LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
August 17/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Matthew 19,13-15. Then children were brought to him that he might lay his
hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the
children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), foundress
of the Missionary Sisters of Charity A Simple Path
Get closer to God like a little child
Begin and end the day with prayer. Go to
God as a child turns to its mother. If words don't come spontaneously to you
then say, for example: «Come, Holy Spirit, guide me, protect me, enlighten my
thoughts so I can pray.» Or even better, if you speak to the Virgin Mary, say:
«Mary, Mother of Jesus, be a mother to me now and help me to pray.» When you
pray, thank God for all his gifts: since all is his, all things are a gift he
makes to us. Your soul is God's gift. Your prayers can include also the
«Hail Mary», the Rosary, the Creed etc. If your family, or you yourself, have
particular ways of praying , pray according to your own custom. If you truly put
your trust in the Lord and in the power of prayer, you will rise above all your
doubts and fears and that sense of being alone so many people feel.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Confronting the Iranian threat-Washington
Times 16/08/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
16/08
Police to Draw Sketch of
Tripoli Crime Suspect-Naharnet
Cabinet
Refers Tripoli Crime to Judicial Council in the Absence of Murr-Naharnet
Hand Grenades Shake Tripoli amid
Fears Violence Could Spread to Ain el-Hilweh, Bekaa
US: Quds, Hezbollah training hit squads in Iran-NTV
US military: Iraqi fighters being trained inside
Iran as ...CNN International
Nasrallah Scoffs at Israel but Says He Is
Assassination Target-Arutz Sheva
Lebanon
Situation … Also on Egypt-Saudi Agenda-Naharnet
Nasrallah More Determined
than Ever to Discuss Defense Strategy-Naharnet
Russia Hails Decision by
Syria, Lebanon to Normalize Ties-Naharnet
Saniora: No Specific Date
Set for National Dialogue-Naharnet
Protesters Demand Freedom
to Jailed Fatah al-Islam Suspects-Naharnet
Kouchner to Visit Beirut
Next Week-Naharnet
Arab League Hails
'Historic Step' by Syria, Lebanon to Establish Ties-Naharnet
March 14 Alliance Finds
Shortcomings in Damascus Summit-Naharnet
Egypt: Iran should reassure West
on nuclear issue-The
Associated Press
Turkey urges Iran to accept
incentives, warns on US attack-Hürriyet, Turkey
Iran denies its banks involved in
illegal activity-International
Herald Tribune
The best strategy for curbing
Tehran's nuclear ambitions-International
Herald Tribune
EDITORIAL: Confronting the Iranian threat
Thursday, August 14, 2008
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/14/confronting-the-iranian-threat/
As it considers its options in dealing with Iranian nuclear weapons, Israel has
become increasingly concerned about the possibility of a larger war with Tehran
and its proxies - and specifically, the possibility that it could be on the
receiving end of missile attacks launched by the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah
in the event of a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. During the summer
2006 war, Hezbollah fired 4,000 rockets, blanketing Northern Israel, and it is
apparently prepared to do so again if war breaks out between Iran and Israel.
Israeli intelligence says that Hezbollah has close to 40,000 short- and
medium-range missiles in Southern Lebanon - triple the size of its its pre-war
stockpile.
The rebuilding of Hezbollah's military arsenal near the Israeli border was not
supposed to happen: Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (UNSCR
1701) - a cease-fire resolution passed on Aug. 11, 2006, that ended the fighting
- U.N. peacekeepers were supposed to ensure that Hezbollah was disarmed. The
resolution also called for an international arms embargo against the group along
with deployment of an international force to prevent weapons smuggling. None of
this has happened. Today, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak travels the world
declaring UNSCR 1701 a failure, as he emphasizes that Israel cannot abide an
Iranian proxy in southern Lebanon armed with 40,000 missiles capable of
targeting his country. In the event of war between Israel and Iran, the Jewish
state is preparing for the possibility that much of this arsenal will be raining
down on its civilian population - not unlike two summers ago.
As it considers military action against Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel is
trying to gauge how Iran and the rest of the Arab and Islamic worlds would react
to such a move. In addition to Hezbollah strikes from Lebanon, there is the
possibility that Syria could enter any war with Israel on Tehran's side. But
launching missiles from Syrian territory is dangerous in that it would provoke
severe retaliation from Israel, which maintains air supremacy. Jordan and Egypt,
which have signed peace treaties with Israel, would likely stay out of the
fighting. But in Gaza, where Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Iranian-
and Syrian-backed terrorist groups are based, Israel could expect an upsurge in
rocket attacks. Another factor is al Qaeda - which has affiliates in Gaza,
Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and Jordan. It would not be a surprise if al Qaeda tried
to launch strikes against Israel or Arab "collaborators" (governments that have
made peace with Israel) in an effort to demonstrate solidarity with Tehran. Such
attacks could take the form of terrorist strikes such as suicide bombings
directed at civilians or assassinations of government officials.
In Iraq, there would surely be efforts by Iranian proxies to target government
institutions and U.S. troops; the same would likely happen in Afghanistan and
Pakistan as well. A critical question is what will happen in Saudi Arabia and
other nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), all of whom have had
difficulties to one degree or another with Iran dating back to the 1979
revolution - ranging from Iranian-sponsored terrorism on their territory to
Iranian efforts to stir up restive local Shi'ite populations. Occasionally,
there is a backlash. That was the case Tuesday in the Saudi-owned pan-Arab
newspaper al-Hayat, which ran a column attacking an Iranian foreign ministry
official for predicting the demise of Arab regimes in the Gulf. The al-Hayat
piece blasted Tehran for supporting Hamas and Hezbollah and attempting to export
"the Khomeini revolution." But this is the exception: The usual modus operandi
of the Saudis and their GCC colleagues is to make angry public denunciations of
Israel while privately praying that the Zionists deal a blow to their Iranian
tormentors.
Hand Grenades Shake Tripoli amid Fears Violence Could
Spread to Ain el-Hilweh, Bekaa
Naharnet/Lebanese army troops carried out house raids Saturday in
search for assailants who tossed hand grenades into the northern city of
Tripoli, amid fears violence could spread to the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain
el-Hilweh and to the eastern Bekaa Valley. Tension continued to prevail in
Tripoli after unidentified assailants tossed two hand grenades into the Bab al-Tabbaneh
neighborhood overnight. Two more hand grenades were tossed into the same area at
dawn Saturday, according to press reports. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, tension heightened at the Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp near the
southern port city of Sidon following reports that two Fatah members were killed
in overnight violence. A cabinet source, on the other hand, feared that the
spate of bloody violence in Tripoli could spread to Ain el-Hilweh and the Bekaa.
He cited the infiltration of extremist groups to Tripoli, Ain el-Hilweh and to
some areas of the Bekaa as well as the flow of money and arms as good reasons to
believe so. The source said Lebanese authorities were monitoring the flow of
arms without being able to act due to the sharp political divide. Tripoli has
been rocked by deadly violence in recent months. 14 people were killed and at
least 40 wounded when a bomb blast targeting a bus carrying mostly off-duty
Lebanese army soliders went off in Tripoli on Wednesday. In June and July, 23
people were killed in battles between gunmen of the Sunni Muslim neighborhood of
Bab al-Tabbaneh and rivals from the mainly Alawite community allied with
Hizbullah in Jabal Mohsen. There has been tension between the two communities
ever since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. Alawites are an offshoot of Shiite
Islam and straddle the border into Syria whose President Bashar al-Assad is a
follower of the faith. Beirut, 16 Aug 08, 08:36
Cabinet Refers Tripoli Crime to Judicial Council in the Absence of Murr
The Lebanese cabinet referred the Tripoli crime to the judicial council and
called for handling the security issue with wisdom and firmness.
President Michel Suleiman presided over the cabinet's extraordinary session at
Baabda Palace.
Suleiman briefed the ministers on his visit to Syria and described the
Lebanese-Syrian summit as "important," Information Minister Tareq Mitri told
reporters following the meeting. Mitri said the cabinet would take a decision
concerning exchanging embassies with Damascus in its next meeting on Thursday.
Defense Minister Elias Murr did not attend the meeting that was intended to
discuss the security situation. Education Minister Bahiya Hariri also failed to
show up at the cabinet session. Premier Saniora hailed the Syria visit and
called for reconsidering the Lebanese-Syrian pacts ratified during the Syrian
Hegemony according to national interest. He also called for tackling the
security situation in Tripoli wisely and firmly. Mitri said the Cabinet decided
to refer the Tripoli crime to the judicial council. Al-Mustaqbal MPs urged the
Lebanese government to ask the U.N. Security Council to add the Tripoli crime to
those already under investigation by the international commission. Responding to
a question, Mitri said no specific date has been set for Syrian President Bashar
Assad's visit to Lebanon.
The cabinet also decided to ask the Security Council to extend the U.N. mission
in southern Lebanon by a year. Beirut, 15 Aug 08, 22:35
Police to Draw Sketch of Tripoli Crime Suspect
Investigation into the Tripoli bombing that killed 14 people, including nine
Lebanese army soldiers, continued Saturday amidst reports that police was
preparing a sketch of the suspect based on the descriptions given by witnesses
and images captured by surveillance cameras. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fouad
Saniora, who is due in Egypt Saturday for a meeting with Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak, stressed that both Lebanese army troops and police were ready to
face any security threat. Beirut, 16 Aug 08, 08:01
Lebanon Situation … Also on Egypt-Saudi Agenda
Naharnet/Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met on Friday with
Saudi King Abdullah for talks on regional developments and boosting bilateral
ties.
"The two leaders discussed the range of Arab issues, including recent
developments on the Palestinian front... developments in Lebanon and the
confrontation between the West and Iran over its nuclear file," Egyptian
presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad told reporters. The two leaders also
discussed bilateral trade which has increased to 2.8 billion dollars annually,
Awad said. He said the two leaders discussed Egypt's invitation to Palestinian
factions to hold talks in Cairo, adding that "we are waiting to receive answers
from all the Palestinian factions before we set a date (for the
inter-Palestinian talks)."
With regards the Iranian nuclear crisis, Awad called on Tehran to adopt a
"principle of transparency" with regards its nuclear activities, urging the West
"not to drag the whole region into a dangerous situation." President Mubarak met
with Oman's Sultan Qaboos on Thursday and is due to meet Lebanese Prime Minister
Fouad Saniora on Saturday.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 16 Aug 08, 11:16
Nasrallah More Determined than Ever to Discuss Defense
Strategy
Naharnet/Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said he was
more determined than ever to discuss a national defense strategy for Lebanon,
stressing that keeping weapons "secret" was part of Hizbullah's power.
"We insist, now more than anytime before, on the need to discuss and come up
with a defense strategy for Lebanon so that we all know how we can defend our
country," Nasrallah said in a televised speech to supporters Thursday night,
marking the second anniversary of a U.N.-brokered cease-fire that ended the 2006
war between Israel and Hizbullah.
The Hizbullah chief also stressed the need to discuss two more crucial points.
"Coming up with a national strategy to rebuild the Lebanese state as well as a
strategy to settle the deep-rooted economic and social problems are two crucial
items to be discussed," he said.
Nasrallah said that he has informed President Michel Suleiman's advisers of the
need to debate these issues during roundtable talks.
He described the economic situation in Lebanon as "a total disaster," stressing
that failing to deal with this problem "will lead to a total collapse of the
Lebanese economy."He made a point of not revealing whether the group now has
anti-aircraft missile systems that could stand up to Israeli air raids.
"There has been an Israeli uproar about the reinforcement of Hizbullah's
strength," he said. "There has been talk of sophisticated arms and an air
defense system and threats if Hizbullah uses this kind of system."
"No one can expect me to stand up and say (whether) we possess new weapons or we
don't," he added. "Keeping (weapons) secret is part of ... (Hizbullah's)
strength. This is part of directing the battle of liberation and resistance
against this (Israeli) enemy."
Nasrallah said his fighters won't be frightened by Israeli threats to attack
Lebanon.
He accused Israel of planning to assassinate Hizbullah leaders, saying this
would not deter the Shiite group from continuing its battle against the Jewish
state.
"I tell the Zionists: We don't fear you. Say whatever you want and do whatever
you want. We know that you are planning new assassinations of resistance
leaders. But this will not make us retreat," he said. "We are staying here and
standing fast here."
Turning to rival Lebanese leaders, Nasrallah said that "if a 33-day war on the
resistance didn't defeat it then fiery speeches in Parliament won't change
anything in the political scene." Nasrallah called on Hizbullah politicians and
MPs to hold their temper despite harsh criticism directed at Hizbullah and its
arsenal.
He hailed two key agreements between Lebanon and Syria -- the establishment of
diplomatic ties and the deal to resume demarcating the border between the two
neighbors. Nasrallah said the developments ushered in "a new phase and signals a
qualitative development" in relations between Lebanon and Syria.
"A positive attitude will help in solving all pending issues between the two
countries," he said. Nasrallah also surprisingly sent his greetings to Beirut
and its residents. "We are no aliens to Beirut," he said. "We are an integral
part of the capital and we wish all the best to Beirut and its residents." He
was responding to calls from leaders of the ruling March 14 coalition,
particularly Druze MP Walid Jumblat, who had asked Nasrallah to "salute" Beirut
as a sign of reconciliation after the May battles that saw Hizbullah wresting
control of west Beirut. Beirut, 15 Aug 08, 08:05
Russia Hails Decision by Syria, Lebanon to Normalize Ties
Naharnet/Russia hailed a decision by Syria and Lebanon to
establish diplomatic relations as an "important step" to normalize ties and
buttress stability in a restive region. The Russian foreign ministry hailed the
outcome of the recent Damascus summit between Lebanese President Michel Suleiman
and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as "an important step in the path of
normalisation. "We hope that this process will move forward," it said, adding
that this would "be in the interests of both countries and contribute ... to
reinforce stability in the region." Suleiman and Assad agreed to start the
first-ever full diplomatic relations between the two neighbors since
independence 60 years ago.(AFP) Beirut, 15 Aug 08, 20:51
Saniora: No Specific Date Set for National Dialogue
Naharnet/Premier Fouad Saniora said on Friday that taking serious
steps to exchange embassies between Beirut and Damascus is a "good" development.
Saniora told reporters following Friday prayers at the Grand Serail that "no
specific date for launching the national dialogue has been set yet". He
described Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech as "good." "Everyone
should build and develop them and translate these attitudes into practical
steps," Saniora said.
Nasrallah had said he was more determined than ever to discuss a national
defense strategy for Lebanon, and called for good preparations for the national
dialogue.
Saniora said President Michel Suleiman would brief the cabinet about his visit
to Syria. The cabinet would hold an extraordinary session in Baabda to discuss
the security situation in the aftermath of Wednesday's deadly blast in Tripoli.
Beirut, 15 Aug 08, 18:30
Nasrallah Scoffs at Israel but
Says He Is Assassination Target
Arutz Sheva
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
(IsraelNN.com) Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah celebrated the second
anniversary of the end of the Second Lebanon War Thursday by scoffing at Israel
and the IDF, which he also blamed for Georgia's being crushed by the Russian
army this week.
He declared in a televised speech on the Hizbullah-based Al Manar television
network that he is not afraid of Israel but added, "We know you are planning to
assassinate leaders of the resistance... but you do not frighten us." Hizbullah'
senior mastermind terrorist Imad Mughibyeh was assassinated in a Damascus car
bombing earlier this year. Israel has denied involvement in the killing, which
revealed serious faults in Syrian security.
We know you are planning to assassinate leaders of the resistance... but you do
not frighten us.
Nasrallah reveled in recalling Israel's failure to vanquish his terrorist army
in the war in 2006 and mocked former Prime Minister Ehud Barak for his "hasty
departure" from the southern Lebanon security zone in 2000.
The Hizbullah leader echoed Israeli critics who have cited Ehud Barak's retreat
as leaving a vacuum that Hizbullah used for six years to prepare for the war by
building an underground network of bunkers with advanced weapons smuggled from
Iran and Syria.
Next in line for Nasrallah's sarcasm was Labor Knesset Member Amir Peretz, who
was Defense Minister during the war and whose name Nasrallah pretended to
forget. The jibe was double-edged because Peretz threatened during the war that
after an IDF victory, Nasrallah would remember his name.
The speech targeted not only Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for failing as a leader
but also made stinging remarks aimed at the IDF and Defense Minister Ehud Barak,
who he said "do not scare us."
He blamed former IDF officers, in particular Brigadier General Gal Hirsch who
quit the IDF while admitting his failures in the war, for the heavy losses of
Georgia's armed forces at the hands of an unmatched Russia army.
He declared, "Israel exported failed generals in order to train the Georgian
armed forces," including Hirsch, who now operates a company that trained
Georgian security forces. "Relying on Israeli experts and weapons, Georgia
learned why the Israeli generals failed" against Hezbollah, he said.
Egypt: Iran should reassure West on nuclear issue
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (AP) — Iran should not give Western nations the justification
to "drag the region down a dangerous slope" by its lack of transparency and
flexibility in the conflict over its nuclear program, Egypt's presidential
spokesman said Saturday.
Speaking after a meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi King
Abdallah in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, spokesman Suleiman Awwad
defended Iran's right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes but said
the Islamic Republic should give more assurances to the international community.
Iran has refused to comply with repeated international demands to halt nuclear
enrichment, a process that can be used to produce fuel for nuclear weapons or
nuclear energy. "Iran should not present on a silver platter the justifications
and the pretexts for those who want to drag the region down a dangerous slope,"
he said.He noted the case of Saddam Hussein, who didn't adequately refute claims
over Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasion in
2003 that toppled him. "Iran owes the international community transparency and
flexibility," he said. "The Gulf is extremely worried and the Middle East is
watching the standoff."
Turkey urges Iran to accept incentives, warns on U.S.
attack
Hürriyet, Turkey
Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged his Iranian counterpart to accept the new
incentives package of the Western countries and warned on a possible U.S.
military operation, Hurriyet daily reported on Saturday. Gul and Iran's Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad met on Thursday to discuss the international row over Tehran's
nuclear works and bilateral relations. Two leaders, however, failed to sign
agreements on multi-billion dollars energy agreement, a move came after the U.S.
pressure who seeks to increase the isolation of Iran, some media reports earlier
suggested.
"We welcome and support the latest (incentives) package submitted by the five
members of the UN Security Council and Germany. We see this (package) as a
window of oppurtunity. You should accept this package and focus on the economic
development of your country," Hurriyet quoted Gul as telling Ahmedinejad in the
meeting. Western powers suspect Tehran's nuclear program is a cover for the
development of the atomic bomb, claims strongly rejected by Iran.
Iran is risking a possible fourth round of UN sanctions after it failed to give
a clear response to an incentives package offered by six major world powers in
return for halting its uranium enrichment activities. Earlier this week, Iran
said it was ready to hold more talks with the European Union on the package
offered by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
Gul also said it is not a nice development that the circulation of the
speculation that the U.S. could hold a military operation against Iran.
"U.S. President George W. Bush could bomb your country just before he leaves the
office. This would seriously harm your country and your people as well as the
region," Gul added, the report said. Gul also suggested that the Iranian
president should not rely on the dovish comments of the U.S. presidential
hopeful Barack Obama. Turkey has been taking a more active role in the dispute,
self-described as a role "of consolidating and facilitating" the talks rather
than formal mediation.
Turkey believes it is Iran's legitimate right to pursue nuclear works but is
against any country in the region to acquire nuclear weapons.
Ahmedinejad, in return, reiterated that the Iran's nuclear program is completely
peaceful and they would not accept to freeze their uranium enrichment works. Gul
said another terminology could be used for the word "freeze." Both leaders
underlined the importance of the continuation of dialogue to resolve the
dispute.
The best strategy for curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions
Published: August 15, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/15/opinion/edmideast.php
There have been welcome indications recently that the Bush administration
intends to continue with purely diplomatic efforts to dissuade Iran from
developing a nuclear weapons capability. As Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
wrote in a recent article for the United States Army War College quarterly,
"Another war in the Middle East is the last thing we need."
Recent admonitions to Israel not to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, delivered by top
American military and intelligence officials, suggest that Gates is on firm
ground.
The warnings to Israel reflect a newfound willingness to weigh the risks in a
matter that can have far-reaching security ramifications for the United States,
Israel, and many other countries. The assumptions underlying such caution
include a belief that Iran still has a long way to go before it can produce a
nuclear weapon; that Tehran can be made to pay a much higher price for refusing
to heed international demands to suspend uranium enrichment; and that bombing
known nuclear sites in Iran would delay that country's progress on enrichment by
at most a year or two - if that long.
The director of U.S. national intelligence, John Michael McConnell, and the
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, went to Israel in
June and, according to the Washington Post, told Israeli defense officials that
the United States would not permit Israel to fly through Iraqi airspace to bomb
nuclear facilities in Iran.
Today in Opinion
Everybody loses in Bolivia's recall voteThe best strategy for curbing Tehran's
nuclear ambitionsResponding to Russia's aggression and lies
They reportedly argued that Iran was not close to producing a nuclear weapon and
that an Israeli strike against Iranian targets would damage American interests.
This is a sound approach, at least for now.
Iran has undoubtedly dispersed centrifuge facilities in underground locations.
Bombing the above-ground sites would not only provoke Iranian retaliation, but
would likely cause Iran to accelerate its nuclear program.
To reassure Israel, Gates has wisely offered to station an advanced radar system
there and to integrate Israel directly into America's early warning satellite
network. He also proposed increased American funding for anti-missile and
anti-rocket systems Israel has been developing.
President George W. Bush would also be wise to heed Israeli suggestions that he
obtain Russia's cooperation in greatly strengthening sanctions on Iran. To do
so, Bush would have to cancel the seriously flawed missile-defense system he has
been trying to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic.
He would be giving up a leaking umbrella for a chance to stop Iran from becoming
a nuclear power.