LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
February 21/09

Bible Reading of the day.
Luke12/35-4/Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.  Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Collaboration with Russia is the best US strategy to contain nuclear threat-The Daily Star 20/02/09
Syria and the Lebanese Opposition Against Lebanese President/ By: H. Varulkar Middle East Media Research Institute 20/02/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for February 20/09
Israel's main threat is Iran, says new leader Netanyahu-AP
Christian leader Dr. Geagea calls for calm after grenade attacks. News agencies
Peres: Netanyahu will form new government-AP
Two bombs near Kataeb office and grenade at Lebanese forces office/Future News
Kouchner Warns of Dangers of Delay in Appointing Syrian Ambassador to Beirut-Naharnet
Sunni opposition, the new burden on Hezbollah/Future News
Hariri and Geagea for Punishing Culprits Involved in Feb. 14 Attacks-Naharnet
Phalange, LF Targeted by Grenades-Naharnet
Bellemare Back to Beirut-Naharnet
Mitchell: We Want 'Transparent' Elections in Lebanon-Naharnet
Fneish: Contacts Between Hizbullah and Mustaqbal Ongoing-Naharnet
Parliament Session Adjourned Over Lack of Quorum-Naharnet
Qassem: We Don't Want Resistance Branches in Palestine or Iraq-Naharnet
ICG: Lebanon's Palestinian Camps a 'Time Bomb'-Naharnet
Hizbullah Makes Security Changes Following Arrest of Israeli Spy-Naharnet
Murr Warns against Forestalling Results of Hariri Investigation-Naharnet
Jumblat Visits Qahwaji, Praises Army-Naharnet
Hariri Vows to Reduce Youth Emigration, Ensure Jobs for Them-Naharnet
MEA Pilots Protest Miqdad's Murder-Naharnet
Salloukh Criticizes Kerry for Breaking Diplomatic Protocol-Naharnet
Cabinet Still at Loggerheads over Council of the Southv
John Kerry's role in Damascus-Boston Globe
Indyk: Netanyahu may seek Syria deal to deflect US pressure-Ha'aretz
Berri adjourns Parliament session over lack of quorum-Daily Star
Cabinet remains at odds over funding for Council of South-Daily Star
Spy for Israel sold bugged cars to Hizbullah members - report-Daily Star
Jumblatt expresses confidence in army as 'guarantor of peace-Daily Star
'Baroud sped up process to remove sect from records-Daily Star
Nurturing Instability: Lebanon's Palestinian Refugee Camps-Daily Star
Lebanon to get higher-speed internet-Daily Star
Lebanese minister stresses need to upgrade power plants-Daily Star
Seawater intrusion threatening Beirut water supplies-Daily Star
AUB lecture earns Christopher Hitchens praise from some, ridicule from SSNP-Daily Star
Kerry visits Gaza but shuns Hamas-Denver Post

Netanyahu gets nod to form new Israeli government, urges rivals to join him
By Matti Friedman, The Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Hawkish politician Benjamin Netanyahu urged his centrist rivals to join him in a unity coalition after Israel's ceremonial president formally tapped him Friday to assemble Israel's next government.
Tzipi Livni, the moderate foreign minister also vying for Israel's top job, appeared to leave the door open Friday to teaming up with Netanyahu. However, her price for doing so may well be too high for Netanyahu: a rotation arrangement in which both she and Netanyahu would serve as prime minister.
President Shimon Peres' decision to tap Netanyahu ended days of speculation and gave Netanyahu six weeks to put together a ruling coalition.
The question now is whether Netanyahu will form a narrow government with his hard-line allies or a broad government along with Livni. His choice will have serious ramifications for Mideast peacemaking. "I call on the members of all the factions ... to set politics aside and put the good of the nation at the centre," Netanyahu said during a low-key ceremony at the president's residence in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu urged Livni of the governing Kadima Party and Defence Minister Ehud Barak of the Labour Party to join his government.
Peres had been meeting political leaders as he decided which candidate would be given the task of cobbling together a new coalition in the aftermath of Israel's national election last week. Peres made his announcement early Friday afternoon after meeting with Netanyahu and Livni.
The choice of Netanyahu was cemented on Thursday when Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the hawkish Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party, endorsed him.
Lieberman's party, which based its campaign on requiring Israel's Arab citizens to swear loyalty to the Jewish state or lose their citizenship, came in third place in the Feb. 10 election, after Kadima and Netanyahu's Likud. That essentially allowed him to determine whether Netanyahu or Livni would be able to muster the backing of a majority in parliament. Kadima edged out Likud in the election, capturing 28 seats to Likud's 27. But Likud is in a better position to put together a coalition because of gains by Lieberman and other hard-line parties.
Emerging from her meeting with Peres, Livni said she would not join a hard-line government and was prepared to sit in the opposition "if necessary."
"I will not be able to serve as a cover for a lack of direction. I want to lead Israel in a way I believe in, to advance a peace process based on two states for two peoples," Livni said.
With Livni out, Netanyahu might have little choice but to forge a coalition with nationalist and religious parties opposed to peacemaking with the Palestinians and Israel's other Arab neighbours.
This could set Israel on a collision course with the U.S., the Jewish state's top international patron, and its new president, who has vowed to make Mideast peace a top priority. Netanyahu's hold on power would be more tenuous in a narrow coalition of rightists, where his allies could bring down the government in the face of any concession for peace.
Putting together a broad, centrist government would be a tall order for Netanyahu, however.
Livni has said she will not join Netanyahu in a government unless she can be an equal partner, presumably through the sort of "rotation" agreement Israel has tried in the past in which an election's top two winners each get to be prime minister for half of the government's four-year term.
Netanyahu, however, has ruled out any such arrangement.
As the political wrangling in Israel gained momentum, sporadic violence continued in Gaza in the absence of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Militants fired mortar shells at an Israeli patrol along the Gaza-Israel border Friday, Israeli defence officials said, and the troops returned fire. There were no injuries reported.
Egypt has been trying to mediate a truce since Israel ended its Gaza offensive Jan. 18. Hamas wants Israel to open Gaza's blockaded border crossings, while Israel wants a halt to arms smuggling and the return of a soldier captured in 2006.
Netanyahu has said Israel must topple the Hamas government in Gaza and says Israel halted the Gaza offensive too soon.

Christian leader calls for calm after grenade attacks
Middle East News/Feb 20, 2009,
Beirut - The leader of the anti-Syrian Christian Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, called Friday on his followers to exert self-restraint after grenade attacks on his movement's offices. 'We call on all friends and supporters to maintain full calm following the grenade attacks on our offices Thursday night, because this could be an attempt to drag the LF into irresponsible responses,' he said at a press conference at his residence north-east of Beirut. Two grenades were tossed overnight at two offices that belong to the LF in the town of Kfour, northeast of Beirut, causing only material damage. Two other grenades were also found near the offices of the Christian Phalangist party, which is headed by former president Amin Gemayel, and who is also an ally of Geagea. 'Someone is trying to ignite a civil strife in this country and we have to be very careful,' Geagea added. Geagea and Gemayel, both Christian leaders and outspoken critics of Syria, support the Western-backed majority headed by Saad Hariri. The two Christian leaders are forming a close alliance with Hariri in various sectors of Lebanon to compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections, which is due in June.
But former General Michel Aoun, a prominent Christian leader as well, is siding with the pro-Syrian Hezbollah-led opposition. Incidents targeting followers of the anti-Syrian camp have been registered in the country since last week. On February 14, and shortly after a massive rally to mark the fourth anniversary of the killing of former premier Rafik Hariri, followers believed to be from the Hezbollah-led opposition stabbed a member of the ruling majority to death. The tensions come in the buildup to the June 7 elections to elect a new Lebanese parliament, in a race expected to be very close between the ruling majority and the opposition. In May 2008 Lebanon witnessed heavy clashes between followers of the opposition and the majority, with the violence killing 82 people and wounding some 300 others.

Kerry visits Gaza but shuns Hamas
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/20/2009
(Mohammed Abed, AFP/Getty Images )JERUSALEM — For the first time in nearly a decade, U.S. lawmakers toured the isolated, battle-scarred Gaza Strip on Thursday in a high-profile visit that came as the Obama administration is developing its diplomatic priorities for the Middle East.
The short, separate tours by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and two other Democratic lawmakers marked the first time that high-level American officials have entered Gaza since Hamas seized control of the Mediterranean coastal strip in 2007.
It also was the first time that U.S. lawmakers had gone to Gaza since the second Palestinian uprising broke out in 2000.
Before entering Gaza, Kerry made it clear that his visit didn't mean that
Journalists surround U.S. Sen. John Kerry as the Massachusetts Democrat visits a destroyed American International School on Thursday in the Gaza Strip. ( Khalil Hamra, The Associated Press )the new American administration was preparing to reverse course and talk to Hamas leaders, who refuse to renounce their long-standing pledge to destroy Israel. None of the lawmakers met with Hamas leaders during their tours of Gaza.
However, Kerry's tour, which will take him to Syria this weekend, is being watched closely by Middle East policymakers and Washington analysts. They are waiting to see whether President Barack Obama follows through on his pledge to make Israeli- Palestinian peacemaking a top priority in his first months in the White House.
"It is a clear signal that the American administration is exploring new ideas because it is hard to believe that this visit would have happened without at least the tacit endorsement of the White House," said Gidi Grinstein, a former negotiator for then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the founder of the Reut Institute research center in Israel.
Perhaps more important is Kerry's visit to Syria. With internal divisions splitting the Palestinian political landscape, many suspect there's a greater chance that Israel can secure a peace deal with Syria first.

Two bombs near Kataeb office and grenade at Lebanese forces office
Date: February 20th, 2009 Source: NNA
Police said Friday it diffused two bombs planted in a garden near the Phalange Party offices of Dbayeh hours after a hand grenade was thrown at the headquarters of the Lebanese Forces in Keserwan. No casualties were reported in the pre-dawn attack on the LF, according to Police which had to seal off the seaside area of Dbayeh hours later to diffuse two bombs planted near the Phalange Party premises. They said army expert examined the bombs and revealed that they are fitted but unprepared for exploding. The bombs were then transferred to one of the military barracks in the region. Earlier, unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at 1:00 a.m. on Friday at the Lebanese Forces office in Kfour village in Keserwan, from behind a fence. The explosion broke the window glass and damaged the furniture in the office. The attacks on the offices of the Kataeb and the LF follow another hand grenade attack earlier this week by against the LF office in Sin El Fil.

A hand grenade thrown at a “Lebanese Forces” office
Date: February 20th, 2009 Source: NNA
Unidentified person threw a hand grenade at a “Lebanese Forces” office in Kfour- Keserwan shortly after midnight, police reported Friday.The assault damaged the glass of the office causing no casualties. There was no one in the place at the time of the attack.

Kouchner Warns of Dangers of Delay in Appointing Syrian Ambassador to Beirut
Naharnet/French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner expressed regret that Syria didn't send an ambassador to Beirut yet, saying the head of mission should have been appointed last week. "We didn't understand why there was a delay," Kouchner told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Friday. The ambassador "should have been appointed last week." "Many things have been achieved, including the establishment of diplomatic relations which is a recognition of Lebanon … But it's a pity that Damascus did not yet send its ambassador," he said. "If the delay was for one month or two, then the issue is not important. But if (the delay) means a review of what has been achieved, then this is a different issue and it would be very dangerous," Kouchner warned. The foreign minister also reiterated his country's support to the international tribunal that will try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's suspected assassins. He revealed that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has made it clear to his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad that there was "no compromise" on the court. "We believe that everyone should help the tribunal and cooperate with it. France's initial stance is to support international justice away from political pressure," Kouchner told his interviewer. Asked if France would send observers to monitor the June 7 parliamentary elections, the foreign minister said: "We are ready to do that. But I think this should be done as part of the European Union. We are waiting for Lebanon to make an official proposal in this regard." Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 10:02

Hariri and Geagea for Punishing Culprits Involved in Feb. 14 Attacks
Naharnet/Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea urged authorities to punish those involved in the latest attacks on March 14 supporters. In a statement issued Friday, the two leaders "expressed regret at the attacks on the participants" of a rally marking ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's fourth assassination anniversary. Hariri and Geagea, who met in Qoreitem Thursday night, also urged "security, military and judicial forces … to pursue the culprits and punish them."They expressed relief at the heavy turnout by "Muslims and Christians alike" at last Saturday's rally, saying the mass gathering showed that March 14 supporters were "holding onto democracy, independence, sovereignty and full partnership" among the country's people. Hariri and Geagea also discussed electoral alliances in several regions and lists of candidates that the March 14 forces will soon unveil. Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 12:18

Cabinet Still at Loggerheads over Council of the South
Naharnet/The cabinet on Thursday remained at odds over the issue of the Council of the South despite media reports of "tangible progress" to reach compromise on fund allocations to the Council. Well-informed sources told An Nahar daily in remarks published Friday that the cabinet made "tangible progress" on the issue during a session at Baabda palace that lasted more than four hours. Information Minister Tareq Mitri also described the discussions as "lengthy and serious."
If ministers fail to solve the Council problem, the 2009 draft budget is unlikely to pass. Speaker Nabih Berri is insisting on allocating LL60 billion to the Council and Premier Fouad Saniora is rejecting this demand. "Berri will not accept anything less than LL60 billion. The speaker is in no mood for any compromise," a source close to his Amal movement told The Daily Star in remarks published Friday. Berri also told As Safir daily two hours before the end of the cabinet meeting that some are seeking to create a crisis. "Did the national unity government experience become a burden on some (people) … who started calling for other alternatives prior to the elections ?" Berri wondered. According to An Nahar, minority ministers said Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah suggested allocating LL40-45 billion to the Council but arguments among participants continued on the remaining LL15 billion. When some ministers suggested voting on the issue, Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi urged the president to give more time for discussions and postpone voting. As Safir said Shatah presented a report to the cabinet in which he said he wasn't convinced by some projects put forward by the Council and worth LL 73 billion, including a plan to build two schools in south Lebanon without coordination with the education ministry. Although no deal was reached on the Council for the South, the cabinet agreed to extend a previous decision on the implementation of the wiretapping law to March 15 until a technical committee's report on the use of data is completed. Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 10:24

Cabinet Still at Loggerheads over Council of the South
Naharnet/The cabinet on Thursday remained at odds over the issue of the Council of the South despite media reports of "tangible progress" to reach compromise on fund allocations to the Council. Well-informed sources told An Nahar daily in remarks published Friday that the cabinet made "tangible progress" on the issue during a session at Baabda palace that lasted more than four hours. Information Minister Tareq Mitri also described the discussions as "lengthy and serious."
If ministers fail to solve the Council problem, the 2009 draft budget is unlikely to pass. Speaker Nabih Berri is insisting on allocating LL60 billion to the Council and Premier Fouad Saniora is rejecting this demand. "Berri will not accept anything less than LL60 billion. The speaker is in no mood for any compromise," a source close to his Amal movement told The Daily Star in remarks published Friday. Berri also told As Safir daily two hours before the end of the cabinet meeting that some are seeking to create a crisis. "Did the national unity government experience become a burden on some (people) … who started calling for other alternatives prior to the elections ?" Berri wondered. According to An Nahar, minority ministers said Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah suggested allocating LL40-45 billion to the Council but arguments among participants continued on the remaining LL15 billion. When some ministers suggested voting on the issue, Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi urged the president to give more time for discussions and postpone voting. As Safir said Shatah presented a report to the cabinet in which he said he wasn't convinced by some projects put forward by the Council and worth LL 73 billion, including a plan to build two schools in south Lebanon without coordination with the education ministry. Although no deal was reached on the Council for the South, the cabinet agreed to extend a previous decision on the implementation of the wiretapping law to March 15 until a technical committee's report on the use of data is completed. Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 10:24

Phalange, LF Targeted by Grenades
Naharnet/Two grenades were found on Friday near the Phalange party's bureau in Dbayeh, north of Beirut, hours after unknown assailants tossed a hand grenade at a Lebanese Forces office in the town of Kfour in Keserwan. Future News TV said Friday that security forces cordoned off the area where the two grenades were found and opened an investigation. Voice of Lebanon Radio Station said the grenade tossed at the LF office in Kfour after midnight caused material damage only.
An LF office in Sin el-Fil was also targeted by a hand grenade last Sunday. Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 11:27

Bellemare Back to Beirut
Naharnet/Daniel Bellemare, head of the U.N. commission investigating ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, arrived in Beirut Thursday night, As Safir daily reported.
Canadian prosecutor Bellemare will become the international tribunal's prosecutor general when it starts operating in The Hague next month.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon confirmed in a statement Wednesday that it will open its doors on March 1. Bellemare told An-Nahar daily last week that he has a period of two months from the day he assumes his task as public prosecutor to submit a request to the Lebanese public prosecutor for the transfer to The Hague of "everything related to the (investigation) file, including those in (Lebanese) custody." Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 10:39

Mitchell: We Want 'Transparent' Elections in Lebanon
Naharnet/Middle East envoy George Mitchell stressed the Obama administration's continued support to Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and democracy and called for "transparent" elections on June 7. "We back the elections in Lebanon on June 7. We want them to be peaceful and transparent. We see (the polls) an important development for Lebanon's democracy," Mitchell told Arab and Islamic officials during a conference call organized by the White House Public Relations Office on Thursday. He also said during the 58-minute conference that the U.S. will continue to support the Lebanese state and its institutions, particularly the army.
Mitchell said he was planning to return to the region on Monday to help push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for humanitarian aid to the territory's population.
He said he will also discuss with Israeli and Palestinian officials the aftermath of the elections in Israel. Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 07:44

Fneish: Contacts Between Hizbullah and Mustaqbal Ongoing
Naharnet/Labor Minister Mohammed Fneish said: "contacts between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement are open at the highest level and are ongoing." He added that no one is planning to create tensions in the country or to enter into sedition. In a press interview with the Kuwaiti daily Awan, Fneish said that contacts with the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) are also ongoing "however, the issue of a meeting between PSP leader Walid Jumblat and Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is not feasible now." Fneish said that the period of cleansing political relations among the various Lebanese figures has begun. He called for more wise political dialogue in the country far removed from emotional feelings. "No one in Lebanon wants our internal stability threatened, political relations among the various forces in the country has gone beyond this point," Fneish said. He added that no one can turn Hizbullah into a bargaining chip, saying that the past period has been hard and difficult , but was overcome by the party. The plan was to lure our arms internally and achieve the aims of foreign states that failed to finish the resistance in 2006, the minister said. He added that Hizbullah looks positively to the Syrian-Saudi rapprochement saying: "we look positively to the development of inter Arab relations."
Fneish said that the Obama administration has not demonstrated any changes towards Israel, adding the U.S. administration needs time to formulate a detailed vision for the region particularly when it succeeded the Bush administration. "America has a big problem in the region, it can no longer use the logic of force or that of pre-emptive strikes…that is why Obama came to power," he said. Fneish said that U.S. priority lies in solving the economic crisis, American voters voted for Obama because they were worried about their economy.  "That is why I think that U.S. foreign policy only holds 20% of U.S. voters attention," Fneish said. Beirut, 19 Feb 09, 23:38

Parliament Session Adjourned Over Lack of Quorum
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday postponed until March 19 a parliament session for lack of quorum.
The two-thirds quorum required to ratify laws collapsed when MPs started discussing a draft law to try ministers. The draft law, put forth by the Administration and Justice committee, allows trying heads of state and ministers. The MPs discussed twelve other proposals and draft laws during the morning session despite the absence of several lawmakers. Beirut, 20 Feb 09, 11:09

Qassem: We Don't Want Resistance Branches in Palestine or Iraq
Naharnet/Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naeem Qassem said his party has no branches in Arab or Muslim states adding that he does not want his party to be 'international', "however, we broadcast our thought of resistance on the airwaves."At a celebration marking the memory of Imam Hussein on Thursday, Qassem said: "Hizbullah is in no need for branches in Palestine, Iraq or anywhere else. The people in any region are capable of learning from our experience. This experience is not exclusively ours it belongs to everyone."Qassem said that Lebanon presents the example (of resistance) while others say, we in Lebanon don't want to resist for the Arabs or Palestine. "Up till now I don't understand how could Lebanon fight for the Arabs or Palestinians," Qassem said.
He added that all Hizbullah did was liberate Lebanese territory, while others planned to get rid of the south of Lebanon, and remain in power.
"We want Lebanon in all its territories, every inch of Lebanon is of concern to us. This is our land, Lebanon is no one's exclusive property, it belongs to all of us. We shall never sign it away, so I say Lebanon remains and so does the resistance," Qassem said. The deputy secretary-general said that resistance and development are two inseparable acts as is resistance and independence. " We and the Free Patriotic Movement share a true intent in defending the country," he said.
Beirut, 19 Feb 09, 23:03

ICG: Lebanon's Palestinian Camps a 'Time Bomb'
Naharnet/Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps are breeding grounds for extremist groups and constitute a "time bomb" that needs urgent attention, the International Crisis Group think-tank said Thursday. Successive Lebanese governments were largely to blame for a "catastrophic" situation in the camps which were set up after the creation of Israel in 1948, the Brussels-based ICG said in a report. "Marginalized, deprived of basic political and economic rights, trapped in the camps, bereft of realistic prospects, heavily armed and standing amid multiple fault lines... the refugee population constitutes a time bomb," it warned.
According to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), there are between 350,000 and 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon -- a country of more than four million inhabitants -- most of them living in 12 camps. Other estimates put the number of refugees at 200,000 to 250,000 as UNRWA does not strike off its lists the names of those who emigrate. "Over the years, virtually nothing has been done to genuinely address the Palestinian problem," Sahar Atrache, the ICG's Lebanon analyst told AFP. "Even though the current government has made steps to tackle the issue, it has adopted a piecemeal rather than a global approach."
Atrache said that the problem was compounded by the unstable political situation in Lebanon as well as the region as a whole.
Many in Lebanon fear that by granting the Palestinians more basic rights, this would lead to their permanent settlement in the country and alter the demographic map.
"Palestinians are overwhelmingly Sunni Moslems and, as the prospect of any significant return of refugees to Israel diminishes, fear has revived their permanent settlement or naturalization in Lebanon, which would affect the confessional balance," the report said.
According to observers such concerns are true among the Christian leadership and Hizbullah, which has been engaged in a political tug of war with the Sunni-led majority in parliament.
"Given the domestic political situation, everyone prefers to maintain the status quo but it is specifically this kind of attitude that is creating more problems," Atrache said.
"By granting a Palestinian the right to purchase a house, it does not mean he is being naturalized." Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have no legal status and unlike Lebanese citizens, they do not enjoy free medical care or social security benefits even if employed. They are also barred from several professions and are not allowed to purchase real estate or form associations. The unemployment rate among camp residents exceeds 60 percent, according to UNRWA. The explosive situation in the camps was starkly brought to light in 2007 during deadly confrontations at the Nahr el-Bared camp in northern Lebanon between the army and Fatah al-Islam, an al-Qaida-inspired group.
The fighting left 400 people dead and led to the Lebanese army entering a Palestinian camp, for the first time since the country's 1975-1990 civil war.
The ICG report -- "Nurturing Instability: Lebanon's Palestinian Refugee Camps" -- said that three critical steps should be addressed by all parties to improve the lot of the refugees and avoid a repeat of Nahr el-Bared. Lebanon should grant the refugees fundamental rights, except for the right to acquire citizenship or to vote, and should review the approach to camp security. Coordination between the state and Palestinian factions must also be strengthened, it said.
"The camps are a tinder box blend of socio-economic deprivation, political marginalization, mistrust of the state, ineffective security, radicalization, weapons and divided leadership," said ICG Middle East program director Robert Malley. "The Gaza conflict did not spark a conflagration," he said.
"But the next match, domestic or regional, is likely to be struck soon."(AFP) Beirut, 19 Feb 09, 20:59

Jumblat Visits Qahwaji, Praises Army
Naharnet//MP Walid Jumblat reaffirmed on Thursday his faith in the Lebanese army during talks with Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji.Speaking in Yarze, Jumblat praised the army's efforts to "control security and arrest those who have attacked the safety and personal freedom of citizens."For his part, Qahwaji assured Jumblat that the army will exert all efforts possible to "safeguard security and stability for everyone." Jumblat's visit to Yarze comes amid a dip in relations with the army over the controversial wire-tapping file. Tensions further rose after the Druze leader objected to the appointment of officer Daniel Faris in the Ministry of Telecommunications, despite military endorsement. Jumblat argued that Faris is closely associated with Brig. Gen Jamil Sayyed, the former head of Lebanon's General Security Department and Rustom Ghazaleh, the former director of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon. Sayyed is among four pro-Syrian generals who have been detained on charges of involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination. Beirut, 19 Feb 09, 16:36

Salloukh Criticizes Kerry for Breaking Diplomatic Protocol
Naharnet//Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said Thursday that U.S. Democratic Senator John Kerry's visit to Lebanon had overstepped protocol.
Salloukh's comments came a day after Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Beirut on an hours-long visit as part of a regional tour to promote the U.S. administration's new approach to the Middle East. However Salloukh considered Kerry's stopover in Lebanon "a personal visit not a diplomatic one." Speaking after a parliamentary session, Salloukh said: "Unfortunately Senator Kerry's visit to Lebanon disregarded the 'a-b-c' of diplomatic (protocol)." He did not elaborate. Salloukh said the U.S. administration "on several occasions behaved in a way reminiscent of its approach to Lebanon before the Doha agreement, the election of the Lebanese president and the formation of the unity government." The foreign minister also lamented the fact that "some heads of diplomatic delegations have been disregarding etiquette and regulations."He said the Foreign Ministry had repeatedly asked foreign missions in Lebanon to "abide by the 1961 Vienna Convention, which is the main reference for diplomatic practice." However, he added, "violations to the accord persist." Beirut, 19 Feb 09, 19:29

Syria and the Lebanese Opposition Against Lebanese President Michel Suleiman
By: H. Varulkar *
MEMRI/Middle East Media Research Institute 20/02/09
http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA49909
February 19, 2009 No. 499
In recent months, Syria and the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition have sought to undermine the position of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, who was elected May 25, 2008. Suleiman's election was part of the Doha agreement, signed May 21, 2008, which settled the political and military confrontation in Lebanon with a victory for the opposition.
The campaign to undermine Suleiman comprised the following political moves:
A. In early December 2008, senior Lebanese opposition leader Michel Aoun, chairman of the Change and Reform bloc in the Lebanese parliament, visited Syria, where he received an official welcome that surpassed even that given to the Lebanese president on his 2008 visit to this country. During his visit, Aoun met with senior Syrian officials, participated in religious ceremonies organized in his honor, and was greeted enthusiastically by the Syrian public. This visit aroused concerns, both in Lebanon and outside it, that Syria was trying to promote Michel Aoun over Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, both as the most prominent Christian leader and as Syria's ally in Lebanon.
B. During the war in Gaza, and in light of the escalating intra-Arab conflict, Suleiman was forced to decide whether to attend the Arab emergency summit convened by Syria and Qatar in Doha, to which Egypt and Saudi Arabia strongly objected. Suleiman realized that his decision would be interpreted as support for either the Iran-Syria-Qatar-Hamas-Hizbullah axis or for the axis of moderate Arab countries. Following considerable pressure by the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition, Suleiman capitulated and agreed to attend the summit of the extremist regimes.
C. During the past several weeks, Suleiman has been attacked by the Lebanese opposition for his intention to form a bloc to represent him in the next parliament. Once again, he has been forced to bend to the will of the opposition and to announce that he would not be supporting any candidate in the upcoming elections and would have no representatives in parliament.
The attempts to weaken Suleiman's position were accompanied by hostile statements, made both during a Hizbullah-organized demonstration against him and in scathing articles that appeared in the Lebanese dailies affiliated with the opposition and the Syrian regime. Thus, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar contended that "Michel Suleiman has nearly crossed the red line," and that "he is gradually losing his strong cards."
Following are excerpts from articles published in the Lebanese press regarding the campaign against Suleiman:
Suleiman's Policy of Commitment to Neutrality
The conflict between the political sides over the questions of who would replace former Lebanese president Emile Lahoud, and how he would be chosen, began even before his term in office ended September 2007. The Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition had nominated several presidential candidates, the most prominent of them Michel Aoun, and the March 14 Forces had nominated three candidates of their own.
In early December 2007, since the political crisis in Lebanon had not abated and the sides had not been able to reach an agreement, the March 14 Forces announced that they would withdraw their candidates and, instead, support Lebanese Army Chief of Staff General Michel Suleiman, whose candidacy had initially been put forward by the opposition. Now, however, the opposition did not seem too eager to elect Suleiman, and continued to set preconditions that would thwart his election. [1]
Nevertheless, following the understandings reached as part of the May 2008 Doha agreement, Suleiman was elected Lebanese president.
As chief of staff, Suleiman had made a point of refraining from making statements revealing his political inclinations. Similarly, since assuming office he has striven to present himself as a president agreed upon by everyone, who held a neutral position and did not identify politically with any of the sides. This is also how he was perceived by the Lebanese political camps, none of which have ever accused him of inclining towards any of the sides.
Nevertheless, some claimed that the fact that Suleiman had initially been promoted by the opposition, and that his appointment had been authorized at the Doha summit under Syria's mediation, was in itself proof that he supported the policy of the Lebanese opposition and Syria - or, at the very least, had done so in the past. This claim is bolstered by Suleiman's statements praising the Lebanese resistance and encouraging Lebanon's ties with Syria. [2] However, even if in his position on central political issues, such as Lebanese-Syrian relations or Hizbullah's weapons, Suleiman has indeed inclined towards Syria and the Lebanese opposition, his opinions have always been acceptable to the March 14 Forces, and have never been openly contested by them.
It appears, however, that lately Suleiman's professions of neutrality have failed to satisfy Syria and the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition, which seem to have come to resent Suleiman's policy of "walking a tightrope," and stated explicitly that "he can not remain neutral any longer," [3] and that they wanted him to provide unambiguous proof that he was on their side.
To this end, Syria and Hizbullah have joined forces in an attempt to weaken Suleiman's status. Syria is pursuing this aim through supporting Michel Aoun and strengthening his position as both a Christian leader and Syria's ally in Lebanon, while Hizbullah seeks to undermine Suleiman's power and authority more directly, e.g., by putting pressure on him and by holding demonstrations and launching media attacks against him, as well as by weakening his political influence in the parliament.
A. Syria Promotes Aoun at Suleiman's Expense
In early December 2008, Lebanese opposition leader Michel Aoun went to Syria on a five-day visit, where he was accorded an official reception with every mark of warmth and respect. Aoun was also lavishly praised by senior Syrian officials and by the Syrian media, which described him as a "Lebanese national leader," "pan-Arab nationalist," and "strategic leader." [4] In Lebanon and outside it, Aoun's visit and the warm welcome he received in Syria came under fire, and apprehensions were voiced that Syria was trying to harm the status of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and even to promote Aoun, as both the most prominent Christian leader and Syria's ally in Lebanon.
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat: Syria Is Forging an Alliance with Aoun, Hizbullah, and Amal in order to Displace Suleiman
Editor-in-chief of the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Tariq Alhomayed contended in a December 6, 2008 article that Syria was trying to diminish Lebanese President Michel Suleiman: "The reception given to Aoun in Damascus, where he received the holy Koran and where he was given all sorts of ludicrous names and titles… is only part of a [broader] picture.
"The Lebanese president realized - even though he is not in a position to admit this - that the Syrians and their allies in Lebanon are marginalizing the importance and influence that the Lebanese presidency has recently gained... We are currently witnessing an obvious alliance between Syria and [Lebanese parliamentary speaker] Nabih Berri, and it seems that [the Lebanese] chief of staff, [who has recently met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad], will join it as well, and so will Michel Aoun and Hizbullah… Simply put, this alliance is tantamount to laying siege to Michel Suleiman, as well as [an attempt] to end his term of office and to draw away the international support that he has had as a president agreed upon by everyone.
"It is not in Damascus's interest that a Lebanese president should command the respect and support of the international [community]… This is why Damascus has been trying to maintain its hold on Lebanon through [its] allies and militias [there, i.e. Hizbullah,] rather than through legitimate authority [i.e. the president]… We must [therefore] conclude that, at the moment, it is important to safeguard [the institution of] presidency in Lebanon by [monitoring] the political process [there], and also to ensure the personal safety of the Lebanese president. Indeed, there is every indication that an alliance is currently being formed in Lebanon aiming to displace the Lebanese president…" [5]
Columnist Bshara Sharbal wrote in a similar vein on the Lebanese website www.nowlebanon.com: "From the intentionally exaggerated [media coverage] of the welcome given Michel Aoun [in Damascus] as both a politician and a 'messiah'… President Suleiman may have understood that Damascus had in fact conveyed to him a message of love and appreciation, which reads as follows: '[Although] we did receive you [Suleiman here in Syria in the past], it is [Michel Aoun] who is [Syria's] favorite and beloved son…' By conferring [on Michel Aoun] this kind of welcome, Syria as good as put down in writing that it was Aoun it [preferred, as] a new and valuable addition [to the political parties] with which it maintains excellent relations, instead of opting for healthy ties with the legitimate [Lebanese] [government]. President [Suleiman] did not forget that Aoun was formerly a presidential candidate and had always striven for the presidency, and that he was the head of the largest Christian bloc [in the Lebanese parliament]. Accordingly, [Suleiman] must certainly see this welcome [given to Aoun] - [especially since it occurred] in the beginning of his term in office - as a gesture incompatible with Syria's pledge and [promises] to exchange ambassadors [with Lebanon]…
"The inescapable conclusion is that Damascus is continuing its strategy of strengthening ties with powerful elements [inside] Lebanon which are aligned with it as a political and security axis, thereby dismissing… Lebanon's vision of its relations [with Syria], ignoring the national unity government endorsed by the Doha accords, and marginalizing a president whose name is Michel Suleiman… This visit harmed the foundations of the [Lebanese] republic…" [6]
Al-Mustaqbal: "Michel Suleiman Is In Syria's Crosshairs"
Columnist Nusair Al-As'ad wrote in the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal: "President Michel Suleiman and the presidency as an institution are both in Syria's crosshairs. It is an incontrovertible fact that Lebanon is currently facing another of Syria's attempts to annex and subjugate it, as well as to take control of its decision-making process. This attempt is manifested in several ways… In addition to the ties [Syria maintains] with Lebanese institutions, it has connections [with elements inside Lebanon] which come at the expense of the [Lebanese] institutions and the state [itself]. If we consider General Michel Aoun's visit to Syria… we can conclude that there are indications of Syria's interference in [the internal affairs] of Lebanon and attempts to harm it… During the past several days, facts and information have surfaced that are sufficient proof that the Syrian regime has unequivocally declared its intentions to harm the president and presidency as an institute - while Michel Aoun is only a tool [for realizing this plan]…" [7]
B. The Lebanese Opposition Threatens Suleiman, Compels Him to Take Part in DohaSummit
During the Gaza war, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman faced the dilemma of whether to participate in the summit convened by Syria and Qatar in Doha, which Egypt and Saudi Arabia opposed. His presence at the summit would have been seen as an expression of support for the Iran-Syria-Qatar-Hizbullah-Hamas axis, and his absence as an expression of support for the moderate Saudi-Egyptian axis.
On January 15, 2009, the Lebanese media reported that Suleiman had decided to attend the summit, but only if it was convened according to the legal quorum set out in Arab League regulations - that is, by at least two thirds of the member states. According to the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, Suleiman told his critics from the opposition that "he would not participate in a summit that would exacerbate the intra-Arab rift." [8]
Suleiman's decision triggered a wave of protest from the Lebanese opposition. On January 16, 2009, the first day of the Doha summit, opposition-affiliated dailies reported that certain opposition leaders had spent the day pressuring Suleiman to change his mind - among them Al-Hajj Hussein Khalil, political advisor to Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and MP 'Ali Hassan Khalil, the representative of parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, and as well as former Lebanese president Emil Lahoud, former prime minister Salim Al-Hos, Marda faction chairman Suleiman Faranjia, and Change and Reform Bloc chairman Michel 'Aoun. [9]
Nasrallah and Berri to Suleiman: Your Absence from the DohaSummit Will Be Read as Siding with Those Who Are Against the Palestinians
According to Al-Akhbar, representatives of Nasrallah and Berri expressed the "clear stance of major forces within the opposition," telling Suleiman that "if he did not attend the summit, it would be seen as [indicating his] inclination towards the side that is currently opposing the Palestinians." The daily added that the head of the Lebanese General Security Apparatus General Wafiq Jizzini had been in contact with senior opposition leaders, especially with Berri and with the Hizbullah leadership, in order "to prevent a blowup..." [10]
The Lebanese daily Al-Safir reported on January 16 that Nasrallah and Berri "had been in contact [with Suleiman] all day through his advisors," and that on January 14 they had conveyed messages to him, in which they "expressed their hope that Lebanon would accept Qatar's invitation..." Suleiman replied that "there are two large Arab countries [namely Egypt and Saudi Arabia] to be considered," to which Nasrallah and Berri responded, "There are other large countries to be considered as well [meaning Syria]..." Representatives of Berri and Nasrallah told Suleiman that he should attend the Doha summit even if it were convened without a legal quorum.
Al-Safir further stated: "Following a lengthy exchange between the representatives of Nasrallah and Berri, on the one hand, and President Suleiman, on the other, it was decided to hold further consultations between the two sides. The president assessed the positions [of various forces] within the [Lebanese] domestic arena, and held consultations throughout the day... at the end of which he announced his decision [to attend the summit]..." [11]
Protesters at Hizbullah Demonstration: "Suleiman Is an American"
While its senior officials exerted pressure on Suleiman, the Hizbullah-led opposition organized a student demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, during which there were calls against Suleiman. The Lebanese daily Al-Nahar reported that hundreds of students who had been bused in to the area waved Lebanese and Palestinian flags, as well as flags of Amal, Hizbullah and other Lebanese opposition parties. They called on Suleiman to "not relinquish the [Palestinian] cause," and even chanted, "Emil Lahoud, we want to return to your era." According to the daily, the slogans and chants were dictated by Hizbullah activists. [12]
Columnist Ghassan Sa'ud wrote in the daily Al-Akhbar: "For the first time in its history, Hizbullah has organized a sit-in against the position of the Lebanese president. In the protest in front of the American embassy, there were far more people calling out slogans against the president than there were people calling out slogans against the Americans. Some of the students called out "American, American, Michel Suleiman is an American..." [13]
Oppositionist Lebanese Daily: Suleiman Nearly Crossed the Red Line
Veteran columnist Ibrahim Al-Amin, chairman of the pro-Syrian and pro-opposition Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, wrote under the title "Suleiman Nearly Crossed the Red Line and [Blew Up] the Doha Summit": "President Michel Suleiman has agreed to come to Doha. He will be among the Arab presidents who have agreed to come to Qatar in order to express a position that differs - however slightly - from the official Arab stances that have been heard since the start of the aggression against Gaza... Some will say that [Suleiman's] correction of his [initial] mistake [i.e. not to go] is a merit, and that he was right to reverse his [initial] decision. But the important point is that this is an issue that must be addressed as part of the internal Lebanese settlement. When Suleiman uneasily evoked the Arab League Charter [which states that an emergency summit must be convened by at least two thirds of the member states]... he took a stance that will not easily fade from the memory of the Lebanese majority, even if, in the future, will be praised by many as guarding of the [Lebanese] national unity and the Arab unity... Did Suleiman mean to endorse the position of the March 14 Forces...? The important point is that in this issue, which is directly linked to the struggle with Israel, Suleiman cannot remain neutral..." [14]
The opposition's criticism of Suleiman did not abate following his decision to attend the summit, since the opposition disapproved of the relatively moderate views he expressed during his speech there - such as his reservations about Assad's declaration that the Arab peace initiative was "dead." Ibrahim Al-Amin wrote: "President Suleiman's speech was out of line. He painted a picture [that does not accurately] depict the Lebanon that waged a war of resistance against Israel and defeated it many times. He painted a picture that does not strengthen Lebanon, which is facing threats, [including] the possibility of another escapade launched against it by the Hebrew state. Suleiman looked as if he was being forced to attend [the summit]. The expressions he used suggest that he was trying to avoid angering [certain] Arab states, as well as the Western countries and the March 14 Forces in Lebanon..." [15]
Al-Mustaqbal: Hizbullah Wants a President Who Will Obey Its Directives
Nusair Al-As'ad wrote in the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal: "Today, it is not difficult [for us] to see yet again that the opposition, and especially Hizbullah, never wanted Michel Suleiman in the Ba'abda palace to begin with, and moreover, never regarded him as a president agreed upon [by all the Lebanese factions]. There are [only] two models that would satisfy the opposition, and especially Hizbullah: the model of Emil Lahoud as president, and the model of Michel 'Aoun as a [Syrian] Maronite ally. The Lahoudian model [is to their liking] because, both as an army commander and as president, Lahoud demonstrated how a high-ranking state official can serve as a functionary of a neighboring state [namely Syria], and also as a functionary of [Hizbullah's] state [within a state, which exists right] within Lebanon's borders. The model of Michel 'Aoun as a Maronite ally [is to their liking] because he has demonstrated how a politician can completely [forget] his identity, surroundings and history, in a way that serves his ally [namely Hizbullah], and enable [this ally] to defeat the state, the law, and democracy. This, in return for a promise to be appointed president - a promise that will never [even] be fulfilled. The calls heard in one of the opposition's recent demonstrations, some of which called to 'bring back Lahoud and his era,' simply reflect the [opposition's] yearning for a president who does anything he is bidden, without hesitation or objection...
"The opposition, and especially Hizbullah, are displeased that Suleiman went to Doha, since they were displeased with what he said there... The president came to Doha, [that symbol of] division, only to voice a message of unity... It seems that the opposition, and especially Hizbullah, wanted Suleiman to decree that Lebanon belongs, and is loyal, to the Iranian axis, which is dividing the Arab world... [By attacking Suleiman], the opposition, and especially Hizbullah, tried to compensate for the failure [of Hamas in Gaza], and at the same time to steer Lebanon away from its principles. This, as part of a plan, which is no longer secret, to take over the country by force and intimidation... [According to this plan], it is necessary to compensate for the failure of the Hamas regime by [establishing] a new regime in Lebanon... It would not be an exaggeration to say that this attack [on Suleiman] is intended, at the very least, to frighten him, defeat him and bend him [to the will of the opposition, and if possible,] to harm him, and overthrow him in favor of a new 'regime.' This means that the opposition, and especially Hizbullah, still believe that they can subject the country to another armed coup and to another power-struggle!" [16]
Journalist Ayman Sharouf wrote in Al-Mustaqbal: "The self-proclaimed nationalists have launched an organized attack on President Michel Suleiman, even though since his arrival at the Ba'abda palace, [Suleiman], the agreed-upon president, has been trying to mediate between the [various] Lebanese [factions]... Suleiman objects to Lebanon becoming an arena for threats to its security and stability. Since the Gaza [offensive began], and calls for an emergency summit in Doha were first heard, he has been constantly trying to make the wise decision... That is [precisely] what annoyed some of 'those who hold a grudge [against him],' and those 'professional nationalists' who demonstrated in front of the American embassy and whose ugly cries besmirched [the honor of] the president and the presidency... It seems that some [Lebanese] did not like it, and still do not like it, that Lebanon has a strong president who prefers the supreme interest of Lebanon over the interests of a certain faction or party [namely Hizbullah], which sees every detail in Lebanon's domestic politics from the perspective of its affiliation to a foreign [force, namely Iran]… Those are the motivations behind the attack on Suleiman, which some have characterized as a 'desperate attempt' to influence... his positions..." [17]
C. Opposition Pressure Forces Suleiman to Give Up His Plan to Form a Parliamentary Bloc
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman was once again forced to give in to the opposition when he came under attack for seeking to form a parliamentary bloc.
Suleiman: There Is Nothing to Prevent Independent MPs from Supporting the President
Suleiman stated as early as September 2008 that he wished to form a bloc of independent MPs to represent him in parliament. In his first media interview as Lebanese president, given to Lebanese Journalists Union head Muhammad Al-Ba'lbaki and to Journalists Association president Melhem Karam, Suleiman hinted at the possibility that there might be a bloc representing him in the next parliament. He stated: "In Lebanon, the president, by virtue of his position, is forbidden to take sides in [politics]. However, there is nothing to prevent independent MPs from supporting the president. This does not mean that the president will choose them, but only that they will be elected as independent [candidates] and will stand by the president's side in making crucial decisions. The president need not interfere with the elections, but he can rally several independent [Parliament members] to his side…" [18]
Six weeks later, Suleiman reiterated his position. Asked if there was a plan to form a parliamentary bloc [to represent him], he replied that he did not intend to get involved in political campaigning, and added: "I am a president agreed upon by the entire state, but this does not preclude the existence of independent [MPs]. They do not have to be part of an alliance, but they must look after the national interest. I do not need a parliamentary bloc, but rather a national bloc - one whose decisions will benefit the national interest and that will support the homeland rather than the president." [19]
Veteran Christian MP Michel Al-Murr, who for the past several weeks has been trying to form an independent parliamentary bloc, stated: "Some call [this bloc] 'the center bloc,' but it is actually an independent bloc… Its platform will be founded on the legitimate state and the army. [We put] our faith in these [institutions]. Why should it be considered shameful to support the president and the state?..." [20]
The Opposition: The Independent Bloc Is Affiliated with the March 14 Forces
Michel Aoun criticized the center bloc, saying that it was another name "for the Christian [bloc within] the March 14th forces." He added: "One who wants to define himself as 'part of the center bloc' must persevere [in becoming one] for at least 10 months, in order for us to accept him in this new capacity - one should not be able to join the center bloc overnight." Aoun further stated: "Any faction that is not with us is against us. We run in the elections in order to win, and we are not afraid of anyone..." [21]
An article in the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar also contended that the Independent bloc was affiliated with the March 14 Forces: "MP Michel Al-Murr did not wait long to translate his agreements with Sa'd Al-Hariri into political action. Less than 24 hours after his visit to [the Al-Hariri residence]… he publicized a position which, according to his associates, had been closely coordinated with Al-Hariri… Al-Hariri had put Al-Murr at ease [by assuring him] that he was prepared to force the March 14 Forces, and especially their Christians [members], to [support Al-Murr's] plan…" The article further stated that the aim of this bloc was to reduce Michel Aoun's Christian representation in the Parliament. [22]
Al-Akhbar: Suleiman Is Losing His Strong Cards
The opposition-affiliated Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar published an article claiming that Suleiman would be making a mistake and losing his cards if he failed to support Michel Al-Murr's center bloc: "Will President Suleiman repeat the mistake of his predecessor Emil Lahoud? This question is pondered by many political circles affiliated with the parliamentary minority [i.e., the opposition]… They believe that Lahoud's problem lay in the team of advisors that surrounded him [who were mostly members of the Al-Murr family]…
"Knowledgeable sources have repeatedly stated that the Syrians have informed President [Suleiman] that they were not favor of the center bloc, since they were not willing to weaken their most powerful Christian ally [Aoun]. Hizbullah's position on this issue is clear - it will not turn its back on its allies either… Thus, President [Suleiman] has found himself alone in the arena, under the protection of [MP] Michel Al-Murr and his granddaughter Naila Tweini [daughter of anti-Syrian journalist Jubran Tweini, who was assassinated in December 2006]… The only certainty is that President Suleiman will again deliberate [over whether or not to support the center bloc], just as he debated whether to attend the Doha [summit] - this time, however, he is losing his strong cards, one by one…" [23]
Suleiman Has Reversed His Position: "There Won't Be Any Candidates of Mine in the Presidential Elections"
Following the opposition's attack on the independent bloc, reports appeared quoting Suleiman to the effect that he had abandoned his previously held position. The Lebanese daily Al-Safir quoted individuals who had met with Suleiman as saying: "[Suleiman] has never told anyone to run for Parliament, nor will he ever tell anyone to do so; neither did he authorize anyone to speak on his behalf. If anyone wishes to call himself 'a member of the center bloc,' this is his affair, and he is free to do so. [Suleiman also] emphasized that none of his candidates were [in the current parliament]…" [24]
As a reaction to these statements, the Hizbullah website and Al-Akhbar hastened to announce that Michel Suleiman had "relinquished the center bloc." [25]
Columnist Ghassan Sa'ud wrote in Al-Akhbar: "It was expected that Michel Aoun would be the one worst hit by the announcement of the emergence of the center… It seems, however, that the dog has turned on its master… Very quickly, both of [Michel Al-Murr's] closest allies, along with those who are at the opposite end, repudiated [him]. Suleiman then rushed to meet with Al-Murr's brother-in-law… and before the eyes of those who expected to hear [from him] words of encouragement, he shook Al-Murr's hand, and, ostensibly, emphatically denied that he was involved in this issue… He stressed that he did not intend to endorse a candidate. Suleiman's associates maintain that he will adhere to this position until June 7 [the date of the parliamentary elections], and will not adopt any position that might render him a side in the political conflict - even though he did, in fact, support Al-Murr's aims in one way or another…" [26]
*H. Varulkar is a research fellow at MEMRI.
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[1] The opposition demanded that a general understanding be reached, even before Suleiman was elected president, regarding several key issues, including the distribution of portfolios in the future government and the government's guidelines. In January 2008, some in the opposition even stated that they had no faith in Suleiman and that he was not an agreed-upon candidate, proposing other candidates in his stead.
[2] In an interview with the French journal Express, Suleiman said that Hizbullah could not be defined as a terrorist organization. He stressed that Hizbullah, a Lebanese party, had produced the national resistance movement which had liberated South Lebanon from the Israeli occupation, adding: "I do not think that one who defends his land and sovereignty and reclaims it from [the hands of] the occupation can be characterized as a terrorist." On another occasion, he said: "The resistance is a source of pride and national strength for Lebanon."
Suleiman has also taken a pro-Syrian stance on the question of Lebanese-Syrian relations. While the March 14 Forces want a comprehensive regulation of these ties, including the establishment of diplomatic relations and of embassies, Suleiman has concurred in Syria's evasive position, stating that such measures are unnecessary since relations between the two countries are good. On the other hand, in a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the periphery of the 2008 Mediterranean Summit, Suleiman told Sarkozy that "Lebanon would like [to establish] the best possible diplomatic relations with Syria," and that he was "constantly in touch with [Syrian President] Bashar Al-Assad on this issue." Then again, in a press conference, he said that Lebanon's relations with Syria were "natural and [required] no normalization." Al-Hayat (London), July 12, 2008; Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), July 11, 2008; Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), July 13, 2008.
However, although Suleiman did claim that Hizbullah was not a terrorist organization, it is important to understand that the March 14 Forces themselves have never dared to define Hizbullah as a 'terrorist organization,' and would most likely reject this label. Furthermore, the March 14 Forces have never denied the achievements of the Lebanese resistance, which were manifested primarily in the liberation of South Lebanon from what was termed "the Israeli occupation" in May 2000. While Suleiman, for his part, did acknowledge the achievements of the resistance, it is important to understand that he has never stated explicitly that Hizbullah was entitled to keep its weapons or that this issue was not subject to discussion.
[3] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 16, 2009.
[4] Al-Watan (Syria), Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), December 4, 2008.
[5] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), December 6, 2008.
[6] www.nowlebanon.com, December 6, 2008.
[7] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), December 11, 2008.
[8] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 15, 2009.
[9] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 16, 2009. It should be noted that Nasrallah's deputy, Na'im Qassem, as well as Nabih Berri and Suleiman himself, all categorically denied the reports about pressures exerted on Suleiman by the opposition.
[10] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 16, 2009.
[11] Al-Safir (Lebanon), January 16, 2009.
[12] Al-Nahar (Lebanon), January 16, 2009.
[13] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 17, 2009.
[14] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 16, 2009.
[15] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 17, 2009.
[16] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), January 18, 2009.
[17] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), January 16, 2009.
[18] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), September 4, 2008.
[19] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), October 24, 2008.
[20] Al-Safir (Lebanon), January 23, 2009.
[21] Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon), January 23, 2009.
[22] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 23, 2009.
[23] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 24, 2009.
[24] Al-Safir (Lebanon), January 24, 2009.
[25] Hizbollah.tv, January 24, 2009; Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 26, 2009.
[26] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 26, 2009.

Syria, Iran actions cloud nuclear evidence
Associated Press
Friday, February 20, 2009
Vienna, Austria —- International Atomic Energy Agency samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of being a secretly built reactor have revealed new traces of processed uranium, the U.N. agency reported Thursday. Separately, it noted a significant slowdown in Iran’s efforts to expand its uranium enrichment program.
It did not suggest a reason for Iran’s slowdown. But agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei said earlier this week the reason appeared to be “political” —- indicating Iran may be waiting for signals from the new U.S. administration, which has said it is ready to talk directly with Iran about nuclear and other disputes.
The report noted Tehran’s “continued lack of cooperation” in agency efforts to investigate suspicions that it had at least planned to make nuclear weapons. It said Iran continued both uranium enrichment and building a heavy water reactor that will produce plutonium, both possible components of nuclear warheads.
The Syria report noted it has refused to allow inspectors to make follow-up visits to sites suspected of harboring a secret nuclear program.

Peres: Netanyahu will form new government
AP/JERUSALEM – Israeli President Shimon Peres chose hard-line Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to form a new Israeli government, giving Netanyahu six weeks to cobble together a coalition. The question now is whether Netanyahu will form a narrow government with his hard-line allies or a broad government along with his centrist rival, Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni. His choice will have serious ramifications for the Mideast peace process.
Peres made his announcement early Friday afternoon after holding meetings with Netanyahu and Livni. An official ceremony appointing Netanyahu was to be held shortly afterward. Peres had been meeting political leaders as he decided which candidate would be given the task of forming a new coalition in the aftermath of Israel's national election last week. The choice of Netanyahu was cemented on Thursday when Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the hawkish Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party, endorsed the Likud leader. Kadima edged out Likud in the election, capturing 28 seats to Likud's 27. But Likud is in a better position to put together a coalition because of gains by Lieberman and other hard-line parties.
Netanyahu now can form a hard-line government or bring Livni into a broad coalition that would provide more stability and help Israel avoid a clash with the Obama administration and much of the world. Emerging from her meeting with Peres, Livni said she would not join a hard-line government and was prepared to sit in the opposition "if necessary." "I will not be able to serve as a cover for a lack of direction. I want to lead Israel in a way I believe in, to advance a peace process based on two states for two peoples," Livni said.
With Livni out, Netanyahu might have little choice but to forge a coalition with nationalist and religious parties opposed to peacemaking with the Palestinians and Israel's other Arab neighbors. This could set Israel on a collision course with the U.S., the Jewish state's top international patron, and its new president, who has vowed to make Mideast peace a top priority. And Netanyahu's hold on power would be more tenuous in a narrow coalition of rightists, where his allies could bring down the government in the face of any concession for peace. It seemed possible that Livni's vow to join the opposition amounted to posturing ahead of coalition bargaining following Lieberman's endorsement of Netanyahu. Lieberman is an immigrant from the former Soviet Union who based his campaign on requiring Israeli Arabs to swear allegiance to the Jewish state or lose their citizenship.
Lieberman's party came in third place in the Feb. 10 election, after Kadima and Netanyahu's Likud. That essentially allowed him to determine whether Netanyahu or Livni would be able to muster the backing of a majority in parliament.
Lieberman's stance toward Arabs has exposed him to charges of racism and many see him as a far-right extremist. However, he is opposed to the Orthodox Jewish establishment's control over key aspects of public life in Israel, one of several positions that has enabled him to find common ground with moderates.
While announcing his support for Netanyahu on Thursday, Lieberman said he preferred a national unity government that included Livni over a narrow hard-line coalition. Putting together a broad, centrist government would be a tall order for Netanyahu.
Livni has said she will not join Netanyahu in a government unless she can be an equal partner, presumably through the sort of "rotation" agreement Israel has tried in the past in which an election's top two winners each get to be prime minister for half of the government's four-year term.
Netanyahu, however, has ruled out any such arrangement. As the political wrangling in Israel gains momentum, sporadic violence continues in Gaza in the absence of a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Militants fired mortar shells at an Israeli patrol along the Gaza-Israel border Friday, Israeli defense officials said, and the troops returned fire. There were no injuries reported. Egypt has been trying to mediate a truce since Israel ended its Gaza offensive Jan. 18. Hamas wants Israel to open Gaza's blockaded border crossings, while Israel wants a halt to arms smuggling and the return of a soldier captured in 2006.
Netanyahu has said Israel must topple the Hamas government in Gaza and says Israel halted the Gaza offensive too soon.

Berri adjourns Parliament session over lack of quorum
Daily Star staff
Friday, February 20, 2009
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri postponed until March 19 a Parliament session on Thursday as the two-thirds quorum required to ratify laws was not reached. The quorum collapsed when Parliament started discussing a law to try ministers. The draft law, put forth by the Parliament's Administration and Justice committee allows trying heads of state institutions and ministers.
MP Butros Harb described the draft law under discussion as "incomplete as it preserved the immunity of ministers.
Twelve other proposals and draft-laws were discussed during the morning session on Thursday, despite the absence of several MPs.
Media reports said that tensions were palpable between Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora during the session.
In remarks delivered during the session, Berri denounced the spread of sectarian and confessional divisions in Lebanon, adding that the electoral law was "supposed to eliminate sectarianism, but failed to do so despite the presence of the National Committee on the Abolition of Political Confessionalism."
For his part, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that the Cabinet always reported Israeli breaches of Lebanese sovereignty along the Blue Line.
Siniora's comments came in response to Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ali Ammar, who criticized during the session "the domestic silence toward Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty."
Ammar said Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty should be brought before the international community.
Ammar also voiced dissaproval of visits by foreign delegations that take place without coordinating with the Foreign Ministry in advance. He was referring to a visit on Wednesday by a US congressional delegation, which did not meet with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh.
On a separate issue, Siniora said the current Cabinet was determined to pass the 2009 draft budget, adding that he hoped the ministers would reach an agreement on the matter.
He added that any of the pending administrative and judicial appointments needed the approval of the legal quorum or two-thirds of MPs.
The Parliament also approved signing a deal with the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development to provide Lebanon with a second line of credit to build a road from Beirut's eastern entrance at Hazmiyeh to Sawfar.
Development and Liberation bloc MP Michel Moussa commented on last Thursday's kidnapping of MEA employee Youssef Sader and praised the security forces' efforts to reveal his fate. Moussa said he hoped Sader would be safely returned to his family as soon as possible.
Head of the Administration and Justice Commission MP Robert Ghanem expressed surprise at accusations that the Lebanese Army and security forces were responsible for the recent security incidents, including Sader's kidnapping, the death of PSP supporter Lutfi Zeineddine, and the murder of MEA pilot Ghassan Maqdad.
Ghanem also questioned Energy and Water Resources Minister Alain Tabourian's vague response to an issue brought up by the West Bekaa parliamentary bloc concerning electricity. Ghanem hinted that an investigation should be launched into the matter, so that MPs could later withdraw confidence from Tabourian.
Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra, for his part, said it was not acceptable that Sader's fate was still unknown one week after his kidnapping. Zahra questioned the security measures taken at the airport where Sader was abducted.
Zahra also said a minister failed to answer some deputies' concerns regarding his ministry's performance, a reference to Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil. Instead, the minister, Zahra said, had the lawmakers question themselves.
The LF MP expressed surprise about the "covering up" of the illegal wiretapping issue. - The Daily Star

Cabinet remains at odds over funding for Council of South
Daily Star staff
Friday, February 20, 2009
BEIRUT: Lebanon's Cabinet remained deeply divided on Thursday over the issue of fund allocations to the Council of the South, despite President Michel Sleiman's attempts to find a compromise that would satisfy both Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Media reports on Thursday indicated that Berri insists on allocating LL60 billion ($40 million) to the council, while Siniora and Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah are offering only LL40 billion and want to pay this money after the parliamentary elections in June.
Shatah warned that any more allocations to the council would cause the budget deficit to reach more than 30 percent in 2009.
Siniora has hinted on several occasions that Berri would use money for the council to bolster his chances in the elections in June, an allegation vehemently denied by Amal. Observers say that the 2009 draft budget is unlikely to pass if ministers fail to allocate LL60 billion to the council. But neither Berri nor Siniora seemed willing to drop their demands on Thursday. "Berri will not accept anything less than LL60 billion. The speaker is in no mood for any compromise," a source close to Amal told The Daily Star. On Tuesday, a delegation from the Council of the South presented a list of projects that would be implemented in the south if the Cabinet transferred LL60 billion to the council. Observers fear that Berri and March 8 ministers will bloc the passing of the draft budget if Siniora refuses to meet the speaker's demands. - The Daily Star


Spy for Israel sold bugged cars to Hizbullah members - report
Faqih was trusted as a 'safe' supplier of vehicles
By Andrew Wander /Daily Star staff
Friday, February 20, 2009
BEIRUT: To those who knew him, the Hizbullah-supporting car dealer from Nabatiyeh seemed an unlikely Israeli spy. But as Marwan Faqih adjusts to life in military custody, new details have emerged about his secret double life as an undercover agent for the Jewish state.
Sources close to Hizbullah quoted by the Al-Balad daily on Thursday gave a fascinating glimpse into the secret world of international espionage inhabited by Faqih. The paper said that Faqih was accredited as a "safe" supplier of vehicles to Hizbullah after winning the trust of party officials in Nabatiyeh by making regular donations to the group. During the summer 2006 war with Israel, he even handed control of his petrol station over to Hizbullah fighters.
No-one suspected that every car he sold them was fitted with a satellite monitoring device that allowed Israeli intelligence agents to track their every move. In the end, the paper's sources say, it was a routine repair that led to the discovery of Faqih's secret double life.
According to the report, an auto electrician was trying to fix a problem with a Hizbullah vehicle when he discovered an "unfamiliar device" attached to the electrical system that he thought might have been causing the problem.
Thinking that it may have been fitted by Hizbullah, the electrician had a discreet word with the vehicle's owner, pointing out that the device was interfering with the car. But whatever it was, it had not been placed by Hizbullah, and a search of the party's fleet of vehicles revealed dozens of the mystery devices.
Investigations revealed that they were satellite wire tap devices and they were only present on vehicles supplied from one particular car dealer in Nabatiyeh: Marwan Faqih. Years of gathering intelligence about notoriously secretive Hizbullah on behalf of their sworn enemies were about to come to an end.
It had begun in France in the mid-1990s, when Faqih was approached by Mossad agents who asked him to gather information about Hizbullah and the Lebanese army in return for payment. He returned to Lebanon to begin his task, and over the years, the Israelis developed what was to become a prime intelligence asset located in the heartland of their most bitter and formidable enemies.
They provided Faqih with specialist software that allowed him to establish secure internet connections so he could send the intelligence he gathered, and met with him on his frequent trips to France. They even took him to Israel on four separate occasions, to train him in the latest espionage communications technology. And all the while, he sold bugged cars to Hizbullah that helped Israeli agents to build a picture of movements and conversations of the party's officials.
If it hadn't been for the discovery of the satellite device, the deception might have gone unnotcied. But once Hizbullah had traced the origins of the equipment to Faqih, his days of freedom were numbered. A senior Lebanese security official told The Daily Star on Thursday that Hizbullah conducted an investigation into Faqih and discovered that he "was using the internet and other complex technological devices" to communicate with Israeli agents.
The official said that Hizbullah had arrested the spy and handed him over to the Lebanese army ten days ago. But he was unable to comment on the details of the Al-Balad story. "The army and the judiciary cannot confirm or deny what Hizbullah are saying about the satellite device," he said. "They are carrying out their own investigation to find whether he was part of a larger cell which will be completed before the case is handed over to the judiciary." Faqih is now in the custody of the army's intelligence wing. No formal charges have been filed against him. Hizbullah is said to have reviewed its security procedures in response to the discovery of the spy in their midst. "Hizbullah has beefed up its security measures in the south," the security official said. A Hizbullah source contacted by The Daily Star declined to comment on the veracity of Al-Balad's story, but praised the work of the Lebanese army in their handling of the Faqih affair. "It is very good that Israeli collaborators are stopped," he said

Jumblatt expresses confidence in army as 'guarantor of peace'
Hariri vows to complete father's project to rebuild Lebanon
Daily Star staff/Friday, February 20, 2009
BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party Leader MP Walid Jumblatt said Thursday he was "confident in the Lebanese Army as the guarantor of peace." In comments following a meeting with army commander General Jean Kahwaji at the Defense Ministry in Yarzeh on Thursday, Jumblatt praised the army's recent efforts to strengthen security as well as its arrest of those who "assaulted March 14 supporters on their way back" from Saturday's commemoration of former Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination.
For his part, Kahwaji stressed the army's efforts to prevent strife, protect national unity and lead to the successful arrest of the assaulters.
Kahwaji also met Thursday with military officials to discuss Lebanon's security situation.
The army commander said he asked his soldiers to avoid political bickering during the elections, as this may add to the tense environment.
Separately, Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri pledged to complete the project to rebuild the Lebanese state, for which his father "devoted his blood."
Addressing a delegation of Arab tribes in Lebanon, Hariri said that Lebanon would be at a crossroads on June 7, the day of the parliamentary elections.
"Our path is clear; this path will lead to development and will ensure all Lebanese rights," he said.
He said he would seek to reduce youth emigration and find jobs for Lebanese graduates.
Hariri expressed hope that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would achieve justice, adding that the Tribunal would not have been possible without the Lebanese people's support.
Hariri attended the opening of the Rafik Hariri School of Nursing at the American University of Beirut (AUB) Thursday. In comments during the ceremony, he said his father had always supported AUB and believed it "reflected Lebanon's image to the world."
On a different level, March 14 Forces member Fares Soueid said Thursday the fourth commemoration of Hariri's assassination "proved the March 8 coalition will not win the upcoming parliamentary elections."
Speaking during an interview with LBC, Soueid said: "Hizbullah fears that the elections will create three forces: Christian, Sunni and Druze."
"Any Western openness toward Syria would negatively affect Hizbullah, not March 14," he added.
Soueid went on to accuse Hizbullah of attempting to hamper "the achievements of the Cedar Revolution" since its beginning in 2005 when Hariri was assassinated.
He added that "[Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah's speech on Monday on the defense strategy and [Hizbullah number two] Sheikh Naim Qassem's speech on Wednesday reflected a state ... of war, instead of [a party] that supports the state authority."
"The opposition's proposal of dividing authorities is a contradiction to the Taif Accord, which stated that all powers should be divided equally between Christians and Muslims," Soueid said. Meanwhile, Berri told An-Nahar newspaper on Thursday that the opposition's victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections would not mean it would exclude Hariri and Jumblatt from the new cabinet. Hariri declared earlier this month that he would not participate in a cabinet formed of a majority of March 8 Forces. He explained his position by saying such participation would contradict the principles of democracy.
Berri accused Siniora of postponing several pending issues until after the elections are held in June.
"How could the Lebanese people vote without the presence of the Constitutional Council? For that reason, my agenda is based on consensus," the speaker said.
Berri added that he supported Syrian-Saudi rapprochement and confirmed that certain Syrian-Egyptian reconciliation talks were taking place, saying talks between the three countries would have a positive influence on both the Lebanese and Palestinians peoples. He confirmed that the Special Tribunal on Hariri's assassination was a reality, and "no one rejected it." In other developments, Defense Minister Elias Murr reiterated Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's position that Egypt supported the Lebanese Army unconditionally. Murr quoted Mubarak as saying that the army was the "only guarantor of stability and peace in Lebanon," and had a crucial security role in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Murr met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in Cairo on Thursday. Asked whether the Special Tribunal on Lebanon would affect Lebanon's relations with Syria and stability in Lebanon, Murr replied: "The Tribunal is international, not Lebanese," and Lebanon and all the concerned countries would respect any decision issued by the tribunal. Murr said Syrian President Bashar Assad had declared that any Syrian person who was proven guilty would be tried. Separately, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh criticized on Thursday the visit of US Senator John Kerry to Lebanon earlier this week, saying the latter had "ignored all diplomatic norms in his visit."He also blamed some Lebanese politicians for "encouraging the US administration to surpass all norms and laws."Former President Amin Gemayel, who is on a visit to Belgium, met Thursday with the Belgian premier, with whom he discussed latest developments in Lebanon and the region. - The Daily Star

AUB lecture earns Christopher Hitchens praise from some, ridicule from SSNP
By Nicholas Kimbrell /Daily Star staff
Friday, February 20, 2009
BEIRUT: Dozens of audience members rushed to the podium after Christopher Hitchens, the prolific writer, professor, cultural critic and provocateur par excellence, finished his lecture at the American University of Beirut Wednesday night. Some asked Hitchens to autograph copies of his 2007 book "God Is Not Great," a group of visiting American students thanked him for the experience, and a member of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party (SSNP) presented the "anti-theist" and ardently anti-Baathist speaker with a memento. The gift was simple - a poster with a picture of Hitchens in what appeared to be a position of supplication. "Hitchens, supporter of US Terrorism" the poster read. At the top there was a handwritten note: "You are a Fascist."
Hitchens, a controversial Anglo-American intellectual and renowned wit, has been heavily criticized by many on the left for his unflagging support of the US-led invasion of Iraq, which was seen as a defection of sorts.
Although he was questioned heavily about his stance on Iraq, Hitchens' AUB lecture was focused more broadly on the social currents in the region. Titled "Who are the revolutionaries in today's Middle East?", the lecture, which quickly derouled into a speaker-led discussion, dealt less with answering this question than expanding it. Indeed, at times, the question appeared almost rhetorical - an excuse for spirited exchanges on the ethos and morality of American interventionism, Iranian theocracy, religiously motivated sub-state actors and the state of Israel.
As he defended America's power of "emancipation," Hitchens also posited a geopolitical framework based on opposition between "radicals" and "reactionaries."
Hitchens said he was disturbed by the New York Times regular label of Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr as a "radical Shiite cleric." "Sadr," he argued, "is a reactionary."
"Radical to me is still a word worth preserving," he said, with a hint of pride (He had smiled earlier when he was introduced as "an unaffiliated radical.") Hitchens' working definition of the word appeared to be "someone interested in changing the world, raising the standard of humanity."
When pressed, Hitchens did name a few radicals and revolutionaries in the region. "Walid Jumblatt [the powerful Druze leader of the Progressive Socialist Party] is a revolutionary," he said, to the audible surprise of many in the audience. "Students who defy [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad" are revolutionaries, he added, as are the Kurdish nationalists in northern Iraq - who Hitchens painted as a Middle Eastern phoenix rising from the ashes of Saddam's chemical weapons attacks.
Many in attendance seemed more interested in challenging Hitchens on Iraq and the treatment of the Palestinians than in speaking about revolutionary forces in the region. He warned curious and combative audience members, between boastful asides, that "evenhandedness and moral equivalence ... are the same thing sometimes."
During the lively Q and A, Hitchens defended the Bush administration's invasion and occupation of Iraq as a just action against a crime family intent on acquiring weapons of mass destruction. A self-labeled former Trotskyite, Hitchens offered a double-edged hats off to the region's left saying: "It is only those who were vanquished by the US in the Cold war who understand [America's] power of emancipation in the post-Cold War."
He argued that the US did what the UN and the Arab League had proved incapable of doing: disarming Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime. The human costs of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," he contended, were less than if Hussein had been left in power.
He also suggested that the invasion of Iraq was an effective means of deterrence, noting that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi handed over WMDs to the US after the invasion. In this vein, Hitchens said that "the Bush administration was the best for non-proliferation in history."
"Iraq can now be certified disarmed. The [UN] investigators could never have done that," he added.
Indeed, he argued, America's global contribution warranted "special consideration."
While lauding the capacity of American interventionism, he despaired at the growth of regional, particularly Palestinian, Islamist movements.
In the 1980s, Hitchens co-edited a volume, with Edward Said, called "Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question." In an essay in the volume, Hitchens focused on debunking the widely circulated story that Arab leaders had delivered radio broadcasts encouraging Palestinians to flee their homes in 1948.
Wednesday night, he said that the Palestinians' "struggle remains an essential one." But he derided the ideology and techniques of Hamas (what he called "suicide-murder") and other Islamist groups as "a terrible fate for Palestinian nationalism."
Unsurprisingly, Hitchens reserved a special disdain for theocratic governments and the groups they support. He referred, more than once, to the Iranian leadership as "scrofulous." And of Hizbullah he said, "Those who say they are the party of God must be wrong," adding later that "religion cannot define a nationality."
After the lecture, Hitchens and the gift-bearer from the SSNP exchanged a few words. "Don't waste your life ... Don't be a slave to Syria," he told the young party supporter. On Valentine's Day, Hitchens had a very physical run-in with members of the SSNP in Hamra, which left him with some gashes and bruises.
On the car ride back to his hotel, he told The Daily Star that he had been surprised by two things during the lecture. First, that the audience had "no love for Walid," and second, that audience had applauded when he called the Koran, and by extension other religious books, manmade.
When asked, again, to name revolutionaries in Lebanon other than Jumblatt, Hitchens spoke of the prohibitive nature of confessionalism, "even for those who don't believe in it."
"What about the Bill of Rights?" he said, as a non-partisan curb on sectarianism.
He also spoke pessimistically about the peace process. "American-brokered peace talks are in the past," he said, but added that the two state solution remains the best of all available options.
The conversation continued at The Bristol Hotel where Hitchens expanded on the idea that the threat of Islamism and theocracy extend beyond the region. "We will defeat it or it will kill us," he said of the mentality of those groups who "take their quarrels to buses in London."
He also elaborated on his vision of the growing and increasingly endemic threat of domestic Islamism in the West. "I think it's happened in my lifetime ... there's someone who's pulled up a chair uninvited," he said, in reference to a tacit cultural veto, rooted in faith, that Islamic groups hold in the US, France and the UK.
Likewise, Hitchens warned of the dangerous precedent set by making special legal allowances and concessions to Muslims in Western Europe, and particularly in the US. "That it's a religious exception is what makes it worse," he said. "It's precisely because it's religion that it's not accepted by the constitution."