LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
February 24/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15,1-3.11-32. The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Nasrallah needs to change or Lebanon needs to rid itself of him. By: Ali Hussein-Ya Libnan - 23/02/08
Nasrallah is tarnishing the value of all he has done for Lebanon-The Daily Star- 23/02/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for February 23/08
Moussa For a Make-Or-Break Mission Sunday-Naharnet
Hamade: Why Doesn't Syria Avenge Mughniyeh's Killing?Naharnet
Saniora Wants Lebanon Informed of Syria's Investigation into the Mughniyeh Killing-Naharnet
Geagea Challenges Nasrallah-Naharnet
Hizbullah Complains To Kuwait Against Mughniyeh Critics-Naharnet
Nasrallah writes off Jewish state as 'temporary' aberration-Daily Star
Moussa puts off latest effort to end impasse in Lebanon-Daily Star
'UNIFIL will not be discouraged' - Graziano-Daily Star
Israel tightens security on airliners-Daily Star
'Lebanese must stand firm against foreign incitement--Daily Star
Lebanese investigators complete EU evidence course-Daily Star
Arab-Israeli rights group brings to light evidence -Daily Star
Nasrallah Vows to 'Finish Off' Israel's Army in Lebanon, Proposes ...Naharnet
Hezbollah chief blasts Israel in ceremony marking militant deaths-AFP
Hezbollah to World: Expect Retaliation-Jewish Exponent
PM offers support to Lebanon-10 Downing Street (press release)
Hezbollah's Terrorist for All Seasons, a Potent One at That-Jewish Exponent
Syria and Israel, making love not war-NowLebanon.com
Gemayel Crticizes Aoun's Support for 'Open War'-Naharnet
Merkel urges Syria to play 'constructive role' in Lebanese vote-Earthtimes
Lebanon needs a left independent of Hezbollah-Workers' Liberty
Flights to Israel buckle up amid Hezbollah threats-Reuters
Arab summit in Damascus threatened if no solution in Lebanon says ..Business Intelligence Middle East
Please return to your seat: Israeli anti-hijack measure-AFP
Hezbollah head's death act of terror - Italian FM-Ha'aretz
Israel Protests to UN Chief About Iranian Verbal Attacks-Voice of America
Lebanon earns average grade in telecom index-Daily Star
UNHCR hails decision by Beirut to legalize Iraqi refugees as 'positive step'-By IRIN News.org
South Lebanese dread renewed conflict with Israel-AFP

Moussa For a Make-Or-Break Mission Sunday
Naharnet/Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa arrives in Beirut Sunday on a "few-hours" mission to sponsor a tripartite meeting between representatives of the majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition as success prospects appeared grim. Moussa's scout man Hisham Youssef, who left Beirut Friday declaring that gaps remain wide, is to meet the secretary general in Cairo Saturday to brief him on outcome of his fact-finding efforts in Beirut. Informed sources in Beirut told Naharnet Youssef's efforts in Beirut "have not reached a point by which he can report progress to the secretary general." "All that Youssef gathered in Beirut was more deadlocks and more obstacles" blocking implementation of the Arab initiative, one source said. "All that Moussa can do is to drop in for a few hours, sponsor the tripartite majority-opposition meeting. If it resulted in agreement he would announce it, if it resulted in failure he would announce it," the source added without further elaboration. The meeting would group Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in his capacity as opposition representative with Majority representatives, ex-President Amin Gemayel and Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri. Gemayel said the Hizbullah-led opposition wants to pacify the forthcoming president's role in the new cabinet, by giving him one third of the seats, but banning his ministers from voting on decisions. The move, rejected by Gemayel and the March 14 majority, would strip the Maronite Christian president of any role in the nation's decision-making. In case of the majority's refusal to pacify the president's ministers, the Hizbullah-led opposition would insist on having veto powers, an issue totally rejected by March 14 majority alliance. This leaves no room for maneuvering by Moussa to work out a compromise putting an end to the ongoing power struggle. Beirut, 23 Feb 08, 09:25

Nasrallah Vows to 'Finish Off' Israel's Army in Lebanon, Proposes Two-Demonstration Compete
Naharnet/Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday pledged to destroy Israel's army if it invaded south Lebanon, which would leave the Jewish state "without an army" leading to its total disappearance. Nasrallah also announced that the Syrian authorities are investigating the Feb. 12 assassination of Hizbullah's Imad Mughniyeh, saying there was no joint Iranian-Syrian investigation into the killing that he had blamed Israel for.
Nasrallah made the remarks in a south Beirut rally in remembrance of Mughniyeh labeled by Nasrallah "the hero" of the party's war of liberation that led to Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon in May, 2000 and the July 2006 war. Nasrallah stressed that Israel would cease to exist "This is inevitable, it is divine law."
Israel's existence, according to the Hizbullah chief, is "temporary and cannot persist."Nasrallah gave his speech by video link and appeared on giant screens at the rally venue. Nasrallah said Mughniyeh's killing was a "preemptive" strike in line with an Israeli "open war" that aims at finishing off Hizbullah.
"I swear by God that we'll defeat you if you ever thought of invading out country … tens of thousands of Imad Mughniyehs would confront you," Nasrallah told the Israelis, stressing" "No one would be able to protect the whole of Israel from our rockets and missiles."
"We'll kill you in the fields, we'll kill you in the cities, we'll fight you like you have never experienced," he pledged, addressing the Israelis.
Nasrallah also attacked the international tribunal, saying its prosecutor is based in Meerab and judge in Clemenceau street. He was referring to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, respectively.  He accused the March 14 majority alliance of rejecting any compromise to the ongoing political crisis because they "await the Israeli war, hoping that it would finish us off." He also disputed claims by the majority that the Feb. 14 Mass Rally, which grouped 1.5 million participants in a rainy day, represented majority of the Lebanese people. Nasrallah proposed some sort of a competition between two rallies, one called by the majority and the second called by the Hizbullah-led opposition, to determine which of the two sides can marshal more supporters and, therefore, represents the majority.
The Hizbullah leader charged that an "open war" has been underway by Israel against south Lebanon since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
He rejected calls for restricting the decision to go to war or peace by the government, declaring: "we'll take the decision to defend our country by ourselves at a time that we decide … It is our national decision." He also charged the majority with following an American agenda.
Nasrallah addressed Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, France and other states that have issued travel advisories concerning Lebanon and tightened security at their diplomatic missions in Beirut, saying "our sole enemy is Israel." Beirut, 22 Feb 08, 19:00

Gemayel Crticizes Aoun's Support for 'Open War'
Naharnet/Ex-President Amin Gemayel on Friday criticized Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun for supporting Hizbullah's open war declaration on Israel saying it was tantamount to giving up state principles. Gemayel, in a statement distributed by his press office, said he was concerned by Aoun's "giving up state principles including shouldering responsibilities and protecting citizens." "How can anyone accept to keep the decision to go to war in the hands of one person or one party? Can the Lebanese endure the repercussions of such a war? I believe that Gen. Aoun, being a former army commander, understands repercussions of such issues more than anyone else," Gemayel said. Addresing Aoun, Gemayel said: "Did he take Christians' feelings into consideration" before declaring support for the open war against Israel declared by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah to avenge the killing of the party's Imad Mughniyeh that he had blamed on the Jewish State.
Aoun's remarks, Gemayel added, "lead me to ask what if I, the Hariris and all the families that had lost fathers, sons and brothers, decided to avenge their killing irrespective of the outcome?" "Was Imad Mughniyeh more important than presidents, premiers, cabinet ministers, legislators, journalists, party members and security officers that had been martyred?" he asked, noting that their families had sought judicial action rather than taking justice into their hands.
Beirut, 22 Feb 08, 17:32

Nasrallah needs to change or Lebanon needs to rid itself of him
Saturday, 23 February, 2008
By : Ali Hussein, Ya Libnan Volunteer
Beirut - Hassan Nasrallah's speech on Friday brought to a boiling point the danger Lebanon is experiencing and unless he makes a U turn we should expect an extremely hot and unbearable spring.
Nasrallah has changed a lot. When he talked in the past he was extremely inspirational. People felt that he was talking like a national hero, a liberator who was trying to motivate his people and make them proud of him and his organization.
Those of us who knew him well loved him . Nasrallah has sacrificed his own son during the Israeli occupation. He is credited with liberating the south of Lebanon from the Israeli occupation in 2000. In short he was the national Hero
That Nasrallah that we knew is gone. He now talks now like an occupying General who reports to a foreign land . Very much like a Nazi general talking in Prague or Warsaw , after the German Nazis s occupied these countries during the second world war. People have started forgetting Nasrallah the hero .
Just like the Nazi Generals , to Nasrallah everyone is an enemy . Not only Israel is his enemy, so are the majority of the Lebanese , the majority of the Arab states and the western world . His only friends are Iran and Syria .
This behavior by Nasrallah is an unfortunate development for Lebanon . The Lebanese held him and Hezbollah group in the past in extremely high regard . He was the undisputable hero for young and old, Christians, Shiites Sunnis and Druze, males or females . He was by far the most popular leader in Lebanon.
Not anymore . Every time I meet anyone, I find Nasrallah has very few fans . In fact almost none except the Hezbollah members, even some of them now started complaining about his leadership abilities and arrogance.
Perhaps he has lost touch with the Lebanese during the past 3 years he has been hiding in bunkers …. All, his speeches are on video tape now. Time for him to be courageous again . Time for him to come out of hiding and talk directly to the Lebanese people . Perhaps then he can interact again with the audience . Perhaps then he may realize that he is on the wrong track and needs to make a U turn.
Hearing Nasrallah talk leaves you with a very strong impression that these are not really his own words . You get a horrible feeling that these are the words of Basher al Assad of Syria and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. Borrowing words from others , especially when they are intellectually inferior , makes you lose that edge you were known for . Makes you lose that leadership skill that made you so popular . You are reduced to a soldier who has to obey orders without having the right to ask questions before carrying out these orders .
As Nasrallah has changed , so have the people of Lebanon. The number one priority for the Lebanese people in the past was to be liberated from Israeli occupation . Now the people in Lebanon want to be liberated from the Hezbollah occupation . People see Hezbollah as the big danger for Lebanon . They view Hezbollah as a fifth column for the axis of evil , Iran and Syria… People in Lebanon view Hezbollah as the greatest danger to the Lebanese independence and sovereignty . People view Hezbollah as the greatest danger to the Lebanese way of life . People view Hezbollah occupation of downtown Beirut as the greatest danger to the Lebanese economy. People view Hezbollah as an agent of an enemy that refuses to recognize Lebanon as an independent and sovereign nation an enemy that is supposed to be a sister state but instead it treats our country like its own farm as the border incidents have shown during the past week.
Nasrallah has changed . In the past he was the most eloquent speaker in Lebanon , but now he is the most arrogant and obnoxious speaker in the whole region . As one observer told me today after hearing his speech “ you could cut his arrogance with a knife “.
All Nasrallah needs to do is play back and listen to his own speeches of the past … speeches that made him the most popular hero of Lebanon. Perhaps this will be a wake up call for him to change .
Nasrallah’s declaration of war on Israel is undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty freedom and independence . Nasrallah could count in the past on the support of the Lebanese people when he liberated the south of Lebanon but his declaration of war this time is risking the whole country just to revenge the murder of his colleague. This time Hezbollah will not have the support of the Lebanese people if it engages in any war , because the Lebanese can easily differentiate between a war of liberation and a proxy war , to serve the interest of other nations. This time Nasrallah will not be viewed as a liberator but more like a traitor who betrayed and destroyed his own country.
In 2006 Nasrallah made a big mistake when his organization kidnapped and killed the Israeli soldiers . He admitted after the war that it was a poor judgment on his part to assume that the Israelis will not react . He also confessed that had he known that Israel will react in the manner that it did he would never have started the war. The Lebanese were willing back then to forgive him for his big mistake but not anymore . Not after he changed .
This time Nasrallah may be making the same mistake :
The president of the National Liberal Party Dory Chamoun said DNA tests should be performed on Mughniyah’s body to make sure it was him who was killed in the the explosion in Damascus
"Before Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah goes to war, DNA tests should be performed on the body of Imad Mughniyah to make sure it was him who was killed in the explosion in Damascus , specially since he underwent several plastic surgery operations to disguise himself “. He told al Markaziyah news agency
Besides , no one has the right to subject the citizens of a country to the dangers of war except the elected government of the country . Nasrallah may be the leader of Hezbollah movement but was never elected by the Lebanese to any position ....he is therefore far from being the leader of the country .
The parliament majority also made a big mistake. It failed to act . It should not have allowed Hezbollah ally Speaker Nabih Berri to lock the doors of the parliament and give its keys to Syria . The majority should have made another set of keys , opened the parliament and forced the election of a new president from its own ranks or use ultimatum to reach consensus on a compromise candidate . Now it is too late to take such steps and Lebanon is paying dearly for their big mistake
One thing that worries me most about people that hide is they lose touch with their peers and they start becoming too suspicious of others and start dreaming of conspiracy theories. Exactly like prisoners do . This is how Nasrallah speeches sound like these days .It has been three years since the Lebanese leaders talked to one another . Perhaps it is mighty time they all start talking to one another again. Perhaps Nasrallah should come out of hiding and start the dialogue game again . This should be done sooner rather than later and before the Lebanese outrage reaches its limits. Lebanon has been taken to the brink …Time is of the essence …it is time for Nasrallah and Hezbollah to change or Lebanon should rid itself of Nasrallah and Hezbolah

Hamade: Why Doesn't Syria Avenge Mughniyeh's Killing?
Naharnet/Minister of Communications Marwan Hamade asked Saturday why wouldn't Syria avenge the assassination of Hizbullah's Imad Mughniyeh who was killed in Damascus not in Lebanon. Mughniyeh assassination in a Damascus suburb on Feb. 12 was a "major insult to Syria's national security, unless Syria was involved in liquidating him," Hamade added. The Syrian regime, he charged, is "ready to sell its brother, father, uncle and brother in law." Hamade accused Hizbullah, Syria and Iran of "placing bets on Israel that also places bets on them. Fanatics feed each other." "We are not collaborators with Israel. We adopt a wise Arab stand and who opts for adventures let him go to adventures alone," Hamade stressed. The "focal point of difference" between the March 14 majority alliance and Hizbullah, according to the cabinet minister, is that "the resistance has become a tool for the Syrian regime and for the Iranians.""I don't believe that the majority of Shiites support Hizbullah in changing south Lebanon into scorched earth," he said. Mughniyeh, he said, is remembered "as a fighter against Israel and I do not forget Imad Mughniyeh who had kidnapped Russian diplomats, French scientists and Kuwaiti passengers of the Jabriyeh jetliner." Hamade declared that he can not exonerate Hizbullah's "logistics branch" in the attempt to assassinate him on Oct. 1, 2004 by a car bomb. He noted that Qatar managed to withdraw its contingent serving with UNIFIL in south Lebanon early in February because "it felt that something is being planned for south Lebanon and because no one wants to go back to the 1980s" in reference to the abduction of foreigners by pro-Iranian factions. Hamade said Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khoja was cautioned by Arab and Lebanese security agencies against specific threats and advised to take precautions. "Such a warning was also addressed to many diplomats and Lebanese leaders," he added. Hamade said the March 14 alliance was asking the international community to "prevent Israel from … launching war against Lebanon." The army, he said, would prevent civil strife and safeguard security and stability, contrary to what happened in 1975 upon outbreak of the civil war when the army was pacified and prevented from practicing its role. He said Arab league Secretary General Amr Moussa would carry an Arab message that Lebanon would "not be sacrificed" in the interest of the forthcoming Summit scheduled for March 29 in Damascus.
Beirut, 23 Feb 08, 14:22

Saniora Wants Lebanon Informed of Syria's Investigation into the Mughniyeh Killing
Naharnet/Prime Minister Fouad Saniora on Saturday assigned two officials to ask Syria inform Lebanon of its investigation in the assassination of Hizbullah's Imad Mughniyeh.The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Saniora instructed Prosecutor General saeed Mirza and chairman of the Higher Lebanese Syrian Council Nasri Khoury to approach the Syrian authorities with the aim of being "informed on the ongoing investigation in the assassination of Lebanese citizen Imad Mughniyeh, who is a member of Hizbullah command" who was killed in Damascus on Feb. 12. Saniora gave his instructions in telephone contacts with both officials.
The premier also wanted "official notification of the circumstances of the assassination that had been carried out on Syrian territory and progress of the investigation so that Lebanese judicial authorities would be fully aware of this issue," the report added without further elaboration. Beirut, 23 Feb 08, 15:08
Nasrallah Vows to 'Finish Off' Israel's Army in Lebanon, Proposes Two-Demonstration Compete
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday pledged to destroy Israel's army if it invaded south Lebanon, which would leave the Jewish state "without an army" leading to its total disappearance. Nasrallah also announced that the Syrian authorities are investigating the Feb. 12 assassination of Hizbullah's Imad Mughniyeh, saying there was no joint Iranian-Syrian investigation into the killing that he had blamed Israel for.
Nasrallah made the remarks in a south Beirut rally in remembrance of Mughniyeh labeled by Nasrallah "the hero" of the party's war of liberation that led to Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon in May, 2000 and the July 2006 war. Nasrallah stressed that Israel would cease to exist "This is inevitable, it is divine law."
Israel's existence, according to the Hizbullah chief, is "temporary and cannot persist."Nasrallah gave his speech by video link and appeared on giant screens at the rally venue. Nasrallah said Mughniyeh's killing was a "preemptive" strike in line with an Israeli "open war" that aims at finishing off Hizbullah.
"I swear by God that we'll defeat you if you ever thought of invading out country … tens of thousands of Imad Mughniyehs would confront you," Nasrallah told the Israelis, stressing" "No one would be able to protect the whole of Israel from our rockets and missiles."
"We'll kill you in the fields, we'll kill you in the cities, we'll fight you like you have never experienced," he pledged, addressing the Israelis.
Nasrallah also attacked the international tribunal, saying its prosecutor is based in Meerab and judge in Clemenceau street. He was referring to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, respectively.
He accused the March 14 majority alliance of rejecting any compromise to the ongoing political crisis because they "await the Israeli war, hoping that it would finish us off." He also disputed claims by the majority that the Feb. 14 Mass Rally, which grouped 1.5 million participants in a rainy day, represented majority of the Lebanese people. Nasrallah proposed some sort of a competition between two rallies, one called by the majority and the second called by the Hizbullah-led opposition, to determine which of the two sides can marshal more supporters and, therefore, represents the majority.
The Hizbullah leader charged that an "open war" has been underway by Israel against south Lebanon since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
He rejected calls for restricting the decision to go to war or peace by the government, declaring: "we'll take the decision to defend our country by ourselves at a time that we decide … It is our national decision."He also charged the majority with following an American agenda. Nasrallah addressed Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, France and other states that have issued travel advisories concerning Lebanon and tightened security at their diplomatic missions in Beirut, saying "our sole enemy is Israel." Beirut, 22 Feb 08, 19:00