LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
June 07/12
Bible Quotation for today/The New
Life in Christ
Ephesians 04/17-31: " In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to
live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless and whose minds are in the
dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely
ignorant and stubborn. They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves
over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint. That was not
what you learned about Christ! You certainly heard about him, and as his
followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. So get rid of your old
self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed
by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and
you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals
itself in the true life that is upright and holy. No more lying, then! Each of
you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members
together in the body of Christ. If you become angry, do not let your anger lead
you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. Don't give the Devil a chance. If
you used to rob, you must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an
honest living for yourself and to be able to help the poor. Do not use harmful
words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is
needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. And do not make
God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a
guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. Get rid of all
bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful
feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and
forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
Latest analysis, editorials, studies,
reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Is it a fatwa to
save Maliki/By
Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat/June 06/12
Al-Assad:
lifelines and hangman's ropes/By Abdullah Al-Otaibi/Asharq Alawsat/June 06/12
No need to conspire/By Emad El Din
Adeeb/Asharq Al Awsat/June 06/12
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for June 06/12
Israeli Defence Forces chief denounces Israeli officials’ public statements on
Iran as baseless
Saudi FM: Iran atomic programme raises
regional threats
Tripoli violence an attempt to spread Syria crisis,
Future bloc warns
Dar al-Fatwa slams Kabbara for criticizing mufti
Aoun wants cabinet to fulfill its duties
Soueid criticizes Nasrallah call for “national
constituent assembly”
Kabbara
lashes out at Grand Mufti for verbally attacking Hariri
Allouch: Eid’s accusations do not deserve response
Gemayel urges freeze on sale of Lebanese real estate to foreigners
Hariri: Assad wants Lebanon to burn
Sleiman approves appointments to Higher
Judicial Council
2 rocket-propelled grenades hit north Lebanon neighborhood
Syria bars diplomats, gunships in action
Luxembourg envoy seeks Lebanon's support for U.N. bid
Lebanon judge issues arrest warrant for gunman with alleged Al-Qaeda ties
Progressive Socialist Party denounces Baghdad attack
Iraqi Sadrist
trend leader Moqtada al-Sadr calls on al-Maliki to resign
Deadly clashes in
Syria as EU-Russia seek solutions
Syrian rebels lose faith in talks, plan coordinated military
front
Syrian refugee crisis threatens Lebanon’s stability: report
Iran rallies to
aid of Iraq's embattled leader
Egypt's
Brotherhood faces tough popular test
Top al Qaeda strategist may have been
killed in Pakistan
Gemayel urges freeze on sale of
Lebanese real estate to foreigners
June 05, 2012/The Daily Star /BEIRUT: Kataeb party MP Sami Gemayel urged the
Lebanese state Tuesday to impose a moratorium on the purchase of real estate by
foreigners. Gemayel submitted a draft law in this regard to Parliament, pending
a new law to regulate foreign ownership. “I have suggested a long-term lease
agreement under which the Lebanese would maintain ownership of property and
reclaim it at the end of the lease's duration,” Gemayel said. He explained that
he decided to draw up the draft law because property sales have reached
“unacceptable and unreasonable levels in light of the Lebanese state’s inability
to protect the interests of its people.”
Sleiman
approves appointments to Higher Judicial Council
June 05, 2012 02:59 PM The Daily Star /BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman signed a
decree Tuesday appointing five judges to the Higher Judicial Council (HJC), as
the tenure of the current members ends Tuesday. Prime Minister Najib Mikati had
signed the decree Monday. Sources at the Prime Minister's office said that this
step paves the way for appointing the head of the HJC soon. The appointed judges
are Jospeh Samaha, Marie Denise al-Meouchi, Rida Raad, Oussama al-Lahham, and
Mirna Bayda. According to the decree, Bayda will hold the position of the
Council’s secretary. Last month, Lebanon’s Appeals Courts elected Judges Antoine
Daher and Suhair Harakeh with the remaining members to be appointed by the
Cabinet. Ministers had failed to agree on who should be appointed to the top
post in the Council, which has been vacant for over a year following the
retirement of Judge Ghaleb Ghanem. The question of a successor to Ghanem has put
President Michel Sleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun at
loggerheads as each favors a candidate. The HJC is expected to convene its last
meeting on Tuesday afternoon, according to the National News Agency.
Aoun wants cabinet to fulfill its
duties
June 5, 2012 /Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday questioned
the point of a cabinet unable to carry out its duties. “If the cabinet is
incapable [of addressing] security, energy, water and developmental [issues]
then why is there a government?” Aoun asked following the bloc’s weekly meeting.
He added that the developmental and financial projects approved by the cabinet
must be implemented. “[The Change and Reform bloc] launched an initiative to
resolve security, political and economic issues. I think it will achieve
results.” Aoun also called for the judiciary to investigate the issue of “lost”
government funds, adding that “funds had been deposited in Lebanese banks in the
name of [cabinet officials].”
“When we asked for their names, [we were] told bank secrecy [prevented the
revealing of the perpetrators].”-NOW Lebanon
Soueid criticizes Nasrallah
call for “national constituent assembly”
June 5, 2012 /March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soueid on Tuesday
criticized Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s call for
establishing “a national constituent assembly.”“The Taif Accord still serves as
the foundation of the Lebanese [political] system,” Soueid told LBC television
station, adding that the national constituent assembly proposal “implies that
the Lebanese system is a failure.” The Taif Accord helped bring the bloody
Lebanese civil war (1975-1990) to an end. Turning to the issue of national
dialogue, Soueid said that the March 14 alliance will emphasis in its memo, to
be submitted to President Michel Sleiman, that it abides by the Taif Accord and
does not consider that Lebanon’s status quo was due to a political system
“crisis.” The March 14 coalition is to hand Sleiman a memorandum related to the
June 11 national dialogue session. Last week, the president sent invitations to
the members of the national dialogue committee calling on them to convene on
June 11 at 11 a.m. at the Baabda Presidential Palace to discuss various issues,
including Hezbollah’s arms. However, some members of the Western-backed March 14
coalition said they reject taking part in the national dialogue session unless
Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet resigns.-NOW Lebanon
Dar al-Fatwa slams Kabbara for criticizing mufti
June 5, 2012/Dar al-Fatwa on Tuesday responded to Future bloc MP Mohammad
Kabbara’s statement that Grant Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad
Rashid Qabbani “verbally attacked” Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri in an
“unprecedented and inappropriate” way during a Higher Islamic Council meeting.
“Kabbara’s statements are not accurate. If Kabbara is fair, he [might as well]
count the verbal [attacks] he and other Future Movement MPs and officials made
against the mufti,” Dar al-Fatwa said in a statement. “Kabbara is not a mufti
nor a scholar in religious affairs able to request Muslims to [ignore the]
mufti. [By making such a request] the MP aims to serve [a personal] political
aim.”“Everything being said against the mufti are [false] allegations aiming… to
pressure him to take certain positions. [However, these attempts] will not
[affect] the mufti’s national and Islamic principles,” Dar al-Fatwa added.-NOW
Lebanon
Kabbara lashes out at Grand
Mufti for verbally attacking Hariri
June 5, 2012 /Future bloc MP Mohammad Kabbara on Tuesday lashed out at Grant
Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, who “[verbally]
attacked Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri in an unprecedented and
inappropriate way during the last Higher Islamic Council meeting.”“Sheikh
Qabbani began the meeting with an [inexplicable verbal] attack against Hariri
and accused him of false allegations,” Kabbara said in a statement released by
his press office. Kabbara also said that the mufti was “assaulting the [Sunni]
community instead of defending it.” The Future Movement MP also noted that
“although Hariri did his best to conceal the perpetrations of Qabbani and his
corrupt son, [Ragheb Qabbani], the mufti was so ungrateful that he [forgot
about] his [religious title] and community, who [in turn] rejects his leadership
[and refuses] to pray with him because his prayers are invalid.”Kabbara also
called on the members of the Higher Islamic Council to “limit the mufti’s
suspicious and sick impulses.”-NOW Lebanon
Allouch: Eid’s accusations do
not deserve response
June 5, 2012/Future Movement official Mustafa Allouch commented Tuesday on
accusations made by Arab Democratic Party Secretary General Rifaat Eid regarding
the recent clashes in Tripoli.
“The Syrian regime is [dragging] the region to [its] destruction.” As for Rifaat
Eid, he is associated with the Syrian intelligence and [his accusations] do not
deserve a response,” Allouch told the Free Lebanon radio station. On Monday, Eid
slammed the Future Movement, saying that “they were responsible” for the latest
flare-up of violence in the northern Lebanese town.Clashes in Tripoli between
two rival neighborhoods, Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, have left at least 14
people dead and more than 40 people injured since Friday. Bab al-Tabbaneh - a
pre-dominantly anti-Syrian regime Sunni neighborhood, and Jabal Mohsen – a
mainly Alawite neighborhood supportive of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -
have been gripped by frequent fighting, reflecting a split in Lebanon's
political scene in which opposition parties back the revolt in Syria while the
ruling coalition, led by Hezbollah, supports the Damascus regime. Regarding the
March 14 alliance’s stance on President Michel Sleiman’s invitation to attend a
national dialogue session on June 11, Allouch said: “March 14 wants the dialogue
to [be fruitful] and reassure.” He added that March 14 might attend the national
dialogue meeting if there a was confirmation that an agreement will be reached
to withdraw non-state arms. “There is a group that does not want to disarm,”
Allouch said. Last week, Sleiman sent invitations to the members of the national
dialogue committee calling on them to convene on June 11 at 11 a.m. at the
Baabda Presidential Palace to discuss various issues, including Hezbollah’s
arms. However, some members of the Western-backed March 14 coalition said they
reject taking part in the national dialogue session unless Prime Minister Najib
Mikati’s cabinet resigns.-NOW Lebanon
Syria declares envoys
personae non gratae
June 5, 2012/Syria's government declared on Tuesday that the ambassadors and
staff of several Western countries as well as Turkey were personae non gratae.
"Some states recently informed heads of our diplomatic missions and embassy
staff that they are unwelcome," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding
Syria was now designating the ambassadors of the United States, Britain, France
and Turkey, among others, as personae non gratae. The ambassadors of Canada,
Italy and Spain were also named in the statement, as well as various embassy
staff members from Belgium, Bulgaria and Germany. The statement concluded by
saying that Syria "still believes in the importance of dialogue based on
principles of equality and mutual respect" and that diplomacy is a "necessary
tool" for countries to resolve disputes. "We hope that those countries which
initiated this step will adopt the same principles, allowing for relations to be
normalized," it added. A slew of mainly Western countries expelled Syrian
diplomats in the wake of the Houla massacre of more than 100 people in late May,
one of the worst atrocities in the country since an uprising broke out in March
2011.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Russia says Assad could go in Syria settlement
June 5, 2012 /Russia said on Tuesday it was prepared to see Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad leave power in a negotiated solution to 15 months of bloodshed
that has claimed more than 13,000 lives. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady
Gatilov said a day after meeting mediator Kofi Annan in Geneva that Moscow would
back any peaceful settlement to the crisis as long as it did not involve the use
of outside force. "We have never said or insisted that Assad necessarily had to
remain in power at the end of the political process," Gatilov told the ITAR-TASS
news agency in Switzerland. "This issue has to be settled by the Syrians
themselves." The comments represent one of Russia's most explicit declarations
of a position first signaled by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a day after a
February 7 meeting in Damascus with Assad. Lavrov at the time refused to
explicitly back Assad and said the leadership structure of Moscow's Soviet-era
ally "should be the result of agreement between the Syrians themselves." Russia
has been facing mounting pressure to back Assad's departure as a first step in a
settlement that would see his inner circle assume command on an interim basis.
The option is modeled on the recent transition in Yemen and has been backed by
the US administration. The New York Times has reported that US President Barack
Obama plans to raise the option when he meets Vladimir Putin for the first time
since his May return to the Russian presidency at next month's G20 summit in
Mexico. Gatilov said the Yemeni model could only be relevant if the rebels
agreed to lay down their arms and sit down for talks. "When we discuss applying
the Yemeni model to the situation in Syria, we have to keep in mind that
unfortunately, there is no desire from the opposition to engage in any political
talks with the government," Gatilov added. "It would be good to... see a
political will from both sides that would allow us to move toward a settlement,"
he also said.
"And in that case, it would probably be appropriate to talk about the Yemeni
model."Gatilov's comments came as another top Russian official announced that a
US delegation headed by Washington's Syria crisis pointman Frederic Hof would be
travelling to Moscow later this week.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Israeli Defence Forces chief denounces Israeli officials’ public statements on
Iran as baseless
By Jonathan Lis | Jun.05,
2012 /Haaretz
Speaking to the Knesset, Benny Gantz says conflicts in Syria will lead to more
activity along Israel-Syria border, requests expansion of defense budget. Israel
Defense Forces chief Benny Gantz criticized former Israeli officials on Tuesday
for recently speaking out publicly on issues regarding Iran.
“There has been much chatter on Iran in the public discourse,” Gantz said during
a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting. “Chatter full of
exaggerations. Operationally, it is impossible to know where they’re aiming, or
where they’re planning. Only a very few people know anything, what is possible,
and what is impossible. Many people are boasting about their knowledge – but
only a few really know anything.”
Gantz added that debates over Iran should only be held in the relevant settings.
“There are people who used to be in the know, but are no longer,” specified
Gantz. “The only ones who can decide to stop building a nuclear reactor are the
Iranians. Iran has been striving for, and is still striving for a military
nuclear reactor. Iran has yet to decide to cross that line – because of
strategic considerations.”
Gantz stressed that isolation within the international community, economic
sanctions, and credible military threats have made it clear to the Iranians that
now is not the time to cross the boundary that has been set for them. “The
chances of war initiated by our enemies are low, although the possibility for
tension to deteriorate into war is possible, as it is throughout the Middle
East,” added Gantz.
“That tension is like a virus, it spreads throughout the region and every nation
deals with it differently. Until now, that tension has not yet managed to reach
the arenas most problematic for Israel, which include Iran,” said Gantz.
Gantz also mentioned to the Knesset committee members that the IDF is distressed
over the passage of military equipment from Syria to Hezbollah. “This subject
distresses us now as much as ever, especially if the Syrian government falls
apart. We see a great deal of Iranian and Hezbollah involvement in events taking
place in Syria. Instability developing in the Golan Heights is becoming worse
and worse because of the conflicts in Syria, including in areas bordering
Israel. They have yet to reach the level of destructive actions, but it is yet
within reach,” said Gantz.
According to Gantz, every development on the ground in Syria is a loss for
Israel. “If Assad falls, indeed there will be a crack in the radical axis,
although it will create instability in Syria,” explained Gantz. “If Assad
remains in power, he will be weak, and still be in the same, unstable place.
There is a price for instability in the region, and I think we will pay it in
the form of more activity along the border between Israel and Syria, and
smuggling from Syria to Hezbollah,” added Gantz.
Gantz took advantage of the opportunity to request additional funds for the
defense budget. “I need to ensure that operational units are not hollow, and can
execute any objective,” said Gantz. “Without an increase in the budget, there
will be fewer planes. We are not in a similar situation to that of 2006. The
majority of our units are in top shape and readiness,” said Gantz.
“Generally speaking however, if I were to make a surprise visit to one of the
emergency equipment storage facilities, we’re in a different situation
completely. I have a great deal of confidence in our army, and complete faith in
our air force and intelligence units. The current budget framework cannot
continue without a multi-year plan. The strategic reality is complicated, and it
shows a negative trend. We must not continue without a multi-year plan,” added
Gantz.
Saudi FM: Iran atomic programme raises regional threats
June 05, 2012/By Asma Al Sharif /Daily Star
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday Iran's nuclear programme has
increased threats to the Gulf region and urged Tehran to cooperate with world
powers to defuse tension after talks last month failed to achieve a
breakthrough. Western nations and Gulf Arab states suspect that the Islamic
Republic's nuclear energy programme is a camouflaged attempt to develop the
means to produce nuclear weapons. Iran says it is enriching uranium only for
civilian purposes. "For sure the Iranian nuclear programme has escalated the
threat level in the region... So it is dangerous...," Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after a Gulf
Cooperation Council meeting. "We hope Iran, with all kinds of threats coming
from it, changes its policy to protect a region that is Iran's (as well). I can
not imagine Iran becoming the reason for the destruction of this region because
it will be the biggest loser." Talks last month between Iran and six world
powers over its nuclear ambitions ended without an agreement but the sides
decided to reconvene in Moscow on June 18-19 in another effort to bridge the
longstanding dispute. "This requires greater cooperation from Iran with the
international group," Prince Saud said. "We hope that Iran stops its nuclear
programme and reassures the region's states." Tensions have been on the rise
between Shi'ite Muslim Iran and its Gulf Arab neighbours, who accuse Tehran of
fomenting Shi'ite unrest in Bahrain and in eastern Saudi Arabia. Prince Saud
also renewed criticism of Iran over what he called its occupation of three
strategic Gulf islands that are also claimed by the United Arab Emirates. "There
is a big crisis now in the Gulf caused by Iran's occupation of the UAE islands
and ... threats in general," Prince Saud said.
Friction worsened between Iran and the UAE after Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad visited Abu Musa, the biggest of the three islands located near key
oil shipping lanes at the mouth of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Last week,
the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards paid a similar visit to the three
islands where he met with military forces stationed there.
Apart from Saudi Arabia, the GCC groups the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait,
Oman and Bahrain.
Is it a fatwa to save Maliki?
By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat
A new Shia fatwa was issued to Iraqis from a Shiite cleric residing in Iran,
Ayatollah Kazem al-Husseini al-Haeri, prohibiting them from voting for any
secular Iraqi candidate, in any Iraqi governing facility. In other words, the
fatwa means that Iraqis must vote for Shiite clergymen only, so what about
so-called Iraqi democracy? Even if some say that this fatwa has only been issued
to support Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against all the Iraqi factions seeking
to withdraw their confidence from him, or to oust him so that he does not turn
into the Shia Saddam Hussein, the fatwa is in fact much more than this. It has
serious connotations that reveal the thought process of Khomeinist Iran, and the
mentality of the Shiite clerics who operate within its orbit. With this fatwa
prohibiting votes for secular Iraqi candidates, one can understand Iran’s
position regarding Lebanon’s democracy, or what happened and is happening in
Bahrain, or indeed what is happening in Syria, Egypt and Yemen, and all Arab
countries hit by the so-called Arab Spring. It is clear that the Shiite
authorities affiliated to Iran believe in democracy only when it comes through
Shia clergymen. Of course, no one would accept this principle except those whose
interests are tied with those of Iran, whether Shiites or Sunnis, such as the
Muslim Brotherhood organizations allied with Iran like Hamas ,or many of the
Brotherhood members in Egypt and the Gulf of course, not to mention the Houthis
in Yemen. Iran, and anyone who revolves in its Khomeinist orbit, believes that
democracy is just a means to seize power; not a political approach to serve the
community and the state in our region, but rather to serve the spread of
Ayatollah Khomeini’s Shiite revolution. We can see this in Iraq today with al-Haeri’s
fatwa, and the same also applies to Bahrain, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and is
also consistent with the Brotherhood movement in Egypt. As for Libya, consider
the piece of news that was ignored by the bulk of the Arab media this week,
namely the Grand Mufti of Libya’s claim of what he considered to be suspicious
Iranian movements in the country! The story is not only about preserving al-Maliki,
rather it is a story of preserving Khomeinist Shia influence in Iraq and the
region as a whole, and strengthening it with all the forces allied with Iran,
intentionally or otherwise, or through financial support, sometimes even
adopting the principle of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, as is the case
with Iran’s relationship with al-Qaeda! This reinforces the danger of Iran and
its role in the region, and of course a fatwa that prohibits voting for any
secular candidate in Iraq today requires a response from the Iraqi Shiites
themselves, and likewise the Shiites of Bahrain, Lebanon and others in the
region. What is required here is a clear response from the wise and rational
Shiites, which is what we have called for repeatedly. How can the wise Shiites
demand the rights of minorities, reform and political participation, then fall
silent when it comes to a fatwa issued by Iran that confines votes to Shia
clergymen? The same applies to all of Tehran’s allies in the region, especially
the Muslim Brotherhood organizations in Egypt and the Gulf who are demanding
political reform and democracy.
All these parties must respond so that we can be sure they are real reformists
and not mere Khomeinists, since Khomeinism is no longer confined to the Shiites,
but now applies to many of those who call for political reform, whether in Iraq
or Bahrain, or the region as a whole. Who will respond?
Iraqi Sadrist trend leader Moqtada al-Sadr calls on
al-Maliki to resign
05/06/2012/By Ma'ad Fayad
London, Asharq Al-Awsat –The smaller parliamentary blocs in the Iraqi Council of
Representatives will most likely play a significant role in the vote on
withdrawing confidence from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, due to the fact
that these parliamentary blocs split from larger blocs. These smaller blocs
include the “White Iraqiya” bloc which split from the Iraqiya parliamentary
bloc, as well as the “Free Iraqiya bloc”, which split from the “White Iraqiya”
bloc, itself a splinter-bloc.
An Iraqi parliamentarian, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of
anonymity, revealed that “the smaller blocs have yet to make up their minds on
the issue of withdrawing confidence [from Prime Minister al-Maliki]” adding
“these blocs are seeking to make the most of this opportunity, for they are
marginalized, on the one hand by the larger blocs that they split from, and the
large bloc that is in power on the other…so they now have the opportunity to
achieve some personal gains for their members, not to mention electoral gains,
if they line up behind the side that will ultimately triumph.”
The MP also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that “these blocs were originally formed by
relying on others, and when they reached parliament they split from them, and
today they are moving closer to this party or that party to obtain what they
view as additional gains that they would otherwise be deprived of.”
The source revealed that “al-Maliki has worked in advance to win the votes of
these blocs and independent MPs…by brandishing ministerial positions, funds or
other gains.”
For her part, Iraqiya bloc spokesperson Maysoon al-Damluji told Asharq Al-Awsat
that “we, along with the Kurdistan Alliance, the Ahrar bloc of the Sadrist trend
and other members of the National Alliance, as well as the State of Law
coalition itself, are committed to moving forward in the process to withdraw
confidence from al-Maliki.”
The Iraqiya bloc also issued an official statement calling on the National
Alliance “to find an alternative to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, to spare Iraq
further crises.” The statement stressed that “the partners in the National
Alliance must quickly find an alternative to al-Maliki, to spare Iraq further
crises which would open the scene to the forces of evil, the crime of [foreign]
infiltration and cause sedition amongst the Iraqi people.” In this regard,
Sadrist trend leader Moqtada al-Sadr called on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
to resign “for the sake of the Iraqi people and the political partners”.
“We say, complete your (good work) and announce your resignation, for the sake
of the people…and for the sake of partners” Moqtada al-Sadr said in a statement
addressing al-Maliki which was released by his political office on Sunday. The
statement added “do yourself a favor and announce your resignation for the sake
of the [Iraqi] people who only want a loaf of bread, and for the sake of
partners who only want partnership.” This statement was issued on the eve
of al-Sadr’s visit to Tehran to discuss the Iraqi political crisis, according to
informed sources. Observers believe that al-Sadr’s visit to Iran represents an
indication of Iranian intervention in defense of al-Maliki, particularly as al-Sadr
is one of the most prominent figures to call for his resignation.
Al-Sadr’s call for al-Maliki to resign comes at a time when the political crisis
in Iraq is intensifying, reaching unprecedented levels since the beginning of
the withdrawal of US troops from the country more than six months ago.
Syria bars diplomats, gunships in action
June 05, 2012/By Mariam Karouny , Erika Solomon/Daily Star
BEIRUT: Syria's government banned 17 Western diplomats and its helicopter
gunships pounded rebels in a coastal province on Tuesday as President Bashar
al-Assad defied international pressure to halt his campaign to crush the
uprising against his rule. The declaration that ambassadors from the United
States, Canada, Turkey and several European countries were unwelcome was
retaliation for the expulsion of Syrian envoys from their capitals last week,
following the massacre of more than 100 civilians by suspected Assad loyalists.
On the battlefront, rebels fought with government forces backed by helicopter
gunships in the heaviest clashes in coastal Latakia province since the revolt
broke out 15 months ago. It was the second day of combat since the rebels
declared they would no longer abide by an internationally brokered ceasefire,
saying that the government had continued the repression in defiance of United
Nations peace observers. Rebel fighters said eight of their comrades were
killed, while the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 to
20 soldiers were killed. Activists also reported heavy fire by government forces
on the city of Homs, a focal point of the uprising that endured a bloody siege
for weeks earlier this year. The latest developments emphasised the precarious
state of a peace plan brokered by Nobel Peace laureate Kofi Annan, who has
shuttled between Damascus and other capitals on behalf of the United Nations and
Arab League. Foreign governments are still clinging to the plan as the only
option for finding a political solution and preventing a wider and bloodier
conflict. But with the failure of the ceasefire and Assad's intransigence, it is
all but in tatters.In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud
al-Faisal said Gulf Arab states had begun to lose hope that the peace plan would
find a solution.The comments are significant as Sunni-ruled Gulf countries have
led international efforts to oust Assad, who is allied to Shi'ite Iran, and have
hinted in the past they were willing to arm the rebels. Nevertheless, Russia and
China, Assad's principle defenders on the diplomatic front, said on Tuesday that
Annan's efforts should not be abandoned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, meeting
in Beijing, urged international support for the plan despite calls from Arab and
Western states for a tougher response to the bloodshed. The two countries,
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council with the power to veto
resolutions, have stymied efforts by Western powers to condemn or call for the
removal of Assad.
The United Nations says Assad's forces have killed more than 10,000 people since
the uprising against his family's four-decade rule of Syria broke out in March
2011.
Assad says he is fighting to save the country from foreign-backed "terrorists"
and will carry out his own reform programme. The government says more than 2,700
soldiers or security personnel have been killed by opposition forces. Opposition
fighters appear to have stepped up assassinations of government loyalists in
recent months - two army officers were assassinated on Tuesday in northeastern
Deir al-Zor province, according to state news agency SANA.
RESPECT
Syria's Foreign Ministry said the move to declare the 17 Western diplomats
personae non grata was a response to the coordinated expulsions of Syrian envoys
by 10 countries last week over the massacre at Houla. But it was still open to
re-establishing ties on a basis of "principles of equality and mutual respect,"
a ministry statement said. "We waited for so long for the other side to correct
their policies and offer the needed support to Annan's plan and the observers'
mission. But we regret that we had to take this measure because they do not want
this mission to succeed," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Makdad said in
Damascus. The diplomats, most of them ambassadors, included envoys from the
United States, Canada, Britain, France and Turkey. Most had already left Syria.
Turkey is a former Assad ally and now a strong opponent which has provided haven
to army defectors, rebels and refugees. A Turkish official said almost 2,700
Syrians had fled to Turkey during the first five days of June, mostly into Hatay,
a southeastern province that juts into Syrian territory. That brought the total
of Syrians registered in camps to about 2,700. Villagers close to the border
told Reuters that in the past few days Syrian soldiers had torched forested
areas to destroy cover for armed insurgents suspected of operating there. Videos
uploaded by rebels showed clouds of smoke rising from mountainous areas close to
Turkey. The clashes in Latakia province were a rare surge of violence in a
province outside the usual trail of bloodshed. The head of the British-based
Syrian Observatory, Rami Abdelrahman, said the fighting was in mostly Sunni
areas in and around the city of Haffeh. Ambulances were seen rushing through the
city carrying government casualties. Latakia province is home to several towns
inhabited by members of the minority Alawite sect, a Shi'ite offshoot to which
Assad himself belongs.
No need to conspire
By Emad El Din Adeeb/Asharq Al Awsat
There are some individuals, rulers or regimes whose enemies and opponents do not
need to conspire against, since leaving these geniuses to themselves will lead
to better results. I once met with an Arab official who will remain nameless
despite the fact that has since left the political scene, who told me with great
pride: “By the way brother Emad, I do not listen to the views of my advisors or
the tons of written studies that are sent to my desk daily”. Here I asked him
naively: “So where do you get your information? From where do you become
familiar with the alternatives available to you? How do you differentiate
between the choices in front of you?” He looked at me in wonder, and I think,
had the situation allowed, he would have proceeded to tell me words that are
difficult to repeat in this column! Instead he said “My dear brother, I take my
decisions from here”, pointing to his temple with his middle finger, as if to
say “I make my decisions from my head”.
It’s worth noting that this man and his regime came to an end, and the genius of
his “head” brought death, destruction and disgrace to his people. There are
dozens of articles published in Hebrew newspapers that talk about the Arab
mismanagement of crises, urging Israeli intelligence services to direct their
efforts and funds towards more dangerous and skillful players, such as the
Iranians, Turks, Pakistanis and Indians. These articles argue that no matter how
different your ideology, or how your interests conflict with these countries,
you cannot deny that they know what to do in terms of crisis management,
planning for the future and defending their interests, or at least you can say
that they avoid making the serious mistakes that indicate a certain ignorance or
miscalculation of events.
I feel great sadness when I think of the tons of documents that are sent from
many intelligence apparatuses, state security offices or Arab research centers
to decision makers, who do not pay attention to them or try to take advantage of
them, or even discuss with those who sent them, regardless of the benefit that
an official or ruler could derive before issuing his decision or announcing his
position.
If we look at some historical figures, such as Churchill, Napoleon, Alexander
the Great or Hannibal, they all took great pride in their personal abilities,
and in spite of that they did not make a major decision - such as those
concerning war or peace - without adequate information and advice from several
different sources, so that their final decision was more informed and wise.
There is yet to be a person who knows everything, who is skilled in all matters,
and who has a clear vision on all issues. Even the infallible prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) listened, consulted and discussed with his companions on all
issues and major decisions. If the infallible prophet did this, then why do
those of a greatly lower stature insist on taking decisions unilaterally?
Al-Assad: lifelines and hangman's ropes
By Abdullah Al-Otaibi/Asharq Alawsat
Perhaps an aware and intellectual individual would find it boring to repeat the
fact that interests run politics, and that principles and ideologies are only
used for this particular purpose. Yet, repeating such a fact is useful for many
people who remain unaware of the fundamental truth, like many key figures in
public affairs seem to be, let alone the general public. When such people are
filled with religious, social or humane emotions because of a catastrophic
occurrence, this fundamental fact tends to slip from their minds, as political
considerations become more complicated.
The Russian-Chinese persistence in defending the oppressive al-Assad regime in
Syria is derived from this fundamental fact, for the two superpowers have
nothing to lose by supporting al-Assad, yet in the language of interests, they
would lose heavily if they were to abandon him. Regardless of the moral
credibility of such a view, the two superpowers use it as a platform to launch
from.
Here a question must be raised: Don't major catastrophic incidents such as
massacres have any role in influencing politics? The answer is definitely yes,
as politicians consciously transform such massacres into events that serve their
own visions and interests, as testified by modern and contemporary history. In
fact, this is what must be done with al-Assad's continual massacres in Houla,
Deir ez-Zor, Homs and elsewhere. There must be some way to transform such
massacres into a political account from which the Syrian National Council (SNC),
and likewise the Free Syrian Army (FSA), can derive benefit.
The expulsion of Syrian diplomats from dozens of countries around the world is
the correct step, even if it has been adopted late, towards isolating the
al-Assad regime politically. This, however, should now be succeeded by other
measures, starting with UN and Arab peace envoy Kofi Annan’s explicit
announcement that his project has proven a failure. It is not acceptable for the
international observers’ task to shift from withdrawing the Syrian army from
cities and villages and ceasing violence, to merely producing statistics about
the number of civilian victims and corpses, which fail to have any political
impact.
The al-Assad regime (as reflected by all its manners of conduct) is determined
to drag the country into a civil war and complete chaos. Similarly, by
persisting with its comprehensive bloody violence, the regime is seeking to
create a state of internal conflict whereby it can maintain a small district in
Syria - Latakia and the surrounding Alawi mountains - and then garner
international support to create a feeble identity under the pretext of
“protecting minorities”. This is a term that the regime is aware will have
significant impact upon the West, and the world has seen several examples of
this in modern history.
In fact, the principle of "protecting minorities" is a modern and noble Western
idea, yet this term can by no means apply to the al-Assad regime or present-day
Syria. What is going on in Syria can only be described as tyrannical violence
committed by a ruling family, in turn being protected by a sectarian minority
that is employed to repress the majority. Today, it is necessary that this
nation, with all its sects and classes, is protected against the regime's
repression, and is enabled to defend itself.
Annan's plan has proven a failure, and going to the Security Council will be of
no avail given the current Russian-Chinese veto, so what remains to be done is
to take action outside the Security Council to topple the regime; a measure
which Susan Rice, the United States Ambassador to the UN, termed "the third
scenario". Any further delays towards adopting this third scenario will leave
permanent scars in the Syrian memory, and will strongly impact upon the future
of Syria as well as the entire region.
Civil trends in Syria, led by the SNC, continue to exert enormous efforts to
maintain the civil nature of their confrontation against the Syrian regime. The
SNC was right to declare a war of liberation against the regime, a war which the
West and other global countries – those eager to maintain peace in the region -
should support. Unless the al-Assad regime, which persists in its political,
military and sectarian crimes, is overthrown, the chronic Arab problems of
sectarianism, ethnicity, tribalism, political Islam and even al-Qaeda will
re-emerge, with armed militants representing every side.
Some people do not like to evoke lessons from history at times like this, but I
believe that it is beneficial to recall them in order for the decision-makers,
along with the international and Arab observers, to be fully aware of any
decision they may make.
It is widely known that Iran - which al-Assad considers one of his available
lifelines – does not and will not spare any effort to back al-Assad with all the
power it has. While Iran is capable of exporting its expertise in repression, by
expanding its military and security apparatuses and by undertaking bloody
operations to intimidate the Syrian people, it will not be able to transform
Syria into another Iran. The differences are numerous and the distance is too
large.
Aside from Iran’s history and the depth of its civilization, competence,
standing, and the nature of its demographic structure, the Iranians have also
adopted major projects such as the war on Iraq, nuclear development and the
campaign for regional influence. Iran can always use these as a shelter whenever
an internal problem emerges. As for the al-Assad regime, it has none of this,
and even if we take into consideration al-Assad’s external project to ensure
protection for Israel, the regime cannot rely on this to escape its grave
internal crisis.
When al-Assad considers the lifelines available to him, he would find the
Russian-Chinese veto internationally, Iran and its allies in Iraq regionally,
and the Syrian armed forces domestically. Originally, the Syrian army was molded
from a purely sectarian viewpoint, empowering the Alawite minority at the hands
of Hafez al-Assad. In fact, Hafez al-Assad was invoking the idea of "building a
Near East special force", along the lines of those which the French formed in
1921 using mainly Alawite minorities. In many ways, French military service led
to the emergence of the Alawite military tradition, which then became
centralized and furthered the rise of the Alawi sect later on.
Politics, even if relies on interests, also deals with firmly established facts
and permanent variables that require a deep understanding. Over time only the
absolute facts will remain, and then we will see that lifelines can also
transform into hangman’s ropes.
Toppling Syria's Assad
June 5, 2012
After the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda, the world said: Never again. And
there have been interventions to stop the killing — in Bosnia, Kosovo and Libya.
But these have been the exception, not the norm. Even now, as horrifying
violence unfolds in Syria, the U.S. and its allies find reasons to limit their
response to economic sanctions accompanied by strongly worded, but ineffectual,
statements of condemnation.
This, despite the fact that the stakes in Syria are higher, from a strategic
standpoint, than in Libya. By the time NATO acted against Moammar Kadafi, he was
an isolated despot who had given up sponsoring terrorism and building weapons of
mass destruction. Not so with Bashar Assad: His regime sponsors Hezbollah and
Hamas. It has a large stockpile of chemical weapons and would be on its way to
developing nuclear weapons had not Israel bombed its nuclear reactor in 2007.
And it has close links to the Iranian regime, which is the No. 1 enemy of the
U.S. and its allies in the region.
Moreover, the longer Assad stays in power without being able to stop the
uprising against his government — which is now more than a year old — the
greater the odds that regional powers will be drawn into the fray and that
extremist groups such as Al Qaeda, already responsible for several grisly
bombings in Syria, will be able to establish safe havens on Syrian soil.
There are risks in a post-Assad Syria, to be sure, but toppling him as swiftly
as possible — something sanctions have shown no sign of achieving — holds out
the promise of meeting significant strategic as well as humanitarian objectives.
Those in favor of a go-slow approach will admit much of this but then argue that
there are no good options for intervention. It is true that action to topple a
regime always carries risks. It is never an operation to be undertaken lightly,
as we learned in Afghanistan and Iraq. But no one is proposing sending U.S.
ground troops into Syria; the riskiest option of all isn't on the table, nor
should it be.
Even less risky options, such as airstrikes, would be harder in Syria than in
Libya because the Syrian opposition is less unified than in Libya, and it does
not control any cities or discrete territory. Thus it would be harder to strike
regime assets without injuring civilians.
But is this an argument for simply sitting by and letting the killing continue?
That isn't a "good option" either.
Luckily, as the Syria expert Andrew Tabler, among others, has argued, there are
other choices.
First, we should become more closely involved in organizing the Syrian
resistance by providing it with communications gear, intelligence and other
nonlethal assistance. As CIA and special operations officers develop closer ties
with the rebels, they will develop the contacts necessary to funnel weapons into
the right hands and to avoid arming jihadist extremists.
U.S. diplomats and intelligence operatives can also work with the opposition to
draft plans for a democratic, inclusive, post-Assad government. This would ease
qualms among Kurds, Christians and other Syrian minorities — along with
businessmen and other stakeholders in the Assad regime — who have so far
hesitated to embrace the rebellion.
It would also help if safe zones were established along Syria's borders with
Jordan and Turkey, where refugees could escape Assad's oppression. Turkey and
Jordan have the military capability to defend such zones from the Syrian army,
and there are indications that Turkey, which already hosts the Free Syrian Army,
might be willing to do more if it received American support — which hasn't been
forthcoming so far.
In addition, the U.S. and our NATO allies could strengthen sanctions on Syria by
mounting a naval blockade of the Syrian coastline. This would make it more
difficult for Syria's principal supporters, Russia and Iran, to provide arms to
the regime.
Airstrikes to protect safe zones or take out key regime targets are a more
aggressive option that needs to be considered. The Air Force and Navy have shown
the ability to accomplish such goals with few if any losses and relatively
little collateral damage.
With Russia blocking action at the United Nations, the most difficult part of
any such operation might well be winning international approval. That did not
stop President Clinton from intervening in Kosovo, and it need not stop it in
Syria, particularly if we can win the backing of NATO and the Arab League.
Max Boot is a contributing editor to Opinion, a senior fellow at the Council on
Foreign Relations and the author of the forthcoming "Invisible Armies: An Epic
History of Guerrilla Warfare From Ancient Times to the Present."
Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times