LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
January 03/2007

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,19-28. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?"he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah."So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said."Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Free Opinions
No to Hezbollah's Terrorism against Lebanon's Cedars. By: Elias Bejjani-World Forum - USA
Iran’s People Are Ready For Real Change. By: Behrooz Bahbudi and Walid Phares 03.01.07
Don't let Siniora's reform plan become a political plaything -Daily Star 03.01.07

Latest news from the Daily Star for January 03/07
Hizbullah sees little chance of quick fix to political standoff
First Malaysians arrive to take up peacekeeping duties in South
UNIFIL shops for drones to monitor border zone
Moussa ready to resume mediation efforts
Siniora unveils reform plan aimed at impressing Paris III donors
The government's reform program
Israelis conduct new airspace violations
Ain al-Hilweh residents protest against execution of Saddam on day of feast
Threat of Israeli cluster bombs still plagues South Lebanon

Latest news from Miscellaneous sources for January 03/07
Peace without Golan-Ynetnews
Two more Syrian sites enrich UNESCO heritage list-Kuwait News Agency
US unit works quietly to counter Iran's sway-Boston Globe
Malaysia troops leave for UN duty in Lebanon-Boston Globe
Difficulty for Hezbollah-Kansas City Star
In 2007, Expect Arab Factions in the PA to Wage Civil War-Arutz Sheva
When the UN Fails-RealClearPolitics
Recognize anti-Semitism-Sun-Sentinel.com
Lebanon To Approve Economic Reforms Ahead Of Donor Conference-Playfuls.com
'Israel-Palestinian conflict is key'-Jerusalem Post
Halutz admits failures in Lebanon war, rejects calls to resign-Ha'aretz
Officers slam IDF war conference-Ynetnews

Iran’s People Are Ready For Real Change
Author: Behrooz Bahbudi and Walid Phares
Source: The Washington Post
Date: January 2, 2007
There has been much debate as to whether the United States should allow Iran to develop a nuclear bomb, or whether we should empower its citizens to overthrow the apparently mad Mahmoud Ahmedinijad and his mullah backers. FSM Contributing Editor Dr. Walid Phares and Behrooz Bahbudi believe the time has come for Iranian citizens to do it themselves. Read this fascinating piece about the many exciting changes occurring in Iran, and what that bodes for the world.
Iran’s People Are Ready For Real Change
The Washington Post
December 31, 2006
Behrooz Bahbudi and Walid Phares
In this fifth letter to the American People, we wish to share with the readers across the world what we believe is the readiness of the Iranian People for a real change affecting the future of their country, the region and the international community. It is a fact that genuine improvement in the conditions of Iranians have not yet taken place since the imposition of a Jihadi-rooted regime in 1979, at the hands of Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini’s elite. To the contrary, the country is marching backward on all levels of public and individual lives. Between 1979 and 2007, freedom, democracy, social order, economy, environment and hopes have been collapsing irreversibly in Iran.
The middle class has collapsed; workers have lost their benefits, women stripped of minimal rights, education gone into decline, medical standards lowered, students suppressed, artists jailed, intellectuals arrested, and minorities crushed. Iran’s dividends from its national and natural resources were wasted by the ruling elite for decades on their own pleasures, on their expansionist Jihadi agenda and on increasing the oppressive machine inside the country. Only a handful of regime supporters profited immensely from the oil and other revenue. Instead of a thriving and progressive democracy by 2007, competing with Japan and Germany, Iran is ranking among the failed states of the world, whose people are depressed and unhappy, as are the peoples of Cuba and North Korea and as was Afghanistan’s civil society under the Taliban.
Despite the many promises of enhancement made by the rulers for decades, only embitterment ensued after every so-called change from above. Iranians thought the death of Khomeini would begin the slow march towards recovery from bloodshed and wars during the 1980s. Instead a similarly backward leadership rose to extend the Khomeinist regime, headed by Ayatollah Khamenei. Full of relentless hopes, Iranians then thought the Presidency in Iran may play the role of a Gorbachev in the USSR. But President Rafsanjani was no better than the radical Mullahs as he acted on their behalf to perpetuate the middle ages regime. People hoped that a so-called “reformist” President, Mohammed Khatemi, would save them. Iran’s majority voted him in. But nothing changed in Tehran’s state-dictatorship. Then the public was told that a so-called “modest man” Mahmoud Ahmedinijad would shake off the elite. Instead, the mad-man of the militias ascended to ultimate power, further crushing liberties, threatening world peace with his nuclear bomb, and the region’s stability with his terror associates of HizbAllah.
In a sum, change from above has not yet come to Iran and the country has fallen into dangerous hands. But the signs coming out of its cities and countryside are clear: people are ready for change, a real change. Students have courageously stood up against Ahmedinijad and told him: “enough”. Their photos cannot be ignored anymore. Workers have been screaming to the rulers of Tehran: “enough wars and bombs, we want jobs.” Iranians, including seculars and moderate clerics are ready to confront the Jihadi Mullahs on Iran’s sad realities.
Iranians are ready to pressure their regime to suspend all support to Terrorism: eliminating financial and military sustenance to HizbAllah in Lebanon and to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Syria and Palestine.
Instead, Tehran should direct this oil revenue generated foreign aid to help the poor in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Egypt , and more urgently in Darfur. Iranians are ready to empower their women with job opportunities and Chador free policies. Females in the country are ready to leap into positions of responsibility.
Iranians are ready to empower students and youth and spend oil revenues on their schools, training, overseas exchange programs, Internet connections, and above all their professional future. Iranians are ready to empower workers with higher wages, better work environment, efficient social security, health coverage and increasing rights.
Iranians are ready to empower talents in arts, cinema, television, theater, and all creative sectors of society, instead of the bleak and dark ideology of Jihadism.
Iranians are ready to welcome their brothers and sisters from exile and investments from the Diaspora instead of dispatching killers for sinister misdeeds against opposition around the world.
Iranians are ready for a radically new attitude on behalf of the United Nations to help the country free itself from the yoke of fascism, not for a UN cover up for the regime.
Iranians are ready for a new US Policy that would stand by the People and not sell out its future to the Khomeinist dictatorship. America must be ready for Iran’s people’s readiness to change towards better, not towards worse.
We therefore call on Americans and democracies around the world to extend their support to the Iranian People in their quest for change, real change, so that they can join the world community of free societies and enjoy living in freedom and progress.
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FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Dr. Walid Phares is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Behrooz Behbudi is the President of Global Unity Partnership.
If you are a reporter or producer who is interested in receiving more information about this writer or this article, please email your request to Miramx1@aol.com.
Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of The Family Security Foundation, Inc.

Hizbullah sees little chance of quick fix to political standoff
By Nada Bakri -Daily Star staff
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
BEIRUT: Lebanon's Hizbullah-led opposition will decide this week how to press its campaign against the government and sees little chance of an early end to the standoff, Hizbullah officials said Tuesday. Hizbullah representative in South Lebanon Sheikh Nabil Qaouk said during a ceremony in Dweir that "the opposition would meet in the next few days to agree on the next escalation and peaceful" steps in its campaign, now focused on a demand for early parliamentary polls.
Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hizbullah's number two, also said late Monday during a television interview that the anti-government coalition would announce its planned actions within the next two days, but did not say what the opposition had in mind.
"The opposition forces will sit together and assess what happened in the last month ... study ideas proposed in the arena - whether there are horizons for solutions or not," Qassem said in an interview with Hizbullah's Al-Manar television station.
"Naturally, it has become clear that the horizons are not very open. Then [the opposition] will take a series of steps, actions," he added.
Opposition supporters have been camped out in central Beirut since December 1 to demand the anti-Syrian government of Premier Fouad Siniora step down. Hizbullah says the campaign will remain peaceful.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said Tuesday the opposition will not declare its plans ahead of time.
"The opposition is currently evaluating its campaign. Our actions and goals are peaceful and the government is the problem," Aoun said during a news conference after the weekly meeting of his parliamentary bloc.
In response, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said the escalation would not go unanswered but added that the government's reaction will be peaceful.
"We don't fear anything. The Lebanese people are steadfast, and Lebanon's legitimate government is steadfast and the escalation will be met with a peaceful and quiet reaction," Hamadeh told reporters.
"But I tell them it will not pass unanswered."
However, March 14 Forces MP Akram Chehayeb said the protests are destroying Lebanon and warned that any political miscalculation could have negative consequences, in reference to the opposition threats to escalate their campaign.
"Does [Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah] know that the 33 days of occupation of Downtown Beirut are crippling the city, and does he know that he is continuing the destruction of Lebanon?" Chehayeb asked.
He was referring to Nasrallah's admission that had he known the consequences of the July 12 capture two Israeli soldiers - triggering last summer's war with Israel - he would not have done it.
"Don't treat Lebanon unjustly like Israel did," he added in statement released Tuesday.
The protest has disrupted commercial life in Downtown Beirut, where roads are closed and troops, armored vehicles and razor wire protect the government's headquarters.
The opposition initially called for veto power in Cabinet but has raised its demands to early parliamentary elections.
It has declared Siniora's government, which came to office following the first parliamentary elections after the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005, illegitimate.
The anti-Syrian leaders who control the government say the opposition is effectively trying to stage a coup which would lead to more Syrian and Iranian influence in Lebanon. Hizbullah says Siniora's Cabinet answers to the US government.
Qassem accused the government of wrecking an initiative by Arab League chief Amr Moussa to end the crisis.
"The government factions believe time is on their side - that the opposition will tire. We say to them today the opposition will not tire and is staying in the street," Qassem said.
Anti-Syrian leaders say the opposition's real goal is to derail an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri,
and believe Syrian-backed opposition groups want to shield Damascus from prosecution. Syria denies involvement in the February 14, 2005, killing - the first in a series of assassinations of anti-Syrian figures.
Chehayeb said a national unity government will be formed once the draft law for the international tribunal is passed.
Qassem said Hizbullah was concerned the tribunal had a political slant that reflected US designs. Washington, he said, wanted the court formed quickly for its own purposes.
He reiterated Hizbullah's position that it supported the idea of the court but wanted to discuss the details.
"We are wary of politicization. Therefore we insist on discussing the articles of the tribunal, one by one," he said, adding the tribunal should be approved "in the framework of a legitimate Cabinet and not an illegitimate Cabinet." - With agencies

First Malaysians arrive to take up peacekeeping duties in South
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
BEIRUT: An initial batch of 100 Malaysian soldiers arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to serve as peacekeepers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the South.
They are the first Malaysians to join UNIFIL, which was beefed up under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the summer 2006 war with Israel.
Under 1701, the number of UN peacekeepers is being increased to 15,000.
A military spokesman in Malaysia said a final contingent of 260 soldiers from the mainly Muslim country would follow on January 15.
Israel had initially objected to peacekeepers from countries that do not recognize the Jewish state, but later relaxed that stance. Both Malaysia and neighboring Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, have now sent troops to Lebanon, although neither has diplomatic ties with Israel.
The Malaysian contingent will be based at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura to serve in the district of Marjayoun. They will be replaced by a second group after six months. The troops underwent two months of special preparatory training, including lessons in the Arabic and English languages, the mission's deputy commander, Lieutenant Colonel Fadzil Tajuddin, told Malaysia's national news agency.
The 100 troops who arrived Tuesday consist of 11 officers and 89 men of various ranks from the army, navy and air force. Malaysia has offered as many as 1,000 troops to help implement Resolution 1701.
Under 1701, UNIFIL is to deploy with an equal number of Lebanese Army troops to assert control over South Lebanon and to prevent arms from reaching Hizbullah. - Agencies

UNIFIL shops for drones to monitor border zone
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
BEIRUT: The United Nations is seeking unmanned aircraft to boost the intelligence-gathering capabilities of its peacekeeping force in Lebanon, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said on Sunday. "We have received a request from the United Nations. We are in the process of studying it, but no decision has yet been taken," the minister told reporters on a New Year's Eve trip to French troops assigned to the UN force in Lebanon.
Similar requests were also submitted by the UN to Canada and Denmark, French military sources said.
France, which currently holds the command of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), already has several drones on Lebanese territory available for use if the green light is given by the UN.
Alliot-Marie said France had been ready to deploy the aircraft early in December after a spate of incursions into Lebanese airspace by Israeli warplanes, in breach of the terms of the August 14 truce adopted by the UN Security Council.
"Aggressive flyovers have disappeared since I was forced to speak out fairly strongly against them," Alliot-Marie said, while adding that although they had not come to a complete halt, "high-level flyovers" have also been "greatly reduced."
During her visit, Alliot-Marie also expressed her support for the Lebanese government's efforts to consolidate its sovereignty across Lebanon.
She met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Defense Minister Michel Murr before boarding one of four UN helicopters that flew them to Naqoura in the South, where French forces are serving with other international peacekeeping forces.
While it is still customary for French officials not to visit to President Emile Lahoud, it came as a surprise to many that the French minister did not visit Speaker Nabih Berri.
Alliot-Marie said the meeting she had with Siniora and Murr, who as well as Defense Minister is also vice premier in Siniora's beleaguered Cabinet, was "an occasion to express the French government's support for Lebanon's legitimate government and its measures designed to consolidate its sovereignty over all Lebanon."
"This is what the Lebanese Army has been doing and we are keen to offer our support in the form of training and supplies," she added.
France currently contributes about 2,000 troops to UNIFIL, which is under the command of French Major General Alain Pellegrini. France is expected to hand over the command to Italy early this year. - Agencies

Moussa ready to resume mediation efforts
Arab League chief awaits 'flexibility'
By Maroun Khoury and Nafez Qawas
Daily Star correspondent
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
BEIRUT: Egyptian Ambassador Hussein Darrar announced Tuesday that Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa was ready to resume mediation efforts in Lebanon provided that Lebanese politicians show some "flexibility" in their positions.
Speaking after a meeting with the head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc, MP Michel Aoun, Darrar urged Lebanese politicians to "avoid any mistakes that might lead to dangerous repercussions in light of the tense international situation and complicated regional conditions."
He added that Moussa was awaiting the "adequate atmosphere" to resume his initiative to resolve Lebanon's crisis.
Darrar said he delivered a letter to Aoun from the Egyptian leadership on the "role of Lebanese political leaders and its impact on the country's stability."
The Egyptian envoy said he noted "wise stands" during his last meeting with Hizbullah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah a few days ago.
Darrar also met on Tuesday with the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, at the latter's new residence in the Kesrouan town of Bzoummar.
In remarks afterward, the ambassador urged the country's political leaders to avoid "an escalation of the situation."
Darrar rejected claims about a "Saudi-Egyptian alliance against an Iranian-Syrian alliance," and emphasized "Egypt's duty to maintain stability in the region."
Separately, US Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman on Tuesday visited Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir in Bkirki but declined to comment afterward.
The prelate will convene on Wednesday the monthly meeting of the Council of Maronite Bishops.
The National News Agency said on Monday that Sfeir and Speaker Nabih Berri had discussed, during a telephone call, initiatives currently launched to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon. On Sunday, the prelate met with Aoun, who said he hoped the political crisis would end "as soon as possible."
"We, as the opposition, have set our goals and the government should reach the adequate conclusions because it is no longer a ruling government but a paralyzing one," Aoun said.
Meanwhile, Qatari Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Attieh said Tuesday that his country would deploy efforts to consolidate the unity of the Lebanese people.Attieh visited President Emile Lahoud, with whom he discussed the ongoing Qatari program to help the Lebanese overcome the July-August 2006 war with Israel. "Qatar will exert all efforts to consolidate the Lebanese people's unity and restore the country's stability," he said following the meeting.
"I have informed the president of the phases that have already been accomplished in development, cultural and health fields and I was impressed that he was closely following up on our assistance program," At-tieh added.
He also voiced his country's "hope that the Lebanese would be able to overcome the present political crisis."
Attieh also visited Berri at his residence in Ain al-Tineh. Discussions focused on the latest developments, according to a statement, but no comments were made after the meeting.

Siniora unveils reform plan aimed at impressing Paris III donors
Pm says lebanon is running out of time to secure assistance
By Osama Habib
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
BEIRUT: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora unveiled the government's new reform strategy on Tuesday, painting it as a one-time opportunity to regain the confidence of the international community ahead of the Paris III donor conference set for January 25 in the French capital.
Siniora warned that if Lebanon failed to secure considerable foreign financial assistance in the very near future, the public debt would mushroom and the national economy would continue to shrink.
The premier told a news conference that Paris III was not a luxury but a golden opportunity for Lebanon to implement necessary reforms and stimulate the economy.
He also insisted that any aid package will not be dependent on any Lebanese political conditions by the countries participating in the Paris conference.
Siniora also suggested that the government will push ahead with reforms despite the ongoing opposition sit-in in Downtown Beirut and increasingly sharp political divisions.
The 29-page draft outlines the government's plan to cut the size of the public debt and revitalize the economy.
Some economists argue that Lebanon must get commitments of at least $6-8 billion in the form of soft loans and grants.
The public debt stood at more than $41 billion at the end of 2006, or 185 percent of the country's GDP.
Siniora needs massive financial support from the West, Arab states and international organizations to make up for the crippling losses inflicted on the national economy as a result of the summer 2006 war with Israel and the sit-in, which began on December 1.
Siniora said he has already sent a copy of the reform plan to President Emile Lahoud and Cabinet members, but he refused to say how much money the government is hoping to get from Paris III.
Anticipating criticism of certain changes contained in the reform plan, the prime minister said an increase in the value-added tax (VAT) was designed only to increase the Treasury's revenues and will have no serious inflationary impact.
According to the reform paper, the government plans to raise the VAT from 10 percent to 12 percent in 2008 and from 12 percent to 15 percent in 2010. Over the medium term, a 15-percent VAT is expected to generate additional revenue of at least 2 percent of GDP.
The increases should bring the total contribution of the VAT to the budget to about 7.5 percent of GDP by 2010. To improve collection, the government also seeks to adopt monthly VAT filings for large corporations in 2007.
Siniora said foreign assistance was badly needed. "The Israeli war and the prolonged political crisis have affected the livelihood of the Lebanese and for this reason we cannot solve our problems on our own without the help of the international community," he said.
But he also vehemently denied that some donor states would attach political conditions to any financial pledge.
"Rest assured that we will reject any political condition that would hurt Lebanon's national interest, irrespective if this rejection comes at a very high price," he told reporters.
The plan closely resembles the proposal presented to the Cabinet in June 2006, he said, and he expects criticism.
"There will be voices rejecting the privatization program," he acknowledged, "and we say to these critics that Lebanon did not invent privatization."
The plan said privatization is key to promoting growth and reducing deficit spending. Privatization would also help expand capital markets.
"The privatization program is expected to improve the reliability and quality of the provision of public services, reduce operating costs through increased efficiency of operations, expand the range of services offered to customers, reduce the cost of services to business, introduce competition and hence improve the competitiveness of the economy," the program said.
The government had been planning to privatize the two cell-phone networks in the in the third quarter of 2006 but the war and political events disrupted its plans.
Some analysts wonder if Siniora can rally support for the reform plan and Paris III amid persistent political instability, but sources close to the prime minister say the government does not need Parliament's approval for the conference, because the issue was approved by all sides in 2006.