LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 21/2010

Bible Of the Day
Mark 7/31-37: " Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis. 7:32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 7:33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue. 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” 7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. 7:36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it. 7:37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!”

Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Syria’s link to Hezbollah clouds honeymoon with US/Daily Times/March 20/10
Interview with political analyst Ziad Madjid/iloubnan.info/March 20.10
Bomb Iran or Let Them Get the Bomb/By KT McFarland/March 20/10

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for March 20/10
Hariri Tones Down Supporters Before His 2nd Trip to Syria /Naharnet
Jumblat to Abandon Majority after Visiting Syria, Berri: Jumblat Trip Puts Us before New Political Scene /Naharnet
Two Lebanese Troops Found Dead in Smar Jbeil /Naharnet
Salhab to Naharnet: Wahab Can't Demand Suleiman's Resignation at Rabiyeh's Door then Delude People the Issue was Discussed Inside /Naharnet
Wahab Snaps Back at Suleiman Defenders, Says He Won't Admonish Allies Who Speak Only Behind Closed Doors /Naharnet
Hezbollah: Israel attack on Iran could ignite Middle East/Ynetnews
Qassem: Israeli attack on Iran could ignite Mideast/Daily Star
UNIFIL marks 32 years of peacekeeping/Daily Star
Protests in Beirut, Sidon condemn Israel's settlement plans in Jerusalem/Daily Star
Politicians, clergy rally to Sleiman's defense/Daily Star
Lebanon, Jordan ink 16 bilateral deals during Premier Rifai's visit to Beirut/Daily Star
Sri Lankan domestic worker 'commits suicide/Daily Star
Two men attempt carjacking on Baalbek highway/Daily Star
Gunmen fail in bid to rob Jal al-Dib pharmacy/Daily Star
Thieves grab LL50 million from Jounieh restaurant/Daily Star
Military Tribunal charges four with spying for Israel/Daily Star
Italy donates 500,000 euros for demining work/Daily Star
Fatah al-Islam inmates riot at Roumieh prison/Daily Star
Lebanon urged to evaluate Syrian era/Daily Star
New coded stickers to help consumers identify counterfeit medicine/Daily Star
Linda Matar honored for decades-long fight for women's rights in Lebanon/Daily Star
French officials: New procedures make applying for visa easier/Daily Star
MP raps failure to prosecute gender crimes/Daily Star

Hariri Tones Down Supporters Before His 2nd Trip to Syria
Naharnet/PM Saad Hariri met Friday with the directors of the Mustaqbal-affiliated media outlets to discuss the new desired approach in light of the new chapter Hariri is trying to open on the internal level and as to the Lebanese-Syrian relation. "The meeting focused on the need to avoid media debates and to provide the success elements for the new chapter," according to media reports. In the same direction, Wissam al-Hasan, Head of the Information Department in the Internal Security Forces, on March 14 visited Damascus where he met with Maj. Gen. Rustom Ghazali, Head of Damascus Intelligence Branch and former Head of Syrian Military Intelligence in Lebanon. On the other hand, the leadership of the March 14 Alliance has stopped the circulation of the internal evening news bulletin for unknown reasons as some Mustaqbal well-informed sources explained the step as "the desire of some parliamentary majority officials to stop the circulation of unified political stances among March 14 forces."
According to al-Akhbar Lebanese daily, al-Hasan's visit to the Syrian capital came after a long period of severed relations between him and Ghazali following the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. "It came as a result of the visit of Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi to Damascus," al-Akhbar added. The Lebanese daily demonstrated the relation of al-Hasan with the Hariri family and the Syrians, especially with Ghazali, noting he conducted many visits to Syria after the year 2005, among them his "most important visit" to prepare for Hariri's first trip to Damascus. Al-Akhbar quoted a source from the General Directorate of the ISF as saying that the latest al-Hassan-Ghazali meeting was "very positive, and the two discussed security issues of common interest without tackling the issue of the Syrian warrants" against a number of Lebanese officials. "Contacts are ongoing between the two men since that meeting," the source added. Moreover, the row of the alleged security agreement between the United States and Lebanon was "accidentally" brought into discussion as Ghazali was keen not to voice his opinion on the matter "in a fashion that indicates a certain intervention," the source went on to say. "Al-Hasan's trip to Damascus and his meeting with Rustom Ghazali indicate an embracing of political changes," sources close to al-Hasan said. Furthermore, As Safir Lebanese daily reported that the recent "discussions between Hariri and Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali were positive and friendly," adding that "Hariri expressed his satisfaction over the course the relation with Syria is taking."
For his part, Ali confirmed that Hariri's second trip to Damascus will take place in the beginning of April as media reports mentioned that Hariri's visit will take place mid-April for "logistic reasons." Beirut, 20 Mar 10, 12:59

Jumblat to Abandon Majority after Visiting Syria, Berri: Jumblat Trip Puts Us before New Political Scene
Naharnet/"Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat will abandon the parliamentary majority following his anticipated visit to Damascus -- after he had already abandoned the March 14 Alliance," well-informed sources announced. "Available information indicate he will stay on good terms with PM Saad Hariri, based on the solid relation he had with martyr PM Rafik Hariri, and as a result of the special relation between him and Saudi Arabia," the sources added. The same sources told Ad-Diyar Lebanese daily that "Hizbullah Secretary-General's Political Assistant Hussein Khalil visited Damascus for a second time to discuss the issue of Jumblat's anticipated visit as information indicate that Hizbullah is working on concluding the issue in a short time, considering that as beneficial for the internal situation and for everyone." "Jumblat will stay overnight in Syria and he will have his word on the essential issues, whether in terms of Lebanese-Syrian special relations or in terms of the resistance topic. He decided to voice these stances directly before President (Bashar) al-Assad to stress his new choices," the sources added. On the other hand, Speaker Nabih Berri's visitors quoted him as saying that "Jumblat's visit to Damascus will put us before a new political scene on the internal level, whether in terms of the resistance decision or in terms of special relations between the two countries." "This thing will represent the safety valve in maintaining Lebanese stability," Berri was quoted as saying. Beirut, 20 Mar 10, 14:38

Two Lebanese Troops Found Dead in Smar Jbeil
Naharnet/Tanios Yammine and Chahine Elia, two Lebanese troops, were found dead Saturday morning inside the army's barracks in the Batroun area of Smar Jbeil.
The state-run National News Agency that carried the report did not mention additional details on how they died. However, it said that the military police has started its investigation into the incident. Later Saturday, an army spokesman told Agence France Presse, on condition of anonymity, that the "two soldiers committed suicide separately in their barracks at dawn this morning, around 15 minutes apart."The spokesman identified the soldiers as Tanios Yammine and Chahine Bashir, both of whom hail from northern Lebanon, but would give no further details or speculate on a motive. Beirut, 20 Mar 10, 13:56

Salhab to Naharnet: Wahab Can't Demand Suleiman's Resignation at Rabiyeh's Door then Delude People the Issue was Discussed Inside
Naharnet/Change and Reform bloc MP Salim Salhab on Friday said that "Tawheed Movement leader Wiam Wahab can declare whatever he wants, but he can't take advantage of his visit to Rabiyeh to ask the president to resign using its platform -- so that people be misled into thinking that the issue was discussed inside." In an interview with Naharnet, Salhab stressed that "Rabiyeh doesn't approve this demand -- in its form as well as in its content." "We reiterate our rejection of discussing this issue. General atmospheres are leaning toward calm and stability and this is not the required political atmosphere in the country at this stage, during which we're trying to restore the consensus atmosphere," he added.
As to some parties who are saying that Wahab is not acting on his own, but rather acting as "the real representative of Syria in Lebanon regardless of the Embassy," Salhab described this theory as "weak," saying he believes that "Syria would have found a better way to approach the subject." Answering a question on the bloc's participation in municipal elections if the reforms were not adopted, Salhab stressed that "the bloc is always calling for reform and wants those amendments approved, but we won't boycott the elections under the current law because boycotting won't be useful on any level." Furthermore, Salhab commented on the demand of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun for the return of the Lebanese who fled to Israel upon the Israeli withdrawal in 2000. "This is an urgent social case we are following up on and these Lebanese citizens have children who are leading an abnormal life – they don't go to school and they don't know anything about their homeland." "We don't want them to live without an identity, we rather want them to return to their homeland Lebanon," he added, noting that the judiciary must say its final word on the issue and declare whether they are guilty or not. As to Hizbullah's stance on the suggestion, Salhab said the Change and Reform bloc would be "grateful" if Hizbullah agrees on this issue. "No official invitation has been addressed to Lebanon to attend the Arab summit up till now, knowing that we should have some respect for ourselves," Salhab said. "The inappropriate way Libya sent the invitation -- through the Lebanese embassy in Damascus -- is insulting," he added.
"Libya should have found another way to hand over the invitation to Lebanon even if it was cautious against an attack on its diplomats should they visit Beirut to submit the invitation."
Beirut, 19 Mar 10, 23:00

'Security Agreement' Debate Focuses on Whether Deal Done in Conformity with Constitution
Naharnet/The Media and Communications parliamentary committee has met to discuss the controversial issue of U.S. grant to the Internal Security Forces. Local newspapers on Friday said the in-depth talks focused on whether the so-called "security agreement" was concluded in conformity with the Lebanese Constitution. An-Nahar daily quoted lawmakers from both March 14 and March 8 forces as saying that head of the committee MP Hasan Fadlallah showed eagerness to tackle the legal aspect of the agreement and hear the different standpoints and inferences. "We are not interested in the political bickering or the campaigns that take place outside the Committee meeting (room)," Fadlallah was quoted as saying.
Fadlallah stressed that the Committee was not questioning the ISF's performance or conduct, but how much the agreement corresponds to Article 52. According to parliamentary sources, Committee rappoteur MP Ammar Houri argued that the agreement was the result of the 2007 Paris-3 conference when Lebanon received several grants, including $50 million U.S. donation to the ISF which soon got Cabinet approval. He recalled that Cabinet at the time assigned police chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi to follow-up on the implementation of the deal, adding that negotiations resulted in government's approval of the agreement which was signed March 18, 2008. Houri said this "security agreement" is not subject to the provisions of Article 52 of the Constitution. MP Nicola Fattoush agreed. Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Mousawi said Rifi has cited the "existence of the security agreement" as reason for his direct contact with the U.S. embassy over its request for issues related to the telecommunications sector. "We, in the Committee, are discussing the agreement in terms of its links with the communications issue," Mousawi said. The sources said MP Emile Rahmeh made a lengthy response to Houri in which he said talks about the U.S. "donation" were inaccurate. Rahmeh argued that treaties and agreements between two states are subject to the provisions of Article 52 of the Constitution. Beirut, 19 Mar 10, 15:04

Lebanon, Jordan Sign 16 Agreements, MoUs
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Jordanian counterpart Samir al-Rifai on Friday signed 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding that aim at fortifying bilateral cooperation between the two countries in several fields. Al-Rifai arrived in Beirut on Friday at the head of a high-level ministerial delegation. The Jordanian delegation included the agriculture, education and transport ministers in addition to assistants and advisors. Premier Saad Hariri welcomed al-Rifai at Rafik Hariri International airport. Present were several ministers and Jordan's ambassador Ziad al-Majali. Hariri later met with al-Rifai at the Grand Serail and discussed details of the talks that were held later between the Lebanese and Jordanian sides on Friday afternoon. After holding talks with his Lebanese counterpart, al-Rifai met with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace. He then headed to Ain al-Tineh for talks with Speaker Nabih Berri. Beirut, 19 Mar 10, 11:24

Wahab Snaps Back at Suleiman Defenders, Says He Won't Admonish Allies Who Speak Only Behind Closed Doors
Naharnet/Tawheed Movement leader Wiam Wahab on Friday mockingly expressed his belief that "Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is keen on the presidency chair – being the one who staged military coups against former president Amin Gemayel and tried to entangle his mandate in endless wars." "He is the one who prevented him from practicing his rule, even in the surroundings of the presidential palace, and we cannot forget the scene of the LF tanks heading toward Maten area to expel president Gemayel out of Lebanon only one day after the latter left the Baabda Palace," a statement issued by Wahab's office added. "We cannot forget his keenness on the presidency when he tried to assassinate the first defense minister of the president after the war -- former minister Michel Murr. Moreover, we cannot forget his campaign against former president Emile Lahoud and his incitement of people to attack the Baabda Palace," the statement added. As Wahab stressed his "appreciation and respect" for Labor Minister Boutros Harb, he reminisced the latter's presence at the Taef conference "when all the powers of the president were stripped and he turned from an actual ruler with real jurisdiction into an honorary president resembling the Queen of Britain."
Wahab snapped back at State Minister Adnan Sayyed Hussein, reminding him of his "campaign against the president when he accused him of using the army to reach to the presidency chair.""As to other hypocrites, if only they did not attack the president when he talked about amending his jurisdiction, a matter Lebanon will not settle without. Back then, they unsheathed their sectarian swords in the president's face and almost called for a holy war against him. Since they are keen on the presidency, let them all seek amending the president's powers so that we can have a country with one head instead of tens of heads," the statement added. On the other hand, Wahab stressed that he will not admonish "some allies" who only say things "behind closed doors." "As to the president, whom we respect, appreciate and admire, and whom we have backed his stances, especially regarding municipal electoral law on proportional representation basis, transparency of appointments and the resistance, we have called him to resign only because we are keen on his image and position, and because he spoke many times about amending the Constitution without receiving any response." "We urged him to resign in case he was not able to impose rectification and reform. At that point, he puts his resignation in everyone's face to embarrass them so that they stop blackmailing the republic and its people, stealing its treasury and appointing corrupts at the expense of decent people," Wahab's office concluded the statement. Beirut, 19 Mar 10, 21:46

Iran Suggests that Lebanon Drafts U.N. Resolution on Israel-Palestinians
Naharnet/Iran has suggested to Lebanon in its status as non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to work on a draft resolution that calls on Israel to stop using force against Palestinians. An Nahar newspaper said that the proposal came in a letter written by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to his Lebanese counterpart Ali al-Shami. Iran's charge d'affaires delivered the letter to al-Shami on Friday. The daily quoted ministerial sources as saying that Tehran's suggestion justifies Lebanon's need at the Security Council. The sources said the Lebanese government should reap all the benefits of Lebanon's status and Ambassador Nawaf Salam should be given the entire opportunity to produce positive results.They said that al-Shami would inform President Michel Suleiman and PM Saad Hariri as soon as he is delivered the letter. The cabinet would later discuss the issue. Beirut, 19 Mar 10, 10:45

Syria’s link to Hezbollah clouds honeymoon with US
Friday, March 19, 2010 /Daily Times
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C03%5C19%5Cstory_19-3-2010_pg4_9
* Syria balances regional ties and US relationship
* US says Damascus must stop backing Hezbollah
DAMASCUS: Emboldened by its strong ties with Iran and Turkey, Syria is ignoring US demands that it stop backing Hezbollah, despite the risk that this will spoil its rapprochement with Washington and raise regional tensions.
Syria’s support for the armed Lebanese Shia movement is at odds with its stated aims of improving relations with the United States and resuming peace negotiations with Hezbollah’s arch-foe Israel, diplomats and political analysts said.
Damascus has also sought to reinforce its alliance with Iran and expand links with Turkey, which hosted indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel until they broke down in 2008.
A stronger Hezbollah and increased regional clout could bolster Syria’s hand in any resumed negotiations with Israel, several analysts said.
President Bashar al-Assad told the Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet last month that peace with Israel could be signed within six months “if things moved in the right direction”.
Yet a few days earlier, the 44-year-old leader had welcomed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Damascus and proposed that Turkey, Syria and Iran form an Islamic bloc to counter Israeli and US influence.
“You have to hand it to the Syrians. One day they host Nasrallah and Ahmadinejad and the next day they talk about their readiness for peace with Israel,” one diplomat in the Syrian capital said.
“They cannot, however, sustain this indefinitely. The United States may decide to end the rapprochement and the hype about a regional war could turn into a reality,” the diplomat added.
Syria says it lends Hezbollah only political support and denies US and Israeli accusations that it has helped the group re-arm since its 2006 war with Israel in Lebanon. Damascus says Hezbollah cannot be expected to disarm as long as Israel continues to occupy Shebaa Farms, a tiny, well-watered slice of land that Syria and Lebanon say is Lebanese territory. Syrian commentator Ayman Abdel Nour said Israel’s failure to defeat Hezbollah in 2006 had made Syria more immune to Israeli threats, and that Syria would not sacrifice the guerrilla movement for the sake of better ties with the United States.
Nour said Syria’s blossoming economic opening to its former adversary Turkey could help offset economic damage from US sanctions that were imposed in 2004 partly because of Syrian support for Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group.
“The political reading of the regime is that Syria’s continuity is tied to Middle East forces, mainly Turkey and Iran. Washington is no longer considered fearsome,” Nour said.
“Hafez al-Assad used to say that a good relationship with the United States was vital but coming too close to America was also harmful,” he added, referring to the late Syrian leader.
The younger Assad may be walking a tightrope, however. Talk of war in the Middle East has revived in recent months as Iran pursues a nuclear programme viewed by Israel as its deadliest threat. Tehran says its nuclear work is purely peaceful. Washington has said its rapprochement with Damascus is not open-ended and that it wants to see real Syrian policy changes.
US President Barack Obama opened channels after taking office 14 months ago, but also renewed sanctions. In February he named an ambassador to Damascus after a five-year absence.
US Hezbollah insistence: Robert Ford, the ambassador-designate, told the Senate Foreign Relations committee at his confirmation hearing on March 16 that a regional war could erupt if Syria did not stop what he termed its supply of long-range weapons to Hezbollah.
“If Hezbollah has rockets that can hit farther into Israel, it complicates every one’s calculations and raises the risk of a miscalculation and the risk of conflict,” Ford said.
“We do not see how it is in Syria’s interest for new fighting to break out in Lebanon. Fighting that could escalate and even drag in Syria itself,” he added.
Ford said US sanctions would not be lifted as long as Syria backed Hezbollah, but acknowledged that Damascus had helped cut the flow of foreign fighters across its territory into Iraq, a major US demand for the last five years. Another diplomat in Damascus said US officials had made it clear during their meetings with their Syrian counterparts that the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons was “a ticking bomb”. “The Israelis did not want to broaden the war in 2006,” he said. “Their calculations now may be different with Hezbollah possibly strong enough to hit Tel Aviv.” reuters

Lebanon urged to evaluate Syrian era
By The Daily Star /Saturday, March 20, 2010
BEIRUT: Syria has re-evaluated its past experience in overseeing Lebanon and acknowledged “mistakes,” while the Lebanese state has failed to undertake a similar review to guide future bilateral relations, according to Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council head Nasri Khoury. Khoury told a seminar at the Issam Fares Center for Lebanon that while the 1991 bilateral Treaty of Brotherhood and the Higher Council have been roundly criticized by some groups, the criticism “hasn’t evolved into an official plan to be discussed between both countries since the Lebanese state hasn’t come forward with any proposal regarding the [bilateral] agreements, while their re-evaluation has been demanded.” – The Daily Star

Qassem: Israeli attack on Iran could ignite Mideast
Saturday, March 20, 2010
BEIRUT: Violence could spread across the Middle East with Israel paying a “heavy price” if it launched military action against Iran, the deputy leader of Hizbullah said on Thursday.
“Israel or the United States cannot just bomb Iran and [expect] things to continue normally,” Sheikh Naim Qassem told Reuters. “Any attack on Iran could ignite the whole region and the assailant will pay a heavy price whether its Israel or the United States.” Qassem said any countries which allowed an attack on Iran to be launched from US bases on their territory would also face reprisals. He refused to discuss details of Hizbullah’s role in responding to any attack on Iran. Israeli officials say Hizbullah, and to a lesser degree the Palestinian group Hamas, would launch cross-border rocket salvoes on Iran’s behalf should it come under attack and this scenario was featured in an Israeli-US air defense exercise last year. Hizbullah was set up with the help of Iranian Revolutionary Guards to fight Israeli forces that invaded Lebanon in 1982 and still enjoys strong support from Tehran as well as Syria.
Lebanese and Syrian officials have accused Israel of pushing for a new war in the Middle East but Qassem said he did not expect a war soon.
“Based on our expectations … there are no signs for a war soon, but Israel is planning for one and whether this day is far or near we have to be ready and prepared and that is what we are now.” – Reuters

Hezbollah: Israel attack on Iran could ignite Middle East
03.18.10/ Israel News
Violence could spread across the Middle East with Israel paying a "heavy price" if it launched military action against Iran, the deputy leader of Hezbollah said Thursday. Israel sees Iran's nuclear programme as a threat to its existence and has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to curb the Islamic Republic's atomic work. (Reuters)
Interview with political analyst Ziad Madjid/iloubnan.info/March 20.10
Focus with the political scientist Ziad Majed on the recent statements of Walid Jumblatt and his attempts to open a new chapter with Syria
BEIRUT, By Nayla Chahla | iloubnan.info - March 19, 2010
On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the formation of March 14 coalition and the Cedar Revolution, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt admitted to al-Jazeera TV having made “unreasonable remarks” about Syrian President Bashar Assad, three years ago. Focus on the statements of Jumblatt, one of the coalition’s key founders, with the political scientist Mr. Ziad Majed.
iloubnan.info: How do you assess the recent statements of MP Walid Jumblatt to al-Jazeera TV?
Ziad Majed: First of all, there are “three dimensions” to understand the positions of Jumblatt:
- The regional dimension: Jumblatt thinks that Damascus-Ryadh reconciliation demands a repositioning in Lebanon and an end of “hostilities” with Damascus as well, especially that the USA are reassessing their relations with Assad’s regime and will probably initiate a kind of opening in the upcoming days (like restoring the US ambassador, activating official visits etc…).
- The national dimension: He thinks that in the event political splits go deeper, the country would be heading towards tensions and confrontations that may be fueled by foreign events linked to Israel, Iran and to Syria, as well as the indictments that the international tribunal may issue regarding the (assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic ndlr) Hariri case, whether against the Syrian regime or a Lebanese group (as stipulated by the Deutsch daily Der Spiegel which evokes involvement of a Hezbollah member thereto for instance). According to him, this necessitates “a domestic security belt” that he seeks installing.
- The situation in southern Mount-Lebanon (in Aley and Shouf districts), and the Druze condition in Lebanon: Jumblatt, whose community is a minority on the national level (and even in his own mountainous stronghold), seeks exits to the encirclement he is facing. On this level, Jumblatt is very “territorial”. His rivals attempted to isolate him geographically and politically, and Hezbollah attacks on May 7, 2008, have sent him a message in this regard. Thus, he wants to be done with this situation.
Now, beyond these reasons, I guess that Jumblatt wants to start a new phase and end some coalitions that he couldn’t come to terms with. He also wishes to prepare his son Taymur to succeed to him in more peaceful context.
Personally, I don’t want to make value judgments, but I guess that some of the meetings and statements relevant to his possible visit to Damascus would not be useful to him, but soil his image as a leader of the Intifada and the Independence (and here we must recall that he was the real leader of this Intifada in 2005). His “pardon” and his “forgiveness” regarding the assassination of his father as voiced to al-Jazeera TV on past March 13, prove the view of a friend who is a jurist when she said Jumblatt’s statements referred to times when justice was private. The victim had, at that time, the right to forgive or to take revenge. We might forget that the public power concept was born whe the community imposed itself in the settlement of conflicts…
Hezbollah said Syrian President Bashar Assad was ready to meet Jumblatt. But does secure such reconciliation especially that Jumblatt had previously insulted Assad in particular?
The reconciliation is part of the aforementioned specific regional and national contexts. However, to my opinion, Walid Jumblatt’s former remarks about Assad were not “slanderous”, because Jumblatt was mad about the Syrian regime like many Lebanese, during the dark years and the wave of assassinations and orchestrated violence against March 14 leaders, parliamentarians, ministers, journalists and militants (from 2004 to 2008). Perhaps, the terms could have been moderated. Still, the terminology was not slanderous at all.
Some parties fear “the 1977 tragic fate to be recalled again in 2010”. Does Jumblatt risk his own life?
I guess circumstances have changed. Kamal Jumblatt headed to Damascus in 1977 as a messenger of defiance and rejection of any Syrian role, either political or namely military, in Lebanon. Walid Jumblatt would go there, this time, to send a message of reconciliation after the Syrian military withdrawal from the country. Thus, I don’t really see any parallelism in this matter. Although, I guess that, deeply, the Syrian regime would never forgive Walid Jumblatt his key role in the Independence uprising…
What are the challenges of the upcoming period, in the light of the quick developments? What would be the next status of Walid Jumblatt?
We are currently in a status quo that risks no rapid evolution, with a political power struggle (and not a popular one) that favors Hezbollah and its allies, due to the situation in the region, the weight of the party of god’s weaponry as well as the influence it has on the domestic political process… Thus, I don’t think that Walid Jumblatt would join March 8 coalition… He will remain in the middle, while keeping on particular ties with Saad Hariri and improving his relations with (Speaker ndlr) Nabih Berri and Hezbollah. As for the rest, there will be much often ups and downs.

Bomb Iran or Let Them Get the Bomb?
By KT McFarland
- FOXNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/03/19/kt-mcfarland-obama-iran-israel-nuclear-bomb-attack/
President Obama needs to take strong and decisive action immediately to deal with the issue of Iran.
Remember when candidate Obama promised aggressive diplomacy to deal with Iran’s nuclear weapons program? Yet, every time President Obama offered has offered the Iranians the hand of friendship he’s been flipped the bird.
Why? Because President Obama has no leverage over Iran, or at least no leverage he’s willing to use. And negotiating without leverage isn’t negotiating, it’s begging.
Iran’s President Ahmadinejad, of course, maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but more people now believe in the Easter Bunny than in Ahmadinejad’s claims.
General Petraeus told Congress that he doesn’t think Iran will have nuclear weapons “this calendar year”, but left unsaid what might happen in 2011. So, whether it’s in 7 months or 17, we’re fast facing the point of letting Iran get the bomb, or bombing Iran.
If we, or Israel, bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, experts think it would – at best - set Iran’s nuclear weapons program back a few years. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen warns an attack could ignite a regional war in the Middle East – with Iran unleashing Hezbollah and Hamas attacks on Israel, reactivating Shiite militias in Iraq, and even mining the Strait of Hormuz. This would send the price of oil, and gasoline at American pumps, through the roof. And it would probably draw the U.S. Fifth Fleet into the fray to clear the mines.
On the other hand, if Iran gets the bomb, it would set off a nuclear arms race throughout the Middle East, as moderate Sunni Arab states rush to build their own nuclear arsenals. Not only would this increase chances a nuclear weapon could be used, accidentally or intentionally, but also that nuclear materials could fall into the hands of terrorists. Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger believes the world will have a nuclear war within 20 years.
Is there a third way? Perhaps. The U.S could advocate regime change in Iran by crippling the country's economy and encouraging Iranians to replace their leaders. Here are two things we could do to make that work:
- First, President Obama should impose crippling gasoline sanctions on Iran IMMEDIATELY – even if the U.S. has to go it alone. Although Iran exports gasoline, it doesn’t have the facilities to refine it, and must import nearly half of its gas. By targeting the companies that sell, ship or insure Iran’s gas imports, we could make things very difficult for Iran’s leaders very fast.
-Second, Obama should encourage regime change in Iran – not by sending American boots on the ground, but encouraging Iranian reformers on the streets – like President Reagan did with the Solidarity Labor movement in Poland in the 1980’s. Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world has gained him moral authority, it’s time for him to use it.
The chattering class is starting to say Iran’s nuclear program can’t be stopped, but might be contained. They argue that even if Iran gets nuclear weapons, they probably wouldn’t use them.
Try telling one that to Israel – you know the line that says even if the Holocaust-denying, Armageddon-threatening Iranian president has his finger on the button he won’t press it. The Israelis understand the odds, but it’s the stakes they don’t like.
The Obama administration’s allies have floated a trial balloon by declaring that we can deter Iran but extending a defense “umbrella” over the region. They argue that nuclear deterrence kept the peace between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War, so why wouldn’t it keep the peace with in a nuclear Middle East?
The problem with this argument is that it ignores the obvious – that deterrence, or mutually assured destruction (MAD) kept the peace between the U.S. and Soviet Union because each side knew if it launched a first strike, the other side would survive to launch a second strike.
But nuclear deterrence doesn’t solve Israel’s problem. It would be cold comfort to Israel if the U.S. promises to attack Iran after Iran nuked -- and vaporized -- Israel.
That’s why it is critical that President Obama take strong and decisive action immediately to find a third way – between letting Iran get the bomb and bombing Iran.
**Kathleen Troia “KT” McFarland served in national security posts in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. She wrote Secretary of Defense Weinberger’s November 1984 "Principles of War Speech" which laid out the Weinberger Doctrine. She is a senior adviser to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a frequent contributor to the Fox Forum. Watch "K.T." and Mike Baker every Monday at 10 a.m. on FoxNews.com's "DefCon3" already one of the Web's most watched national security programs.

Question: "What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?"
Answer: There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance. Jesus sometimes cast demons out of people and sometimes healed people with no mention of the demonic. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and to wage war against the evil one (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Ephesians 6:10-12 declares, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This text teaches some crucial truths: we can only be strong in the Lord’s power, it is God’s armor that protects us, and our battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the world.
A powerful example of someone strong in the Lord’s power is Michael, the archangel, in Jude 9. Michael, likely the most powerful of all of God’s angels, did not rebuke Satan in his own power, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Revelation 12:7-8 records that in the end times Michael will defeat Satan. Still, when it came to his conflict with Satan, Michael rebuked Satan in God’s name and authority, not his own. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that Christians have any authority over Satan and his demons. It is only in His Name that our rebuke has any power.
Ephesians 6:13-18 gives a description of the spiritual armor God gives us. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and by praying in the Spirit. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to speak the truth against Satan’s lies. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we receive. We are not to waver in our faith, no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. We are to follow Jesus’ example in recognizing that some spiritual victories are only possible through prayer.
Jesus is our ultimate example for spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted by him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Each temptation was answered the same way—with the words “It is written.” Jesus knew the Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. If Jesus Himself used the Word to counter the devil, do we dare to use anything less?
The ultimate example of how not to engage in spiritual warfare is the seven sons of Sceva. “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding” (Acts 19:13-16). The seven sons of Sceva were using Jesus’ name. That is not enough. The seven sons of Sceva did not have a relationship with Jesus; therefore, their words were void of any power or authority. The seven sons of Sceva were relying on a methodology. They were not relying on Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and they were not employing the Word of God in their spiritual warfare. As a result, they received a humiliating beating. May we learn from their bad example and conduct spiritual warfare as the Bible instructs.
In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? First, we rely on God’s power, not our own. Second, we rebuke in Jesus’ Name, not our own. Third, we protect ourselves with the full armor of God. Fourth, we wage warfare with the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. Finally, we remember that while we wage spiritual warfare against Satan and his demons, not every sin or problem is a demon that needs to be rebuked.