LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
February 13/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 6,7-15. In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today
our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the
final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you
forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your
transgressions.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Civil war in Lebanon threatened.By: Samuel Segev. February 12/08
Two
New Messages from Lawson Kass Hanna/Few
mercenaries in Zgharta/Message to the Lebanese Military Attorney-General Jean
Fahed/ Februaru 12/08
Lebanon's Fateful Showdown.By Amir Taheri. New York Post.
12/02/08
Has Lebanon's next needless civil
war already been joined?
TheDaily Star. February 12/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for February 12/08
79 People, Including 19 Soldiers, Charged Over 'Black Sunday'
Incidents-Naharnet
Suleiman: We Are Ready
to Back Any Consensus Candidate-Naharnet
Moderate earthquake rattles south Lebanon, felt in Syria-International
Herald Tribune
The Tribunal, Syria and … Lebanon-Naharnet
Barak visits Turkey to discuss arms sales and Syria-GulfNews
'Kuwait backs just Syria causes'-Arab
Times
Lebanon charges 19 soldiers over protest shootings-Reuters
Aridi: We Reject War
Decision-Naharnet
Ban, Bush to Discuss Lebanon,
Counterterrorism, Other Issues on Friday-Naharnet
Syria 'Hopes' Lebanon's President Would be
Elected Prior to Damascus Summit-Naharnet
Moussa to Brief EU on Arab League
Initiative-Naharnet
Hariri: Army, Security Forces Would
Protect Thursday's Rally-Naharnet
Pederson: Berri Was Instrumental to UNSCR
1701-Naharnet
Aoun: I am the Negotiator-Naharnet
Iran Deplores Continued Instability in
Lebanon-Naharnet
Gemayel The People Had 'Enough' with the
Opposition-Naharnet
Lebanon's Conflicts
Spilling to the Streets-Naharnet
Geagea vows to take 'all measures-Daily
Star
Aoun: March 14 'incites war
-Daily Star
Gemayel: 'What is left of the state?
-Daily Star
Berri accuses Hariri of sinking possible
breakthrough -Daily Star
Lebanon to rank high on EU agenda in Malta
-Daily Star
Pedersen stresses need for backing of Arab
initiative -Daily Star
At least two wounded in shootouts between
supporters of rival camps-AFP
Rival camps 'ready' for confrontation as Civil War
lessons go unheeded-AFP
Olmert to raise issue of captured troops in Berlin-AFP
You can't honor Hariri's memory by ignoring his
principles -Daily Star
'Failure to solve crisis will herald
internationalization -Daily Star
Sfeir, fears over the increasing opposition to the Sleiman
candidacy-AsiaNews.
Geagea Pledges to Win the Long Battle for New Lebanon-Naharnet
Report: Olmert to Discuss in Germany Fate of Israeli Captives-Naharnet
Israeli politicians demand toppling
of Hamas -Daily Star
Pentagon seeks death penalty for six suspects in
9/11 case-AFP
Olmert seeks German backing in anti-Iranian
campaign-AFP
Red Cross to oversee transfer of man held in
Israel -Daily Star
Group of NGOs will push Arab League to adopt
uniform policy on climate change -Daily Star
Nonprofit group gives Palestinian children breath
of fresh air -Daily Star
Farmers lament crop losses inflicted by wintry
weather -Daily Star
Campaign to clear cluster bombs is still a work in
progress
-Daily Star
Moderate earthquake rattles south Lebanon, felt in Syria
The Associated PressPublished: February 12, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon: A moderate earthquake rattled southern Lebanon on Tuesday,
causing some panic among local residents but no major damage, the meteorological
department said. The quake, which hit the southern port city of Tyre and
surrounding villages, registered up to 4.2 on the Richter scale. Some residents
in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and neighboring Damascus, Syria also felt the
earthquake. The Lebanese Bhannes Center for Seismic and Scientific Research said
the quake struck at 1:47 a.m. local time (2347 GMT), and its epicenter was
located about six kilometers (about 4 miles) east of Tyre. The state-run
National News Agency said it lasted several seconds and sent panicked residents
to the streets. The quake caused some cracks in the foundations of a few
buildings in Tyre and shattered some windows, the agency said. No one was
injured. In Syria, the state-run news agency quoted the director of the National
Earthquakes Center as saying that an earthquake registering up to 3.7 on the
Richter scale and centered in southern Lebanon was felt by some residents in
Damascus.
Ban, Bush to Discuss Lebanon, Naharnet/Counterterrorism,
Other Issues on Friday
Naharnet/Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President George Bush will hold
talks at the White House Friday on a range of global issues including Lebanon,
human rights, counterterrorism, Darfur, Kenya, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, the
U.N. and the U.S. said.
U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said Ban will head to Washington on Thursday and
meet that evening with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
On Friday, she said, the U.S. president and the U.N. chief will discuss issues
of common interest including climate change, the U.N.'s Millennium Development
Goals to fight poverty, human rights, counter-terrorism and international peace
and security. They are also expected to discuss important regional issues such
as Darfur, Kenya, the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, Montas said. White
House Press Secretary Dana Perino said "the president looks forward to
discussing with secretary-general Ban important U.N. issues including human
rights, counterterrorism, and international peace and security." "We expect the
president and the secretary-general to address the situation in Kosovo, Burma,
Sudan, Iran, Lebanon and Kenya; the recent attacks on the leaders of East Timor;
as well as international support for Iraq and Afghanistan," Perino said. While
the U.N. stressed climate change, an issue Ban has made his top priority, the
White House didn't put the subject on the agenda for Friday's talks.(AP) Beirut,
12 Feb 08, 08:17
The Tribunal, Syria and … Lebanon
Naharnet/Financial contributions by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab
Emirates, Pakistan, France and the United States have placed the international
tribunal on the launching pad to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of
ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes. This, according to an-Nahar's Hiyam
Kossayfi, falls within the framework of "mounting pressures on Syria."By
speeding up its financial contribution to the tribunal Saudi Arabia indicated
that its "dialogue with Damascus has reached a dead end … and pressure on
Damascus should mount with the aim of gaining concessions from Syria in
Lebanon," she wrote.
"This would reflect on the Lebanese arena … Syria wouldn't view positively Saudi
Arabia's strong backing of the tribunal, and Riyadh wouldn't stand idly by
regarding Syria's hard line rejection of a settlement in Lebanon," the writer
added. She referred to an "impression that the U.N. secretary general has
noticed progress in the investigation and that a certain pace is commanding the
investigation's path … and that would lead to launching the tribunal's
activities sooner than expected.""That is why the tribunal would be the focal
pressure in Syria," she concluded. Beirut, 12 Feb 08, 13:15
79 People, Including 19 Soldiers, Charged Over 'Black Sunday' Incidents
Naharnet/Lebanon's military prosecutor Judge Jean Fahd charged 79 people,
including 16 soldiers and three army officers, in connection with the bloody
riots that left seven people killed in Beirut last month. The charges
included murder, violation of military instructions, possession of unlicensed
arms and causing unrest, setting rubber tires and tossing hand grenades. Fahd
charged two officers and 11 soldiers with firing at demonstrators protesting
power cuts as well as the manslaughter of six civilians and the wounding of
others. Fahd charged an unidentified assailant with the death of a seventh
protester.
The military prosecutor also charged one officer and five soldiers with
violating military orders. Fifty-eight civilians were also charged with causing
unrest and attacking soldiers.Judicial sources said the charges carry a maximum
sentence of five years with hard labor. The suspects were arrested by the
Lebanese army over violent riots that left seven people killed in Beirut's
southern suburbs on Jan. 27. The riots broke out after youths protesting alleged
long spells of power cuts in the Shiite district of Shiyah entered the nearby
Christian area of Ein el-Rummaneh and began throwing stones and setting cars on
fire. The situation quickly escalated after a member of the Amal movement was
shot in the back. Youths turned out in several neighborhoods, setting tires
ablaze and briefly shutting down the main road leading to the airport. All of
those who died in the riots were Shiites, including two from the leading
opposition party Hizbullah and two from Amal.
The bloodshed raised fears of civil strife in a country already grappling with
its worst political crisis since the end of the civil war and with a series of
assassinations mainly targeting anti-Syrian figures. Hizbullah, which is engaged
in a power struggle with the ruling coalition, blamed the government for what is
known as 'Black Sunday' incidents. Beirut, 12 Feb 08, 08:40
Suleiman: We Are Ready to Back Any Consensus Candidate
Naharnet/Army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman called on his
soldiers to pledge allegiance to the military and the nation, stressing that
"unity" can salvage Lebanon. "Consensus reached by all (Lebanese) factions on
the army commander is something the military institution – which has gained both
citizens' confidence and love -- can take pride," Suleiman said in guidance news
bulletin. "I have informed all concerned leaders that the military as well as
its commander are for speedy elections on any consensus candidate and that we
are ready to give him our full backing to ensure his election and establish
security," Suleiman said.
He stressed that his candidacy was "never" discussed during contacts between the
various political leaders and the army commander as well as top ranking
officers.
These contacts, he emphasized, focused on "providing political cover for the
military in his missions." eirut, 12 Feb 08, 10:24
Barak visits Turkey to discuss arms sales and Syria
Agencies/Published: February 12, 2008, 09:56Tel Aviv: Israeli
Defence Minister Ehud Barak travels to Turkey on Tuesday to shore up strategic
ties and discuss prospects for reviving peace talks between Israel and Syria.
Turkey has offered to help reconcile Israel with Damascus and wants to defuse a
diplomatic deadlock with the Palestinians.Barak confidants said he would use his
two-day visit to Turkey to promote the proposed sale of an Israeli spy satellite
and other defence deals.
Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed that Ankara wants to advance
intelligence-sharing projects including satellites.
Aridi: We Reject War Decision
Naharnet/Information Minister Ghazi Aridi ruled out the possibility of civil
war, saying the Lebanese had had a similar experience which at the end resulted
in a political settlement. "We reject civil war or confrontations as an option,"
Aridi told the daily al-Liwaa following talks with Arab League chief Amr Moussa
in Cairo on Monday. His remarks were published on Tuesday. Aridi stressed that
an "honorable and just settlement" was the only solution to the ongoing
political crisis.
He called on everybody to exert efforts towards implementing a three-point Arab
plan to end Lebanon's presidential impasse.Aridi insisted that Moussa's mission
has not failed. Beirut, 12 Feb 08, 10:23
Aoun: I am the Negotiator
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun said
Monday Majority leaders have "ridiculed serious" points raised in his joint
interview with Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and treated "seriously
with ridiculous issues" it included. Aoun, addressing a news conference at his
residence in suburban Rabyeh north of Beirut, cautioned that the existing
atmosphere "in light of the ongoing agitation could lead to a clash in any
minute."He said leaders of the March 14 majority would be held responsible for
any escalation, noting that "foreign capitals hear the echo of clashes,
differences and civil war."He attacked Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid
Jumblat, saying: "We know his military capabilities and he cannot strip anyone
of even one rocket."Aoun said the Feb. 14 rally, which marks the third
anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, should not be an
occasion "to set the nation ablaze." He accused majority leaders of "rejecting
partnership. That is why they differ on shares within the cabinet.""No one
should dream of a government in which the opposition has no influence in
decision-making," Aoun said. He announced: "I am the negotiator and no one
intervenes with me, neither Iran nor Syria." Beirut, 11 Feb 08, 18:17
Pederson: Berri Was Instrumental to UNSCR 1701
Naharnet/U.N. Secretary General's Personal Representative Gere Pederson said
Monday Lebanon should remain calm and stable in the coming weeks.
Pederson, told reporters that parliament Speaker Nabih Berri "informed me of the
latest developments regarding the presidential issue and we agreed that it is
important to maintain calm and stability in the coming days and weeks."Pederson
made a farewell call on Berri after concluding his mission in Lebanon.
He paid tribute to the parliament speaker who had played an "instrumental role
in discussions that led to the adoption of UNSCR 1701."
"We've spent time discussing implementation of this resolution and I've informed
him of our hope to see more progress" regarding the implementation process.
Resolution 1701 ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah in the summer
of 2006."We hope that it would not be restricted to just halting hostilities and
would develop into a cease-fire," Pederson added. However, he noted that "south
Lebanon has had 18 months of calm, which it had not enjoyed since 1978." Beirut,
11 Feb 08, 18:34
Hariri: Army, Security Forces Would Protect Thursday's
Rally
Naharnet/Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri has said the army
and security forces would protect participants in Thursday's mass rally marking
the third anniversary of his father's assassination. He urged sympathizers to
take part in the rally, that is meant to be a "peaceful and non-provocative
event."
"There would be no security risk because the army and internal security forces
would protect the people in all areas," Hariri told supporters at his Beirut
residence Monday. "Threats made against us by the opposition are meaningless,"
Hariri stressed. "They would not scare us off. We are not after problems … some
opposition factions are after problems, they have been after internal feud since
withdrawal of the Syrian Army from Lebanon" in April 1005, Hariri added. "We
have to put an end to their agitation," Hariri added. He accused the Hizbullah-led
opposition of trying to "thwart initiatives, one after the other, to prolong the
presidential void. The Arab and International communities are aware of what they
are doing." Beirut, 11 Feb 08, 19:33
Moussa to Brief EU on Arab League Initiative
Naharnet/Arab League chief Amr Moussa was to brief the EU on an Arab initiative
to end Lebanon's political crisis over the election of a new president.
European Union and Arab League foreign ministers on Monday held their first
talks designed to widen cooperation between Western Europe and its Islamic
neighbors around the Mediterranean. Before the two days of talks in the Maltese
capital of Valetta, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
said she would stress economic and political cooperation and the intercultural
dialogue between Europe and Islamic nations "that has become a defining issue of
this decade." She told The Associated Press in a telephone interview she hoped
to interest the Arab League in obtaining election observation know-how and
cooperation in economic areas. "This is a critical issue for domestic and
foreign investors" in the Arab world, she added.
Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud left office Nov. 23
without a successor, and parliament has so far failed to elect the army chief,
Gen. Michel Suleiman, to replace him amid political bickering.(AP-Lebanon)
Beirut, 12 Feb 08, 07:55
Syria 'Hopes' Lebanon's President Naharnet/Would be Elected Prior to Damascus
Summit
Naharnet/Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Monday he hopes a new
president for Lebanon would be elected prior to the Damascus Summit scheduled
for late March. "We hope the efforts of (Arab League chief) Amr Moussa will
bring about a solution in Lebanon leading to the election of a president of the
republic before the holding of the Arab summit" on March 29-30, he said. "Syria
supports the Arab initiative as an overall plan which would be implemented by
consensus between the Lebanese," he told a joint news conference with visiting
Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim. A political power struggle between the
Western-backed majority and the opposition, supported by Syria and Iran, has
plunged Lebanon into its worst political crisis since the end of its 15-year
civil war in 1990. Moussa has been trying to mediate an accord between Lebanon's
anti- and pro-Syrian camps on implementing an Arab initiative supporting the
election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president. The Lebanese
parliament was to have voted on Monday to elect a successor but the session was
called off, like 13 previous attempts which have failed since September because
of a feud between rival MPs.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 11 Feb 08, 18:47
Iran Deplores Continued Instability in Lebanon
Naharnet/Iran on Monday deplored the continued insecurity and the ongoing
political crisis in Lebanon, the official news agency, Irna, said.
A statement carried by Irna said "current political stalemate would be against
the interests of all parties in the country."
The 10-point statement read out at a large convention at Azadi Square stressed
the need for "immediate consensus on the next president based on the country's
Constitution." It also condemned foreign meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs.
The statement reaffirmed national resolve to attain the rights protected by the
Non-Proliferation Treaty. The statement said Iran has acted beyond its legal
commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency and other foreign parties
and has shown extreme goodwill and patience to prove that the Iranian nuclear
program is civilian to produce electricity. "So, the Iranian nation declares
strongly that it will never give up uranium enrichment under pressure and
sanctions," the statement said. The statement also voiced support for the
"oppressed" Palestinians and their "democratically elected government."It
condemned "savage massacres, aggression, bloodshed, turmoil and huge economic
pressure on Gazans," adding that "all the incidents are the outcome of U.S.
President George W. Bush's visit to the Middle East and his unconditional
support for Israeli crimes."Beirut, 11 Feb 08, 11:13
Lebanon's Fateful Showdown
By Amir Taheri
New York Post | Monday, February 11, 2008
http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=C97FD76E-2D7A-426C-81FE-912DE6ACFAF9
AS the Lebanese parliament prepares to make yet
another attempt at electing a new president for the crisis-stricken nation, few
people are prepared to sound an optimistic note. The next parliamentary session,
scheduled for Feb. 11, may not even be held. Even if it is, there's no sign of
an agreement on who should be the next head of state.
The new session comes against a background of heightened violence. On Jan. 25, a
car bomb killed a senior Lebanese security official - described as the key man
in the UN investigation into the murder of former Premier Rafiq Hariri.
Two days later, the army - still angry at the murder of several of its officers
over the last few months - killed seven Shiite anti-government demonstrators.
On the surface, the tension could be ascribed to the failure of the two blocs
that dominate the Lebanese politics to agree on who should succeed Emile Lahoud,
the pro-Syrian president whose term ended last November.
The majority bloc, the March 14 Front, wants a president who'll help consolidate
the achievements of the Cedar Revolution - the Lebanese independence movement
that forced Syria's occupation army out of Lebanon in 2005. Yet the
Hezbollah-led opposition front regards the Cedar Revolution as an American plot
to split the Muslim world, and insists that the next president should have the
prior approval of both Tehran and Damascus.
Initially, the March 14 bloc had decided to elect the new president in strict
accordance with the Constitution. That would've enabled it to choose its man
with a simple majority of the 128 seats in the parliament after three rounds of
inconclusive voting.
In November, however, America invited Syria to a conference on the Middle East
held at Annapolis, Md. The March 14 leaders interpreted this as a signal that
Washington and Damascus had cut a deal on Lebanon. That encouraged the idea of
finding a compromise candidate - army chief Michel Suleiman, who maintains a
dialogue with both camps.
But now the stakes may have risen beyond the election of a new president.
The Washington-Damascus deal ignored a third player in this game - the Islamic
Republic in Iran, which controls the Lebanese opposition bloc through Hezbollah.
From the start, Tehran wanted ex-Gen. Michel Aoun as Lebanon's new president. It
publicly denounced Syria's decision to attend the Annapolis conference and
reminded Damascus that it couldn't cut a separate deal with Washington without
Iranian approval. Aoun, put in charge of the negotiations with the majority
bloc, was instructed to demand what amounted to a veto power for the opposition
over any future government of Lebanon.
Tehran has always seen Lebanon as another battleground in its war against the US
presence in the Middle East. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has promised to
"teach the Americans a lesson," was not prepared to let Washington win a major
diplomatic and political victory in Lebanon while also attaching Syria to its
overall strategy.
Rather than resisting the Iranian scheme, Washington decided to subcontract its
Lebanon policy to its Arab allies, especially Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Acting
through the Arab League, those two powers proposed a compromise that would
paralyze any future government in Beirut.
Under the Lebanese Constitution, the Cabinet needs a two-thirds majority to
approve any "critical" policy of national importance. The compromise would've
given the majority 13 seats in the Cabinet and the opposition 10, with the
president naming the remaining seven.
It now seems that Syria, pressed by Iran, has decided to withdraw its support
for Suleiman. But it's still reluctant to throw its weight behind Aoun.
One reason is that Aoun, in the 1980s, fought the Syrians in Lebanon. Damascus
sees him as a loose cannon - an egomaniac whose personal ambitions might clash
with its strategic goals in Lebanon.
In the past week or so, Syria's allies in Lebanon have started circulating a new
name: ex-Foreign Minister Fares Bou'ez , a son-in-law of former President Elias
Hrawi. But he is involved in a number of scandals and a major court case over
his alleged dispossession of his sister of ownership of a large piece of land.
Nor is it at all certain that Tehran would accept Bou'ez, whom it deems a Syrian
puppet.
The post-Annapolis experience has showed that Syria won't or can't deliver what
it promises. Since Annapolis, "targeted killings" of anti-Syrian figures have
continued, while gunmen have attacked a US diplomatic convoy and an Irish
contingent of the UN's Lebanon force.
The idea that Washington could cut a deal with Damascus while excluding Tehran
is too naive to merit rebuttal. The so-called "Syrian option," espoused by the
likes of Nancy Pelosi and James Baker III, is a childish fantasy.
The Bush administration needs an urgent review of its policy on Lebanon:
* It should remove ambiguities regarding its support for the democratically
elected Lebanese government.
* It should ask the March 14 bloc to do its duty as the majority, which includes
electing a new president.
The consensus candidate could still be Suleiman - provided he's prepared to
abide by the Constitution. Except for Syria and Libya, which oppose his
nomination, all 22 Arab League members would support him, provided the 14 March
bloc so wishes.
The March 14 bloc is the fruit of the Cedar Revolution and must act in a
revolutionary manner. It should fix a date for the next session of the
parliament - which, under the Constitution, can be convened anywhere. The
pro-Iran opposition would have the option of attending or staying away.
The game of postponing the session can't go on forever. The majority should
elect the new president and prepare for fresh general elections, transcending
the opposition's tactic of paralyzing the institutions.
With a new president elected, the opposition would be staring down the barrel of
a gun - facing the prospect of provoking a civil war as proxies for the Islamic
Republic in its duel with the United States. My guess is that, with the
exception of a few Hezbollah chiefs who've sold out to Iran, no opposition group
would want to shoulder such a responsibility.
The opposition bloc plays Iran's game because it thinks Tehran can win. It's up
to the children of the Cedar Revolution and their supporters in the West and the
Arab world to disabuse the opposition of that illusion.
A New Message from Lawson Kass Hanna
Subject:
Few mercenaries in Zgharta
Date: Tue, 12 Feb/08
To the few mercenaries in Zgharta, I got information that the Syrian agent
in zgharta is recruiting mercenaries in his preparation for an armed conflict.
To these mercenaries, I would like to say that taking part in an armed conflict
in Lebanon with the desire to gain $500 to $600 each month and not knowing the
consequences of your actions is a big crime. Even if you think that you are
strong enough to kill more people from the other party, still a lot of you will
be killed. did you ask yourself what will happen to your wife, children and
parents after your death? did the Syrian agent in zgharta who is recruiting you
guarantee for you that he will look after your family after your death? are you
sure that this agent will not die or go to prison? I would like to ask you
before you get involved with this agent in his war against the patriotic people
in Lebanon and before your put your family in a humiliating situation, to visit
the houses of his followers (who will not fight) the few people who will benefit
from your death and see in what luxury they live. if you are still convinced
that you have to take the job of the mercenary, I would like to tell you that
the war will most likely be similar to the war in Iraq where your family along
with the families of the other party will suffer and no one will be safe. I hope
you take my advice into consideration and think well before you accept to fight
for the desire to gain few dollars.
A
New Message from Lawson Kass Hanna
Subject:
To the Lebanese military attorney-general Jean Fahed
Date: Tue, 12 Feb/08
Mr. Fahad, I read in the newspapers the prosecution against the Lebanese
army officers and soldiers. All the Lebanese people in and outside the country
know the truth about what is going on in Lebanon. We understand your situation
and that you have either children or parents to look after in a country where
the axis of evil (Iran-Syria-Hezbollah) is planning to destroy. All the Lebanese
people understand your situation and it is not easy to say your opinion in a
country where axis of evil kill the innocent people. I would like to remind you
that in the past, the axis of evil killed the United States ambassador in
Lebanon who had children and parents to care about but he was not afraid of the
axis of evil. We all know and you also know that axis of evil and their militias
destroyed the American embassy in the past and all the innocent employees in the
embassy have also children and parents like you. We all know and you also know
that axis of evil and their militias destroyed the US Marines building in
Lebanon and all these soldiers who died have children and parents like you. It
was much more appropriate for you to prosecute Hassan Nasrallah and his militia,
as they are behind the recent problems in Lebanon, than to present a case
against the Lebanese soldiers who are trying to protect their country. My
respect to all these soldiers you prosecuted as they are baring much more than
what they can handle. you know that they are all innocent same as you are.
it is much more appropriate in this case for you to resign.
'Kuwait backs just Syria
causes'
DAMASCUS (KUNA):12/02/08: Kuwait's Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh
Nasser Muhammad Al-Sabah arrived in Damascus Monday on a two-day visit as part
of a tour that will also take him to Egypt and Jordan. Among officials receiving
him at the airport were his Syrian counterpart Muhammad Naji Atri, Kuwait's
ambassador to Syria Fahad Al-Awadhi, Kuwait's military attache in Syria
Brigadier Khalid Al-Omar, and a number of Syrian and Kuwaiti officials.
Sheikh Nasser will meet Tuesday with Syrian House Speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash and
President Bashar Al-Assad. Following that, the Kuwaiti premier will hold
extensive talks with his counterpart Muhammad Atri.
Expressing delight at his visit in a statement to the press, he said ' my visit
to Syria is a vivid manifestation of the close historic ties between our
countries, and of firm bonds between them.'
These bonds, he affirmed, reached the pinnacle during the reign of the late
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the late president Hafez Al-Assad.
'We as Kuwaitis cannot forget the historic and momentous speech the late
president made on behalf of Kuwait at the emergency Arab summit meeting that was
held in Cairo in August, 1990 which was dedicated to the discussion of the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait,' noted Sheikh Nasser.
On the objective of his visit, he indicated ' I hope that my visit contributes
to boosting our bilateral relations in growth and development fields....These
relations have been progressing well in the past few years.' He underlined that
in his meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad, he will emphasize on him Kuwait's
support of Syrian steps to take part in a just and equitable Middle East process
that would bring back to Syria its occupied lands, not the least of which being
the occupied Golan Heights.
As for Sheikh Nasser's meeting with his counterpart Atri, he said ' I look
forward to discussing with him regional issues such as the situation in Iraq,
Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, and also the Mideast peace process.
' On an economic note, the Kuwaiti premier promised 'we will encourage Kuwaiti
investments in Syria, be they from the Kuwaiti private or public sectors,
keeping in mind that such investments have achieved a distinguished level in
recent years.'
Regarding Syria's economic development, Sheikh Nasser said 'we acknowledge with
admiration all efforts and steps taken by the Syrian government to further the
path of growth in the country, particulary in attracting foreign investments.'
Civil war in Lebanon threatened
By: Samuel Segev
The Winnipeg Free Press Middle East correspondent, is based in Tel Aviv.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/columnists/top3/story/4124026p-4718222c.html
Tue Feb 12 2008
TEL AVIV -- Three years after the assassination of former Lebanese prime
minister Rafiq Hariri, Syria and its Hezbollah ally appear determined to block
the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which sought some sort of
regional stability.
By preventing the election of a new president, in succession to Emile Lahoud,
whose term ended last Nov. 23, both Syria and Hezbollah have two clear
objectives:
* Syria wants to prevent at all costs the appointment of the international court
that is to try Hariri's assassins. All fingers point to Damascus as having
masterminded the assassination.
* Hezbollah wants to make sure any future president and government would not try
to disarm this pro-Iranian Shiite terrorist organization, as called for by
Resolution 1701.
Because of these two uncompromising positions, all outside efforts to find a
solution to the vacant presidency have failed.
Despite its skepticism, the U.S. had allowed France to mediate in this crisis.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner travelled seven times to Beirut and
twice sent a special envoy to Damascus. He even hosted a conference outside of
Paris, with the participation of all factions, but to no avail. French President
Nicolas Sarkozy then entered the scene. He spoke three times with Syrian
President Bashar Assad and twice sent his national security adviser, Jean David
Levitte, to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Muallem. Syria promised to
be "co-operative" but in reality blocked any compromise.
Then came an Arab effort. Following a unanimous decision by 22 Arab foreign
ministers, including the Syrian minister, Arab League Secretary General Amr
Moussa travelled three times to Beirut and Damascus and submitted a three-point
proposal: First, elect chief of general staff, Gen. Michel Suleiman, as the new
president; form a new government where neither the majority coalition nor the
minority opposition would have full control and the president will have the
decisive vote; draft a new election law, which would allow the people to vote
freely according to the proportional strength of each ethnic and religious
community.
But even such a clear and uncomplicated proposal encountered many hurdles.
Hezbollah and its Christian ally, Gen. Michel Aoun, wanted an agreement on the
future government even before the election of the new president. They also
wanted an agreement on the future army chief of staff in order to make sure he
wouldn't try to disarm Hezbollah, as called for by Resolution 1701.
Having failed in his endeavours, a frustrated Amr Moussa returned Saturday to
Cairo, leaving to the rival Lebanese leaders the impossible task of finding a
solution to their crisis. The result was as expected. Leaders from both camps
engaged in reckless rhetoric, threatening each other with a renewed civil war.
The most furious rhetoric came from Democratic Gathering leader, Druze MP Waleed
Jumblatt. He said Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nassrallah, and his Christian
ally, Gen. Michel Aoun, are "tools" in the hands of the "most despicable"
people, a reference to the Syrian regime.
Jumblatt accused his rivals of preparing for the return of Syria to Lebanon.
"Whatever your potency and whatever mercenaries you use, we are not afraid," he
said. "We will never kneel and will never allow Syrian tutelage to return to
Beirut. You are only tools in the hands of Bashar Assad and his gang. If you
want chaos, we welcome chaos... If you want war, we welcome war..."
This sharpened war of words came on the eve of the third anniversary of the
assassination of Rafiq Hariri on Feb. 14. Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and leader
of the pro-government coalition, Saad Hariri, are organizing a mass rally on
Thursday in the Martyrs Square in Beirut, similar to the one-million rally that
led to the withdrawal of the Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Hariri and his economic empire are organizing transportation to Beirut from all
over the country. Hariri donated $52 million from his own pocket to finance
various development and education projects in northern Lebanon, where Syrian
influence is particularly strong.
The U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel are following with great
concern this instability in Beirut. While the silent majority in Lebanon is
still a majority, it is feared Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies would use
violence to disrupt Thursday's rally, which could degenerate into an open civil
war.
The chief of general staff, Gen. Michel Suleiman, is reported to be considering
the withdrawal of his candidacy to the presidency because he doesn't see a
chance for domestic reconciliation. Suleiman is reported to have travelled
secretly to Syria and Saudi Arabia, where he asked President Assad and King
Abdullah to be fair and neutral in the struggle between the two camps. All
indications show he has failed in his mission, although both Syria and Saudi
Arabia urged him to remain a candidate for the presidency.
This continued impasse could have serious ramifications on the international and
regional fronts. The U.S. is said to be exploring discreetly the idea of
"internationalizing" the Lebanese crisis and is seeking a UN Security Council
resolution that would call for the election of a new president under
international supervision. Although contacts are at an early stage, Russia is
said to be hesitant to support this American initiative out of fear it could
lose its renewed base in Damascus. Saudi Arabia has pledged to contribute
financing for the international court and is also hinting it could boycott the
Arab Summit that is scheduled to convene in Damascus next month. Egypt hinted
that in such a case it, too, would boycott the Damascus Summit.
As for Israel, the major concern in Jerusalem is that the chaos in Lebanon will
spill over its northern border. According to Resolution 1701, the border is
monitored jointly by UNIFIL and by the Lebanese army.
Israel fears Hezbollah will use this instability to infiltrate back into
Southern Lebanon. Israel is aware of such an eventuality and is preparing itself
for such an unwelcome development.
Samuel Segev, the Winnipeg Free Press Middle East correspondent, is based in Tel
Aviv.
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