LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِFebeuary
10/2011
Bible Of The
Day
The Good News According to John 12/24-25: "12:24 Most certainly I tell you,
unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself
alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 12:25 He who loves his life will
lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 12:26
If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also
be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Latest
analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases
from
miscellaneous
sources
Hassan Nasrallah: The Voice of his Iranian master/By: Ahmed Al-Jarallah/February
09/11
Egypt, Lebanon and the
Humanitarian Impact of Political Turmoil/Huffington
Post (blog)/February
09/11
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for February 09/11
Egypt nears military coup.
USS warships in Suez Canal/DEBKAfile
Bishop Boulos Matar: Strong,
Capable State Remains Sole Protector of Lebanon/Naharnet
Palestinians Banned from Entering
Egypt/Naharnet
Britain: Scale of Any Possible
Israel-Hizbullah Conflict is Growing/Naharnet
Shalom: Hizbullah Consolidating
Capabilities in Contravention with 1701/Naharnet
Egypt:
Nasrallah Walking in Khamenei's Footsteps/Naharnet
Egypt: Hizbullah and Iran want to
'ignite the region'/J.Post
Russia
Calls for Security Council Mission to Middle East, Including Lebanon/Naharnet
Barak
to Inform Ban on Wednesday of Israel's Decision to Suspend Withdrawal from
Ghajar/Naharnet
Connelly Meets Geagea, Gemayel, Harb: Truly Representative Govt Would Not
Abandon STL/Naharnet
MP Salam denies reports on his participation in Mikati's government/iloubnan.info
Future Bloc holds March 8 responsible for deepening gap, awaits/iloubnan.info
Aoun
from Syria: Time to Return to Our Roots, Get Our of Isolation/Naharnet
Berri Says Things Heading
in Right Direction, Expects Announcement of Cabinet this Week/Naharnet
Battle Over Cabinet Seats
Heats Up/Naharnet
Ahmed Hariri: Miqati
Became PM after Promising to Torpedo Agreement with Tribunal/Naharnet
Report: Egypt's Hizbullah
Cell Hasn't Yet Returned to Lebanon/Naharnet
Mustaqbal Says Still
Awaiting 'Clear Answers' from Miqati/Naharnet
Williams after Meeting
Miqati Hopes New Cabinet Would Enjoy All Sides' Approval/Naharnet
6 Years
after Alleged Desertion, Wassef Hassoun's Family Seeks to Clear his Name in Book
and Movie Deal/Naharnet
Syrian Health Minister: Syria in
Dire Need of Iran's
New Medical Products/Fars News Agency
France urges Syria to free
prisoners as dissidents tried/Expatica France
Hassan Nasrallah: The Voice of his Iranian master
By: Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Arab Times
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/165357/t/Voice-of-his-Iranian-master/Default.aspx
THE only missing instrument in the discordant musical band of the Arab world to
complete the series of slogans that have brought disasters to the Arabs is the
Iranian dictatorial trumpet. Hassan Nasrallah has been bragging about the
so-called revolution carried out by the Egyptians for freedom and return of Arab
dignity. Nasrallah and his cohorts forgot this when they used ammunition to
perpetrate the worst kind of killing in Lebanon, while diverting the attention
of its people from their basic problems to other trivial issues. The basic
problems of the Lebanese include the need to expose the identities of those who
have carried out political assassinations in the last five years, put them to
trial and ensure that they do not escape justice, in addition to controlling the
activities of the militia and the mafia that have become a burden on these
people.
Nasrallah and his cohorts in Beirut may have not received the clear message sent
by the Egyptians to Khomeini, his master, last Friday. They said the message was
not addressed to a particular person or group as it was for whoever makes
frivolous statements to degrade Egyptians under the pretext of supporting them.
The people of the source of civilization do not need hollow speeches and
positions, which are only aimed at seizing opportunities by sending messages
from the ‘basement’. They do not accept such messages from Khomeini or his
followers, while Hezbollah is not capable of controlling the situation.
Nasrallah’s peaceful activities are not enough to justify terrorist acts,
assassinations, killings and firing missiles. The sick terrorist organizations
must cool their heads and clean their own houses before seizing opportunities to
pollute the people’s revolution with fake impressions.
The wrong messages and lies that Nasrallah sends to us every now and then on the
alleged victories in Gaza and Lebanon no longer deceive anybody. This became
clear when the entire world witnessed the destruction in Lebanon and Gaza due to
the unnecessary wars waged by Hezbollah and Hamas to serve the interests of
their Iranian master. Are they not supposed to be a bit ashamed of their
actions?
Mr Nasrallah, the people’s memory is not too short. Where were you during the
Iranian Green Revolution when the streets were filled with people’s blood in
Tehran? The military trampled upon the people’s dignity, in addition to the
arrest of innocent citizens who only went out to the streets in protest against
the falsification of electoral results.
Don’t worry. We understand that the directive at the time was, ‘Shut up and
remain in your dungeons!’ But today, when Iran summoned you and your cohorts in
Lebanon, you came out of your shell to amplify the voice of the dictatorial
system and instigate tension by interfering in Tunisian and Egyptian affairs.
These actions are just attempts to ride on the wave, which is not hidden to
anybody.
It is not surprising for the Lebanese spiritual leader and his master in Tehran
to come out like a doctor that treats people, while he himself is seriously ill.
If the first message did not reach Nasrallah, the immediate response emanated
from the same Tahrir Square, rejecting his interference in Egyptian affairs.
Email: ahmed@aljarallah.com
Bishop Boulos Matar: Strong, Capable State Remains Sole Protector of Lebanon
Naharnet/Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar urged the Lebanese on Wednesday to
consolidate the state because only a strong state is capable of protecting them.
In his sermon at St. Maroun church in Gemmayze, Matar said: "A strong, capable
and just state remains the sole protector of Lebanon and the Lebanese."
The Lebanese should preserve their unity to be able to confront challenges, he
said, adding no one should feel marginalized. President Michel Suleiman,
Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri and other officials attended the mass on the
occasion of St. Maroun Day. Turning to Suleiman, Matar wished him success in
leading the country to safety. Beirut, 09 Feb 11, 13:19
Egypt
nears military coup. USS warships in Suez Canal
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report February 8, 2011,A fresh surge of popular
anti-Mubarak protest ripping across Egypt Tuesday, Feb. 8 has brought the
country closer to a military coup to stem the anarchy than at any time since the
street caught fire on Jan. 25. Vice President Omar Suleiman warned a group of
Egyptian news editors that the only choice is between a descent into further
lawlessness and a military takeover in Cairo. The distinguished political pundit
of the 1960s and 1970s Hasnin Heikal saw no other way out of the crisis but a
government ruling by the army's bayonets. The arrival of US naval, marine and
air forces in the Suez Canal's Greater Bitter Lake indicated that the crisis was
quickly swerving out of control. debkafile's military sources report that the
American force consists of the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group of six
warships. Helicopters on some of their decks are there to carry and drop the
2,200 marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit which has been bolstered by
two special operations battalions. The flotilla has a rapid strike stealth
submarine, the USS Scranton, which is designed to support special forces'
operations. The US strike force has taken up position at a strategic point
opposite Ismailia between the west bank of the Suez Canal and its eastern Sinai
bank. It is poised for rapid response in the event of the passage of about 40
percent of the world's marine freights through the Suez Canal being threatened
or any other extreme occurrence warranting US military intervention. For a few
hours Tuesday, it looked as though Egypt was finally going back to normal after
a two-week popular uprising. But then, suddenly, thousands again took to the
streets and squares of Egyptian towns - from the Western desert on the Libyan
border up to the northern Sinai town of El Arish in the east, recalling Hosni
Mubarak's warning of chaos if he were to depart too soon. They mounted their
biggest demonstration of the campaign to oust Mubarak - in Cairo, Alexandria,
the Delta Cities, the industrial belt around Mahalla-el-Kebir and the steel city
of Heluan, shouting "Death to Mubarak!" and "Hang Mubarak!"Although reforms and
pay hikes have been pledged by the new Egyptian government, large groups of
workers, mainly in Cairo, rebelled against state-appointed managements and set
up "Revolutionary Committees" to run factories and other work places, including
Egyptian state TV and Egypt's biggest weekly "Ros el-Yusuf." The stock market
and the pyramids remained closed and traffic blocked solid on the streets of
Cairo.
Barak to Inform Ban on Wednesday of Israel's Decision to Suspend Withdrawal from
Ghajar
Naharnet/Israel is planning to inform the United Nations on Wednesday of its
decision to suspend its withdrawal from the northern section of the village of
Ghajar.It attributed the suspension to the crisis in Lebanon and the possibility
of Hizbullah bolstering its presence in the new Lebanese government, reported
Israel radio.In addition, Israel is expected to voice its concern to the
international organization over the safety of the residents of Ghajar.Israeli
Defense Minister Ehud Barak is expected to relay the Jewish state's decision to
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to the United States, which
begins on Wednesday.The minister is also expected to meet with his American
counterpart Robert Gates in order to discuss the latest developments in Egypt,
as well as the delivery of arms to Israel and Iran's nuclear program.Meanwhile,
sources from Jerusalem revealed that contacts between Israel and the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon over the withdrawal from Ghajar have not
stopped, but clarified that the talks do not include Lebanon at the moment
because of Israel's concern that Hizbullah may take control of the new Lebanese
cabinet. Beirut, 08 Feb 11, 18:55
Egypt: Nasrallah Walking in Khamenei's Footsteps
Naharnet/Egypt accused Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of "walking in
the footsteps of his mentor," Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. "They all want
to ignite the region," Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Husam Zaki told the
Saudi al-Watan daily about Nasrallah and Khamenei. Nasrallah said Monday that
the unrest in Egypt will transform the Middle East by pushing out a regime that
has maintained peace with Israel. Nasrallah predicted that whatever leadership
emerges in Egypt after President Hosni Mubarak will move away from Israel,
leaving the Jewish state more isolated. "Be sure that regimes allied with the
United States and Israel cannot stand long against the will of the people," he
said. Khamenei also told worshippers last Friday that widening unrest in the
Arab world, including Egypt, is a sign of "Islamic awareness" in the region.
Zaki told al-Watan on Wednesday that the statements of Nasrallah and Khamenei
aim at creating chaos in Egypt and the region. "Nasrallah does not have the
right to accuse Egypt of being a follower of Israel and the U.S. at a time when
he works on shattering the unified front in Palestine and Lebanon to implement
Iranian agendas," Zaki said. Beirut, 09 Feb 11, 09:29
Britain: Scale of Any Possible Israel-Hizbullah Conflict is Growing
Naharnet/British Foreign Secretary William Hague voiced concern over possible
conflict between Israel and Hizbullah following last month's collapse of the
Lebanese government.
"The scale of any military conflict that may happen between Israel and Hizbullah
is growing, because of the growth of armaments in the area," Hague told the
London Times in comments published Wednesday. Hague spoke while traveling to
Jordan from Tunisia, where he met members of the country's interim government,
including Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi.
He warned "belligerent" Israel to tame its rhetoric and said unrest in Arab
countries may hinder the peace process. Hague told the London Times that recent
popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan could undermine the search for a
permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and urged the United
States to take action. "Amidst the opportunity for countries like Tunisia and
Egypt, there is a legitimate fear that the Middle East peace process will lose
further momentum and be put to one side, and will be a casualty of uncertainty
in the region," Hague said.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 09 Feb 11, 07:58
Shalom: Hizbullah Consolidating Capabilities in Contravention with 1701
Naharnet/Israeli deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom warned on Tuesday that
Hizbullah was consolidating its military capabilities in contravention with U.N.
Security Council resolution 1701.He told the Herzliya Conference on "The Balance
of Israel's National Strength and Security" that Lebanon is the only country
where a party has representatives in parliament and at the same time military
capabilities.Shalom warned from the consequences of Iranian attempts to control
moderate Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.He called
European countries to make every effort to confront such attempts through
strengthening moderate states in the region.Shalom also warned that Iran is
trying to control oil fields in the region, allowing it to improve its nuclear
program.The Herzliya conference is being held Feb. 6-9. It has become the annual
"summit meeting" of the most influential Israeli and international leaders.
Israel's outgoing army chief Gabi Ashkenazi told the conference on Monday that
Hizbullah is "not capable of conquering the Negev (in southern Israel) or the
Galilee" in northern Israel. Beirut, 08 Feb 11, 14:01
Report: Egypt's Hizbullah Cell Hasn't Yet Returned to Lebanon
Naharnet/The members of the so-called Hizbullah cell that have escaped during a
mass prison breakout are most probably still in Egypt, Hizbullah circles told
pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Wednesday. "All we can say
is that the members of the cell and (its leader) Sami Shehab are doing well,"
they said, adding they believed that the network's members were still in
Egyptian territories "or else the party would have made an official statement
and welcomed them in a proper way.""Caution in dealing with the issue is aimed
at preserving the safety and lives" of the cell's members, the Hizbullah circles
said. They told Asharq al-Awsat that Shehab's escape from Wadi Natrun north of
Cairo was not considered a victory for Hizbullah "because it was the result of
the Egyptian popular revolution." Beirut, 09 Feb 11, 10:41
With March 14 Out: A Hizbullah-Technocrats-Centrists Cabinet to be Announced
Soon
Naharnet/Lebanon will soon have a government -- most likely to be made up of 24
ministers that include members of the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp as well as
technocrats and centrists.
Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati met late Tuesday with President Michel
Suleiman in hopes for a quick announcement of a Cabinet lineup. The leading An-Nahar
newspaper on Wednesday said talks between Suleiman and Miqati focused on a
24-strong Cabinet to be represented by centrists as well as March 8 and
technocrats who together will make up the new majority. It said the two men
sifted through names, but added that the nature of the portfolio distribution
and the distribution ratio remain unclear. An-Nahar quoted sources close to
Miqati as saying that the government is likely to be announced at the end of the
week or early next week at the latest. They confirmed that the new Cabinet will
include "new faces as well as old faces from caretaker PM Saad Hariri's
government." They said Suleiman and Miqati would appoint the centrists. The
Syrian daily Al-Watan, however, said the government is likely to see light
Wednesday evening or midday Thursday. But Miqati stressed in separate remarks
published Wednesday by An-Nahar and As-Safir newspapers that he was in no hurry
to form a Cabinet. "I will not restrict myself to a timeframe," Miqati said.
"I'm aiming for a government that would satisfy everyone."Pan-Arab Al-Hayat
newspaper, citing sources close to Miqati, said Wednesday that the
premier-designate remains steadfast on his stand not to make any commitments to
either political camp as that would make him lose his position as a centrist.
On Monday, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel announced that March 14 will not
take part in the government. He said talks with Miqati on the coalition's
participation in the new Cabinet had reached a dead end. Gemayel, a pillar in
March 14, accused Hizbullah and its March 8 allies of seeking to unilaterally
control the new government by putting forth terms and conditions that are
impossible to meet. Sources close to the premier-designate, however, cited
Miqati's refusal to make a written pledge on a list of demands presented to him
by Hariri's Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc as reason for March 14's decision not
to participate.
Miqati was reportedly seeking to resolve and balance the conflicting demands of
the political parties concerning the names and the distribution of portfolios.
Local media on Wednesday said a dispute between Suleiman and Free Patriotic
Movement leader Michel Aoun over the interior ministry post was delaying the
Cabinet lineup.
They said Aoun, who is in Aleppo to take part in celebrations marking St. Maroun
Day, is likely to soften his stance after meetings with Syrian officials who
will almost certainly urge him to facilitate the formation of a new government.
At the core of the political crisis is the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which
is reportedly poised to indict Hizbullah members in the 2005 assassination of
former PM Rafik Hariri. Hizbullah had warned against such a move. The Shiite
group has been pressuring Hariri for months to stop the tribunal before it
forced the collapse of his government on January 12. Among the demands put forth
by Hariri's Mustaqbal bloc was a commitment from Miqati to support the STL and
not end Lebanon's links with the tribunal by canceling the cooperation protocol.
Hariri also sought a pledge from Miqati not to withdraw Lebanese judges and halt
funding. Beirut, 09 Feb 11, 07:51
Connelly Meets Geagea, Gemayel, Harb: Truly Representative Govt Would Not
Abandon STL
Naharnet/U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Tuesday discussed the
recent political developments in the country in separate meetings with Lebanese
Forces leader Samir Geagea, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and caretaker
Labor Minister Boutros Harb. "Ambassador Connelly reiterated that the U.S. views
the formation of a new Lebanese government as an exclusively Lebanese process
that should remain free from outside interference," said a communiqué released
by the U.S. Embassy following Connelly's talks with Geagea.
She stressed that the U.S. "will need to look at the new government's
composition, policy statement, and behavior before we make any decision
regarding our bilateral relationship."
"The international community has made clear its expectation that the next
government of Lebanon should live up to its international obligations, including
the full implementation of all Lebanon-related Security Council resolutions, and
uphold Lebanon's commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," the statement
quoted Connelly as saying.
"Any government that claims to be truly representative of all of Lebanon would
find it impossible to abandon the Tribunal's efforts to end the era of impunity
for assassinations in the country," the U.S. envoy added. Following her
talks with Gemayel and Harb earlier in the day, a statement released by the U.S.
Embassy quoted Connelly as saying that the formation of a new Lebanese
government should remain "free from coercion, intimidation and threats of
violence from both inside and outside Lebanon." The ambassador called on the
international community to continue to support Lebanon's sovereignty, stability
and independence as the constitutional process of forming a new government
unfolds, the statement said.
The STL's work must continue, it said, adding that the court is of vital
importance to the stability and security of Lebanon. Beirut, 08 Feb 11, 22:12
Palestinians Banned from Entering Egypt
Naharnet/Immigration officers have been instructed to bar Palestinians from
entering Egypt, an official at Cairo airport said on Wednesday after 12
travelers were sent back.
"There are instructions to stop Palestinians entering Egypt. Twelve Palestinians
were sent back to the places they came from on Wednesday," the official told
Agence France Presse, on condition of anonymity. A second airport-based official
told AFP that airlines had been told not to bring Palestinian passengers to
Egypt. Airline officials from Middle East Airlines (MEA) in Beirut and Royal
Jordanian in Amman confirmed that they had been asked not to bring Palestinians
into Egypt.
"We can confirm that we have received instruction that Palestinians will not be
allowed into Egypt," the MEA source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as
he was not authorized to brief the press. "Our flight today has already taken
off so, effective tomorrow morning, papers will be checked at the counter and
Palestinians without another passport -- a different nationality -- will not be
allowed to board." An official at the Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the
ban but said he had been told it was a "temporary measure" and would not apply
to those with Egyptian residency, diplomatic passports or who are married to
Egyptians. It was not clear who issued the order, as Egypt's deputy interior
minister for information, Hamdi Abdel Karim, denied there had been any change in
policy. "There are no measures to that effect. If their paperwork is in order
and sound, they can get in," he insisted.
Neither was it clear why Palestinians had been targeted. Egypt is in the grip of
a major political crisis, with tens of thousands of demonstrators on the streets
calling for President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow -- protests which the state has
attempted to blame on foreign agitators. But security sources in northern Sinai
told AFP that Palestinians living in the area were suspected last week of having
blown up a gas pipeline. It was not clear if this was linked to the order.
The land border crossing at Rafah between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave of
Gaza has been closed since the start of the unrest on January 25.(AFP) Beirut,
09 Feb 11, 17:18
Aoun from Syria: Time to Return to Our Roots, Get Our of
Isolation
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Wednesday said from Syria
that it is time to return to "our roots" and "get out of isolation.""Our goal is
to return to our environment, to our roots," he told FPM supporters after taking
part in a mass marking St. Maroun Day in Brad, Aleppo. "Our goal is not
utilitarian, but to get out of isolation," he stressed. "Christianity and Islam
share the same values," Aoun said. He pointed to Isalmphobia, accusing "some" of
taking the word "phobia" and sticking it onto Islam, citing the church bombings
in Baghdad and Alexandria. "We are here to tell the whole world that this region
will remain a meeting place of diverse religions," Aoun pledged. Beirut, 09 Feb
11, 14:19
6 Years after Alleged Desertion, Wassef Hassoun's Family
Seeks to Clear his Name in Book and Movie Deal
Naharnet/More than six years after a U.S. Marine corporal was charged with
desertion for allegedly faking his own kidnapping in Iraq, his family is once
again making rumblings about clearing his name.
The effort, however, wouldn't play out in military court. Instead, the Utah
family of Wassef Ali Hassoun contacted a Los Angeles publicist in search of a $1
million book and movie deal.
"Our purpose from the book and the movie is to tell the public what really
happened in year 2004 and clear Wassef's name once and for all," Hassoun's
brother, Sami Hassoun, wrote in e-mails to Los Angeles publicist Michael Sands
that were provided to The Associated Press.
Wassef Ali Hassoun, now 31, went missing twice from the military — first in June
2004 in the purported kidnapping at the hands of Islamic extremists, and again
in January 2005, when he failed to return to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after
a visit to Utah to see relatives.
He was charged twice with desertion, and his whereabouts remain unknown,
although Sands said Sami Hassoun told him on the phone that his brother was in
Lebanon.
Last month, however, Sami Hassoun contacted Sands and asked if a book and movie
deal the family had tried to negotiate in 2005 — then refused to sign — might be
revived.
"They come back, reappear six years later as if they had amnesia," said Sands, a
contractor who has worked with the Pentagon and various branches of the
military. "This is a very compelling story, but there is a dark shadow over (Wassef)
and he needs to come clean."
Sands said clearing the name of Wassef Ali Hassoun would require him to take
responsibility for his actions by returning to the U.S. to face military
sanctions.
But Sami Hassoun backed away when pressed to answer questions about happened to
his brother in 2004, including what proof exists of the kidnapping and whether
Wassef was abused by his captors, Sands said.
In one e-mail, Sami Hassoun said he has the answers but then asked Sands to
"send the numbers to us so we can move forward," a reference to the book and
movie deal.
Soon after, Sami Hassoun claimed he was pursuing other offers involving the
project, according to the e-mails. He did not respond to multiple e-mails from
the AP seeking comment.
In interviews with the AP in 2005, Mohamed Hassoun maintained his brother had
not done anything wrong except failing to return to Camp Lejeune after being
allowed to visit family in Utah for Christmas in 2004.
Wassef Ali Hassoun was an Arabic translator who joined the Marines following the
September 2001 terrorist attacks. His strange saga began June 20, 2004, when he
failed to report for duty at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.
Seven days later, a photo of a blindfolded Hassoun with a sword poised above his
head turned up on Al-Jazeera television. A group called the National Islamic
Resistance/1920 Revolution Brigade claimed to be holding him.
On July 8, 2004, Hassoun contacted American officials in Beirut, Lebanon,
claiming to have been kidnapped. He was returned to the U.S. and eventually to
Camp Lejeune.
After a Navy investigation, the military charged Hassoun with desertion, loss of
government property, theft of a military firearm for allegedly leaving camp with
a 9 mm service pistol, and theft of a Humvee.
A January 2005 hearing on the matter was cancelled when Hassoun failed to return
to Camp Lejeune.
A warrant issued in 2005 for Hassoun by the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, II
Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune remains active, said Maj. Carl
Redding, a spokesman for the Marines. If he were to return to U.S. soil, Hassoun
would be arrested and prosecuted.
It's not clear where Hassoun, who holds dual citizenship in Lebanon and the
U.S., might be hiding.
In Feb. 2006, then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked the Lebanese
government to turn Hassoun over to the U.S., along with four other men. Lebanese
officials refused.
In his communications with Sands, Sami Hassoun claims to be living in Dubai, and
said he is communicating with his brother but does not disclose Wassef Ali
Hassoun's location.
During negotiations with the family, Sands, who has never spoken with Wassef Ali
Hassoun, and retired FBI agent and author Bob Hamer were invited to the Middle
East to meet with Hassoun. "We still want to go," Sands said. "I think it's
still an incredible story about how all of this happened."(AP) Beirut, 09 Feb
11, 08:59