LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 05/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14,15-24. One of his fellow guests on hearing this said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God."He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.' But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.' And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.'
The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.' The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.' The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil (4th century)/Eucharistic prayer, 1st part (©Holy Cross Orthodox press)
"'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled"
Truly You are holy and most holy, and there are no bounds to the majesty of Your holiness. You are holy in all Your works, for with righteousness and true judgment You have ordered all things for us. For having made man by taking dust from the earth, and having honored him with Your own image, O God, You placed him in a garden of delight, promising him eternal life and the enjoyment of everlasting blessings in the observance of Your commandments. But when he disobeyed You, the true God who had created him, and was led astray by the deception of the serpent becoming subject to death through his own transgressions, You, O God, in Your righteous judgment, expelled him from paradise into this world, returning him to the earth from which he was taken. Yet You provided for him the salvation of regeneration in Your Christ. For You did not forever reject Your creature whom You made, O Good One, nor did You forget the work of Your hands, but because of Your tender compassion, You visited him in various ways: You sent forth prophets; You performed mighty works by Your saints who in every generation have pleased You. You spoke to us by the mouth of Your servants the prophets, announcing to us the salvation which was to come; You gave us the law to help us; You appointed angels as guardians.
And when the fullness of time had come, You spoke to us through Your Son Himself, through whom You created the ages. He, being the splendor of Your glory and the image of Your being, upholding all things by the word of His power, thought it not robbery to be equal with You, God and Father. But, being God before all ages, He appeared on earth and lived with humankind. Becoming incarnate from a holy Virgin, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, conforming to the body of our lowliness, that He might change us in the likeness of the image of His glory (Heb 1,2-3; Phil 2, 6-7; 3,21). For, since through man sin came into the world and through sin death, it pleased Your only begotten Son, who is in Your bosom, God and Father, born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever virgin Mary; born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, so that those who died in Adam may be brought to life in Him, Your Christ. He lived in this world, and gave us precepts of salvation. Releasing us from the delusions of idolatry, He guided us to the sure knowledge of You, the true God and Father. He acquired us for Himself, as His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Why I voted for John McCain. By: Naomi Ragen. Israel Opinion 04/11/08
Likud to US: We won't honor Syria deal. By TOVAH LAZAROFF.Jerusalem Post 04/11/08
In Lebanon, pragmatism tempers jihadist aims-By Nicholas Blanford 04/11/08
Will Lebanon's politicians spoil yet another opportunity? By Shadi A. Karam  04/11/08
What a 'presidential bloc' might mean for Lebanon-By Michael Bluhm 04/11/08
Meshaal's mission was an exercise in public relations-The Daily Star  04/11/08
A Middle East message to the new American leader-By BRENDA GAZZAR Jerusalem Post 04/11/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 04/08
Sfeir: We are Living Through Bad Times, What is Needed is Unity-Naharnet
Gemayel: I Have Some Information Relating the Assassination of my Son Pierre-Naharnet
For Dialogue's Sake-Naharnet
Ban Hopes for 'Quick Progress' in Controlling Lebanese-Syrian Border-Naharnet
Saniora, Erdogan Sign Agreements on Combating Terrorism, Crime-Naharnet
Jawhar Ring Linked to Pierre Gemayel's Assassination-Naharnet
MP Atallah: Defense Strategy After Elections-Naharnet
Hizbullah for Dialogue by All the Lebanese-Naharnet
Hizbullah: Blue Line is Not Border-Naharnet
March 14 Unifies Stand on Dialogue, Elections-Naharnet
Likud to US: We won't honor Syria deal-Jerusalem Post
Obama's grandmother dies of cancer in Hawaii-Israel News
Report: Al Qaeda Stronghold in Iraq Calls for US Raids on Syria-FOXNews
Sleiman insists reconciling is no obstacle to democracy-Daily Star
Lebanese worker snatched in south Nigeria-AFP
Turkey, Lebanon sign cooperation deal on terrorism, crime-AFP
IR Lebanon signs funding agreement with UNICEF-ReliefWeb (press release)
Following Deadly US Attack on Syria, Questions of Bush Admin ...Democracy Now
Iran FM condems US raid on solidarity visit to Syria-AFP
Belgian UNIFIL troops enjoy being in South - but may be headed home-Daily Star
Patriarch Urges Unity in Lebanon-Zenit News Agency
Fadlallah: 'Israel has vicious plans for Lebanon-Daily Star
Resistance urges steps to halt Israeli breaches-Daily Star
Ahmadinejad lauds example set by Hizbullah-Daily Star
State Department official came and went - embassy-Daily Star
Bank Audi, EFG Hermes halt merger talks due to 'unfavorable conditions-Daily Star
Americans in Lebanon all set for big day - and long night-Daily Star
Lebanon has been below radar for US presidential rivals-Daily Star
'Lebanese working for Mossad' may have played role in Mughniyeh hit-Daily Star
Wassouf due in Swedish court on drug charges-(AFP)
ISF chief inaugurates Wissam Eid Street
Gunmen nab Lebanese engineer in Nigeria-(AFP)
New York Marathon number 15 for disabled Lebanese man
Lebanese American University kicks off 'campaign for excellence' with gala dinner at BIEL
Lahoud Briefs Ahmadinejad on Lebanon- Regional-International ...Naharnet
Michel Aoun visits Damascus for acquaintance-Xinhua

Hezbollah Believes Obama Administration ‘Better’ for Them
Dr. Walid Phares
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1659/pub_detail.asp
While the debate in the United States rages over future counterterrorism policies of the two Presidential candidates, Hezbollah's partisans in Lebanon are very open about their support to Senator Barack Obama. Rightly so or not, their perception is telling as to the general attitude of Jihadist forces in the region regarding the future of U.S. foreign policy.
As detailed in an AFP report from Lebanon, the perception by Hezbollah's militants, described as "fans of Ayatollah Khomeini," is clear: An Obama Administration will be "better" for them than a McCain's. If you follow the logic of this perception, it would lead you to the prediction by the region's regimes and militant forces that a radical change in Washington's war on terror, if not its ending, will produce a rehabilitation of the regimes now called rogues such as Iran, Syria and Sudan. Hence, after an al Qaeda military commander wished "humiliation" to the Party of the incumbent President, meaning defeat to McCain, many statements from Tehran, Damascus, Gaza and now this AFP report shows a clear preference by the radical movements to see an Obama Presidency taking the control of US policy in 2009.
These trends, which will become very clear "if" and once the results would give victory to the Senator from Illinois, shed light on an ongoing discussion of preferences within the Jewish and Middle Eastern communities as to who should occupy the Oval Office next January. American Jews traditionally split along Party lines. But in this election digesting an Obama choice for Jewish Democrats and liberals had to be helped by a speech delivered by the young Senator at AIPAC and a visit to Israel, where he committed to "support the Jewish state." Obviously the details were not discussed. But the mood among radical regimes and organizations overwhelmingly in support to Obama seems to question the real future attitudes towards the "real" issues on the ground. For over two weeks I had this discussion on Arab media including on al Hurra TV, al Jazeera, Abu Dhabi TV, the Saudi TV, Nile TV, as well as on LBC and many radio programs. "Is Obama's speech to American Jewish audiences a real commitment or is it a classical American speech delivered to one of the most influential voting blocs in sensitive states?" That question was unanimous but interestingly enough, a rising number of commentators said "in the end, this speech is unavoidable. It is actions regarding Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iran and Sudan that counts as a prelude to a change in US behavior regarding Israel."
Interestingly, al Jazeera was broadcasting throughout the week a long documentary titled "the Israel Lobby" which basically concluded that "eventually, this lobby has influence but it can be reversed."
On the other hand, we've noted the electoral split among Arab and Middle Eastern voters in the United States. Among these six million citizens originating from the region, agenda reading was faster. While most of the Arab Muslim organizations critical of US policy mobilized overwhelmingly for Obama, Middle East ethnic groups such as Lebanese, Copts, Assyro-Chaldeans and Sudanese and Darfur-Americans, as well as Arab and Muslim reformers chose McCain by political instincts.
But the matter remains an issue of perception. As described by the AFP report, Hezbollah's supporters, reflecting the hopes of their leaders and of the Iranian regime obviously would prefer a US President who would opt for a "sit down and cut deal" policies over "confrontation and containment." To the opponents of American policy of Democratization, a new direction – in their direction – is the best they can hope for. Are they right in their expectations? First U.S. voters will have to cast their ballots. Then history will take its course.
*FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Dr. Walid Phares is the Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a visiting scholar at the European Foundation for Democracy. He is the author of The Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad.

Lebanese Engineer Kidnapped in Southern Nigeria
Naharnet/Unidentified gunmen on Monday kidnapped a Lebanese engineer in southern Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt, police said.
The man was abducted late in the morning, Rivers state police spokeswoman Rita Abbey told Agence France Presse, adding that security forces were investigating the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction. The country's most prominent armed militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), distanced itself from the abduction and offered to rescue him from the kidnappers. "MEND was not involved in the incident involving the kidnapping of a Lebanese citizen," it said in a statement, adding it would assist in his "rescue and return him unharmed by locating and negotiating with his abductors." "This assistance is purely a goodwill gesture and does not affiliate us with the (Nigerian) government in any way," said MEND which claims to be fighting for a greater share of the oil revenue for the local population in southern Nigeria. In the past three years, Nigeria has seen a spate of kidnappings both of local and foreign oil workers and of relatives of prominent politicians, often by criminal gangs seeking a ransom, but sometimes also for political ends.(AFP)
Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 04:27

Ban Hopes for 'Quick Progress' in Controlling Lebanese-Syrian Border
Naharnet/U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that Lebanon and Syria would "fully" control their common border to prevent arms and drug smuggling, An Nahar daily reported Tuesday. Ban told the newspaper's correspondent in New York that the issue of controlling weapons and drug smuggling was very important for Lebanon. He hoped that "quick progress would be made" in "fully controlling" the common border in the aftermath of a decision to establish diplomatic relations between Beirut and Damascus. Ban told An Nahar that he urged Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Premier Fouad Saniora and Syrian President Bashar Assad to act on the issue during his meetings and telephone conversations with them. He said the issue of controlling the common border is always a "priority" to consolidate Lebanon's "sovereignty, unity and political independence." The Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team (LIBAT), which was set up in April 2007, said in a report in September that progress in fortifying Lebanon's border with Syria has been minimal, adding that the eastern border remains "penetrable."
It said, however, that some positive steps have been made on the strengthening of the northern border. The four-member team was dispatched by the U.N. chief to examine progress made in enhancing border management and security as called for in Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah. Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 07:10

Saniora, Erdogan Sign Agreements on Combating Terrorism, Crime
Naharnet/Turkey and Lebanon have signed an accord on cooperation against terrorism, drug-trafficking and organized crime, Anatolia news agency reported.
The deal was inked on Monday after talks between Premier Fouad Saniora and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Saniora thanked Ankara for its recently intensified efforts to resolve long-standing conflicts in the Middle East. "Turkey has a very important role to play in the Middle East. Turkey is already doing that by encouraging cooperation in the region," Anatolia quoted him as saying. Erdogan, for his part, hailed the decision to establish diplomatic relations between Beirut and Damascus. "The steps to be taken in Syrian-Lebanese relations are very important," he said. "We welcome their decision to establish diplomatic ties."
Since May, Turkey has mediated indirect peace talks between Israel, its chief regional ally, and Syria. Ankara has expressed hope that progress in the talks may also help the initiation of peace efforts between Israel and Lebanon. Turkey also has a military contingent in the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The Turkish prime minister also expressed support to the national dialogue and stressed the importance of Lebanon's independence and unity.
Saniora is heading a ministerial team grouping Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh, Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud.
Saniora, talking to reporters, said he was "proud to visit Turkey in light of the historic relations between our peoples." He expressed "confidence that the already strong bilateral relations would be upgraded in the near future."Saniora will wrap up his visit on Tuesday.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 04:48

Hizbullah for Dialogue by All the Lebanese
Naharnet/Hizbullah called for participation by "all the Lebanese" factions in the conference on National Dialogue "because we are headed to a new establishing era."
However, the stand announced by Hizbullah MP Jamal Taqsh did not clarify what the party wants to establish. Another Hizbullah representative, MP Ali Moqdad, also urged "all the political factions to accept participation in the national dialogue by forces that have not been represented." The Hizbullah stand obviously contradicts with a unified decision by March 14 forces to reject adding new participants to the national dialogue as well as rejecting adding topics to its agenda that had been set by the Doha Accord. The conference on national dialogue that is to hold its second session at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday is tasked with tackling the controversial issue of Hizbullah weapons and the defense strategy. Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 12:38

Jawhar Ring Linked to Pierre Gemayel's Assassination
Naharnet/Investigations with members of the so-called Jawhar terror ring revealed a possible link to the assassination on Nov. 21, 2006 of then Minister of Industry Pierre Gemayel. The daily An-Nahar quoted informed sources as saying a wide search is underway by police and law enforcement agents for ring leader Abdul Ghani Jawhar and one of his aides who remain at large. It said the unidentified Jawhar aide "appears to have played a pivotal role in several terrorist attacks."
Investigations with suspects have revealed a number of plans to carry out bomb attacks against police headquarters in addition to attempting to assassinate Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji when he was brigade commander in north Lebanon. Examining Magistrate Nabil Sari had issued arrest warrants in absentia for eight suspects in the Aug. 13 Tripoli bombing that targeted an army bus. He also maintained the arrest of six suspects in the case. The General Prosecutor's office has indicted 34 suspects in the case, including 19 Lebanese citizens, 13 Palestinians, one Syrian and one Saudi. Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 09:43

MP Ghanem: Dialogue Not Binding
Naharnet/MP Robert Ghanem, who heads the administration and justice committee, said the Dialogue Conference is "not an institution and its decisions are not binding." Ghanem said only parliament has the power to legislate. He warned against adding more participants to the dialogue conference because that would "deviate it from the goal for which it has been resumed," which is to tackle the controversial issue of Hizbullah weapons. Ghanem, talking to reporters after meeting Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, said he does not expect the dialogue conference to produce "categorical solutions." Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 13:43

MP Atallah: Defense Strategy After Elections
Naharnet/MP Elias Atallah on Tuesday announced that the March 14 forces have adopted a unified stand rejecting more participants in the conference on national dialogue. Atallah, in a radio interview, also said the thorny issue of adopting a defense strategy would be tackled "after the 2009 parliamentary elections."
He said defeat by March 14 candidates in the north Lebanon Bar Association elections "resulted from bad coordination." Beirut, 04 Nov 08, 12:53

What a 'presidential bloc' might mean for Lebanon
By Michael Bluhm
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
BEIRUT: A movement to build a bloc of MPs representing President Michel Sleiman's interests after next year's elections appears to be brewing, even though such a tack might drag down the president's standing and inflame sectarian tensions, a number of analysts told The Daily Star on Monday.
Metn MP Michel Murr, who has maneuvered his way into close relationships with the country's presidents for more than two decades, announced last month that he would run as an independent in the general elections slated for next May. Sleiman named Murr's son Elias defense minister in the national unity Cabinet which emerged from the May 21 Doha power-sharing agreement, which allowed Sleiman to pick three ministers for the government and began creating a space for Sleiman on the political scene.
"He's trying to find himself a niche in Lebanese politics," said Hilal Khashan, head of the department of political science and public administration at the American University of Beirut. "He's trying to start something new, a third way"
"The president is trying to become a swing voter," able to decide which of Lebanon's deeply divided political camps will see its agenda adopted, Khashan added.
With many in the electorate sick of the endless standoff between the March 14 and March 8 factions, the potential exists for a centrist, state-oriented political entity to find voter support, said Paul Salem, head of the Carnegie Middle East Center. A new slate would most likely gain fans among the country's Christians - Sleiman's coreligionists - as a clear majority of Shiites will vote for Hizbullah or Amal, and Sunnis will side with the Future Movement, Salem added.
"There's a wide spectrum in the Christian voting public that is uncomfortable with the choice before them," Salem said.
Some Christians distrust the leader of the Reform and Change Bloc, MP Michel Aoun, because of his alliance with March 8 heavyweight Hizbullah, while some Christians still see Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea as an unreconstructed warlord, Khashan said.
In addition, rumors have been percolating through Beirut that most major political actors would welcome the presence of a new parliamentary bloc loyal to the president, Salem said. The March 14 alliance would like to see a third voting option help keep the March 8 coalition from securing a parliamentary majority, while some March 8 figures are leery of the responsibilities of an outright electoral victory, he added. Syria is also seen as being amenable to a Sleiman-controlled legislative bloc, he said.
"There seems to be a logic going in that direction that suits the majority of the players," Salem said. "It's clear that [Sleiman] is more or less comfortable with that. I've been hearing that chatter as well."
Despite the seeming opening, candidates close to Sleiman probably have a realistic chance only to appeal to a fraction of one sect, while the former Lebanese Armed Forces commander has not yet spent enough time in the political arena to create a meaningful electoral base, Khashan added.
"I don't expect much success for him," Khashan said. "I don't really expect him to establish a breakthrough, because he lacks the credentials. Whatever he does, it will be cosmetic.
"He will not be in a position to influence the course of political events in Lebanon."
Sleiman, unlike the March 14 and March 8 camps, also lacks the clear backing of the foreign patrons who hold so much sway here, Khashan added.
"It is outside powers that determine the direction of politics in Lebanon," he said. "He will be unable to make waves in Lebanese politics."
The president will also have to tread carefully ahead of the parliamentary elections, because he could make enemies among some Christian politicians if he too obviously backs an independent candidate list and takes votes away from either March 14 or March 8, said retired General Elias Hanna, who teaches political science at Notre Dame University.
"He's going to create more tension within the Christian society," Hanna said, adding that Sleiman needed to work quietly to gather his followers and should try to add candidates from other sects.
If Sleiman emerges with a legislative bloc comprised solely of Christian MPs, he might end up inflaming sectarian tensions by creating a perception that he is unduly pursuing the interests of the country's Christian minority, said Fadia Kiwan, director of the school of political science at St. Joseph University.
"It's presented as if the president has to bring back the Maronite community to the republic and take it from Michel Aoun," she said, adding that she thought Sleiman would not openly seek to form a candidate list or parliamentary fraction.
"His position as arbiter doesn't allow him to look for Maronite support only," Kiwan said. "He has enough popularity, and he has the army, which is supporting him. He doesn't need more." Regardless of the sectarian make-up of his possible bloc, Sleiman's deeper involvement in political machinations would also imperil his role as the referee in the March 14-March 8 tug-of-war, she said. "He will transform himself into a communitarian leader," Kiwan warned. "He won't be able to be an arbiter. The president will be in conflict with everybody."
"The president is an arbiter among communities," she added. "He doesn't need to have his own bloc."
Sleiman also needs to be wary that candidates professing their loyalty to him before the polls, such as Murr, are not merely exploiting the president's esteemed position for their own political gain, Kiwan told The Daily Star.
"The situation is much more that of people who are trying to have a place, a role in the system and use the presidency as a gate to enter," she said.
On the other hand, Sleiman could benefit from having a parliamentary bloc to prevent either of the two feuding camps from dominating the legislature, Salem said.
"It might be helpful for him to have a bloc in Parliament," he said. "If he doesn't have a bloc, then whoever has a majority will call the shots."
A bloc could also act as a "force multiplier" for Sleiman's efforts to put into effect decisions he deems in the best interest of the republic, irrespective of whether such moves accord to either of the two rival camps' wishes, Hanna said. Hanna added that his impression was that Sleiman saw Lebanese who were not hardcore supporters of either side as the majority of the population, and his push for more political say endeavored to provide more representation for this silent majority.
Lebanon's history and its Constitution also augur against the president standing outside political struggles, Salem added. Even though the Taif Accord that ended the 1975-90 Civil War markedly curtailed the president's powers, the head of state is not meant to act merely as the impartial chair of Cabinet meetings, Salem said.
"At one level he's supposed to represent the Christians," Salem said. "At another level he's above the fray. At another level he represents the state and can sign treaties. The post "is a mixed beast. It is by definition, constitutionally so," Salem added. "There's nothing inherently wrong with the president having a bloc in Parliament. One can see it as a normal part of the political game. 'Above the fray' is not to be expected. That's not the president's position in Lebanon."

Will Lebanon's politicians spoil yet another opportunity?
By Shadi A. Karam
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The international press as well as specialized banking and financial circles worldwide are lauding the Lebanese banking sector and its main protector, the governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, for sheltering Lebanon from the cataclysm which is shaking the world. In effect, a series of circulars and regulatory measures introduced gradually, as early as 2004, have banned banks from any exposure and any direct or indirect investment in the exotic derivatives and complex financial instruments which have brought about the demise of global financial institutions once trusted for their conservatism and believed to be unsinkable. This has brought on the tremors we have witnessed for the past few months, and the fear of social dysphoria and civil unrest have led the top world leaders to band together to provide solutions, mainly by injecting thousands of billions of various currencies in the banking system and insurance companies. We are even witnessing a philosophical and ideological reversal as symbols of capitalism, free enterprise and laissez faire are effectively nationalizing banks and insurance companies or forcing mergers and acquisitions at prices and in conditions governments are unabashedly dictating.
Unquestionably, in the past decade and a half, Lebanon's banking sector has survived through civil strife, wars, political crises, invasions and occupation, coming out reinforced each time. This resilience is due to the resourcefulness of the Lebanese bankers but also to a set of consistent Central Bank policies that helped safeguard the currency, and consequently people's purchasing power; shore up the banking sector, and in effect the economy; and prevent the bankruptcy of the state since banks are the main source of financing for the Treasury. This may have come at a cost, and some measures were severely criticized when in fact they were pioneering rescue procedures that are now adopted worldwide to face the crisis. The major difference, however, is that in the case of Lebanon, they were implemented at no cost for the taxpayer contrary to what is happening elsewhere.
It all seems as though every time we were heading toward the wall, the Central Bank has managed to push away the wall a little farther.
Political circles cannot be accused of having been as competent and efficient. If anything, they have more often than not been at the source of the problems the Central Bank had to cure.
Today there is a new challenge: obtaining from the body politic to do its share in preserving national interest.
The present success needs to be capitalized on. For that purpose a series of measures have to be rapidly agreed on by the government in order to demonstrate that we are serious about reform.
First, we need to address the Treasury's financial priorities by starting to implement existing solutions to the problem of Electricite du Liban, thus tackling one of the main chunks of the budget deficit. Showing determination in this area will encourage the implementation of Paris III and maybe convince donors not only to deflect assistance from specific projects to direct and indirect unconditional budget support, but also to accelerate the pace of their payments.
Second, we have to keep in mind that this success is fragile because we do not yet measure the full impact of the crisis. We do not know what the slowdown in the Gulf countries will generate in terms of future costs for Lebanon. We have to be prepared for a sudden influx of expatriates who are coming home because they have lost their jobs, to a reduction in tourist flows from the Gulf and to stagnation in the real-estate sector. None of this may happen, but to govern is to foresee. Unfortunately, our governing body does not have a track record of scoring highly on the foresight scale. As of today, how many meetings have been devoted by the government to exploring measures to be taken to face such issues? How many studies have been commissioned to assess their quantitative effects?
Thirdly, there is even no guarantee that banking problems of a yet-unknown nature may not erupt. In the case of Lebanon who will pay the bill? Assuredly, the state of public finances, with a debt twice as large as the size of the entire economy, does not allow us to even remotely consider resorting to a rescue package involving taxpayers' money. Furthermore, we do not presently have a mechanism for salvaging the banks as the law on mergers, voted by Parliament over three years ago, is still awaiting the promulgation of the application decrees by the government. The draft decree was readied a long time ago and its text corresponds to the needs. The government should hurry and promulgate it at the next Cabinet meeting.
Thirdly, and most importantly, we need political harmony. We require the government and the legislative body to get to work to catch up on lost time and to proceed with the long-delayed agenda. For that, we have to whisk noiselessly through the "reconciliation" procedure and the dialogue roundtable lest we forfeit whatever credibility we managed to establish because we were not affected by the crisis and, hence, shatter all hope we may have of benefiting from the fleeting window of opportunity open to us now of attracting stable investments to the country.
I appeal to politicians of all sides to heed the wise calls of the president. It behooves them to march decisively through the mockery of reconciliations and proceed with a quick and exhaustive agreement around the dialogue table. Otherwise, the present blissful moment of success will become another item on the long list of lost opportunities engraved on the tablets of Lebanon's history over the past 15 years.
**Shadi A. Karam is a Lebanese banker.

Hizbullah wants villages inside Israel
Shiite group's head of international relations tells Norwegian Ambassador organization won't settle for Blue Line border. 'Zionist terror organizations moved the border and robbed Lebanon of seven villages and 20 farms,' he says
Roee Nahmias
Published: 11.04.08, 13:16 / Israel News
Hizbullah's head of international relations Nawaf al-Moussawi said Monday in a meeting with Norway's ambassador to Lebanon, Aud Lise Norheim, that "the Blue Line is not the border between Lebanon and Israel. It's just a line that marks the border of retreat by the Israeli forces from south Lebanon in 2000".
The Blue Line was determined by United Nations experts according to their interpretation of the Security Council resolution from 1978 and is slightly different from the international border that was set in 1923.
Al-Moussawi continued to address different lines that were marked in southern Lebanon. "The Zionist terror organizations moved the borderline that was set in 1920 to a new line in 1923 – a line that robbed Lebanon of seven villages and some 20 farms. We must be alert of attempts to show the Blue Line as a border that would rob Lebanon of millions of square meters of its national land."
Regarding the alleged Israel Air Force infiltration of Lebanese skies over the weekend, as reported by Lebanese sources, al-Moussawi said, "We stand committed to our rights as we face Israeli violations. As a matter of fact it is out duty to stand up against such acts of aggression."
Last Saturday al-Moussawi said revenge for the murder of Hizbullah's Imad Mugniyah was "a done deal". Al-Moussawi said the investigation into the killing was over, and its conclusions were clear – however, "announcing its findings would be useless at the present time".

In Lebanon, pragmatism tempers jihadist aims
By Nicholas Blanford
 | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the November 4, 2008 edition
Militants patrol narrow passageways that connect cement and cinder-block dwellings overfilled with poor families. For months now they have coped with a violent feud between rival groups that has threatened to spill into an all-out battle similar to last year's conflict in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon.
But the groups – secular, leftist, Islamist, nationalist, jihadist – are attempting to forge a rare pact to bring about a much-needed reprieve to tensions in Ein el-Hilweh, which has caused even the more radical, Al Qaeda-inspired elements to publicly moderate their views. The pact could see the formation of a joint security force to police the camp.
The restraint comes as Lebanon and Syria are paying closer attention to the potential threat posed by jihadists after recent bomb attacks in both countries. And groups such as Esbat al-Ansar, which the US considers a terrorist organization, are mindful of the outcome of the fight in Nahr al-Bared when the Lebanese Army took on the Al Qaeda-inspired militants of Fatah al-Islam. The camp was flattened, more than 200 militants were killed, and 30,000 residents were left homeless.
"After Nahr al-Bared, it seems that the same story is coming to Ein el-Hilweh," says Sheikh Ali al-Yussef, an influential Palestinian cleric based in the south Lebanon town of Sidon who helped mediate between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam during last year's conflict. "It is the decision of all Islamic forces in Ein el-Hilweh to avoid another Nahr al-Bared."
The moderation currently displayed by Esbat al-Ansar – and the closely linked Harakat Islamiyya Mujahidda (Islamic Strugglers Movement) – appears to be a gesture of pragmatism rather than a fundamental shift away from their ideological beliefs.
"They are showing the same pragmatism as other Islamist groups that have moved from radicalism to a more mainstream approach," says Omayma Abdel-Latif of the Carnegie Endowment's Middle East Center in Beirut.
Esbat al-Ansar consists of some 200 militants – many veterans of Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Iraq. They are responsible for a string of bombings in the Sidon area against shops selling alcohol, and members of the group gunned down four Lebanese judges in 1999 during a session in a Sidon court.
On a recent visit to the camp, members of the group lolled outside their mosque. Some had long hair and thick beards and wore the salwar khameez, the long tunic and baggy trousers common in Afghanistan.
"Esbat al-Ansar have become wiser and have a greater understanding of the situation. They came to the conclusion that they have to change their behavior," says Sheikh Jamal Khattab, the leader of Harakat Islamiyya Mujahidda and the top representative of Islamist forces in Ein el-Hilweh, in a rare interview with a Western reporter.
Diplomatic sources say that Lebanese authorities have offered amnesty to Esbat al-Ansar and other militants for past crimes so long as they moderate their behavior, a deal that apparently has encouraged the transition.
Sheikh Khattab, who holds a degree in business administration from the American University of Beirut and speaks fluent English, smiles often during the conversation. His demeanor is in marked contrast to his reputation as an advocate of the extremist Islam of Al Qaeda.
In the 1980s, his Al-Nour mosque was reportedly a logistics hub for recruits to fight the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. In 2003, Khattab's group allegedly resumed its earlier role, assisting militants traveling to Iraq. Asked to comment on some of these allegations, Khattab smiles through his salt-and-pepper beard and denies them.
"Why would I care about Afghanistan when our struggle is for Palestine?" he asks. As for Iraq, he says, "Some from Esbat al-Ansar traveled to Iraq. When the resistance turned sectarian in Iraq, the volunteers from Ein el-Hilweh stopped going."
Some jihadists in Ein el-Hilweh, however, reject the new moderation of Esbat al-Ansar.
Confined to a tiny quarter of the camp, they comprise a loose coalition from Jund ash-Sham, a jihadi group formed in 2004 but formally dissolved last year, and remnants of Fatah al-Islam. Some have been indicted for staging attacks against United Nations peacekeepers. Lebanese authorities have no jurisdiction in the Palestinian camps, although Lebanese military intelligence has been playing a greater role in Ein el-Hilweh.
Islamists insist that Jund ash-Sham has been contained and blame secular Fatah, which is riven by an internal power struggle, for stirring up trouble. "We think the problem is with Fatah because it has too many leaders [in the camp] and there is no one in overall control of them," says Sheikh Yussef, the Palestinian cleric.
But "Lino," a prominent Fatah commander, says Fatah prefers a peaceful solution. "All the Palestinian forces are discussing how to get rid of Jund ash-Sham," he says. "If a peaceful solution is not found, we will mount a security operation against them and finish them off once and for all."

Report: Al Qaeda Stronghold in Iraq Calls for U.S. Raids on Syria
Monday, November 03, 2008
AP/Officials in Iraq's third largest city warned that despite declining violence in the country, the U.S. must launch a widespread offensive on Syria if it expects to finish the job.With conditions around Iraq drastically improved, Mosul has remained Al Qaeda's last stronghold despite efforts to secure the city with extra troops, The London Daily Telegraph reported. One problem "is that the terrorists can come across the border … So the number of security forces is never enough to defeat the threat," Mosul Provincial Governor Dureid Kashmula told The Telegraph. Vice Governor Khosro Goran agreed, telling the Telegraph, "We have an open border with Syria and our neighbors are actively encouraging the terrorists." Those neighbors have managed to infiltrate security forces with terrorist sympathizers who are impossible to catch "because mostly they are based outside the city, even outside the country," Mosul police Captain Nabeel Mutlak told the Telegraph.
The turmoil even garnered an unprecedented apology from senior U.S. commander in northern Iraq Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling who told the city, "We have not supported you enough. We have focused too much on Baghdad," The Telegraph reported.

Report: Syrian Officials Approved U.S.-led Raid Near Iraq Border
Sunday, November 02, 2008
AP/BAGHDAD — Despite reports that Syria denounced a violent U.S. Special Operations raid that took place near the Iraq border last week, intelligence officials in Damascus may have approved the attack, the London Times reports. The operation, which was intended to be fast and bloodless, was meant to target Al Qaeda commander Badran Turki Hashim al-Mazidih — also known as Abu Ghadiya — an Iraqi-born terrorist in his late twenties, according to the paper.
Syrian officials — who feared Ghadiya as a threat to the secular regime in Damascus — plotted to have U.S. forces kidnap him and take him to Iraq for questioning. But the U.S.-led raid did not go as planned. A fierce gun battle broke out following the launch of a rocket-proplled grenade from a local American compound, blowing the cover on the covert operation. Eight people were reportedly killed in the raid, which Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem called an act of "criminal and terrorist aggression."Officials could not confirm whether Abu Ghadiya was among the dead.

Analysis: A Middle East message to the new American leader
By BRENDA GAZZAR
Jerusalem Post/04/11/08
Dear Mr. President, congratulations! Not only have you inherited a global economic crisis unmatched since the Great Depression but you have also inherited an increasingly tumultuous and more radicalized Middle East.
Experts use words like "unilateral" and "preemptive" to describe America's foreign policy in the region in the last eight years. Some simply describe US President George W. Bush's approach as "our way or the highway."
Whether or not you choose a more multilateral foreign policy style, you will certainly have to contend with some pressing issues that have arisen or become exacerbated over the past eight years. Thorny issues like the war in Iraq, where more than 4,000 Americans have been killed with no clear end or resolution in sight. Issues such as Iran, which appears intent on pursuing a nuclear weapons program against the wishes of the majority of the world.
And you will have to contend with them at a time that America's global and regional reputation has taken a blow as an honest, neutral and even-handed player in the Middle East. Indeed, many in the region today see the US as a country that only pursues its own interests at the expense of others.
Here are just a few of your challenges:
Iran: This is considered your top foreign policy issue. Your challenge is to figure out how to convince Iran in the next year or two that it shouldn't go forward with developing a nuclear weapon. Sanctions have not worked due to a lack of cooperation by nations like China and Russia. Bush has been very explicit about using force as an option in dealing with Iran. However, some argue that Bush has limited America's options by leading with the threat of military action rather than by using all available tools, such as negotiations or incentives.
Ultimately, however, tough decisions would have to be made in case these tools fail.
Iraq: Your challenge in Iraq is to diminish the American presence while keeping the country and the region stable. You know that any sort of withdrawal will neither be quick or easy. Some experts, Some experts, such as Stephen Grand of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, argue that the key would be to take a regional approach.
In addition to finding a viable political settlement among the various factions inside Iraq, bringing other nations into the fold - countries affected by the conflict such as Syria, Iran and Turkey - is necessary for any long-term solution, he said. "I think that's really what has been missing in the Bush approach; a truly regional perspective."
Israeli/Palestinian crisis: It appears that neither side can resolve the conflict on its own and some kind of international intervention - particularly American intervention - is needed to help bring peace to the region. But American mediation efforts have failed thus far and some say foreign policy here should be reassessed. The Arab peace initiative could well be part of any future peace deal. However, any peace broker must contend with new and rapidly changing realities here: including upcoming Israeli elections and the protracted Fatah-Hamas divide in the West Bank and Gaza.
Syria: Syria is looking to end years of difficult international isolation while maintaining regime stability. It is counting on a new US administration that will support its peace talks with Israel. But Syria also seems reluctant to sever its ties with Iran and militants in Lebanon and the PA. Your challenge will be to help Syria - perhaps through a mixture of sticks and carrots - to end its unsavory ties with extremists and to disassociate itself from radical Shi'ite elements in Lebanon and in Iran.
Egypt: President Hosni Mubarak turned 80 earlier this year, raising questions about his succession and whether or not there could be a political vacuum in this country of some 80 million. Egypt is one of America's strongest and most stable allies in the Middle East, but questions remain about what role, if any, Islamist groups would play in its next government.

Likud to US: We won't honor Syria deal
By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Jerusalem Post 04/11/08
The Likud has issued a clear policy directive against Israeli talks with Syria to advisers of both presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, as well as to representatives of the US State Department.
Slideshow: Pictures of the week "If we form the next government we won't be committed to any agreement, or partial agreement, that was achieved by Kadima during this election period between Israel and Syria," MK Yuval Steinitz told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz said Sunday he would not order the government to stop negotiating with Syria. On Monday MK Limor Livnat (Likud) filed a petition to the High Court of Justice against the decision.
Steinitz said the Likud did not believe it was in the best interest of democracy to bind itself to an agreement with Syria reached by a caretaker government, such as the one now lead by Kadima.
He said the same thing in talks with officials from the US State Department who were in Israel, and earlier in October in a conversation with a member of McCain's staff. Overall, the Likud's position on Syria has differed from that of Kadima in that it does not believe that Israel should be conducting negotiations with Syria until Syria's stance on a number of key issues - such as support for Hamas and Hizbullah - changes, Steinitz said.
Throughout the US presidential campaign, he said, members of both Obama's and McCain's staffs have shown interest in the Likud's position on a variety of issues and have been in contact with him.
Steinitz, who chairs the joint dialogue on defense between the Knesset and Congress, said he often had an opportunity to speak with politicians in Washington.
He refused to publicly state support for one candidate or another, saying rather that it had been important for him to maintain relations with both candidates
But the Likud is not the only political party that has interested Obama and McCain as they prepared for the presidency. Both men have visited Israel this year and met with its top leaders. McCain and Defense Minister Ehud Barak even appeared at a joint press conference together in Sderot in March.
A spokesman for Barak and for the Foreign Ministry said that maintaining a relationship with the candidates was important for them; but like Steinitz would not hint at a preference.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that position papers existed in preparation for either outcome, but that the ministry had not pre-determined the outcome. "We're waiting for the victory and concession speeches," he said.

Why I voted for John McCain
Naomi Ragen
Published: 11.04.08, 11:04 / Israel Opinion
The first election I remember clearly was that of John F. Kennedy. I was a little girl at the time, but the handsome candidate won my heart, and the election. For decades the differences between Democrats and Republicans in America have been slight, with one candidate a little more articulate or photogenic than the other, but certainly both were capable, patriotic, and experienced.
This election – probably one of the most important in the history of America – changes all that. Faced with hostile forces which threaten all of us in the free and civilized world, Americans experienced just how dangerous their position is on Sept. 11, when their safe, protected world came crashing down on their surprised and unsuspecting heads. In this election, Americans either chose to continue fighting those forces by voting for John McCain – a staunch patriot and war hero, or to give in and give up by choosing Barack Hussein Obama, a virtual unknown who wants to slash America’s defenses, lose her war in Iraq, and start unconditional talks with homicidal maniacs that threaten us all with atomic war.
I trust John McCain on security. He is the son and grandson of four star navy admirals. He has a son serving in Iraq. He was tortured in a Vietnamese prison for five and a half years, and wouldn’t let his father – supreme commander of all US forces in that war - use his connections to get him out. He understands the importance of winning the war in Iraq to Israel’s security. As he said: “We are engaged in a basic struggle between humanity and inhumanity; between builders and destroyers. If fighting these people is not intrinsic to the national security and most cherished values of the United States, I don’t know what is.”
Barack Hussein Obama, on the other hand, is the son of a white woman from Kansas and a Black Muslim from Kenya. He has never served in the military. His spiritual mentor is Rev. Wright, a Black racist and anti-Semite who preaches “God damn America” from the pulpit. Obama calls himself a “citizen of the world,” and is popular with European haters of America. He has other close friends who hate America, including domestic terrorist Bill Ayers who blew up buildings in the ‘60s, and planned to blow up the Pentagon.
Obama is also friends with Israel-hating Rashid Khalidi who had close ties with the PLO, and indicted Syrian-American slumlord Tony Rezko. Obama has often said that one of his first acts as president will be to remove US troops from Iraq and to hold unconditional talks with a terrorist like Ahmadinejad.
The Democrats have run a very, very expensive campaign, financed by million of dollars of foreign donations (which are illegal,) including money from Arabs in Gaza, to hide these facts. They have succeeded in convincing Jews to believe what they are told, not what they should be able to see with their own eyes. It is estimated 75% of Jews will vote for Obama. They will vote for him to feel that they are “enlightened,” overcoming any prejudice against a Muslim and a Black man. They will vote for him because they have been told he will be better for the economy (He won’t. He’ll destroy the US economy with new taxes.) They will vote for him because they have no G-d, don’t really care what is best for Israel, and because they want to feel like liberal Americans who read the New York Times, not ethnic outsiders.
People like me are harder to convince. I voted for John McCain, and so did every other American in Israel I know, Jew and gentile, religious and secular.

Livni to US: Don’t ask Israel for shortcuts
Foreign minister meets with assistant to US secretary of state head of Thursday meeting with Condoleezza Rice. ‘Israeli public supports, will continue to support political process on condition it insures political, security interests important to Israel in long-run,' she says
Roni Sofer Published: 11.04.08, 13:25 / Israel News
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met on Tuesday morning with Assistant US Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch to discuss political developments, in preparation for her meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will arrive in Israel on Thursday.
Mideast Quartet
Livni firm on dismissal of interim agreement / Roni Sofer
Foreign affairs minister speaks with Ynet ahead of her upcoming meeting with Mideast Quartet, reiterates that while Israel genuine in negotiations with Palestinian Authority, it will not sign interim accords under current circumstances
During the meeting, Livni told Welch that Israel would act in fulfillment of the political process in a way that will assure its interests.
“The world needs to back the process being conducted and not ask Israel for shortcuts that will harm its ability to secure its needs.”
“The Israeli public supports and will continue to support the political process on condition that it insures the political and security interests that are important to Israel in the long-run.”
ivni referred to the negotiations with the Palestinians and both sides’ demands and said, “The dialogue between Israel and the (Palestinian) Authority is the framework which will allow Israel to ensure its security needs and allow the Palestinians a change in the facts on the ground.
The change is needed in order to actualize any future agreement and based on these principles we will continue the talks,” said the foreign minister.
At the beginning of next week Livni will meet with the Quartet marking one year since the Annapolis Summit.
Amongst others, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner are expected to attend.
Former Palestinian Prime Minister and negotiation team chief Ahmed Qureia will represent the Palestinian side.