the talks, with the government representatives insisting that it be on the agenda. Qatar sought to bridge the rift by offering to come up with a compromise.
The head of the Hizbullah delegation, MP Mohammed Raad, said on Sunday: "The issue of the resistance, its arms and capabilities is not up for discussion in Doha." - The Daily Star, with AFP

Civil society groups praise debate of new electoral law
By Anthony Elghossain
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
BEIRUT: The Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform (CCER) issued a letter Monday formally thanking Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani for his efforts to include electoral reform as part of any political resolution arrived at between Lebanese leaders during talks being held by feuding factions in Doha, Qatar.
The CCER stressed that the Qatari emir's "consideration of electoral reform as part of a broader solution" was well-placed, particularly given that his efforts are "based on the draft [electoral] law proposal that has been put forth by the National Commission for the Electoral Law," headed by former Minister Fouad Butros.
It urged Arab mediators and Lebanese factions to focus on nine general reforms proposed by the Butros Commission as they work toward a solution.
According to the letter and the CCER's website, the creation of an independent commission to oversee elections is viewed by the organization as central to electoral reform.Campaign finance reform, the regulation of media coverage and the utilization of pre-printed ballots instead of ad-hoc candidacy lists were also stressed by CCER as important factors to be considered by Lebanese parties while they hammer out a new electoral framework.
The facilitation of voting by handicapped citizens, holding nationwide elections on a single day, instituting mechanisms for diaspora voting, lowering the voting age to 18 and establishing a quota for female candidacies round out the general suggestions made by the Butros panel, which the CCER sees as the basis of any proposed framework.
"We organized 70 meetings during the past year, bringing together over 3,500 citizens and allowing them to express their support, through letters addressed to Lebanese legislators, for electoral reform in this country," it added. "The Lebanese deserve an electoral law that encourages stability and builds durable civil peace."
The CCER added that ongoing talks in Qatar represent a unique opportunity to build upon the efforts of the Butros Commission and translate the demands of the population into an achievable electoral order.
In related news, the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) also urged the adoption of electoral reforms by Lebanese leaders at the Qatar-hosted dialogue session. "A just and democratic electoral law is a basic right of every Lebanese citizen," LADE said in a statement released Monday. Like the CCER, LADE affirmed its support for the spirit behind the reforms proposed in the Butros plan, which has been adopted by MPs Ghassan Tueni and Ghassan Mokheiber, from the pro-government March 14 and opposition March 8 coalitions, respectively.
Both civil society groups hope the Butros framework will serve as a starting point for reform discussions if Lebanese leaders reject the draft law as it is currently formulated. "In the end," concluded LADE, "any law arrived at through consensus - so long as it includes democratic principles and reform measures at its core - will be welcomed."

Opposition Rejects Qatari Proposal at Doha Talks
Naharnet/Crisis talks between rival Lebanese leaders hung in the balance on Monday after the Hizbullah-led opposition rejected a Qatari proposal aimed at ending a crisis which took Lebanon to the brink of civil war. The rebuff threatened to derail the talks with majority representatives on their third day.
The talks Qatari hosts had put forward compromise proposals calling for the immediate election of a new president by parliament and the formation of a unity government while postponing discussion of a proposed new electoral law. But the Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition refused to postpone discussion of a new electoral law, while stressing that it remained committed to a deal brokered by the Arab League in Beirut last week which paved the way for the Doha talks.
"The Lebanese opposition stresses its adherence to... (firstly) agreeing on the representation (of parties) in the formation of a national unity government, and (secondly) to agree on a new electoral law," an opposition statement said. "The agreement would be crowned by electing General Michel Suleiman as president as agreed." The two sides have agreed on the army chief as a consensus candidate to succeed Damascus-backed Emile Lahoud, who stepped down at the end of his term of office in November without a successor in place. But differences over the makeup of a new unity government and proposed changes to the electoral law have blocked his election, worsening a crisis that began in November 2006 when six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet.
The 18-month-old deadlock erupted into bitter sectarian fighting earlier this month that saw 65 people killed, and Hizbullah and its Shiite allies briefly seize Sunni areas of west Beirut. On Sunday, Qatar proposed the formation of a unity government of 30 ministers, with 13 from pro-government parties, 10 from the opposition and seven chosen by the newly elected president. The opposition has insisted that it wants more than a third of cabinet posts. The proposed changes to the electoral law could prove decisive in determining the outcome of parliamentary elections due next year. The two sides differ over the size of constituencies for the elections amid opposing assessments of their political advantage. Government delegates said the next step was up to the Qatari hosts after the opposition's rejection of their proposals. Acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri accused the opposition of showing insufficient respect for the efforts of the Qatari mediators to find a compromise.
Prominent Christian leader Samir Geagea said the dialogue had been dealt a "heavy blow" by the opposition, which he charged "took matters back to square one."
Qatar has also proposed including a clause in the final statement of the talks requiring all sides to renounce any new resort to armed violence in internal Lebanese disputes.Disagreements between the two sides over Hizbullah's large arsenal have proved an additional stumbling block in the talks, with the government representatives insisting that it be on the agenda.
Qatar sought to bridge the rift by offering to come up with a compromise proposal. The head of the Hizbullah delegation, Mohammed Raad, said on Sunday: "The issue of the resistance, its arms and capabilities is not up for discussion." Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Fatfat hit back by saying that "if the arms issue is not specifically addressed... then there will be nothing."Druze MP Akram Shohaieb said the pro-government bloc wanted to address only the issue of the weapons used "against the Lebanese people in Beirut and the mountains" in the recent clashes. "The weaponry of the resistance is a Lebanese issue which will be debated in a (subsequent) dialogue led by the president in Lebanon," he said. Hizbullah was the only group that was not required to surrender its weaponry after the end the 1975-1990 civil war. It has always justified its exemption on the grounds of its struggle against Israel, which erupted into a devastating war in summer 2006.(AFP)
Beirut, 19 May 08, 14:16

Jumblat for Dialogue to Pacify Lebanon
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said only dialogue can lead to a settlement of the ongoing crisis. Jumblat, in an article to be published Tuesday by the PSP Weekly al-Anbaa, said "despite the scars of recent events, dialogue remains the only track leading to settling differences." "Dialogue is the ideal path leading to a defense strategy against the Israeli enemy," Jumblat wrote. "Such a reasonable dialogue could lead to … pacifying Lebanon in regional and international disputes," he added. Jumblat said "That is why we are facilitating dialogue to avoid dragging the nation once again to bitter experiences." Beirut, 19 May 08, 21:04

Geagea: Doha Dialogue Staggering
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the statement released by the Hizbullah-led opposition "dealt a major blow to the Doha dialogue."
"I don't know if the conference would manage to survive this blow," Geagea told Agence France Presse. The Lebanese Forces leader renewed his call for assigning an "Arab peace force" to stabilize Beirut. "Cautious Calm Prevails over Lebanon now. If we want the situation stabilized, the Arab Peace Force is the solution," Geagea added. Beirut, 19 May 08, 17:45

Fatfat: Opposition Seeks to Finish Off Doha Talks
Naharnet/Sports and Youths Minister Ahmed Fatfat accused the Hizbullah-led opposition of seeking to "block and finish off" the Doha dialogue.
Fatfat, in remarks to reporters in Doha, said a statement adopted by representatives of the opposition also is a breach of the agreement reached In Beirut and aims at "imposing conditions.""They do not aim at reaching a settlement," Fatfat said. "This does not mean that the Doha conference has failed. We remain committed to the agreement reached in Beirut," Fatfat added. Beirut, 19 May 08, 17:04

Mild Quake Strikes Southern Lebanon
Naharnet/A mild earthquake hit southern Lebanon at noon Monday, causing no damage or injuries, the state-run National News Agency reported.
It said the 3.0 magnitude quake was felt at around 12:00pm in the southern town of Srifa and the nearby villages of Maaraka and Deir Qanoun al Nahr.
Nabatiyeh residents also felt the quake which lasted five seconds according to the NNA. Beirut, 19 May 08, 13:59

LEBANESE CIVILIANS: “Taking matters [against terrorism] into our own hands
By: ” W. Thomas Smith Jr.
19 May 2008
As we reported yesterday (and Dr. Walid Phares called for on Saturday), a new resistance group against Hezbollah has just been formed in Lebanon and is being widely supported among the leadership of the worldwide Lebanese Diaspora.
The group, a tough resistance wing of the pro-democracy movement in Lebanon, is a response to the recent fighting in Lebanon wherein the terrorist group, Hezbollah, which claims it exists as a “resistance against foreign aggression,” turned its weapons against the Lebanese people. Hezbollah did so on May 7 (as we’ve reported here, here, here, and here) because the terrorist group didn’t approve of the legitimate government’s firing of the security chief at Beirut International Airport, and because the government tried to shut down Hezbollah’s extensive telecommunications system. After nearly a week of fighting — in which the Lebanese Army barely fired a shot to defend Lebanese property and civilians — the government caved and rescinded its orders.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese people — including Muslims, Christians, and Druze — are the ones who have been victimized, who have suffered overt attacks (or the threat thereof) against themselves and their families, their property, and their freedoms.
And the majority of those people are members — or hopeful believers in — the pro-democracy movement. They’ve had it with blood, fire, weak political and military leaders, and broken-promises. And it’s not just broken promises from their own leaders, but those of the UN and the various Western nations who have vowed to stand with them.
Over the weekend, several major Middle East (Arabic) newspapers, including Kuwait’s Alseyassah and Lebanon’s An-Nahar have roundly criticized the lack of Western intervention in Lebanon during the recent spate of terrorist attacks. ...

The Shiite resurgence in Syria
May 19. 2008 UAE / May 19. 2008
Manal Lutfi of Asharq al-Awsat, an independent Saudi-owned newspaper, wrote on May 19 that with the number of Iranian tourists visiting religious sites inside Syria reaching 500,000 and 1 million tourists per year, dozens of Shiite religious schools have been established in Syrian cities along with dozens of Iranian cultural and educational centres. “But just as the nature of the relations between the two countries led to strategic agreements concerning the main issues, these relations also aroused sensitivities among the Syrians,” Lutfi wrote in the UK-based paper. “The Iranian actions, especially the Iranian expenditure aimed at renovating Shiite religious sites, aroused anxiety among the Syrians concerning the spread of the Shiite doctrine.”But Muhammad Habash, head of the Iranian-Syrian relations committee in Syria’s parliament, dismissed the issue as insignificant.

In New York, Maronite patriarch discusses plight of Lebanese
By Beth Griffin
Catholic News Service
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- The people of Lebanon will sow justice and reap the gift of peace, said Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, on a visit to New York from his beleaguered country.
At a Mass offered May 15 at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn, Cardinal Sfeir compared the Lebanese people to Mary and the disciples in the days after Pentecost. "They were afraid of the hatred and divisions that were so strong in their society, but something new happened," he said. "The Holy Spirit gave them the courage, power and gifts to witness to Christ, to take risks, to work for the salvation of the world, to lay down their lives for the truth."
Cardinal Sfeir said: "The spirit of love changes everything. There will still be hate and divisions, but the Holy Spirit helps us overcome evil with good.
"With the help of the Virgin Mary and the prayer of the apostles, we too will receive our share of the Spirit, encourage one another not to give in to fear or despair and ... sow justice so as to reap the gift of peace."
The fragile security situation in Lebanon has been threatened recently by renewed struggles between the country's ruling anti-Syrian coalition and Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militia. The presidency, a post reserved for a Maronite Catholic, has been vacant since November.
Cardinal Sfeir began a seven-day visit to New York, Pennsylvania and Texas with a May 15 meeting at the United Nations. He addressed the Security Council and spoke with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Lebanese Consul General Antoine Azzam. He was accompanied by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations.
Speaking to Azzam, Cardinal Sfeir said: "The duty incumbent on all Lebanese and friends of Lebanon is to restore order, parliamentary procedure, civility in dialogue, respect for the rights and duties of the state and forge a permanent conviviality reflected not only in law but in actions as well.
"The opportunity for a new Lebanon is before us. Let us not lose the chance by egotistical or illegal actions that weaken Lebanon," he said. "Rather, let us all, no matter what is our confession, party or opinion, see Lebanon as a sacred trust worthy of our every respect and effort."
In his address to the Security Council, Cardinal Sfeir asked the United Nations to "intervene with all member states to facilitate the normal and proper functioning of the Lebanese government. Lebanon by nature is pluralistic, a country governed by a consensual democracy. This special character of Lebanon should be safeguarded and never lost." Cardinal Sfeir asked neighboring countries not to compromise the sovereignty of Lebanon. He also asked the international community to help the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. In a phone interview with Catholic News Service as he traveled from the United Nations to Brooklyn, Cardinal Sfeir said, "I have made an appeal to all Lebanese to put away the arms and to have a dialogue and reconciliation."
Specifically, he said that he had hosted talks with representatives of the fighting parties. "Reconciliation has not been made, but the situation will improve and there will be peace," he said. Bishop Gregory J. Mansour of the Maronite Diocese of St. Maron of Brooklyn said that Cardinal Sfeir "welcomed the parties to his home. He is trying to rally the Lebanese to see the other person's point of view."Cardinal Sfeir said: "Unfortunately there are more than 1 million people who have left Lebanon. They are not all Christians. I told them to have confidence in Lebanon, but they need to find jobs and there are no jobs in Lebanon."
Cardinal Sfeir said that Ban has "always been involved in Lebanon and is ready to help." He said he thanked Ban for renewing the appointment of the special U.N. envoy to Lebanon.The Mass in Brooklyn was concelebrated by 28 bishops and priests and attended by more than 400 people. While the worshippers waited for the patriarch, they recited the rosary in Arabic.
Bishop Mansour welcomed the participants to the liturgy, saying: "It is not enough to work for peace. We must pray for peace."He noted that Cardinal Sfeir marked his 88th birthday May 15 and said, "We thank God for his parents who taught him to love God and Lebanon and what is good and noble in life."
The congregation included octogenarians who are first-generation, Brooklyn-accented Lebanese-Americans whose Arabic was limited to prayer responses, as well as newer immigrants who carried infants and spoke to one another in spirited Arabic.
Laurice Fadel, who came to the United States as a child, said there was some tension between the established and newer members of the congregation but that she was grateful for the newcomers, whose presence breathed new life into the parish.
Both groups clamored to shake hands and take pictures with Cardinal Sfeir after the Mass and enjoyed a late-night reception of lemonade and Lebanese treats served from an immense table in the cathedral's social hall.

Lebanese make progress in Qatar
Nicholas Blanford, Foreign Correspondent
Last Updated: May 20. 2008 12:17AM UAE / May 19. 2008
Nabih Berri (left), the Lebanese parliament speaker and cheif of the Shite Amal Movement sits next to Michel Aoun, the Christian opposition leader. AFP
Beirut // Lebanon’s feuding leaders continued negotiations in Qatar yesterday with one mediator describing progress as having reached “midway” to an agreement to ease political tensions in Lebanon. Following a meeting hosted by Nabih Berri, the Lebanese parliamentary speaker, the Hizbollah-led opposition reiterated its commitment to the Doha talks and released a statement supporting “an agreement over power sharing in the coming national unity government and the electoral law”.It said that agreement on these two points would lead to the election as president of Gen Michel Suleiman, the commander of the Lebanese army who is regarded as a consensus candidate by the government and the opposition.
The opposition’s stance appears to run against a proposal submitted on Sunday by Qatar, which is hosting the talks. Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani suggested postponing a decision on the electoral law until after the election of Gen Suleiman. It has also suggested forming a 30-seat national unity government on the basis of 13 ministers for the government supporters, 10 for the opposition and seven chosen by the next president. The latest configuration replaces an earlier proposal of a 10-10-10 allocation.
The opposition has insisted on gaining a third share of the cabinet seats, granting a veto over any legislation to which it objects.
Mohammed Fneish, a senior Hizbollah official and energy minister before his resignation, said the opposition rejects Qatar’s cabinet-sharing formula and instead seeks the creation of an interim government, the sole task of which would be to organise fresh parliamentary elections.
“There are three things that we are discussing: electing a president, something we have agreed upon; the national unity government, where we want an interim cabinet and refuse the 13-7-10 proposal and the 10-10-10 formula; and the electoral law, which, if it is not agreed upon here in Doha, then the committees responsible for it can continue their dialogue in Beirut,” he said.
Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement and senior opposition official, said the opposition was waiting for the response of the March 14 parliamentary coalition.“We have made suggestions and did not drop the Arab initiative,” Gen Aoun said. “We have suggested more than 100 proposals, all balanced and the other party has to choose.”
The leaders of the March 14 bloc coalition were locked into a meeting yesterday afternoon and no response to the opposition stance was immediately forthcoming.
Amr Musa, the secretary general of the Arab League, said the Lebanese politicians are “midway, but no agreement has been reached yet”.
He said that the fate of Hizbollah’s weapons was not being discussed in Doha, and added it was “an internal security matter”.
Hizbollah officials have ruled out any negotiations over the party’s military wing. “Hizbollah will not accept anything related to its arms to be added to the Beirut accord,” Mr Fneish said.
Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces party and a senior figure in the March 14 parliamentary coalition, was quoted on Monday in Lebanon’s Al Liwaa newspaper as having said the best that could be expected from Doha was a truce between the government and the opposition because Hizbollah refused to discuss its weapons.
“How could we make an agreement while the weapons are still there? Can they guarantee that they will not use them against us?” he asked.
Hizbollah’s justification for retaining an armed wing has evolved in recent years from being solely a means of liberating Israeli-occupied Lebanese territory and freeing Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons to a component of Lebanon’s national defence against perceived Israeli aggression.
Hizbollah argues that only its unique combination of guerrilla tactics combined with a conventional military arsenal, including long-range artillery rockets, can ward off Israeli threats to Lebanese sovereignty. That argument suggests that only a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel would lead to Hizbollah’s disarming.
The government and its supporters in the March 14 coalition insist that only the state has the right to bear arms and decide matters of war and peace. One option proffered by March 14 figures is to integrate the Islamic Resistance, Hizbollah’s armed wing, into the Lebanese army, possibly as a southern border defence force, but under the army’s chain of command. Hizbollah has said it is willing to co-ordinate with the army as part of a national defence strategy, but insists on retaining a separate command structure. Although the government lacks the strength to force Hizbollah to disarm, March 14 officials are unwilling to allow the issue to fester after the recent sectarian violence in which Hizbollah gunmen and their allies stormed west Beirut.
Samir Frangieh, a March 14 MP, said Hizbollah’s arms represented the main point of disagreement in Doha and that a solid guarantee was required from Hizbollah on the use of its weapons in the future.“It is not acceptable that we go back to the status quo that was dominant before Hizbollah invaded Beirut,” he told Al Sharq Al Jadeed news agency.nblanford@thenational.ae

Is Hezbollah Now the Greatest Threat?
By: Douglas Farah
May 19, 10:38
There is some serious re-evaluation of priorities in parts of the U.S. and European intelligence communities as to the who now poses the greatest strategic threat to the West-al Qaeda or Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has publicly emerged in recent days the premier military force in Lebanon, able to act with relative impunity while the army stands by.
But perhaps more importantly, Hezbollah has now become a public target of al Qaeda, as Osama bin Laden has explicitly stated in his most recent audio tape.
Bin Laden singled out by name Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, whose 2006 war against Israel boosted the group’s popularity among Shiites and Sunnis.
Bin Laden said Nasrallah claimed he had enough resources, such as money and combatants, to fight Israel.
“But the truth is the opposite,” he said. “If he was honest and has enough (resources), why then he did not support the fight to liberate Palestine.”
He also attacked Nasrallah for allowing the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon “to protect the Jews.”
Why the animosity? Perhaps because, for the first time in many years, the Sunni world-and the radical Sunni world in particular-are noticing how much more willing and able Hezbollah and its Shite government backers are to project a strength that at least rivals, and likely surpasses, that of its own fighting forces.
What makes Hezbollah particularly interesting and dangerous now is its hybrid status-a non-state armed actor, operating with access to state resources (Iran and Syria).
This means that, while nominally outside state control and the reach of sanctions available in the international sphere, it has access to state intelligence, arsenals and financial backing.
Hezbollah also has access to funds generated by the diamond trade in West and Central Africa, a host of other smuggling activities on that continent, as well as the criminal activities in Latin America and elsewhere.
If al Qaeda central or Al Qaeda in Iraq, lose $500,000, it is a serious blow to their structure. If Hezbollah were to lose that amount, it would be damaging, but they would have numerous options of where to turn to replenish their coffers in a very short time.
Because of the scope of Hezbollah’s rapidly-increasing activities, both at home and abroad (particularly Latin America), its strong internal structure and high-level training, some in the intelligence communities are now arguing for a shift of at least some resources to tackle the Hezbollah issue more forcefully.
The argument is that Iran is increasingly desirous of extending its sphere of influence and that of Shite Muslims on a global scale. In order to do this, and perhaps to also detract from the worsening economic situation at home, the government is seeking to enter new arenas of conflict where the cost is relatively low but the payoff, in terms of prestige and financial gain, could be high.
One such areas is the northern tier of Latin America. Another, where action has already taken place, is in Lebanon itself.
Given the financing, training and documented ability and willingness to carry out terrorist attacks (Beirut, Buenos Aires etc.) Hezbollah is a growing force to be reckoned with.

Intelligence forecasting on Lebanon
by RIEAS Institute Ioannis Michaletos
19 May 2008
The Research Institute for European & American Studies -(RIEAS) based in Athens-Greece, recently made an Intelligence forecasting concerning the Lebanon crisis and the possible short-term outcome.
www.rieas.gr
Text follows:
RIEAS INTELLIGENCE FORECASTING (OSINT)
Theme: Looming Lebanon conflict
Probability Estimation: 90%
The recent violence outbreak in Lebanon and the takeover of Western Beirut by Hezbollah, has enacted a circle of events that it is estimated they will culminate in an Israeli military involvement in Lebanon, as early as July 2008.
Indicators:
I) The Iranian energy initiatives relating to its contracts with Malaysia, India and China along with a strong interest in exporting natural gas in Europe (see EGL-Trans-Adriatic pipeline) have as an effect the effective ease of sanctions against the country and its empowerment; an aspect that finds Israel totally opposed.
II) According to highly reliable open sources information, Iran has increased by 100% the annual subsidy given to Hezbollah.
III) At least one international expert has cancelled his appearance to a conference in Lebanon this summer, fearing an imminent conflict
IV) Multitude of news broadcasts from the international media and specialized networks, indicate a rising sentiment and approach amongst renowned analysts of a coming Lebanon conflict
V) 2008 is the year allegedly Iran acquires the ability of producing its first nuclear weapon.
VI) Cross-Checked of the above information via three independent and reliable international experts.
The forecasting was aired on the 11th of May, since then the effective empowerement of Hezbollah and a recent OSINT report by the Cyprus Embassy in Washington D.C (1), further attests to the above.
(1) http://strategicanalysis.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/lebanese-fleeing-war-arrive-in-cyprus/

Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Calls Iran "a threat to Turkey as well as to the U.S."
By Andrew Cochran-Counter terrorism
Doug Farah and I talked about his post on Hezbollah and clarified that Hezbollah might be the premier non-state terrorist threat. After all, Hezbollah's support and the extent of its direction from the current Iranian regime is massive. Two years ago, I wrote here about my discussions with a senior Western intelligence service official, who estimated Iran's direct financial support to Hezbollah at $100 million, and that was when oil was less than half of the current price. I assume that amount has not been decreased. Those ties now constitute a dagger aimed at the freedom of entire countries - Lebanon and Israel in the Middle East - as well as a threat to the U.S.
Anyone wondering whether the threat posed by Iran is "tiny" or substantial should ponder what the Ambassador from Turkey to the U.S. said today at our panel on the Turkey-U.S. relationship. Ambassador Nahi Sensoy said that Iran has run "clandestine (nuclear) programs for more than two decades," and those programs are "a threat to Turkey as well as to the U.S." Granted, Turkey's method of dealing with that threat includes diplomatic engagement with Iran - the two have not been at war with each other since 1639 - but the Turkish government clearly recognizes that the size of Iran's military is not of critical importance in the age of asymmetric warfare.
The first necessity in designing a national security policy is have a clear-eyed view of the threats and opportunities, the allies and potential foes. To brush away Iran's potential for deploying nuclear technology, either on its own or through its terrorist proxies, is to ignore the strategic goals clearly expressed by Iranian leaders: the destruction of the State of Israel and the strategic defeat of the U.S.
May 19, 2008 05:09 PM

Interview of the President by Richard Engel, NBC News
Hyatt Regency Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt - May 18, 2008
White House News
2:02 P.M. (Local)
Q Mr. President, thank you very much for joining us.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir.
Q In front of the Israeli palm at the Knesset you said that negotiating with Iran is pointless -- and then you went further, you saying -- you said that it was appeasement. Were you referring to Senator Barak Obama? He certainly thought you were.
THE PRESIDENT: You know, my policies haven't changed, but evidently the political calendar has. People need to read the speech. You didn't get it exactly right, either. What I said was is that we need to take the words of people seriously. And when, you know, a leader of Iran says that they want to destroy Israel, you've got to take those words seriously. And if you don't take them seriously, then it harkens back to a day when we didn't take other words seriously. It was fitting that I talked about not taking the words of Adolph Hitler seriously on the floor of the Knesset. But I also talked about the need to defend Israel, the need to not negotiate with the likes of al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas. And the need to make sure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon.
But I also talked about a vision of what's possible in the Middle East.
Q Repeatedly you've talked about Iran and that you don't want to see Iran develop a nuclear weapon. How far away do you think Iran is from developing a nuclear capability?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, Richard, I don't want to speculate -- and there's a lot of speculation. But one thing is for certain -- we need to prevent them from learning how to enrich uranium. And I have made it clear to the Iranians that there is a seat at the table for them if they would verifiably suspend their enrichment. And if not, we'll continue to rally the world to isolate them.
Q You've been rallying the world. Have you had some success on this Arab tour to try and -- and Israeli tour -- to mobilize this community against Iran? Is that part of your mission?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it's not so much -- actually, the place where I'm spending time, in terms of dealing with serious economic isolation is with our European friends -- they're the ones who have had significant trade with the Iranians. We're dealing with it not only in goods and services, trying to convince them to hold back goods and services until there's verifiable suspension, but also dealing with Iranian finances.
I don't have to spend too much time in the world, in this part of the world creating concerns about Iran -- there is big concern about Iran given the fact that Hezbollah is destabilizing Lebanon, Hamas is trying to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, and of course Iranian action inside of Iraq.
Q A lot of Iran's empowerment is a result of the war in Iraq. How do you feel that Iran is -- its position in the world is rising because of your actions in Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: See, I'm not so sure I agree with that. That's a premise I don't necessarily agree with. As a matter of fact, I think Iran is troubled by the fact that a young democracy is growing in Iraq. You know, this notion about somehow if Saddam Hussein were in power everything would be fine in the Middle East is a ludicrous notion. Saddam Hussein was a sponsor of terror -- and can you imagine what it'd be like to see an arms race between Saddam Hussein and Ahmadinejad, in terms of creating instability in the Middle East? As a matter of fact, the way to ultimately defeat those who use terror to destabilize young democracies is to help the young democracies succeed.
Q I've watched Iran's influence grow in Iraq. It's been very steady over the years. What are you going to do to try and counteract Iran's influence?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Basra, for example, we stood by the Prime Minister's decision to move into Basra and to continue to encourage the Prime Minister to go after Shia criminals and Shia armed militias that are doing harm to the average Iraqi -- and at the same time encourage them to use some of the Iraqi wealth to improve conditions of life. And that's what's happening. Basra is -- it's still obviously got work to be done, but it was a successful operation, as you know better than me, he's now heading into Sadr City -- "he," the Iraqi government -- all aiming to protect innocent people from people who are operating outside the law. And to the extent that those are folks who are supported by Iran, it will serve as a defeat to Iran.
Iraq is changing. You know it better than anybody, you've been spending a lot of time there. And it's in the interest of the United States that we help it continue to change to the better.
Q You talked about Iran being a major threat to American policies in the region -- with Hamas, Hezbollah, militia groups in Iraq. Do you intend to finish your term in office with a military action of some kind against Iran?
THE PRESIDENT: Richard, that's highly speculative. I've always made it clear that options are on the table. But, you know, the biggest weapon we have against those who can't stand freedom is the advance of freedom. I'm going to give a speech here in a minute that talks about the need to advance the freedom agenda in the Middle East.
Iran is a threat to people who want to live in peace, that's what they've clearly shown. I mean, the interesting thing in Lebanon is that Hezbollah, which had sold itself as a protector against Israel, all of a sudden turned its weapons on the people of Lebanon -- the true colors. And sometimes in life there needs to be clarity in order for people to rally to solve a problem.
So the best way to deal with the Iranians in the Middle East is to help the young democracy of Lebanon survive, is to stand up a Palestinian state -- obviously subject to the road map, which we intend to do before my presidency [ends], and succeed in Iraq.
Q How are you going to prevent Hezbollah from taking over in Lebanon? They had a small coup, the army didn't do anything, and they proved that they are clearly in control of the streets when they want to be.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's a problem, and obviously one thing to do is to help strengthen the Lebanese army, which I sent General Dempsey to Beirut -- I don't know if he was there when you were there, but he was there precisely to help inventory the Lebanese army -- is to make it clear to Prime Minister Siniora we stand strongly with you. We'll see what happens out of this agreement and whether it sticks or not. But we strongly support the March 14th coalition.
Perhaps one way to help deal with the situation is to get the U.N. tribunal up and running, that's investigating the death of Mr. Hariri. But, you know, no question it's a tough situation. It's not as if Lebanon has been a stable situation forever, either. I mean, this is -- and yet the Lebanese people deserve a peaceful democracy and our aim is to help them.
Q It sounded like when you were addressing the Israeli Knesset you gave a green light to Israel to take action against Hezbollah and Hamas.
THE PRESIDENT: Richard, you can read into it what you want to read into it. That certainly wasn't my intention. My intention was to say that all of us need to understand that radical groups are the threat to peace -- whether it be al Qaeda or Hamas or Hezbollah.
Q Negotiations with Iran -- is that appeasement, is that like appeasing Adolph Hitler?
THE PRESIDENT: My position, Richard, all along has been that if the Iranians verifiably suspend their enrichment -- which will be a key measure to stop them from gaining the know-how to build a weapon -- then they can come to the table, and the United States will be at the table. That's been a position of my administration for gosh, I can't remember how many years, but it's a clear position. We've stated it over and over again.
But I've also said that if they choose not to do that -- verifiably suspend -- we will continue to rally the world to isolate the Iranians. And it is having an effect inside their country. There's a better way forward for the Iranian people than to be isolated. And their leaders just need to make better choices.
Q In Iraq I recently met a soldier. He was medevac'd out on his first tour; he's now back on his second tour -- was already medevac'd to the green zone. How many more tours do these soldiers have to do? Is there an exit strategy for Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, the fact that this person volunteered again speaks to the great bravery of our troops. And we need to honor them and will honor them. And one way to do so is to have more set tours -- in for 12, out for 12.
The other thing is to take care of their families, and when the veterans take care of the vets. You know, the fact that you told me about a guy who got medevac'd twice only says to me that we've got a courageous military.
In terms of success, we're returning troops on success. You might remember I had to make a difficult choice to put more troops in -- those troops are coming home by July. And then of course, General Petraeus and his successor will assess the situation on the ground and we will end up having the troops necessary to help the Iraqis succeed.
Q So it doesn't sound like there's an end anytime soon. It just sounds like we need to support them as much as we can and keep them there for as long as we can.
THE PRESIDENT: I think the end, Richard, is, I told you, return on success. The more successful Iraq is, the fewer troops we'll need. And there's no question Iraq is becoming successful: the security situation has changed, the political situation is a lot better, the economic situation -- unlike other parts of this world -- are pretty strong. And now the question is are they going to be able to get the resources in an efficient way to the people, so the people see the benefits of democracy -- and they're doing a better job of that.
Q You think -- you still view Iraq as a success? Because on the ground it looks very bleak -- people still want to leave the country, and people are --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's interesting you said that -- that's a little different from the surveys I've seen and a little different from the attitude of the actual Iraqis I've talked to, but you're entitled to your opinion.
Q The Iraqi government, I think, has one position, which is that it's seeing a lot of progress. But Sadr City has been up in revolt. There's major battles in Mosul. I was just in a major firefight in Sadr City hit by an EFP. It is still very much a war zone.
THE PRESIDENT: Richard, no question it's violent. But there's no question that the Iraqi government are dealing with the violent people. It's like this attitude about Basra. I can remember, you know, a good reporter saying "Basra is a disaster." I'm not suggesting you did, but people said "it's a disaster." And lo and behold, it wasn't. It was successful.
What you're watching is an Iraqi government take care of extremists in their midst so that a democracy can survive. And it's essential that the democracy survive for our own security, as well as the stability of the Middle East.
Q You've talked about having an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of this year.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q What gives you hope that that is not overly ambitious? Why do you -- why do you think that's possible?
THE PRESIDENT: Because, first of all, people in Israel understand that in order for them to have long-term security there has to be a democratic state. People in Palestine want a democratic state. Now, there are people opposing that -- Hamas, in particular, trying to create the violence and fear to stop the state from progressing.
Secondly, I know their leaders. I spent a lot of time with Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas. They are dedicated to doing the hard work. And thirdly, I've seen the progress being made on issues like --
Q What about Hamas, Hamas was elected --
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me for a minute, please -- on issues like the border and refugees and security. And yes, Hamas was elected and they=ve done a disaster of running Gaza. And there will be an interesting contrast between the vision of Hamas and their record, and the vision of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad and a Palestinian state. And it's that vision, the competing visions that will be put forth to the Palestinian people at some time. And I believe a state will exist and I know it's necessary for peace in the Middle East.
And I think -- I feel good that we can get it defined during my presidency and implemented subject to road map.
Q Going back to your vision and the message you've been pushing about democracy and supporting moderates across the region -- if you look back over the last several years, the Middle East that you'll be handing over to the next President is deeply problematic: You have Hamas in power; Hezbollah empowered, taking to the streets, more -- stronger than the government; Iran empowered, Iraq still at war. What region are you handing over?
THE PRESIDENT: Richard, those folks were always around. They were here. What we're handing over is a Middle East that, one, recognizes the problems and the world recognizes them. There's clarity as to what the problems are. To say all of a sudden that Hamas showed up is just not factual. They have been around and they have been dangerous. Hezbollah has been around and they are dangerous. That's why we put them on the terrorist list before my presidency.
And what you're beginning to see is new democracies. You'll see a Palestinian state. You'll see Iraq emerging. And it doesn't happen overnight. The freedom movement is not a instant. The freedom movement is a challenge to a system that said the status quo is acceptable --when underneath was brewing all kinds of resentments.
We've taken on al Qaeda in the Middle East. It was from here that they recruited people to launch attacks. And why they're still existing, they've been hurt, and they're going to be hurt even more as liberty advances and freedom advances.
Q Do you believe that Iran is now more of a threat in Iraq than al Qaeda?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, that's an interesting question. I think they've both been seriously hurt in Iraq. You know, al Qaeda thought they were going to have a stronghold in Anbar province, they proudly proclaimed this was going to be their capital from which they were going to launch missions around the world and throughout the region -- and they failed.
And in Iran* [sic], Shia groups funded by Iran tried to take on the government and the government is succeeding -- but it's going to take a while.
Q The war on terrorism has been the centerpiece of your presidency. Many people say that it has not made the world safer, that it has created more radicals, that there are more people in this part of the world who want to attack the United States.
THE PRESIDENT: That theory says by confronting the people that killed us, therefore there's going to be more -- therefore we shouldn't confront them?
Q Or confronting -- creating more people who want to kill us, one could also say.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you can say that, but the truth of the matter is there's fewer al Qaeda leaders, the people are on the run; they're having more trouble recruiting in the Middle East; Saudi Arabia, our partner, has gone after al Qaeda; people now see al Qaeda for what it is, which is a group of extremists and radicals who preach nothing but hate. And no, I just -- it's just the beehive theory -- we should have just let the beehive sit there and hope the bees don't come out of the hive?
My attitude is the United States must stay on the offense against al Qaeda -- two ways. One from --
Q Smash the bees --
THE PRESIDENT: -- two ways --
Q -- in the hive and let them spread?
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me for a minute, Richard. Two ways. One, find them and bring them to justice -- what we're doing. And two, offer freedom as an alternative for their vision. And somehow to suggest the bees would stay in the hive is naïve -- they didn't stay in the hive when they came and killed 3,000 of our citizens.
Q Thank you very much for your time, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.
END 2:16 P.M. (Local)