LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِApril
21/2010
Bible Of the
Day
Psalm 18/1-19
18:1 I love you, Yahweh, my strength. 18:2 Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and
my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of
my salvation, my high tower. 18:3 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised;
and I am saved from my enemies. 18:4 The cords of death surrounded me. The
floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 18:5 The cords of Sheol were around me.
The snares of death came on me. 18:6 In my distress I called on Yahweh, and
cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came
into his ears. 18:7 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of
the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 18:8 Smoke went out
of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
18:9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his
feet. 18:10 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the
wind. 18:11 He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness
of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 18:12 At the brightness before him his
thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire. 18:13 Yahweh also thundered
in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. 18:14
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and
routed them. 18:15 Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the
world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your
nostrils. 18:16 He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
18:17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they
were too mighty for me. 18:18 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but
Yahweh was my support. 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place.
He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
The
status quo is a dangerous place/Daily Star/April
20/10
Plotting the Next Mideast War/Wall
Street JournalApril
20/10
Lebanon’s war, back to the
future/By: Tony Badran/Now Lebanon/April
20/10
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for April 20/10
Ban for
Finding Solution to 'Dangerous' Palestinian Bases in the Bekaa/Naharnet
Grenades Found Outside Marouni's
House in Zahle/Naharnet
Judge Saqr investigates bombs
outside Marouni’s residence /Now Lebanon
Popular Bloc condemns
Zahle incident /Now Lebanon
US warns Syria on weapons transfers/Reuters
US summons Syrian diplomat over arms transfer to
Hezbollah/Ha'aretz
Lebanese PM says Scuds accusations like Iraq's WMD/Washington
Post
Adwan:
LF Rejects Syrian Domination over Lebanon, Wants Diplomatic Ties/Naharnet
Soaid: March 14 Wants Ties be Used as Way to Correct Relations with Syria/Naharnet
Murr
Orders Ban on Weapon Permit Ahead of Municipal Elecitons/Naharnet
Hariri Assures: Lebanon
Does Not Fear Israeli Threats/Naharnet
LF, Kataeb, Mustaqbal at
Syrian Ceremony in Beirut/Naharnet
Saqr
Files Lawsuit against PFLP-GC's Anwar Raja/Naharnet
Oghassabian: Syria Open to all Lebanese Delegation Suggestions/Naharnet
Jumblat Says Coincidence of Calls to Disarm Hizbullah, Israeli Claims 'Raises
Many Question Marks'/Naharnet
Aoun
from Spain: Israel Rejecting Peace, Seeking Solutions via Wars/Naharnet
Barak Calms Fears of
Imminent War, Says Occupation Must End/Naharnet
Brazil Inspired Statue of Jesus
Christ Erected in North Iraq/AINA/April
20/10
Lebanese
visit to Syria aims to boost bilateral relations/Daily
Star
Hariri
meets with expats, Arab envoys during Rome visit/Daily
Star
Berri:
'Sectarian spirit' will not be eradicated overnight/Daily
Star
Ministry
to launch trial-run of free student medical cover/Daily
Star
Mount
Lebanon sees reshuffling of alliances ahead of polls/Daily
Star
Al-Mustaqbal
daily fined for breaching secrecy laws/Daily
Star
ISF
recruit detained for Hamra weapons-fire/Daily
Star
Man in
custody after stand-off with Phalange convoy/Daily
Star
Taxi
drivers take extreme measures amid hard times/Daily
Star
Traffic
mounts on Dora highway as motorists ignore changes/Daily
Star
Bint
Jbeil sees opening of new waste plant/Daily
Star
EU
competition hopes to highlight human role in climate change/Daily
Star
Better
research, funding needed to stop child deaths/Daily
Star
How to Bring Syria to the Negotiating
Table/Middle East Online
Adwan wants state-to-state
relations with Syria/Now Lebanon
Sakr files lawsuit against PFLP-GC
media officer/Now Lebanon
Ban for Finding Solution to
'Dangerous' Palestinian Bases in the Bekaa
Naharnet/U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has called for serious action to deal with the
"dangerous" presence of Palestinian bases outside refugee camps in the Bekaa
valley.
In his report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, Ban
described Premier Saad Hariri's visit to Damascus as "historic" and urged
Lebanon and Syria to make progress on the demarcation of their common border.
Border demarcation as called for Security Council resolution 1680, is an
essential factor in guaranteeing sovereignty and political stability to any
country, he said. The report, written by Terje Roed-Larsen, said the world body
was not in a position to independently verify the alleged arms transfers to
Hizbullah. However, he said all sides in Lebanon and outside it should stop all
efforts aimed at taking possession of or transferring weapons. Ban warned that
the alleged transfer of arms through the border could lead to another conflict
in Lebanon. The U.N. secretary-general also urged Israel to stop violations of
Lebanese sovereignty and called on Hizbullah to transform itself into a
political party.
Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 08:46
Barak Calms Fears of Imminent War, Says Occupation Must End
Naharnet/Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak sought to calm fears of an
impending new Middle East war, telling a radio interviewer Monday that Israel
had no intentions of starting a fresh round of fighting. Speaking on army radio
as Israel observed a day of remembrance for its war dead and victims of militant
attacks, Barak was asked to respond to comments last week by Jordan's King
Abdullah II, in which the monarch warned there was a high risk of conflict if
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks remained stalled. "I believe and think that
there is no reason for war to break out," Barak said. "Certainly we have no
intention of starting something like that, and I hope there will be no
deterioration from other directions." In an April 15 interview with the Chicago
Tribune, Abdullah was quoted as saying that, "If we hit the summer and there's
no active (peace) process, there's a very good chance for conflict." Barak said
he did not interpret Abdullah's words as a threat. "Obviously he doesn't mean
that Jordan will start it. It's a very important peace-loving country," he said.
Jordan became the second Arab state after Egypt to conclude a peace treaty with
Israel in 1994. Barak said Israel must recognize that the world will not put up
with decades more of Israeli rule over the Palestinian people.
His comments came against the backdrop of severe friction between the U.S. and
Israel's hawkish government over an impasse in peacemaking. Last week, President
Obama issued a surprisingly pessimistic assessment of peacemaking prospects,
saying the U.S. couldn't force its will on Israelis and Palestinians if they
weren't interested in making the compromises necessary to end their decades-old
conflict.(AFP-AP) Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 09:26
Grenades Found Outside Marouni's House in Zahle
Naharnet/A hand grenade was found Tuesday outside MP Elie Marouni's house in
Zahle in east Lebanon and another was found resting on his car.
Security forces were promptly dispatched to the scene and successfully
dismantled the grenades. A statement by the Phalange party said the grenades
were found at 6am. One was placed at the main entrance to Marouni's house and
another was found lying on top of the windshield of his car parked outside his
house.The statement noted that Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the
assassination of Marouni's brother, Nasri Marouni, and Salim Assi. Less than two
hours after the discovery of the grenades, Marouni told reporters in Zahle that
the bombs were "a message to silence me from talking about my brother's murder
case." "They also aim at preventing me from interfering in the Zahle municipal
elections," Marouni added. Rumors late Monday had it that Elie Marouni was shot
and wounded. Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 07:33
Washington Summons Syrian Diplomat over Hizbullah Arms Transfer
Naharnet/The United States has summoned a senior Syrian diplomat and demanded an
"immediate" end to arms transfers to Hizbullah, criticizing any such shipments
as an impediment to peace. "The most senior Syrian diplomat present in
Washington today, Deputy Chief of Mission Zouheir Jabbour, was summoned to the
Department of State to review Syria's provocative behavior concerning the
potential transfer of arms to Hizbullah," department deputy spokesman Gordon
Duguid said in a statement. He said the United States condemns the transfer of
any arms, "especially ballistic missile systems such as the Scud, from Syria to
Hizbullah." "We call for an immediate cessation of any arms transfers to
Hizbullah and other terrorist organizations in the region," he added. "Syria's
designation as a state sponsor of terrorism is directly related to its support
for terrorist groups, such as Hizbullah."
The diplomatic quarrel is likely to put a damper on President Barack Obama's
administration's year-long campaign to engage Syria, a former U.S. foe, and
energize its thwarted push for a broad Arab-Israeli peace, particularly between
Israel and the Palestinians. U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, visited Damascus April 1, and after a meeting with
President Bashar al-Assad he described Syria as "an essential player in bringing
peace and stability to the region."
Obama in February appointed the first U.S. ambassador to Damascus in five years,
a move Kerry said was "evidence that engagement with Syria is a priority at the
highest levels of our government." The Senate approved envoy Robert Ford as the
new ambassador last Tuesday.
But a day later, Washington expressed alarm to Syria over its possible sale of
Scud missiles to Hizbullah militants, warning it would put Lebanon at
"significant risk."
Washington expressed renewed concern Saturday over possible Scud missile
supplies to Hizbullah, a Lebanese Shiite militant group backed by Syria and
Iran. The United States has labeled Hizbullah a terrorist organization. Duguid
warned Monday that such arms transfers "can only have a destabilizing effect on
the region, and would pose an immediate threat to both the security of Israel
and the sovereignty of Lebanon. "The risk of miscalculation that could result
from this type of escalation should make Syria reverse the ill-conceived policy
it has pursued in providing arms to Hezbollah," Duguid said. "The heightened
tension and increased potential for conflict this policy produces is an
impediment to ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle
East." Duguid stressed this was the fourth time such concerns had been raised
with the Syrian embassy in recent months.
"Our dialogue with Syria on this issue has been frank and sustained. We expect
the same in return," he said. According to Arab media and some think-tanks,
Syria has been sending some of its own arsenal of Scuds to Lebanon, an
allegation denied by Damascus. In 2006, Hizbullah and Israel fought a 34-day war
that killed 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mainly
soldiers.(AFP) Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 07:11
Adwan: LF Rejects Syrian Domination over Lebanon, Wants Diplomatic Ties
Naharnet/MP George Adwan on Tuesday said the Lebanese Forces rejects Syrian
domination over Lebanon, adding, however, that Samir Geagea's party favors
development of diplomatic ties based on mutual respect. Adwan, in remarks to LBC
satellite channel, said Syria has entered a "new stage," and hoped Damascus
would "benefit from the experiences of the past and change its approach of
strengthening one group over another."He stressed that the "Lebanese agree that
Israel is our enemy."
"However, no one has the right to determine weapons (effectiveness) of the
Lebanese army even though there are some who are not satisfied. This is their
problem," Adwan concluded. Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 13:06
Soaid: March 14 Wants Ties be Used as Way to Correct Relations with Syria
Naharnet/March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid on Tuesday called
for the establishment of "best relations" with Syria, urging the implementation
of border demarcation.
In remarks to LBC satellite channel, Soaid said he did not receive an invitation
to attend Monday's ceremony in Biel on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of
the end of the French mandate of Syria. He said the attendance of several March
14 MPs at Biel, however, stressed that the coalition was not seeking "enmity"
with Syria. "Instead, March 14 wants to use diplomatic ties as a road map to
correct relations between Lebanon and Syria," he stressed. Soaid believed that
accusations point back to Syria "because it did not disengage itself from the
Ahmadinejad-Assad-Nasrallah axis." Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 11:17
Murr Orders Ban on Weapon Permit Ahead of Municipal Elecitons
Naharnet/Defense Minister Elias Murr ordered a ban on weapon permits across the
entire Lebanese territory ahead of municipal elections scheduled to begin May 2.
He said the decision will take effect as of April 26 until further notice.
Diplomats and their bodyguards as well as Cabinet ministers and present and
former lawmakers are exempted from the ban. Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 10:22
Hariri Assures: Lebanon Does Not Fear Israeli Threats
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri assured the Jewish State that Lebanon does
not fear Israeli threats. "Lebanon does not fear Israeli threats. Lebanon is
very good. It is a country economically prosperous and living true national
unity," Hariri told a Lebanese delegation in Italy. He stressed that "Lebanon
will build an army capable of confronting any dangers and maintaining security
and will become a strong state." Hariri believed Israeli accusations against
Lebanon were similar to the situation in Iraq when the U.S. and the U.K.
asserted that Saddam Hussein was still hiding weapons of mass destruction in
2003."Israeli threats that Lebanon has huge missiles are the same as what they
used to say in the past about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in
Iraq – weapons that were not found," he said. "They are trying to reproduce the
same scenario in Lebanon," Hariri thought.Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 08:23
LF, Kataeb, Mustaqbal at Syrian Ceremony in Beirut
Naharnet/Senior officials from Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces, the Phalange
party and the Future Movement attended a ceremony at Beil Exhibition Center in
downtown Beirut on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the end of the French
mandate of Syria. Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami represented President Michel
Suleiman at the celebration that took place Monday.
While Speaker Nabih Berri and Druze leader Walid Jumblat attended in person,
Prime Minister Saad Hariri delegated Cabinet Minister Adnan Qassar to represent
him at the festival.
Also present at the ceremony were political officials and MPs from Hizbullah's
Loyalty to the Resistance bloc as well as Berri's Development and Liberation
bloc and Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc. "The gathering between the
brethren and their cooperation as well as the blending of joy and sorrow in the
two countries has a long history," said Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul
Karim. "Syria's hand is outstretched and its heart is open to its brethren," he
said, adding that Damascus welcomes criticism. Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 10:01
Saqr Files Lawsuit against PFLP-GC's Anwar Raja
Naharnet/MP Oqab Saqr on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine-General Command official Anwar Raja for slander. Raja
had accused Saqr during a televised comment of working in the security field
rather than politics. Last week, Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf
Rifi also filed a lawsuit against Raja, accusing him of making false allegations
against police. The lawsuit that was referred to the prosecutor general included
details of the clashes that broke out in and around Ahmed Jibril's PFLP-GC
military base in Qousaya in east Lebanon. Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 10:49
Oghassabian: Syria Open to all Lebanese Delegation Suggestions
Naharnet/Head of the Lebanese technical delegation Jean Oghassabian told An
Nahar daily upon his return from Damascus that Syrian authorities have expressed
openness to all the suggestions made by the visiting team. "The visit was
successful and the Syrian government expressed big interest and full openness to
all the suggestions made by the Lebanese delegation," Oghassabian said in
remarks published Tuesday. Damascus was also keen on "constructive cooperation,"
he told An Nahar, saying "these meetings will continue and will build strong
relations between the institutions of the two countries." The state minister
refused to discuss details of the issues dealt with between the two sides on
Monday but stressed that efforts are underway "to improve previous agreements
and prepare for new treaties." About his talks with Syrian Prime Minister
Mohammed Naji Otari, Oghassabian said: "The meeting was constructive. During the
talks we discussed the issue of bilateral agreements in an atmosphere of
understanding." Monday's visit aimed at paving the way for the upcoming trip of
Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Damascus. Beirut, 20 Apr 10, 09:42
Jumblat Says Coincidence of Calls to Disarm Hizbullah, Israeli Claims 'Raises
Many Question Marks'
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat addressed "those
who say that the presence of arms may lead to an (Israeli) aggression,"
reminding them of "the previous experiences in history during which Israel had
spared no effort in expressing its animosity toward Lebanon." Israel had
attacked Lebanon "times and times before the existence of these arms or any arms
of the previous resistances," Jumblat added in his editorial to be published
Tuesday in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa weekly. "The coincidence of this
suggestion with the peak of Israeli accusations -- about transferring Scud
missiles from Syria to Lebanon and accusing Hizbullah of acquiring them – raises
many question marks," he added.
Jumblat revealed that during the latest national dialogue session, he stressed
the importance of withdrawing the issue of Hizbullah's arms from media
circulation and focusing on "a defense strategy that necessitates coordination
between the Lebanese Army and the resistance in order to protect Lebanon against
any Israeli aggression until the time is right, regionally and internationally,
for the gradual integration of the resistance within the State." As to the issue
of Palestinian arms outside refugee camps, Jumblat called for treating this
dossier, "which gained the consensus of the previous dialogue committee,"
without associating it with "the issue of civil rights for Palestinian refugees
in Lebanon." "These rights are urgent, at least from the humanitarian scope, and
they must be acknowledged and implemented through legislative measures in
Parliament," he added. On the other hand, in a speech he delivered at a ceremony
organized by the Syrian Embassy in Lebanon on the occasion of Evacuation Day,
Jumblat called for "preserving the achievements of the Taef Accord in terms of
Lebanon's Arab identity, maintaining the truce (with Israel) and safeguarding
the resistance." "We can establish special economic and security ties with Syria
for the welfare of both countries," Jumblat added, stressing that "the past is
gone and we're looking forward to the future." Also Monday, Jumblat met with
Tawheed Movement leader Wiam Wahab in Mukhtara. The two men stressed the need
for consensus in Druze villages and towns in the upcoming municipal elections.
Beirut, 19 Apr 10, 21:23
Aoun from Spain: Israel Rejecting Peace, Seeking Solutions via Wars
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Monday stressed that
"Israel is rejecting peace and seeking solutions via wars which are not of use
anymore."Aoun, who is on a visit to Spain, added that "the fighters of the
resistance had chosen to liberate the land, not to practice terrorism, as some
are trying to publicize."Aoun invited the Spanish people to visit Lebanon,
saying: "Don't fear, there's no war and Lebanon respects all religions and
beliefs … Lebanon is the country of diversity." Beirut, 19 Apr 10, 22:18
Plotting
the Next Mideast War Syria's alleged transfer of Scuds to Hezbollah could spark
an uncontrollable chain reaction.
By BRET STEPHENS.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704671904575194100405117846.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
Wall Street Journal
In the matter of Syria's alleged shipments of Scud missiles to Hezbollah, it
bears noting how often the fate of the Middle East has turned on seemingly
trivial or nearly imperceptible events. There's a simple explanation for this:
That which cannot be seen or understood at first can rarely be contained in
time.
It was not the Israeli government's intention to leak intelligence that Syria
had transferred the missiles, which can hit every city in Israel with a one-ton
payload. The Israeli defense establishment was particularly keen to keep the
matter quiet to protect its sources and methods. But in the way these things
often happen in Israel, President Shimon Peres decided for reasons of his own
that the issue belonged in the public domain. There it is now, raising a number
of interesting questions.
The first question is: Is it true? The Israelis say it is, the Syrians hotly
deny it, Hezbollah remains coyly noncommittal, and the U.S. says it cannot
confirm the report. But it is highly unlikely that Mr. Peres would have made the
allegation without solid evidence to support it. Particularly given Mr. Peres's
cautious style, not to mention the parlous state of U.S.-Israel relations, the
last thing Israel needs is to be seen trafficking in bogus or alarmist claims.
Next comes the question: Why would Syria risk war with Israel by transferring
the sorts of weapons it doubtlessly knows could provoke a sharp Israeli
reprisal?
It is no secret that since Israel's summer 2006 war with Hezbollah, Syria has
helped to rearm its Lebanese ally with as many as 50,000 rockets and missiles,
many of them hidden—at the unwitting recommendation of last year's Goldstone
Report—in homes, hospitals and schools. But the transfer of Scuds, which can be
tipped with chemical or biological weapons, poses a threat to Israel of a
different order of magnitude.
Hezbollah gazes over the Middle East.
.The prosaic answer is that Syrian President Bashar Assad has a reckless streak.
He was reckless in allowing Syria to become a way station for Iraq-bound
jihadists, reckless in (almost certainly) ordering the assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, reckless in attempting to build a covert
nuclear facility, and reckless in pursuing a no-wriggle-room alliance with
Hezbollah and Iran.
Then again, Mr. Assad has never had to pay the ultimate political price for
those gambles. Now the Syrian may reckon that he can find a way to restore
Damascus's suzerainty over Beirut by goading Israel into a fresh round of
fighting with Hezbollah. Another destructive war over Lebanon might just be
sufficient to topple Beirut's fragile pro-Western governing coalition, enhance
Hezbollah's prestige, and perhaps give Damascus the cover it needs to re-enter
Lebanon militarily by posing, as it so often has in the past, as a force for
"stability."
Which raises the third question: Will Israel be goaded into such a conflict?
There is, I am very reliably told, "no appetite" in Israel for another war in
Lebanon—"none whatsoever." The prospect of a war offers Israel the unenviable
choice of a militarily decisive blow against Hezbollah that would likely also be
a diplomatic debacle, or else a diplomatically acceptable surgical option that
would offer little by way of long-term military advantage. But Israel also runs
serious risks to its deterrence if it allows relatively smaller provocations to
go unanswered.
What happens, for instance, if Hezbollah blows up an Israeli diplomatic or
cultural facility—as it twice did in Buenos Aires in the 1990s and nearly did
last year in Azerbaijan? In that event, Israel would be as hard-pressed to
resist retaliating as it would be to limit the consequences of its retaliation.
One of the more easily imaginable consequences is that a war in Lebanon could
very quickly involve Syrian and Iranian participation. So the next question is:
How might that play out?
Here Israel could conceivably reap certain advantages, which in turn calls into
question whether Israel might not want a wider war over Lebanon after all.
Today, Jerusalem's two supreme strategic objectives—preventing Tehran's nuclear
bids from reaching fruition while also preventing any further deterioration in
the relationship with Washington—are very far from being in synch. But in a
scenario in which Israeli cities are hit by Hezbollah's Scuds, Israel would have
ample justification and cover to strike back at the ultimate source of those
missiles—not just Damascus, but Tehran. As Rahm Emanuel likes to say, a crisis
can be a terrible thing to waste.
And that raises a final question: What does the Obama administration do? So far,
it hasn't helped matters by giving the impression of a clear wedge between
Israel and the U.S. Nor has the administration's assiduous courtship of Damascus
done anything other than embolden Mr. Assad's taste for adventure. Is the
president capable of learning from his Mideast failures so far? That one's worth
$64,000.
In 1967, a series of seemingly minor events, tactical misjudgments, and
particularly an Arab perception that the West would not honor its international
commitments or come to Israel's defense triggered a war the consequences of
which have defined the Middle East ever since. We are adrift in those same
waters today.
Write to bstephens@wsj.com
Brazil
Inspired Statue of Jesus Christ Erected in North Iraq
GMT 4-20-2010 6:26:2
Assyrian International News Agency
Baghdeda, North Iraq (AINA) -- Rio de Janeiro is a long way away from Baghdeda,
an Assyrian town in north Iraq, yet these two cities, one large and one very
small, now have something in common: a statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer. On
April 10, Fr. Father Louis Kassab, Chairman of the Christian Affairs Committee,
uncovered the statue at check point 1 at Baghdeda, located on AlHizam Street
near the Naufil Tourist Club.
Assyrian Scouts played music during the ceremony. Guests included Fr Andrawos
Habash, Nawar AlNajar, Rabeea Habash and Muntasir Hadad, Khalis Isho Barbar,
member of Iraqi Parliament, Istaipho Jamil Habash, representative of the
Chaldean/Syriac/Assyrian Council, members of the Qaraqosh Council, and hundreds
of Baghdeda guards and residents.
According to Najib Attallah, who is responsible for the check point, the idea
for the statue came from the guards who work at the check point. "In the past we
have built Nativity Scenes during Christmas. The guards decided to built a
statue for this Easter Celebration resembling the Statue of Jesus Christ in
Brazil."
He said the work on the statue took a month and half at eighteen hours per week,
and was performed by two guards, Alaa Nasir Kithya and Amaar Anay. Donations
were made by some of the guards and Baghdeda residents.
Copyright (C) 2010, Assyrian International News Agency. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use.
Israel
Rejects Turkish Request to Buy Arms
by Hana Levi Julian/Arutz Sheva
Israel has declined a request by Turkey to purchase several different military
systems, including an anti-tank guided weapon and a missile system for its navy.
The request by the Turkish government was rejected by Israel's SIBAT, the
defense assistance and export organization, which is currently reviewing each
order on a case-by-case basis.
Turkey said it wanted to buy the Spike non-line-of-site (NLOS) anti-tank guided
weapon, the Namer heavy infantry fighting vehicle, and the Israel Aerospace
Industries' (IAI) Barak 8 theater-defense missile system for its navy, according
to UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly.
Israel did, however, deliver the last of 170 upgraded M60A1 main battle tanks (MBTs)
to the Turkish military on April 7 through a joint contract between Israel
Military Industries (IMI) and Turkey's Aselsan, shepherded along by Columbia.
The move is seen as a response to Turkey's increasing anti-Israel rhetoric and
the pro-Islamic leanings in its foreign and domestic policies.
An Israeli defense official was quoted by the military publication as saying,
“Ties with Turkey will never be the way they once were. We are being very
careful which systems we sell them, due to the growing Islamic trends in the
country.”
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan harshly criticized Israel during and
following its counter terrorism Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, which ran from
December 28, 2008 to January 20, 2009.
Since that time, relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated,
a trend reflected in Turkey's decision in October 2009 to bar Israel's Air Force
from participating in the joint Anatolian Eagle exercises. Turkey ultimately
chose to cancel the drill rather than back down in response to pressure from the
United States and Italy, who were also set to participate.
As a result, Israel has also been searching for new air space in which to
conduct long-range training exercises, since Turkey has refused the IAF use of
its air space. Recently the Defense Ministry has been exploring the possibility
of renewing a 2006 agreement to deploy IAF fighter jets in Romania.
Lebanon’s
war, back to the future
By: Tony Badran/Now Lebanon
April 20, 2010
Visitors look at pictures of Lebanese men missing since the civil war, displayed
at City Center in Beirut on April 13, the anniversary of the war’s outbreak. (AFP
photo/Anwar Amro)
Lebanon’s political elite commemorated the civil war on April 13 by indulging in
a quintessentially Lebanese habit: political folklore. Showcasing “unity”,
members of rival political alignments performed in a football match. However,
many of those who grew up during the war years, especially those who left
Lebanon long ago, have other rituals on that anniversary, even as we watch the
country once again going through the same convulsions as it did during the early
1970s.
Those of us wrestling with the memory of the war have also had similar coping
mechanisms. One of them, for example, has been to indulge a voracious appetite
for novels about the war years, as well as documentaries and photographs of that
era, such as Joseph Chami’s unvarnished two-volume photographic tome of the
years 1975 to 1982.
Our attraction is also toward a literary realism preserving minute details of
everyday life. That is the common thread in works like Youssef Bazzi’s Yasser
Arafat Looked at Me and Smiled – a gripping, intricate memoir of the author’s
days as a militiaman; or Rawi Hage’s De Niro’s Game, to name only them. Part of
their appeal is how they conserve a snapshot of the daily bizarreness that
passed for normalcy.
It is almost with perverse fondness that we recall the habits of daily existence
during wartime, such as the gas lamps, the battery-powered neon lights, or the
candles (strategically placed around the house). That’s not to mention the
carefully-gathered and recycled water, or the bucketfuls of shrapnel and spent
bullet casings.
Perhaps it’s as much a strange nostalgia that draws us to accounts and
documentaries of the war years as an attempt to try and make sense, in
retrospect, of a storyline that seemed incomprehensible at the time. The efforts
to refresh our memories are, somehow, hopeless attempts to regain some sense of
control. And it is the lack of control that was and still is the tragedy of the
Lebanese. That’s because war continues to be forced upon them whether they like
it or not.
This type of violation was perfectly embodied in a statement by a Hezbollah
official, Nawwaf Moussawi, two weeks ago. Moussawi declared, “When it comes to
the persistence of the Resistance, its strength, its continuation and progress,
[Hezbollah and the Resistance] will not grant consideration to anything else.”
The recent reports of Syria’s smuggling of Scud missiles into Lebanon were a
good example of how little control the Lebanese continue to be afforded over
their own future. Such a step, if confirmed, can only increase the level of
destruction that will be visited on Lebanon in the event of a new war with
Israel. Similarly, the rumors of Walid Jumblatt being forced to accept Hezbollah
positions in the Barouk Mountain and to allow the party access to other areas of
the Chouf could mean ruin for the Druze in a conflict. Jumblatt’s priority of
protecting the Druze may one day force them out of their homes.
Jumblatt’s rationale harks back to the one applied during the lead-up to the war
in 1975. The logic at the time was that it was necessary to avoid confronting
the Palestinian Liberation Organization or limiting its freedom of operations
against Israel, because this would avert a civil war. Of course, in the end
civil war came, along with Israeli devastation and the disintegration of the
Lebanese army.
So, in a sense, Hezbollah is forcing on its countrymen a rerun of a movie whose
ending we’ve seen before – indeed, a movie that we commemorated only last week.
One would think that Hezbollah’s utter contempt for the will and concerns of the
Lebanese would put to rest any doubts about the falsity of public statements on
the need to preserve Lebanon’s national unity.
It was not surprising that the most candid and piercing response to Moussawi
came from Hazem Saghieh, the Al-Hayat columnist and one of the Lebanese
intellectuals most critical of dishonest political folklore. Saghieh minced no
words in a recent article: Yes, the rest of Lebanon does not seek a war with
Hezbollah, nor can it afford one, he wrote. But that doesn’t mean that we are to
be dragged through the same plotline of conflict once again.
“If a partnership is synonymous with submission through [Hezbollah’s] total
disregard of [its] partner [in the state], then it becomes necessary to sit down
to discuss that partnership and think of better alternatives,” Saghieh
concluded.
One only wishes things could go that consensual way. Alas, nothing so clement
lies ahead for Lebanon. Instead, the country’s tragic history seems destined to
repeat itself.
*Tony Badran is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.