LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِFebeuary 12/2011

Bible Of The Day
Lamentations 3/24-39: "Yahweh is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 3:25 Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 3:26 It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh. 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 3:28 Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has laid it on him. 3:29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope. 3:30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled full with reproach. 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off forever. 3:32 For though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 3:33 For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. 3:34 To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth, 3:35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High, 3:36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn’t approve. 3:37 Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it? 3:38 Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High? 3:39 Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?"

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
The New Resistance/Now Lebanon/February 11/11
No rally this February 14/By: Shane Farrell/February 11/11
Why Hosni Mubarak Is Still Better Than Pakistani Rulers/By: Ahmed Quraishi/February 11/11
Ahmadinejad: Egypt unrest hails a Mideast without U.S., Israel/Haaretz/February 11/11
Deep US-Saudi rift over Egypt: Abdullah stands by Mubarak, turns to Tehran/DEBKAfile/February 11/11

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for February 11/11
U.S. Treasury: Lebanese Canadian Bank involved in Hezbollah payments/Daily Star
Lebanon's LCB meets money laundering laws -C.Bank/Reuters
Sunni body urges Mikati to support tribunal/Daily Star
Victims seek participation in tribunal process if indictment approved/Daily Star
U.S. policymakers say rethink needed on aid to Lebanese Army/Daily Star
Human rights groups say Syrian authorities have detained a writer/The Canadian Press
Hezbollah's seizure of power in Lebanon dooms peace talks and puts Israel at risk/Bellingham Herald
Lebanese Canadian Bank accused of links to Hezbollah/CTV.ca
U.S. rep. irked by Hezbollah 'takeover'/UPI.com
Suez Canal eyed by Hezbollah, Muslim Brotherhood for shutdown/Examiner.com
IRAN: God Is Executed/Strategy Page
Harb says March 8 camp is turning against Mikati and Sleiman/iloubnan.info
US Says Lebanese Bank Laundered Money for Drug Smugglers Tied to Hezbollah/New York Times
St. Maroun day celebrated from Beirut to Syria/Daily Star
Huntley: No guarantee of democracy in Egypt/Chicago Sun-Times
Fillon: New Cabinet Should Respect Tribunal/Naharnet
U.S. Says it Intends to Judge Next Lebanese Government by its Deeds/Naharnet
Dar Al-Fatwa Broad Sunni Meeting Voices Concerns over Arms Influence on Lebanese Politics/Naharnet
UNIFIL in Dark over Israeli Freeze on Ghajar Pullout/Naharnet
Qassem: Miqati Govt for Entire Lebanon whether Everyone Joins or Not/Naharnet
Miqati Resumes Talks with March 14 on Cabinet Formation/Naharnet
Israel Issues Alert as Mughniyeh's Murder Anniversary Approaches/Naharnet
Salameh: Lebanese Canadian Bank Abides by Laws, International Standards/Naharnet
Sleiman: Mikati’s appointment was democratic/Now Lebanon
Amin Gemayel: Kataeb is continuing cabinet formation contacts/Now Lebanon
Mikati agreed to accept Dar al-Fatwa statement, source says/Now Lebanon
Succariyeh: Dar al-Fatwa statement was not unanimous/Now Lebanon

Deep US-Saudi rift over Egypt: Abdullah stands by Mubarak, turns to Tehran
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report February 10, The conversation between President Barack Obama and Saudi King Abdullah early Thursday, Feb. 10, was the most acerbic the US president has ever had with an Arab ruler, debkafile's Middle East sources report. They had a serious falling-out on the Egyptian crisis which so enraged the king that some US and Middle East sources reported he suffered a sudden heart attack. Rumors that he had died rocked the world financial and oil markets that morning and were denied by an adviser to the ruling family. Some Gulf sources say he has had heart attacks in the past.
Those sources disclose that the call which Obama put into Abdullah, who is recuperating from back surgery at his palace in Morocco, brought their relations into deep crisis and placed in jeopardythe entire edifice of US Iran and Middle East policies. The king chastised the president for his treatment of Egypt and its president Hosni Muhbarak calling it a disaster that would generate instability in the region and imperil all the moderate Arab rulers and regimes which had backed the United States until now. Abdullah took Obama to task for ditching America's most faithful ally in the Arab world and vowed that if the US continues to try and get rid of Mubarak, the Saudi royal family would bend all its resources to undoing Washington's plans for Egypt and nullifying their consequences. According to British intelligence sources in London, the Saudi King pledged to make up the losses to Egypt if Washington cuts off military and economic aid to force Mubarak to resign. He would personally instruct the Saudi treasury to transfer to the embattled Egyptian ruler the exact amounts he needs for himself and his army to stand up to American pressure. Through all the ups and downs of Saudi-US relations since the 1950s no Saudi ruler has ever threatened direct action against American policy.
A senior Saudi source told the London Times that "Mubarak and King Abdullah are not just allies, they are close friends, and the King is not about to see his friend cast aside and humiliated."
Indeed, our sources add, the king at the age of 87 is fearful that in the event of a situation developing in Saudi Arabia like the uprising in Egypt, Washington would dump him just like Mubarak. debkafile's intelligence sources add that replacement aid for Egypt was not the only card in Abdullah's deck. He informed Obama that without waiting for events in Egypt to play out or America's response, he had ordered the process set in train for raising the level of Riyadh's diplomatic and military ties with Tehran. Invitations had gone out from Riyadh for Iranian delegations to visit the main Saudi cities. Abdullah stressed he had more than one bone to pick with Obama. The king accused the US president of turning his back not only on Mubarak but on another beleaguered American ally, the former Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri, when he was toppled by Iran's surrogate Hizballah. Our sources in Washington report that all of President Obama's efforts to pacify the Saudi king and explain his Egyptian policy fell on deaf ears.
Arab sources in London reported Tuesday, Feb. 8, that a special US presidential emissary was dispatched to Morocco with a message of explanation for the king. He was turned away. This is not confirmed by US or Saudi sources.The initiation of dialogue between Riyadh and Tehran is the most dramatic fallout in the region from the crisis in Egypt. Its is a boon for the ayatollahs who are treated the sight of pro-Western regimes either fading under the weight of domestic uprisings, or turning away from the US as Saudi Arabia is doing now.
This development is also of pivotal importance for Israel. Saudi Arabia's close friendship with the Mubarak regime dovetailed neatly with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's alignment with Egypt and provided them with common policy denominators. The opening of the Saudi door to the Iranian push toward the Red Sea and Suez Canal tightens the Iranian siege ring around Israel. Signs of friction between Washington and Riyadh were noticeable this week even before President Obama's call to King Abdullah. Some American media reported the discovery that Saudi oil reserves were a lot smaller than previously estimated. And Saudi media ran big headlines, most untypically, alleging the US embassy and consulate in Dahran were paying sub-contractors starvation wages of $4.3 a day for cleaning work and $3.3 a day for gardening work.

President Obama's Statement on Egypt
Agencies/Here is President Obama's statement following the Thursday televised address by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak:
"The Egyptian people have been told that there was a transition of authority, but it is not yet clear that this transition is immediate, meaningful or sufficient. Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy, and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world. The Egyptian government must put forward a credible, concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy, and they have not yet seized that opportunity.
"As we have said from the beginning of this unrest, the future of Egypt will be determined by the Egyptian people. But the United States has also been clear that we stand for a set of core principles. We believe that the universal rights of the Egyptian people must be respected, and their aspirations must be met. We believe that this transition must immediately demonstrate irreversible political change, and a negotiated path to democracy. To that end, we believe that the emergency law should be lifted.
"We believe that meaningful negotiations with the broad opposition and Egyptian civil society should address the key questions confronting Egypt's future: protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens; revising the Constitution and other laws to demonstrate irreversible change; and jointly developing a clear roadmap to elections that are free and fair.
"We therefore urge the Egyptian government to move swiftly to explain the changes that have been made, and to spell out in clear and unambiguous language the step by step process that will lead to democracy and the representative government that the Egyptian people seek.
"Going forward, it will be essential that the universal rights of the Egyptian people be respected. There must be restraint by all parties. Violence must be forsaken. It is imperative that the government not respond to the aspirations of their people with repression or brutality. The voices of the Egyptian people must be heard.
"The Egyptian people have made it clear that there is no going back to the way things were: Egypt has changed, and its future is in the hands of the people. Those who have exercised their right to peaceful assembly represent the greatness of the Egyptian people, and are broadly representative of Egyptian society.
"We have seen young and old, rich and poor, Muslim and Christian join together, and earn the respect of the world through their non-violent calls for change. In that effort, young people have been at the forefront, and a new generation has emerged. They have made it clear that Egypt must reflect their hopes, fulfill their highest aspirations, and tap their boundless potential. In these difficult times, I know that the Egyptian people will persevere, and they must know that they will continue to have a friend in the United States of America.

Ahmadinejad: Egypt unrest hails a Mideast without U.S., Israel
Published 12:44 11.02.11
In speech marking the 32nd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian President says Egyptians have the right to live in freedom and choose their own government.
By The Associated Press/ Iran's president said Friday that Egypt's popular uprising shows a new Islamic Middle East is emerging, one that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims will have no signs of Israel and U.S. interference.
The Iranian leader spoke as the country marked the 32nd anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the pro-U.S. shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought hard-line clerics to power. Ahmadinejad's remarks came hours after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he is transferring authority to his deputy but refused to step down, angering hundreds of thousands of Egyptians who have been demanding he relinquish his three-decade grip on power.
Tens of thousands marched down Tehran's main boulevard in state-organized anniversary festivities, chanting in support of Egyptian anti-government protesters. Some Iranians set an effigy of Mubarak on fire while others shouted: "Hosni non-Mubarak, 'Mubarak' (congratulations) on the uprising of your people."
Iran's state TV broadcast simultaneous live footage of the gathering at Tehran's Azadi, or Freedom, Square and that of anti-government demonstrations in Cairo's downtown Tahrir Square where tens of thousands had gathered by noon Friday. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad holding a placard as he takes part in a rally to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran February 11, 2011.Reuters1/9Iran, which is at odds with the international community over its controversial nuclear program, has sought to portray the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt as evidence of a replay of its own Islamic Revolution. "Despite all the [West's] complicated and satanic designs ... a new Middle East is emerging without the Zionist regime and U.S. interference, a place where the arrogant powers will have no place," Ahmadinejad told the crowd. He also urged Egyptian protesters to persevere until there is a regime change. "It's your right to be free. It's your right to exercise your will and sovereignty ... and choose the type of government and the rulers."
After his address, Ahmadinejad carried a placard reading, "Death to Israel." The Iranian leadership's attempt to capitalize on the Egyptian uprising is underscored by its effort to deprive its own opposition of any chance to reinvigorate a movement swept from the streets in a heavy military crackdown in 2009. Ahead of the anniversary, Iranian security forces arrested several opposition activists, including aides to Iran's opposition leaders.
Authorities also placed Mahdi Karroubi, one of Iran's opposition leaders, under house arrest, posting security officers at his door in response to his calls for an Iranian opposition rally in support of anti-government demonstrations in Egypt. Karroubi's website, sahamnews.org, said security officials informed Karroubi that the restrictions would remain in place until after Feb. 14. Karroubi, and Iran's other top opposition figure, Mir Hossein Mousavi, have asked the government for permission to hold a Feb. 14 gathering in support of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. State Prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi rejected the demand on Wednesday, warning of repercussions if the rally takes place. Hossein Hamedani, a senior commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, said any attempt by the opposition to rally supporters on Feb. 14 would be crushed.
Mousavi's aide Saleh Noghrehkar and Sadroddin Beheshti, son of another Mousavi aide, Ali Reza Beheshti, were among those arrested, according to opposition website kaleme.com. The website also said another opposition activist, Fariba Ebtehaj, a close aide to former reformist vice president, Masoumeh Ebtekar, has also been arrested.
Both Mousavi and Karroubi ran against Ahmadinejad in the June 2009 elections, which opposition says was heavily rigged. Mousavi, who campaigned on a platform calling for social and political reforms, maintains he was the rightful winner and that Ahmadinejad was declared the winner through massive vote fraud. White House national security spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement Thursday that Karroubi's house arrest underscored the hypocrisy of Iran's leadership. "For all of its empty talk about Egypt, the government of Iran should allow the Iranian people the same universal right to peacefully assemble and demonstrate in Tehran that the people are exercising in Cairo," he said.

Why Hosni Mubarak Is Still Better Than Pakistani Rulers
By: Ahmed Quraishi
10 Feb 2011
Even in his defeat, Hosni Mubarak won't escape abroad and won't accept to be buried anywhere but his homeland. He made peace with Israel & America but never allowed them to meddle in Egypt. Or send CIA drones to bomb and kill Egyptians. Even this ruthless dictator is better than Pakistani rulers.
Hosni Mubarak in his speech a few minutes ago has proven he and his regime, including his new Vice President, do not understand and respect their people.
But there is one thing he said that resonated with me because I've seen it in his government for the past three decades.
I'd like to point out this one thing because it is very relevant to Pakistan's political and military leaderships.
Mubarak said at one point in his speech, 'I will not allow myself to be subject to foreign interference'. At another place, he added, 'I will live and die in Egypt.'
Great words and they certainly don't justify his three-decade long tight grip on power, the corruption and now the refusal of the regime to understand its people.
But I watched President Mubarak say these words and thought about Pakistani leaders who, since the 1990s and until now in 2011, have become shameful instruments of foreign meddling in Pakistan. Mubarak is supposed to be a bigger foreign stooge and yet he never allowed foreign meddling in his country, and he won't now even in his defeat.
Even in his defeat Mubarak declared he will not subject himself to foreign diktat. And that he will die and be buried in Egypt and won't escape for safety and in some haven in Jeddah, Dubai, London and New York.
For Pakistan's ruling elite, these cities have become alternate capitals of Pakistan.
Mubarak refused to entertain offers to move to Germany or Saudi Arabia or Dubai. Sure, things can change in the future, but I read in the Arabic-language media that if worse came to worse, Mubarak thinks he could hand over power and move to his house in the resort city of Sharm el Sheikh, but never leave and die outside Egypt.
This is significant and let me explain why.
Even when Egypt under Mubarak was very pro-American and pro-Israel, it kept its national pride. Egypt was taking American aid but refused to accept American meddling. Mubarak knew Washington needed his country in order to protect Israel. So he delivered on that count but never permitted the Americans to meddle in Egyptian politics. When President George W. Bush rolled out his democracy agenda in the Middle East after 9/11, Mubarak was instrumental in failing it [along with the Saudis]. He just won't have it. Mubarak refused to allow the Americans to establish direct contact with Egyptian politicians or engineer any kind of internal change.
Egypt made peace with Israel but only because Egyptian nationalists were disappointed at what they saw as stabs in the back by Arabs and Muslims [For example, rich Arabs refused to bail oput Egyptian economy enough despite Egypt fighting Israel in four wars on behalf of all Arabs. Egypt was also shocked to see Pakistan in 1956 supporting the British-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt, and other Muslim nations like Turkey and Iran not supporting Egypt in wars with Israel.] All of this shaped the psyche of the Egyptian ruling elite and intelligentsia and helped push Egypt toward peace with Israel under American guarantees.
But Mubarak didn't allow his people to become American or Israeli puppets, and limited all forms of political interference.
I can recount many occasions when there were frictions between Cairo and Washington over one thing or the other and the mainstream US media was unleashed - as usual - to ridicule, harass or intimidate Mubarak and Egypt. But Mubarak won't have any of it. The Egyptians have always been very protective of their national pride.
Compare that to Pakistan. Every regime, from Benazir Bhutto to Nawaz Sharif to Pervez Musharraf to Asif Zardari, has handed over Pakistani citizens to foreign governments without an iota of national pride.
Some of them moved to Jeddah, Dubai, London and New York. Most of them have their wealth and properties abroad. Mr. Musharraf added something new to this shameful history when he launched Pakistan's first political party on foreign soil, in London and Dubai. And now most Pakistani politicians consider it kosher to conduct important political meetings outside Pakistan. Mr. Zardari has introduced another first: high-level meetings with foreign governments that relevant Pakistani government departments, like the Foreign Office, know nothing about. We have ambassadors and national security advisers who are appointed to protect the interests of foreign governments.
The regime's corruption and ruthlessness are the reasons why Egyptians want change. But Egypt progressed a lot under Mubarak's regime, unlike the Syrians or the Iraqis.
For all of his ties to the Americans and Israelis, Egypt under Mubarak remained staunchly proud. As a Pakistani, I certainly don't want to see a Mubarak in Pakistan. However, we do need a Pakistani ruling class with the same sense of pride and history, one that won't turn its country into an experimentation zone for foreign powers.
Hosni Mubarak and the Egyptian regime made peace with Israel but never allowed any foreign power to come and abuse Egyptians or bomb them through CIA drones. This honor exclusively belongs to Pakistan's ruling elite.

Sleiman: Mikati’s appointment was democratic
February 11, 2011 /“What happened in Lebanon was the alternation of power in a democratic way,” President Michel Sleiman said on Friday about the appointment of Najib Mikati to the premiership, according to a statement from his office. Consultations are now underway to form the cabinet in the appropriate constitutional procedure, Sleiman said while receiving a delegation of Kuwaiti journalists. Mikati was appointed to the premiership on January 25 with March 8’s backing following the January 12 collapse of Saad Hariri’s unity government.
His appointment was controversial and provoked widespread protests throughout Lebanon by supporters of Hariri.-NOW Lebanon

Amin Gemayel: Kataeb is continuing cabinet formation contacts
February 11, 2011 /“The Kataeb [Party] is continuing the necessary communications with all concerned to study the new proposals that have been made,” Kataeb Party head Amin Gemayel said on Friday regarding the formation of a new cabinet. These communications aim to “facilitate Prime Minister-designate [Najib Mikati’s] mission, and perhaps we will reach a solution that restores trust among the leadership and hope to the Lebanese,” Gemayel told Voice of Lebanon (100.5) radio.“In spite of the difficulties we have encountered, we believe that in politics one must also preserve a glimmer of hope and receive constructive initiatives positively.” Mikati was appointed to the premiership on January 25 with Hezbollah-led March 8’s backing following the January 12 collapse of Saad Hariri’s unity government. March 14 parties have said that they will not take part in a cabinet headed by a March 8 nominee and have also asked that Mikati first clarify his stance on non-state weapons and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). Gemayel has met several times with Mikati to discuss March 14’s potential participation in the latter’s cabinet, but said last Monday that talks were not getting anywhere. Sunni political and religious leaders attended an “Islamic meeting” at Dar al-Fatwa on Thursday, issuing a statement afterward that warned against “giving up on Lebanon’s commitment to the STL.” Mikati attended the meeting and reportedly accepted the statement. -NOW Lebanon

The New Resistance
Now Lebanon/February 10, 2011/On Thursday Lebanon First bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat, talking to Voice of Lebanon radio station, had this to say about the formation of the new cabinet: “The March 8 coalition has shown an intention to exclude. If [March 8] aims to form a 'cabinet of scoundrels,’ we are not candidates.” He added that March 14 intended to set out a clear set of national principles that would determine the shape of his bloc’s work in opposition.
His was a calming voice in a period that saw Marada leader Sleiman Franjieh urge that the cabinet be made up of streetwise politicians who could stand up to what he and his March 8 allies see as a group of security chiefs who feel they are above the law. It was an outburst that suggested that any new cabinet would not make an agenda for national growth, socially or economically, a priority. Indeed, if the names currently being circulated as potential cabinet members are anything to go by, the next government is likely to be one designed specifically to block the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and do little else.
Fatfat is right, then, when he says that March 14 must sit on the opposition benches. The bloc must become the new Resistance. It must, through democratic means, resist all attempts to undo the precious gains made in the last five years. It must resist unacceptable levels of foreign interference in Lebanese affairs. It must resist attacks on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and above all, it must stand by the international community in the joint effort to seek justice for terror crimes and resist any moves to undo or discredit the Special Tribunal.
But in its role as the new Resistance, March 14 must also have a vision that caters to the everyday needs of the Lebanese people. Lebanese politics has for too long been blinkered by narrow and self-interested concerns. The last five years have been dominated by debates on Hezbollah’s weapons, the tribunal and other security issues at the expense of everything else.
March 14 has argued that, since it won the parliamentary elections of 2005, despite being the majority, it was never able to roll up its sleeves and set about fulfilling its election promises because an opposition that used the threat of arms to get its way always undermined it at every turn.
It has a point. Assassinations, war with Israel, protests and an attempted coup did play their part undermining the government’s effectiveness. But now that March 14 is unburdened by the role of government it must also show that as the opposition it will hold any future government accountable on all the issues it was never allowed to or given the chance to tackle. It must audit the new government’s performance on water, electricity, roads, the rising cost of fuel and other priorities that affect the average citizen but which the political class has apparently pushed onto the back burner.
To do this it must have a shadow policy, a policy for putting Lebanon back on track, a policy that offers solutions to the nation’s shortages and address economic and social challenges. It must be a policy that screams, “You may have wedged yourself into power by virtue of a technical coup d’état, but we intend to expose you as a single-minded and self-interested group whose job is simply to be at the beck and call of Iran and Syria as both seek to consolidate their influence in Lebanon at the expense of the national good.”
If March 14 can do this it will become the new Resistance.


Salameh: LCB has the Central Bank’s support
February 11, 2011 “The Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB) has a highly qualified administration, plenty of liquidity and the support of the Central Bank,” Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh said on Friday. “The LCB respects international standards, the memoranda of the Central Bank and the money laundering control committee,” the National News Agency quoted Salameh as saying. “We assure the local market and all customers of LCB that their operations are safe.”On Thursday, the US accused the Beirut-based LCB of having ties to Hezbollah and laundering money for alleged cocaine trafficker Ayman Joumaa. However the bank issued a statement later on Thursday denying all accusation and showing readiness for any investigation concerning the charges mentioned.-NOW Lebanon

No rally this February 14
Shane Farrell, February 11, 2011 /Lebanese wave the national flag as they attend a rally marking the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri in downtown Beirut on February 14, 2010.Every year since former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005, there have been mass demonstrations in Martyr’s Square on the anniversary of his death. But not this year. Instead, to commemorate the death of the former PM, a gathering of some 5,000 people from all March 14 parties is take place in BIEL on Monday. The change was prompted by several circumstances unique to this year, according to March 14 sources.
“We changed our mind from a big demonstration to this gathering because we can’t [have] any movement on the ground – like a demonstration – without knowing what the formation of the cabinet will be,” said Maya Sukar, the Lebanese Forces’ media officer.
Future Movement official Mustafa Allouch also stressed the importance of seeing first “what the government does, what the government [will say] with regard to the issues we spoke about, and how the government will be constructed.” However, he added that regional issues affected March 14’s decision as well. “The Egyptian protests are the main issues, politically speaking, and if we do anything it might be overlooked by the media for the time being.”
Political commentator and An-Nahar journalist Rosanna Bou Monsef suggested another reason for March 14’s decision not to hold a popular rally on February 14: “to maintain stability in Lebanon… We cannot afford [the alternative] right now.”But the party will likely hold a popular rally on March 14 itself, said Serge Dagher, the Kataeb spokesperson. The expected event would mark the sixth anniversary of the million-person gathering in Martyr’s Square, the height of the so-called Cedar Revolution, which contributed to driving Syria out of Lebanon in 2005.
Dagher rejected the notion that the rally date was moved in order to rebrand the image of the March 14 coalition following a steady decrease in participation in February 14 rallies and the recent shift in alliances of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt to March 8. Rather, he believes it was a logical move. “It’s not like a new image, but after all March 14 is March 14, and the big gathering should be on March 14,” he said.
Dagher expects the broad outline of March 14’s plans in the month leading up to the expected demonstration to be decided “as of February 14,” although he also stressed that much depends on developments with the March 8 coalition and the formation of the government. “We are getting ready for political resistance,” Dagher said, which will “culminate on March 14. [The day] will be the occasion to show who we are, what we want, and how we are going to face whatever we are going to face.”
Though consultations are still continuing, March 14 officials have indicated that they will not participate in the government Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati is currently trying to form.
As for February 14, Allouch told NOW Lebanon that the main themes that to be discussed at the BIEL gathering will be the impending indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon – a court established to try the perpetrators of Rafik Hariri’s assassination – as well as the issue of Hezbollah’s arms, “and how [March 14] will politically and democratically [follow up on] these two items for the next two or three years.”The gathering will include speeches by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel and outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri.The latter’s speech is highly anticipated, according to Bou Monsef, who believes that the former PM “will say something very important” and perhaps outline March 14’s strategy over the forthcoming months. As the newspaper she works for, An-Nahar, put it Wednesday, Hariri’s speech will “inaugurate the opposition era” of the March 14 coalition.
Whatever is said on Monday, one thing is for certain – the coming month looks set to be a very interesting time in Lebanese politics.

Mikati agreed to accept Dar al-Fatwa statement, source says
February 11, 2011 /Al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Friday cited an unnamed source as saying that Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati told participants in Thursday’s “expanded Islamic meeting” that he “accepts whatever they decide, especially if it aims for national and [Sunni] unity.”Mikati’s position was wise and perceptive, the source added. He also said that two MPs caused some difficulties in the meeting, adding that one them spoke on behalf “of Hezbollah, which aims to divide the Sunni community.”
An “expanded Islamic meeting” took place on Thursday at Beirut’s Dar al-Fatwa, after which the participants issued a statement warning against “giving up on Lebanon’s commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).”The Dar al-Fatwa meeting was headed by Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and included outgoing PM Saad Hariri, Mikati and Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora. The decisions of the meeting were opposed by Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Walid Succariyeh and Development and Liberation bloc MP Qassem Hashem. Mikati was appointed to the premiership on January 25 with the backing of the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition. His appointment followed the January 12 collapse of Saad Hariri’s unity government due to a long-running controversy over the STL’s investigation of former PM Rafik Hariri’s 2005 murder.
The PM-designate has called on all Lebanese parties to join his upcoming cabinet, but March 14 parties have said that they will not take part in a cabinet headed by a March 8 nominee and have also asked that Mikati first clarify his stance on non-state weapons and the UN-backed tribunal.-NOW Lebanon

Succariyeh: Dar al-Fatwa statement was not unanimous
February 11, 2011 /The statement issued Thursday by the “Islamic meeting” at Dar al-Fatwa was not the product of consensus, Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Walid Succariyeh said on Friday. “A great number of the political parties and men of religion participating had reservations,” he told Akhbar al-Youm news agency. “The statement was written in secret and presented during the meeting. The participants did not see it beforehand in order to be able to discuss it.” “Multiple objections were recorded when there was an opportunity for discussion, including [objections from] former lawyers syndicate head Khaldoun Naja and Minister Mohammad as-Safadi,” Succariyeh said. “When the statement was put to a vote, a kind of chaos happened and no one raised his hand […] there was no consensus.” Sunni political and religious leaders attended an “Islamic meeting” at Dar al-Fatwa on Thursday, issuing a statement afterward that warned against “giving up on Lebanon’s commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.” Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati attended the meeting and reportedly accepted the statement. -NOW Lebanon

Naim Qassem
February 11, 2011
On February 10, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following report: Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a meeting with the Muslim engineers association in As- Saha restaurant that “stability in Lebanon is linked to internal balance between its sects, denominations and parties, and we believe that abiding by the constitution and the Taif Accord is the objective and available solution during this stage, following the war which prevailed over Lebanon throughout fifteen years,” stressing the necessity of abstaining from “resorting to foreign powers. Let us agree as Lebanese over the resolution of our issues and problems. The tribunal was established based on a French-American decision, and whoever looks at the president’s Book of Secrets among other books and Wikileaks documents, can see that this tribunal was originally and mainly established to strike the Syrian regime, based on the fact that such a blow would lead to one against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine… This would allow them to draw up a roadmap for the region, going in line with the Great Middle East which was heralded by Rice.
“Therefore, the tribunal is purely American, French and Israeli at the level of its goals, its establishment, its management and its targeting, and was never linked to the truth. The work of the tribunal focused on the targeting of the honorable and the free. It thus unfairly convicted the four officers and Syria throughout four years, and for about a year and a half now, has turned toward Hezbollah with a conviction similar to the previous ones.” He considered that the “March 14 team knows the exact goals of the tribunal, and knows that it is targeting Hezbollah. However, it believes that Hezbollah will be harmed by the indictment and its consequences, which is why it is holding on to this tribunal domestically to strike Hezbollah, just like the Americans and the Israelis are holding on to it for that same reason.
“Here, in Lebanon, they are implementing the part related to them to secure the gains they will get from it. America has its part, just like Israel, and each side is trying to achieve a specific goal through this tribunal. The targeting of Hezbollah is a local and regional goal, not a trivial one. You have seen how they invented the false witnesses which were exposed later on, and how the tribunal and the investigations relied on these false witnesses, on political accusations and fictive phone calls… But just like the false witnesses are known to us, those who made them, taught them and sponsored them are also known, which is why we wanted to see the trying in court of the false witnesses because those who want justice must start from there and nowhere else.
“The tribunal is targeting us. When we found out that the Syrian-Saudi efforts suddenly stopped, the Syrians were officially informed to withdraw from the Syrian-Saudi initiative and we were told it was over. This withdrawal coincided in terms of its timing with the issuance of the indictment, and aimed at placing us face to face with an indictment issued after a lot of stalling so that we are left without any options. However, we in the opposition had looked into this matter beforehand, and this is why we immediately toppled the government with the guaranteeing third in order to topple this conspiracy... This toppling of the government was a natural result to its inability to hold those carrying out sabotage accountable. Indeed, it was unable to transfer the false witnesses file to the Judicial Council and is no longer qualified to follow up on the developments related to the international attack against us through the indictment.
Therefore, we could no longer tolerate such a government which will be a tool to facilitate what is being concocted for Lebanon instead of confronting it. We toppled it while it was impotent and not while it was active.
“We support the implementation of the Taif Accord, national participation, the enhancement of the people- resistance-army formula, the disconnection of Lebanon from any foreign tutelage, the corroboration of civil peace, the rejection of submission to the tribunal conspiracy and the deterrence of the Israeli project… It is based on these demands that we tried to secure the designation of a prime minister who can carry out these tasks and who believes in these policies. Consequently, Prime Minister Mikati was designated by 68 deputies based on the constitutional course and the free will of the deputies. All those who named Prime Minister Mikati are now expressing their conviction in this choice out in the open. Quite honestly, this was a political choice for a very sensitive stage, to prevent monopolization, enhance stability and open new doors before the handling of the people’s social, livelihood and economic issues… Thanks to Allah, we saw a smooth transition of power from one hand to the other and from one government to the other. Was it not an international demand to see a smooth, orderly and acceptable transition without any problems? This transition did not feature strife, instability or security and political tensions. This is the best transition ever made in Lebanon’s history.
“The government that will be formed is one for all of Lebanon, whether or not everyone participates in it and even if some were to refuse to participate in it. It is Lebanon’s government based on the constitutional mechanisms. Consequently, participation is a choice and a responsibility, as the work wheel must begin turning. As it is the case whenever a government is formed, there are policies going in line with the conditions of its birth and it will have to prove its efficiency. And this government is a purely political one.
“It is not a sectarian or denominational government, or one belonging to a team. It is a purely political government enjoying clear political choices...” He then addressed the popular protests in Egypt, saying: “Egypt’s revolution is a youth revolution that surpassed all the organizations, movements and institutions. This wide turnout throughout the Egyptian soil reveals the extent of the state of tensions prevailing over the Egyptian people, with all their factions and parties. Had this not been the case, how would these millions of people have taken to the street?
“Egypt’s revolution is a purely popular one to which they could not pin any accusation. These crowds express the extent of the anger and it is the right of the Egyptian people to demand their interests, independence and the protection of their freedoms and decisions, not to be used as tools to serve Israeli society… This revolution is the revolution of political, social and cultural choices. It is the revolution of the freedom of opinion. It is powerful because it includes all the factions of society and will certainly have repercussions on the region and on all the free around the world.”

U.S. Treasury: Lebanese Canadian Bank involved in Hezbollah payments
By The Daily Star /Friday, February 11, 2011 /WASHINGTON: The U.S. Treasury accused a Beirut-based bank of involvement in an international money-laundering and drug-trafficking operation with ties to Hezbollah Thursday. The Treasury designated Lebanese Canadian Bank a “primary money laundering concern,” saying this might eventually force U.S. financial institutions to cut off ties with the bank. “Several individuals … hold or utilize cash deposit accounts at LCB to move hundreds of millions of dollars monthly in cash proceeds from illicit drug sales,” the Treasury said. The bank issued a statement denying any knowledge of involvement in illicit activities.The state’s money laundering committee will visit the bank to launch investigations Monday, a government source told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity. He added that people are expected to rush to the bank to withdraw their money. – The Daily Star, Reuters

Victims seek participation in tribunal process if indictment approved
By The Daily Star /Friday, February 11, 2011
BEIRUT: The head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s Victim Participation Unit visited the Beirut Bar Association Thursday, where he held talks with association chief Amal Haddad.
Judge Alain Grellet said that his first visit to the association aimed at seeking support for the formation of a victims committee to be ready to participate in tribunal procedures following pre-trial Judge Daniel Fransen’s expected approval of the indictment handed to him by the court’s General Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare in January. “If the indictment is approved, the court will commence its functions and the victims committee should be represented in it,” Grellet said. Grellet, who said that the court’s operations were independent from any Lebanese authority, noted his itinerary included visiting the head of the North Lebanon Bar Association, Bassam Dayeh, Justice Ministry officials, and lawyers tasked with working on forming the committee.
Grellet said he would be happy to visit State Prosecutor Said Mirza during his next visit to Lebanon. Haddad said Grellet’s visit was conducted within a framework of cooperation between his association and the tribunal in order to ensure that the court served international justice “and the sacred right of defense which we are entrusted to achieve.”
The STL, established by U.N. statute to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, has said that Fransen would decide on whether to approve the draft indictment within a period of six to 10 weeks after receiving it from Bellemare. Hezbollah said it expected members from the party to be named in the indictment, dismissing the court as an “Israeli project” targeting the resistance and strongly denying any involvement in Hariri’s murder. – The Daily Star

U.S. policymakers say rethink needed on aid to Lebanese Army
Abrams: Washington’s military assistance will stop if Mikati Cabinet torpedoes support for STL
By Patrick Galey /Daily Star staff
Friday, February 11, 2011
BEIRUT: The United States should halt military aid to Lebanon if the army fails to snuff out Hezbollah’s growing arsenal, a committee of senior American policymakers has said.
The Council on Foreign Relations, sitting late Wednesday, also indicated that the recent toppling of caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Cabinet had caused “an emergency” for U.S. interests in the region. “The actions taken by Hezbollah this year constitute a menace to Lebanon and to American interests there and throughout the region,” said Elliot Abrams, a senior council Middle Eastern Studies fellow. “Hezbollah wishes to rule Lebanon – behind a Sunni face to be sure, for the Constitution of that country requires a Sunni prime minister. But no one will be in any doubt who really holds power.” Abrams added Hezbollah’s endorsement of Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati was based on “alliances that it has created through brute force.” Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen criticized Washington’s slow reaction to the fall of Hariri’s national unity Cabinet. “Even now, when the Lebanese government has been overthrown, the United States has still failed to indicate that it will cut off assistance to a proxy government for Iran, Syria and Hezbollah,” she said.
The U.S. has provided almost $700 million in military assistance to Lebanon since the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in August 2006. Such a commitment has come under review several times in recent months following a spate of incidents and reports suggesting Hezbollah was continuing to add to its weapons stockpile, in violation of international law.
Washington is concerned about a potential Mikati-led Cabinet which sidelines March 14 politicians. A March 14-dominated government has been the keystone of U.S. financial aid to Lebanon since 2005.
Lorne Craner, president of the International Republican Institute, said Hezbollah’s political maneuvering demonstrated the intervention of foreign powers in Lebanese affairs.
“The seeming failure of Lebanon’s Cedar Revolution, with the recent ascent of Hezbollah in ending the March 14-led unity government and replacing it with its preferred Prime Minister Najib Mikati only adds to the Middle East’s uncertainty,” Craner said. “Lebanon continues to struggle with serious issues related to the country’s future direction, meddling by Syria and Iran and confessional alliances in a state of flux.” Abrams said that Lebanon’s new administration needed to prove itself worthy of continued U.S. assistance.
“Our own relations with Lebanon henceforth should depend on the conduct of the new government. Does it respect human rights and civil liberties? Does it comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, which require disarmament of all militias and control of the Syrian border, or does it wink at further armament of Hezbollah by Iran and Syria?” Abrams asked. “We should not be using our aid programs to make life easier for Hezbollah by subsidizing the economy of Lebanon if Lebanon is failing all these tests,” he added. “And if Prime Minister Mikati fails all those tests and governs on behalf of Hezbollah, I hope we will not welcome him in Washington.”
Abrams warned that if Mikati’s government torpedoed Lebanon’s support for the U.N.-backed investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which is expected to finger Hezbollah members, Washington’s aid “will stop.” He added that the U.S. had committed a series of errors in continuing to support Lebanon and seeking to remedy diplomatic ties with Damascus. “Our hope was that we would strengthen the [Lebanese Army] as an alternative force to Hezbollah, one that could limit Hezbollah’s power. Sadly this has not proved to be the case at all,” Abrams said. “That the United States sent an ambassador to Syria at exactly the moment when Hezbollah was taking over the government of Lebanon made us look weak and even foolish.”

St. Maroun day celebrated from Beirut to Syria
By The Daily Star /Friday, February 11, 2011
BEIRUT: Celebrations of the feast of St. Maroun extended from Downtown Beirut to northern Syria Wednesday, on the 16th centennial since the death of the founder of the Maronite church. In Beirut, the central celebration took place at St. Maroun Church in Gemmayzeh, where President Michel Sleiman and First Lady Wafaa were joined by caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri for a Mass celebrated by Beirut’s Maronite Archbishop, Boulos Matar. Leading state officials, politicians and foreign diplomats, along with more than 20 MPs, attended the occasion, which saw Matar urge the Lebanese to preserve national unity. “Your Excellency, for your dreams and the dreams of all of us to come true, of a perfect country that delivers its message in its surrounding region and in the world, we appeal to all Lebanese to preserve their national unity … in order to confront all current difficulties,” he said, addressing Sleiman.
“No one … should feel that his rights or participation is marginalized, and no one should feel insecure, even in his home,” Matar added.
Matar said that no Lebanese side should rely on external support against the other. “Together we amass our forces to defend the country and liberate its territories … and this will disprove every experience of relying on the support of any side to resolve an internal dilemma that should be resolved inside with a spirit of brotherhood.”
The Maronite patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, celebrated the holiday by holding a Mass in Bkirki, while under Sleiman’s patronage, a Mass was held in the village of Jermoq, in Jezzine, to celebrate the reconstruction of St. Maroun church, funded by Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani.
In Zahle, the town’s Maronite Bishop, Mansour Hobeika, led prayers at St. Maroun Church and urged Lebanese not to sell land to non-Lebanese.
In Syria, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun was greeted by some 10,000 people in the northern Syrian village of Brad, where a Mass was held at the grave of St. Maroun, celebrated by the Maronite Bishop of Aleppo, Youssef Anis Abi Aad. Aoun unveiled a plaque noting the Syrian government’s donation of 25,000 square meters of land to the Maronite sect, during a ceremony that was also attended by the governor of Aleppo, Ahmad Ali Mansour. The cornerstone of the Saint Maroun Church is scheduled to be laid on March 13.Aoun thanked Syrian President Bashar Assad for his efforts to facilitate the “pilgrimage” by the FPM leader. “We hope to soon see this area full of tourists as well as of its people,” Aoun said. Abi Aad also thanked Assad for the donation of land, and Aoun for helping encourage the pilgrimage to the area. Aoun described his visit as an attempt to pull the Maronites out of isolation and take them back to their historical roots. “No one will be able to alienate us from our heritage, culture and identity in this East,” said Aoun, who also stressed the importance of refuting “Islamophobia” in the West by countering the notion of perpetual religious conflict in the Middle East. – The Daily Star

Sunni body urges Mikati to support tribunal
By Mirella Hodeib /Daily Star staff
Friday, February 11, 2011
BEIRUT: The Higher Islamic Council called on Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati Thursday to uphold ties with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and tacitly accused Hezbollah of making use of its arsenal to achieve political ends. However, the announcement of the make-up of the next government is likely to be delayed as Mikati resumes talks with Christian factions of the March 14 alliance, amid continuing discord over the interior portfolio, which is being sought by the Free Patriotic Movement.
A senior source from the March 14 coalition, however, ruled out the bloc’s participation in the Mikati-led government. “It remains virtually impossible for any of the March 14 groups to take part in the next Cabinet,” the source told The Daily Star. In a strongly worded statement, the Higher Islamic Council warned against impeding the course of justice by cutting ties with the STL, which is probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
“If the next government abandons its commitments to the STL, the majority of the Lebanese people and the families of the martyrs and the majority of the Lebanese will feel oppressed or vanquished,” said the Islamic Council’s statement, read by former minister Omar Miskawi. Lebanon’s highest Sunni body lashed out at Hezbollah without naming it and accused it of undermining state institutions and of utilizing its weapons as a means of intimidation. “Using weapons to intimidate, and to cripple or take control [of the state] is a source of concern to us,” said the council’s statement, in reference to Hezbollah’s arsenal. The council’s meeting, the first of its kind since 1987 when Prime Minister Rashid Karami was assassinated, was attended by the prime minister-designate, caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, as well as Sunni ministers, lawmakers, and top clerics.
Miskawi said the collapse of the Hariri Cabinet and the subsequent appointment of Mikati raised tension among the Lebanese as it ignored the results of parliamentary elections, which saw the Saad Hariri-led coalition win the majority of seats.
“Using weapons for intimidation, disregarding the results of elections in 2005 and 2009, boycotting national dialogue sessions, as well as obstructing justice and neglecting the blood of the martyrs, are a source of worry and uncertainty,” the statement added. Mikati was nominated to the premiership by a majority of 68 MPs, the bulk of whom were from the Hezbollah-led March 8 camp, after the Hariri Cabinet was brought down following a dispute over the U.N.-backed STL. Hezbollah has led a campaign to discredit the STL, which is widely believed to implicate rogue members of the party in the 2005 Hariri assassination.
The deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said Thursday the tribunal was “over,” adding that circumstances surrounding its establishment no longer stand, while Hariri has asked Mikati to make a public commitment not to sever ties with the STL.
The council also urged Mikati, who has so far made no commitments on the tribunal, to base any future decisions on what is in the general interest of Lebanon.
Mikati, for his part, told visitors that he approved the content of the council’s statement as it was the first step toward uniting various Lebanese confessions and factions.
“The meeting today brought together the Sunni community as the first step toward bringing together Lebanese factions and sects,” he was quoted as saying.
MPs Walid Sukkarieh and Qassem Hashem, both Sunni members of the March 8 coalition, expressed reservations over the council’s statement, in particular those clauses related to Hezbollah’s weapons. Mikati, Qabbani, caretaker Economy and Trade Minister Mohammad Safadi, and Tripoli MP Ahmad Karami left Dar al-Fatwa, the seat of the Sunni sect, in Hariri’s car and headed to the latter’s residence in Downtown Beirut for a short meeting.
Hariri told reporters following the Dar al-Fatwa meeting that he respected the principle of alternation of power, adding that the STL, as well as the disregard for the outcome of the 2009 parliamentary elections, were the main points of contention between his March 14 alliance and the March 8 group.
Mikati said he responded to Hariri’s invitation as his relationship with him “has always been positive.”
Following the meeting at Dar al-Fatwa, Mikati held separate talks with Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh and caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb regarding the formation of the next government.
A source close to Mikati told The Daily Star that the announcement of the new Cabinet’s makeup might be delayed as the prime minister-designate resumed dialogue with Christian factions within the March 14 coalition.
“Prime Minister Mikati is keen on having various groups represented inside the new government and he is careful to engage in dialogue with everyone,” said the source.
The source added that in parallel with his dialogue with March 14’s Christian groups, Mikati was pursuing talks with Aoun to find a middle ground concerning government portfolios.
Aoun discussed recent developments on the Lebanese political scene as well as efforts to form a new government with Syrian President Bashar Assad Wednesday. Aoun, who traveled to the Syrian city of Aleppo to celebrate the Saint Maroun holiday, praised Syria’s efforts to preserve Lebanon’s stability and unity.
An FPM source said negotiations between Mikati and Aoun were yet to arrive at a solution, adding that the Aoun-Assad talks did not cover the government formation process. The FPM source said the interior portfolio remained the major obstacle. “The situation is still difficult, especially concerning portfolios and shares in the government,” said the source. – Additional reporting by Hassan Lakkis and Nafez Qawas

Recent Developments in Egypt and Lebanon: Implications for Broader U.S Policy in the Middle East
Testimony
James B. Steinberg
Deputy Secretary of StateOpening Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Washington, DC
February 10, 2011
DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG: Thank you, Madam Chairman. And let me begin on behalf of Secretary Clinton to congratulate you on taking the gavel here and to express how much we look forward to working with you and Ranking Member Berman, and all of the members of the Committee, and to express appreciation for holding this timely hearing.
Last month in Doha, Secretary Clinton challenged the leaders of the Middle East to give greater voice to their people. As the region confronts a potent combination of demographic and technological changes, rampant unemployment, and in too many cases, the denial of universal rights and freedoms, she warned the status quo is unsustainable. And in recent weeks, this dynamic has given rise to demonstrations across the region and changes in Tunisia, Jordan, and Yemen, and of course, sparked the dramatic developments in Egypt that, along with the events in Lebanon, are the focus of today’s hearing.
In such an environment, it’s more important than ever that America works both with the people and the governments to democratize and open up political systems, economies, and societies. As the Secretary said just a few days ago in Munich, this is – in her words – “not simply a matter of idealism. It is a strategic necessity.”
Change will emerge differently in response to different circumstances across the region, but our policies and our partnerships are guided by a few consistent principles. We stand for universal values including freedom of association, assembly, and speech. We oppose violence as a tool for political coercion. And we have spoken out on the need for meaningful change in response to the demands of the people.
American administrations of both parties have been conveying this message to Arab leaders, publicly and privately for many years, and have also sought cooperation on crucial priorities such as counter terrorism, Iran’s nuclear program, and the peace process. But these are not mutually exclusive or even contradictory. Recent events have reinforced the fact that absent freedom and democratic progress, the public support needed to sustain progress on common goals cannot be achieved.
Changes must come. But we must be mindful that transitions can lead to chaos and new forms of intolerance or backslide into authoritarianism. We are working wherever we can to ensure that political transitions are deliberate, inclusive and transparent. And we expect all who take part to honor certain basic commitments because, as President Obama said in his Cairo speech, “elections alone do not make true democracy.”
One constant in a changing region is our unwavering support for Israel’s security. We continue to believe that the best path to long-term security for Israel and the region is the committed pursuit of comprehensive peace. By working for orderly transitions, we believe we can help ensure Israel’s long-term security, and we will be vigilant against attempts to hijack the legitimate impetus for domestic reform to advance extremism. Egypt today is undergoing a remarkable transition. And given Egypt’s leadership and influence, its peace with Israel, and our longstanding partnership, the stakes are high.
We’ve all been transfixed by the heroic images from Tahrir Square of young and old, rich and poor, Muslim and Christian, gathering to lay claim to universal rights enjoyed in democratic societies around the world. And as the President has said, Egypt is not going back to the way it was. We have declared publicly and privately that a peaceful, orderly, and prompt transition must begin without delay. And it must make immediate irreversible progress towards free and fair elections.
We have set out key principles to ensure that the transition remains peaceful. We have made, and will continue to make, clear our support for human rights, including expression, association and assembly, freedom of the press. We have condemned violence against peaceful protestors, reporters, and human rights activists. And we’ve underlined the need for Egypt’s military to remain a force for stability.
We’re urging Egypt’s government and opposition to engage in serious, inclusive negotiations to arrive at a timetable, game plan, and path to constitutional and political reforms. And as they do, we will support principles, processes and institutions – not personalities. The desire for an orderly transition may not be a pretext for backsliding and stalling.
Another vital message we are sending to all who take part in Egypt’s political future is the fundamental need to honor Egypt’s historic peace treaty with Israel. As Egypt builds democratic institutions after the recent unrest – and also contends with the economic challenges that helped to cause it – we will continue to extend the hand of partnership and friendship to the Egyptian people. And we will act now, as we have done in the past, to support civil society, nongovernmental organizations, democracy groups and economic recovery. As the transition unfolds, we will tailor our support to engage and nurture it.
In Lebanon, a very different situation is unfolding. Last month, Hezbollah, backed by Syria, used threats of violence to undermine the collapse of the Lebanese Government. We’ve worked with the international community with one voice to urge the next Lebanese Government to support the Special Tribunal, to honor its international obligations, and to refrain from retribution against former officials.
We intend to judge the next Lebanese Government by its deeds, mindful of the circumstances that brought it about. We will be watching Prime Minister Mikati to see whether he makes good on his public pledge to build a broad-based government that represents all sections of Lebanese society. The Lebanese people deserve better than a false choice between justice for the murder of their prime minister and stability for their country.
If I could just conclude, Madam Chairman, by observing, without commenting specifically on the recent reports that you’ve referenced, that what is critical as we see this unfolding dynamic is that we remain consistent in our principles and the values and interests that we bring forward, while remaining nimble to adapt to emerging circumstances. It’s a little bit like having a good game plan for the game, but also knowing when to call an audible. And I think that’s what we’re seeing as we go forward here – consistent approach that identifies U.S. interests and values, but adapts to the circumstances and preserves our long-term interest.

Ackerman wants aid to Lebanon to be suspended immediately until it is clear that the Government of Lebanon is not a flunky to Tehran or Damascus.
News from Congressman Gary Ackerman
5th District - New York
Queens & Long Island
February 10, 2011
ACKERMAN DELIVERS STATEMENT ON CRISIS ON LEBANON DURING HOUSE HEARING
U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), the Ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, today delivered the following opening statement on Lebanon during a hearing convened by the Foreign Affairs Committee entitled Recent Developments in Egypt and Lebanon: Implications for U.S. Policy and Allies in the Broader Middle East, Part II.
"Until recently, and unlike its Arab neighbors, Lebanon had a democratically-elected government that should have had a mandate to govern. But, like all of its regional neighbors except for Israel, Lebanon has suffered from a powerful and unaccountable element of its society acting above and beyond the law. What was different in the Lebanese case was that this unaccountable few didn't occupy or use the institutions of the state in order to coerce, repress and dominate their political opponents.
Instead, they just threatened them, and then, killed them. No one should forget that before the current crisis, before the insurrection of May 2008, before the presidential succession crisis and the lockout of parliament, Hezbollah and its Iranian and Syrian allies engaged in a campaign of assassinations against Lebanese parliamentarians and journalists that began in 2005 with the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
Long before the recent back-room coup, Hezbollah set itself above the law and outside the reach of the government. Hezbollah has for years systematically weakened Lebanon's government and continually undermined Lebanon's sovereignty. It has made Lebanon a regional time bomb by deploying more than 40,000 Syrian and Iranian artillery rockets and advanced surface-to-surface missiles, all aimed at Israel, and all in order to shield Iran's illicit nuclear weapons program.
Tragically, the people of Lebanon are now hostages. Like the captive nations of Eastern Europe during the Cold War, their hearts are free but their government has colluded with a foreign power to put them in chains.
The United States must continue to advocate for Lebanon's sovereignty and for the restoration of a legitimate government. We must continue to support and sustain the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and keep faith with all the Lebanese who want justice for their murdered countrymen and their former prime minister. America must continue to insist on the implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and we must speak out clearly against the flood of illegal and destabilizing Syrian and Iranian arms going into Lebanon.
And finally, we need to be clear with the government of Lebanon that it bears the burden of demonstrating that it truly serves the people of Lebanon, that it will keep the peace inside Lebanon and on Lebanon's borders, and that it is not, and will not be either a flunky for the ayatollahs in Tehran or for the dictator in Damascus. Until there is clear evidence that Beirut has made these choices, I believe we have no alternative but to suspend our all of our assistance programs. We have many urgent priorities in the Middle East. Helping Iran, Syria and Hezbollah maintain a façade of Lebanese independence is not one of them."

Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president
CAIRO (Reuters) - Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president on Friday, handing over to the army and ending three decades of autocratic rule, bowing to escalating pressure from the military and protesters demanding that he go.
Vice President Omar Suleiman said a military council would run the affairs of the Arab world's most populous nation. A free and fair presidential election has been promised for September.
A speaker made the announcement in Cairo's Tahrir Square where hundreds of thousands broke down in tears, celebrated and hugged each other chanting: "The people have brought down the regime." Others shouted: "Allahu Akbar (God is great).
The 82-year-old Mubarak's downfall after 18 days of unprecedented mass protests was a momentous victory for people power and was sure to rock autocrats throughout the Arab world and beyond.
Egypt's powerful military gave guarantees earlier on Friday that promised democratic reforms would be carried out but angry protesters intensified an uprising against Mubarak, marching on the presidential palace and the state television tower.
It was an effort by the army to defuse the revolt but, in disregarding protesters' key demand for Mubarak's ouster now, it failed to calm the turmoil that has disrupted the economy and rattled the entire Middle East.
The military's intervention was not enough.
The tumult over Mubarak's refusal to resign had tested the loyalties of the armed forces, which had to choose whether to protect their supreme commander or ditch him.
The sharpening confrontation had raised fear of uncontrolled violence in the most populous Arab nation, a key U.S. ally in an oil-rich region where the chance of chaos spreading to other long stable but repressive states troubles the West.
Washington has called for a prompt democratic transition to restore stability in Egypt, a rare Arab state no longer hostile to Israel, guardian of the Suez Canal linking Europe and Asia and a major force against militant Islam in the region.
The army statement noted that Mubarak had handed powers to govern the country of 80 million people to his deputy the previous day -- perhaps signaling that this should satisfy demonstrators, reformists and opposition figures.
"This is not our demand," one protester said, after relaying the contents of the army statement to the crowd in Cairo's central Tahrir Square. "We have one demand, that Mubarak step down." He has said he will stay until September elections.
The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist opposition group, urged protesters to keep up mass nationwide street protests, describing Mubarak's concessions as a trick to stay in power.
REFORMS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied across Egypt, including in the industrial city of Suez, earlier the scene of some of the fiercest violence in the crisis, and the second city of Alexandria, as well as in Tanta and other Nile Delta centers.
The army also said it "confirms the lifting of the state of emergency as soon as the current circumstances end", a pledge that would remove a law imposed after Mubarak became president following Anwar Sadat's assassination in 1981 and that protesters say has long been used to stifle dissent.
It further promised to guarantee free and fair elections and other concessions made by Mubarak to protesters that would have been unthinkable before January 25, when the revolt began.
But none of this was enough for many hundreds of thousands of mistrustful protesters who rallied in cities across the Arab world's most populous and influential country on Friday, fed up with high unemployment, a corrupt elite and police repression.
Since the fall of Tunisia's long-time leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, which triggered protests around the region, Egyptians have been demonstrating in huge numbers against rising prices, poverty, unemployment and their authoritarian regime.
EMERGENCY LAWS
World powers had increasingly pressured Mubarak to organize an orderly transition of power since the protests erupted on January 28 setting off an earthquake that has shaken Egypt sending shock waves around the Middle East.
Mubarak, 82, was thrust into office when Islamists gunned down his predecessor Anwar Sadat at a military parade in 1981.
The burly former air force commander has proved a far more durable leader than anyone imagined at the time, governing under emergency laws protesters say were used to crush dissent.
The president has long promoted peace abroad and more recently backed economic reforms at home led by his cabinet under Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif. But he always kept a tight lid on political opposition.
Mubarak resisted any significant political change even under pressure from the United States, which has poured billions of dollars of military and other aid into Egypt since it became the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, signing a treaty in 1979.
(Cairo newsroom, writing by Peter Millership; editing by Mark Heinrich)
...