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Maronite bishops criticize Hezbollah, sectarian politics
Beirut (CNA) - In a strongly worded statement, Lebanon's Maronite Catholic Bishops criticized Hezbollah and said the interest of political parties in the country to fulfill sectarian ambitions rather than to serve national interests is “a chronic disease that has to be extracted.”
“There are 18 sects in Lebanon with equal rights and duties," the bishops said. "But in reality, we see that some groups are monopolizing the decision-making process and leading the country to unwanted situations."
The bishops did not mention any of these sects by name but made clear reference to Hezbollah.
“A Lebanese faction continues to bear weapons despite the Israeli withdrawal from most of the South in 2000. This continues to be in violation of the Taif Accord,” the bishops wrote. “This group has become a religious, military and political organization and led us to a war that was launched on July 12, 2006.”
The statement was issued Wednesday by the Council of Maronite Bishops, which is headed by Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, reported The Daily Star.
“Sectarianism’s symptoms are embedded in the presidential post at this time in particular,” they added. The current president is Emile Lahoud.
“The Christians, particularly the Maronites, are hurt by world leaders and local political figures’ disregard of the Lebanese presidency,” the bishops said. “This weakens the status of the presidency and needs a solution.”
The bishops added that Christians have become “marginalized due to the absence of an efficient role of the presidency.”
“Powerful countries and regional forces have also interfered more than enough in Lebanese affairs and are backing one sect or another,” the bishops added.
The council said that despite the end of Syria’s tutelage over the country, there are still many divisions among the Lebanese.
The bishops called on the people to back their current parliament, headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, “as the sole authority on Lebanese territory.”
“Only the government can bring trust and reassurance to the citizens,” they said.
The bishop said the Lebanese state must be responsible for developing the country’s south and overseeing the distribution of aid, the appeal said.
“It is the duty of every Lebanese to rebuild the country and swathe its wounds.” The council urged the Lebanese to respect the country’s Constitution and to “benefit from the international embrace they are enjoying at the moment."

Israel refuses Russia's proposal to held int'l summit on Mideast

UPDATED: 10:37, September 09, 2006
Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni rejected on Friday a Russian proposal to hold an international peace conference to discuss various aspects of the Mideast conflict, local newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
In response to visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's proposal to hold a Middle East peace conference, Livni said that as of now, an international summit is not a solution. "We are not enthused by the Arab League's initiative. In the past, such summits were launched with a bang but ended in disappointment," Livni said.
Underlining the importance for Israel to meet immediately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas without preconditions, Livni said, "An immediate meeting with Abbas is necessary so we can hear about the problems in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from him."
As for imposing an arm embargo on Lebanon's Hezbollah, Russian foreign minister Lavrov said that Russian authorities are investigating claims that weapons Russia sold to Syria ended up in the hands of Hezbollah.
"We have strict regulations which say that no country can transfer weapons that we have sold it to a third party," he said during a joint press conference with Livni following their meeting.
Livni, for her part, said that "Lebanon has an absolute responsibility to implement the arms embargo that was agreed upon in the Security Council."
"If Syria will not abide by the Security Council's decision, international sanctions must be implemented against it. Syria must understand that the condition for its inclusion in the international community is not providing support to terror organizations and Hezbollah," she added.
During the meeting, Livni also emphasized the need for the complete implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, including the need to release the "hostages" and the application of full Lebanese sovereignty over the entire Lebanese territory. Source: Xinhua

Projecting Future Jihadi Terrorism Five Years After 9/11
By Walid Phares
I testified yesterday before the U.S. House International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, which held a hearing titled, "Five Years Later--Gauging Islamist Terrorism." You can read the prepared statements of the chairman, Rep. Ed Royce, and the other esteemed witnesses at that website. Here is the text of my prepared statement (here is the statement in a file):
Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Sherman, Members of the Committee, It is a privilege and an honor to appear before you today to discuss the theme “9/11: Five Years Later, Gauging Islamist Terrorism.” My contribution is titled: “Projecting Future Jihadi Terrorism, five years after 9/11.”
1. Who is the enemy?
The first question to be addressed is the identification of the enemy. Who are they and how do we identify them? For one analytical mistake made at this level would send the United States and its allies fighting either the wrong war or against the wrong enemy: America’s efforts may be derailed by an enemy deflecting our attention from the real objectives, or deflected from engaging the enemy’s most vital assets he has against us.
a. The issue of the name:
The enemy who flew airliners against the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, the one the US defeated in Tora Bora and are still engaging in the Sunni triangle in Iraq; and that enemy which is still striking against Democracies and allies around the world has a name for itself: Jihadists (al jihadiyun). It uses an ideology with a name, Jihadism (al jihadiya); it recruits with a very specific set of doctrines and operates under ideologically-grounded strategies: Hence, the U.S needs to be specific in calling the enemy with its real name. U.S leaders shouldn’t be vague in their description of the enemy as Terrorists-only or to be dragged into the enemy’s trap as to alleged distortion of “what Jihad could mean.” U.S leaders can surely use a variety of descriptions, such as Islamists, Islamo-Fascists, Islamic-Terrorists, but the US Government and the allies in the War on Terror should define the enemy officially as Jihadists.
b. The two trees
The Jihadists are of two ideological types: Salafist, who are radicals who developed within Sunni societies, and Khomenists, who are radicals who developed within Shiia communities. The Salafists have various ideological and political branches: Wahabis, Muslim Brotherhood, Tablighi and others. From this “tree” came al Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Jemaa Islamiya, Salafi Combat Group, and dozens of smaller groups around the world. The Khomeinists are the radical clerics in control of Iran. They have created Hezbollah in Lebanon, and along with the latter expanded cells around the world. The head of Salafi Jihadists today is al Qaeda; the head of Khomeinist Jihadism is the Iranian regime.
2. The Jihadi wars against the US leading to 9/11
It is strategically important to reassess the history of the Jihadi campaigns against America leading to 9/11. The first Terrorist engagement against U.S presence was by Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah as of 1983 in Beirut. The Khomeinist direct Terror campaign lasted till 1990 before it entered a second stage of regional expansion, and strategic penetration and preparation worldwide and within the United States for the future. The Salafi Jihadists before 1990, were concentrating on the Soviet Union, but preparing against America and the West. Since 1990, they refocused on the US, on its allies and within the Arab World.
During the 1990s, the Salafi Jihadists waged Terror in multiple countries, including in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Russia, Kashmir, Sudan, the Philippines, and beyond. Their international network, al Qaeda concentrated on the United States. Al Qaeda and its allies penetrated Democracies and America since the 1990s. The major strategic failure of the U.S and of its allies was their inability to identify or to counter the Jihadi penetration and action both internationally and nationally. The 9/11 Commission Final Report of 2004 covered a significant aspect of these historical failures throughout the 1990s, but missed two major ones: First, the fact that the U.S and its allies didn’t identify the ideology of Jihadism as the producer of Terrorists and Terrorism; and second, the fact that the Jihadi strategic penetration of the Homeland was in fact a threat to national security. A “September 11” was possible because the enemy counted on the poor perception by the Government, little mobilization by the public, and more importantly, the possibility that the Jihadi factory within America will be able to produce Future Terrorism.
3) War with Jihadism since 9/11
a) Is there a progress in the struggle against “Islamic Terrorism?”
There has been a significant progress in the conflict with Jihadi-Terrorism, both internationally and within the U.S Homeland.
Internationally: al Qaeda lost the one regime that provided a state-sponsoring of its worldwide activities, Afghanistan. It wasn’t able to reclaim any other regime yet. While it has recruited larger numbers of militants from the Islamist pools around the world, anti-Jihadist energies were also freed in many countries such as in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon, as well as in other areas. More countries are putting minimal energies against the rising Jihadi efforts, which is a better global situation than before 9/11. This is progress in the war but the turning point –in either direction- didn’t occur yet.
Within the US: Al Qaeda lost the ability of a strategic surprise war since 9/11, but not its ability for strikes yet. By creating the Homeland Security Structure and maintaining a minimal mobilization of the public, the US Government has been making progress on the domestic front, in comparison with regression before 9/11.
But this progress, both internationally and domestically, is hanging on the ability of the United States and its allies to move forward, faster and with a strategic mutation in the next stage of the War with al Qaeda, while also preparing for the possibility of the engagement by the “Khomeinist” threat abruptly. If the US stops, waiver, or confuse its vision of its enemies and their plans, the entire progress can be reversed to the advantage of the Jihadi Terrorists.
b) Was “Islamic Terrorism” weakened?
In summary: The Islamists have been weakened in ways they haven’t understood yet, but they would soon realize and act accordingly; but at the same time they have empowered themselves in the US in ways Americans haven’t fully grasped yet, but they can still reverse. By thrusting into their areas of production and spreading, the US-led coalition opened spaces for counter-Jihadi forces to rise. Al Qaeda and its allies, and the Iranian regime and its allies feel the danger but they can’t assess the long term challenge they will be facing. Unfortunately, the international coalition also doesn’t seem to realize that with few more initiatives, it can turn the tide on the Jihadists. However a number of strategic shortcomings are stopping the coalition from turning that tide. If the US-led campaign is not given the opportunity to redirect some of its resources into engaging the War of Ideas successfully, the future of this War on Terror is at risk. The Islamists-Jihadists have also penetrated Democracies, including the US, in ways that aren’t fully comprehended yet among the public and large segment of Government. They have been weakened in their pre-9/11 classical abilities to infiltrate. But their second generation is growing in recruitment and thus in Terrorism potential, until a higher level mobilization takes place in America.
c) Are there deficiencies in the struggle against “Islamic Terrorism?”
Yes there are three types of deficiencies:
1. A war of ideas is still been waged against the American strategic perception of the enemy. Ideological efforts are ongoing to blur the vision of Americans in general, media and Government in particular with regards to the identity of the enemy, its aims, its strategies and the strategies needed to defeat it.
2. One result of the misperception of the enemy is granting the Jihadists more time and capacity to further infiltrate and penetrate the country.
3. Another result of the misperception of the enemy is failing to empower potential allies in the Greater Middle East, particularly civil society entities.
d) How has Jihadism evolved since 9/11
Inside the US and its allies in Europe, the Jihadist movement is absorbing the counter terrorism pressures, analyzing the measures and is mutating to bypass them. It has designed two stages in its warfare: One is the development stage. It covers the spread of the ideology, the recruitment from the indoctrinated pools of militants, and the penetration of the national systems. The second stage occurs when the strikes are prepared and launched. U.S systems are countering them only at the final stage that is, in their preparation for Terror activities.
e) From where are they drawing support?
The Jihadists inside the United States are drawing their support from the reality that their space of indoctrination, recruitment and mobilization is not under legal or public sanctioning or pressure. They can operate up to 90% of their strategic growth under the current laws.
f) Are Americans complacent in considering the terrorist threat?
Since 9/11, the subsequent conflicts, and the Terror horrors around the world, the American public in general is developing a greater concern regarding the Jihadi Terror threat. Most Americans, by instincts and through images, understand that the threat is real and great. But the public is submitted to diverging final analysis on the War on Terror on behalf of its officials, politicians, media and academics. Thus the full talents of society are not mobilized yet.
g) What does the recent Hezbollah/Israel conflict mean for the broader struggle against terrorism?
Hezbollah’s initial trigger of the War with Israel in July 2006, regardless of the current consequences, indicated that the Iran-Syria axis has reached a point of non return with the international community and has decided to wage a wider Terror war to deflect the immediate pressures: The UN Nuclear crisis with the Ahmedinijad regime and the UN investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri regarding Syria. In fact the greater concerns of Tehran and Damascus are the democracy experiments in the region and across their borders, from Afghani and Iraqi elections to the Cedars Revolution in Lebanon. The course of events in Lebanon and Iraq shows, despite the UN resolutions 1559 and 1701, that the intelligence-Terrorist apparatus of the Iranian and Syrian regimes, of Hezbollah and other organizations including Hamas and PIJ, are moving to position themselves to act not only to confront Israel, but to renew the Terror war in Lebanon, increase Terror involvement in Iraq, trigger additional Terror action from Gaza and the West Bank, and threaten moderate Arab countries. A more dangerous move on behalf of this regional axis would be to use its assets and networks around the world and within the US for Terror activities, when decision in that sense is made. But the most dangerous threat to be faced by American and Western security, if not international security, would be in the next five years, actions taken simultaneously by both “trees,” even without direct coordination, and eventually using unconventional weapons.
4: General recommendations
Five years after, learning from the road to 9/11, and reading in the strategies of the Jihadists from both “trees,” I would offer the following recommendations, some of which I have advanced in my book Future Jihad.
A: The U.S and its allies must deliver and win the battle of identifying, defining and naming the enemy. Legislative branches in America and within Democracies worldwide must have the political courage, the right knowledge and the wisdom to address this challenge. The current state of national and international laws is not able to provide a historic basis for Governments, media and public to mobilize fully against an enemy living and thriving within these societies.
B: Counter Terrorism strategies must be designed to intercept the Jihadists before they engage in Terror acts, and intercept the ideological threat before it produce the Jihadists. To do so, the public must be granted the knowledge and provided with the right information. With a higher level of national talents, Homeland Security’s capacities will meet the growing challenge before it reaches irreversible trends.
C: From other countries one could learn from components of successful experiences: Jordan and Morocco in the Muslim confrontation of Islamist extremism, the UK and Australia in their counter Terrorism tactics; but also learn from the resistance of civil societies to Terrorist ideologies in the Greater Middle East.
D: The nation is facing the challenge of what is being described as a choice between Civil Liberties and National Security: It is a false choice that shouldn’t be imposed on the citizens of America and Democracies worldwide. For by educating, informing and preparing citizens, legislators, judges and public servants regarding the nature of the enemy, a common understanding of its ideology, plans and tactics, would bring together the various components of US national security and justice, without even having to weaken liberties. A better informed judge (known as Counter Terrorism Judges in Europe) would work faster and easier with Law enforcement, and better informed citizens wouldn’t feel that the choice is even to be made between security and rights.
From that perspective “Monitoring” will be directed at the Terrorists and citizens would be excluded systematically from discrimination. The real resistance against Terrorism will be achieved when citizens will be part of that effort to isolate the Terrorists.
E: To better “attack the ideology fueling Terrorism” the United States must first pin it down, explain it, name it and expose it. The US Congress, representing the American People must enact laws that would equate the Jihadism of al Qaeda and Hezbollah with racism and Terrorism. Once the public at home and civil societies overseas can see the ideology of the enemy, then they can isolate it and reject it as is the case of Fascism, Nazism and Racism. Salafist and Khomeinist Jihadism are the pillars of Jihadism. They should be denounced and rendered illegal: Militant ideologies, that renders segments of humanity vulnerable to violence, murder and genocide cannot be allowed to recruit within civil societies.
In conclusion, the United States and its allies are delivering an up hill battle against an enemy that has prepared for and declared a universal war against free societies and democracy, decades before America decided to respond. However to reach the turning point in the War on Terror, the War of Ideas has to be won: The American public has to be granted real knowledge of the enemy and civil societies overseas have to be granted real support. This is how Jihadi Terrorism can be defeated historically.
In closing, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present this testimony today. I look forward to responding to any question that you might have.

MINISTER MACKAY WELCOMES U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE TO NOVA SCOTIA IN MEMORY OF THE 9/11 TRAGEDY
September 8, 2006No. A/42
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will welcome U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Nova Scotia on September 11 and 12.
Minister MacKay and Secretary of State Rice will participate in a series of events to commemorate the 9/11 tragedy and to recognize the efforts of Canadians who assisted passengers stranded due to diverted flights. These activities will be held in the Halifax Region as well as in Pictou County.
Media representatives who wish to cover the events must contact the Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office at 613-995-1874 by 9:00 a.m. ADT on Monday, September 11, 2006, and leave their name, agency and phone number, specifying that their accreditation request is for the Nova Scotia events. Representatives will then be contacted by Mr. Réjean Beaulieu or Ms. Ambra Dickie to confirm participation, and will be given information on where to obtain an accreditation pass.
Note that there are a limited number of spaces available to the media and that no more than two members from any agency (one camera/photographer and one reporter) will be allowed at the events. If demand exceeds the available space, media may be restricted to one camera/photographer per agency only.
Confirmed media are requested to present themselves at least 45 minutes prior to each event with the following accreditation criteria:
1. Media accreditation from the National Press Gallery or any provincial legislature, along with one piece of photo identification.
2. In the absence of suitable gallery accreditation, an assignment letter from the responsible editor at the media outlet must be faxed to the Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office at 613-995-1405 by 9:00 a.m. ADT on Monday, September 11. Only applications from known media outlets as listed in commercial media directories will be accepted.

Hezbollah lies just below the surface in south Lebanon as peacekeepers move in
The Associated Press
Published: September 9, 2006
SRIFA, Lebanon The only hint of Hezbollah fighters in this southern Lebanese town here was the motorbikes parked on the streets — their favorite way of moving along the front lines.Guerrillas have been laying low as peacekeepers fan out across the south on a mission to ensure that Hezbollah keeps its weapons under wraps. But support for Hezbollah has only grown among Shiites trying to return to their lives amid the war's destruction. One resident of the village of Srifa said he was a fighter for the Shiite guerrilla force — and that he was ready to take up weapons again at a moment's notice.
"My motorbike is ready and my gun is ready," said the young man, who was in his 20s with a short, stubbly beard. He pointed at his cell phone: "One text message and I'm with my unit." He refused to give his name because of his connection with the group. His comments reflect the complexity of the mission of U.N. peacekeepers, who are now parked nearby. A contingent of nearly 1,000 Italian troops has set up a temporary base just outside Srifa, and the Lebanese army mans a checkpoint at the village entrance. The U.N. resolution that established the nearly month-old cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel calls for the eventual disarming of the guerrillas. But that potentially explosive task will not fall to the international troops.Instead of actively seeking out Hezbollah's arsenal, commanders of the force have said they will take weapons they see or come across — aiming to ensure that the guerrillas cannot bring them out for use.

French Troops Deploy in Lebanon to Enforce Truce
By Robert Berger -Jerusalem
09 September 2006
French troops are arriving in Lebanon to police the ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic militant group, Hezbollah. Israeli forces, which pounded Lebanon for 34 days, are preparing to pull out. France's Foreign Legion soldiers before a ceremony to officially open the first bridge in Lebanon to be built by them, on a highway near the town of Damour A ship carrying 200 French troops docked in Beirut, beefing up an international force that will eventually number 15,000. The French brought 100 military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, trucks and tanks. Weapons include artillery and anti-aircraft missiles.
It marks the first major deployment by France, which is contributing 2,000 troops, and will lead the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Lebanon. The U.N. force will work alongside 15,000 Lebanese army troops to enforce the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisen says this will clear the way for the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, to withdraw from Lebanon. "One of the reasons the IDF now are talking about the possibility of leaving is because of the arrival of international forces. We've already seen thousands of troops," she said. About 3,500 international troops are already in Lebanon, and more are on the way from France, Italy, Spain and Turkey, among others. Eisen says that builds confidence. "If there are 5,000 troops on the ground in southern Lebanon, Israel would like to depart from southern Lebanon." U.N. officials say that should happen soon, so Israel plans to have all of its troops out of Lebanon by Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in two weeks. The arrival of French troops comes a day after Israel lifted its crippling air and sea blockade of Lebanon, imposed at the beginning of the war eight weeks ago.