LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 15/12

Bible Quotation for today
Luke 13/1-5: "At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
PDF/ Hizballah's Canadian Procurement Network/By: Matthew Levitt/Washington Institute/August 14/12
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/opeds/Levitt20120813-2.pdf
What happened in Egypt/By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 14/12
Al-Assad exposed/By Abdullah Al-Otaibi/Asharq Alawsat/August 14/12
In Egypt, Rule by Constitution or Fiat/By;David Schenker /Washington Institute/August 14/12

IDF official to Hezbollah: Don't test us
Yossi Yehoshua/08.14.12/ynetnews/Senior General Staff officer says Lebanese terror organization will suffer 'harsh and painful blow' during next clash with Israel; warns 'Hezbollah will not be only one to pay the price' A senior official at the IDF General Staff on Tuesday responded to threats issued by Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, whereby the Lebanese terror organization will side with Iran in the event that it is attacked by Israel, saying "I suggest Hezbollah not test us." In a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth, the official, who is familiar with the IDF's operative plans, warned the Lebanese terrorist organization that "the blow will be harsh and painful. "Since the Second Lebanon War there have been six years of calm. After the next war there will be 10 years of calm," he said.
The official noted that the occurrences of the Second Lebanon War will not repeat themselves during the next clash, and that the IDF will not hesitate to target Lebanese infrastructure the next time around. "Hezbollah will not be the only one to pay the price; the entire nation of Lebanon will," because it carries state responsibility, he said. The General Staff official also noted that Hezbollah has more rockets than it did six years ago, and that the projectiles are more accurate and have longer ranges. Recently, the IDF deployed an Iron Dome missile defense battery near the northern city of Safed as part of its emergency preparedness plan. However, it was reported that the battery will only be stationed in the north temporarily. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to issue threats against Israel. On Monday, the deputy head of the Hezbollah's executive council, Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, was quoted by Lebanese media as saying that Israel fears Hamas and Hezbollah's rockets because they can "cover all of the Israeli settlements."

Washington calls for transparency in Samaha case to avert violence
August 14, 2012/ By Hussein Abdallah, Youssef Diab/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The United States urged Lebanon Monday to ensure transparency in any action against former Minister Michel Samaha, as a military judge adjourned the ex-official’s interrogation over his alleged role in terror plots until next week.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said she could not comment on the accusations against Samaha but reiterated concern over “the ethnic tensions inside Syria spilling over into Lebanon.”
“So we want to see Lebanese authorities work well together and work well with Lebanese defense forces to address any spillover,” Nuland said. “Obviously any court procedures should proceed in an open, transparent manner that respects international standards.”
Judicial sources told The Daily Star that Military Judge Riad Abu Ghida questioned Samaha for three hours Monday after he was taken from a military court prison to Abu Ghida’s office at 11 a.m. in the presence of his lawyers Youssef Finyanous and Malek Sayyed.
Following the session, which lasted until 2:20 p.m., Samaha was allowed to see his wife and three daughters at Abu Ghida’s office.
Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television quoted judicial sources as saying that Samaha withdrew his confession before the military judge Monday, claiming that he had given the statements under pressure. The station said Samaha had confessed to transferring explosives from Syria to Lebanon with the aim of using them to prevent opponents of the Syrian regime from smuggling militants and weapons through Lebanon’s northern border, rather than to carry out a plot to destabilize the country.
However, judicial sources told The Daily Star the Al-Manar reports were unfounded, adding that Samaha’s lawyers were behind such “rumors.”
Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh said Monday Samaha had confessed to attempting to target the Free Syrian Army and the routes to smuggle arms from Lebanon to Syria, adding that his confessions were manipulated by the Information Branch for political reasons. Finyanous is a Marada member and Franjieh’s personal lawyer.
Sayyed told reporters media “leaks in the past two days were very harmful to the course of the investigation.”
“We only agreed to attend the interrogation after a statement by Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi in which he vowed to seek an investigation into the media leaks,” he said.
Reports later in the day said Sayyed had filed a lawsuit against Internal Security Forces chief Brig. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Information Branch head Col. Wissam Hasan, accusing them of leaking the probe’s minutes to the media.
Rifi praised the ISF’s Information Branch Monday for its role in uncovering the plot and congratulated Hasan for successfully steering the operation.
Rifi also commended the “secret agent who played a key role in helping the security forces uncover the plot,” referring to a man who was identified by security sources as Milad Kfouri.
Kfouri provided incriminating evidence against Samaha, saying Syrian President Bashar Assad had desired bomb attacks in the country, according to the sources.
Samaha’s reported confessions of his involvement in the terror plot sparked calls by some March 14 politicians for Lebanon to sever ties with the Assad regime.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Sunday that the results of the investigation would determine the stance taken in order to defend the country’s sovereignty.
Samaha, a former MP and two-time information minister, was charged Saturday by Lebanon’s Military Tribunal with plotting to assassinate political and religious figures in the country and planning terrorist attacks.
In an unprecedented move, Mamlouk and a Syrian military officer, who was identified as Brig. Gen. Adnan, were also included in the indictment.
Judge Sami Sader, the government’s deputy commissioner at the Military Tribunal, also charged the three men with “creating an armed group aimed at committing crimes against the people and undermining the state’s authority.”He also accused the three men of planning to “incite sectarian fighting through preparations to carry out terrorist attacks with explosives” that Samaha transported into Lebanon and stored after taking possession of them from Mamlouk and Adnan. Sader also charged the three men with “planning to kill religious and political figures and working with the intelligence of a foreign state [Syria] to carry out aggression against Lebanon.” Former President Amin Gemayel urged the government Monday to convene to discuss Samaha’s case, describing the uncovered plot as a Syrian attack on Lebanon’s sovereignty and calling on the government to file a complaint against Damascus before the United Nations Security Council. Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also questioned why the Cabinet had not convened in light of Samaha’s arrest. “The first thing the Cabinet should have done is to meet and say that there is an aggression against the Lebanese state,” Siniora told The Daily Star. “Where did this happen? In Lebanon or in Zimbabwe?”“It is clear that this is an assault on Lebanon ... he [Samaha] was caught with his pants down,” the Sidon MP said. – With AFP

Al-Rahi from Akkar: Lebanon’s Salvation Linked to National Dialogue
Naharnet /14 August 2012/Maronite Patriach Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Tuesday the importance of the national dialogue, saying that officials who do not attend the all-party talks will be on the losing end in Lebanon. He said: “The national dialogue tackles national causes and Lebanon’s salvation is linked to the talks.” He made his remarks from the town of Sheikh Mohammed during his ongoing visit to the northern region of Akkar. “I hope all sides would abandon their personal interests and return to the dialogue,” continued the patriarch. “Lebanon cannot tolerate division and hostility. This is part of our culture and we must maintain it,” stressed al-Rahi. The March 14 camp had boycotted the national dialogue over its failure to address Hizbullah’s possession of arms, as well as Palestinian possession of weapons inside and outside refugee camps. President Michel Suleiman is holding consultations with members from the camp in order to persuade it to resume the talks.
The next round of dialogue is set for Thursday.

Mamlouk charges send clear message to Assad
August 14, 2012 /By Hussein Dakroub /The Daily Star
BEIRUT: By charging a high-ranking Syrian military official in a terror plot aimed at destabilizing Lebanon, Lebanese authorities have sent “a clear message” to the embattled regime in Syria that they will not allow their territory to be used for settling scores, political analysts said Monday.
The analysts also concurred that the charges against Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, the chief of Syrian National Security Bureau, are unlikely to lead to a break in diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria despite long-simmering tension between the two countries following a spate of deadly incidents on their shared border.
A military judge began Monday to interrogate former Minister Michel Samaha two days after he was formally charged by Lebanon’s Military Tribunal of being part of a terror plot to destabilize the country. Mamlouk and a Syrian officer, identified as Brig. Gen. Adnan, were also accused of being part of the conspiracy. The men are suspected of organizing a series of terrorist attacks involving explosives in north Lebanon, as well as “planning to kill religious and political figures.”
The charges against Samaha, a longtime ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and his reported confessions to his involvement in the alleged plot sparked calls by some March 14 politicians for Lebanon to sever diplomatic ties with the Assad regime. “The charges against Ali Mamlouk are a clear message to the regime in Syria that the government will not allow anyone to undermine the security and stability in Lebanon as a result of the uprising in Syria,” professor Fadia Kiwan, head of the political sciences department at Beirut’s Saint Joseph University, told The Daily Star. She said the charges against Mamlouk will damage Lebanese-Syrian relations. “But the Lebanese government will not take measures such as severing diplomatic ties with Syria or expelling the Syrian ambassador as demanded by the March 14 parties,” Kiwan said.
Simon Haddad, professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, also said the charges against Mamlouk will have “a negative impact” on Lebanese-Syrian relations.
“The charges against Ali Mamlouk are a clear message to the Syrian regime that the Lebanese government will not allow anyone to use Lebanon as an arena to settle scores,” Haddad told The Daily Star.
He ruled out the possibility of the government taking a tough stance on the Syrian regime following the discovery of the alleged terror plot. Haddad said the charges against Mamlouk are the maximum measures the government can take against the Damascus government over the terror plot. “Due to its setup, the government is unable to enter into a confrontation with the Syrian regime by taking measures such severing diplomatic ties with Syria, the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador to Lebanon or the closure of the border with Syria,” Haddad said.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government is controlled by Syria’s allies, the Hezbollah and March 8 parties.
Ahmad Moussali, professor of Islamic studies at AUB, said the charges against Mamlouk were “a clear message” from Lebanon against Syrian attempts to destabilize the country.
“The charges against Mamlouk will definitely affect Lebanese-Syrian ties,” Moussali told The Daily Star. He warned of what he called “a catastrophe” in Lebanon if the terror charges against Samaha and Mamlouk were approved by the Military Tribunal.
“March 8 parties will not accept allegations that their ally, Syria, could send explosives to destabilize Lebanon,” Moussali said.
Ahead of the Military Tribunal’s final decision in the case against Samaha and Mamlouk, Moussali predicted “an escalation of the military and security situation on the two countries’ border in the north and in the Bekaa.”
“The Syrian side has accused Lebanon of sending arms and gunmen through its border in the north and the Bekaa,” he said.
Last month, the Lebanese Army deployed troops in the northern and eastern border with Syria following a spate of deadly incidents along the state lines. The military deployment was in line with a government decision aimed at protecting citizens following repeated Syrian incursions into Lebanese territory. Several Lebanese have been killed or wounded by Syrian shelling of Lebanese border villages as Syrian government troops have fought anti-regime armed groups in recent months.
Kiwan, the USJ professor, said the Lebanese government would demand the extradition of Mamlouk if he was found guilty of transporting explosives to Lebanon.
“But Syria will not extradite Mamlouk on the pretext that it does not trust the Lebanese judiciary,” she said.
Kiwan added that it’s time to amend the security and military agreements signed by Lebanon and Syria following Syria’s repeated violations of the Lebanese border. She said the agreements, among other things, call for the extradition of wanted or accused people to the other country.
Both President Michel Sleiman and Mikati have praised the role of the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch in uncovering the alleged terror plot.
Mikati said that the results of the investigation with Samaha would determine the stance to be taken by his government in order to defend the country’s sovereignty. He vowed not to allow anyone to use Lebanon as an arena for settling scores.
“We have adopted the disassociation policy out of our conviction not to interfere in the affairs of others. Therefore, we will not allow anyone to interfere in our affairs or to turn Lebanon again into an arena for settling scores or to import external crises to it,” Mikati said in a statement Sunday. “In light of the information and results, we will take a political stance and decision that is in tune with safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence and not to allow anyone to jeopardize the security and safety of the Lebanese,” he added.
Kiwan said the charges against Mamlouk have caused an embarrassment to the Lebanese government, which is perceived as pro-Syria, “especially if the investigation widened and the charges against Mamlouk were confirmed.”

Reports of Samaha recanting confession baseless: sources
August 14, 2012 / By Youssef Diab/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Lebanese judicial sources denied Tuesday local media reports that former Information Minister Michel Samaha had recanted the confession he made during police interrogation.
“If reports that Samaha withdrew his earlier statements are true, therefore the military judge would have been convinced and Samaha would have been released,” one source told The Daily Star. “But the mere fact that the arrest warrant is still in place for Samaha is proof that the reports are baseless,” the source added.
Military Judge Riad Abu Ghida adjourned Samaha’s interrogation over his alleged role in terror plots until Thursday.
Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television quoted judicial sources as saying that Samaha withdrew his testimony before Ghida Monday, claiming that he had given the statements under pressure.
Al-Manar said Samaha had confessed to transferring explosives from Syria to Lebanon with the aim of using them to prevent opponents of the Syrian regime from smuggling militants and weapons through Lebanon’s northern border, rather than to carry out a plot to destabilize the country. However, judicial sources told The Daily Star the Al-Manar reports were unfounded, adding that Samaha’s lawyers were behind such “rumors.”
Marada movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh said Monday Samaha had confessed to attempting to target the Free Syrian Army and the routes to smuggle arms from Lebanon to Syria, adding that his confessions were manipulated by the Information Branch for political reasons.
Youssef Finyanous, one of Samaha's lawyers, is a Marada movement member and Franjieh’s personal lawyer.
Judicial sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that undercover agent Milad Kfouri would be summoned for questioning if need be.
Kfouri, who sources identified as having provided incriminating footage in the Samaha case, was reportedly flown outside the country just before the police raids on Samaha’s residences in Ashrafieh, Beirut, and Metn’s Khanshara-Jwar, for fear over his safety.
In his confessions before the ISF Information Branch, Samaha said Syrian President Bashar Assad had desired bomb attacks in Lebanon.
The sources said the defense attorneys have the right to demand Kfouri’s summoning but that the judge has the final say depending on what serves the probe best.

Hezbollah denies member captured by Syria rebels
August 14, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Hezbollah denied Tuesday that one of its members was caught by the Free Syrian Army while allegedly on a mission to Syria to fight alongside the regime against the rebels.
“Hezbollah categorically denies that Mr. Hassan Salim Meqdad is one of its members,” the party’s press office said in a statement.
Al-Arabiya television station reported Tuesday that the Free Syrian Army arrested a Hezbollah member who crossed into Syria as part of a 1,500-member group whose members were later distributed between Damascus, Aleppo and Homs. The TV channel aired what it described as “confessions” by Meqdad regarding his alleged involvement in Syria.
Meqdad, who was shown in the video with three armed FSA members on guard behind him, said that Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah met with him among others and asked them to go to Syria.
“He informed us that we have to go to Syria to support the Shiite Syrian regime and the Shiite Syrian Army. He also told us about armed Sunni gangs named the Free [Syrian] Army,” Meqdad said. He identified himself as a sniper and said that most snipers were trained in the northern town of Baalbek in Lebanon.
"In my free time, I used to go around and see people. It was clear to me that all this talk is a lie and hypocrisy. There are no armed gangs, only a Free Army asking for freedom,” Meqdad said.
Meqdad voiced support for the FSA, saying that the rebel group is demanding freedom and the end of repression and injustice and addressed Nasrallah, asking him to stop harming the Syrian people. It is not known whether Meqdad made his statements under duress.
Hezbollah, President Bashar Assad's close ally, has repeatedly denied allegations that members of the resistance party were fighting alongside Syrian military forces against protesters.
Nasrallah has voiced support for Assad in the 18-month-old crisis in the country, and has also said that dialogue between rival groups in Syria is the only means to resolve the conflict.
Meanwhile, LBC quoted the Meqdad family in Beirut's southern suburbs denying that their relative had any ties to Hezbollah. They added that Meqdad was in Syria because of financial problems and that he's been in the country for over a year, contrary to what he said in the video. In the footage, Meqdad said he entered Syria earlier this month.

Fneish says Hezbollah used to Jumblatt's fickleness
August 14, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: State Minister Mohammad Fneish said Tuesday that Hezbollah was not surprised at MP Walid Jumblatt’s recent comments about his relationship with it, adding that the resistance party has grown accustomed to Jumblatt’s changes of heart.
"We don't want to comment on the matter, but we are not surprised and are used to such changes and variations in stances,” Fneish, a Hezbollah official, was quoted by local media as saying.
Jumblatt, who last year became part of an alliance with the March 8 coalition, said Saturday that the alliance could not endure at the expense of the state, the army or security, in a clear reference to Hezbollah’s insistence on retaining its arms.
“This vague partnership under the slogan ‘the Army, people and resistance,’ cannot continue at the expense of the state, the Army, security, economy and destiny,” Jumblatt said Saturday in a speech during an Iftar in the Chouf, Mount Lebanon.
Hezbollah has long maintained that the tripartite formula of the “Army, people and resistance” is the only means of defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression.
In an indirect response to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, who has said that the state is incapable of leading the resistance, Jumblatt said: “The Lebanese Army, both soldiers and officers, does not lack the competence and professionalism needed to gradually [incorporate] the resistance’s arms in line with a plan that takes into account the resistance’s security concerns.”
Although reports have indicated that Jumblatt might return to the March 14 coalition due to his rift with Hezbollah, Progressive Socialist Party spokesman Rami Rayess said Monday that the party has not decided to rejoin Hezbollah’s rivals.
Fneish also touched on the crisis in Syria, saying that although the resistance is stronger than ever, the resistance axis as a whole has been weakened due to Syria’s preoccupation with internal issues.
"The resistance is stronger than ever and knows how to improve its fighting capabilities. [But] when we look at the equation of conflict, we see that one side, meaning Syria, is preoccupied with domestic problems, so the equation is surely weakened,” he said.

Sleiman reiterates need for intra-Lebanese dialogue
August 14, 2012/ The Daily Star
BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman stressed the need for intra-Lebanese dialogue in which a defense strategy would be the main topic of discussion, in a statement released by his press office. Sleiman said the presidential palace is “the place to discuss all proposals and express ideas and suggestions, while keeping in mind that the main topic is a national defense strategy, according to the original invitation for dialogue.”
His comments came amid concerns that the March 14 coalition would not send representatives to Thursday’s session, slated to convene on Aug. 16 in Beiteddine.
Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Monday that discussions are ongoing among March 14 parties over whether or not whether to attend the meeting.
“There are ongoing consultations among parties of the March 14 coalition, and I hope that everything will work out for the best,” Siniora told The Daily Star.
“In principle, we support communication between all Lebanese groups,” added Siniora, who heads the Future Movement parliamentary bloc. March 14 boycotted the National Dialogue last month over Hezbollah’s unwillingness to discuss its arms, an issue the coalition argues is the only remaining item on the agenda of the talks. The alliance also demanded that Hezbollah lift its protection of those suspected of participating in attempted assassinations, in reference to Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea and Batroun MP Butros Harb.

Fneish says Hezbollah used to Jumblatt's fickleness
August 14, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: State Minister Mohammad Fneish said Tuesday that Hezbollah was not surprised at MP Walid Jumblatt’s recent comments about his relationship with it, adding that the resistance party has grown accustomed to Jumblatt’s changes of heart. "We don't want to comment on the matter, but we are not surprised and are used to such changes and variations in stances,” Fneish, a Hezbollah official, was quoted by local media as saying. Jumblatt, who last year became part of an alliance with the March 8 coalition, said Saturday that the alliance could not endure at the expense of the state, the army or security, in a clear reference to Hezbollah’s insistence on retaining its arms.
“This vague partnership under the slogan ‘the Army, people and resistance,’ cannot continue at the expense of the state, the Army, security, economy and destiny,” Jumblatt said Saturday in a speech during an Iftar in the Chouf, Mount Lebanon. Hezbollah has long maintained that the tripartite formula of the “Army, people and resistance” is the only means of defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression.
In an indirect response to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, who has said that the state is incapable of leading the resistance, Jumblatt said: “The Lebanese Army, both soldiers and officers, does not lack the competence and professionalism needed to gradually [incorporate] the resistance’s arms in line with a plan that takes into account the resistance’s security concerns.”
Although reports have indicated that Jumblatt might return to the March 14 coalition due to his rift with Hezbollah, Progressive Socialist Party spokesman Rami Rayess said Monday that the party has not decided to rejoin Hezbollah’s rivals. Fneish also touched on the crisis in Syria, saying that although the resistance is stronger than ever, the resistance axis as a whole has been weakened due to Syria’s preoccupation with internal issues. "The resistance is stronger than ever and knows how to improve its fighting capabilities. [But] when we look at the equation of conflict, we see that one side, meaning Syria, is preoccupied with domestic problems, so the equation is surely weakened,” he said.

Assad's rule disintegrating, ex-PM says after defecting
AMMAN/ALEPPO (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad controls less than a third of Syria and his power is crumbling, his former prime minister said on Tuesday, in his first public appearance since he defected to the opposition this month.
Riyad Hijab told a news conference in Jordan that the morale of Syrian authorities was low after grappling for 17 months to crush a popular uprising and an armed insurgency against Assad.
"The regime is collapsing, spiritually and financially, as it escalates militarily," he said. "It no longer controls more than 30 percent of Syrian territory."
Hijab, a Sunni Muslim, was not in Assad's inner circle. But as the most senior civilian official to defect, his flight after two months in the job looked embarrassing for the president.
Hijab did not explain his estimate of the territory still controlled by Assad, whose military outnumbers and outguns the rebels fighting to overthrow him. The army is battling to regain control of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city, after retaking parts of Damascus that were seized by insurgents last month.
Curbs on media access make it hard to determine how much of Syria is in rebel hands. Much of the fighting has occurred in outlying towns and rural areas. But Assad has lost swathes of territory along Syria's northern and eastern border and fighting has weakened his hold on larger cities such as Aleppo and Homs.
While the military focuses on Damascus and the business hub of Aleppo, rebels have slowly made gains in Syria's tribal heartland to the east, where a ferocious fight is under way for Deir al-Zor, capital of the country's main oil-producing region.
Army gunners shell Deir al-Zor, an impoverished Sunni city near the Iraqi border, from fortified outposts in the desert.
A Western diplomat who follows the Syrian military said rebel forces in Deir al-Zor were fragmented but that the military lacked the numbers and supply lines to defeat them, in a region producing all Syria's 200,000 barrel a day oil output.
Jubilant rebels said they had shot down a Syrian jet fighter southeast of Deir al-Zor and captured its pilot on Monday. The government blamed the crash on technical problems.
ISLAMIC COLD SHOULDER
Assad also faced deeper diplomatic isolation over his violent crackdown on opposition with the planned suspension of Syria from the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a step opposed by his Shi'ite ally Iran.
He will view the OIC decision, to be adopted at a summit of the 57-member body in Mecca, as the work of supporters of the Syrian opposition such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.
Divisions among big powers and regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia have stymied diplomatic attempts to halt bloodshed in Syria, where opposition sources say at least 18,000 people have been killed. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 180 died on Monday.
The violence, now focused on the city of Aleppo but flaring in many other areas, has displaced 1.5 million people inside Syria and forced many to flee abroad, with 150,000 registered refugees in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, U.N. figures show.
U.N. emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos arrived in Syria to discuss aid for civilians trapped or uprooted by the fighting, which has frequently prevented the delivery of food and medical supplies.
"She's there to express her grave, grave concern over the situation," spokesman Jens Laerke said. "She will look at the situation on the ground and discuss with the government and humanitarian partners how to scale up the response in Syria."
Efforts to arrange ceasefires to let relief convoys through have rarely worked. A U.N. official said last month the Syrian authorities had often denied visas to Western aid workers.
In Aleppo, Syria's biggest city and its economic dynamo, food is running short and has become far more expensive. State-run groceries that sold heavily subsidized staples have shut. In the Bustan al-Qasr district, hundreds of men lined up for bread.
"CATCH MY TOMATOES"
At a makeshift hospital, one doctor said some people were arriving seeking food rather than medicine.
Another doctor described a man who had been shot in the foot while carrying home food for his family. He was more worried about losing his groceries than about his wound. "He started crying: 'My food, my food, someone catch my tomatoes'."
Amos went to Syria in March to seek unhindered access for aid workers to badly-hit areas. Damascus agreed to a joint but limited humanitarian assessment, but bureaucracy and insecurity have foiled U.N. efforts to launch a significant aid operation.
Assad is fighting to survive in power, relying on military and security forces dominated by members of his minority Alawite sect, an esoteric offshoot of Shi'ite Islam. They are combating a deadly insurgency alongside a popular uprising supported mostly by Syria's 70 percent Sunni Muslim majority.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is likely to take up the cudgels on Assad's behalf at the two-day Mecca summit that may highlight the rift between the Shi'ite Islamic Republic and Sunni-ruled nations that want the Syrian leader to step down.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are believed to be paying for arms that reach Syrian rebels via Turkey to try to counter the superior firepower of Assad's mostly Russian-armed military.
Russia and China, which have blocked any U.N. Security Council action on Syria, firmly oppose any outside intervention in Syria, but Beijing is trying to show a "balanced" approach by developing contacts with the opposition as well as Damascus.
Bouthaina Shaaban, a senior adviser to Assad, arrived in Beijing but did not speak to reporters. She will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, the foreign ministry said.
"China is also considering inviting Syrian opposition groups in the near term to China," ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University, said China's willingness to meet Syrian opposition groups differed markedly from Russia's attitude.
"The Syria government is more vulnerable than before. The opposition groups have gained newfound support from the West, but they're also fragile. China has a pressing need to talk to the two sides. The situation now is nearing an end," he said.
(Additional reporting by Tom Perry, Erika Solomon and Mariam Karouny in Beirut, Khaled Yacoub Oweis in Amman, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Asma Alsharif in Jeddah; Writing by Alistair Lyon; Editing by Jon Boyle)

In change of heart, Iran says foreign help for victims in quake-stricken area is now welcome
By The Associated Press | The Canadian Press ..TEHRAN, Iran - In an apparent change of heart, Iran said Tuesday it now welcomes foreign aid for victims of the deadly twin earthquakes that hit the country's northwest last weekend. The remarks indicate authorities were still struggling to cope with the quakes' aftermath amid growing criticism that they failed to react timely and help the region along the borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia, where the 6.4 and 6.3 magnitude quakes Saturday killed 306 and injured more than 3,000 people.
Iran's government said it has provided shelter for about 50,000 people who lost their homes during the quakes, which have been followed by scores of aftershocks.
The quakes hit the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan. At least 12 villages were totally levelled, and 425 others sustained damage ranging from 50 to 80 per cent, state TV and news agencies reported. The stricken region has a population of about 300,000.
Many roads and other infrastructure were heavily damaged. State TV showed relief workers distributing tents and helping survivors, mainly in rural areas. Authorities said the quake caused some $600 million in damages and in Tehran and other major cities, people stood in long lines to donate blood for the injured.
For two days after the quakes, Tehran insisted it needed no foreign assistance to handle the situation.
Iran's Red Crescent on Monday sent back a rescue team from Turkey that arrived without advance co-ordination. The head of Red Crescent Society of in the quake-struck province also said international aid was not needed.
Spokesman Pouya Hajian told the semiofficial ISNA news agency that the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, UNICEF, Turkey, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany and many embassies in Tehran had offered help but that the Iranian Red Crescent was able to support the quake-stricken areas.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday that the U.S. has not had "any pickup" from Iran on Washington's offer of assistance, and noted Iranian public statements that it did not need outside aid. "Nonetheless, our offer stands on the table," she told a news conference.
Nuland said despite U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, Americans wishing to provide food and medicine to victims of the disaster could do so without obtaining a special license, and certain noncommercial financial transactions were also possible.
On Tuesday, Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said Iran is now welcoming assistance from abroad for the quake victims.
"Now and under the current circumstances, we are ready to receive help from various countries," Rahmi was quoted as saying by state IRNA news agency.
His remarks followed what appears to have been scathing criticism at home.
Lawmakers lashed out at the government over what they called its "slow reaction," Iranian newspapers reported Tuesday. The independent Sharq daily quoted legislator Allahvedi Dehqani from Varzaqan — one of the epicenters — as saying first help arrived three hours after the quake jolted his constituency.
Lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian said that when a 6.4 quake causes "such a big loss, the main problem is mismanagement."
Over the past years, the Iranian government has handed out low-interest loans for projects to reinforce buildings in rural areas. But the campaign was ineffective, mostly due to lack of supervision. Official statistic say only 20 per cent of buildings in rural areas have metal or concrete frames.
On Monday, the government announced it would pay about $3,500 to each family whose property was damaged in the quakes, and would offer a $10,000 low-interest loan for reconstruction of family homes. Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a 6.6 magnitude quake that flattened the historic southeastern city of Bam.

Assad regime collapsing, controls only 30 pct of Syria: ex-PM
August 14, 2012/Daily Star /AMMAN: Syria's former prime minister Riad Hijab, who fled to Jordan last week after defecting, said on Tuesday the regime was collapsing and now only controlled a third of the conflict-wracked country. "The Syrian regime only controls 30 percent of Syria's territory. It has collapsed militarily, economically and morally," Hijab told a news conference in Amman.
"I assure you, based on my experience and the post I held, that the regime has cracked." Hijab said he had made his decision to quit his post on August 5.
"I decided to leave on August 5 after losing hope that this corrupt and brutal regime would change. The trip to Jordan took three days," he said, adding "I was not sacked."
"I have no interest in holding any position, now or in the future following the liberation of Syria." Hijab, who was agriculture minister until being appointed prime minister on June 6, urged Syria's rebels to "continue their fight against the regime as the Syrian people have high hopes and faith in you." "I also call on the Syrian armed forces not to point their guns at the Syrian people."
Hijab is the latest in a string of high-level defections from President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which is becoming increasingly embattled as the 17-month conflict shows no signs of abating.
"Syria is full of officials and military leaders who are awaiting the right moment to join the revolt," Hijab said, while urging Syria's fractured opposition to unite.
"The opposition outside Syria needs today to united their efforts and stop accusations that they are scattered. The fact that the have different opinions does not mean they do not share the same goal," he said.
"We thank Saudi Arabi, Qatar and Turkey and urge them to continue their support for the just revolt until victory is achieved."
Hijab spokesman Mohammad Otri has said the former premier plans to leave Jordan for Qatar but did not say when.
The conflict has killed over 21,000 people since March last year, according to activists, including 160 people on Monday alone.

Muslims, Christians call for huge welcome for Pope's Lebanon visit
August 14, 2012 /The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Head of the Youth Muslim-Christian Dialogue Committee Malek Mawlawi urged Tuesday Lebanese of different faiths to give a “big welcome” to Pope Benedict, who is expected to visit Lebanon in September. “All Lebanese from various sects need to take part in welcoming the great guest, his holiness Pope Benedict XVI, during his scheduled visit to Lebanon in September,” Mawlawi said in a statement. Mawlawi also referred to a recent “provocative statement” against the pope over comments he made in a speech in 2006 where the Christian leader quoted 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus as saying everything the Prophet Mohammad brought was evil, “such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”
Over the weekend, radical Islamic Sheikh Omar Bakri called on Muslims to prevent Pope Benedict, “who insulted your religion,” from entering Lebanon.
"There is no doubt that the pope's remarks were not spontaneous ... but they were thoughtful remarks aimed at inciting the Western world against Islam and Muslims", Bakri said.
In 2006, the pope said the anti-Islam quotes did not reflect his own convictions and were misunderstood. Mawlawi agreed that the pope had been misunderstood and not intended to cause offence to the Muslim faith. He said the pope’s use in a speech of medieval quotes critical of Islam, which infuriated Muslims worldwide, did not reflect his own convictions.
“Comments attributed to the pope, which were considered a major insult to Muslims, go back to the Byzantine emperor, not the pope,” Mawlawi said, adding that the Pope had described the emperor’s statement as “rude.”“Therefore,” Mawlawi said, “we urge all Muslim leaders to stop raising this erroneous issue because it does not serve the Christian-Muslim national interest and can cripple coexistence, which we all call for, especially the pope."

France vows to protect Christian, minority interests
August 14, 2012/The Daily Star /BEIRUT: French President Francois Hollande said his country will strive to safeguard the interests of Christian communities and other minorities in the Middle East and work toward peace in Syria, in a letter sent to Catholic Patriarch Gregorius III Lahham Tuesday. In his letter, Holland said that he is certain that the Christians of the East have a role to play in the current changes in the Arab world and that only full citizenship in a state of law and order can ensure their security and prosperity,” he added. Hollande’s remarks came in response to Lahham’s letter congratulating the president on winning the French elections earlier this year. The French president also vowed that his country would continue to play an effective role for peace in the Middle East.
He said that France will work tirelessly for a halt to the violence and for peace. Hollande added that he is confident that peace will be achieved and that it will be followed by an organized political transition to democracy backed by the international community.”

Two killed in east Lebanon family dispute
August 14, 2012/The Daily Star /HERMEL, Lebanon: Two men were killed Tuesday as a result of a family dispute in Hermel, east Lebanon. Ali Mahmoud Morda, 21, was shot while driving on the highway in the eastern town by Bilal Ali Haj Hasan, 30, and died immediately. Hours later, Morda’s father shot and killed Haj Hasan to avenge his son. The two families have long been embroiled in a dispute.

Probe of Gadhafi cronies needed for info on Sadr: source
August 14, 2012 /By Jana El Hassan/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Libyan authorities should speed up their investigation into the case of Imam Musa Sadr, the Lebanese Shiite cleric who went missing while on a trip to Libya in 1978, and question late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s closest associates, a Lebanese source close to the investigation told The Daily Star.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that considering that the Libyan side harbors no ill will toward Lebanon, the delay in the investigation is likely due to the chaotic circumstances in Libya since the downfall of Gadhafi. “Some officials who had really close ties to Gadhafi are in Libyan jails, and they should be questioned about the Imam’s case. We cannot just say he is dead. He might have lost his memory or been thrown to one of the Libyan tribes [for imprisonment],” the source said. The fate of the Shiite cleric and his two companions, Sheikh Mohammad Yacoub and journalist Abbas Badreddine, has been unknown since they vanished during a visit to Libya on an official invitation by Gadhafi on Aug. 31, 1978. The aim of their visit was to negotiate an end to Lebanon's Civil War, which raged until 1990. Libya denied involvement in Sadr’s disappearance, saying he left the country for Italy. But the Italian government has always denied that he arrived in Italy.
Due to decades of acrimony between Lebanon and Libya over Sadr’s disappearance, the investigation into the case started in earnest only on Jan. 10, 2010, when it was referred to the Lebanese Judicial Council, but even then, the Lebanese side would not visit Libya until Gadhafi’s regime collapsed.
According to the source, the collapse of the old regime in Oct., 2011, inaugurated a new phase in the handling of Sadr’s case and raised hopes that it would be resolved. A Lebanese committee tasked with following up on the issue made its first visit to Libya on Oct. 23, 2011, and met with a number of officials.
The Libyan authorities expressed their willingness to cooperate with Lebanon in what they declared as “a national Libyan case,” and the Lebanese cabinet assigned a judicial coordinator to organize the required procedures with the Libyans. In mid-Jan. 2012, Sadreddine Sadr, Musa Sadr’s son, made his first visit to Libya, accompanying the aforementioned Lebanese committee following up on the matter headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour. “Things were working just fine, and by the end of January, two Libyan judges visited Lebanon to meet with the families of the Imam and his two missing companions,” said the source. The major turning point was in April, when head of Libya’s National Transitional Council Mustafa Abdel-Jalil said Libyan officials had nearly certain information that Sadr’s remains were discovered in a mass grave following the liberation of the Libyan capital from forces loyal to Gadhafi. During an interview with Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television channel, Abdel-Jalil said Libyan authorities sent Lebanon a DNA sample of a “dead body which is thought to be that of Imam Sadr.” Later on, the committee tasked with following up on the case issued a statement denying that the body was that of the missing Imam. According to the source, the Libyan side chose a neutral venue to test the DNA sample, and the test results proved that the body was not that of Sadr. “The body’s femur indicated that the man whose body was discovered was about 1.80 meters tall, while the Imam was almost 2 meters tall,” the source said

Syrian rebels armed with first T-62 tanks
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report August 14, 2012, /The Syrian rebels’ Western and Arab sponsors have ratcheted up their military assistance by giving them tanks, 20 Russian-made T-62 tanks from Libya, debkafile reports. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the nod for the transfer to the rebels of their first heavy weapons during her brief visit to Istanbul Saturday, Aug. 13, as the prelude to the next step of the war. Qatar is paying for the tanks. The Obama administration first agreed to Turkey arming the Free Syrian Army with FIM-92 anti-air Stinger missiles, as debkafile disclosed Aug. 11.
Monday, Aug. 13, for the first time in the 18-month revolt against the Assad regime, rebels shot down a Syrian Air Force fighter jet, a Mig-21, over the northeastern town of Deir al-Zour, using shoulder-carried Stingers. The Syrian government claimed it had crashed because of technical problems, but the rebels quickly released photos of the captured pilot, Col. Rafiq Mohammed Suleiman, surrounded by their guns. The Syrian conflict has thus entered a new phase, the prelude, debkafile’s military sources report, to the creation of the first safe havens inside the country, which the FSA and other rebel groups will now be armed to defend. Sources in Ankara report that Turkey has drawn up plans for carving out those safe havens between 5 and 25 kilometers deep inside Syrian territory and on its borders with Turkey and Iraq. Ankara is concerned less with the military aspects of those safe zones than with using them to relieve Turkey of the burden of hundreds of thousands of displaced Syrians who have fled and continue to flee across the border into Turkey as destitute refugees. The supply of tanks and the Stingers lays the ground for the sanctuaries’ defenses against Assad’s warplanes and tanks, which until now had free rein of the skies and the battlefield. The 20 T-62 tanks from Libya were unloaded last week at the Turkish port of Iskenderun, already painted over with FSA insignia. They were handed to Syrian rebel teams trained in tank warfare and have since crossed into northern Syria. debkafile’s military sources: Assad is confronted with fateful decisions: The supply of heavy weapons to the Syrian rebels, the downing of a fighter jet by a Stinger missile and the prospect of protected enclaves cutting through the country, threaten to turn the tide of war against him. Unless he decides to cut and run, the danger is greater than ever before of his turning to unconventional weapons to save his regime. He cannot carry on fighting if his armed forces continually lose face by seeing their warplanes depicted on world television screens blowing up in mid-air and their burning debris falling to the ground amid clouds of heavy smoke, clearly shot down by enemy missiles.
Bracing themselves for the contingency of Syria waging chemical and biological warfare, Israel, Turkey and Jordan have formed teams to work with the US military on setting up counter-measures and emergency medical aid in the event of those countries and US military facilities posted there coming under unconventional attack. Deciding there was no time to lose, Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak held long consultations through Monday night, Aug. 14, and by Tuesday morning had rushed through the appointment of Avi Dichter, former Shin Beit Director and Internal Security Minister, as home front minister in place of Mattan Vilnai, Israel’s designated ambassador to Beijing.
Dichter was picked because he has the administrative experience and practice in operational tasking needed to step straight into the job and start working without delay, in case it is necessary to grapple with a Syrian chemical attack even before Iran’s nuclear program.

What happened in Egypt?
By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat
The decision taken by Egyptian President Dr. Mohamed Mursi to retire Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Annan and cancel the constitutional declaration was met with mixed reactions inside Egypt, as well as regionally and internationally, particularly regarding how to describe this.
There are those who view Mursi’s decision as a political coup against the military, and that Egypt today is in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, whilst others believe that Mursi has ended the military’s rule once and for all. Opinions vary in this regard, particularly in Egypt, as they are based on emotion rather than realism. The one viewpoint that stood out from all the other views expressed in Egypt was that of Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei who issued a warning regarding Egypt’s future. As for the other views, they varied between those gloating at the military’s fate, and those who believe that it is essential to bring Tantawi and Annan to trial, along the lines of what happened to the former Egyptian president. So which of these views is the most accurate, particularly in Egypt?
In order to allow one to form a position or put forward an answer, let us clarify what is taking place in Egypt. Here we must pay attention to an important issue, namely that the Egyptian presidency has absorbed one institute after another, very quickly, to the point that this is akin to bowling, with the presidency bowling a single ball and toppling a number of institutions in a short period of time. The situation in Egypt today shows that the presidency, the government, the media and the military institution, are all in the hands of the president. One might say that this is only natural, however this is not true, for without a parliament, constitution and Shura Council in place, the Egyptian president enjoys limitless power, and is even more powerful than former president Hosni Mubarak, even at the height of his reign!
The absence of a constitution, which would define the president’s power and the role of the government, and indeed clarify the form of government in Egypt – whether this is presidential or parliamentary – means that the president enjoys limitless power, and this automatically means that Egypt is under a presidential form of government. Before this could be decided by the Special Constituent Assembly which is charged with drafting the constitution, Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi’s decisions have decided Egypt’s future, imposing this form of government as a fait accompli. Therefore it is difficult to image a parliamentary form of government occurring in Egypt, or that the presidential powers will be constrained compared to the Mubarak era, which is what the Egyptian revolution had demanded. This is an important point that is absent from the talk in Egypt now. Therefore, the reality of the situation in Egypt today is that only the judicial institution remains outside of the control of the Egyptian presidency, and perhaps this will also change in the near future! This is what the political situation in Egypt today is indicating, and this is a threat that the Egyptian people have failed to notice, particularly as they are split between those gloating over the military’s fate, and those who welcome an endless state of revolution, and therein lies the danger.
In summary, Egypt today is under a presidency that enjoys limitless power, as there is no constitution to determine the president’s power or the form of government, there is also no separation of powers, whilst no independent institutes remain in Egypt, rather these have all been eliminated.
This is the situation in Egypt today, without equivocation.

Al-Assad exposed
By Abdullah Al-Otaibi/Asharq Alawsat
Syria continues to witness an escalation in the quality and quantity of defections from the al-Assad regime. Whilst the defection of Manaf Tlass served as an indication of the internal fragmentation of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the recent defection of newly appointed Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab, along with some of his ministers and officers, serves as another indication, namely that the majority of the Syrians who are serving al-Assad are doing so under threat of his forces, and some – if not many – are looking for a way to escape his grasp. These Syrians are looking for a way to free themselves of al-Assad and the brutal manner in which he has chosen to confront the enmity of his people, namely with murder and destruction, sectarianism and the creation of a civil war, and reviving the dream of establishing an Alawite state in the region close to the An-Nusayriyah Mountain range [western Syria]. As for his final refuge, this will not be Moscow or Tehran, or even a fate written by the angry and enraged Syrian people when they announce their victory!
We have seen the complete fragmentation of the inner circle surrounding al-Assad, not to mention the government that he appointed and the generals that he allowed to reach high positions, as well as officers and soldiers in his army. This is something that is taking place in coordination with the Free Syrian Army [FSA], which is fighting against al-Assad on the ground and which carries with it the hopes and desires of the Syrian people. As for Iran, it is desperately trying to defend al-Assad regionally, whilst Russia and China are defending the broken and collapsing Damascus regime in the international sphere. The FSA is providing ways for defectors to leave the country, as well as protecting their families, carrying out these operations in an impressive and professional manner.
In addition to what these defection represent regarding the fragmentation of the rigid al-Assad regime, this also represents another important indication, namely that the regime’s numerous security apparatus – and there are perhaps a dozen of these – are also fragmented and divided. This is because all these security apparatus rely on the prestige of the state, as well as intimidation and fear, rather than utilizing professional and modern means of operations. These security apparatus lack the required experience and expertise, although Iran has sought to train the al-Assad regime forces in suppressing the population, as Iran’s own security forces did during the Green Revolution there.
Following this enormous public pressure on Syria, Iran was forced to announce that it would not allow the Damascus regime’s back to the broken, ending its “resistance” axis, which in reality is nothing more than a sectarian lie. The Bashar al-Assad regime is therefore being provided relief by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp [IRGC], who are aerially bombarding Aleppo, as al-Assad cannot allow Syrian forces to carry out such operations in fear that they may turn against him and target his presidential palaces! The FSA was able to capture 40 Iranians in the heart of Damascus, right under al-Assad’s nose, and now we see Iran floundering between attacking some regional countries and calling for intervention to save these captured Iranian, considering them to be religious pilgrims. The FSA lately revealed that some of these Iranians – according to their own documentation – are members of the IRGC, which has been acknowledged by Iran. However the larger question remains, namely: is it logical for Iran to send religious pilgrims to Damascus at a time when the al-Assad regime is falling apart, which is something that Tehran – as al-Assad’s principal ally – knows better than anyone? Couldn’t they have sent these pilgrims to equally sacred holy sites within Iran itself or neighboring Iraq?
It is clear, from all the above, that the infection of turmoil and confusion has begun to spread from the al-Assad regime to the Iranian regime, which is suffering domestically and looking for any external distraction to draw the attention of the Iranian public. The Iranian people are in a state of extreme anger as a result of decades of oppression and dictatorship in the name of God and sect, against the general public and the Green Revolution in particular, especially as the regime is still recovering from the wounds this “revolution” dealt it. This public anger is only growing stronger with the rising effects of the severe economic sanctions on Iran; this represents a slow death for the country for the sake of unjustifiable dreams of nuclear arms and imposing Iranian hegemony on the region. Iran is in a state of confusion and does not know whether it should recognize the new reality that is imposing itself on the ground or choose the victory of empty-handed return or cling to the dreams of old which have led to nothing but three decades of collapse and delusion. Iran could also choose the Samson Option that would kill everybody!
The advice put forward by the mullah’s regime in Tehran towards al-Assad was extremely bad, and this focused on the sectarian dimensions of the political game. They are experienced in playing the sectarian card in the region over the past decades; they succeeded in devouring the state of Iraq via their followers and utilizing the force of terrorism. They did the same in Lebanon, where they established and armed sectarian parties, and they were even able to hijack the country for a period of time, during which time it experienced all the destruction anyone can image. They sought to create a cancer in many Arab states, including in Bahrain via the “saboteurs”, in Yemen via the Huthi rebels, as well as by planting terrorist and espionage cells in Kuwait, Yemen, and a number of other Arab states. This is the heart of Iran’s antiquated style. When I previously wrote about al-Assad’s delusions regarding the establishment of an Alawite state in the An-Nusayriyah Mountain range, this was based on history, logic and reading and analyzing the reality of the situation. Whilst just days ago, King Abdullah II of Jordan, spoke about the same idea, warning against the establishment of a “Shiite crescent”, which is something that we have seen ourselves recently. This is a statement from a political leader who possesses a great deal of information and knowledge on this issue, and we must therefore pay attention to this.
We have seen the beginning of a noticeable shift in the general US and western position in dealing with the situation in Syria outside of the framework of the UN Security Council, particularly after the departure of Annan and his initiative and the change in the balance of power on the ground. This became clear after the collapse of the al-Assad began to be viewed as inevitable. Therefore we have seen numerous statements that have hinted that the West is in the process of adopting new policies towards Syria and the unbearable situation that is raging in the country, particularly in terms of the war crimes and sectarian massacres. This comes amidst escalating criticism of the Obama administration from some former senior government officials. These former officials have criticized the Obama administration for compromising Washington’s international position by allowing Russia and China to return to the international scene in such a strong manner, which is detrimental to America’s regional and global strategic interests. Finally, the al-Assad regime’s domestic veil has been cast off with the defection of the prime minister, however the foreign protective screen – represented by Iran regionally and Russia and China internationally – remains firmly in place. This is a protective screen that is weakening, and the current circumstances will not allow it to remain in place for long!

Iranians captured in Syria are IRGC officers - Iranian opposition
By Nadia Al-Turki
London, Asharq Al-Awsat – Dowlat Norouzi, spokesperson for the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran group, informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iranian opposition was in possession of information confirming that 14 of the 48 Iranians captured in Syria are officers in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp [IRGC].
The 48 Iranians had been taken hostage on Saturday by the Free Syrian Army [FSA] as they travelled by bus to the airport in Damascus. Iranian authorities are claiming they are religious pilgrims, whilst the FSA claims they are Iranian soldiers and officers taking part in the suppression of the Syrian people.
Tehran has called on Turkey and Qatar to intervene and help return the captives. Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, reportedly personally flew to Turkey to attempt to secure Ankara’s help in the recovery effort, whilst Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani, condemned the kidnapping, saying “in the name of Islam, some of these governments have launched killings and even treat Iranian pilgrims in Syria with violence.” He added “these crimes are not something the Iranian nation will disregard.”
However Iranian opposition figure, Dowlat Norouzi, speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat, revealed that “the information coming from Iranian opposition sources is that the commander, deputy commander and head of artillery of the IRGC Martyrs Forces, as well as a number of operational and intelligence officers based out of IRGC Hamza base [in northwestern Iran]…are among the 48 captured Iranians.” She added that an Iranian mullah was also amongst those Iranians captured by the FSA.
Norouzi revealed that the Iranian opposition had been able to confirm the names of 9 of the 48 captured Iranians in Syria, along with some personal details. She provided the following details to Asharq Al-Awsat:
- Brigadier General Abeddine Kharam, Commander of the Martyrs Forces of West Azerbaijan Province.
- Mullah Kareem Hussein Khani, Commander of the Basij Force of West Azerbaijan Province and a former member of the office of the representative of the Wali al-Faqih [Guardian of the Jurists] to the Martyrs Forces of West Azerbaijan Province.
- IRGC Colonel Yousef Akbari, Deputy Commander of the Martyrs Forces of West Azerbaijan Province.
- IRGC Colonel Hussein Nouri, Artillery Commander of the Martyrs Forces of West Azerbaijan Province.
- IRGC Colonel Ghalam Reza Kerbra’i, Officer of the Martyrs Forces of West Azerbaijan Province.
- IRGC Colonel Taleb Rahimi, IRGC commander of Miandoab County, West Azerbaijan Province.
- IRGC Colonel Mohsen Zanji, officer of IRGC Hamza base in West Azerbaijan Province.
- IRGC Colonel Jaafar Barwal, officer of IRGC Hamza base in West Azerbaijan Province.
- Commander Kareem Behrami, commander of IRGC Guard Troop stationed in Salmas, West Azerbaijan Province.
Iranian opposition sources also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that information indicates that the IRGC officers were in Syria in order to actively participate in field operations, and that their role was not limited to training or consulting. The source claimed that the IRGC elements had been sent to Syria following an order from IRGC command, and that they had first been transferred to Tehran, before being dispatched to Syria. The source stressed that whilst they had not been sent from Iran to Syria armed, they were armed upon arrival in the country.

Senior Turkish presidential adviser, Arshet Hormozlo: Syria playing "terrorism" card against Turkey
By Thaer Abbas/Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat - In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, senior Turkish presidential adviser, Arshet Hormozlo, spoke about his view of the Syrian crisis, his hopes for the future of the country, as well as Turkish fears regarding the presence of “terrorist” groups in northern Syria. He stressed that it is not enough to provide relief for those fleeing the brutal al-Assad regime, and called for an international initiative outside of the framework of the UN Security Council. The Turkish presidential adviser also called on Syria’s neighboring countries to shoulder their responsibilities and take action to resolve the crisis.
Hormozlo is a senior adviser to Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
The following is the text of the interview:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you envision a peaceful transition of power in Syria?
[Hormozlo] The international community should have taken full responsibility over this issue a long time ago. I think it is an embarrassment to the international community to be silent over what is happening in Syria, in terms of human rights abuses and systematic killing. This is something that must stop, and there should be certain mechanisms outside of the scope of the UN Security Council and the right of veto, to ensure this. We must deal with this reality in this manner…namely, saving the Syrian people by any means necessary. We must place all the alternatives put forward by friendly and allied countries on the table, including the establishment of humanitarian corridors and buffer zones in Syria, as well as any attempts to rescue Syrian civilians from the oppression of the al-Assad regime.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What role can Turkey play in this regard?
[Hormozlo] All neighboring countries must shoulder their responsibilities in this regard. There are 4 countries surrounding Syria, not just Turkey. These are countries that are prominent members of the international community, and they must shoulder their responsibility. It is not enough to provide relief to some of those fleeing the oppression of the al-Assad regime; rather we must see effective movement to rescue Syrian civilians, not to mention the implementation of international proposals that have previously been put forward in this regard.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] In light of the international community’s inability to reach a decision within the framework of the UN Security Council, would it be possible for Turkey to take an effective initiative in coordination with regional allies? Could such an initiative include the establishment of buffer zones in Syria, for example?
[Hormozlo] Many people are relying on foreign intervention, but it is the Syrian people who possess the key to the solution of the Syrian crisis. With the comprehensive and committed movements towards democracy, there will be a happy resolution for the Syrian people. The Syrian people are now holding the reins of the initiative, whilst there are also many national Syrian forces that do not approve of foreign intervention in Syria, or the militarization of the crisis.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] However, wouldn’t you agree that the situation in Syria has already clearly moved towards militarization?
[Hormozlo] What is happening in Syria does not have the features of a civil war or the militarization of the crisis, rather this represents steps towards self-defense. As we are all well aware, all the protests that occurred over a period of several months were peaceful, however the suppression that has flattened Syria’s cities and struck the people pushed them towards self-defense. The Free Syrian Army [FSA] has excelled at this, and they are a means of defending the Syrian people in their villages and districts. There has been no militarization of the crisis, but rather the establishment of groups for self-defense. I believe that when the people take the initiative to embrace such movements, this will lead towards the desired results in Syria, despite the fact that these incidents have cost a lot of blood and tears.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is Ankara providing the FSA with any military support? Could Turkey seek to do so in the future?
[Hormozlo] The FSA is a purely Syrian group…therefore we must refer to the FSA as to whether it is asking for assistance from any foreign state. However protecting civilians and families remains a top priority for the FSA, and this is also something that international organizations are pursuing. Therefore, there is an intersection of objectives and goals regarding this issue.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Last month witnessed Turkish military build-up along the border region. Was this a message to the al-Assad regime or was this movement in preparation for future military activity?
[Hormozlo] A few months ago, Turkey said that it was braced for the worst. When a country is prepared for the worst case scenario, it must take every precaution to guarantee its own security, not to mention the security of its own citizens and territorial integrity. Therefore this military movement was to defend Turkish territory from any potential threats against national security or the safety of Turkish citizens. At the same time, there have been hostile movements from a certain party on Syrian soil. Here, I must stress that we differentiate between Syrian Kurds and terrorist organizations. Turkey explicitly stated that it would not allow Syrian territory, particularly northern Syria, to become a launching pad for acts of sabotage against Turkey by terrorist organizations, regardless of whether these groups are Kurdish or non-Kurdish in origin.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There have been talks about the “Kurdish card” being played to prevent Ankara from supporting the FSA? What is your view of this?
[Hormozlo] We have always stated that the hand that holds the terrorism card would also be burned by this…any country or group that attempts to play this card will also be burnt by this. It is very clear that the Syrian regime has begun to utilize this, leaving a part of Syrian territory open for terrorist groups to disrupt Turkey. This is something that cannot be allowed. We cannot allow this to pass without holding those responsible accountable, and this will be dealt with seriously.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] By “seriously”, does this also mean military action?
[Hormozlo] All international norms and conventions allow Turkey to track terrorist elements outside of its border if the country’s national security, not to mention the safety of its citizens, is at risk.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is Ankara in possession of any confirmed information or documentation regarding this “Kurdish card”?
[Hormozlo] This is very clear, and is something that can be deduced from the statements of the leaders of these groups, as well as the banners that have been raised in this part of Syrian territory. We must be aware that there are media embellishments regarding northern Syria, for northern Syria is not all Kurdish areas, there are also…Arab, Turkmen and Kurdish tribes present there. In addition to this, not all Kurds are part of terrorist organizations. Indeed many are honorable citizens who believe that it is in their own best interests to remain within the unified Syrian state; therefore we must not act on this issue based on emotion, but rather after serious and careful study.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is the truth regarding the so-called secret “Adana agreement”, which some parties are saying grants Turkish authorities the right to pursue subjects within Syrian territory?
[Hormozlo] If this agreement is secret, then it must remain that way! Much has been said about this issue, however we must recall that international norms and conventions, not to mention international law, allows a country to defend itself and track subjects across borders. [Asharq Al-Awsat] How has Ankara’s relations with Tehran been affected by the Syrian crisis, particularly following the traded criticism that we have heard?[Hormozlo] Turkey – and Turkish officials – has frankly stated that the countries that are supporting the Syrian regime should reconsider their position; for it is not in any country’s interests to support a regime that is terrorizing and waging war against its own people. There is ongoing dialogue and open channels with Iran. International relations must be based on dialogue, and that is what is now taking place with Iran.

In Egypt, Rule by Constitution or Fiat?
David Schenker /Washington Institute/August 13, 2012
This weekend, Egypt's Islamist president Muhammad Morsi unilaterally amended the interim constitution that had been approved by 77 percent of voters during a public referendum in March 2011. Although these changes may eventually be challenged in the High Constitutional Court (HCC), the absence of a parliament and military leaders capable of intervening means that there are few if any checks on Morsi's powers at the moment. In addition to axing long-serving Defense Minister Muhammad Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Anan, thereby weakening the military's authority, Morsi amended the constitution to give him powers that had been the sole purview of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces since Hosni Mubarak's ouster. First, he abrogated the SCAF's June 17, 2012, constitutional addendum, which had stipulated no civilian oversight of the military and allowed the council to appoint the next Constituent Assembly to draft the constitution.
More significantly, Morsi assumed powers granted to the SCAF under Article 56 of the interim constitution, including the right to "legislate" (i.e., set down new laws), to "issue public policy for the state and the public budget and ensure its implementation," to "sign international treaties and agreements," and to "appoint civilian and military employees and political representatives." Egyptians had given these powers to the SCAF via the March 2011 referendum. The HCC's initial reaction might suggest a future constitutional challenge to Morsi's maneuver. Several judges on the court have already condemned his overreach -- as Tahani al-Gebali told Ahram Online, "A president does not have the power to abrogate a constitution, even a temporary one." The HCC's current head was appointed by the SCAF in July, and less than three months ago, the court declared the results of the earlier Islamist-dominated parliamentary elections unconstitutional. Another momentous decision along those lines could be forthcoming.
Essentially, Morsi has changed Egypt's constitution by fiat and, in the process, afforded himself control over the military, all legislative powers, and the makeup of the assembly that will write the new constitution. Although the SCAF's management of the transition was inept and halting, it was at least seemingly guided by some constitutional principles. Morsi's maneuver, if it stands, threatens to undercut the legitimacy of the constitutional transition process and the foundations of Egypt's fledgling democracy. While curtailing military power may prove popular in Tahrir Square, the constitutional ramifications will likely prolong instability in a country already beset by significant economic, security, and political challenges.
*David Schenker is director of the Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute.