LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
September 22/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 9/9-13. As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man
named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he
got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors
and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this
and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician,
but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy,
not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Hizballah
‘The Most Capable and Disciplined Terrorist
Organization in the World’.By: W. Thomas Smith,
Jr. 21/09/09
Click
here to watch a report
on
Hezbollah from FOX NEWS
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for September 21/09
Sami
Gemayel: Lebanon Divided between those who Carry Arms and Citizens who Abide by-Naharnet
Ashkenazi: Israel Knows What to Do in Case of War with Hizbullah-Naharnet
Sarkozy Encourages Suleiman, Hariri
to Form 'Stable' Government-Naharnet
Suleiman Urges Election Law Based on Proportional Representation-Naharnet
Assassination Attempt
against Mufti Qabbani, Report-Naharnet
Two Roumieh Inmates Escape
from Hospital-Naharnet
Hariri to Adopt 'Package
Deal' on Cabinet Lineup-Naharnet
Aoun Denies Visiting
Damascus-Naharnet
Syria Hangs Tough on
Lebanon, Gives Priority to Iraq-Naharnet
Qabalan: Be Merciful Upon
People and Form a Cabinet Quickly-Naharnet
ISRAEL: Hezbollah Feels The Heat-Strategy
Page
Hezbollah may be seeking narco-terror ties-Houston
Chronicle
Yemen's North Hit by Bloodiest Fighting in Years-New
York Times
Hizballah – ‘The Most Capable and Disciplined
Terrorist Organization in the World’
By: W. Thomas
Smith, Jr.
FOX News is reporting what we’ve been saying for at least two years – and which
terrorist sympathizers and their paid cronies have tried to keep from public
awareness – that is, Hizballah may well be the most dangerous terrorist
organization on the planet, posing even a greater threat to the U.S. than al
Qaeda. According to the FOX segment, Friday, “Hizballah reportedly has
operatives in the United States. Two years ago, a Hizballah agent was arrested
after infiltrating the FBI and CIA.” True. Though few Americans are actually
aware of this, thanks to a heavily financed counter-media, propaganda, and
disinformation campaign aimed at soft-soaping the Lebanon-based,
Iranian-Syrian-supported terrorist organization as simply a Lebanese political
party with guns; and – as a part of that campaign – discrediting or destroying
anyone who might aggressively take Hizballah to task. Former U.S. Homeland
Security chief Michael Chertoff said, “We know there are people who have raised
money for Hizballah, and committed crimes to generate profits for Hizballah.
What I can’t tell you is how many of those people would lay down the moneymaking
and actually carry out an attack.”Nevertheless, we know Hizballah is in the
U.S., and their substantial presence – and freedom-of-movement – throughout
Latin America is increasing “almost exponentially,” so-say some of our sources.
Chertoff has said, Hizballah “makes al Qaeda look like a minor league team.”
And Friday’s segment included a clip from a recent terrorist briefing by New
York City’s deputy police commissioner (also NYPD intelligence chief) David
Cohen, who warned those in the briefing that Hizballah “is probably the most
capable and disciplined terrorist organization in the world.”Global terrorism
expert Dr. Walid Phares said, “A success of the uprising inside Iran – against
the regime – may compel the regime, actually, to deflect attention from events
inside Iran, and order strikes inside the United States. And have Hizballah
cells deliver that strike.”
The FOX segment also mentioned Hizballah’s annual income of $1 billion Iranian
petrodollars, for its service as an Iranian foreign legion. Again, we –
including Dr. Phares and a very small minority of analysts with very deep
sources of accurate information – have been reporting this estimated $1 billion
for at least two years: As was predicted Gen. Michel Sleiman’s ascension to the
Lebanese presidency (long before he was even considered). As was predicted
48-hours prior that Hizballah was going to launch a widespread military
offensive against the legitimate government of Lebanon in May 2008. I could go
on and on. As one Middle East analyst mused in an e-mail Friday, “Why the
administration is not educating the public about Hizballah – and why the media
does not dedicate as much time to explaining the Hizballah threat as it does al
Qaeda – is beyond comprehension.”
See FOX segment here.
http://www.blip.tv/file/2619134
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.
Sami Gemayel: Lebanon Divided between
those who Carry Arms and Citizens who Abide by Laws
Naharnet/MP Sami Gemayel said consensual democracy has rendered the results of
the parliamentary polls ineffective and slammed "first degree citizens" for
carrying arms and taking unilateral decisions of war. "Several months ago a new
concept was invented: A consensual democracy that means the results of the
parliamentary elections are ineffective because those who win the majority have
to negotiate with the minority over its demands even if they were impossible to
meet," Gemayel told Lebanese expatriates in Montreal. The MP also criticized the
opposition for "preventing the majority from forming a government." He said the
Lebanese are now divided between "two categories – first class citizens who have
the right to carry arms and declare war and peace and another big category of
second class citizens who abide by the state's laws and urge protection."
Beirut, 21 Sep 09, 15:45
Ashkenazi: Israel Knows What to Do in Case of War with
Hizbullah
Naharnet/Israeli army chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday that
the military underwent significant improvements since the 2006 war with
Hizbullah and "has the answer" to any future conflict. "Since the Second Lebanon
War, we have done an all encompassing review of the possibility we may need to
fight again in the North. We understand what we need to do next time and the IDF
has the answer," Ashkenazi told Army Radio in a question and answer session. "It
is a strong and high quality military, and I trust it," he stressed.
Ashkenazi added, however, that it was not in Hizbullah's interest to start a new
conflict. "We are monitoring closely what is happening inside of Lebanon.
Hizbullah continues to become stronger," he said. Turning to Iran, the general
said the best way to deal with Tehran's nuclear threat is sanctions. "If
(sanctions don't work), Israel has the right to defend itself, and all means can
be used to achieve this," Ashkenazi added. About a U.N. report on Israel's
winter offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the general said the document
was "biased and unbalanced." Referring to Richard Goldstone, the South African
prosecutor who wrote the report, the Israeli military chief told Army Radio: "He
ignored Hamas (rocket) fire. As the one who planned the operation, I say that we
have a moral army; we did everything we could to lessen the harm to
noncombatants." Beirut, 21 Sep 09, 16:59
Sarkozy Encourages Suleiman, Hariri to Form 'Stable'
Government
Naharnet/French President Nicolas Sarkozy again encouraged efforts undertaken by
President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to form a
stable government.
Sarkozy stressed in separate telephone calls to Suleiman and Hariri over the
weekend that France remains a friend of Lebanon and all the Lebanese,
reiterating France's commitment to Lebanon's independence and sovereignty. A
statement issued by the Elysee Palace said Sarkozy was briefed by both Suleiman
and Hariri on the Lebanon situation amid continuing consultations aimed at
forming a government. Daily Asharq al-Awsat said Paris is "committed to a
cautious stance on the issue of the Lebanon government because it wants to avoid
accusations of interference in Lebanese internal affairs from one hand, and on
the other because it does not want the issue of overcoming the problem of the
new government to weaken Lebanese institutions and show Lebanon unable to tackle
its own plights or that it is in constant need of foreign help."Sarkozy's
interest in the formation of a new Lebanon government comes on the eve of a trip
to New York by Suleiman to attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting. Suleiman is
expected to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem to discuss regional
issues, including the Lebanese Cabinet crisis and the possibility that Damascus
will help in facilitating the creation of a unity government in view of last
week's telephone call between the Lebanese and Syrian presidents. Beirut, 21 Sep
09, 07:33
Suleiman Urges Election Law Based on Proportional Representation
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman said on Monday that a new elections law based
on proportional representation gives along with logistics preparations a full
picture of modern and democratic polls in Lebanon. Suleiman's comment came
during a meeting with visiting Chief observer of the European Union Election
Observation Mission (EU EOM) Jose Ignacio Salafranca. Salafranca presented to
Suleiman his report on the June 7 parliamentary elections which referred to a
sense of awareness and maturity in the Lebanese people.
The report lauded the credibility of the role played by Interior Minister Ziad
Baroud in his preparations for the elections under direct instructions by
Suleiman. The report said all sides accepted the results of the polls and no
specific incidents took place during the one-day elections. Salafranca also met
Baroud and said his visit to Beirut is aimed at "finishing the European Union's
job on the Lebanese parliamentary elections that were held on June 7 and handing
over the final report that includes suggestions to improve this process in the
future."He said he will hold a press conference on Friday to publicly announce
the report's content. Beirut, 21 Sep 09, 13:37
Assassination Attempt against Mufti Qabbani, Report
Naharnet/As Muslims around the world celebrated Eid el-Fitr, a report surfaced
of an assassination attempt against Lebanon's Grand Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohammed
Rashid Qabbani.
The report by the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper said Lebanese intelligence
disrupted the assassination attempt that was to take place on the first day of
Eid el-Fitr on Sunday. It said that according to information obtained by the
Lebanese intelligence, the assassination was intended to be done by means of a
suicide operation inside al-Amin Mosque during the Eid prayers. Beirut, 21 Sep
09, 08:01
Aoun Denies Visiting Damascus
Naharnet/A high-ranking Lebanese official said a meeting took place two weeks
ago between Hizbullah and Syrian officials to assess the Lebanon situation. He
also spoke of a visit by an AMAL movement official to Damascus on the eve of
Saad Hariri's reappointment for a second term as prime minister-designate to
form a new government.
The official said Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun also has
visited Damascus in the beginning of September. Sources close to Aoun said the
FPM leader's trip was a tourist visit to Damascus and Aleppo on his way for a
vacation in the Czech Republic. Aoun returned home Sept. 12. The FPM leader's
office issued a statement on Monday denying such a trip. MP Alain Aoun, in an
interview with Voice of Lebanon radio station, also denied that the former army
general had visited Damascus, pointing that "there is no reason why such a visit
should not be announced." Meanwhile, MPs from Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have
also denied that Aoun and Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh had visited
the Vatican. Beirut, 21 Sep 09, 10:42
Two Roumieh Inmates Escape from Hospital
Naharnet/Two inmates from Roumieh prison managed to escape from Naufal hospital
in Beirut where they were being treated, press reports said Monday.
They were identified as Hisham Ali Wehbe and Ali Hussein al-Sahili, who are
facing several judicial rulings issued against them. Reports said the two
prisoners escaped from the hospital at 4:00 am Monday. Beirut, 21 Sep 09, 08:37
Qabalan: Be Merciful Upon People and Form a Cabinet Quickly
Naharnet/Deputy head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Abdul Amir
Qabalan called Sunday on the various political parties to "have mercy on the
Lebanese people and form a Cabinet quickly."During the Eid el-Fitr sermon,
Qabalan stressed Lebanon's need to unify ranks. Beirut, 20 Sep 09, 13:35
Syria Hangs Tough on Lebanon, Gives Priority to Iraq
Naharnet/As Lebanon braces for a new round of parliamentary consultations in an
attempt to shape a new government, Syria seemed to be hanging tough on Lebanon
in response to U.S. intransigence toward Damascus. Political sources relied much
on talks that are likely to take place in New York between President Michel
Suleiman and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on the sidelines of the U.N.
General Assembly meeting. Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, citing political sources,
said Monday that Suleiman and Muallem will discuss regional issues and efforts
to defuse Syrian-Iraqi tension as well as the Lebanon situation and obstacles
facing the formation of a national unity government. The expected Suleiman-Muallem
meeting comes following a phone call last week between the Lebanese and Syrian
presidents. Al-Hayat said Suleiman has briefed Syrian President Bashar Assad
about efforts to form a national unity government following Hariri's decision to
step down as prime minister-designate. The political sources said Suleiman
informed Assad of the reasons that led Hariri to abandon efforts to form a
government without requesting anything specific from the Syrian president. They
said Assad was not aware that Hariri made a lot of concessions that cleared the
way for Cabinet's formation. A high-ranking political official said Syria's
intransigence in Lebanon regarding formation of a new government comes in
response to the inflexibility of the United States toward Damascus.This,
however, does not indicate that Washington has decided to change Obama's policy
with regards to engaging in dialogue with Syria, the official added.
Syrian officials have confirmed to foreign delegates that visited Damascus
recently that priority is given to the Syrian-Iraqi crisis and the need to
resolve it, and that they are not interested in following up on the Lebanon
situation. A Lebanese official, however, told Al-Hayat that he does not believe
Syria has abandoned its ambitions to return to having a key role in managing
Lebanese internal affairs.Beirut, 21 Sep 09, 09:42
Jibril Warns Lebanon Against Attempts
to Disarm his Group
Naharnet/Leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General
Command Ahmed Jibril warned the Lebanese government against any attempt to
disarm his militant group.
In an interview aired on Iran's Alalam television late Saturday, Jibril said a
demand for the disarmament of his PFLP-GC movement is an "Israeli and not a
national Lebanese request."
Jibril claimed that his weapons "do not constitute a threat to Lebanon since
they have not interfered in inter-Lebanese affairs just like no terrorist attack
had been launched from the group's positions in Lebanon.""Palestinian arms
inside the camps should be closely controlled. In the event of continuing chaos
in the camps, we should fear a fate similar to that of Nahr al-Bared," Jibril
cautioned. He renewed his call to discuss Palestinian arms with Lebanese
authorities "but not without taking into account Palestinian rights and ways to
improve their living conditions."
Jibril pointed a finger at Israeli and U.S. intelligence and even Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas "who may be stirring up security mishaps inside
(Lebanon's) refugee camps in a bid to raise the issue of Palestinian arms."He
denied his group's involvement in the latest attack against northern Israel in
which militants fired two Katyusha rockets from south Lebanon into Nahariya.
Beirut, 20 Sep 09, 09:30
Kuwaiti Plane Returns to Airport after Bomb Hoax
Naharnet/A Kuwaiti airplane was forced to fly back to the emirate's airport on
Monday after a row between a crew member and a passenger claiming his bag
contained a bomb, the state news agency KUNA said. The passenger refused
to place his hand luggage in the overhead compartment as requested by the crew
member 40 minutes after take-off on the Damascus-bound flight, according to
KUNA. The pilot was forced to fly the Wataniya Airways plane back to Kuwait
City, where interior ministry officials carried out a search but found no
explosive materials, KUNA reported. The passenger was taken in for questioning
and the plane took off again for the Syrian capital.(AFP) Beirut, 21 Sep 09,
14:33