LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
January 05/10

Isaiah 66/14-18: 66/14"You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Yahweh shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies. 66:15 For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 66:16 For by fire will Yahweh execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and the slain of Yahweh shall be many. 66:17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together,” says Yahweh,
66:18 “For I know their works and their thoughts: the time comes, that I will gather all nations and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Iran Expands Its Target List/By TIMOTHY J. GERAGHTY/The Wall Street Journal/January 04/09 

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for January 04/09
Lebanese Passengers Among Citizens of 14 Nations to Face Tougher Checks on U.S.-bound Flights/Naharnet
New Political Scene after Jumblat-Wahab Meeting? or the MP Remains a Centrist/Naharnet
Security Situation, Appointments Under Spotlight as Cabinet Convenes Tuesday/Naharnet
Jumblat: No Alternative to Power Sharing/Naharnet/Naharnet
Berri Suggests Judicial Committee on Appointments/Naharnet
Alain Aoun: Appointments Should be in Harmony with Size of Political Parties in Cabinet/Naharnet
Mustaqbal Minister: No Political Deal on How to Approach Issue of Appointments/Naharnet
Rayess: Jumblat Keen on Good Ties with FPM/Naharnet
Hamadeh: It's Not Surprising to Be alongside Jumblat in Jahliyeh/Naharnet
Rahhal: Jahliyeh Gathering Purely a Druze Meeting/Naharnet
Chamoun: National Dialogue Unconstitutional/Naharnet
Suleiman to Sarkozy: Any Tension on Iran Badly Affects Lebanon/Naharnet

Lebanon not to surrender to threat against Hezbollah's arms: FM/Xinhua
Mechanic files first civil suit linked to 2nd Lebanon War/Ha'aretz
Starting Monday, overseas passengers on US-bound flights face 'enhanced screening/Los Angeles Times
Tougher US air screening for 'terror-prone' countries/BBC News
Jumblatt plans Syria visit, denounces UNSCR 1559 /Daily Star
Sleiman, Sarkozy stress need to implement Resolution 1701/Daily Star
Baroud: Interior Ministry ready for municipal elections/Daily Star
Former Premier Hoss holds talks with Assad/Daily Star
Sayyed ready to halt lawsuit for Sleiman or Hariri/Daily Star
Hamas vows to fight with Hizbullah in next war/Daily Star
Maronite bishop accepts Saudi Arabian apology/Daily Star
'Psychic' sees 'blood' at Israel border in 2010/Daily Star
Foreign parties 'exporting' extremists to camps: Fatah/Daily Star
Five wounded in New Year's Eve celebratory gunfire/Daily Star
LF, Phalange, Hizbullah supporters in Zahle brawl/Daily Star
Tourism, culture ministers pay visit to Sidon/Daily Star
Skirmish near Tariq al-Jdeideh wounds four/Daily Star
The year of missed opportunities/Daily Star
Army rescues seven skiers trapped in Cedars/Daily Star
Man confesses to murder of Austria envoy's housekeeper/
AFP

Hamas vows to fight with Hizbullah in next war
Daily Star staff/Monday, January 04, 2010
BEIRUT: Hamas official in Lebanon Ali Baraka vowed on Sunday to fight alongside Hizbullah in the next Israeli war on Lebanon. “We are guests in Lebanon and our policy will not change,” Baraka said during a memorial service to mark one week since the death of two Hamas members in a mysterious explosion in Beirut’s southern suburbs. “However, we are committed to resisting Israeli occupation” forces,” he added. “Israel should know that if it launched a new attack against Lebanon, we will not stand handcuffed. We will face the aggression side by side with our brethren in Lebanon – be they the resistance, the army, or the people, to repel the aggression,” Baraka warned. – Naharnet

Lebanese Passengers Among Citizens of 14 Nations to Face Tougher Checks on U.S.-bound Flights
Naharnet/U.S. government officials have reportedly said that Lebanon is among 14 "terror linked" nations whose citizens will undergo mandatory enhanced screening at U.S. airports.
U.S. officials Sunday toughened security measures for all U.S.-bound airline passengers, and warned those traveling from or via the 14 "state sponsors of terrorism" and "countries of interest" will undergo the screening. The new measures came in the wake of the botched Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest Airlines plane heading from Amsterdam to Detroit which has forced many airports and airlines to boost already tight security. All passengers flying into the United States from abroad will be subject to random screening or so-called "threat-based" screens, the Transport Security Administration (TSA) said in a statement. But it further mandated that "every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening."
The tough rules go into effect from midnight Sunday (0500 GMT Monday) and follow the failed plane attack blamed on a 23-year-old Nigerian who had recently traveled to Yemen to train with al-Qaida. Suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab reportedly boarded the flight at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport after flying in from Lagos, Nigeria. Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria are currently the only four countries designated state sponsors of terrorism by the State Department. But a senior administration official told Agence France Presse the mandatory stringent measures, which would include pat-downs and enhanced screening, would apply to all passengers traveling from or via a total of 14 countries, including Afghanistan, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. He refused to reveal the remaining four nations on the list but The New York Times and Washington Post quoted government officials naming them as Algeria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. "Passengers holding passports from those nations, or taking flights that originated or passed through any of them, will be required to undergo full-body pat downs and will face extra scrutiny of their carry-on bags before they can board planes to the United States," The New York Times said. Before the incident took place on Christmas Day, a U.S. Transportation Security Administration document had already said individuals from several countries, inducing Lebanon, should be given additional screening.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 09:22

New Political Scene after Jumblat-Wahab Meeting? or the MP Remains a Centrist

Naharnet/The meeting between Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Tawheed movement chief Wiam Wahab on Sunday with the attendance of officials from around the political spectrum raised the specter of new coalitions among rivals. As Safir quoted sources who attended the talks as saying that the meeting "reflected the image of a new political scene" that analysts said was the beginning of cooperation between MPs Michel Aoun, Suleiman Franjieh, Jumblat, Hizbullah and Amal and al-Mustaqbal movements. The meeting "reflects the true parliamentary and ministerial majority and the changes that could take place in the country," the sources said. However, Ad-Diyar daily quoted political sources as saying that it was too early to discuss about a new coalition deal between Jumblat and another party. The Druze leader has stressed that he would neither tilt towards the March 14 coalition nor towards the March 8 forces. Jumblat has said he remained in a strong alliance with Premier Saad Hariri and stood next to President Michel Suleiman in his efforts to establish dialogue among different politicians. The Druze leader told As Safir that he visited al-Jahliyeh to turn the last pages of May 7 and heal the remaining wounds. Jumblat also noted that reconciliation in Shweifat is almost complete, unveiling that a large-scale meeting will be held in the town at 4:00 pm Sunday in the presence of former Minister Talal Arslan and Hizbullah representatives. The meeting will be followed by another reconciliation gathering in Deir Qoubel, Jumblat told As Safir. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 11:28

Hamadeh: It's Not Surprising to Be alongside Jumblat in Jahliyeh

Naharnet/MP Marwan Hamadeh said Monday efforts have been underway over the past few months to "restore harmony" among the divided communities within the same society.
"This was strengthened during yesterday's meeting in Jahliyeh" between Druze leader Walid Jumblat and former Cabinet Minister Wiam Wahab," Hamadeh said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio station. Hamadeh himself attended the meeting. "It is not surprising that I went along with Jumblat to eliminate repercussions of the May 7 events," he said. "There is a big difference between responding to Wahab's invitation and visiting Damascus," Hamadeh explained. He said no date has yet been set for Jumblat's visit to Damascus. However, the long awaited reunion between Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun is scheduled for next week, Hamadeh uncovered. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 09:02

Security Situation, Appointments Under Spotlight as Cabinet Convenes Tuesday

Naharnet/The government resumes its functions on Tuesday after a three-week holiday, a period that witnessed a blast in Haret Hreik and behind the scene discussions on controversial administrative and security appointments. The cabinet is scheduled to hold a session at the Grand Serail under PM Saad Hariri on Tuesday afternoon. It has 47 administrative and financial items on its agenda. Although the adoption of the 2010 state budget will be the cabinet's top priority this month, An Nahar daily said Monday that the issue of appointments of 79 state employees has been under the spotlight lately although involved officials haven't yet reached an understanding on the mechanism to be adopted on the appointments. The newspaper expected security appointments to be prioritized because they are less complicated than administrative appointments. During the session, March 14 ministers are expected to bring up the issue of the mysterious blast at the Hamas offices in Haret Hreik last month. The explosion has also brought back into the spotlight the issue of Palestinian arms outside refugee camps. As for Lebanese-Syrian ties, a ministerial source told al-Liwaa daily that the premiership sent circulars to cabinet ministers asking them to send their remarks on agreements and protocols signed between the two countries. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 08:20

Berri Suggests Judicial Committee on Appointments

Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri said administrative and security "appointments are a major test for the government" and hoped only qualified people would be appointed to state institutions "away from power sharing." In remarks published by An Nahar and As Safir dailies on Monday, Berri proposed the formation of a committee with 5 or 6 judges as members to choose the administrative state employees. The committee should later propose the names of the most suitable candidates to the government, Berri said. The speaker told As Safir that the administrative appointments should be made as soon as possible to avoid their negative repercussions on the functions of the state and its ties with the citizens. He warned "there would be a massacre" if beforehand officials do not agree on a mechanism to choose the employees. They will then realize the importance of my proposal to set up the committee on the abolishment of confessionalism in politics, Berri told As Safir. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 10:02

Alain Aoun: Appointments Should be in Harmony with Size of Political Parties in Cabinet

Naharnet/MP Alain Aoun said the Free Patriotic Movement believes that any agreement among politicians on administrative appointments should take into consideration the size of political forces in the government. The lawmaker told As Safir daily in remarks published Monday that FPM leader Michel Aoun says it is time to adjust the situation of Christians in the Lebanese administration after the level of Christian representation improved following the amendment of the electoral law. Christian representation was also strengthened in the cabinet through the consolidation of partnership, Aoun said. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 09:39

Mustaqbal Minister: No Political Deal on How to Approach Issue of Appointments

Naharnet/A Mustaqbal movement cabinet minister has described administrative and security appointments as "delicate" but confirmed reports that there was still no political agreement on how to approach the issue. The mechanism that should be adopted to make the appointments is still "mysterious," the minister told As Safir daily in remarks published Monday.
The official wondered whether the concept of rotation among different confessions would be adopted in the appointments. The minister also asked another question, saying: "Are the appointments going to be made in a single stage or in separate stages?" Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 12:16

Rayess: Jumblat Keen on Good Ties with FPM

Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party spokesman Rami Rayess on Monday said Druze leader Walid Jumblat was keen to establish "good relations" with Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement. In an interview with al-Jadeed TV, Rayess said the longed-for meeting between Jumblat and Aoun will take place "very soon."
"A date for the meeting is currently being discussed," he said, adding that the reunion will take place in Rabiyeh. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 12:33

Chamoun: National Dialogue Unconstitutional

Naharnet/National Liberal Party leader Dori Chamoun described as "unconstitutional" all-party talks which are expected to resume soon at Baabda Palace "Weapons, title of the national dialogue, should normally be under Lebanese state control, particularly under the wings of the military institution, which is not a matter that requires Lebanese dialogue on its fate outside the framework of Parliament," Chamoun said in remarks published Monday by the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa.  Chamoun believed that the dialogue table "abolishes" the role of Parliament and Cabinet at the same time. "On the long run, it would give it a constitutional character," he added. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 10:36

Suleiman to Sarkozy: Any Tension on Iran Badly Affects Lebanon

/Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman told his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy over the weekend that any tension linked to Iran has negative repercussions on Lebanon, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Monday. The newspaper also quoted Suleiman as telling Sarkozy that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the real danger on Lebanon. "This is what I have informed (U.S.) President Barack Obama about," the Lebanese president told his French counterpart. Suleiman reiterated to Sarkozy that Hizbullah is committed to calm and Lebanon was implementation Security Council resolution 1701. "Israel is the one violating it," al-Hayat quoted him as saying. The president held talks with Sarkozy at the Elysee palace on Saturday. Both men stressed the importance of implementing resolution 1701 and improvement of Lebanese-Syrian relations. Beirut, 04 Jan 10, 12:32

Jumblatt plans Syria visit, denounces UNSCR 1559

By Elias Sakr and Nafez Qawas /Daily Star staff
Monday, January 04, 2010
JAHLIEH: Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt said Sunday he would visit Damascus when the time and circumstances were right for both him and the Syrian leadership. Jumblatt was one of the major figures of the parliamentary majority who accused Syria of plotting the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination in 2005.
The PSP leader completely broke ties with Syria during the past four years, after Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2005 due to pressure from UN Security Council Resolution 1559.
Jumblatt’s statement followed a meeting with Syria’s close ally in Lebanon, Tawhid Movement leader Wiam Wahhab. The move was part of the PSP leader’s recent rapprochement with opposition figures, after his withdrawal from the March 14 alliance. The meeting was attended by representatives of the opposition including Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar and politburo member Mahmoud Qomati, Amal Movement MP Ali Bazzi and Free Patriotic Movement MP Alain Aoun.
Jumblatt was accompanied by Democratic Gathering bloc MP Marwan Hamade who accused Syria of attempting to assassinate him during an explosion in Beirut in 2004.
Following the June 7, 2009 elections Jumblatt said his alliance with March 14 was driven by necessity and was no longer viable. The PSP leader also emphasized the importance of political dialogue among the Lebanese while denouncing UN Security Council Resolution 1559. Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of all groups in Lebanon has been at the center of controversial debate recently, as opposition leaders stress that the resolution was fully implemented saying that Hizbullah’s weapons were not subject to debate.
“I stressed my commitment to the Taif Accord on December 1, 2004 in France, when Resolution 1559 was issued,” Jumblatt said. “The meeting aimed to eliminate the repercussions of the May 7 incidents and will be followed next Sunday by a meeting with Hizbullah in Chouaifat and with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun next week,” Jumblatt said.
On May 7, 2008, bloody clashes broke out between pro-government and opposition gunmen mainly in the Sunni areas of Beirut before spreading to the Chouf Mountains to involve Druze supporters of Jumblatt and Hizbullah factions, following the Cabinet’s decision to dismantle Hizbullah’s telecommunication network.
The clashes ended with the Doha Accord which led to the election of President Michel Sleiman and the formation of a national unity cabinet, which granted the opposition veto power.
The formation of the Cabinet in 2008 followed two years of political stalemate after the withdrawal of Amal Movement and Hizbullah’s Shiite ministers from the government and the failure to reach an agreement over the election of a president following the end of former President Emile Lahoud’s term.
Jumblatt stressed that Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s visit to Damascus was a major step which benefited Lebanon and underlined the need for special ties with Damascus in accordance with the Taif Accord. “Jumblatt will visit Damascus since he speaks righteously while Syria has a big heart,” Wahhab said, adding that Hariri’s steps toward Syria established the foundations which could promote strategic ties between both countries. “Syria is our second home and has historically supported the Druze,”said Wahhab. “Syrian President Bashar Assad has a special affection for Lebanon and the Druze community and I hope the relation with Jumblatt returns to the way it was.”  Wahhab also voiced support for the Resistance while hoping that Jumblatt’s understanding with Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah turned into a strategic alliance, saying the Tawhid Movement “will be the first to resist in case of Israeli aggression against Lebanon,”

Sleiman, Sarkozy stress need to implement Resolution 1701

Daily Star staff/Monday, January 04, 2010
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to tackle a series of pending issues in what is likely to be its first controversial meeting following its formation. Meanwhile, President Michel Sleiman, who returned from France on Sunday, is expected to start planning for the national dialogue to be held starting in March.
Sleiman and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy stressed during talks on Saturday the need to fully implement UN Security Council resolution 1701 while highlighting the positive progress in Lebanese-Syrian relations.
Sleiman discussed with Sarkozy Lebanon’s internal problems, bilateral ties and the latest Mideast peace efforts in a meeting at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris.
Sleiman told reporters afterward that Lebanon’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council was alo tackled during his meeting with the French President.
The visit to France was Sleiman’s second since his election. He made a three-day state visit to France in March.
“Lebanon is interested in fully implementing Resolution 1701,” Sleiman said, adding that “relations with Syria are very good as Lebanon was looking forward to improving ties with Syria.”
An-Nahar quoted French presidential sources on Sunday as saying Sleiman’s visit aimed to seek assurances from Sarkozy that Israel would not launch a war against Lebanon.
Separately, Foreign Minister Ali Shami said Sunday Lebanon would hold on to its right to liberate its occupied territory and defend itself against Israeli aggression.
“The constant threats against the Resistance’s weapons will not lead Lebanon to surrender its rights to liberate its territories and defend itself against aggression,” Shami said.
Shami added that the international community should pressure Israel into implementing Resolution 1701, which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel.
“We hope this New Year leads to the liberation of occupied territories in the Shebaa Farms, Kfarshouba Hills and the occupied part of the Ghajar village to regain Lebanese sovereignty over all territories based on Resolution 425,” Shami said.
Meanwhile, March 14 Christian parties slammed over the weekend Hizbullah’s ties with Iran, saying the party’s weapons constituted a danger to Lebanon.
Social Affairs Minister and Phalange Party official Selim Sayegh said delay in reaching an agreement over a national defense strategy would grant Israel a strong alibi before the international community by portraying Lebanon as a missile launch pad outside the state’s authority.
Similarly, Lebanese Forces boss Samir Geagea warned on Thursday against an Israeli war on Lebanon as he slammed Hizbullah for serving Iranian interests and putting Lebanon in danger given the party’s possession of arms. “What would be the reasons behind an Israeli unjustified attack against Lebanon if Hizbullah handed its weapons to the Lebanese Army,” Geagea asked, while noting stability on the Syrian-Israeli border. On Sunday, Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi said that the current Israeli threats and escalation would be faced with more resistance and an increase in the parties’ capabilities to face Israeli aggression. – The Daily Star

Baroud: Interior Ministry ready for municipal elections

Daily Star staff/Monday, January 04, 2010
BEIRUT: Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud said Saturday his ministry was ready on the “logistical level” to carry out the municipal election in the spring but stressed that the electoral law for those elections ought to be amended for them to be held. “Certain articles could be amended during a single parliamentary session to hold elections on time,” he said during a news conference in Tripoli following a meeting for security apparatuses in the north Lebanon governorate. Baroud held the conference to announce that security forces have arrested the members of a major car theft network. He stressed that security forces, in cooperation with the Lebanese Army, were exerting important security efforts.
Baroud also describing the security situation that Lebanon witnessed on New Year’s Eve as “exemplary.” Baroud said his ministry was committed to holding the municipal elections on time, adding that preparations were currently under way to make sure that elections could be carried out in May 2010 as scheduled.
The minister added that any postponement of scheduled elections would necessitate the approval of both the Parliament and the Cabinet.
Baroud stressed that he did not possess the authority to force the Cabinet to hold the municipal elections on the agreed upon date.
“My duty is to prepare for those elections,” he said. In 1998 Lebanon held its first municipal elections in 35 years. These elections are held every five years.
According to a recent study by the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES), the current electoral system used for electing members of municipal councils in Lebanon is known as the “bloc vote” system, the same as is used for parliamentary elections. In a nutshell, the bloc vote system can be used in multi-member districts, voters have as many votes as there are seats to be elected, the candidates who win the highest number of votes win, and finally voters can vote for candidates from different lists or party affiliations.
Political and public debate has now begun to focus on the possibility of introducing an alternative electoral system for municipal elections. Suggestions have included introducing proportional representation. The IFES report cites the electoral dominance by one political group as of the major disadvantages of the bloc vote system. It adds that the bloc vote system also leads to the dominance of one group in the municipality, undermining the possibility of accountability and oversight of council members. The adopted electoral system thus undermines public confidence in the credibility of the council, it says. As with all majoritarian systems, the IFES study argues, the bloc vote system has “systemic limitations in promoting the role of women to be elected,” since no effective quotas can be imposed. – The Daily Star

Sayyed ready to halt lawsuit for Sleiman or Hariri

Daily Star staff/Monday, January 04, 2010
BEIRUT: Former head of the General Security Department Major General Jamil al-Sayyed expressed his readiness on Sayyed to withdraw a lawsuit filed in Damascus against Lebanese officials if President Michel Sleiman or Prime Minister Saad Hariri personally asked him to do so. In an interview with OTV, Sayyed said he would withdraw the lawsuit if Sleiman or Hariri asked him to do so in order “to preserve and inter-Lebanese entente and Lebanese-Syrian rapprochement.” Sayyed also warned he would sue Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar if the latter “continues to obstruct the judicial summons” by not informing the Lebanese politicians, journalists, and security and judicial figures of the Syrian lawsuit. Sayyed added that following Prime Minister Hariri’s visit to Damascus last month, he felt it would be appropriate to withdraw the lawsuit, however, he added that people would probably think that he backed down under Syrian pressure. – The Daily Star

Maronite bishop accepts Saudi Arabian apology
Newspaper and embassy say sorry for story

Daily Star staff
Monday, January 04, 2010
BEIRUT: Okaz Saudi daily issued an apology to Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar on Friday after journalist Abdel Aziz Bartawi criticized him in an article published by the paper regarding Matar’s sermon on Christmas day. “Bartawi’s article contradicts the principles and the foundations of the paper and alters the path of honesty which the paper has adopted and still holds on to,” the paper said. Matar said the issue with Okaz came to an end after Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Assiri and the paper both apologized to him.
“The writer understood in my sermon a call to Christianize [society] despite the fact that it is not present in the text or any of our other writings,” Matar said.
The bishop said Bartawi was not aware that the speech was in framework of the Lebanese domestic situation and did not hold any other meanings.
“We consider that it is a mistake from the writer and was corrected when the apology was made,” Matar added.
Tackling Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s call on the Christians to refrain from foreign affiliations, Matar said he was sure Nasrallah held “deep inside himself respect for Christians.” Sunni Mufti of the Republic Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and Higher Islamic Shiite Council Deputy Sheikh Abdel Amir Qabalan condemned the piece and expressed support for Matar during a phone conversation. Meanwhile, the Christian-Muslim dialogue committee stressed that the Maronite Church was the cornerstone of national unity in Lebanon.
The committee, which held an urgent meeting at the Bishop’s headquarters in Beirut after the Okaz story was published, underlined that Matar was entrusted with conveying a message of national unity and that his Christmas day speech had reflected his commitment to national coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
“We came to congratulate Bishop Matar on the occasion of Christmas and New Year and stress that he and the Maronite Church were the backbone of national unity in Lebanon,” said Mohammad Sammak, general secretary of the Christian-Muslim dialogue committee .
Sammak added that Lebanon’s pivotal foundations granted its citizens the right to practice their beliefs openly and freely.
“If there were individuals who do not understand the picture and explain it differently then it is their problem,” Sammak added.
In a sermon on the occasion of New Year on Friday, Mattar called for a rejection of violence among the Lebanese, while promoting coexistence and dialogue.
“Every one of us is an essential partner in forming this country … we should not address each other as Christians and Muslims, but rather as Lebanese with equal rights and responsibilities toward a nation that embraces us all,” said Matar. Separately, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir voiced hope Friday that peace would reign in Lebanon in 2010, adding that he was optimistic regarding the positive impact of the recent and also ongoing political reconciliations. Sfeir’s statements followed a mass at Bkirki on the occasion of New Year during which he stressed the importance of preserving the environment. Similarly, Orthodox Bishop Elias Audi said safeguarding the environment was a shared responsibility between all nations as he urged to promote the use of alternative energy in Lebanon and expand the country’s green surface. Also as part of the sermons held to celebrate the New Year, Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim stressed that President Michel Sleiman would succeed in guaranteeing Lebanon stability only if all the Lebanese were true in their loyalty to the country. – The Daily Star

Iran Expands Its Target List
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704152804574628334107697564.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
I was the Marine commander in Beirut in 1983. I've seen these tactics before..ArticleComments
By TIMOTHY J. GERAGHTY
The Wall Street Journal
04/01/10
The nagging question of the nuclear age has been what if a madman gets hold of an atomic bomb? That question is about to be answered as Iran's defiance puts it on a collision course with the West.
On Nov. 4, 2009, Israeli commandos intercepted an Antiguan-flagged ship 100 miles off the Israeli coast. It was carrying hundreds of tons of weapons from Iran and bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war, Iran has rearmed Hezbollah with 40,000 rockets and missiles that will likely rain on Israeli cities—and even European cities and U.S. military bases in the Middle East—if Iran is attacked. Our 200,000 troops in 33 bases are vulnerable. Shortly before this weapons seizure, Hamas test-fired a missile capable of striking Israel's largest city, Tel Aviv.
Iran is capable of disrupting Persian Gulf shipping lanes, which could cause the price of oil to surge above $300 a barrel. Iran could also create mayhem in oil markets by attacking Saudi oil refineries. Moreover, Iran possesses Soviet made SS-N-22 "Sunburn" supersonic antiship missiles that it could use to contest a naval blockade.
Iran could unleash suicide bombers in Iraq and Afghanistan or, more ominously, activate Hezbollah sleeper cells in the U.S. to carry out coordinated attacks nationwide. FBI, CIA and other U.S. officials have acknowledged in congressional testimony that Hezbollah has a working partnership with Mexican drug cartels and has been using cartel smuggling routes to get personnel and contraband into the U.S.
While Iranian centrifuges continue to produce low-enriched uranium, the mullahs and their henchmen have been carrying out a campaign of deception. In October 2009, Iran rejected a plan to ship its low-enriched uranium out of country, primarily to Russia and France, to be highly enriched and then sent back to Iran for "peaceful medical purposes."
On Nov. 28, 2009, reacting to increased pressure from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran warned it may pull out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This would seriously undermine international attempts to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program. Two days later, Iran announced plans to build 10 new nuclear plants within six years.
In another sphere, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez are openly cooperating to "oppose world hegemony," as Mr. Ahmadinejan has said, while weekly flights between Iran and Venezuela are not monitored for personnel and cargo. Meanwhile, Russia is building an arms plant in Venezuela to produce AK-103 automatic rifles and finalizing contracts to send 53 military helicopters to the country.
I have seen this play before. In 1983, I was the Marine commander of the U.S. Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Lebanon contingent trained and equipped Hezbollah to execute attacks that killed 241 of my men and 58 French Peacekeepers on Oct. 23, 1983.
Today, Hezbollah directly threatens Israel, destabilizes Lebanon, and undercuts the Israeli-Palestinian peace accords. Something similar is underway in Venezuela. Remember Hezbollah used the Beirut truck-bomb model for the attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires on March 17, 1992 and the July 18, 1994 attack on the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association that killed 85 and wounded 200.
The man directly responsible for those bombings was the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, Gen. Ahmad Vahidi. He is listed on Interpol's most wanted list and was a key operative in the 1983 attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon. In August 2009, he was named Iran's minister of defense. He succeeded Gen. Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, who was the commander of the IRGC Lebanon contingent and the chief organizer of the 1983 Beirut bombings. Both have Beirut peacekeepers' blood on their hands and are the same key leaders who today are orchestrating Iranian deception and defiance as they march lock-step toward their ultimate goal—nuclear weapons.
**Col. Geraghty, USMC (Ret.), is the author of "Peacekeepers at War; Beirut 1983—The Marine Commander Tells His Story" (Potomac Books, 2009).