LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 11/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus
Christ according to Saint John 15,1-8. I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and
everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned
because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so
neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you
can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a
branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they
will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever
you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that
you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
Despite US Outreach, Syria Affirms Iran Ties-TIME
10/05/09
The Aoun comedy/Future
News 10/05/09
The Power of the First Impression-By ELLIOTT
ABRAMS/Wall Street Journal 10/05/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for May
10/09
Elias
Al-Zoghbi warns of opposition
plot/Future News
Hale: U.S will never talk to
Hamas and Hizbullah/Future News
Hizbullah baffled with ‘spy bulk’/Future
News
Pope
Tells Christians in the Middle East to Be Faithful to their Roots-Naharnet
Arab, Lebanese Mediation Efforts
with Egypt to Prevent Indictment of Nasrallah-Naharnet
Berri Announces Tickets in South, Calls for Elimination of Political
Sectarianism-Naharnet
Nasrallah Reassures Berri over Parliament, Gives Aoun Morale Boost-Naharnet
Mitchell to Visit Lebanon and Syria-Naharnet
Hizbullah Will No More
Look at Hariri Court from Suspicious Point of View-Naharnet
Ahdab Launches Campaign in
Tripoli-Naharnet
Jamaa Islamiya Urges
Supporters in Sidon to Commit to Deal with Mustaqbal-Naharnet
Security Forces Seize More
Spies, Rifi Describes Arrests as Strongest Strike Against Mossad-Naharnet
Murr: We Won't Allow
Regime to Fall-Naharnet
Gemayel: Dangers Shall
Continue to Surround Lebanon if Country Remains Prisoner of Axis Policies-Naharnet
Saniora: Our Policy is
Take and Ask, Theirs is Hinder and Ask-Naharnet
Najjar: Judiciary Has
Enough Immunity to Conduct Internal Revision-Naharnet
Raad: Willing to Concede
Our Parliamentary Seats For Safety of Lebanese From Israel-Naharnet
Report: Syria criticizes renewal of US sanctions-The
Associated Press
Israel PM rules out land for peace with Syria-Africasia
Israel 'sleepers' unmasked in Lebanon-AFP
Israeli PM may visit Jordan this week-AFP
Syria shrugs off US sanction renewal as
'routine'-AFP
Mom's
Day: a reminder of the Unbreakable Love
By: Dr. Walid Phares
On this Mother's Day all of us realize, each one from their own life experience,
that mom's love is an unbreakable one. This year is my second Mother Day without
my mom. She passed away on December 17, 2007, seventeen years after we were
separated by a sudden loss of freedom provoking my relocation to these shores.
Hind has played a tremendous role in my life, as most mothers do, particularly
as we were faced with the challenges of unrest and conflict. After a happy
childhood, our family had to endure the wrath of war. Along with my father's
guidance to acquire and spread knowledge around us her faith and love kept us
determined to strive for freedom and compassion. In October 1990 I had to leave
her in the old country so that I can commit to a mission and career of education
in America. Hence for the following 17 years, we have been separated. Except for
few visits here in the US and in meetings half way in France, we suffered the
pain of mother and son kept apart by this wall separating liberty from
oppression. Her words over the phone comforted me for not being able to visit
her and enjoy such moments. Years passed, as we were clinging on short
conversations and letters. My choice in life, striving for freedom and speaking
out for democracy, cost me dearly: 17 years of separation with my mother. On
this Mom's day, as many who have experienced the same saga, I tell those who are
enjoying their mother: hug her dearly and spend as much time as you can with
her, physically or over the phone: for this is a Godly gift.
At her next passing anniversary, I'll write more.
Today I am offering this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2aHWU9z5Sw
Happy Mother Day..
Al-Zoghbi warns of opposition
plot
Date: May 10th, 2009 Source: MTV
Prominent journalist Elias Al-Zoghbi cautioned Sunday against the scheme,
Hizbullah and his friends plot against Lebanon in the aftermath of a deceptive
result in the June 7 parliamentary elections. “A dangerous project is being
prepared for Lebanon after the parliamentary elections,” Al-Zoghbi, member of
the pro-government March 14 coalition said in a televised interview.
Al-Zoghbi added that if Hizbullah, leader of the opposition camp, sense that
election results will not turn in their benefit, “they may instigate violence
and resort to weaponry similar to what they did May of last year.” He warned the
opposition could opt to such violent acts in order to sabotage the elections and
suppress the popular opinion that is becoming more and more biased towards March
14.”He considered that “the ambiguity of the draft of The Third Republic entails
the seeds of establishing an Islamic Republic in Lebanon, led by Hizbullah,”
adding that this group will implement this project through a military coup if
March 14 alliance wins. “But if they win, they will take firm control of the
military institutions,” he said. He noted that preparations for such a coup
started in 2005 when renegade general Michel Aoun refused to participate in the
government. “Unfortunately, Aoun has tamed the supporters of the “Free Liberal
Movement” to become subservient to his orders, hence turning the movement from a
secular non-sectarian party into a religious political one. Al-Zoghbi called on
the Christians following Aoun to beware of the power sharing program the
opposition is holding on “because it will lead to an Islamic republic.”
Syria shrugs off US sanction renewal as 'routine'
DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syria on Saturday dismissed a US decision to renew economic
sanctions on Damascus for another year as a "routine" measure, even as the two
countries are engaged in a dialogue to improve ties.
On Friday, the White House said President Barack Obama renewed the sanctions
imposed by the previous administration amid continuing concerns about Syrian
support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
It is also accused of turning a blind eye to insurgents entering Iraq through
its border.
"The president felt it was necessary to take these measures. These are not new
sanctions," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters in Washington.
"We have some very serious problems with the government of Syria. And we hope to
be able to try to work out those differences, but a lot of it is going to be up
to Syria," Wood added.
A Syrian official played down the importance of the sanctions renewal, telling
AFP on condition of anonymity that the measure was "routine."
"The dialogue between Damascus and Washington is not over," the Syrian official
added.
Obama signed documents to renew the sanctions on Thursday but Washington made
them public on Friday -- a day after top US envoy Jeffrey Feltman held talks in
Damascus with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
Feltman, acting US secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, described his
meeting with Muallem as "constructive" and told reporters in Damascus that the
visit was part of Obama's plans to engage with Syria.
Meanwhile Arab League chief Amr Mussa said the US sanctions against Syria would
"lead nowhere" and told reporters in Cairo that "opening up towards Syria is
much more important that sanctions."
Washington first imposed economic sanctions on Syria in 2004 over charges that
it was a state sponsor of terrorism. They were extended in 2006 and then
tightened the following year.
Former US president George W. Bush renewed the sanctions for one year in May
2007, banning exports of products other than food and medicine and freezing a
raft of Syrian assets.
US-Syria ties have been strained since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese
premier Rafiq Hariri. Washington recalled its ambassador from Damascus after the
murder, although Syria denies involvement.
The Aoun comedy
Date: May 10th, 2009 Future News
Let us think of the scenery of our political life without Michel Aoun. Certainly
it will not be a theatre anymore, but a political reality worthy of Lebanon. The
level of tension will go down for sure due to Aoun’s absence, but with him
present, the level of humor and mockery will go up.
His appearances and speeches, particularly lately on the occasion of announcing
his “Free Patriotic Movement” electoral lists, are always marked with one of two
symptoms: tension or political schizophrenia. When he wants to talk about the
“State” he is working to achieve, he uses a high tone, or takes an arrogant
attitude far from the reality of his political alliances that he committed
himself to, and preached for.
He speaks about his “efforts” to build a prosperous state, and surpasses all
what affected the Democracy in its core starting with closing the Parliament
ending with the invasion of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, always threatening with a
new 7 May and the arsenal of his allies.
The Lebanese have discovered in Michel Aoun the type of politician resembling to
a recruitment officer in the totalitarian and authoritarian parties. He went
into trying to convince of public matters without explaining the mechanisms and
objectives.
Aoun “culminated” his effort to build a state, by wondering and asking publicly
how did the late air force Captain Samer Hanna flew over “Sujud” were Hizbullah
shot at his helicopter, as if the hypothesis became: Legitimacy to the party and
the exception to the army.
Such a schizophrenic character has no rights talking about building the State,
but about a chaotic situation that will demolish what is left of the country.
Aoun’s rhetoric is good in comedy, but is worthless in politics.
political battle against Aoun’s financial one
Date: May 10th, 2009 Source: Future News
Some say that the US openness on Syria will reflect on Lebanon especially on the
June 7 parliamentary elections that will pave the way for a Syrian comeback to
Lebanon. This added to the renewal of sanctions against Syria caused by its
ongoing threats, indicate that the political scene is preparing to renew the
past four years experience. Meanwhile, the international atmosphere stresses on
the importance of these elections and on the threats caused by illegitimate
arms.
And while regional meetings has several options other than the deal at the
expense of Lebanon, this current week ends with many problems incited by General
Michel Aoun and the way he’s dealing with his allies and with those he promised
of being on his lists to finance his campaign. As for March 14, the non-stopped
progress in finalizing the parliamentary majority’s lists is spreading to
central Bekaa and to the Armenian seat of Beirut’s first district.
Reflections are showing
As Ambassador Patrick Laurent, head of the EU commission to Lebanon, was
stressing on “independent and transparent elections for a democratic and legal
state,” Aoun announced the FPM list of Baabda. The orange General excluded FPM
candidate Ramzi Kanj and replaced him by Bilal Farhat, the candidate of
Hizbullah that is trying to make up for its sacrifices trying to find a solution
between Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berry.
Although Aoun said, as he was announcing the list, that “the electoral battle
with Speaker Nabih Berry is only in Jezzine,” the Shiite community felt offended
and might penalize him in several districts, in spite of MP Ali Hassan Khalil’s
public reassurances.
Kesserwan’s battle is launched
Former MP Fares Souaid, candidate for one of the two Maronite seats in Jbeil,
said that the reflections to Aoun’s behavior started to show in several district
especially in Jbeil. He also asserted that he will run the elections despite
many attempts to corner him, and added that Hizbullah is trying to control the
region’s decision.
Contradicting information saying that ex-minister Fares Boueiz will withdraw his
candidacy in Aoun’s benefit, Boueiz asserted that he will run these elections,
and announced that a list of independents will soon be unveiled, adding that
there is no problem with March 14’s Carlos Edde joining this list.
Reconstruction projects… and vetoes
On the other hand, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asserted that “our project is
for reconstruction and the others’ is for blockage,” and responded to the
critics against the policies of martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri by saying
that any tax imposed by the Cabinet is approved by the Parliament.
And while the Prime Minister was saying that peace in the Middle East cannot be
reached without a solution to the Palestinian conflict with Israel, Hizbullah’s
MP Muhammad Raad questioned the motives of the Lebanese government and its
backers by saying: “We are very satisfied for discovering spies of the enemy and
for the awareness of some of the security services that is using advanced
technologies which was maybe granted to track the opposition and its allies.”
Hale: U.S will never talk to Hamas and Hizbullah
Date: May 10th, 2009 Source: Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat
David Hale, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs has
said President Barrack Obama’s administration will not listen to calls by
President Bashar Assad to hold dialogue with Hamas and Hizbullah.
Hamas and Hizbullah are on the US list of terrorist organizations that resort to
violence to reach their goals.
The US diplomat was quoted by the pan-Arab ash-sharq al-Awsat newspaper as
making his comments during a round table meeting with Lebanese officials at the
American embassy in suburban Awkar.
The daily quoted reporters who attended the evening meeting that his
administration will deal with the coming government according to the results of
the June parliamentary elections.
“The U.S. believes that the Lebanese people are capable of holding democratic
elections,” Hale said. “The Lebanese should decide what sort of government they
want … the U.S. cherishes democracy and supports Lebanon’s freedom, independence
and sovereignty.
He expressed confidence in “the transparency and impartiality of the
international tribunal that looks into the assassination of former Premier Rafic
Hariri and his companions on February 14, 2005.” He added “we support the
tribunal, and no political settlements are going to be made at its expense.
“The investigation is ongoing and is not only centered on the recently released
four generals,” he said.
Jamil el- Sayyed, Ali el-Hajj, Mustafa Hamdan and Raymond Azar headed the
lebanese security and intelligence services when former Premier Rafic Hariri was
assassinated with 22 others in February 14, 2005. They were held on suspicion of
involvement in the Hariri case in August 2005 and released in March 2009.
Hale called on the assassination victims’ families and the Lebanese people who
were frustrated by the release of the four generals to be “patient, because the
tribunal is a long process, and justice will prevail in the end.”
Hale described the region as “divided between the axis of extremism and that of
moderation.”
“We believe the majority in the region is moderate, yet extremists take
advantage of the turbulent situation in Palestine and in Lebanon in order to
destabilize the area as a whole.”
On the renewal of the U.S sanctions imposed on Syria “The US sanctions on Syria
are a routine measure. They are renewed annually according to a definite
criterion.”
On the American President Barack Obama’s venture to Syria, Hale said “We started
dialogue with Syria and there is a considerable progress on the level of
maintaining stability in Iraq and reaching comprehensive peace in the region.
“We asserted, during our talks with Syrian officials, that Syria must not
interfere in Lebanese affairs. Lebanon had had enough of foreign interference.”
He added “the Lebanese offered many sacrifices to attain their independence and
sovereignty.
“We will do our best to prevent further interference in the Lebanese affairs.”
“The U.S administration believes that Syria is capable of playing a positive
role in stabilizing the region and we demand it to do so.”
Arab, Lebanese Mediation Efforts with Egypt to Prevent
Indictment of Nasrallah
Naharnet/Arab and Lebanese officials are holding calm and intensive talks with
Egypt to prevent the inclusion of Hizbullah's chief when the public prosecution
refers the case of an alleged Hizbullah cell to court, the suspects' lawyers
said. Last month, Cairo announced it had arrested a Hizbullah cell on charges of
plotting attacks in the country.
"Clearly there is an atmosphere of calm. This is obvious by the appeasing tone
being adopted by national newspapers toward Hizbullah," lawyer Khaled Ali told
the pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat in comments published Sunday. "The whole
issue will unfold once (the High State Security prosecution) announces its
decision to refer the accused (to court)," in the next few days he added. He
said it was still unclear whether the prosecution will include Hizbullah chief
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah among the accused or whether the list will be limited to
those arrested so far in Egypt. Nasrallah has admitted that one of the
defendants Defendant Mohammed Youssef Mansour, also known as Sami Shihab, was a
Hizbullah operative. He said Mansour was in charge of providing assistance to
Palestinians in Gaza and denied claims Hizbullah was planning to destabilize
Egypt. Separately, an official in Egypt's foreign ministry denied reports of
mediation efforts over the case, the paper said. Ali confirmed reports that
another suspect, Mossaid al-Sharif, was arrested but it was not clear if the
arrest was carried out inside Egypt.
He added that the authorities "might have arrested more suspects who had fled
the country." Beirut, 10 May 09, 10:22
Berri Announces Tickets in South, Calls for Elimination of
Political Sectarianism
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Sunday his bloc's electoral lists
under the platform of judicial reform, the abolition of political sectarianism
and strengthening ties with Syria, Iran and Turkey. From Mseileh, Berri said the
Development and Liberation bloc remains fully committed to the provisions of the
Taef Accord pledging to form a national body dedicated to the elimination of
political sectarianism. The body will also draft an electoral law under which
Lebanon is turned into a single district or five districts based on relativity.
"We reject any arbitrary or abusive implementation of any of the Taef's
articles," he said. He said the bloc remains faithful to its founding principles
including "the choice of resistance which is a vital national necessity as
Israel continues to occupy a part of our land … and to violate Lebanon's
airspace, border and territorial waters."Berri called for the full
implementation of U.N. Resolutions 425 and 1701 both of which call for Israel's
full withdrawal from Lebanon. On the national and regional levels, Berri said
the bloc supports confidence-building measures among Arab states. He called for
stronger ties with Syria and other countries in the region, especially Iran and
Turkey. On the national level, Berri said his bloc will work for the endorsement
of the state budget including the Council of the South and will pressure the
government to pay full compensations to victims of the 2006 war. He accused the
government of adopting "an intentional and premeditated policy" to delay the
appointment of Constitutional Council members. The government wants "things to
be done as it pleases, else it would not endorse the nominations," he added. The
speaker said the race in Jezzine – pitting his list against that of the Free
Patriotic Movement – will not affect the minority's alliances in the rest of the
districts. He added the list will be announced at a later time by MP Samir Azar
of the Development and Liberation bloc in Jezzine.
Berri listed the candidates as:
Nabatiyeh: Mohammed Raad, Abdul Latif al-Zein, Yassine Jaber
Sour: Mohammed Fneish, Ali Khreiss, Abdul Majid Saleh, Nawwaf al-Moussawi
Bint Jbeil: Ayoub Hmayyed, Hassan Fadlallah, Ali Bazzi.
Marjeyoun-Hasbaya: Assad Hardan, Anwar al-Khalil, Ali Hassan Khalil, Qassem
Hashem, Ali Fayyad
Al-Zahrani: Ali Osseiran, Michel Moussa, Nabih Berri
Western Bekaa: Nasser Nasrallah
Baalbek-Hermel: Ghazi Zeiter
Beirut 2: Hani Qobeissi
Beirut, 10 May 09, 14:21
Nasrallah Reassures Berri over Parliament, Gives Aoun
Morale Boost
Naharnet/Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was able to assuage the
concerns of his two main allies Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Michel Aoun over
parliament's presidency and electoral nominations in Jezzine, the daily An Nahar
reported Sunday. The three leaders held talks Friday night to discuss
parliamentary elections, particulary in Jezzine district. "Hizbullah proved
capable of adjusting disagreements within the ranks of the opposition,
especially in light of developments in Jezzine," that showed the extent of
divisions in the minority, sources told An Nahar. They said Nasrallah gave Berri
"implicit reassurances" over the latter's return to parliament after the
elections and boosted Aoun's standing by "not asking him to give up his initial
demands in Jezzine." Friday's meeting came after Aoun and Berri clashed
over forming a united list in the southern district of Jezzine with the former
refusing the speaker's nominee Samir Azar. Aoun then announced his intention to
run in "honest competition" against Berri in the district. The talks "resembled
a positive and much needed shock," that helped bridge the gap between Berri and
Aoun, the sources added. Aoun and Berri agreed to form two separate and closed
lists and promised to engage in a "civilized and democratic" electoral battle in
Jezzine. Beirut, 10 May 09, 11:49
Mitchell to Visit Lebanon and Syria
Naharnet/U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is expected to
visit Lebanon and Syria as part of his upcoming regional tour, U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State David Hale said in comments published Sunday. Hale,
who was in Beirut on Friday, informed Lebanese officials of the hurdles the U.S.
administration is facing as it focuses its efforts on reviving the peace
process, sources told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat. One of the obstacles, he
said, was that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been sending "the
conflicting signals" on the issue, they added. He said U.S.-Syrian relations
that Jeffrey Feltman -- the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern
affairs -- held "a constructive" dialogue with Syria "but with Syrian officials
with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and vowed to pursue dialogue with
Damascus.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 10 May 09, 10:48
Hizbullah Will No More Look at Hariri Court from Suspicious
Point of View
Naharnet/Hizbullah has decided not to look at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
from a "suspicious point of view," according to Hizbullah security sources.
The sources, in remarks published by the daily al-Balad on Sunday, said
Hizbullah "from now on will look at the international tribunal from a point of
view based on the principle of the submission of evidence against
suspects."Meanwhile, a source from the majority March 14 coalition told al-Balad
that Hizbullah has abandoned its campaign against the Lebanese judiciary after
finding out that using the generals' case for election gains "has not been
fruitful." Lebanon's top four generals were released April 29 from nearly four
years in custody in Lebanon without charge. A Hizbullah source, however,
rejected remarks claiming the Shiite group has used the generals' case for
political gains. "Hizbullah's support for the generals was an attempt to point
out the grave mistake committed against them by the Lebanese judiciary and
simultaneously a message to the international tribunal on how to deal with the
case." In a related event, Hizbullah slammed U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon for
"acquitting the Israeli enemy of the series of massacres and attacks committed
against the Gaza Strip in its latest aggression."
Beirut, 10 May 09, 15:07
Ahdab Launches Campaign in Tripoli
Naharnet/MP Mosbah al-Ahdab launched Sunday his electoral campaign at a public
rally in Tripoli and urged voters to prevent politicians who supported Syria's
tutelage from returning to power. "Tripoli will not allow those who prospered
under the Syrian tutelage … to return to power under the banner of solidarity
and harmony," Ahdab said.
"Tripoli will stand firm in order to protect civil peace and support the
establishment of a solid state," he added. Ahdab slammed political rivals for
demanding veto power saying it was "a mere ploy to cripple state institutions
and allow the survival of the statelet of welayat al-faqih's soldiers." Beirut,
10 May 09, 13:20
Jamaa Islamiya Urges Supporters in Sidon to Commit to Deal
with Mustaqbal
Naharnet/Jamaa Islamiya on Sunday called on its partisans to commit to agreement
with Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement regarding the electoral alliances in
Beirut and Sidon.
Jamaa Islamiya is "keen to ensure that Sidon is a model for quiet management,"
said a statement issued by the group. "We have to remember that we are the sons
of one city that expect us to compete for the good and to cooperate in order to
achieve the interests of its entire people," the statement concluded.
Beirut, 10 May 09, 14:33
Security Forces Seize More Spies, Rifi Describes Arrests as
Strongest Strike Against Mossad
The number of Israel-linked cells that security forces discovered in the past
two months rose to six as head of the Internal Security Forces, Maj. Gen. Ashraf
Rifi said the ISF made the strongest security strike against the Mossad.
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said that 17 people were arrested in the past two months
for allegedly spying for Israel. The latest arrests were made on Friday when
police seized five people in the south. Mahmoud Ahmed Shehab and his brother
Hussein were arrested in the town of Ghaziyeh. Authorities also arrested Mouna
Qandil, Hussein's wife. Later in the day, police seized two brothers who hail
from Bint Jbeil. One of the siblings lives in the town of Qana. They were
identified as Shawkat and Hussein Abbas.
"The ISF moved in the past two years to an advanced stage in its confrontation
against Mossad cells and networks" after improving technological means and
receiving funding to build a device to pursue alleged spies, Rifi told As Safir
newspaper in remarks published Saturday. "Six months following the
implementation of our plan we were able to arrest an agent who confessed to
having ties with Israel. But we didn't speak out about him at the time because
we assumed that the device is not sufficient and we shouldn't brag about it
before laying our hands on the remaining members of the cell," Rifi added.
He said security forces began pursuing and dismantling spy rings after Israel
decided to improve the function of these cells beginning this year. "We
cooperated with the security of the resistance (Hizbullah)," Rifi told As Safir,
adding that seizing Adib al-Alam, a retired general charged with spying for
Israel last month along with his wife and his nephew, "was an important factor
in finding other cells and networks." "We were able to make the strongest
security strike against the Israeli Mossad," Rifi stressed. A security source
told As Safir that the ISF in cooperation with the army intelligence and
Hizbullah's security was able through the Alam network to discover the other
cells. "We monitored the activities of several people since early 2007 …. And
later on we were able to unveil the Israeli intelligence system in Lebanon," he
added. Al-Hayat quoted sources close to the arrests as saying that all networks
uncovered until now, including the Alam cell, function in the same way and use
the same techniques to observe, monitor and photograph specific locations. The
discovery of the Alam cell's communication means also facilitated the arrest of
other networks, particularly that each ring has a limited number of members.
Israeli officials refused to comment on the arrests. "It is not our practice to
comment on these sorts of allegations when they arise, not in this case, not in
any case," government spokesman Mark Regev said. Pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat
also quoted a former Mossad official as saying the silence is "very
natural.""What shall we say? If (we say) they are our agents we would be acting
like (Hizbullah leader Sayyed) Hassan Nasrallah who admitted that the leader of
the terrorist cell in Egypt belongs to Hizbullah … If we deny … we would anger
former agents" whom we had exposed in the past, the ex-Mossad official told the
newspaper. Beirut, 09 May 09, 08:33
Murr: We Won't Allow Regime to Fall
Naharnet/Parliament member Michel Aoun rejected others efforts to bring down the
regime in Lebanon saying: " we won't allow the regime to fall, government to be
hindered, we won't accept any arms other than the army's, we won't accept a
diminished presidency and we won't accept Bkirki and the clergy to be
slandered."
During a meeting with the Syriac Orthodox sect that honored Murr, he paid
tribute to the parliamentary majority and independent candidates saying the
election battle is between "those that want to save Lebanon and those that wish
to destroy it." He called on the sect to remain united and to take the
courageous decision in supporting his electoral list in the Metn as well as
lists in Ashrafiyeh and Mount Lebanon. "We are waging the battle for saving
Lebanon today; through your wisdom and your courage you are doing so. Don't let
the blood of martyrs go to waste and keep Lebanon a homeland for the Syric
Orthodox," Murr said. Beirut, 09 May 09, 21:09
Gemayel: Dangers Shall Continue to Surround Lebanon if
Country Remains Prisoner of Axis Policies
Naharnet/Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel received visiting U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Hale and Ambassador
Michele Sison Saturday saying: "Since Lebanon is prisoner to axis policies, with
the presence of an armed group that places the country in [axis], Lebanon shall
continue to suffer from surrounding dangers."
He stressed the dire need for March 14 Forces to maintain a parliamentary
majority "capable of holding the decisions of war and peace." Hale affirmed the
"solid" U.S. stance toward Lebanon; he briefed Gemayel of his recent visit to
Saudi Arabia and reiterated the need for Lebanon to hold "honest and transparent
parliamentary elections." Beirut, 09 May 09, 20:27
Saniora: Our Policy is Take and Ask, Theirs is Hinder and
Ask
Naharnet/Prime Minister Fouad Saniora said that the parliamentary majority is
working on rebuilding the country, the economy and create growth, saying: "Our
program is to build and construct, while others have a program to hinder. Our
policy is take and ask, their policy is hinder and ask." He referred to the
current and past cabinets that he headed had achieved the highest rate of growth
in Lebanon's history to an extent that it lowered the country's debt. "Taxes are
going to the state treasury to be spent on people's needs. However, [financial]
kickbacks are going to militias, and you know whom I am talking about," Saniora
said. The prime minister said those criticizing the electric sector today were
themselves responsible for the sector and continue to do so now. "Today we are
passing through a very important and fundamental period in Lebanon's history. We
as a government are committed to an honest and transparent election," he said to
supporters. Beirut, 09 May 09, 20:06
Najjar: Judiciary Has Enough Immunity to Conduct Internal
Revision
Naharnet/Justice Minister Ibrahim Njjar defended the judicial body on Saturday
saying the judicial body possesses enough immunity to conduct its own internal
review.
He called on all politicians to lift their hands off the judiciary. Najjar
praised the recent statement made by the High Judicial Council (HJC) following
the release of the four generals by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) who
were detained in 2005 following the assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri. He
defended his role in calling on the HJC to meet saying he had the authority to
do so under article six of the judicial law. "This was no interference with the
judiciary's work, this aimed to ensure that the judiciary would bear its
responsibility," Najjar said.
He added that he preferred not to attend the HJC meeting only to maintain the
council's independence. "Only the judicial inspection has the right to hold the
judiciary accountable," Najjar said. Beirut, 09 May 09, 18:52
Raad: Willing to Concede Our Parliamentary Seats For Safety
of Lebanese From Israel
Naharnet/The head of the 'Loyalty to the Resistance' parliamentary bloc MP
Mohammed Raad said the opposition is willing to concede its parliamentary seats
to the "other side" [March 14 Forces] on the condition that the parliamentary
majority would guarantee to all Lebanese that they would be protected from
Israel.
"The closer we get to the parliamentary elections we hear tense speeches, we
don't understand why they speak with such provocation...divisions among the
Lebanese does not foster stability nor would it provide national unity," Raad
said on Saturday during an electoral event in Nabatiyeh. He called on his
political opponents to teach their audience that Lebanon has one enemy that
threatens all their existence and works on dividing them only to strike at their
interests. "Let us all come together and reach an understanding, let our hands
join for we are all threatened… our enemy is preparing the largest military
maneuvers it knows since its entity came into being. These maneuvers aim to
prepare their military for a confrontation against Lebanon. Hence, if Lebanon
were the target of their aim, it would be a shame for the Lebanese to provoke
one another. We all have to learn from past mistakes,' Raad said. He ended by
saying the presence of the national resistance is the guarantee for marinating
Lebanon as a solid fort against Israel. "The resistance gains further immunity
and strength, when Lebanon has a strong government that looks after the
interests of Lebanese, all the Lebanese," said Raad. Beirut, 09 May 09, 17:19
Boueiz Glad he 'Avoided Entering Chick Cage'
Naharnet/Former MP Fares Boueiz announced Saturday that he will not refrain from
running the elections and thanked those who helped him "avoid entering the cage
of chicks."
We "thank those who helped us avoid entering the cage of chicks and engage in a
blind commitment," Boueiz told a press conference at his residence in Zouk.
"We want a full parliamentary seat and do not want to become semi-MPs," he
stressed. He also promised to run in the elections although he was excluded from
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun's list in Kesrouan district.
Boueiz said that Aoun told him six times that he will be on his list, adding
that the former MP was later surprised to hear that he wasn't included in the
Kesrouan ticket. However, Boueiz promised that the list of "Independent
Coalition Forces," in which he will be a member, will be announced in the next
few days.
In his turn, former MP Mansour Ghanem al-Bon told An Nahar daily that
negotiations are ongoing with all sides. But he said that talks with Boueiz
haven't reached any result yet.
Lebanese Forces sources stressed the party's support for its candidates in
Kesrouan despite contacts with independents. Asked about the possibility of
Boueiz joining the list that will run against Aoun's ticket, the source said:
"There is no animosity with former MP Boueiz." Boueiz announced during his press
conference that the "Independent Coalition Forces" ticket does not preclude any
partisan or non-partisan force. "You will find in it (the list) an added value,"
Boueiz said. Beirut, 09 May 09, 10:26
The Power of the First Impression
When President Obama meets Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, behind the
diplomatic niceties, their encounter will have profound implications for
confronting the threat of a nuclear Iran
By ELLIOTT ABRAMS
First impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between
30 seconds and two minutes. So how will the first 30 seconds, and the rest of
the meeting, go when President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu sit down together on May 18?
The first thing to remember is that this meeting is far more important for Mr.
Netanyahu than for Mr. Obama; Mr. Netanyahu has a lot more at stake. Foreign
leaders come and go in the White House week in and week out, as fast as you can
change the sheets in Blair House. (Blair House is for one-night stands, two if
you're lucky. When the King of Jordan dropped by for a whole week in late April
he had to stay at a fancy hotel instead. Mr. Netanyahu will happily take Blair
House, a physical token of his return to the prime minister's office after 10
years in the wilderness.)
All those meetings with presidents, prime ministers and princes are valuable for
the United States in many ways, yet none are really critical for our security
and our future. For an Israeli prime minister, those relations are a matter of
survival -- political survival because his opponents at home will quickly jump
on any perceived gap with Washington, and physical survival because Iran's
nuclear program tops Mr. Netanyahu's agenda.
Mr. Netanyahu has to care about forging a personal relationship with Mr. Obama,
but Mr. Obama may feel he doesn't need Mr. Netanyahu as a pal. Mr. Obama appears
to have enormous faith in his own personal charm (and why not? Look where it's
gotten him) but we do not yet know when he pours it on. Just how much do
personal relations with foreign leaders matter to him? For George W. Bush, they
mattered a lot: His negative view of Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac and
his trust in Ariel Sharon changed U.S. foreign policy.
Messrs. Obama and Netanyahu will each come to the meeting confident in his
ability to judge people. Both men are after all democratic politicians, not
princes -- nor bureaucrats or academics like most of their staffs. They size
people up for a living, have risen to the top doing so, and have a great belief
in their own talents. They may of course be wrong; after his first meeting with
Vladimir Putin, Mr. Bush famously said, "I looked the man in the eye. I found
him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his
soul."
That kind of generous and hugely wrong assessment is unlikely here, for both
Messrs. Obama and Netanyahu will come to the meeting half poisoned against the
other. Mr. Netanyahu will have been told that Mr. Obama is weak and naive, won't
act against Iran and doesn't understand the way the world works. Mr. Obama will
have been told that Mr. Netanyahu is a "right winger" (and therefore bad by
definition) who is tricky and untrustworthy and needs to be pushed hard if
there's to be "progress toward peace." U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell
has already met Mr. Netanyahu several times and will offer the president his
private opinion on their sessions in Jerusalem, which one can just imagine: Both
smiling, both seeking to appear totally sincere, each doing all he can to
maneuver the other into a narrow corner.
It's unlikely that we'll know quickly whether they hit it off. The Israelis will
almost certainly make this claim within seconds after the meeting ends, and will
adduce every possible piece of evidence. Mr. Obama smiled; he put his arm on Mr.
Netanyahu's shoulder; his body language was friendly; his tie had positive
colors.
The White House leaks will be more interesting, for the staff may want to keep
Mr. Netanyahu nervous; we'll have to watch what favored journalists are told
about the chemistry in the days after the visit. We should not expect to hear
the kind of crack that French President Nicolas Sarkozy apparently made to
journalists after meeting the president (that Mr. Obama was "not always at his
best when it comes to decisions and efficiency"), as that does not appear to be
the Obama style. If he makes an exception for Mr. Netanyahu and has the staff
trash the prime minister to the media, we'll know the two men decided to loathe
each other.
And then there is substance. Messrs. Netanyahu and Obama have a lot to talk
about, from Palestinians to Syria to the United Nations, but for Mr. Netanyahu
-- as for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the president will soon find out --
the top item is Iran. Israelis see an Iranian bomb as an existential threat, for
two reasons. First, they cannot be sure an Iranian leader waiting excitedly for
the Mahdi's return will be using game theory and mathematical calculations to
decide whether it's sensible to strike the Jewish State. Even former Iranian
President Hashemi Rafsanjani, whom European diplomats view as a wonderful
moderate, called Israel "a one-bomb country."
Even if they assume Iran would not "nuke" Israel (out of fear that a
counterstrike would end this brief period of growing Shia ascendancy in the
Islamic world), Israelis fear what Iranian possession of a nuke would do to the
morale of their society. That is, take today's threats ("cancerous tumor" that
must be removed, says the Supreme Leader) and add a nuclear bomb, and Israelis
would be living under threat of annihilation -- call it Holocaust? -- every day.
Can such a place attract immigrants, or deter brain drain? Does it seem like a
place with a real future? Can the children of Holocaust survivors sit around and
take a chance on Iran?
Mr. Netanyahu will tell the president that the answer is no; Iran can't be
allowed to have the bomb. He will urge Mr. Obama to adopt a far tougher program
of economic sanctions than now exists, and accept the use of force as a last
resort. This portion of the meeting will be fateful. In June 1961, when John F.
Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev met in Vienna two months after the Bay of Pigs
fiasco, the Soviet leader concluded that Mr. Kennedy was a pushover. Just over
two months later Mr. Khrushchev gave the go-ahead for building the Berlin Wall,
and just over a year later he was putting missiles into Cuba. Mr. Khrushchev had
decided that Mr. Kennedy was "too intelligent and too weak." If that's the
assessment Mr. Netanyahu makes -- that Mr. Obama is plenty smart, but will never
risk confronting Iran -- he may resolve that an Israeli strike on Iran is
unavoidable.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, shown during a visit to a uranium
enrichment facility in 2008
Israel's military options and capabilities against Iran -- and the state of its
intelligence about the Iranian nuclear program -- are of course state secrets,
but the Israeli air force has been practicing long-range bombing runs. Israel's
surprise attack on the secret Syrian nuclear reactor at al-Kibar in 2007 was
gutsy and beautifully done, but far simpler than an attack on Iran -- which is
much farther away and presents multiple targets. Israel must also assess how
Iran, and its agents in Hezbollah, would react to such an attack. Syria, like
Iraq after Israel hit the Osirak reactor in 1981, did not react by trying to
strike Israel; indeed Syria even hid the fact of the bombing, trying to save
face. Iran might do likewise, might respond with acts of terrorism against
Israel, or might unleash rockets attacks on Israeli military sites or even
Israeli cities. So the decision on this subject is the most difficult one facing
Israel's government and the one Mr. Netanyahu will most wish to discuss with
President Obama.
On the "peace process," Mr. Obama will want progress toward a negotiated
settlement, while Mr. Netanyahu will offer practical actions (more jobs and
fewer roadblocks in the West Bank; more meetings with Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas; more training of Palestinian police). This past week he
outlined a "triple track" approach: renewed peace negotiations as the political
track, strengthening the Palestinian "security apparatus" as the security track,
and an economic track meant to advance the Palestinian economy. But it seemed
clear that security comes first, and that a final status agreement is not in the
cards right now.
Israel launched a surprise attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007.
Satellite photos show the area before, left, and after.
Mr. Mitchell seems to understand all of this, wily pol that he is -- and
impressed as he is by the Arab preoccupation with Iran rather than with the
Palestinians. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, another pol, seems to get it
too. With the Palestinians split between Fatah and Hamas -- Fatah unreformed and
desperately weak, Iran and Hezbollah pouring support into every rejectionist
group and now undermining Mr. Mubarak in Egypt -- the old "peace process" is
increasingly irrelevant to real world crises.
There is a critical struggle under way right now in the Middle East, but it is
not between Israelis and Palestinians; it is the people aligned with us --
including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, Israel and the United
Arab Emirates -- against Iran, Qatar, Syria, Hezbollah and the Palestinian
rejectionist groups. Mr. Netanyahu will tell the president this, but no one
knows if the president will buy it -- at least until he consults with those Arab
leaders and hears the same thing.
The problem of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the
supply of oil to the U.S. and the world market, the huge sovereign wealth funds
now in the hands of Gulf countries, and the fear of terrorism by Arab extremist
groups such as Al Qaeda are among the reasons that the Middle East remains a key
geopolitical interest for the U.S. In a short period of weeks this spring,
American officials are traveling throughout the region (just this past week,
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and other
officials were in Syria), and the president is receiving visits from the leaders
of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Mr. Obama will ask for something
on settlements. If he goes back to the old 2001 Mitchell Report language
("settlement freeze, including natural growth"), Mr. Netanyahu will explain, pol
to pol, that no democratic government can "freeze" life in a town of 38,000 like
Maale Adumim. He might ask the president how long could you "freeze" 100% of
construction in Bowling Green, Ky., or Salem, Mass., which are about the same
size, before voters revolted and citizens just ignored such an edict. Mr.
Netanyahu may offer some compromises -- constrained settlement growth, perhaps
no growth beyond the security fence or no "physical" growth, meaning "build up,
not out." He will be watching Mr. Obama's body language during these exchanges
attentively.
Here too, it's unlikely that we'll know the outcome fast. After the meetings,
both teams will want to cogitate on what just happened, what the other guy
really meant, what their guy really committed to. The Israelis will be looking
especially for hints of new American policies, departures from the Bush years.
They will focus on the tone of the president's comments on Iran: Does he call it
"unacceptable" for Iran to get the bomb or use a weaker word? On the
Palestinians, does he say simply that progress is our goal, or does he call it
"urgent"? Does he link our ability to help on Iran to such progress, with terms
like "precondition"? Does he publicly speak about a settlement freeze, and if so
in what terms -- demand, desire, propose, suggest? Keep your thesaurus handy, to
help interpret what the president said, and what he "really meant."
Often it isn't clear; diplomacy is a game in which words are used to obfuscate,
not inform. Is a commitment to study a proposal carefully a half-agreement or a
polite dismissal? Is "100% effort" a guarantee of action or early notice that
those efforts will fail to produce progress? When the Bush administration
promised to "address fully and seriously" all of Israel's objections to the
"Roadmap to Peace," many Israelis reached for their dictionaries. Why did we
need an address? What were we going to mail, and to whom? If the president says
we need to "create the conditions" for progress toward peace, does that mean he
thinks peace is years off, or is it a polite way of saying "stop settlements
now"? It may be months before we really know the meaning of the words spoken in
the Obama-Netanyahu sessions.
The physical details of the meetings will be carefully noted by both sides as
well. Who attends, or perhaps more importantly, who is left out? Is Mr. Mitchell
there? Dennis Ross, the new special adviser on Iran? Who from the White House
staff accompanies National Security Adviser Jim Jones? Who speaks up, and who
stays silent? To whom does the president turn for advice or information? And on
the other side, who is with Mr. Netanyahu and whom does he appear to trust? How
is he treated? Does he get lunch? And if so, in the West Wing, or "at home" in
the East Wing residence? Or does he just get a plain-vanilla meeting in the Oval
Office, and go away hungry?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Silent witnesses to the forthcoming meeting will be the American Jewish
community. American Jews are Democrats who voted for Obama. They are happiest
when an Israel-friendly Democrat in the White House joins hands with a Labor
Party prime minister in Jerusalem. Any other mix makes them nervous. A
Republican in the White House is usually mistrusted; after giving Ariel Sharon
total backing to crush the intifada, announcing his opposition to the "right of
return" of Palestinian refugees and telling Israel it could keep the major
settlement blocs in the West Bank, Mr. Bush won only 24% of the Jewish vote in
2004.
The worst combination for American Jews would be a popular Democrat in the White
House clashing with a Likud prime minister -- so nerves are on edge. American
Jews will be pained by any confrontation between the two men, and if one begins
to develop they will seek to keep it quiet and to defuse it.
Henry VIII and Francis I in the 1520s
American Jewish leaders are much taken with the Iran issue, though, and if Mr.
Obama seems to be tougher on Mr. Netanyahu than on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei or President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or Hugo Chávez, for that matter), it
won't take long for nerves to fray. Even the Jews, loyalists for the Democrats,
can change their votes. Richard Nixon won 17% of the Jewish vote in 1968, but
against George McGovern in 1972 that doubled to 35%. George H.W. Bush won 35% of
Jews in 2008, perhaps a Jewish vote of thanks to Ronald Reagan, but when he lost
his bid for re-election in 1992 he had whittled Jewish support down to 11%. In
this league the winner and still champion is Jimmy Carter. Mr. Carter won 71% of
the Jewish vote in 1976, but only 45% in 1980. It can happen.
Jews who watched, and then watched again, the clip of President Obama appearing
to bow to Saudi King Abdullah when they met in London will pay close attention
to the public treatment Mr. Netanyahu gets when he arrives at the White House.
In those first 30 seconds the two men will see eye to eye; they are both about 6
feet tall. As they clasp hands for the first time, all smiles, their entourages
will know that appearances can be deceiving -- and so will we.
Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on
Foreign Relations. He was the deputy national security adviser overseeing Near
East and North African affairs from 2005 to January 2009.
The Power of the First Impression
When President Obama meets Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, behind the
diplomatic niceties, their encounter will have profound implications for
confronting the threat of a nuclear
Despite U.S. Outreach, Syria
Affirms Iran Ties
By Andrew Lee Butters Thursday, May. 07, 2009Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
(R) and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad review an honor guard at Al-Shaab
presidential palace in Damascus, Syria.
Louai Beshara / AFP / Time
U.S. officials ought not to have been surprised by the smiling solidarity
between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian President Mahmoud
Amadinejad in Damascus on Tuesday — but they may, nonetheless, have been
disappointed. Sure, Iran is Syria's closest ally, and the two countries form the
core of what's sometimes called the "Rejectionist Crescent" — the arc of
countries and groups from Tehran to Gaza that stand against American and Israeli
power — but the Obama Administration hopes to change that. It has launched a
diplomatic outreach to Damascus aimed at weakening its ties to Tehran and its
support for militant groups in Lebanon and the Palestinians, but there was no
sign of progress on that front in Thursday's Assad-Ahmadinead press conference,
where the two leaders beamingly reaffirmed support for one another, and for the
likes of Hamas and Hizballah.
Just last year, Syrian officials were engaged in direct peace talks with Israel
(through Turkish mediation), and earlier this year, the Obama Administration
sent high level envoys to Damascus for the first time since the Bush
Administration withdrew its ambassador in 2005. The buzz in Washington was that
a peace deal between Syria and Israel could give the U.S. leverage as it
challenges Iran on a host of regional controversies, especially its nuclear
weapons program. But more recently, Washington appears to have grown pessimistic
— so much so that President Obama's Middle East envoy, Sen. George Mitchell,
didn't even visit Damascus on his otherwise comprehensive tour of the region
last month. The old-school rhetoric of the Ahmadinejad visit may be a further
sign that expectations of an early breakthrough may have been unrealistic. (See
pictures of alleged Syrian nuclear activity)
Previous rounds of negotiations have affirmed that the outlines of a peace deal
between Syrian and Israel are straightforward — Israel withdraws from the Syrian
territory it captured in 1967 on the Golan Heights, which becomes demilitarized,
and the Syrians prevent hostilities against Israel. Although Israelis have grown
accustomed to owning the Golan Heights for almost 42 years, such a solution
doesn't require evacuating densely populated settlements or transferring control
of sites deemed spiritually important to constituencies on either side — issues
that bedevil talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Still, the latest fighting
in Gaza reaffirmed a diminishing Israeli appetite for ceding control of land,
only to watch as militant groups fill the vacuum. And the hawkish Benjamin
Netanyahu was elected prime minister this spring after a campaign in which he
promised, among other things, not to return an inch of the Golan to Syria. Even
those in the Israeli establishment more inclined to a land-for-peace deal with
Damascus insist that the price must include Syria cutting ties with Iran and
with anti-Israel militant groups.
Syrian officials, however, insist that they have no intention of signing a
separate peace with Israel that leaves Iran in the cold. Instead, they have been
calling for a grand bargain that addresses the key points of contention between
Iran and Syria on the one hand, and Israel and America on the other. In that
context, a Syrian- Israeli deal would merely be a step in a larger process, a
"cold peace" involving demilitarization and recognition but no normalization of
relations between the two countries, and certainly no Anwar Sadat-style visits
by Assad to Jerusalem. Indeed, Syria's Foreign Minister has suggested that such
an interim peace deal wouldn't even require the Syrians to stop sheltering the
Hamas leadership in Damascus.
Washington isn't taking the bait. Instead, it is sending perhaps Syria's least
favorite U.S. official, State Department Undersecretary of State for Near
Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman, on his second trip to Damascus this week. While
serving as ambassador to Lebanon, Feltman had played a key role in nurturing the
anti-Syrian coalition that eventually forced Syrian troops to leave the country
following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and several
anti-Syrian politicians and journalists. U.S. embassy officials in Lebanon
suspect that the bomb attack on an embassy vehicle on the day of a departure
celebration for Feltman in 2008 was a nasty farewell from the Syrians.
Instead of offering a grand regional bargain, Feltman has approached relations
with Syria as a series of separate points of contention — support for insurgents
in Iraq and for Hamas and Hizballah, attempts to overthrow the Lebanese
government, hiding a possible nuclear weapons program. The U.S. demands progress
on these issues as the price for easing Syria's isolation by returning a U.S.
ambassador to Damascus, ending economic sanctions and sponsoring direct peace
talks between Syria and Israel. So far, Syria's record in solving these problems
has been mixed. The Syrians have helped seal the border with Iraq to prevent
jihadist infiltration, but, according to U.S. officials, have dragged their feet
almost everywhere else.
It's way too soon to pronounce the Syrian track dead, because the going was
always going to be painstakingly slow. Bashar al Assad, who is essentially
president for life, operates a different time-frame from his term-limited
American counterparts. The Assad regime will bask in the limelight of
international diplomacy, but will also delay as long as possible the day of
reckoning on which it has to chose between Iran and the U.S. And with Washington
preparing to open talks with Tehran, Damascus may be hoping that day never
arrives.