LCCC ENGLISH
DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 03/07
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 24,37-44. For as it was
in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In (those)
days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the
flood came and carried them all away. So will it be (also) at the coming of the
Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be
left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be
left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will
come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night
when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be
broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not
expect, the Son of Man will come.
Releases.
Reports & Opinions
Clear as mud-By:
Sami Moubayed
-Al-Ahram
Weekly-December 02/07
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for December 02/07
March 14 Alliance Cleares Baabda Way for Army
Chief Suleiman-Naharnet
Ahmadinejad: Enemies can't harm strong ties with Syria-International
Herald
Tribune
EU must help find Mideast peace: Syria-EUbusiness (press release)
Significant Meeting between Gemayel, Geagea,
Suleiman-Naharnet
Lebanon's Unease-New York Times
Lebanese-American pleads guilty in bid to aid Hezbollah-Ya
Libnan
One PA - with Hamas-Ha'aretz
Aoun - Murr parliamentary alliance is falling
apart-Ya
Libnan
Berri's Amal Accuses Feltman of Violating Diplomatic
Rules-Naharnet
US Seems to Soften Syria Stance.Wall Street Journal
U.S. may be softening Syria policy.WebIndia123.com
A Year On, 'Tent City' Paralyzes Beirut-The
Associated Press
Hezbollah Hints at Support for Suleiman-Washington
Post
Syrian archeologists discover ancient remains
among famous ruins-International
Herald Tribune
March 14 Alliance
Cleares Baabda Way for Army Chief Suleiman
March 14 Alliance announced that it would accept army chief General Michel
Suleiman as a compromise candidate for the vacant presidency, clearing the way
to an end to a year-old stand-off with the opposition. The coalition "announces
that it is going back on its initial opposition to an amendment to the
constitution and... is supporting the candidacy of General Michel Suleiman for
president," said a statement read by former president Amin Gemayel, a leading
Christian coalition politician.
The meeting was held at the fortified Phoenicia Hotel were 40 Majority MPs have
been residing for fear of assassination. The change of policy was intended to
"put an end to the vacancy in the presidency" since pro-Syrian head of state
Emile Lahoud stepped down last month without a successor in place, Gemayel said
in the statement broadcast by Lebanese televisions. Suleiman's candidacy
requires a change to the constitution as Article 49 bars public servants from
acceding to the presidency within two years of stepping down. Coalition
politicians had expressed opposition to any new change to the constitution after
their regional foe Syria pushed through an amendment in 2004 paving the way for
a three-year extension to Lahoud's term of office.(AFP) A significant
meeting took place Saturday at the Defense Ministry in Yarz between Suleiman,
Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea Sources said the atmosphere of
the meeting which lasted for two hours was "very satisfactory." and it paved the
way for the broader gathering today. Beirut, 02 Dec 07, 08:53
Hezbollah Hints at Support
for Suleiman
Sunday December 2, 2007 12:46 AM
By BASSEM MROUE
Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - A senior Hezbollah official said Saturday that the
militant group holds army commander Michel Suleiman in high regard, further
improving his chances of becoming Lebanon's next president and averting a
political crisis.
Hezbollah deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem's comments came two days after the
group's ally, Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun, said he will back
Suleiman as a compromise candidate for president.
The parliamentary majority also expressed its support for Suleiman this week,
setting up a potential resolution to months of conflict with the Hezbollah-led
opposition over choosing President Emile Lahoud's successor
``We, in Hezbollah, ... have a positive view of Gen. Michel Suleiman in addition
to our appreciation of Gen. Michel Aoun's stance and consider this alternative
as a serious one,'' the white-turbaned cleric said on Hezbollah's al-Manar TV.
``There is a major opportunity for discussion in order to reach an accord on
presidential elections,'' Kassem added.
Hezbollah officials have in recent days linked their support for any
presidential candidate to Aoun's stance. Now that Aoun has publicly supported
Suleiman, Kassem's comments were viewed as implicit support for the army
commander.
Parliament is scheduled to meet Friday to vote for a new president. For Suleiman
to be elected, the Parliament will have to amend the constitution, which
prevents senior state employees, including army commanders, from running for the
post while in office.
The army chief is seen as a neutral figure who can appeal to both the
Western-supported majority and the pro-Syrian opposition, which is backed by
Damascus.
The nation's top post has been vacant since pro-Syrian Lahoud left office
without a successor on Nov. 23 because the feuding groups could not agree on a
compromise candidate.
Failure to elect a president left Lebanon with a leadership vacuum not seen
since the civil war, when rival governments ran the country in 1988-89.
The United States, which backs the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora,
has in the past pressed to end Syria's influence in Lebanon. Syria's allies in
Lebanon, in turn, have accused Saniora of selling out the country to the
Americans. Meanwhile, some 5,000 opposition supporters held a rally in downtown
Beirut to mark the first anniversary of a sit-in near Saniora's headquarters.
The demonstration aimed to unseat Saniora's Western-backed government but has so
far failed to do so.
Hezbollah legislator Hussein Hajj Hassan said at the rally that the opposition
was ready for an agreement on a compromise president but would continue the
sit-in if no agreement was reached. ``The Lebanese national opposition is ready
for a political settlement through a compromise president and a partnership
government,'' said Hajj Hassan. ``It is also ready, as this rally shows, today
to continue with its (current) move.''
Significant Meeting
between Gemayel, Geagea, Suleiman
A significant meeting took place between Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces
Gen. Michel Suleiman, former President Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea in a bid to embrace the army chief. Sources said the atmosphere of
the meeting which took place Saturday at the Defense Ministry in Yarze was "very
satisfactory." The daily An Nahar said Sunday the meeting which lasted nearly
two hours also aimed at paving the way for a broader gathering of the ruling
March 14 coalition in order to take a unified stance toward Suleiman's
candidacy. Beirut, 02 Dec 07, 08:53
Lebanon - Overview
GlobalSecrity.org
The current president of Lebanon is Emile Lahoud who was recently granted
another term by the Lebanese parliment in September 2004 under great pressure
from Syria. Though Lahoud is President and exercises considerable influence due
to the backing of Syria, he is not the official commander-in-chief of the
Lebanese Armed Forces. Lebanon has a unique system of government that shares
power among the country's religious sects. The constitution of the country was
amended in 1991, under a plan for national reconciliation called the Ta'if
Accord. The accord established a new political order in which Muslims and
Christians share legislative power through a unicameral National Assembly.
Hizbollah, once a ragtag militia, is currently one of the most powerful parties
in the National Assembly, occupying 12 of the National Assembly's 128 seats. It
is a Shiite Muslim organization led by Sheik Hassan Nasrallah with 20,000 active
members. Founded in 1982, Hezbollah has twin objectives -- the destruction of
Israel and the creation of an Islamic state in Lebanon. The party runs
hospitals, television stations and newspapers and is widely supported by the
Lebanese. The Lebanese government regards Hizballah's mission as a legal
resistance against Israel and allows it to operate freely within the country so
long as the organization adheres to the law.
General Michel Sleiman is the current commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. He
has been in the Army since 1976 and slowly climbed up the chain of command
finally being appointed as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1998. The
Lebanese Armed Forces underwent their last transformation in 1991 and currently
maintains a standing army of approximately 60,000 men. However, the miltary
branches are not a balanced for joint military operations. The Navy and Air
Force are vastly underfunded compared to the Ground Forces and lack the
resources and equipment of a capable modern military. The Navy relies on small
tracker boats and the Air Force mainstay are helicopters from the United States.
In practice, both the Navy and Air Force are components of the internal security
forces because their missions and operations are focused on domestic concerns.
The earlier incarnations of the Lebanese Armed Forces were marred by infighting,
internal upheaval and general ineffectiveness as a national army. After the 1982
Israeli invasion, President Amin Jumayyil was convinced that a strong and
unified army was necessary to rebuild the nation. He announced plans to create a
12-brigade 60,000-man army which would be equipped with French and American arms
and trained by French and American advisers. He also planned to increase The
Internal Security Forces to 20,000 men. Unfortunately weak recruiting could
muster only about 22,000 men and the government decided on November 24, 1982, to
impose a conscription law called the Law of Service to the Flag. The
conscription law mandated one year of military service for eligible males.
Additionally, other changes saw hundreds of new appointments were made on a
nonsectarian basis.
The United States was instrumental in helping the Lebanese government rebuild
the armed forces. In 1982 the United States proposed a Lebanese Army
Modernization Program to be implemented in four phases. The first three phases
entailed organization of seven full-strength, multiconfessional army brigades,
to be created from existing battalions. The fourth phase focused on rebuilding
the Navy and Air Force. The total cost of the first three phases was estimated
at US$500 million but the United States pledged to pay US$235 million of this
sum, with the Lebanese government paying the balance.
Initial progress was rapid. A new tank battalion equipped with M-48 tanks
donated by Jordan was established and a new supply depot was built at Kafr Shima.
About 1,000 vehicles, including hundreds of M-113 armored personnel carriers,
were also transferred from the United States to Lebanon.
Still, there was a lack of effective military leadership which remained the
Achilles heel. United States experts were aware of this problem and devoted
considerable resources to solving it. A cadre of Lebanese lieutenants was given
infantry officer basic training in the United States. Then a team of eighty
United States military advisers, including fifty-three Green Berets, provided
officer training in Lebanon. Lebanese officers were also attached to the United
States MNF contingent for training in military unit operations.
Despite all these changes, new training and new equipment the Lebanese Army was
routed in the 1983-84 battles in the Shuf Mountains and all suffered defeats by
militia forces in West Beirut. In 1988, General Aoun who was Interim Prime
Minister, declared a “War of Liberation” against the Syrians. Several months of
fierce fighting followed but General Aoun has temporarily defeated Syria and its
militia allies. The General's next campaign to absorb some of the remaining
Lebanese militias met with disaster and months of fighting brought enormous
losses and the destruction of Lebanese air and navla bases. Syria capitalized on
Aoun's weak position and launched an air strike at the Presidential palace and
the Ministry of Defence, followed by heavy artillery shelling. After he realized
he could not win, Aoun surrendered and went to exile in France.
Following Aoun's departure a new pro-Syrian government rebuilt the army again
into its current form.
The Lebanese Armed Forces are not the only military force in Lebanon which at
its height during the civil war was the battleground for 40 different armies.
Syria maintained approximately 20,000 troops in the country a visible reminder
of the power they have with the government. The Syrians originally had upwards
of 30,000 troops in Lebanon but lowered its troop numbers after Israel withdrew
from south Lebanon in 2000. Hizballah also has their own militia force of
approximately 3,000 mostly located near the southern border in the Bekaa valley.
The autonomy of Lebanese Armed Forces' officials was limited due to widespread
Syrian influence with government officials. Syria played a key role in Lebanese
affairs and makes sure that high-ranking government officials are sypathetic to
Damascus and Syrian interests. Consequently, international pressure on the
Lebanese government and military officials to take action against groups like
Hizballah that are operating in the country had little effect.
As of 2003 approximately 20,000 Syrian troops occupied the north of Lebanon
above Tripoli, the Beqaa Valley north of the town of Rashayah, and the
Beirut-Damascus highway. These numbers compare to 35,000 troops at the beginning
of Syria's occupation. Between May 1988 and June 2001, Syrian forces occupied
most of west Beirut. In October 1989, as part of the Taif agreements, Syria
agreed to begin discussions on possible Syrian troop withdrawals from Beirut to
the Beqaa Valley, two years after political reforms were implemented
(then-Lebanese President Hirawi signed the reforms in September 1990), and to
withdraw entirely from Lebanon after an Israeli withdrawal. While Israel has,
according to the United Nations, complied with its obligations, the Syrian
withdrawal discussions, which should have started in September 1992, had not
begun as of early 2004.
A September 2004 vote by the Chamber of Deputies to amend the constitution to
extend President Lahoud's term in office by 3 years amplified the question of
Lebanese sovereignty and the continuing Syrian presence. The vote was clearly
taken under Syrian pressure, exercised in part through Syria's military
intelligence service, whose chief in Lebanon had acted as a virtual proconsul
for many years. The UN Security Council expressed its concern over the situation
by passing Resolution 1559, also in September 2004, which called for withdrawal
of all remaining foreign forces from Lebanon, disbanding and disarmament of all
Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces
throughout the country, and a free and fair electoral process in the
presidential election.
Former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 19 others were assassinated in Beirut by
a car bomb on February 14, 2005. The assassination spurred massive protests in
Beirut and international pressure that led to the withdrawal of the remaining
Syrian military troops from Lebanon on April 26. In the months that followed
Hariri’s assassination, journalist Samir Qassir and Lebanese politician George
Hawi were both murdered by car bombs, and most recently, Defense Minister Elias
Murr narrowly avoided a similar fate when a car bomb exploded near his convoy.
The UN International Independent Investigative Commission (UNIIIC) headed by
Detlev Mehlis iinvestigated Hariri’s assassination and reported its findings to
the Security Council.
Parliamentary elections were held May 29-June 19, 2005 and the anti-Syrian
opposition led by Sa’ad Hariri, Rafiq Hariri’s son, won a majority of 72 seats
(out of 128). Hariri ally and former Finance Minister Fouad Siniora was named
Prime Minister and Nabih Berri was reelected as Speaker of Parliament.
Parliament approved the first “made-in-Lebanon” cabinet in almost 30 years on
July 30. The new cabinet’s ministerial statement, a summary of the new
government’s agenda and priorities, focuses on political and economic reform.
On July 12, 2006 members of Hizballah infiltrated the Lebanese-Israeli border
near Shtula, an Israeli farming village, and claimed responsibility for an
ambush conducted on two Israeli Army Hummvees. The attack resulted in the
capture of two Israeli soldiers and the deaths of three others. Five more
Israeli soldiers were killed in the ensuing pursuit of Hizballah members into
Lebanese territory. The combined capture of two soldiers and the deaths of 8
others; was considered the worst loss for Israeli military forces in more than
four years. Hizballah also claimed responsibility for two separate Katyusha
rocket attacks on Israeli towns resulting in the death of 1 civilian and the
injury of 25 others.
The 12 July 2006 attack resulted in immediate retaliation by the Israeli
military, which responded to the hostilities against their troops and citizens
by bombing roads, bridges, and power plants inside Lebanon. The specific
targeting of al-Manar, the Hizballah controlled television station, and the
Lebanese international airport as well as the blockading of Lebanon’s sea ports
was an attempt to force the return of the captured Israeli troops and place
greater pressure on Hizballah. These retaliatory actions by Israel resulted in
the deaths of dozens of Lebanese civilians and threats of further rocket attacks
by Hizballah. Additionally, on July 18, 2006 Israeli strikes killed 11 Lebanese
soldiers, while Hezbollah rockets killed an Israeli in Nahariya. The 11 Lebanese
soldiers were killed at a barracks east of Beirut.
Where Living in Fear Starts
at the Top
By JOHN KIFNER
Published: December 2, 2007
For more than a year, fearing assassination, the prime minister has lived in his
office in the ornate government building, surrounded by concentric circles of
barbed wire, soldiers and armored vehicles that separate him from antigovernment
demonstrators. Some 40 members of Parliament from the razor-thin majority are
holed up in the luxurious, gaudy Phoenicia Hotel a few blocks away, behind three
tiers of metal detectors, internal security police and drawn curtains. The two
majority leaders are in fortress-like family palaces, one high in the mountains,
the other with surrounding city streets sealed off for blocks.
Answer: Lebanon, where one good barometer of whether it is moving toward a
peaceful future is how safe — or threatened — the nominal leaders feel, living
in the shadow of Syria.
Assassination is, so to speak, a way of life in Lebanon; by one count there have
been at least 36 assassinations of major political figures in the country’s 64
years of independence. It is particularly dangerous to be president or prime
minister. And the last two years have been as dangerous a time as any.
It was the assassination of a former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, in 2005 that
set off demonstrations and international condemnation that forced the end of
nearly 30 years of domination by Syria. A United Nations investigation has
implicated Gen. Asef Shawket, the head of Syrian military intelligence and
brother-in-law of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad. Four top Lebanese security
officers have been arrested.
But even with its troops withdrawn, Syria retains allies and agents in Lebanon.
And Lebanese politics have been deadlocked between the Western-backed March 14
Coalition of Sunni Muslims, Druse and Christians on one side, against the
Syrian-backed Shiite Muslims of Hezbollah and some Christians.
France, once Lebanon’s ruler, left a system that favors the Christians: The
president is a Maronite Catholic, the prime minister a Sunni; Parliament’s
speaker is a Shiite and seats are allocated by sect. To keep the balance, there
has been no census since 1932.
Last week, the country seemed to be easing an impasse over finding a new
president whom all sides might trust. A consensus was reached on a
constitutional amendment that would allow a serving general, Michel Suleiman, to
be elected by Parliament.
But even if the deal holds, the lawmakers may stay barricaded — haunted by the
list of anti-Syrian figures assassinated since Mr. Hariri was: Antoine Ghanem,
Walid Eido and Pierre Gemayel, Parliament members; Samir Kassir and Gibran Tueni,
journalists; and George Hawi, the Communist Party leader.
Clear as
mud
By: Sami Moubayed
Al-Ahram Weekly-29/11/07
Last Christmas, the Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir told Lebanese
Christians, "Do not be afraid." At first glance, the Lebanese did not seem
afraid, not a bit. Despite all the turmoil they were going through, they still
managed to put up their Christmas trees, go to nightclubs, dine at fancy
restaurants and attend Fayruz. At second glance, however, the Lebanese had every
reason to be afraid back then, and even more so today, one year later. Lebanon
continues to suffer from the Israeli war in 2006, and the continued
assassinations that have badly hit Lebanon's economy -- and tourism -- since
2005. Then came the massive sit-in launched by the Hizbullah-led opposition
starting 2 December 2006 which at the time of writing, continues, with the aim
of bringing down the cabinet of Prime Minister Fouad Al-Siniora. Now comes
vacancy at the Presidential Palace.
On 23-24 November 2007, Beirut seemed divided between those rejoicing at the
exodus of President Emile Lahoud and those paying homage to a man whom they
considered a great struggler, due to his nine-year alliance with Hizbullah and
the Syrians. Lahoud left a vacant post at Baabda Palace. After weeks of
negotiations, the Lebanese were unable to agree on a replacement. Neighbourhoods
loyal to parliamentary majority leader Saad Al-Hariri celebrated with fireworks
and young people dancing in the street. Those occupied by Hizbullah and the Amal
movement of Nabih Berri were quiet, filled with glowing images of the
ex-president. In nearby Damascus, the mood was strongly pro-Lahoud. Syrian
television aired a special documentary about him, saying that he was the man who
helped unite Lebanon, in his capacity as army commander, in the 1990s. He helped
liberate South Lebanon in 2000, and prevented Lebanon from becoming a satellite
state of the United States and Israel.
Very few in Lebanon remained as loyal to the Syrians as Lahoud. Other strong
examples are Maronite chief Suleiman Franjiyeh, former prime ministers Omar
Karameh and Najib Mikati, parliament speaker Berri, and Hizbullah leader Hassan
Nasrallah. All of them upheld Lahoud as a constitutional president, after the
Syrians departed in April 2005. Shortly before that, Nasrallah gave a memorable
speech, which was much appreciated in Damascus, saying, "Beirut was destroyed by
Sharon, rebuilt by Rafik Al-Hariri, and protected by Hafez Al-Assad!" Ever since
entering Lebanon in 1976 and unceremoniously leaving in 2005, Syria has had few
loyal friends. Former allies like Fouad Al-Siniora and Walid Jumblatt
immediately turned against Damascus when it became clear that the Syrians were
not staying long in Lebanon. They had actually been the ones, headed by Rafik
Al-Hariri, to support and legitimise the Syrian presence in Lebanon during the
1990s. All of them had supported the election of Lahoud in 1998, handpicked by
Hafez Al-Assad. Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV aired footage this weekend of Lahoud's
1998 inauguration speech, showing Nayla Mouawad, one of the figures of 14 March
who at the time was pro-Syrian, clapping with pleasure at the new pro-Syrian
president coming to power in Beirut. Mouawad and 14 March are now the strongest
anti-Syrian voices in Beirut, described by the world as "historically"
anti-Syrian statesmen who "struggled" for the liberation of their country from
Syrian "occupation." The Syrians know better, however, and so does Lahoud.
Lahoud was not like that and that is why the Syrians are sad to see him go,
remembering, too well, that they had brought him to power in 1998 and renewed
his mandate in 2004, at the expense of their friendship with Rafik Al-Hariri.
The former prime minister, however, had eventually said yes to renewing Lahoud's
mandate at Baabda Palace. Lahoud's friendship with the Syrians led to numerous
accusations against him, with 14 March claiming that he was responsible for the
murder of Al-Hariri in 2005, as reported in the first UN commission enquiry,
known as the Melhis report. At the time of his exodus from Baabda in 2005, his
top generals remain behind bars in connection to the Melhis report.
But as far as the world is concerned, all of that is now history. What matters
is the new president of Lebanon. Despite all the bickering, and French
heavy-handed diplomacy, the Lebanese have indeed created a power vacuum for
themselves. Saad Al-Hariri is frantic. For one reason, if chaos returns to
Lebanon his investments in Beirut will suffer. Setting politics aside and
speaking purely in business terms, he cannot sit back and watch civil war erupt
in Lebanon. Currently, the Maronite seat is vacant and the Shias, formerly
represented in government, are also now in opposition to Prime Minister Fouad
Al-Siniora. This leaves Saad Al-Hariri's Sunnis in temporary control of Lebanon.
That is alarming for the Syrians. Saad Al-Hariri has ambitions to become prime
minister of Lebanon after a Christian president is elected. Constitutionally he
can do that, although advisors are telling him that this would be political
suicide. Saad Al-Hariri cannot tolerate a strong Christian president who would
overshadow his Sunni prime minister. That is why he preferred keeping Lahoud
(although he detested the former General and accused him of conspiracy in the
killing of his father in 2005), rather than bringing somebody like Aoun to
Baabda.
Many wrongly believed that due to his alliance with Hizbullah, the Syrians
wanted Aoun for president. That was trumpeted by the 14 March coalition in an
attempt at tarnishing Aoun's image in the Christian streets. The truth is the
Syrians would be very uncomfortable with somebody like Aoun. They do not forget
his war of liberation against the Syrian army during the final stages of the
civil war, and that he had led the Lebanese opposition in exile in the 1990s,
calling for withdrawal of Syrian troops. Aoun also played a pivotal role in
getting the US to pass the Syria accountability law of 2003. He is only allied
to Hizbullah because he realises that he cannot rule Lebanon without the support
of the 40 per cent of its population who are Shias. True that would end his
reputation as a Christian leader -- something Aoun never strove to become -- and
establish him as a cross-confessional Lebanese leader. The Syrians have no idea
how he would act as president. He would certainly be better however, than either
of the 14 March candidates Boutros Harb or Robert Ghanem.
But if the Syrians are able to get their way, they would opt for Michel
Suleiman, the current army commander. Washington DC is not too enthusiastic
about him because he is politically independent; too independent for
Washington's taste. He is committed to combating Israel, supporting Hizbullah,
and friendship with Syria. His one slogan has been "Israel is the enemy",
something that greatly pleases Damascus but is frowned upon by 14 March. If
elected, he would certainly work for a greater role for Hizbullah in the
government, and might even turn a blind eye to their activities in south
Lebanon, as did Elias Hrawi in the early 1990s, and Lahoud in 1998-2006. Also to
the displeasure of 14 March was a recent remark by the army commander, "Fatah
Al-Islam is linked to Al-Qaeda not Syria."
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