LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 23/2012
Bible Quotation for today/Duties toward State
Authorities
Romans 13/01-07: "Everyone must obey state authorities,
because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing
authorities have been put there by God. Whoever opposes the existing authority
opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on
himself. For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who
do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is
good, and they will praise you, because they are God's servants working for your
own good. But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to
punish is real. They are God's servants and carry out God's punishment on those
who do evil. For this reason you must obey the authorities—not just because of
God's punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. That is also why you pay
taxes, because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their
duties. Pay, then, what you owe them; pay them your personal and property taxes,
and show respect and honor for them all.
Latest analysis, editorials, studies,
reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Berri Berri/Michael
Young/April 22/12
How the American and Canadian far left won the release of terrorist killer
Omar Khadr/By: Judi McLeod/April
22/12
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous
Sources for April 22/12
Now Lebanon English news
Link
Lebanon's Arabic press digest - April 22, 2012 April 22, 2012/The Daily Star
Israeli Army
chief, Benny Gantz: IDF prepared for Iran strike
Ehud Barak accuses Israel's vice PM of succumbing to right-wing rhetoric
Voting begins in
France, economy may sink Sarkozy
Netanyahu coalition could fall apart if West Bank neighborhood is dismantled,
says vice PM
U.N. authorizes up to
300 Syria truce monitors
Canada Welcomes UN Security Council Resolution Authorizing Observer Mission in
Syria
Zvi Bar'el /As UN approves Syria observer mission, discord plays into Bashar
Assad's hands
Syrian political, military opposition hails UN monitors vote
Violence persists in Syria as Annan urges truce compliance
US says may not allow renewal of UN mission in Syria
Egyptian court “cannot rule on poll ban for ex-regime leaders”
Russia urges all Syrian parties to cooperate with UN observers
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi Heads on N. American Tour: We Support
Electoral Law that Best Represents People
Maronite
Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai: Issue of Lebanese who fled to Israel ‘highly
politicized’
Maronite
Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai relieved that cabinet survived
Detained graffiti
activists released from Beirut station
Sleiman back from
Australia, calls for boosting ties with expats
Lebanese mountaineers
to begin challenging ascent
Building owners welcome Cabinet rent law decision
Reconciliation meeting takes place between two Lebanese towns
LBC: Young Lebanese man killed in Venezuela
Houri
denies reports about Siniora’s visits to Grand Serail
Pietton: Jumblatt’s stances seek to preserve Lebanon’s stability
Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai: Bkirki supports any electoral law Lebanese can
agree on
Kataeb
Party deputy chief Sejaan Kazzi lashes out at rest of March 14
Change and
Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun : Syria closest country to democracy
M.P, George
Adwan: Illegitimate arms make it ‘impossible’ to apply law equally
M.P, Samer
Saadeh says Lebanese army should confront Syrian incursions
M.P, Ahmad Fatfat: Sami Gemayel did not coordinate no-confidence
vote with March 14
Qassem: Political
solution to end Syria crisis, Assad to stay
Siniora urges rivals to
help lessen political tensions
Report: Opposition Seeks Transition Govt. ahead of Parliamentary Elections
Authorities Release Two Activists Detained for Pro-Syrian Revolution Graffiti in
Beirut
Druze
professor appointed By Israel ambassador to New Zealand
Israeli Army chief, Benny Gantz: IDF prepared for Iran
strike
Alex Fishman/ 04.22.12, 11:37 / Ynetnews
IDF ready to attack Tehran’s nuclear facilities if needed, Chief of Staff Benny
Gantz says; military constantly engaged in covert, high-risk operations beyond
Israel’s borders, he says
Should Israel decide to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, the IDF will be
prepared to carry out the mission, Chief of Staff Benny Gantz told Yedioth
Ahronoth in remarks published Sunday.
"In principle, we are ready to act," the army chief told the newspaper in a
special interview ahead of Israel’s upcoming Independence Day. In respect to the
Iranian threat, 2012 will be a critical year, Gantz said, adding that "the State
of Israel believes that nuclear arms in Iran’s possession are a very bad thing,
which the world should stop and Israel should stop." "We are preparing our plan
accordingly," he said. Israel is the only country in the world facing open
destruction threats by another state, which is also producing the means to do
carry them out, the army chief said. However, he noted, this does not mean that
he will be ordering the army’s Air Force chief to strike Iran "now." When asked
whether Israel faces an existential threat at this time, Gantz said: "The
potential exists. At this time, in my estimate, this is not the case." ‘Higher
chance of war’ During the interview, Gantz also addressed special operations
carried out by the IDF beyond Israel’s borders, revealing that the scope of such
activities has increased significantly compared to the past. "I don’t think you
will find a point in time where something isn’t happening somewhere in the
world," he said. "The level of risk has increased as well. This is not something
invented by Benny Gantz. I’m not taking the credit here. I’m simply accelerating
all those special operations." Regarding the likelihood of a war breaking out
this year, Gantz said: "Our intelligence assessment asserts that given the
strategic reality and instability in the region, the chance of deteriorating to
a war is higher than in the past. There are no indications of war, but the
chances of the situation deteriorating into one are higher than in the past."
The army chief added that in case of a regional war, the IDF will be able to
cope with the rocket threat from Lebanon and from the Gaza Strip.
"I can’t promise no missiles will be landing here. They will be falling; many of
them. It won’t be a simple war, neither on the frontlines nor ion the home
front,” he said. “However, I don’t advice anyone to test us on this front."
"When (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah comes out of his bunker, he’s
concerned – and rightfully so. He saw what happened to Lebanon last time, and it
won’t be close to what will happen to Lebanon next time," the army chief said.
"I think they understand it well."
Druze professor appointed By Israel ambassador to New
Zealand
FM Lieberman chooses Hebrew Literature Professor Naim Araidi to represent Israel
in New Zealand
Itamar Eichner Published: 04.22.12/Ynetnews
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has appointed Druze Professor for Hebrew
Literature Naim Araidi as Israel's ambassador to New Zealand, Yedioth Ahronoth
reported Sunday. This is the first time a member of the Druze community is
appointed an ambassador in a political appointment. Born in Kfar Maghar, Araidi,
62, wrote his doctorate on the poetry of Uri Zvi Grinberg. He gives regular
classes at the Haifa and Bar-Ilan universities, serves as the dean at the Arab
Academic College for Education and is a member of the Sapir Prize board. In
2008, he won the Prime Minister's Award for Hebrew Literature. "After years of
representing the State of Israel unofficially, it would be a great privilege for
me to do so in an official capacity and show Israel's beautiful side, as well as
the coexistence that despite all the hardships can only be maintained in a true
democracy," he said. "Araidi represents the beautiful face of Israel, in which a
talented person, irrespective of religion or sector – can reach the highest
places on merit, and be an inspiration for all Israelis," Minister Lieberman
told Yedioth. "I am convinced that he will honor the State of Israel as an
ambassador as he did as a writer."
Lebanon's Arabic press digest - April 22, 2012 April 22,
2012/The Daily Star
Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese
and pan-Arab newspapers Sunday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of
these reports.
An-Nahar
Elections law and instituting expat vote amid political battle
While there was no delay in the return of hot issues at the social, economic and
services levels that dissipated the effects left by the parliamentary general
discussion last week, a new week approaches but with little prospects of
reaching a solution on the issue of the elections law.
One of the prominent items to be discussed by the government in the next Cabinet
session will be the issue of the casting of ballots by Lebanese non-residents in
the 2013 parliamentary elections.
Sources close to President Michel Sleiman told An-Nahar that the president is
moving forward on the issue of the expatriates vote for the next election.
Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil said during an interview with Al-Manar
television that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri would put forward next week a
draft proposal for constitutional amendments to adopt an elections law based on
proportional representation using one electoral district while safeguarding
parity between [Muslims and Christians] and the distribution of seats among the
sects which would pave the way for the establishment for a national Parliament
that would later prepare for the formation of a senate, as stipulated in the
Taif Accord.
Al-Hayat
Any solution in the Middle East should not come at the expense of Lebanon
President Michel Sleiman said that the Lebanese community in Australia is
“unique and connecting with expatriates at any level is important and
beneficial.”
Sleiman, who returned to Beirut Saturday afternoon along with a Lebanese
delegation, said in an interview with the National News Agency that the "fruits
of the visit will bloom soon, particularly in terms of expats coming back. It is
not a physical comeback as I did not ask them to leave Australia for good and
come to Lebanon, but via their association with Lebanon to their lands, houses
and that through their investments and political participation."
He also said that he had made Lebanon's position clear regarding the uprising in
the region, especially that Australia is preparing to become a non-permanent
member at the U.N. Security Council, saying: "We sought to explain our case so
that they know where we stand. Any peaceful solution in the Middle East should
not come at the expense of Lebanon, particularly its dangerous dimension that
might materialize into the nationalizing of Palestinian refugees.”
Al-Mustaqbal
Abu Faour: no government authorization to aid 8,500 refugees in the Bekaa
U.N. says 22,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon
Nothing changed the political scene Saturday except for the worrisome
humanitarian conditions of the Syrian refugees, particularly after the UNHCR
released its weekly report saying that the number of refugees increased to
22,000 centered in the Wadi Khaled region and in Tripoli.
There are around 3,000 people in Tripoli waiting to be registered.
The estimates indicate that there are 8,500 Syrian refugees in the Bekaa region
with limited numbers in Beirut.
In this regard, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Four told Al-Mustaqbal that
“the government did not authorize [my] ministry or the High Relief Committee to
aid the refugees in the Bekaa, where the UNHCR says 8,500 refugees currently
live."
He added that the government was doing its duty in the north but not in the
Bekaa.
"The governments' second shortcoming is the lack of a comprehensive plan to
follow up on this case," he said.
Ad-Diyar
Price of 20 liters of gasoline reaches LL40,000
Labor strike on May 3, teachers’ strike on May 2
The price of 20 liters of the 98-graded gasoline reached LL40,000 Saturday, in
what is the highest level the fuel has been so far this year, while the
95-octane graded fuel reached LL39,300. Diesel now costs LL29,000 amid a wave of
anger given that the Energy Ministry signed the price update Saturday after
refusing to sign it Wednesday, in a sign of the government’s inability to solve
this issue.
Head of the General Labor Confederation Ghassan Ghosn affirmed that unions would
strike on May 4 to demand a cap on soaring gasoline prices for the 90-octane
graded fuel and said people were free to purchase the 95 or 98-octane graded
fuels if they chose to do so.
On the other hand, contract teachers at public schools will begin an open strike
on May 2.
Meanwhile, the dispute continues over whether bakeries should decrease the
quantity of one bag of bread or increase the price.
Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai: Bkirki supports any
electoral law Lebanese can agree on
April 22, 2012/The Daily Star /BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai said
Sunday that Bkirki would support any electoral law that is drafted impartially
by politicians and enjoys the support of the Lebanese. “We do not support any
particular law and I admit that I don’t know what proportional representation
is. These issues are for technical people to decide on,” Rai told reporters at
Rafik Hariri International Airport ahead of his month-long visit to North and
South America. “We bless any law that Lebanese agree on,” the influential
religious leader added.
President Michel Sleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri are rallying for a
new electoral law based on proportional representation as Cabinet is expected to
discuss a revised proposal by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel. Rai also said a
committee established by Bkirki consisting of Maronite MPs to look into an
elections law would continue its work, adding that members would hold talks with
other politicians to reach a joint agreement. “I hope that no one adopts a law
that suits them, a law [chosen because] it is in their favor,” he added.
Rai voiced support to any law that ensures the best representation for the
people and "does not force a representative on any one.”
He also voiced concern over political tensions in Lebanon which emerged during
last week’s general parliamentary discussions and urged MPs to bear their
responsibilities and put their differences aside.
“We realize the extent of tensions in Lebanon and I followed the televised
[parliamentary sessions], and how MPs spoke to each other, which was unfortunate
and we can say that we are ashamed of that,” the Maronite patriarch said. “We
had hoped that the MPs would discuss [economic problems facing the country]
rather than trade accusations,” Rai added.
Rai headed to Mexico Sunday to attend the VII World Congress on the Pastoral
Care of Tourism organized by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of
Immigrants and Itinerants.
The conference will begin on April 23 until and 27 April in Cancun, east Mexico.
The patriarch will also visit Canada and St. Louis, Missouri, in the United
States where he is expected to give a speech during the graduation ceremony at
Saint Louis University. During his chat with reporters ahead of his trip, Rai
said he would not be meeting with U.S. officials and said that his visit to St.
Louis was merely to give the speech at the graduation ceremony.
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai relieved that
cabinet survived
April 22, 2012 /Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai said on Sunday that he
was relieved that the cabinet had survived the no-confidence vote. “We were
afraid that the cabinet might fall, because if it fell, it would be difficult to
form a new one… We thank God it survived,” the National News Agency quoted Rai
as saying at the airport before flying to Mexico.Rai also denied that he would
meet US officials during his tour to Mexico, US and Canada, and said that his
visit would be pastoral. The patriarch also denied media reports saying that he
supported an electoral law based on proportional representation. “[Media] is
used to attribute many [false] statements to me, but the truth is I do not know
what proportional representation is… I do not support any specific electoral
law.” Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet won a vote of confidence in
parliament on Thursday, which was called for by Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel,
following the end of three days of plenary sessions. Mikati’s cabinet is mainly
dominated by ministers affiliated with the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition.-NOW
Lebanon
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi Heads on N. American
Tour: We Support Electoral Law that Best Represents People
Naharnet/22 April 2012/Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi denied on Sunday that
he supports the adoption of proportional representation for the 2013
parliamentary elections. He said: “We support an electoral law that best
represents the Lebanese people.” He made his remarks from the airport ahead of
travelling on a one-month tour of Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
“I don’t even know what proportionality entails. Officials should deal with the
technical aspects of the law,” he explained. The patriarch hoped that President
Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Najib Miqati would
assume their responsibilities in reaching an agreement on a law that would be
best suited for Lebanon.“The president had said that he does not support the
1960 electoral law. It is time for officials to objectively find the best law
and not one that only suits ones side,” al-Rahi noted. He added that the
patriarchate will continue its meeting with various political powers that are
aimed at reaching an agreement over the electoral law. President Suleiman,
Speaker Nabih Berri, and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun have
voiced their support for proportional representation. Jumblat has meanwhile
rejected the proposal, saying that it aims to limit his political weight. On the
government’s survival of a confidence vote on Thursday, he said that the heated
three-day parliament session that was aimed at assessing the government’s
performance has demonstrated the extent of the political divide in Lebanon.He
noted that it was a blessing that the government survived the vote because the
severity of the disputes would have prevented the various political powers from
forming a new one. “We had hoped that the MPs would have addressed the people’s
concerns instead of trading accusations,” he stressed. He therefore urged
parliament and the government to assume their responsibilities given the
critical local and regional situations.
Agence France Presse
Qassem: Political solution to end Syria crisis, Assad to
stay
April 22, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Hezbollah’s number two Sheikh Naim Qassem ruled out over the weekend the
departure of President Bashar Assad, citing a U.N.-backed peace plan, and warned
that any delay by the opposition or states backing it to respond positively to
the initiative would harm the Syrian people. Qassem also said the investigation
into the recent killing of a Lebanese journalist on the Lebanese-Syrian border
needed to reveal not just the culprits but the motives and circumstances
surrounding the incident as well. “The mere proposal of [U.N.-Arab envoy Kofi]
Annan plan represents a shift to a completely new stage. This stage is based on
searching for a political solution and not the bringing down of the regime,” Al-Manar
quoted Qassem as saying Saturday.
Qassem attributed the shift in policy to what he described as the “failure by
the armed opposition to change the balance of power on the ground, the failure
of Western states to invite a military solution to topple the regime, the
regime’s ability to demonstrate the popular support it has through the
constitutional referendum as well as the regime’s ability to withstand in the
face of the large, foreign conspiracy that sought to bring down the
resistance.”Qassem’s statements came in an interview with Al-Manar’s online
website. The Hezbollah official said the onus was on the opposition as well as
those states backing it to see the successful implementation of Annan’s plan.
“We await the opposition and the states that support it to present relevant
solutions rather than act in a negative manner. This negative course is of no
use because the regime is staying and is highly capable and the opposition
should know that the longer it fails to respond to the political solution the
more the Syrian people will suffer,” he said.
Hezbollah, Syria’s primary ally in Lebanon, has backed Damascus throughout the
unrest in Lebanon’s neighbor. The group says Syria is being targeted by foreign
states because of its “rejectionist” stances and support of the resistance.The
Hezbollah official also turned to the case of Ali Shaaban, the Al-Jadeed
television cameraman who was killed earlier this month in Wadi Khaled, north
Lebanon, near the border with Syria.“The problem is not restricted to
identifying the culprits but the motives and circumstances behind the incident
that led to his martyrdom need to be identified,” Qassem said.
Al-Jadeed has openly accused the Syrian Army of being behind the killing of
Shaaban.
Qassem also denied that Hezbollah had been informed about the final results in
the investigation.
He also said his group had made no contact with the Syrian leadership, adding
that there were “relevant Lebanese sides handling the case and who will notify
the public of the results so that the appropriate decisions can be taken.”
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun : Syria closest
country to democracy
April 21, 2012 /Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun said on Friday that
Syria was “the closest country to democracy because it believes in freedom of
religious belief and in differences between social segments.” “It is true [that]
there was political oppression after which the uprising [erupted]. [However] we
did not stand by the regime against democracy, but said instead that the Syrian
people need political reforms,” Aoun’s office quoted him as saying. Asked about
the future of Christians in the Middle East, Aoun said: “There are still two
strongholds for the Christians in the region, Syria and Lebanon, and they are
considered one stronghold because they are united.” Aoun also hailed his 2006
Memorandum of Understanding with Hezbollah and said “it created consensus
between Muslims and Christians.”
“I can say the reconciliation happened in 2006, and so far the Christians have
been reassured and respected, and no [harm] was done against them outside the
Christian areas.”
However, Aoun voiced fear over the situation of the Christian community in North
Lebanon. “The regions in North Lebanon are witnessing more unease than other
regions because of the emergence of Islamic fundamentalism.” Lebanon’s political
scene is split between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime,
led by Hezbollah, and the pro-Western March 14 camp.
According to UN estimates, more than 9,000 people have been killed in violence
across Syria since anti-regime protests broke out in 2011, while monitors put
the number at more than 11,000, mostly civilians.-NOW Lebanon
LBC: Jawad Walid al-Aridi a Lebanese young man killed in Venezuela
April 21, 2012 /Lebanese national Jawad Walid al-Aridi, 22 years of age, was
killed in Venezuela after he was mugged in the city of Carúpano, LBC television
reported on Saturday evening.
The victim was from the village of Baisour located in Mount Lebanon. Baisour’s
citizens requested the Lebanese government and relevant authorities “to
immediately follow up on” the investigation into the crime, according to the
report.The National News Agency (NNA) reported that Lebanese Ambassador to
Venezuela Charbel Wehbe informed Minister of Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour that
the crime took place due to the country’s “uncontrolled security
situation.”Wehbe, according to the NNA report, told Mansour that the victim was
engaged in a dispute with another person, adding that the murderer’s identity
has been determined and that Venezuelan authorities “are carrying out the
necessary investigations.”-NOW Lebanon
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai: Issue of
Lebanese who fled to Israel ‘highly politicized’
April 21, 2012 /Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai on Saturday said the
issue related to Lebanese citizens who were forced to flee to Israel was “highly
politicized,” the National News Agency reported. The Patriarch saluted “all
Lebanese [refugees] in Israel,” and said that “efforts [are being coordinated]
with the Lebanese government and parliament to resolve their humanitarian
problem and issue a [law] that would differentiate between people.” “Many
[Lebanese who fled to Israel] did not commit [any crime], but left [their
homeland] due to fear,” Rai said. The patriarch voiced hope that this subject
“would be resolved and which is, unfortunately, highly politicized.” -NOW
Lebanon
Kataeb Party deputy chief Sejaan Kazzi lashes out at rest of March 14
April 21, 2012 /Kataeb Party deputy chief Sejaan Kazzi denied on Saturday that
the party’s bloc MP Sami Gemayel would cause electoral losses for March 14 in
the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections.
“It was not [Sami Gemayel] who visited Damascus or signed the Saudi-Syrian
agreement,” Kazzi told New TV in a possible reference to Future Movement leader
Saad Hariri.The Saudi-Syrian agreement was the reported accord reached in 2011
between the leadership of both countries to work to stabilize Lebanon ahead of
the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s indictment, which was unveiled later that
summer. Four members of Lebanon’s Shia group Hezbollah have been indicted by the
STL. However, Hezbollah strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate
with the court.
Kazzi also said that “a [fuss] was made out of Gemayel’s step because he moved
the centralism of decision making in March 14 from one place to another.”He
added that the Kataeb Party “felt that there was some sort of implicit agreement
between some oppositionist blocs and the loyalists because [the former] did not
seem to want to change the situation.”Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet won
a vote of confidence in parliament Thursday night that was called for by Gemayel
following the end of three days of plenary sessions. Mikati’s cabinet is mainly
dominated by ministers affiliated with the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition.-NOW
Lebanon
Fatfat: Sami Gemayel did not coordinate no-confidence vote with March 14
April 21, 2012 /Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said in remarks published on
Saturday that Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel “did not coordinate his proposal to revoke
confidence from cabinet with the rest of the March 14 blocs.”“March 14 parties
did not want to propose a no-confidence vote because we knew that there is a
parliamentary majority that still supports the [survival] of the cabinet,”
Fatfat also told Al-Liwaa newspaper.“Despite that, there is no problem between
us and [the Kataeb].” Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet won a vote of
confidence in parliament Thursday night that was called for by Gemayel following
the end of three days of plenary sessions. Fatfat also said that the opposition
MPs tried to talk Gemayel out of his proposal, “but we could not because of the
pressure caused by the discussions and sessions.”He also said that the result of
the vote “did not exceed an illusionary victory” for the loyalists.Mikati’s
cabinet is mainly dominated by ministers affiliated with the Hezbollah-led March
8 coalition.-NOW Lebanon
Adwan: Illegitimate arms make it ‘impossible’ to apply law equally
April 21, 2012 /Lebanese Forces bloc MP George Adwan on Saturday said that
because illegitimate arms are in the hands of a Lebanese group, it is
“impossible” to apply the law equally to all Lebanese people. “The presence of
[illegitimate] weapons in [the hands of] a Lebanese faction make it impossible
to apply the law equally to all Lebanese,” the NNA quoted Adwan as saying.
Adwan was implicitly referring to Hezbollah, whose military arsenal is one of
the thorniest issues on the Lebanese political scene. “There is no chance for
[founding] a [strong] state in the presence of weapons [that are not under the
control of the government]; there is also no chance for [the precise]
implementation of democracy,” Adwan added. The MP also said that “the attempt to
break up the Lebanese [state] should be halted.” -NOW Lebanon
Saadeh says Lebanese army should confront Syrian incursions
April 21, 2012 /Kataeb bloc MP Samer Saadeh on Saturday said it was “the duty of
the Lebanese army to open fire on the Syrian army and defend Lebanon’s
sovereignty” in case of Syrian incursions into Lebanese territory. “The army
needs to adopt [measures] to protect [northern] Lebanese areas that are being
[affected] by Syrian shelling,” Saadeh told MTV television. “What are the duties
of the Lebanese army then if it does not defend [Lebanon’s] borders?” Saadeh
inquired. Regarding the latest parliamentary sessions, Saadeh told MTV: “The
statement of [Future bloc leader] Fouad Siniora was very clear and so where the
statements made by Hezbollah MPs, which [showed that there was] no chance for a
new quartet alliance.” Saadeh was referring to the alliance formed prior to the
2005 parliamentary elections between the Future Movement, the Progressive
Socialist Party, the Amal Movement and Hezbollah. He added that the entire
Kataeb bloc, not only MP Sami Gemayel, “asked to revoke confidence in the
cabinet.” Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet won a vote of confidence in
parliament Thursday night that was called for by Gemayel following the end of
three days of plenary sessions.However, the Kataeb bloc’s step generated
criticism from some groups affiliated with the March 14 alliance. -NOW Lebanon
Reconciliation meeting takes place between the Lebanese
towns of Ain Arab and Al-Mari
April 21, 2012 /A meeting took place on Saturday to reconcile residents of the
two Lebanese towns of Ain Arab and Al-Mari following an individual dispute which
later turned tense, according to the National News Agency.The meeting was
attended by Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abu Faour, representing Progressive
Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt, and Future bloc MP Bahia Hariri,
in addition to others. Al-Mari is dominated by the Druze sect while Ain Arab is
mainly made up of Sunni residents. Faour voiced hope that Lebanese politicians
“would [learn lessons] from what happened [between the two towns] regarding
forgiveness.”“There is one enemy [for Lebanese politicians] and that is Israel.”
In turn, Hariri said that the meeting “shows [that the incident that took place
between the two towns] will not be repeated since the enemy is one and it is
Israel.”“Chieftain Walid Jumblatt will remain a friend and brother to [slain
former PM] Rafik Hariri,” the MP said.Jumblatt is a leading Druze leader in
Lebanon. Bahia Hariri is the sister of former Premier Rafik Hariri - a once
prominent Sunni politician who was assassinated in 2005 in a massive car bombing
in Beirut. -NOW Lebanon
Berri Berri
Michael Young, April 20, 2012
Everyone knows there are two Nabih Berris, at least. There is the political ally
of Syria, Hezbollah and Michel Aoun, who closed down parliament for 18 months,
and whose gunmen disgraced the streets of western Beirut in May 2008. And then
there is the veteran politician who is preparing for the possible fall of Bashar
al-Assad’s regime, who chafes at Hezbollah’s domination of the Shia community,
and who detests Aoun—not least for having humiliated him by winning against
Berri in Jezzine during the last elections.
This is also the man who was the impresario of the parliamentary mud fest that
took place this past week. As usual, he cajoled, browbeat, cut off and
encouraged this parliamentarian or that, often in ways designed to advance the
speaker’s own political agenda.
Berri has been a major irritant to March 14 and for years was in the vanguard of
the March 8-Aounist strategy of obstructionism, thanks to his position. But the
speaker is both vulnerable and indispensable today, and the arch maneuverer is
looking to reinvent himself.
He is vulnerable because his Syrian sponsors are facing an existential crisis,
even though they never much cared for Berri and allegedly threatened him some
months ago to ensure that he stayed in line. And Berri is indispensible,
therefore influential, because, unlike Hezbollah, he can reposition himself as
the “centrist” Shia in any post-Assad future. He could thus preserve his
position while also mediating between the Sunni political leadership and
Hezbollah.
A commonly heard criticism of the Future Movement is that it has played Berri
badly. There is some truth here. Rather than exploit the speaker’s desire to
expand his options within his community and beyond the parliamentary majority,
Saad Hariri’s men have had a tendency to embarrass Berri when possible. Then
again, that tactic has sometimes made the speaker more desirous to please, so it
has had some benefit. However, a more subtle strategy is required, because Berri
may play a decisive role in next year’s elections.
If there is any likelihood that Berri will take a different tack than Hezbollah,
the elections will provide it. That’s not to say that the speaker will break
with the party. In many electoral districts he has a strong interest in forming
joint lists with Hezbollah. However, there are places where Berri might go his
own way. That’s probably true, again, in Jezzine, but also Jbeil, where he
controls Shia votes; perhaps the Metn, where a small Shia electorate is present;
and most intriguingly Baabda, where the speaker could potentially play Hezbollah
and Aoun off against March 14 and Walid Jumblatt.
Would Hezbollah afford Berri that latitude? Much will depend on what happens in
Syria. If the Assad regime imposes that the speaker march in lockstep with
Hezbollah and Aoun, there will be little that he can do to challenge the
decision. But if not, Berri has no incentive to return to being an appendage of
Hezbollah, and the party may steer clear of a confrontation with the speaker to
avoid splits within Shia ranks. The reality is that Berri only has an ability to
play on the margins in most electoral districts. A safe tactic would be to enter
into arrangements that potentially adversely affect Aounist candidates and
certain other Hezbollah allies, but not Hezbollah candidates.
The ultimate objective of Berri is to remain speaker after 2013. That may not be
too difficult. It’s not obvious who could challenge him. A Hezbollah official
would be too divisive, while March 14 has few Shia as it is—and none with
legitimacy in the eyes of a majority in their community. However, this time
around Berri would prefer that his speakership not be a bone tossed his way by
Hezbollah. That’s why he will be keen to bring a multi-sectarian bloc back to
parliament, something Aoun denied him in 2009. This will affect Berri’s
electoral decisions in mixed sectarian districts.
March 14 should take all these factors into consideration as it plans for
elections next year. It makes no sense to alienate Berri, even if it makes even
less sense to concede too much to the speaker. One person who has avoided a
head-on clash with Berri is Samir Geagea. The calculations may cut both ways.
When neither Aoun nor Hezbollah called the Lebanese Forces leader to
congratulate him for surviving an assassination attempt, Berri did. He also
reportedly saw to it last year that Antoine Zahra, the Lebanese Forces
parliamentarian from Batroun, would remain in the Parliament Bureau, despite
behind-the-scenes efforts to remove him.
Geagea realizes that Berri’s support might come in handy at voting time. So,
too, does Walid Jumblatt, who has maintained open channels to his wartime
comrade through fair weather and foul. Every day new cracks are appearing in the
parliamentary majority. If dealing more shrewdly with Nabih Berri can help widen
them, then why not do so? The speaker asks for nothing more.
*Michael Young is opinion editor of The Daily Star newspaper in Lebanon. He
tweets @BeirutCalling.
U.N. authorizes up to 300 Syria truce monitors
April 21, 2012/By Louis Charbonneau, Oliver Holmes/Daily Star
UNITED NATIONS: The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a Russia-European
drafted resolution on Saturday that authorizes an initial deployment of up to
300 unarmed military observers to Syria for three months to monitor a fragile
week-old ceasefire.
Opposition activists in Homs, epicenter of the 13-month-old revolt against
President Bashar al-Assad, said shelling and gunfire stopped for the first time
in weeks before Syrian authorities let the monitors into the city. The
resolution said that deployment of the U.N. observer mission, which will be
called UNSMIS, will be "subject to assessment by the Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon)
of relevant developments on the ground, including the cessation of violence."
The council's resolution also noted that the cessation of violence by the
government and opposition is "clearly incomplete" and warned that the 15-nation
body could consider "further steps" in the event of non-compliance with its
terms. Like the council's resolution from last week that authorized deployment
of an advance team of up to 30 monitors, Saturday's resolution calls on both the
Syria government and opposition to halt fighting that has killed thousands over
the past year.
The council's move to condition deployment of UNSMIS on Ban's assessment of
compliance with a truce reflected the fact that the U.S. and European
delegations are concerned about the failure of the Syrian government to halt the
violence, return troops to barracks and withdraw heavy weapons.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin welcomed the resolution's adoption.
"We now see the main aim as being the unswerving clear respect by all parties of
the provisions of the resolution," he told the council. "Any deviation in terms
of interpretation, or deviation from the provisions is unacceptable."French
Ambassador Gerard Araud said "we're taking a risk" with the deployment of UNSMIS,
adding that the council would have to consider sanctions if the Syrian
government continues the violence. A handful of monitors has been in the country
for a week as an advance party while diplomats hammered out the mandate for a
force of hundreds. During that time, a ceasefire has so far failed to end
violence in the worst-hit parts of the country.
Activists said the shelling let up only to make it look as if the government was
abiding by the truce, mediated by international peace envoy Kofi Annan, and they
expected shelling to resume as soon as the monitors left. Amateur video footage
posted on the internet showed the monitors, clad in turquoise bullet-proof
vests, being escorted by hordes of opposition residents through rubble-filled
streets.
"The people want the overthrow of the president," chanted the residents, many
carrying the Syrian revolutionary flag.
"A team of observers have been sent to Homs and met the governor," U.N.
spokesman Khaled al-Masri said. "They are now visiting districts of the city."
In another development, a "massive explosion" was heard near a military airport
in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, a resident said, adding that he was
not sure what had caused the blast. No further details were immediately
available.
Assad's opponents fear that a few hundred observers with a weak mandate would
act as little more than a fig leaf for the government, thwarting more robust
intervention to halt the bloody crackdown on cities that have risen up against
Assad. A similar-sized Arab League observer mission collapsed in failure in
January after just a month. But Annan's staff have argued that a small observer
force can still help improve the situation by changing the political conditions
on the ground. The wobbly ceasefire was further undermined on Friday when at
least 42 people were killed - 15 of them by two roadside bombs targeting
security forces and many of the others by government forces' shelling of Homs.
On Saturday, the Syrian state news agency said that an "armed terrorist" group
had blown up an oil pipeline in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, near the
border with Iraq. U.N. chief Ban urged the government and opposition to make the
deployment of the military observers possible.
"(Ban) calls upon the Government of Syria and other parties swiftly to create
the conditions necessary for the deployment of the mission," his press office
said in a statement.
"He stresses the need for the Government of Syria to end all violence and human
rights violations, and in particular to stop the use of heavy weapons and to
withdraw such weapons and armed units from population centers," the statement
said. Eight monitors are already in Syria from Morocco, Brazil, Belgium,
Switzerland and Norway after the council authorized an advance team of up to 30
on Saturday. A spokesman for that team told Reuters two more monitors were due
to arrive on Monday.
Asked if Syria needed more monitors, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told
reporters during a visit to Qatar on Saturday that the number should be
increased. "It could be thousands, because Syria needs this," he said, according
to NTV news channel. The main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, has
welcomed the observers' mission and said that more monitors must be deployed to
serve as witnesses. The observers' task is to oversee the ceasefire mediated by
Annan, a former U.N. secretary-general. The plan calls for an end to fighting by
government security forces and rebels, withdrawal of heavy weapons from towns,
the return of the army to barracks, humanitarian access and dialogue between the
government and opposition aimed at a "political transition."
Annan's deputy, former Palestinian foreign minister Nasser al-Kidwa, criticized
both sides, but particularly government forces, for refusing to stop fighting
completely.
"We don't see much of a ceasefire," he told France 24 television. "The situation
of course is not good. There are many reasons to be worried by the lack of
implementation, at least lack of full implementation by (the) Syrian government
and perhaps some other parties as well." Nine Syrian army defectors were killed
on Saturday by government troops in Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for
Human Rights said. The sound of gunfire and explosions were heard by residents
in the town of Karak, in Deraa province, the birthplace of the revolution, the
Observatory added.
Canada Welcomes UN Security Council Resolution Authorizing Observer Mission in
Syria
April 21, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following
statement:
“I welcome the unanimous adoption today by the United Nations Security Council
of the resolution authorizing a mission to supervise the ceasefire in Syria. It
is my sincere hope that the Syrian regime will understand that the international
community is united in the view that the violence must stop and the needs of the
Syrian people must be heard.
“We encourage the Secretary-General to deploy the observer mission as soon as
possible and urge all parties in Syria, especially the Syrian authorities, to
support and cooperate with the observers.
“At the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Syria in Paris this past week,
participants, including Canada, pledged support for a UN observer mission.
“We call upon the Assad regime to fulfill its promises and implement fully all
six elements of Special Envoy Annan’s plan.
“It is vital that the Syrian forces cease their attacks and withdraw to their
barracks, and that humanitarian assistance reach those in need.
“Canada stands with the Syrian people and supports their demands for freedom,
dignity and democracy.”
How the American and Canadian far left won the release of
terrorist killer Omar Khadr
By/Judi McLeod Friday, April 20, 2012 /Canada Free Press
Breitbart’s Awr Hawkins is right on the money when he writes that ...”the Obama
administration is pushing the deal” to transfer convicted al-Qaida terrorist and
American soldier killer Omar Khadr from Guantanamo to Canada, where he can be
out on the streets on parole as soon as next year.
But it’s more chilling than even that: The return of Khadr to Canada by the end
of next month is proof positive that the far left in the U.S.
works—successfully—hand in hand with the far left in Canada with a Barack Obama
now in the White House.
From the get-go, left wing politicians, their fellow traveller celebrities and
the mainstream media portrayed convicted killer Khadr as a “child soldier”, and
on Nov. 19, 2007, in a CBS newscast, as an “obedient son”. In a video showing
the then 16-year-old being interviewed by Canadian Security Intelligence Service
(CSIS) agents in Guantanamo Bay in February, 2003, the weeping teen begged the
agents, “Promise you’ll protect me from the Americans”. (CFP, July 15, 2008).
It showed on hidden camera how the vulnerable victim act was dropped the moment
Khadr realized that the Canadian agents weren’t there to help, but to fish
information. From behind the flaps of a ventilation shaft, a hidden camera
caught all the rage and righteous indignation of Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen
raised by fundamentalist parents in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The
16-year-old al-Qaeda suspect and Guantanamo Bay detainee was facing allegations
that he murdered a U.S. soldier.” (Globe and Mail, July 15, 2008). “So he wept.
He denied everything. He pulled at his hair and pulled down his orange
prisoner’s suit. He showed his war wounds, which nearly killed him (emphasis
Canada Free Press) during a battle with U.S. soldiers six months earlier.”Lost
in the mists of time even back then was the name of the fallen U.S. soldier,
Sgt. 1st class Christopher Speer, who left behind a heartbroken widow and
family. Sgt. Layne Morris lost an eye in the same Afghanistan battle where Sgt.
1st class Speer was killed.
Staged by leftwing activists on both sides of the border, the fight to get Khadr
back to Canada began only weeks after he was imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay.
Proof comes in an October 21, 2010, U.S. Dept. of Defense press release :”The
United States Government (USG) has requested the assistance of the Canadian
government in implementing the plea arrangement USG has made with Omar Khadr. As
part of this plea agreement, Khadr has admitted his guilt for the following
crimes: murder in violation of the law of war, attempted murder in violation of
the law of war, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and
spying. The USG requested that Canada consider a request for transfer made by
Khadr under existing treaty arrangements for the transfer of offenders between
the two countries.”
And now convicted terrorist and killer Omar Khadr is coming home to Toronto to a
family aptly described by his brother Abdurahman as “an al Qaeda family”.
Canada’s Public Safety Minister Vic Toews admitted Thursday the government won’t
block the transfer of Khadr from Guantanamo to a Canadian prison.
“Under the International Transfer of Offenders Act, he is a Canadian citizen. He
is also a Canadian citizen under the Charter which entitles him to come back to
Canada, eventually,” Toews told QMI Agency.
The Canadian government is also bracing for a multimillion-dollar lawsuit after
the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 Khadr’s rights were violated while in U.S.
custody.
Leftwing professors are busy arranging a speaker’s tour for Khadr.
Civil rights groups, sympathetic lawyers and the entire New Democrat Party (NDP)
of Canada protested to spring “Boy Soldier” Khadr from a Gitmo, where he was
afforded special privileges.
Among the Canadian celebs and names drawn to the cause was Alexandre (Sacha)
Trudeau, who criticized the Liberals when he spoke at a demonstration for the
repatriation of Khadr in October of 2008.
“I have plenty of blame for them,” said Sacha Trudeau, son of former Liberal
Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and brother of then Liberal candidate,
now Liberal MP Justin Trudeau.
Among the activists working on behalf of Khadr’s Canadian repatriation on the
American side of the border are those of CodePink.
“Restore habeas corpus!” a group of about two dozen protesters, some clad in
orange prison jumpsuits, chanted in front of a U.S. Supreme Court building in
Washington, on Dec. 5, 2011.
“We believe these people should be charged or allowed to go home,” said Liz
Hourican of the peace group CodePink (CTV.ca, Dec. 2007).
That’s the same CodePink that Michelle Obama told “Keep up the great work”
during a fundraising trip to the Bay area on March 30.
Meanwhile, once back in Canada under Canadian law, Khadr would be eligible for
parole as soon as next year after completing one-third of his sentence and
statutory release after completing two-thirds.
And it was all made possible when the hard-left activists of two countries came
together for a cause they knew they could win now that there’s a
sympathetic-to-radical-Islam president in the White house.
Petition to stop Terrorist Omar Khadr from Returning to Canada