LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 09/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16,24-28. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Saint [Padre] Pio of Pieltrecina (1887-1968), Capuchin friar
FSP, 119; Ep 3,441; CE,21; Ep 3,413/"Let him take up his cross, and follow me"/Christ does not ask you to carry the whole of his heavy cross during your life but only a small part of it, by accepting your suffering. You have nothing to fear. To the contrary, consider yourself happy to have been accounted worthy of taking your share in the sufferings of the Man-God. There is no question on the Lord's part of either abandonment or punishment; quite the opposite – it bears witness to his love, his great love for you. You must offer God thanks and accept to drink the chalice of Gethsemane.Sometimes the Lord lets you feel the weight of the cross. This weight seems unbearable to you and yet you carry it because the Lord, who is full of love and mercy, holds out his hand to you and gives you the strength you need. Our Lord needs people who will suffer with him in the face of men's lack of piety. That is why he leads me along the painful paths you speak of in your letter. Yet may he be blessed for ever since his love puts sweetness into what is bitter; he changes the passing suffering of this life into merit for eternity.


Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Spy Case Casts Light on Hezbollah Recruitment in Germany-Spiegel Online 08/08/08
Expelled from Iraq, Rejected by Syria-Asharq Alawsat 08/08/08
Analysis: Subtly and determinedly, Syria is taking over Lebanon-By JONATHAN SPYER Jerusalem Post 08/08/08
Playing for time.By: Bassel Oudat-Al-Ahram Weekly -08/08/08
Members of Parliament can wield their power to protect Lebanese -The Daily Star 08/08/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August 08/08
Parliament Sees its First Debate in Two Years-Naharnet
Alloush Attacked by Angry Protesters in Tripoli-Naharnet
Hizbullah Snubs Syria: We Don't Believe in Negotiating with the Enemy-Naharnet
Israel: Lebanon responsible for Hezbollah actions-Ha'aretz
Lebanese Forces For Commitment to State Authority-Naharnet
Parliament to Launch its First Debate in Two Years-Naharnet
Alloush Predicts Tough Discussion of the Policy Statement-Naharnet
Speedy Appointment of Lebanon's Military-Security Generals-Naharnet
Jumblat, Geagea for Better Coordination by March 14 Factions-Naharnet
PSP-Hizbullah Committee to Deal with Security Problems in the Mountains-Naharnet
Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council to Survive-Naharnet
Top Officials Agree on Steps to Improve Lebanon's Prison Conditions-Naharnet
Berri to EU Parliament: Resistance is Our Pride-Naharnet
Minister Takla: The Countdown to Reclaim Shebaa Farms has Started-Naharnet
Gemayel: State Taken Captive by Iran-Naharnet
Maronite bishops hope stability will be restored.Daily Star
UN calls on Lebanese judges to quit for Hariri court roles-Daily Star
Christian parties call for reconciliation within sect-Daily Star
Assailants rob office of international rights envoy-Daily Star
Israel vows to halt Hizbullah arms smuggling - report-Daily Star
Gemayel accuses Iran of using Hizbullah to hold Lebanon hostage-Daily Star
Berri: Lebanon fully committed to implementing 1701-Daily Star
Artist wins gold medal for Lebanon in Bejjing Olympic Games-Daily Star

Parliament Sees its First Debate in Two Years
Naharnet/Parliament opened its gates Friday to lawmakers engaged in their first debate in over two years, focusing on the policy statement of Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet upon which it would be granted the go ahead to rule. At least 65 MPs have asked to address parliament in what is usually a national event broadcast live by local radio and television networks. The Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces are threw a security dragnet around the house in a way that wouldn't obstruct the flourishing business at the tourist sector of downtown Beirut. Deliberating the cabinet's policy statement is expected to last about four days. Several MPs said they expect the cabinet to win a vote of confidence with an overwhelming majority. Predictions had it that MPs who would oppose the policy statement and refuse to grant the cabinet a vote of confidence wouldn't exceed five legislators. Berri said he also would call the house to a legislative cycle after the confidence function to "tackle several bills related to the people's needs, which cannot wait." The daily An Nahar quoted Berri as telling Saniora "we are required to focus on economic hardships and services."
Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 08:14

Pakistani Politics Shaping War on Terror
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,400305,00.html
Friday, August 08, 2008
This is a rush transcript from "America's Election HQ," August 7, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
HEATHER NAUERT, HOST: NAUERT: A constitutional crisis over there could further destruct Pakistan from the fight against al-Qaeda. So how will this impact the war on terror?
With us now is Walid Phares. He's a FOX News terrorism analyst and the author of the book called "War of Ideas."
Welcome, Walid. So how much of a chance is there of this happening, that Musharraf gets impeached or, as others are suggesting in the country, forcing him to resign?
WALID PHARES, FOX NEWS TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, first of all, we have two things happening at the same time. One, Pakistani politics; and two, the consequences of these politics and of this impeachment are now national security and the war on terror, begin with politics quickly, Heather.
• Video: Watch Heahter's interview with Walid Phares
RelatedColumn Archive
Pakistani Politics Shaping War on TerrorGiuliani: Dem. on GOP Ticket PossibleChristianity Gaining Popularity in ChinaBeijing Taxis Carrying Tiny MicrophonesSen. Boxer Supports Obama's Energy PlanFull-page Transcripts Archive
Video
• Video: Watch Heahter's interview with Walid Phares
Airs Weekdays at 5 p.m. ET
E-mail the show: billandmegyn@foxnews.com Bill Hemmer's bio Megyn Kelly's bio Transcript archive One, the man, the politician leading this movement is the former husband or the husband of the slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He wants to unseat the president, but he himself is under criticism within his own party for not being elected. So, we don't know if he's successful, and removes the general, General Musharraf from power, if he himself is going to continue.
Then, the other politician is the head of the Muslim league, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has a score to settle with General Musharraf but, I think, don't have enough influence over the army. So, complicated politics and consequences on the war on terror.
NAUERT: OK. So, it may or may not happen, but nevertheless, any sort of tumultuous stuff going on over there negatively impacts us, because it helps take or takes their focus off the war on terror. We want — the United States wants Musharraf to remain in power, correct? PHARES: We do want to see him remaining in power in constitutional terms. His party doesn't have a majority in their House. His party has just 50 percent in their, equivalent of our Senate. So, it's going to be very difficult for the government/opposition to remove Musharraf, but what is more dangerous than that than the constitutional gains, two things — al Qaeda and the Taliban — who do they want to see as the head of state there and the nukes. We need to make sure that the next president if he is removed, will be an ally of the United States, and that's where U.S. policy is very much combined here. Would Musharraf, despite all his problems or remove him — and then, it's the unknown. NAUERT: But one of the complicated things in Pakistan is just because you have control in the capital, doesn't necessarily mean, as we've seen in Pakistan, they have control over that northwest frontier province where all the — where the terrorists are. PHARES: Look, for the last six years, General Musharraf, then President Musharraf, basically, has promised the United States to remove the Taliban, to dismantle al-Qaeda, and to clean up Waziristan, he didn't do so. Now, he says that his army basically is not able to do so because this would lead to a civil war.
So now, it's a big question. If he is removed and he is the only leader we know who has some influence over the army, what would the next leader do if this one who has all that influence won't be able to achieve the goal?
NAUERT: Right. A lot of uncertainty. Walid Phares, thanks for joining us tonight. We'll check back with you on this issue as it develops. Content and Programming Copyright 2008 FOX News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2008 ASC LLC (www.ascllc.net), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon FOX News Network, LLC'S and ASC LLC's copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation

Israel: Lebanon is responsible for Hezbollah's actions
By Barak Ravid - Haaretz
Israel will hold Lebanon responsible for any attacks against Israel, in particular for any Hezbollah efforts to avenge the death of its military leader Imad Mughniyeh. This decision on Wednesday by the security cabinet represents a change in Israeli policy, after always firmly separating Hezbollah and the Lebanese government.
According to defense establishment recommendations adopted by the security cabinet, Israel will treat the Lebanese unity government, which is headed by Fouad Siniora and includes Hezbollah, as responsible for any event that takes place in its sovereign territory or events for which Lebanese nationals are responsible.
A senior Jerusalem source said if Hezbollah attacks Israel from inside Lebanese territory, shoots at Israel Air Force aircraft or carries out a terror attack abroad as revenge for the Mughniyeh assassination (which it attributes to Israel), then Israel will hold Lebanon responsible and respond appropriately. In the coming weeks, Israel plans to start transmitting this message to the United Nations, United States, Russia and European nations, and primarily to Syria and Hezbollah itself.
In the Second Lebanon War, Israel avoided damaging Lebanese civilian infrastructure such as power stations, ports or government institutions, despite the recommendation of then-chief of staff Dan Halutz, due to pressure from Washington on Israel. The U.S. claimed that bombing Lebanese infrastructure would topple the moderate Siniora government. Defense officials noted in the cabinet meeting that two developments supported a change in policy. The first is the fact Hezbollah is now a partner in a Lebanese unity government and holds veto rights. The second is that the guidelines of the new Lebanese government guidelines, approved by President Michel Suleiman, allow Hezbollah to continue its military activity against Israel. The defense establishment believes these new conditions improve Israel's deterrent power as Hezbollah understands the severe ramifications of the new situation should there be any action against Israel in Lebanon or overseas.

Hizbullah Snubs Syria: We Don't Believe in Negotiating with the Enemy
Naharnet/Hizbullah said Friday "no threats or accusations" would prevent its Islamic resistance from acquiring weapons. Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah outlined the stand in an interview with the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai prior to national dialogue that President Michel Suleiman is to sponsor to tackle such controversial issues as Hizbullah arms. "All accusations and threats cannot limit the resistance capabilities or prevent (practicing of) its right in acquiring all the means," Fadlallah said. "The resistance has all the capabilities to confront Israel," he added. Hizbullah, he added, is not concerned about the ongoing negotiations between Syria and Israel through Turkey. However, Fadlallah declared: "Our basic stand is that Arab rights can only be regained through the resistance and liberation strategy." "Syria speaks for itself. We don't believe that this affects our right and duty in defending our homeland. Negotiations are negotiations and the resistance is resistance," he explained. Fadlallah declared: "We don't believe in negotiating with the enemy. If some states want to try this option, let them try. The resistance persists irrespective of these negotiations." The policy statement of Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet has "acknowledged the right of the resistance in liberating Lebanon and defending it," he said. "Those who expressed reservations over the policy statement do not want to acknowledge this right," Fadlallah concluded. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 08:49

Spy Case Casts Light on Hezbollah Recruitment in Germany
By Ulrike Putz in Beirut -Spiegel Online
A young Israeli man who studied in Germany has been arrested on espionage charges in Israel. Khaled K., of Palestinian descent, allegedly spied for the Hezbollah Shiite militia. His case is expected to highlight Hezbollah recruiting activities in Germany.
When Khaled K. stepped off the plane from Germany to start his summer vacation, it wasn't his family that awaited him at the gate. Instead Shin Bet agents and police greeted the 29-year-old Israeli man of Palestinian descent when he arrived on July 16 at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. He was arrested and disappeared into custody for two weeks until Israeli officials filed charges against him on Wednesday and lifted a gag order on coverage of his arrest.
Hezbollah might be more active in Germany than officials thought. The charges filed by state prosecutors are serious. They allege the man, who comes from the Israeli-Arab town of Kalanswa, sought contact with an agent with connections to Hezbollah in an effort to pass on information.
The indictment alleges he also supplied names of potential recruits to the Shiite militia and that he had expressed his preparedness to take a job at the Rambam Hospital in the Israeli city of Haifa after completing his studies in Germany, where he is enrolled as a student at the University of Göttingen near Hanover. Israeli soldiers in the 2006 war against Hezbollah are still being treated at the Rambam Hospital, and K. was apparently supposed to sound them out in order to obtain information that could be useful to Hezbollah.
Prosecutors also allege that the Israeli-Arab was paid a total of €13,000 for his services. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, he has confessed to the charges.
Suspect Khaled K. is to be tried on espionage charges in Israel.
The Khaled K. case has attracted tremendous interest in Israel -- not least of which because he is the embodiment of the Israeli secret service's ultimate nightmare of the "enemy within." In recent months, Palestinians holding Israeli passports or residence permits perpetrated several attacks, and the problem ranks high on the agenda of the country's terrorism experts.
"This incident provides new proof that Israeli-Arabs are attractive recruiting targets for Hezbollah," an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement read. Close to 20 percent of all Israeli citizens are so-called Israeli Arabs -- mostly Palestinians and Druze.
But the case also comes as a surprise to German security officials. SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that German authorities first learned from Israeli authorities that Khaled K. was under suspicion of espionage.
An acquaintance of K's, however, is well known to the Germans. According to files from the Israeli state prosecutor's office, K. met with a Lebanese surgeon named Hicham H. in Germany sometime in 2002 or earlier. H. is the head of the Orphans Project Lebanon (Waisenkinderprojekt Libanon), which, according to the Israelis, is a cover organization for the Lebanese Martyr Institute. That group is suspected of collecting money for Hezbollah.
For three years, Hicham H. and Khaled K. are suspected of having met every two weeks -- before H. suggested that K. should meet one of his acquaintances. This contact person, also Lebanese, operated under the aliases Rami or Mazen and suggested during their first meeting in Erfurt in 2005 that K. should get himself an unregistered mobile phone. He also said that further contact should only take place via e-mail, according to Israeli investigators.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for Spiegel Online's daily newsletter and get the best of Der Spiegel's and Spiegel Online's international coverage in your In- Box everyday.
Security authorities say that K. thus slipped into the orbit of senior officer Mohammed H., a 50-year-old Lebanese man whose task was to recruit spies for Hezbollah in Europe.
The senior officer allegedly met with his recruits at least four times -- twice in the eastern German city of Erfurt and twice in Frankfurt. At the final meeting, the group is thought to have discussed the exact layout of Hicham H.'s village Kalanswa using Google Earth.
Just why Kalanswa, located near Israel's border with the West Bank, caught the attention of the Hezbollah man is unclear. But the officer asked his protégés to find other natives of the town living in Germany. If they were found to be in financial difficulties, it was thought they might be receptive to becoming well-paid Hezbollah informants.
If Israeli state prosecutors are correct, the case could indicate that Hezbollah is much more active in Germany than previously thought.




Parliament to Launch its First Debate in Two Years
Naharnet/Parliament opens its gates Friday to lawmakers engaged in their first debate in over two years, focusing on the policy statement of Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet upon which it would be granted the go ahead to rule.
At least 65 MPs have asked to address parliament in what is usually a national event broadcast live by local radio and television networks.
The Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces are to throw a security dragnet around the house in a way that wouldn't obstruct the flourishing business at the tourist sector of downtown Beirut.
Deliberating the cabinet's policy statement is expected to last about four days.
Several MPs said they expect the cabinet to win a vote of confidence with an overwhelming majority.
Predictions had it that MPs who would oppose the policy statement and refuse to grant the cabinet a vote of confidence wouldn't exceed five legislators.
Berri said he also would call the house to a legislative cycle after the confidence function to "tackle several bills related to the people's needs, which cannot wait."
The daily An Nahar quoted Berri as telling Saniora "we are required to focus on economic hardships and services." Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 08:14


Lebanese Forces For Commitment to State Authority
Naharnet/The Lebanese Forces on Friday emphasized on the need to adhere to state authority "especially in the defense sector" and called for ratifying the elections law as soon as possible.
The Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc also called for adopting "measures to ease the economic burden" endured by the people.
The bloc said it was keen on not wasting "sacrifices by members of the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement" in confronting Syrian hegemony and rejecting Hizbullah weapons. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 13:35


Alloush Predicts Tough Discussion of the Policy Statement
Naharnet/MP Mustafa Alloush predicted "tough discussion" of the cabinet's policy statement at Parliament, especially when related to a clause on Hizbullah's resistance.
Alloush, a member of the Mustaqbal Bloc, said representatives of the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance would emphasize on their interpretation of the policy statement along the line that it has recognized the resistance.
However, representatives of the March 14 majority alliance would adhere to their concept based on the state right to "lead resistance and defense activities."
Nevertheless, Alloush said the cabinet of Premier Fouad Saniora would win a vote of confidence at parliament, saying opponents of its policy statement would not exceed five MPs.
Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 12:23



Speedy Appointment of Lebanon's Military-Security Generals
Naharnet/Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet is headed to appoint a new army commander and directors for the nation's security agencies prior to President Michel Suleiman's visit to Syria tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday.
The daily al-Liwaa said Israeli criticism of the cabinet's policy statement prompted speeding up efforts to fill in the vacancies so that the nation would be prepared to face "regional-international" developments.
The report spoke of "information" about a trend to appoint a Maronite for director general of the General Security apparatus and a Shiite for director general of State Security following "consensus by the opposition and a pledge by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun that Maronites would regain the post."
The new army commander, according to the report, would be one of four nominees:
They are Director of Military Intelligence Brig. George Khoury, Brig. Marwan Bitar who heads the Lebanese-Syrian military coordination bureau and holds the post of liaison officer at the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council; Brig. Jean Kahwaji, commander of the 12th brigade; and deputy chief of staff Brig. George Masaad.
Khoury enjoys the "full support" of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, but is opposed by a "major trend" within March 14 "in light of the Military Intelligence performance in the past three years," the report said.
Bitar is opposed by "the majority" for his role in coordinating with Syria.
Kahwaji faces "reservations from some sides due to backing by a major opposition leader for his nomination," the report added.
Masaad, the report added, "is close to retirement age."
Suleiman, the report noted, "has not given his final word regarding his successor."
Sources close to Suleiman say it is better to have a "moderate" new army commander similar to Suleiman who had commanded the regular force for over nine years, the report noted.
Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 10:27



Jumblat, Geagea for Better Coordination by March 14 Factions
Naharnet/A meeting was held on Wednesday night away from the media spotlight between the head of the Democratic Parliamentary Gathering, Walid Jumblat, and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat reported.
The meeting took place at Jumblat's house, and it was attended by minister of state Wael Abou Faour and former minister MP Nehme Tohme, the newspaper said on Friday.
It quoted sources close to the conferees as saying that the meeting tackled in-depth gaps in the performance of March 14 factions in the previous era and the needed coordination in the future. Geagea said late last month that the March 14 alliance was determined to bolster the coalition to achieve all its aims.
He also denied allegations about differences with Jumblat, saying that they aimed at poisoning the atmosphere.
Geagea also visited al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri last week.
Media reports said that Geagea stressed during his talks with Hariri the need to revive the coalition and prepare for the upcoming elections. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 10:36



Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council to Survive
Naharnet/Beirut media on Friday quoted Baabda Palace sources as saying that the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council will not be disbanded after the establishment of diplomatic ties between Damascus and Beirut. The Council "will continue (operating). Its structure or missions will remain intact unless some parts contradict the exchange of embassies between the two countries," An Nahar quoted the sources as saying. They said that President Michel Suleiman will visit Damascus on August 13-14 and will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and Secretary-General of the Council Nasri Khoury.
Khoury last month warned that disbanding his Council would take Beirut-Damascus relations "back to zero level."
An Nahar said Friday that the agreement to keep the Council operating was made between Suleiman and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during their meeting in Paris last month. The newspaper quoted the same sources as saying that Suleiman and Assad will discuss next week all bilateral issues, including the establishment of diplomatic relations, border demarcation and treaties signed between the two countries. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 07:26

Top Officials Agree on Steps to Improve Naharnet/Lebanon's Prison Conditions
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud have met with the chairman of the parliamentary committee on human rights MP Michel Moussa to discuss conditions in Lebanese prisons. Thursday's discussions focused on the situation of certain detainees in Roumieh prison, who are demanding an acceleration of the processing of lawsuits and complaints that have been filed against them. The officials announced that they were satisfied with the measures that are being taken in order to "respect the principles of a fair trial, including limiting as much as possible states of provisional detention, which lead to overcrowding in the prisons."They also said that they would work towards improving the situation of prisons "legislatively, administratively, and practically." This would include building modern prisons, so as to limit overcrowding and to make sure that they conform to the necessary international standards.
The conferees also announced that they would maintain communication and cooperation among the legislative, executive, and judicial authorities "in order to reach agreement on a practical program for reforming prisons and improving their conditions" to ensure human dignity and prisoners' rights. Beirut, 08 Aug 08, 13:05

Gemayel accuses Iran of using Hizbullah to hold Lebanon hostage
Tueni slams party's may 'military operation' as unjustified
By Hussein Abdallah -Daily Star staff
Friday, August 08, 2008
BEIRUT: Former President Amine Gemayel said in remarks published Thursday that Lebanon was being held hostage by Iran, adding that Hizbullah's authority stretched beyond that of the Lebanese state. "Lebanon is the captive of an Iranian strategy that is being implemented by Hizbullah," Gemayel told the Arabic daily Ash-Sharq al-Awsat. Gemayel added that Hizbullah's arms were not aimed at liberating the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms.
"These weapons are part of a broader regional strategy ... Hizbullah is part of Iran's strategy and nothing else ... the entire situation will change if Iran reconciles with the West."The Phalange Party leader said that the situation in Lebanon will remain fragile as long as one party was using its weapons to impose its will on others. "As long as this is the case, the truce that was achieved in Doha will continue to be under threat," he said, referring to the Doha Agreement, which was signed on May 21, ending an 18-month political crisis in Lebanon.
"Hizbullah's arms are the core problem in Lebanon. All other problems are marginal compared to it," he added.
On the Shebaa Farms issue, Gemayel said that Syria was not offering Lebanon the necessary help to prove its sovereignty over the occupied territory.
"In the eyes of international law, the Shebaa Farms belong to Syria, which in turn did not present any documents to the UN supporting Lebanon's claim" to the territory, he said. Gemayel added that relations between Lebanon and Syria would not return to normal before establishing diplomatic relations and settling the issue of missing Lebanese in Syrian jails.
Meanwhile, MP Ghassan Tueni said that Hizbullah's possession of arms was part of the party's ideology. "When Hizbullah arms itself, it is indirectly encouraging every other party to do so," he told the local Orange television late on Wednesday. Tueni argued that it was unjustified for Hizbullah to "launch a military operation" in reaction to the former government's decision to sack the head of airport security Brig. Gen. Wafiq Shoucair and probe Hizbullah's private phone network. Tueni was referring to the early May clashes between Hizbullah-led fighters and gunmen affiliated to Future Movement leader Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Youssef Taqla said on Thursday that the countdown to the return of the Shebaa Farms through diplomatic means "has started." He did not elaborate. In an interview with the Arab weekly Al-Osbou al-Arabi, Taqla also addressed the issue of Lebanese-Syrian ties.
"Diplomatic ties start by appointing ambassadors and setting up a legal framework for the relations between the two states," he said.
He also called on the families of the Lebanese who are missing or detained in Syrian jails to deal seriously with their problem by resorting to judicial means.
President Michel Sleiman would be visiting Damascus next week to discuss bilateral relations with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad.
Establishing diplomatic ties and the fate of Lebanese prisoners in Syrian jails are among the issues that are likely to be discussed during the visit.
In another development, Hizbullah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Thursday that a meeting between Hariri and Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was "possible" in the near future.
Commenting on the draft ministerial statement, which will go to a vote of confidence in Parliament on Friday, Fadlallah said the document had secured Lebanon's right to liberate its occupied territories and defend itself against Israeli threats. Also on Thursday, the Shiite Higher Council said that Lebanon should embrace and protect "the resistance" in order to confront all forms of Israeli aggression. "The resistance and the armed forces are both sources of power for Lebanon," it said.

Berri: Lebanon fully committed to implementing 1701
Speaker tells visiting EU Parliament chief that Israeli violations 'are only source of disturbance'
By Hussein Abdallah and Eugene Yukin -Daily Star staff
Friday, August 08, 2008
BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said after meeting European Parliament chief Hans-Gert Pottering on Thursday that Lebanon was fully committed to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, while accusing Israel of violating the resolution, which put an end to the 34-day war. The speaker added that the Lebanese Armed Forces had the best of relations with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
"South Lebanon is living in peace and harmony and Israeli air and sea violations of Lebanon's sovereignty are the only source of disturbance," he said. Addressing a lunch banquet at Phoenicia Intercontinental hotel in Beirut, Berri thanked Europe's chief legislator for the European Union's support to Lebanon during the summer 2006 war with Israel, adding that Lebanon was "proud" of Hizbullah's resistance.
"We are grateful for the EU position during the summer 2006 war ... from day one, the EU was pushing for a cease-fire," Berri said.
The lunch banquet was also attended by Premier Fouad Siniora, who met separately with Pottering earlier Thursday.
At a news conference held at Parliament earlier on Thursday, Pottering spoke of his and the European Union's deep devotion to peace in Lebanon and the wider Middle East. "For me it's a great pleasure to be in Beirut on the invitation of Speaker Berri," he said. Pottering held talks with Berri for about 40 minutes before speaking to reporters.  This is Pottering's second visit to the Middle East as president of the European Parliament.
Citing "security concerns" he explained his inability to visit Lebanon earlier.
"We have discussed a broad range of challenges, what the EU can do, what the European Parliament can do," Pottering said. "It is my ambition as president of Parliament ... to promote with all modest means of course the peace process in the Middle East," he added. Speaking on the efforts that he would undertake to promote peace, Pottering said he would try to convince other EU leaders to contribute to the region. "I am personally and deeply convinced that a peace in the Middle East to solve the Palestine problems which is one of the core questions is really decisive for the relations between the European Union and the Muslim and Arab World," he said, adding that "all countries, including Israel" had the right to live in peace. As part of his visit to Lebanon, the EU Parliament president will be getting a tour of South Lebanon on Friday.
When asked if he was afraid, Pottering replied: "I am always aware of the situation but it is our political ambition to make the development possible that we are not afraid."Pottering, who arrived in Beirut late on Wednesday, started his Thursday meetings by visiting President Michel Sleiman at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. The EU Parliament chief told reporters after meeting Sleiman that the European Union supported the establishment of best relations between Lebanon and Syria.
Pottering will spend three days in Lebanon before heading to Damascus shortly ahead of Sleiman's scheduled visit to the Syrian capital, scheduled for August 13. "I found that it was convenient to visit Lebanon during this period and I will head from here to Syria where I am scheduled to meet Syrian President Bashar Assad ... and you all know that President Sleiman will also be visiting Syria next week," he told reporters.
Pottering added that the European Parliament was willing to play a major role in reviving the Middle East peace process . "The EU will play its full role in reviving the peace process in the region on both the political and economic levels."
Pottering then headed to the Grand Serail where he discussed with Siniora bilateral relations between the European Union and Lebanon.
The European legislator reiterated the European Parliament's support to Siniora and the Lebanese government in a bid to achieve a "fully sovereign Lebanon.""We are committed to helping Lebanon in becoming a sovereign state which embraces many cultures and religions," he said.
"Lebanon can be a model for the entire region," he added. Pottering, who focused in most of his statement on the Middle East peace process, also said that the EU was looking forward to see an Israeli and a Palestinian state living in peace next to one another.  Asked if he will drop a specific message to Syrian officials during his visit to Damascus, Pottering said that it was necessary to bring Syria back to the peace process.
"We hope Syria takes some steps to enhance the peace process," he added. Pottering also met Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, and representatives of different Lebanese parties.

Maronite bishops hope stability will be restored
By Maroun Khoury -Daily Star correspondent
Friday, August 08, 2008
DIMAN: The Council of Maronite Bishops on Thursday voiced hope that the new national unity government would try to unify the Lebanese people and restore tranquility, prosperity and peace to the country in cooperation with its officials, particularly President Michel Sleiman.
The bishops, in a statement following their monthly meeting headed by Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir at his summer residence in Diman, also hoped for the return of stability to the country and expressed regret over security breaches "here and there."
"We hope that stability will be restored to the country, especially as several Lebanese emigrants have lately flocked to their homeland seeking tranquility," said the statement. The bishops also called on the Lebanese state and people to be "vigilant" and avoid the reoccurrence of forest fires.
"The fires that have recently erupted in several parts of the country and destroyed thousands of pine and oak trees are not spontaneous," the bishops said. "This is regretful and requires that perpetrators be caught if they intended to cause such damage to the country."

Members of Parliament can wield their power to protect Lebanese
By The Daily Star Friday, August 08, 2008
Editorial
Today the national spotlight will be trained on a national institution that enjoys tremendous power to make a significant difference in the lives of Lebanese citizens: the Parliament. Although this evening's highly publicized session will be devoted to remarks on the new Cabinet's policy statement, the more important work of lawmakers tends to take place away from the media frenzy, in quiet, thoughtful sessions and committee meetings where important legislation is drafted and adopted into law. One example of an issue of enormous public concern that MPs can address in the course of their work in the upcoming weeks is that of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
The problem of fake medicines is one that plagues many developing countries, and Lebanon, despite its wealth of educated doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals, is no exception. In fact the National Health Commission reported in 2004 that some 35 percent of the prescription drugs on the Lebanese market were fake. And these illegal drugs, which can range from mere placebos to highly toxic cocktails, can seriously harm or kill the healthiest of citizens. Moreover, fake medicines, which can be found in pharmacies and hospitals across the country, can have a doubly deadly effect when given to patients with serious ailments like cancer or heart disease.
Lawmakers, particularly those in the parliamentary majority, can help protect citizens from this dangerous threat by making the issue of counterfeit medications one of their top priorities. The Parliament's Health Committee is a good place to start drafting new legislation aimed at improving safeguards and imposing tougher punishments on those who produce and distribute illegal medications.
As the legislative branch of government takes center stage today, the Lebanese ought to be reminded of the relative power that lawmakers hold: Cabinets come and go - and sometimes very quickly, as in the case of the current government - but the legislation that MPs enact can have a lasting effect on the lives of citizens. There is no better way that they can weild that power than to use it to protect the people.

Analysis: Subtly and determinedly, Syria is taking over Lebanon
Aug 7, 2008
By JONATHAN SPYER
Jerusalem Post
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is to visit Syria next week, to discuss the opening of diplomatic relations between the countries, a Lebanese official told reporters this week.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy last month hailed President Bashar Assad's expression of willingness in principle to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon as "historic progress."
The establishment of a first-ever Syrian Embassy in Beirut is probably not imminent, for various reasons. Nevertheless, the signs of normalization in relations between Syria and Lebanon are significant. They are the latest indication of Syria's growing confidence, and far from being a harbinger of more peaceful times in the neighborhood, they offer clues as to the shape of possible further strife.
The formation of the new Lebanese government after the Beirut clashes in May represented a very significant gain for the pro-Syria element in Lebanese politics. Hizbullah now controls a blocking 11 of the 30 cabinet seats. With a Lebanese government of this type, there is no reason for Syria to be in dispute there. The short period when Damascus felt the need to express its will in Lebanon solely in a clandestine way is drawing to a close. Still, Western hopes for the rapid establishment of formal relations between the two countries are probably exaggerated. Damascus is in no hurry. Syria's return to Lebanon is a work in progress. Assad has listed the preconditions for the establishment of diplomatic relations to become a real possibility. These include the passing of an election law, and the holding of the scheduled May 2009 general election.
Behind Assad's honeyed words, one may glimpse the contours of Syrian strategy in the next stage. The election of May 2009 will be conducted under the shadow of Hizbullah's independent and now untouchable military capability.
Intimidation will go hand in hand with the real kudos gained by the movement and its allies because of recent events - including the prisoner swap with Israel, and the Doha agreement that followed the fighting in May. The result, the Syrians hope, will be the establishment of a government more fully dominated by Hizbullah and its allies, in which the pro-Western element will have been marginalized.
Such a government would mark the effective final reversal of the events of the spring of 2005, when the Cedar Revolution compelled the Syrian army to leave Lebanon. Damascus would then go on to conduct friendly and fraternal relations with the new order in Beirut. Mission accomplished.
If this strategy plays out, however, it will represent not the normalization of Syrian-Lebanese relations, but rather the enveloping of Lebanon into the regional alliance led by Iran, of which Syria is a senior member.
On the ground in Lebanon, this regional alliance is still engaged in consolidating its gains. The lines separating the official Lebanese state from the para-state established by Hizbullah continue to blur. The new government's draft policy statement, which is still to be discussed by the parliament, supports the "right of Lebanon's people, the army and the Resistance to liberate all its territories."
This statement thus nominally affords the Resistance. i.e. Hizbullah, equal status with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and appears to consider it an organ of official government policy.
The new organ of government policy, meanwhile, is building its strength. Ostensibly for the mission of "liberating" 20 square kilometers of border farmland, Hizbullah has built a capability of 40,000 missiles and rockets, is frenziedly recruiting and training new fighters, and is expanding and developing its command and logistics center in the Bekaa.
The latest talk is of Iranian-Syrian plans to supply Hizbullah with an advanced anti-aircraft capacity that would provide aerial defense to the investment in rockets and missiles. Such a move would represent a grave altering of the balance of power. Serious moves towards it could well prove the spark for the next confrontation.
In all its moves, the Iranian-Syrian-Hizbullah alliance has known how to combine brutal military tactics on the ground with subtle and determined diplomacy. Its willingness to throw away the rule book governing the normal relations between states has been perhaps its greatest advantage. While the West sees states as fixed entities possessing certain basic rights, Iran and Syria see only processes of rising and falling power. They see themselves as the force on the rise, and the niceties of internationally fixed borders as a trifle unworthy of consideration.
The region has known the rise of similar systems of power and ideology in the past. Experience shows that such states and alliances have become amenable to change and compromise - if at all - only after experiencing defeat, setback and frustration.
The Syrians and their allies, of course, are far weaker in measurable military and societal terms than their rhetoric would suggest. Western (including Israeli) actions over the last years have tended to blur this fact. The general acceptance of the transformation of Lebanon into a platform for this alliance - and the lauding of it as 'historical progress' - is the latest example of this. The reacquaintance of rhetoric with reality on all sides is long overdue.
**Jonathan Spyer is a senior research fellow at the Global Research in International Affairs Center at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya.

Playing for time
By: Bassel Oudat-Al-Ahram Weekly
After four rounds of indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations, progress appears slow, but the game is still on, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus
The fourth round of indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations, held in Istanbul with Turkish mediation, has come to a close. A fifth round will follow -- also in Istanbul and with Turkish mediation -- in mid-August. A Turkish source close to the negotiations has stated that the outcome of the fourth round was positive, yet the two parties have not yet agreed to begin direct negotiations.
Syrian political circles are tight-lipped about what is taking place in the indirect negotiations. Syrian newspapers print brief references only to the negotiations and observers and journalists are being left in the dark. Ahmed Al-Hag Ali, former advisor to the Syrian minister of information, and close to decision-making circles, told Al-Ahram Weekly that, "the current level of negotiations is still at the stage of learning positions. There is no justification for drawing any conclusions or developing any visions based on mere fancy. Under such circumstances, we believe that the discussions are a mere process of enquiry that remains within a general and theoretical framework. Israeli prevarications continue to impose themselves on the situation."
The Israeli side is also tight-lipped about the issue, with the exception of some details printed by the Israeli Maariv newspaper last week that were neither supported nor denied by anyone. It appears that both the Syrian and Israeli sides are playing with gained time and are interested only in gaining more. Each party has an interest in continuing negotiations even if they don't bring results, so as to avoid being accused of losing an opportunity for making a historic peace.
The Syrian side wants to continue indirect negotiations even if they are nothing more than that. Syria would find it difficult to halt them because that would contradict the new foreign policy stance it has presented to Europe and the United States -- a positive, moderate one that would help calm and stabilise the region. This policy seeks friendly political relations with Europe and for the (current or future) US administration to normalise relations with Syria and sponsor Syrian-Israeli negotiations.
Haitham Menaa, a Syrian activist and spokesperson of the Arab Committee for Human Rights, believes that the Middle East "can no longer bear a state of war without war, which leads to psychological and social instability and disturbs the economy and development." He described Syrian-Israeli discussions to the Weekly as "discussions about a political settlement and not peace negotiations."
Syrian political circles believe that the Israeli government wishes to engage in the negotiations either due to the weakness of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, or because the government and security agencies, and particularly the army, see an opportunity to reach a peace agreement with Syria. They believe that Israel also sees the negotiations as a means of fending off the Iranian threat and the danger of its Lebanese ally Hizbullah. Whatever the reason, both sides appear to be using the negotiations as a means of buying time.
Menaa said: "We are in a transitional stage in all meanings of the word, between the Bush-Cheney stage and what follows it, between the Olmert stage and what follows it, and between two approaches to dealing with the Syrian authorities. The first approach sees Syria as undesirable and the second accepts it in the game of regional nations. This transition has made us believe that Olmert is opening up the Syrian file in order to lessen the pressure on his domestic file. In turn, the Syrian government is lessening its losses in the time gained by waiting for 2009."
Not much has been leaked about the negotiation rounds, but it appears that the two sides are discussing all the issues that will form an agenda for future direct negotiations. They also seem to be trying to confirm that each side is prepared to reach a settlement, offer concessions, and pay the price of an agreement. Likewise, they are seemingly trying to decide on negotiation methods and levels, the degree of expected withdrawal from occupied territories, and security arrangements that would precede that.
Other issues that appear under discussion include a general framework for disarmed areas, the conditions and stages of normalisation, the distribution of water, the exchange of diplomatic representation and future relations.
The Syrian side wants, and might demand, that the US administration sponsors direct negotiations with European assistance. It won't concede such a stipulation, and this was stated by President Bashar Al-Assad during his visit to Paris last month when he said, "direct negotiations might not begin until after the new American president assumes his duties at the beginning of the new year, for the current American administration is not interested in the peace process."
Al-Haj Ali said: "Syria has sufficient desire to move the negotiations from the indirect stage to the direct stage, and it wants the United States to play a major and public role in those negotiations. But none of this has yet taken place, and there is not yet enough of a basis to move the discussions to a direct form. There are no major topics clearly agreed upon, and Israel has not settled on any way of applying the resolutions of the international community and fully withdrawing from the Golan Heights."
Syrian policy views acceptance by the US administration to sponsor negotiations as implicitly signalling the lifting of the American "siege" on Syria and the possible return of the US ambassador to Damascus. More importantly, US sponsorship would guarantee implementation of any agreement made and prevent probable Israeli non-commitment that Israeli governments have grown accustomed to resorting to in most of their agreements with Arab countries.
Among the difficulties facing negotiations is the instability of the Israeli domestic situation, especially since Ehud Olmert will resign in mid-September and it remains unknown who will succeed him as the head of the government or what coalition of parties will participate in a future Israeli government. The Syrian side admits that the resignation of Ehud Olmert "may affect the indirect peace discussions". Yet no one in Syria believes that Israeli domestic changes will stop the negotiations. Indeed, Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli vice- premier, recently stated: "Negotiations will continue even after Olmert leaves."
Mofaz is one of the strongest candidates for succeeding Olmert. "It is necessary to continue peace efforts without prior conditions," Mofaz said, calling for "peace in return for peace", but declaring that he is "against agreeing to return the Golan Heights." Olmert has said that he will "not offer any such agreement to the Syrians." Yet the Syrians hold that full withdrawal from the Golan Heights is something not open to negotiation.
The Syrians are betting that European and American interests will be met by the success of a peace process in the Middle East. This will drive the West to increase pressure on the future Israeli government in order to make its positions more moderate. This bet may encourage Syrian policy to continue with negotiations and strengthen its confidence in reaching an agreement.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved

China discovers al Qaeda in its backyard
By Walid Phares
In a video accusing China’s Communist Government of “mistreating Muslims” a Jihadi group threatened to attack the Summer Games in Beijin. A spokesman of the Turkistan Islamic Party accuses China of “forcing Muslims into atheism and destroying Islamic schools. The “Turkistan Islamic Party” is most likely based across the border in Pakistan, where sources affirm it received training from Al Qaeda.
Weeks ago the organization claimed responsibility for a bombings across the country. The latest video shows graphics of a burning Olympics logo and explosions. This week, attackers killed 16 police and wounded more than a dozen in the Xinjiang city of Kashgar using homemade bombs.
But according to AP reports few months ago, Chinese Police broke up a terror plot targeting the Beijing Olympics while a flight crew foiled attempt to crash a Chinese plane. Per Communist Party officials in the North Western province of Xinjiang, materials seized in a January 27 raid in the regional capital, Urumqi, suggested the plotters' planned "specifically to sabotage the staging of the Beijing Olympics." Earlier reports said police found guns, homemade bombs, training materials and "extremist religious ideological materials" during the January raid in Urumqi, in which two members of the gang were killed and 15 arrested. The immediate question becomes: Is China targeted by a Terror organization? And since the material found was characterized as “extremist religious ideological”, does that mean it is al Qaeda or one of its affiliate? The answer to these questions could change the face of geopolitics in Asia.
Interestingly the Associated Press runs to frame the Terrorists to a local ethnic conflict in one of China’s Western provinces. AP wrote: “Chinese forces have for years been battling a low-intensity separatist movement among Xinjiang's Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim people who are culturally and ethnically distinct from China's Han majority.” The news agency has tried to set the agenda of the debate by scoring three points for the “radicals.” They are separatists, they are representative of a local ethnicity and they are Muslim. In addition the description of the struggle is informative: Chinese forces versus a Uighur movement. In a way a parallel to Kosovo, Chechnya and Kashmir with two projected effects. As framed by AP, the struggle of these “Terrorists” is indeed legitimate even though the means are violent. But is it the case?
Evidently the Chinese Communists are repressive against all other minorities and political dissidents. But as in Russia and India’s Wahabi cases, one would investigate if these particular Terrorists in China are local patriotic elements with liberal outlook. Not really. As under the Russians in Chechnya it looks like the Communists in China are battling another form of totalitarianism to come: Jihadism.
Chinese officials said the group had been trained by and was following the orders of a radical group based in Pakistan and Afghanistan called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, or ETIM. The group has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United Nations and the United States. East Turkestan is another name for Xinjiang. So the “movement” is indeed Terrorist-identified by the international community. But other than its violent means, is that group linked to al Qaeda? There is a double answer to this question. First the group is indeed Jihadi Wahabi-Salafi as its long term objective is to separate a particular province from China but only to establish an Emirate, a prelude to join the world Caliphate. Hence ideologically it is part of the world web of internationalist Jihadis, who identify with Bin Laden’s school of thought. Second in many instances, al Qaeda produced material showing Chinese Jihadists training in their camps. In the chat rooms, the Salafi commentators often cite the presence of “brothers” from the Xinjiang. And let’s remind ourselves that upon the fall of Tora Bora in 2001, Chinese officials asked US military to extradite Chinese nationals who we part of the Taliban and al Qaeda networks in Afghanistan. So the bottom line is that the Bin Laden cohorts included Jihadis recruited from inside China’s Western province. As in Chechnya a local ethnic separatist claim exists but the struggle was hijacked by the Jihadi terror forces.
Hence as China is discovering al Qaeda in its own backyard, this begs powerful questions:
1. If these Jihadists will escalate their Terror against Chinese cities and installations -and the recent discoveries indicate this trend- will Beijing find itself in the same trench as Washington that is against al Qaeda and the Salafists?
2. And if that becomes the case, will China continue to pursue a policy of support to other Jihadist forces, including the Islamist regime in Khartoum?
3. If Communism and Jihadism clash again in the 21st century inside the Asian superpower, will its resources rich Western province becomes a new Afghanistan with Jihadists converging from central Asia and other parts f the world?
For now Chinese officials are downplaying the danger altogether and dismissing the threat: "Those in Xinjiang pursuing separatism and sabotage are an extremely small number,” said a pro Government Uighur leader. “They may be Uighurs, but they can't represent Uighurs. They are the scum of the Uighurs," regional communist official Bekri said. But that is what Russian officials always said about Chechnya and their Indian counterparts argued about Kashmir. Jihadism has demonstrated that its adherents can swiftly recruit and expand, especially if international Wahabis are generous and committed. Hence the answer to this critical new “Jihad” will come from as far as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia but also from the smaller principality of Qatar, where al Jazeera can transform a local separatist movement into an uprising in the name of the Umma.
***********
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
August 7, 2008