LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 28/2012

Bible Quotation for today/Please Others, Not Yourselves
Romans 15/01-06: "We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me. Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Shallow men/By: Hazem al-Amin/Now Lebanon/April 27, 2012
Blank Barack/Michael Young/Now Lebanon/April 27, 2012

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for April 27/12
Hezbollah boosting drone unit
Report: U.S. Intensifies Investigation into Banking Deals in Lebanon
Israel’s chief of staff Gen. Benny Gantz: IDF and other armies ready to strike Iran’s nuclear capabilities
US Vice President Joe Biden defends Obama's Iran policy
U.S. official says Netanyahu was fully briefed on Iran talks
Panetta: I hope that IDF chief is right on Iran nuclear program
U.S. ambassador to Israel sounds warning on Iran
Explosions hit Syrian capital, 9 dead
New blast in central district of Damascus
SYRIA: Lies And Terror Get The Job Done
Haaretz exclusive: A visit to the war-torn heart of Syria's struggle for independence
Israeli leaders speak up about Syria
Canada Strongly Condemns Recent Attacks in Nigeria
Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi v voices optimism on resolving Cabinet spending crisis
U.S. envoy meets General Security chief
Blast outside Arab Tawhid Party office in Chouf
Mikati in Belgium urges diaspora to register for 2013 polls
March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh: Syria left Hezbollah as ‘alternative army’ before withdrawal
Sami Gemayel fears “game” behind expat voting mechanism
Jumblatt says ties with Arslan strong, confirms private nature of Saudi visit
Jumblat Meets Aides of Berri, Nasrallah; Reiterates Rejection of Proportionality
EU supports Lebanon reforms with 30 mln euros
Safadi tells panel money not measurement of success
Drivers warn of escalation after nationwide strike
Salameh: Lebanese banks well protected
RYV Hacks Lebanese Govt. Sites Again, Enables Facebook Users to Post Messages
Report: Power Vessels Deal with Turkish Company in Tatters
Aridi: More investments needed to expand ports
Walieddine, Druze spiritual authority in region, dies at 96
Arab Tawhid Party condemns explosion near office
UAERC boosts medical aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon
Man in Baabda probed over possession of spoiled food
Civil Defense try to put out fire at Burj Hammoud dump
Peres to Haaretz: Israel must not put off peace process with Palestinians
Lieberman's right: A rupture with Egypt would be a disaster

'Hezbollah boosting drone unit'
Ronen Bergman/04.27.12/Ynetnews
Shiite terror group said to be bolstering UAV unit in order to attack Israel in case it strikes Iran .Hezbollah has been allocating increased resources towards bolstering its drone unit, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday. The Shiite terror groups reportedly plans to use its unmanned aerial vehicle to attack Israel in case it mounts a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Hezbollah is equipped with Ababil ("Swallow") drones, which are manufactured and provided by Iran. The Ababil has several models, including one that can carry a warhead packed with several dozens of kilograms of explosives. Defense establishment officials expressed concern that Hezbollah would be able to send multiple drones into Israel's airspace and have them crash into targets in the country's north. "Hezbollah is making a specific effort to acquire such (weapons) as part of its offensive lineup against Israel," a security source told Yedioth Ahronoth. "As far as they are concerned, it's a sure thing: The Ababil is a relatively cheap weapon, which the Iranians give them for free, anyway. "It takes a short time to master and its loss doesn't not involve sacrificing human lives. Another advantage for them is that it's a very small aircraft that's hard to detect and shoot down." The first Ababil drones were given to Hezbollah in 2002. The Shiite group had previously launched several of them into Israeli airspace, mostly as a power play. Hezbollah attempted to use the drones during the Second Lebanon War, sending two UAVs, carrying 40-50kg of explosives each into Israeli airspace. The aircrafts were spotted by IAF radars and F-16 jets were scrambled to intercept them. One drone was shot down and the other crashed, causing no harm. IDF sources said that the Air Force's anti-missile lineup has been adapting its defensive doctrines to the increasing threat.Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told the Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar that both Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah said that they "would not be opposed" Israel's intention to construct a separation fence on the border near Metulah. According to the diplomats, the matter was agreed upon in a joint meeting between Israeli representatives, Lebanon and UNIFIL. Israel hopes the one kilometer long border would prevent drug smuggling and security incidents with Israeli farmers who work near the border. Elior Levy contributed to this report

Report: U.S. Intensifies Investigation into Banking Deals in Lebanon
Naharnet/The United States is intensifying its scrutiny of Lebanon's financial system over concerns that Syria, Iran and Hizbullah are using Lebanese banks to evade international sanctions and fund their activities, The Wall Street Journal reported.“The Treasury Department and Drug Enforcement Administration are continuing an aggressive probe into an alleged Hizbullah-linked money-laundering operation,” the Journal quoted U.S. officials as saying. “They allege the operation involves hundreds of millions of dollars in drug-sales revenues from a Lebanese narco-trafficker that they say have gone” to Hizbullah, it said. Senior U.S. officials told the Journal that the Treasury is also pressing Lebanese financial regulators to more closely monitor local banks that have operations in Syria and Iran.
"We're concerned about Lebanon being used as a channel by Syrians attempting to evade sanctions," said a senior Treasury official involved in Middle East policy.
But Central Bank governor Riyad Salameh told the Journal that deposits by Syrian nationals in Lebanese banks as well as loans to Syrians by these banks have decreased by 40 percent over the past 15 months. Lebanon took such action after the Treasury accused the Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB) of laundering hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of the drug lord with alleged links to Hizbullah.
The Central Bank interfered, allowing the Lebanese subsidiary of Societe Generale (SGBL) to acquire the assets of LCB. But the U.S. official said the Treasury and the DEA are still concerned that hundreds of LCB suspicious accounts have been passed on to other financial institutions based in Lebanon. There are also concerns that the bank’s former executives continue to operate in Lebanon's banking system, including at SGBL, they said. "We're still working with the Lebanese authorities to understand what happened after we issued" the notice last year, said a senior Treasury Department official briefed on the case. "We still have a finding on the books."

Israel’s chief of staff Gen. Benny Gantz: IDF and other armies ready to strike Iran’s nuclear capabilities
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report April 26, 2012/Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu acted Thursday, April 26, to correct the damaging impression of divided and uncertain perceptions of the Iranian nuclear threat left by statements delivered in the last two days by himself and Defense Minster Ehud Barak. Israel’s chief of staff Gen. Benny Gantz rallied to the task with an unambiguous comment that “other countries have readied their armed forces for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear sites to keep Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The military force is ready. Not only our forces but other forces as well,” he said without elaborating. “We all hope it will not be necessary to use this force, but we are absolutely sure of its existence.” debkafile reports from Washington that Gen. Gantz’s words were seen in US official circles as the strongest affirmation yet from Jerusalem that Israel has partners for a direct attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. It was also an attempt by the chief of staff to erase the question mark he placed in a previous comment over Iran’s resolve to attain a nuclear weapon. Wednesday, April 25, debkafile reported widespread criticism on the Israeli street and in military circles of the mixed and conflicting messages coming from top officials with regard to the Iranian peril. Netanyahu also responded to the criticism in person by declaring in a TV interview, “Iran hasn’t stopped its program …the centrifuges are spinning as we speak.”

US Vice President Joe Biden defends Obama's Iran policy
04.27.12/Ynetnews /Launching Obama reelection campaign at NYU, US vice president hits out at GOP presidential hopeful Romney, says 'I promise you, the President has a big stick'
US Vice President Joe Biden came out in support of President Barack Obama's policy on Iran and its nuclear policy and claimed that "the only step we could take that we aren’t already taking is to launch a war against Iran." Biden was speaking at New York University as part of Obama's re-election campaign. The vice president criticized GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's foreign policy with regards to Iran noting: "the governor’s tough talk about military action is just that — talk. And, I would add, counterproductive talk.” The vice president mentioned President Theodore Roosevelt's famous expression: "Speak softly and carry a big stick" and said “I promise you, the President has a big stick. I promise you," which elicited a great deal of laughter from the student audience.
“President Obama understands what Governor Romney apparently doesn’t: It is possible — it’s indeed necessary – for America to be strong and smart – and smart at the same time,” Biden said. In his speech Biden tried to summarize Obama's achievements with one statement: "If you're looking for a bumper sticker to sum up how President Obama has handled what we inherited, it's pretty simple: Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive." Arguing that Obama's decisions on both foreign and domestic policy had made the US safer, Biden suggested that were Romney president, the opposite would be true. Romney's advisors hit back before Biden even took to the stage. His advisor Dan Senor said that Romney wasn't calling for use of a "military option" against Iran. “We are simply saying the threat needs to be credible for the Iranians to take us seriously,” he said. On Thursday Defense Minister Ehud Barak said "A nuclear Iran would speed up a regional nuclear arms race that would include Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia." This in contrast to statements made by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz who noted that the Iranian leadership "is composed of very rational people" and that while Tehran was reaching the point at which it could decide to build a nuclear bomb, the leaders had not yet decided whether to proceed.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta responded to Gantz's remarks and said: "I would hope he's correct and he knows something more that I do."

U.S. envoy meets General Security chief
April 27, 2012/The Daily Star/BEIRUT: General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim met with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly Friday and the two discussed the security situation in the country. The two also discussed other regional issues at his office at Mathaf, according to the embassy’s press office. Connelly renewed her government’s commitment to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.

Blast outside Arab Tawhid Party office in Chouf
April 27, 2012/ The Daily Star/BEIRUT: A bomb exploded Friday outside an Arab Tawhid Party office in the Chouf causing material damage. The party said one individual was wounded as a result of the blast. Police cordoned off the area soon after the bomb – weighing 600 grams – exploded at 1 a.m. outside the Arab Tawhid Party office in Baqaata, which was to be inaugurated later in the day, security sources told The Daily Star. The bomb, consisting of three sticks of dynamite, was placed on the steps of the first floor where the office was located. Two people were also traumatized by the blast, the sources said. The Arab Tawhid Party is headed by former minister Wiam Wahhab. Hours after the incident, the Arab Tawhid Party condemned the explosion, which it described as “cowardly” and as carrying “the fingerprint of crime and professional terrorism.” The party said the inauguration of the office would go ahead as planned. “The bombing will not deter [the party] from its political movement which believes in a diverse democracy and freedom which the Constitution ensures,” the statement said. It also wounded one resident, the statement said. The statement added that the incident resulted in significant material damage to the office and that the blast had shattered windows of nearby houses. In a further statement, the party said Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn had given assurances that they were following up on the case. The party also urged for unity in the Chouf mountain and called for the need to support stances that are against “the hegemonic projects aimed at dividing the community, liquidating the Palestinian case and obscuring the national and pan-Arab identity of the Druze.” The Progressive Socialist Party, led by MP Walid Jumblatt, condemned the incident.
Future Movement MP Nuhad Mashnouq also denounced the explosion, describing it as an “attack on freedom of expression.”

Mikati in Belgium urges diaspora to register for 2013 polls
April 27, 2012/ The Daily Star/BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged Friday Lebanese expatriates to register to vote for the 2013 parliamentary elections. “I ask you and all Lebanese in the world to swiftly register your names to participate in the [2013] elections. It is a necessary thing and we can't criticize if we don't participate in the elections,” Mikati told a group of Lebanese expats during his visit to Belgium. “We have taken a decision in Cabinet to set a mechanism for Lebanese expatriates to participate in the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections and this is a step that Lebanese in diaspora have waited long for,” he said at the Lebanese Embassy in Brussels. Lebanon's Cabinet approved Wednesday a mechanism for members of the Lebanese diaspora to vote in next year’s parliamentary elections as proposed by Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour. Mansour has over the week stressed that the logistics involved in the voting process for Lebanese expatriates abroad have been finalized and that so far 4,900 Lebanese living outside the country have registered to vote in the 2013 polls. Mikati added that any mechanism would be of no use if expatriates did not register at their corresponding embassies, assuring the crowd in Brussels that the Cabinet had exerted all its efforts to ensure that expats could express their view via the ballot box.

Sami Gemayel fears “game” behind expat voting mechanism
April 26, 2012 /Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel on Thursday evening called on Lebanese expatriates not to register their names at Lebanese embassies to order to participate in the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections “because we fear that there might be a game behind [the proposed mechanism for expatriate voting].” The cabinet on Wednesday approved the Foreign Ministry’s proposal allowing Lebanese citizens living abroad to vote. Gemayel told LBC television that “the proposed mechanism regarding expatriate voting completely separates [between the way expatriates vote and the way local citizens do, because it forces] expatriates to elect a specific number of MPs.”“We tell expatriates not to register [their names], because we are afraid that there be a game behind this.”
-NOW Lebanon

March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh: Syria left Hezbollah as ‘alternative army’ before withdrawal
April 26, 2012 /March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh told MTV television station on Thursday evening that the “Syrian army withdrew only militarily from Lebanon in 2005 because it had prepared an alternative army to replace it and that is Hezbollah… while preserving its entire intelligence system.” Hamadeh was speaking on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.
Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon at the end of April 2005 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed by a massive car bomb in Beirut. Hezbollah is one of the Syrian regime’s strongest allies in Lebanon. -NOW Lebanon

Lies And Terror Get The Job Done
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/syria/articles/20120427.aspx
Strategy page
April 27, 2012: Despite the UN ceasefire, the civilian death toll is increasing, and several hundred are being killed each week, plus a hundred or so soldiers and police. The UN is still trying to deploy 300 truce monitors, but most Syrians consider this ridiculous. The security forces don't stop killing civilians when foreigners are present, although an effort is made to move the foreigners away. The UN admits that, given the lack of cooperation from the Syrian government, it would take a month to get a hundred UN observers into the country.
The rebels are receiving more secret aid, mostly from Arab governments who are not willing to wait for the Arab League to make this sort of aid (weapons, cash, advisors) official policy.
The government policy appears to be to delay foreign intervention by telling the UN and Arab League what it wants to hear while trying to arrest or kill as many rebel leaders as possible and using terror (artillery and air bombardment, restricted movement, starvation) against pro-rebel civilians (most of the population). As long as the Assads have Iranian support (cash, security specialists and weapons), they believe they have a chance to bludgeon the population into submission and survive the rebellion. Iran has a lot riding on this, as Syria and Lebanon are the only two Arab countries that Iran controls, and the Syrian uprising could happen in Iran for the same reasons (corrupt rule and growing repression).
The official line of the Syrian government is that all the unrest is being caused by Western and Israeli agents and that it's all a plot to hurt the Arab world. While many Arabs find this paranoia comforting, the Arab League's official line is that the Syrian government is killing its own people and committing a host of other crimes (corruption, embezzlement, and all manner of bad behavior). The UN accused the government of violating the UN sponsored peace deal, and increasing attacks on civilians. There is more call for armed intervention to assist the rebels. This has also caused Arabs to question many of their widely accepted ideas. One is that the West is evil and Western military intervention is the most evil thing of all. Another harrowing realization is that if the Assad family were Arab Christians instead of nominal Moslems (the Alawites are widely considered heretics), then the Arab world would be enraged and demanding military intervention, just as was the case when the Christian Serbs and Croats were attacking the Bosnian Moslems of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. To a lesser extent, Arabs are admitting that Arab armed forces are not up to the task of intervening and that there's something wrong with Arab culture to cause this and the large number of corrupt and tyrannical Arab governments. In this respect, the Arab Spring's impact is spreading and growing in ways that do not attract a lot of media attention.
Countries bordering Syria are finding many Syrian spies trying to enter, and collect information from the growing number of Syrian refugees. This is a favorite Iranian tactic, and apparently the spies were recruited, trained and equipped with the help of Iranian advisors.
April 26, 2012: In Hama, a large explosion in a rebel neighborhood left over 70 dead and several homes destroyed. The government claims that the damage was caused by an accident in a rebel bomb factory, while rebels claim that the government was now using large missiles to attack civilians. The truth would be revealed if an investigation of the debris was conducted, but that may not happen for a while because of the unrest and conflicting agends. Meanwhile, the most likely cause was a missile or large rocket or aircraft bomb (which the Syrian military has plenty of). A bomb factory accident would usually produce a smaller explosion, as it is unusual for a bomb factory to have so much explosives stored in one place. Possible, but not likely. April 23, 2012: The UN announced that it would provide food aid for 500,000 Syrian civilians cut off from supplies by Syrian security forces. If food aid is not supplied, people will starve, and the UN is trying to negotiate safe passage for the foods. Since the point of the Syrian blockade of some towns is to starve the rebellious population into submission, allowing in UN food aid break the siege. April 20, 2012: The UN sponsored ceasefire is not working. At best, it caused the army to reduce their attacks on civilians for a few days, but the level of violence has returned to pre-ceasefire levels and is increasing.

New blast in central district of Damascus
April 27, 2012 /Now Lebanon
A blast rocked the Syrian capital's central district of Midan on Friday, causing casualties, state television reported while blaming the incident on "terrorists.”
"The explosion took place in the Midan neighborhood, near the Zein al-Abidin mosque and a school," the report said.
The TV blamed "terrorists," the term used by authorities to refer to rebels involved in an uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Earlier Friday, a separate explosion was reported in an industrial zone of Damascus but it was unclear if there were any casualties.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it took place near a state-owned transport company.
Anti-regime activists said in messages posted on Facebook that a white Mercedes vehicle had exploded in the industrial zone and that there were casualties.
They said ambulances rushed to the site, which was cordoned off by security.
Friday's explosions took place amid a putative UN-backed ceasefire that technically went into effect on April 12 but has failed to take hold, with violence and casualties reported on a daily basis.
The Observatory also said three security agents were wounded on Friday in a blast in the coastal city of Banias. It gave no further details.
More than 9,000 people have died since a popular uprising erupted against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, the UN says, while non-governmental groups put the figure at more than 11,100.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
For the latest developments on Syria, follow @NOW_Syria on Twitter or click here.

Explosions hit Syrian capital, 9 dead
By the CNN Wire Staff/April 27, 2012 -
(CNN) -- A suicide bombing in a Damascus neighborhood killed nine and injured tens of people, Syrian state media said Friday. It was the second bomb blast to rock the Syrian capital Friday.
The deadly attack came as a two-week-old peace deal continued to unravel. The suicide attack happened in the district of Midan in Damascus, state television reported. The state-run news agency called it a "terrorist bombing" that resulted in "a number of victims and injuries." Earlier, a separate blast hit the industrial region in the capital, the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It was unclear whether there were any casualties in that blast. Elsewhere in Syria, an explosion injured three security personnel in the coastal city of Banias. Syrian government officials and the opposition, meanwhile, traded accusations over the escalating cease-fire violations. Syria consistently blames "armed terrorist groups" for the violence that has wracked the country for 13 months.
Armed terrorist groups have violated the cease-fire more than 1,300 times since it came into effect, Information Minister Adnan Mahmoud told state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.
U.N. to send more monitors to Syria The government accusations came as an opposition group said it has documented hundreds of deaths since the United Nations' peace plan monitors arrived.
At least 462 people have been killed since April 16, when the mission started, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said Thursday. The number includes 34 children.
"Violent gunfire and bombing on Syrian cities haven't stopped," the opposition group said.
The international community said Syria has not met its commitment to withdraw its troops and heavy weapons from population centers. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed frustration with the Syrian government Thursday, saying it has not followed through on its agreement to withdraw troops from cities and towns. Ban is "gravely alarmed by reports of continued violence and killing," the secretary-general said in a written statement. U.N. observers monitoring the implementation of Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan have reported instances of numerous violations, Ban said.
The plan calls for President Bashar al-Assad's government and the opposition to end the bloodshed, allow humanitarian groups access to the population, release detainees and start a political dialogue. Annan is the U.N. and Arab League envoy to Syria.
The U.N. Security Council recently authorized sending up to 300 monitors to Syria for 90 days. But as of this week, only 13 were in Syria. Annan has said that the Syrian foreign minister told him heavy weapons and troops had been withdrawn from population centers and military operations had ended. But reports of shelling and fighting are unabated, with at least 35 killed Thursday, many of those deaths in Deir Ezzor, the Local Coordination Committees said. "This is among the deadliest attacks, and is further proof that the Assad regime has no intention of implementing the Annan plan," said Rafif Jouejati, a spokeswoman for the committees. In his statement, Ban said he is "alarmed" by continued violence and killing in Syria, including shelling and blasts in various residential areas.
The secretary-general is "deeply troubled" that weapons, military equipment and troops have not been withdrawn, his office said. Ban urged the government and opposition to ensure conditions for effective operation of the observers are enforced immediately, including cessation of armed violence and withdrawal of military equipment and troops from residential areas.
Violence has raged between al-Assad's forces and the opposition for 13 months in a battle that has seen thousands of civilians killed amid a number of international attempts to broker a peace deal.
CNN cannot independently verify reports of violence and deaths within Syria, as the government has restricted access by international media. The United Nations estimates at least 9,000 people have since died in the conflict, while activist groups put the death toll at more than 11,000. Meanwhile, a delegation from Syria's Popular Front for Change and Liberation opposition movement met with the Russian foreign minister Thursday. The meeting aims to overcome differences among Syrian opposition groups and boost dialogue with the government, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
CNN's Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, Arwa Damon, Amir Ahmed, Hamdi Alkhshali and Joe Sterling contributed to this report.

Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi v voices optimism on resolving Cabinet spending crisis
April 27, 2012/The Daily Star/BEIRUT: Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi voiced optimism Friday about resolving the government spending crisis as MP Michel Aoun’s bloc escalated pressure on President Michel Sleiman. “We have agreed to set aside one week to study the best mechanism to allocate funds for spending until the Cabinet makes its final decision,” Safadi was quoted by local media as saying, adding that the issue would be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. "There will be a solution before the end of next week," the minister said.
He also ruled out that the country was heading toward a financial crisis as given that the LL8.9 trillion in extra budgetary spending from 2011 had not been authorized.
The Cabinet has not approved the 2012 state budget. Earlier this year, Safadi proposed a draft law to legalize the current Cabinet’s additional expenditures but March 14 MPs refused to pass the law in Parliament arguing that additional spending by previous Cabinets under former prime ministers Fouad Siniora and Saad Hariri should be authorized first.
Ministers aligned with the March 8 coalition have urged the president to authorize the Cabinet’s spending via a decree, citing Article 58 of the Lebanese Constitution which grants the president the right to enact urgent draft laws if Parliament fails to take a decision on the concerned draft within 40 days.But Sleiman has repeatedly rejected the idea, saying that Safadi’s proposal contains irregularities and that he would not sign off on an “unconstitutional decree.” Failure to reach a solution would prevent the government from meeting its financial obligations, starting with the salaries of public sector employees due in a week, as well as future vital payments such as debt servicing. During his chat with reporters, Safadi hoped for an immediate solution to the dispute. Meanwhile, MP Ibrahim Kanaan echoed MP Michel Aoun’s remarks that Sleiman should sign the decree and use his presidential prerogatives. Kanaan told Voice of Lebanon radio station that given the failure of Parliament to approve the draft law on extra-budgetary spending, the president should exercise his right under Article 58. He urged Sleiman to follow the lead of former presidents, including Fouad Shehab and Elias Sarkis, who signed “hundreds of decrees” after Parliament disagreed on them. Kanaan added that the issue was political, accusing the March 14 MPs of looking for a settlement to resolve around $11 billion spent under the Siniora and Hariri’s Cabinets.

Arab Tawhid Party condemns explosion near office
April 27, 2012/ The Arab Tawhid Party condemned on Friday the “criminal act” that allegedly targeted one of its offices in Boqaata in the Chouf district. “[We] condemn this criminal and cowardly act… which was implemented in a manner [reflecting] professional terrorism,” the party said in a statement following reports that an explosive device detonated near the party’s office. The statement said that the explosion caused “a lot of damage,” adding that one person was injured. The party called for unity to avoid internal strife and voiced the importance of adhering to positions that support resisting “schemes of foreign domination aiming to divide the [Arab] nation.”“The best response to this cowardly act was to maintain our decision to inaugurate the office on Friday at 6 p.m. However, we postponed the opening due to painful event of the death of Druze Sheikh Abu Mohammad Jawad Walieddine,” a well-respected figure in his community who died of natural causes earlier in the day. An explosive device containing 600 grams of dynamite detonated on Friday morning near the party’s office in Chouf.-NOW Lebanon

Walieddine, Druze spiritual authority in region, dies at 96
April 27, 2012/The Daily Star/CHOUF, Lebanon: Sheikh Abu Mohammad Jawad Walieddine, the highest spiritual authority in the Druze community in the region, passed away Friday at the age of 96.Sources close to Walieddine, the head of the Druze Spiritual Council, said the 96-year-old died in the early morning hours of Friday at his house in the Chouf town of Baaqline, about 45 kilometers southeast of Beirut. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri expressed sorrow over the loss of the religious leader, describing Walieddine as a “great figure of piety and wisdom.” “[Walieddine] was known by all the Lebanese for his faith, piousness, hard work for the unity of Lebanon and its people, and support of just causes,” Hariri said, according to statement from his press office.
“As I extend my deepest condolences to the Lebanese people in general, and to the Druze community, its political and spiritual leaders in particular, I ask God Almighty to grant this great figure mercy and eternal heaven,” Hariri said.

Jumblatt says ties with Arslan strong, confirms private nature of Saudi visit
April 27, 2012/) By Rima S. Aboulmona/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: PSP leader Walid Jumblatt slammed Friday a report in Al-Akhbar newspaper, reasserting his deep-rooted ties with the head of Lebanese Democratic Party and said the paper’s account of his trip to Jedda’s fish market, where he feasted on shark meat, was on the dot. Al-Akhbar said Jumblatt, who was speaking to visitors, had belittled his opponents, the “Druze trio” – Talal Arslan, the head of the Lebanese Democratic Party, Wiam Wahab, leader of the Arab Tawhid Party, and Faisal Daoud, head of the Arab Lebanese Struggle Movement.
“Although the phrase ‘Druze trio’ that appeared in the article is hazy, the relationship with Prince Talal Arslan is strong and deep-rooted despite the differences of opinion on the Syria crisis as is the case with Hezbollah,” Jumblatt said in a PSP statement. On Wahab, Jumblatt said he was surprised by a statement attributed to the Arab Tahwid Party leader as saying “either proportional representation or civil war.”
“This is rejected no matter what the circumstances,” Jumblatt said in the statement. Jumblatt reiterated his support for the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati which “has recently won our confidence.”
In its front-page article Friday under the headline “Jumblatt out of the [government] majority,” Al-Akhbar also labeled “unconstructive” the talks late Thursday between the PSP chief and officials from Hezbollah and Amal. However, Jumblatt described as “useful” the meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's aide Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Khalil, political aide to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. He said the meeting – which was attended by PSP MP Akram Shehayeb and PSP official, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour – tackled several issues as well as ways to revive the work of the Cabinet, speed up administrative appointments and return to dialogue “to reach an understanding on a defense strategy that will lead to the integration of [Hezbollah’s] weapons into the state.” Sources told The Daily Star Friday that the meeting, which was held at Clemenceau, also included discussions on the thorny elections law. They said Hezbollah and Amal explained to Jumblatt the key elements of a proposal recently made by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Nevertheless, the sources added, Jumblatt was adamant in his rejection of Berri’s offer, which calls for parliamentary elections based on proportionality, with the country as a single electoral district. Berri believes this will produce a national Parliament that preserves the rights of the sects and their share of power while reducing the severity of sectarianism, after which a senate would be created. “Jumblatt utterly rejected this [Berri’s] offer,” one source said. The PSP leader has insisted on sticking to the winner-take all election law of 1960, which adopts the qada as an electoral district and was used in the 2009 elections, or otherwise a radical overhaul which requires the abolition of political sectarianism. He also criticized Al-Akhbar for trying to deride his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, saying that he toured Jedda’s fish market and ate shark meat. “The visit to Jedda included a tour where shark [was served] as one of the dishes as well as other seafood which the Red Sea is known for,” Jumblatt said. “What’s wrong with that?” he asked. – with additional reporting by Maher Zeineddine

Man in Baabda probed over possession of spoiled food
April 27, 2012/ The Daily Star/BEIRUT: Police in Ain al-Rummaneh, Baabda, detained Friday a man after information he was involved in fraud and the possession of spoiled food products.
Samir Koury, 39, was transported to the Shiyah police station for further investigations, security sources said. He was said to have been in possession of spoiled fish products, they added. In a separate incident in Aley, a white pickup truck carrying a power generator was compelled to stop by two Mercedes vehicles in Dahr al-Wahsh. The individuals in the Mercedes cars threatened the driver of the pickup truck and took off with the power generator.An investigation into the incident has been launched.

EU supports Lebanon reforms with 30 mln euros
April 27, 2012/By Hussein Dakroub/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The European Union voiced support Thursday for Lebanon’s democracy, announcing an additional 30-million-euro allocation with the aim of accelerating the country’s reforms.
The announcement was made following talks in Brussels between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, who declared that the EU supported Lebanon’s stability as well as political and economic reforms. In an apparent political boost for the Mikati Cabinet, Barroso announced an additional 30 million euro allocation to Lebanon with the aim of bolstering its democracy. The amount comes on top of this year’s allocation of 62 million euros to Lebanon. Barroso said he appreciated Mikati’s efforts to maintain peace and stability in Lebanon despite the wave of popular upheavals in some Arab countries. He said Lebanon has for long been a partner of the EU and an active member in the EU’s neighborhood policy.
“The EU supports peace and stability in the region. It also supports all those who are committed to the democratic and peaceful path,” he told a joint news conference with Mikati in Brussels.
“Our meeting today was constructive and fruitful. It was an opportunity to convey to Prime Minister Mikati a message of strong support and encouragement to press ahead with the necessary political, economic and social reforms,” Barroso said. He added that the European states are convinced the only way to guarantee long-term stability is through reforms.
“In the past few months, Lebanon has taken important steps toward supporting progress in the implementation of the European political agenda. However, we at the same time believe that more can be done,” Barroso said. “With the aim of strengthening democracy in Lebanon, I am happy to announce an additional 30 million euro allocation from the SPRING (Support for Partnership, Reform and Inclusive Growth) instrument ... This [amount] comes on top of allocation to Lebanon of 62 million euro,” Barroso said. “The message we want to send to Lebanon is very clear. We stand on Lebanon’s side,” he added. For his part, Mikati said his government was determined to carry out political, economic and social reforms undeterred by turbulence in some Arab countries as a result of pro-democracy popular uprisings. He also defended his government’s policy to insulate Lebanon from the repercussions of the turmoil in Syria, saying most foreign states have praised this policy.
Mikati told Barroso maintaining stability in Lebanon would not prevent his government from carrying out all necessary reforms, no matter how painful they are.
“Lebanon has always constituted an example of tolerance and democracy for regional states. Amid the changes in the Arab world, we must maintain and boost these values,” Mikati said. “Therefore, we are serious about implementing political, economic and social reforms that will ensure long-term stability,” he added.
Referring to 13 months of popular upheaval against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Mikati said: “Lebanon’s position is fully clear. We have taken a decision to dissociate ourselves from what is happening in Syria because of our special relationship with Syria, including historic, economic and social ties. Also, 80 percent of our border is with Syria and our relationship with it goes far back.”Acknowledging that rival March 8 and March 14 parties were deeply split over the crisis in Syria, Mikati said Lebanon’s interests could not be served by stirring up trouble in the country because of the unrest in the neighboring state. “While we are dissociating ourselves from what is happening, we do not want to have more differences in our society, which is already divided,” he said. “Today, all states appreciate what we are doing. What is important is to try to maintain stability in Lebanon.” Later, Mikati, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahas, held talks with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule on projects financed by the EU in Lebanon. “We have discussed Lebanon’s reform efforts and the EU’s assistance based on the more for more principle,” Füle said after the meeting. “For the EU, it is important that Lebanon advances with reforms since they bring benefits to the people in the country and also open doors for more support and assistance from the EU. Referring to the additional 30 million euro allocation to Lebanon, Fule said: “This top-up reflects the EU’s commitment to supporting Lebanon’s reforms in the field of institution-building, democracy, including civil society, good governance and human rights as well as inclusive economic growth.” Earlier Thursday, Mikati met with the president of the Belgian lower house of parliament, Andre Flahaut, and the president of the Belgian senate, Sabine de Bethune. Mikati said his government was fulfilling its humanitarian duties toward Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He noted the cooperation between Lebanon and international organizations in terms of assisting the 22,000 Syrian refugees in the country.

Canada Strongly Condemns Recent Attacks in Nigeria
April 26, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada strongly condemns today’s attacks on prominent media outlets in Nigeria.
“In my meeting with my Nigerian counterpart, earlier this week, I reiterated Canada’s commitment to strengthening security cooperation between our two countries. Canada has strong ties to Nigeria and the two countries share the values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. “Canada urges all people in Nigeria to work with the government in bringing to justice those responsible for these terrible crimes.“On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed in these attacks, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

Lebanon's Arabic Press Digest - April 27, 2012 April 27, 2012 10/The Daily Star
Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Friday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
Al-Akhbar
Jumblatt out of the majority
A meeting between MP Walid Jumblatt and the two Khalils [Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and Hezbollah leader's political aide Hussein Khalil] in Clemenceau stole all the attention as it was expected to bring a little warmth to the relationship between the two parties.
However, it turned out that the relationship has gotten colder. Instead of establishing common ground dialogue the meeting confirmed the points of contention.
The meeting, which was attended by Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour, MP Akram Shehayeb and the PSP Secretary-General Zafer Nasser, came following a strain in ties between two sides (Hezbollah and Amal on the one hand, and Jumblatt on the other).
Al-Liwaa
Sleiman against military intervention in Syria ... Aoun accuses him of ignorance of history of presidents
Jumblatt welcomed the two Khalils in his own way: It’s enough for me to be affected by proportional representation to say no!
Hezbollah boycotts drivers’ strike ... March 14 welcomes non-legalizing of LL8.9 trillion only
Political activity focused on two things: the inter-related financial and political issue – election law and state overspending and a transport sector strike which Hezbollah was not part of – with no solutions on the horizon for the gasoline crisis.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to wind up a visit to the European Commission headquarters in Brussels Friday with financial aid as much as 62 million euros to support the partnership the reforms, growth and partnership program between Lebanon and the European Union.
Regionally, President Michel Sleiman made a significant statement after talks with his Austrian counterpart Thursday in which he rejected any foreign intervention in Syria.
Sleiman’s remarks coincided with a campaign launched against him by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun who accused Sleiman of ignorance of the history of the republic and heads of the republic after the president refused to sign the LL8.9 trillion in extra-budgetary spending in 2011.
Ad-Diyar
Gendarmerie commander: Sleiman wants Elias Saadeh, Aoun wants Joseph Dweihi
Aounis launch attack on Sleiman for refusing to sign LL8.9 trillion
PSP head tells Khalils he totally rejects proportional representation
The dispute continues over controversial issues, most prominently that of LL8.9 trillion overspending.
President Michel Sleiman came under fire from the majority forces, particularly from Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and MP Ziad Aswad, for refusing to sign a decree legalizing extra-budgetary spending.
Aoun and Aswad accused Sleiman, who believes legalizing overspending is unconstitutional and subject to challenge, of not exercising his powers.
It seems that a new controversial issue is going to explode between Sleiman and Aoun over the appointment of a gendarmerie commander to replace Brig Gen. Salah Jebran who has retired.
Information has it that Sleiman insists on the appointment of Brig. Gen. Elias Saadeh while Aoun and his Christian allies are resolute about Brig. Gen. Joseph Dweihi.
An-Nahar
Hariri, Jumblatt form rejectionist front in protest against proportionality ahead of meeting
Escalating tension between Aoun and Baabda freezes financial issue
Ministerial sources did not rule out that the dispute over extra-budgetary spending is likely to worsen relationships within the Cabinet.
The only way out of this dilemma is a new decision to be taken Cabinet to amend the draft law as requested by President Michel Sleiman.
Gen. Michel Aoun was surprised at a statement made by Sleiman Thursday and his “refusal to use his powers” to legalize LL8.9 trillion in overspending.
Sleiman’s position “indicates that the president of the republic lacks knowledge of the history of the presidents of the republics since signing the decree is not a precedent, but is merely exercising the powers given to him under the Constitution,” Aoun said.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and National Struggle Front head Walid Jumblatt have issued a negative stance on an election law based on proportional representation.

Israeli leaders speak up about Syria
Published April 27, 2012/Associated Press
JERUSALEM – Israeli officials have become increasingly outspoken in their belief that Syria's President Bashar Assad should relinquish power after a 13-month uprising that has killed thousands of his citizens — a surprising turnaround that risks backfiring and potentially strengthening the embattled Syrian leader.
These calls mark an important shift in Israel, where leaders initially reacted to the uprising with barely disguised concern and alarm. As the Arab Spring remakes the fabric of the Middle East, Israel has been torn between support for democratic change and a surprising comfort with the established order.
This early dominant thinking was that while Assad was no friend of Israel, he remained a known quantity whose family had kept the shared border quiet for nearly four decades and occasionally pursued peace talks with Israel. With Islamic parties on the rise throughout the region, there was no telling who might replace him.
But as the Syrian uprising has dragged on and the death toll mounted in recent months, a number of Israeli officials have concluded that the Middle East would be a better place without Assad.
This new Israeli thinking is based on both moral and strategic grounds.
Many officials, including the hawkish Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, say that Assad's tough crackdown on his own people has robbed him of any legitimacy to remain in power.
Others believe Assad's departure would weaken what the Israelis call Iran's "axis of evil" in the region — the anti-Israel alliance of Iran, Syria, Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrilla group and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Fears that Assad might attack Israel to divert attention from his domestic troubles have also subsided. Some even believe he will be replaced by a moderate, Western-leaning government.
In perhaps the toughest comments to date, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last week that Assad's ouster would be "very positive" for Israel. "The toppling down of Assad will be a major blow to the radical axis," he said in a CNN interview. "It will weaken dramatically Iran."
Although Israeli officials now believe Assad's days are numbered, they say they are keeping their distance from the key players in Syria. They do not want to be seen as intervening in Syrian affairs. For this reason, officials say, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been extremely careful with his public statements, condemning the bloodshed but saying nothing about the future of Syria.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Israel would welcome international action against Assad, just as international action in Libya helped oust the late Moammar Gadhafi. But he said Israel is not openly pressuring the West to take action.
"We know our place. It's not for us to give advice," he said. "We're not doing anything to make him go. We're not getting involved or even thinking of any interference."
Palmor said Israel has no idea who might replace Assad. But Israeli security officials believe that if Assad goes, there is a good chance that a moderate, Sunni, Western-leaning government will take his place.
Officials said this assessment is based on "the latest intelligence" and the belief that Syria is far different from Egypt, where Islamic parties have risen in influence since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year. They declined to elaborate and acknowledged they are uncertain what lies ahead, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a sensitive security assessment.
Alon Liel, a former director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said he met with opposition figures in Turkey several weeks ago. Liel said he believes fundamentalist Muslims are not so influential in Syria as they are in Egypt.
He also said that Turkey, which is run by an Islamic-leaning government that has generally good ties with the West, would be an influential player in the reconstruction of Syria. At the same time, Liel said Israel should be very careful with its public comments on Syria, since any criticism of Assad could be construed as backing for the opposition.
Israeli officials insist there are no contacts with Syrian opposition figures. But there are signs of at least semiofficial contacts.
Israeli opposition lawmaker Isaac Herzog said in late February that he had held meetings with Syrian opposition figures in Europe and the U.S., and that he believed they were ready for peaceful relations with Israel.
Likewise, Ayoub Kara, a Druse Arab lawmaker from Netanyahu's Likud Party, said he has been approached by members of Syria's opposition. "From all the talks I've had with them not a single word was said against Israel, the opposite is true, they say they will strive for peace with Israel," he said.
Syria's opposition is fractured, consisting of groups with a wide range of beliefs, and neither Kara nor Herzog would identify his contacts.
But their comments risk playing into Assad's hands. Since the uprising erupted, Assad, who has traditionally tried to portray himself as leading the Arab world's opposition to Israel, has tried to discredit his opponents as lackeys of Israel.
The gambit largely failed as horrified Arab audiences watched the regime's increasingly bloody crackdown on what began as peaceful protests — and were reminded by Assad's opponents that he has kept the Israel front largely quiet. Syria's Muslim Brotherhood accused him of serving Israeli interests by protected its northeastern flank.
"Syria has been trying to play both sides," said Marina Ottaway of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank. Under Assad, "it has been trying to present itself as an enemy of Israel ... but at the same time, it has always been rather accommodating toward Israel."
Assad's hardline language, however, has highlighted the vulnerability of the main opposition group in exile, the Syrian National Council, a coalition of secular factions as well as the Muslim Brotherhood.
The SNC is trying to convince the West that it's not anti-Israel, while avoiding saying anything too conciliatory about the Jewish state that could upset supporters and give the regime new fodder for claims that it's the victim of an Israeli-led plot.
At times, the balancing act fails and internal disagreement breaks out into the open.
In December, the SNC's secular leader, Paris-based university professor Burhan Ghalioun, drew criticism from within the ranks when he told a U.S. newspaper that an SNC-led Syria would cut ties with Iran and Hezbollah and try to reclaim the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in 1967, only through negotiations — key commitments sought in the past by Israel and the U.S.
In its political platform, the SNC is more opaque, saying a new Syria would "work to restore" sovereignty over the Golan and build relations with states in the region based on national interests — without mentioning Israel by name.
Louay Safi, a senior SNC official, suggested it might be best for Israel to remain silent.
"We cannot prevent the Israeli officials from making statements," he said. "But what we are saying is that we are not in a position, nor is it useful at all for advancing the cause of democracy in Syria, to engage in a complex issue that will probably detract from the focus on the people of Syria at this point."
*Laub reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut and Diaa Hadid in Jerusalem contributed reporting.

Blank Barack
Michael Young, April 27, 2012
The American commentator Thomas L. Friedman was in Beirut this week and had two interesting things to say about the upcoming American presidential election. He remarked that “barring some crisis between now and November, foreign policy will be a net plus for Barack Obama.” And, from what we can see today, the election will be “very, very close” and could come down to the vote in Ohio and Florida. “This could be Bush-Gore all over again,” Friedman said.
These observations tell us something significant about America’s approach to the Middle East under Obama. The Democrats, to gain votes, will point especially to the president’s decision to end or wind down two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Americans are tired of a decade of conflict, and Obama justifiably intends to exploit this.
The closeness of the race, in turn, will ensure that the president sidesteps all risks. No one should expect major initiatives, let alone imagination, from Obama. Like most lawyers, he was risk-averse to start with, which is why he has been so timorous when addressing the carnage in Syria, or for that matter the recent detention of American democracy workers in Egypt. Though Obama supported the Egyptian revolt last year, he has been wary of the consequences. Washington still feels most comfortable dealing with the country’s army, because it remains the guarantor of the peace with Israel.
But avoiding problems and removing soldiers is not a strategy. As we look back on Obama’s achievements in the Middle East, the record is not particularly impressive. There are three principal reasons for this, all interlinked. Obama has spent too much time fighting the legacy of George W. Bush; he has put forward no powerful idea to inspire his decisions; and he has worked at cross-purposes in trying to manage an American disengagement from the region while also pursuing objectives that require considerable regional attention.
A good case can be made that Obama has done well to position himself as a contrast to Bush. Americans were weary of Iraq when the president took office, and all he did was accelerate a pullout that was coming anyway. Certainly, an indefinite American presence was untenable. However, you do have to wonder, then, why the United States sacrificed so many lives, Iraqi and American, if the end result was a hasty exit that has left Washington with little to salvage politically from its long Iraqi campaign, and Iran much stronger.
Obama also had his eye on Bush when he argued that Afghanistan was the “right war,” unlike Iraq, because that was where the threat from al-Qaeda was most pronounced. Perhaps, but then the president transcended his relatively limited anti-terrorism priorities and embarked on a belated and ambitious nation-building project that he almost immediately appeared to doubt. Once Osama bin Laden was killed, it became possible to declare victory and act on that doubt. Obama saw a ticket out of a country that had become a headache.
Obama’s wavering has reflected his most blatant flaw, namely the absence of an overriding philosophy guiding his foreign policy actions. The president has managed crises, but has rarely allowed deep-felt ideas to define his behavior. What does Obama stand for? No one knows. He says the right things, about human rights and democracy for instance, but never quite seems to mean them.
The Middle East has been a case in point. Obama made good decisions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, but only after others had taken the lead and imposed choices on Washington. Sometimes a values man, sometimes a realist, but never deploying these in tandem in a well-defined direction, the president has confused many people. Obama has also frequently allowed events to dominate him, rather than use American power to shape events to America’s advantage.
Partly, this has been the consequence of his foreign policy contradictions. The president tends to desire things and their opposite. If the Obama administration seeks to contain Iran in the Gulf, as it claims it does, then it should, and could, have done much more to leave behind conditions in Iraq that made this possible. To simply depart from the country without preparing the political aftermath in a way that preserved American interests was foolish.
Similarly, when Obama announced his troop surge in Afghanistan in 2009, it made no sense for him to simultaneously announce it with a timetable for withdrawal. Anyone watching the president, friend and foe alike, knew that he would be indecisive, when he sought to send precisely the opposite message. Today, Obama is realigning America toward Asia. That’s sensible in absolute terms, but the challenges in the Middle East remain immense, and the president doesn’t have the luxury of simply dropping a vital region as if it were an unwanted toy.
There was a time when the mood in Washington was characterized by greater foreign policy consensus. That began breaking down under Bush, and Obama has faced an even more polarized political climate. That doesn’t make it easy to settle on the best options. However, the president has not helped by seeming so equivocal about a world that he once assured us he knew well, by virtue of his adolescent travels.
Michael Young is opinion editor of The Daily Star newspaper in Lebanon. He tweets @BeirutCalling.

Shallow men
Hazem al-Amin/Now Lebanon/April 27, 2012
“The crisis in Syria is not about to be over, and whoever says otherwise is a shallow man …”
Many Lebanese have probably heard this expression, especially since the one who said it yesterday repeated it on many TV channels. Still, it would be exciting not to reveal this person’s identity before we explain the idea behind why we brought it up here.
Let us first predict who this person meant by “… whoever says otherwise is a shallow man.” In other words, who said that the crisis is about to be over? Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said so on several occasions in his last ten speeches, and MP Michel Aoun said so many times as well. Aoun even set a date for the last shot to be fired in Daraa.
Dozens of MPs in the Amal Movement, Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement said so, and so did prosaically National Secretary General of the Baath Party in Lebanon Fayez Chokr when the Syrian army raided the Baba Amro neighborhood in Homs, as he asserted (in Arabic): “Baba Amro aatak Amro,” which means “Baba Amro is dead.” No Lebanese politician expressed shame at being the member of the same club as Chokr then.
Therefore, one can reasonably assume without exaggerating that the person who said this key sentence was responding to all these figures by saying that they are shallow. Amazingly though, this person is former Minister Wiam Wahhab. By the way, the person who could be primarily meant by this sentence is the person who said it in the first place. Yet the paradox ends here, as there is no paradox in Wiam Wahhab’s responding to his own self … considering that he does not exist in the first place.
Nevertheless, the fact that Wahhab revealed the “shallowness” of those predicting the imminent end of the Syrian revolution is part of a greater confusion plaguing the “values” of those biased in favor of the rejectionist regime in Damascus. The confusion lies in the succession of bets derived from successive failures. An insistence on repeating the same bets is leading to a series of falling and resuming bets over and over again, thus forming an self-intended vicious circle.
Indeed, Michel Aoun said that the crisis is over, adding: “Ask me next Tuesday if any events have occurred in Syria.” He said so on November 8, 2011. In other words, about 24 Tuesdays have gone by without him answering us or referring to his own words. Sayyed Nasrallah said that nothing is happening in Homs and that “trusted friends” told him so. He later discovered that 5,500 people whose names are well known have been killed in the city, which numbers about 10,000 others missing. He, too, did not recant his words and still calls the same “trusted friends” before every new speech.
Those “trusted friends” had alluded to their supporters in Beirut that a “peaceful opposition” lives in Damascus and that no one will bother it. However, they were taken by surprise by the fact that this “peaceful opposition” was thrown in jail overnight. They thus wandered around, repeating hazy expressions laden with bitter admonishment, exonerating the regime from the accusation and pinning it instead on those standing on the sidelines who wish the regime ill.
What is happening in Beirut is truly entertaining… but the victims of the tragedy in Syria will not have time to laugh, as they are busy burying those killed following Michel Aoun’s speech Tuesday. Meanwhile, their families are being denied by Sayyed Nasrallah’s “trusted friends” the right to call their sons martyrs.
This article is a translation of the original, which appeared on the NOW Arabic site on Friday April 27, 2012