LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 26/2012

Bible Quotation for today/"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
John 01/01-18: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
The Gulf: In the midst of the storm/By Ali Ibrahim/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 26/12
Egypt: The implication of voting “yes”/By Dr. Hamad Al-Majid/Asharq Alawsat/December 26/12
Lebanon and the value of dialogue/By Dr. Robert Chahine/December 26/12

Audeh Hopes State Would 'Work for Everyone, with Everyone for Lebanon's Salvation'
Naharnet/Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audeh lamented on Tuesday the current state of affairs in Lebanon, wondering “where the country is being taken given all the burdens it is being made to support.”
He said during Christmas mass: “The state should work for everyone, with everyone for Lebanon's salvation.”
Lebanon is being made to serve personal interests at the expense of national ones and those of its people, he added during the mass held at St. Georges Cathedral in downtown Beirut.
“The main problem lies in powers seeking solutions to disputes at the expense of the other,” noted Audeh.
“They are unaware that the collapse of one side will affect everyone,” he stressed.
“Dialogue, partnership, and accepting the other are the basis of building a solid productive society,” he remarked.
Addressing the people, he urged them to realize the dangers threatening Lebanon, calling on them to drive away darkness from their hearts.
“Let us work together in eliminating all that harms our nation,” he declared.
He hoped that the occasion of Christmas would push powers towards abandoning all that is hindering communication between them.
“Let us all, officials and citizens, cooperate together in various sectors for Lebanon's salvation,” said Audeh.
He stressed the need for redemption and punishment for work at administrations be rectified “because that way we would have taken one step forward towards reform that is sought by all sides.”

Al-Rahi Calls on Parties to Engage in Dialogue to Confront Current Challenges
Naharnet /Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged on Tuesday Lebanese rival parties to resume the national dialogue to overcome the crises in the country.
“The Lebanese people are waiting for politicians to resolve their disputes and gather around the dialogue table to confront the current challenges locally, regionally and internationally,” al-Rahi said during the Christmas mass that was held at Bkirki. He called on politicians to courageously attend all-party talks as they shouldn't “fear the sacrifices that they will offer by attending dialogue, for nations are molded on sacrifices by those who want to serve the public.” The next dialogue session is set for January 7. The March 14 opposition has boycotted all government and parliamentary activity linked to the elections, however, it made concessions by announcing earlier this month that it would end its boycott of the parliamentary subcommittee to discuss an electoral law ahead of the 2013 polls. Lebanon plunged in a political crisis in October after the opposition blamed the government for the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch chief Wissam al-Hasan. The opposition demands the resignation of the government as a condition to ending its boycott and the formation of a national salvation cabinet. The Christmas mass was attended by President Michel Suleiman, first lady Wafaa Suleiman and other officials.

Sleiman: Parties should attend Jan. Dialogue session
December 25, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman urged Tuesday Lebanese political rivals to attend the National Dialogue session scheduled for early January and called for the release of the nine Lebanese pilgrims who are being held in Syria. “All relevant participants must come to the [National] Dialogue session on Jan. 7... If they don’t, let them offer me alternatives,” said Sleiman, following a closed meeting with Cardinal Beshara Rai in Bkirki.
Stressing the need for the all-party talks, Sleiman cited what he described as the major achievements of previous Dialogue sessions, including the “Baabda Declaration.”
"Dialogue resulted in Baadba Declaration, even those [this agreement] was violated at times. It also led to talks on the country's defense strategy and the issue of the regulation of arms," said the president.
Sleiman added that National Dialogue benefited the country through helping political parties overcome their differences.
The head of the state added that there was no justification for boycotting the all-party-talks by any of the rival March 8 and March 14 camps.
“Last time, boycotting dialogue was under the pretext of the false witnesses file and that didn’t make any sense,” said Sleiman. “Now, the boycott aims at toppling the Cabinet and I can’t see the link between the two issues,” he added. Sleiman’s efforts earlier this year paved the way for the relaunch of National Dialogue which was later boycotted by the opposition in October following the assassination of a top security official.
The March 14 alliance has also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government and for the formation of a neutral Cabinet to oversee the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Sleiman also said Tuesday that the elections must be held on time and voiced support for the electoral draft law of proportional representation endorsed by the Cabinet.
“The constitution and international charters stipulate elections must be held on time and I prefer the proportional representation draft law suggested by the Cabinet,” said Sleiman.
However, the president said the elections should not be held on time even if the law endorsed by the Cabinet doesn’t get approved.
“If the electoral law endorsed by the Cabinet doesn’t get adopted, that shouldn’t mean we should evade adopting a new law to abolish elections,” he said. “Power rotation, within any law, would be better than not holding the elections,” added the president.

Syrian regime 'has no future' says U.S.
December 25, 2012/Daily Star
DAMASCUS: Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi held "constructive" talks in Syria with President Bashar al-Assad, as Washington warned Monday that his regime's days are numbered.
As jihadists seized an area populated by the embattled leader's Alawite community, the opposition National Coalition accused Damascus of committing a "massacre" of dozens of civilians in the bombing of a bakery.
The United States condemned the "vicious" attack in which at least 60 people are reported to have been killed in a regime air strike on a bakery in the town of Halfaya, in the central province of Hama on Sunday.
"Brutal attacks such as these show that this regime has no future in Syria," acting State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement.
"Those that commit atrocities will be held accountable. The United States calls on all parties that continue to assist the regime in executing its war against the Syrian people to end their support," he added.
As violence raged in flashpoints across Syria, some 1,000 people attended Christmas mass in Damascus, praying for peace to return nearly two years into an uprising that has killed tens of thousands.
Heba Shawi said she hoped "the smile comes back to children's faces" during the festivities, which other church-goers admitted would be much more low key than usual.
Hours earlier, Brahimi, the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, met with Assad, who described the talks as "friendly and constructive".
"I had the honour to meet the president and as usual we exchanged views on the many steps to be taken in the future," Brahimi said, while labelling the crisis as "worrying" given the scale of the bloodshed.
More than 44,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the eruption in March 2011 of the uprising that morphed into an armed insurgency when the Assad regime unleashed a brutal crackdown on dissent.
On Monday alone, at least 119 people were killed nationwide, including 38 civilians, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Brahimi, who last visited Syria on October 19, expressed hope "all parties are in favour of a solution that draws Syrian people together".
"Assad expressed his views on the situation and I told him about my meetings with leaders in the region and outside," said the veteran Algerian diplomat who took over the position from former UN chief Kofi Annan.
Assad said his "government is committed to ensure the success of all efforts aimed at protecting the sovereignty and independence of the country", state television reported.
The official SANA news agency blamed the bakery killings on an "armed terrorist group" -- the regime term for rebels -- saying "many women and children" had died.
The National Coalition, recognised by many countries and groupings as the legitimate representative of Syrians, blamed Assad's regime for the "massacre" in Halfaya, saying it "targeted children, women and men who went out to get their scarce daily bread ration".
Meanwhile in Hama, the Observatory said the Al-Nusra Front and other jihadist groups on Monday overran large parts of the village of Maan populated by Alawites, the offshoot of Shiite Islam to which Assad belongs.
Rebels last week launched an all-out assault on army positions across Hama, home to a patchwork of religious communities, the Observatory said.
Activists accused Assad's regime of unleashing killer gas bombs in the central city of Homs.
The Observatory said six rebels died in Homs on Sunday night after inhaling "odourless gas and white smoke" emanating from bombs deployed by regime forces in clashes with rebels.
"These are not chemical weapons, but we do not know whether they are internationally prohibited," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.
Russia, one of the few staunch allies of Syria, downplayed fears of chemical weapons being deployed.
"I do not believe Syria would use chemical weapons," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told English-language television channel RT. "It would be a political suicide for the government if it does."
Meanwhile, rights watchdog Amnesty International condemned the regime's transfer of civilians to military courts, and urged action to ensure Syria's courts meet international fair trial standards.

Rai urges rivals to settle elections law row
December 24, 2012/ The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Rival Lebanese politicians need to agree on a new elections law as well as form a new government to oversee next year’s parliamentary elections, Maronite Cardinal Beshara Rai urged Monday on the occasion of Christmas Eve. “Partners in Lebanon’s political disputes should be peacemakers and should take the initiative to issue a new elections law instead of the law of 1960 which is at the core of our conflicts,” Rai said in his Christmas address to the Lebanese people.
“[They should also] form a new government capable of running the country to oversee calm elections on time,” he added.
Work on a new elections law was halted in October after opposition lawmakers boycotted legislative subcommittees, including the one looking into several electoral proposals to replace the 1960 law based on the qadaa and a winner-takes-all system. Formed in early October, the subcommittee was tasked with studying the type of the electoral system and the distribution of electoral districts in the absence of Cabinet members or representatives.
The boycott came after the Oct. 19 assassination of a top intelligence chief in a bid to add further pressure on the current Cabinet to resign.
The opposition has also called for the formation of a neutral government to oversee next year’s polls.
Efforts have been ongoing between Speaker Nabih Berri and March 14 lawmakers to resume the discussions on the electoral draft laws despite the opposition’s boycott.
The March 14 alliance will respond positively to Berri’s proposal for resuming discussions on a new electoral law, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told The Daily Star Sunday, a move that raised hope for an agreement on a draft law under which the 2013 polls would be held.
Berri has called on March 8 and March 14 MPs to resume talks on a new electoral legislation before the end of the year, while stressing that elections, scheduled in June next year, be held on time.
In his address Monday, Rai also said that the new cabinet should also be committed to putting forward an economic and political plan that safeguards Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syria conflict.
The new cabinet should also keep Lebanon neutral from regional and international conflicts, the Maronite cardinal added. “Lebanon and the East need a peace offered from God but one that is made by man so that our countries can step away from violence, terrorism, homelessness and immigration as well as the injustices of dictatorship,” Rai said. He noted that injustices in the region were rooted in a lack of respect for life and dignity of human beings.
Rai also said that Christmas offered an opportunity for change. “Christmas day is the start of a new era and an end to all that is old in our lives,” he said, adding that Middle Eastern countries were suffering the pain of transforming into better societies while facing developments that could pull them backward.
“These countries need moderation and democracy where there is alteration of power, reform, diversity in thought and politics,” he said.
“[These countries need] democracy that guarantees freedom of religion and speech, that separates church and state,” he added.

Syria’s Makdissi in U.S., helping intelligence agencies: report
December 25, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: American intelligence officials secured safe passage for Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi to the United States, Britain’s The Guardian said in a report published Tuesday. According to the daily, the U.S. officials helped Makdissi flee to Washington in late November after the Syrian official made his way from his home country to the Lebanese capital Beirut. The paper said it learned that Makdissi was granted asylum to the United States and was now co-operating with U.S. intelligence. There have been conflicting reports as to the whereabouts of Makdissi. The pro-Syrian government newspaper Al-Watan said in early December that Makdissi took a sanctioned leave for three months, following reports of the diplomat's resignation. Lebanon’s Al-Liwaa said in a report last week that Makdissi was in the U.K. but the British embassy in Beirut has denied the claim.

Lebanon and the value of dialogue
By Dr. Robert Chahine/Lebanonwire
Dialogue by definition is a process that allows opponents, adversaries and even enemies to discuss issues and problems that are subject to important disagreements and which may result in risky confrontation. The objective of dialogue is to seek solutions for difficult and dangerous problems by smooth and peaceful mechanisms. The process usually helps find some form of compromise that allows the participants to avoid violence or any form of negative or catastrophic outcomes. When issues are not amenable to reasonable and timely solutions, dialogue may at a minimum allow the postponement of any risky confrontation, with the hope that some future developments may ease the tensions and allow solutions to emerge.
Since the Syrian official exit from Lebanon in 2005 dialogue has been, on and off, a major component of Lebanese political life. During the presence of its army and intelligence apparatus inside Lebanon, Syria in some way functioned as a power broker and acted as a judge in solving problems, or tactfully imposing solutions. When political leaders could not agree among each other, they knew that sooner or later a Syrian verdict may emerge and settle the issue in contention.
After the Syrian army left Lebanon, the State was weak and had to adjust to the presence of a strong and powerful armed Lebanese resistance and a number of armed Palestinian groups outside its control. Divided leaders wisely decided to address these issues via dialogue, initially under the guidance of the Speaker of Parliament and subsequently under the leadership of the legitimately elected Lebanese President. To our understanding, the main issue for dialogue was to develop a “defense strategy” for Lebanon that will not sacrifice or confront the well armed Lebanese resistance, but will recuperate the full authority of the Sate in making the crucial decisions regarding war or peace. For multiple reasons, some obvious and other tactfully hidden, the dialogue could not succeed in reaching the desired goals. In fact, it never progressed to effectively addressing the most needed solutions, but had to focus largely on lesser targets, cosmetic options or delays and postponements of possible confrontations. The dialogue, nevertheless, reached a full agreement on the disarming of Palestinian elements outside the official camps. Despite the consensus reached in that regard, that decision was never implemented. Each of the deeply divided Lebanese political groups blamed the other side for the failure of implementation.
The tragic developments on the Syrian scene which, to date, have resulted in the loss of more than 40,000 lives, brought new elements to the Lebanese dilemmas. Deeper divisions ensued between the two main political groups: the pro Syrian regime (March8) and the anti-regime, pro revolution (March 14) coalitions. One camp is said to provide fighters and training to help the regime and the other is accused of supplying arms and logistics to the revolutionary forces. The current government which officially wisely distanced itself from the Syrian violent confrontations includes within its ranks elements with opposing views regarding the Syrian problem. It is obviously finding it difficult and may be impossible to implement its so called neutrality concept. And since it is dominated by March 8 elements, it has been frequently accused of supporting the Syrian regime. More recently, when General Wisam Al Hasan was assassinated, the opposition did not just stop at criticizing the government’s failure to prevent such horrible crime, but went further to accuse it of complicity and demand its resignation.
Thus, as stability in Syria continues to deteriorate, the divisions in Lebanon are deepening and the tensions increasing and moving ever closer to the possibility of a risky and dangerous outcome. Long time ago we appealed to Lebanese leaders to avoid involvement in Syria’s violent confrontations, since it seemed clear to us that nobody in Lebanon could significantly influence the outcome. We believed that Lebanon should only participate in any initiative, if it became available, which will try to stop the killings through dialogue and possible compromise. The opposing political groups in Lebanon each thought that our thinking can only help the side they did not like in Syria, because they believed the side they like was about to win in days or weeks. At the time of our initial appeal, the lives lost in Syria were believed to be between 3000 and 6000. Now, with 5 to 10 times more lives lost, are we closer to a real solution or a clear outcome? We have more concerns now that some evil forces may be trying to turn the conflict in Syria into a violent Sunni- Shia confrontation. Very recently the Syrian Sunni Vice President appealed on the record for a compromise and some form of unity government as the only possible solution to avoid a prolonged and debilitating conflict that can completely destroy Syria. We are in no position to judge or determine the value or chances for success of such thinking. We only can say that we wish the best for the Syrian people and we want the killing to stop today before tomorrow, if possible. The interferences of the big players in Syria have not been constructive, and to date, have contributed to making the situation worse. We can only wish that small Lebanon does not contribute to worsening the situation through more Sunni-Shia tensions. We hope that the moderates in Lebanon from all religions and sects, who we believe are an overwhelming majority, will work intensively and selflessly towards a smooth and harmonious Shia-Sunni relationship that will serve as model for other countries where tensions exist and help protect them from disasters or catastrophes. We strongly warn against any carelessness or evil fifth column which may create in Lebanon a spark that could ignite the unthinkable confrontation.
While the problem of “arms outside the control of the state” remains unresolved, newer issues, with fast approaching deadlines are emerging. These are primarily related to the upcoming parliamentary elections. The current opposition groups are requesting the formation of a new independent government, constituted by non candidates who will have no problem being impartial towards the parties participating in the election process. This request is very legitimate and such principle has been respected with good results in 2005, in the first elections that occurred after Syria’s official departure from Lebanon. The current Prime Minister is concerned about resigning and creating a prolonged vacuum, judging by the time it took to form new governments after the Syrian departure. This concern is realistic and the most reasonable possible solution is to promptly restart a focused dialogue under the leadership of the independent Lebanese President. The newer desirable government should be promptly discussed and agreed upon, while keeping in mind the date of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The current government should be ready to resign when its replacement is ready. The other related issue is the new electoral law. Both Mach 8 and March 14 groups agree that neither the 1960 nor the 2000 laws are suitable. Any of the laws being currently discussed may be better. The President may have a reasonable chance to guide the dialogue towards reaching consensus on the law that may assure the best representation and not just secure an advantageous result for one party or the other.
It is understandable that some opposition leaders are disappointed by the previous dialogue experience to the point that they are now refusing to participate. Their disappointment may be explained by the dialogue’s failure to address appropriately the problem of the “arms outside the control of the State”. However the issues of a better electoral law and new independent impartial government are now more pressing and may not necessarily be as complex and as difficult as the issue of the resistance arms. More importantly, if no dialogue is initiated to address these issues, what is the alternative and what price will Lebanon and its democracy have to pay?
The biggest obstacle to successful dialogue may be the outside influences that make it difficult for some leaders to sort out the interest of Lebanon from those of other countries that provide support and financing. We therefore appeal to all Lebanese Leaders to examine their conscience and give priority to their own country’s survival and prosperity ahead of any narrow selfish or outside interests. In view of current regional and worldwide developments, a good consensus agreement among the various political ideologies in Lebanon, may allow the country to reach a level of independence never attained before, in resent history. The upcoming exploitation of Lebanon’s oil and gas resources may bring unimaginable wealth and prosperity from which all the Lebanese population will benefit. Consensus will facilitate and speed the development of these resources and no party in Lebanon will further need to seek foreign financial aid, which never comes without political strings, regardless of its source. Failure to seek consensus through dialogue may delay and possibly thwart the development of these vital economic resources and keep the country at risk of war and devastation.
**Dr Robert A. Chahine, President, American Lebanese Foundation, www.alfusa.org

Gunmen kill six in northeast Nigeria church attack
December 25, 2012/Daily Star
KADUNA, Nigeria: Gunmen killed six people at a church in northeast Nigeria early on Tuesday, the third year running that Christmas services have come under deadly attack in the country, the military said.
The strike took place after a Christmas Eve midnight service outside the town of Potiskum in northeastern Yobe state, where Islamist sect Boko Haram has carried out several attacks this year.
"Unknown gunmen attempted to attack Potiskum but were repelled by the troops. While they were fleeing, they attacked a church in a village known as Jiri," said military spokesman Eli Lazarus, who confirmed that six people were killed.
Members of Boko Haram have killed hundreds in a campaign to impose sharia law in northern NIgeria.
The group killed dozens in a series of bombings across northern NIgeria on churches on Christmas Day last year, mirroring similar attacks in 2010 which killed more than 40. This year the police and army pledged to protect churches, boosting security in major northern towns and cities and restricting people's movement.
At least 2,800 people have died in fighting in the largely Muslim north since Boko Haram launched an uprising against the government in 2009, watchdog Human Rights Watch says.
Potiskum, which lies in Boko Haram's northeastern stronghold, has been one of the areas worst affected by the insurgency. Security experts believe Boko Haram is targeting worshippers to spark a religious conflict in a country of 160 million people split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.
Many churches in Nigeria's biggest northern city, Kano, and elsewhere in the north were almost empty for Christmas Day services on Tuesday, local residents said.
Two people were killed in separate attacks on Tuesday in Kano, a police source said. He said gunmen riding motorcycles killed the driver of a government worker and another civilian.
Pope Benedict used part of his Christmas message to the world on Tuesday to highlight the need for reconciliation in Nigeria, saying "savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians".

The Gulf: In the midst of the storm
By Ali Ibrahim/Asharq Al-Awsat
It is estimated that the Gross Domestic Production [GDP] of Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] states may reach as high as $1.5 trillion in 2013, depending if oil prices remain at $100 per barrel. This is consistent with the expectations of the oil market based on international levels of supply and demand.
If we take current global standards into account, which talk about a state’s power and ability to influence according to the size of its economy and the per capita income of its citizens as well as the extent of its economy’s development; these figures grant a clear picture that we are talking about an economic force to be reckoned with on the international level, as well as in terms of regional standards.
The GCC is holding its 33rd summit in Manama whilst this organization has always focused on regional economic integration and market openness along the lines of what we have seen in Europe. The GCC’s march has passed through a significant period of volatility, perhaps most noticeably as a result of the severe decrease in oil prices which GCC state economies relied upon, particularly in the 1980s, not to mention various international financial crises. In addition to there, there are the fluctuations in the global economy that have had both negative and positive repercussions on all economies tied to the global market; however these have ultimately been positive and the citizens of the 6 GCC states have benefited from this in terms of movement, labour or investment. The markets and economies of the GCC states have expanded and developed to the point that they are now dealing in figures reaching tens of billions of dollars per day!
Politically, the storms have raged on, and this is in a turbulent region that has always been beset by crises. Indeed, the establishment of the GCC in 1981 took place amidst the Iran – Iraq war, which itself was accompanied by the so-called Gulf “Tanker” war. Following this we witnessed the gravest threat, namely Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, which was followed by the war to liberate the country. Following this, we saw the so-called Second Iraq War [2003], as well as numerous other regional crises with military dimensions, whether we are talking about Gaza, Lebanon or Yemen. This is not to mention the threat of terrorism, particularly following the 9/11 attacks.
We have now witnessed the latest political storm, namely the wave of change that beset some Arab states beginning two years ago, including key states. The repercussions of this wave are on-going, including chaos and instability, whilst violence is on-going in Syria, along with Iranian attempts to exploit these fluctuations and events to serve Tehran’s regional agenda.
This may not be the first storm that GCC states have co-existed with, particularly if we take into account the previous crises, however the nature of this crisis represents a different challenge in light of the state of fluidity that has been created in the region and which remind us of the circumstances that characterized the beginning of the 20th century.
Without a doubt, the projects that are currently being discussed by the GCC summit to achieve a Gulf Economic Union, as a prelude to establishing a single currency and a unified political and security policy will place the 6 GCC member states in a better position to positively influence their geographic surroundings, and assist the region to safely pass through this storm with the least damage possible.

Egypt: The implication of voting “yes”
By Dr. Hamad Al-Majid/Asharq Alawsat
The fact that nearly 64 percent voted “yes” on the new Egyptian constitution has wider implications than the mere approval of a legal reference for the country in its post-revolution phase. This comfortable percentage also gives us a clear indication of the outcome of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Based on the results of the constitutional referendum, the Islamist trends could control between 60 and 70 percent of parliament, and it is noteworthy in this regard that the results of constitutional referendum were contrary to what the opposition trend had envisioned, namely that the Egyptian street would turn on President Mursi and the Islamist trends that supports him after his controversial constitutional decrees. The National Salvation Front imagined that their relative success in mobilizing some demonstrations on the Egyptian street – although these never reached the stage of a million man march – would change the public’s mind, as evidenced by the fact that the opposition finally decided to participate in the vote and urged the Egyptian people to vote “no”. This was a rational and calculated decision on the part of the opposition, but the majority of the Egyptian people refused to respond to them, and these are the rules of the democratic game.
The referendum has also exposed the failure of the Egyptian opposition in relying on the media as a weapon to change the point of view of the Egyptian street, and mobilize it against the president’s decrees. The overwhelming majority of Egyptian satellite stations and newspapers, in their programs, investigations, interviews and articles, were inclined towards opposing the president and the group to which he belongs. In a study conducted recently on talk shows aired on 15 private Egyptian channels, the results showed that 93 percent of relevant airtime was inclined towards the opposition against President Mursi. Remarkably, the results of this study show that 68 percent of relevant airtime on state television was also used to air content opposing the president and his decisions. However, the Egyptian people have spoken and displayed a degree of awareness and ability to make their own decisions in a relatively independent manner from the influence of others.
Now it is the turn of President Mursi and the Islamist groups that support him to be gracious in victory. The people have had enough of political bickering from both sides and now it is time, for the victor in particular, to show modesty and sit with the opposition and listen to what they have to say. I imagine that President Mursi’s decision to appoint 90 new members to the Shura Council – 75 percent of whom do not belong to Islamist trends – represents a step in the right direction. Victory in an election does not mean that one can seize everything, as the president saw for himself with the severe reactions following his audacious and dangerous constitutional decrees, due to which the country almost fell into a whirlpool of violence and mistrust and nearly fell apart.
The most important question is: what’s next? What happens now that the curtain has been brought down on the issue of the constitution? Will this also bring the curtain down on the political crisis that the country is going through? Or is there more to come? In a poll published by the Egyptian newspaper “Akhbar al-Yaom”, those who voted “yes” on the constitution said that they believed that this would lead the way towards building a state of elected institutions, beginning with the transfer of legislative power from the president to the Shura Council and the cancelling of the constitutional declarations. This would be followed by elections for the People’s Assembly and then the Shura Council, in turn stimulating the wheel of production in Egypt. On the other hand, if the opposition continues their state of hostility and embitterment towards the emerging Egyptian government, or continues to call to overthrow the president, then this means that the country will be caught in an endless whirlpool. This would cause the country to slip into a dangerous situation without any justification, requiring military intervention and the exclusion of both the Islamists and the National Salvation Front, ultimately eliminating all the major changes that took place as a result of the 25 January revolution.

Gulf States Lash Out at Iran, Urge Rapid Syria Transition
Naharnet/The six Gulf states sharpened their tone against their Shiite neighbor Iran on Tuesday, demanding an immediate halt to its "interference" in their internal affairs while urging a rapid political transition in its ally Syria.
Concluding a two-day summit in Manama, the Gulf Cooperation Council members voiced support for Bahrain's Sunni minority regime while lashing out at Tehran, which they accuse of fueling a Shiite-led uprising in the host country last year. In a joint statement, the GCC countries said they "reject and denounce" Iran's "continued interference" in their internal affairs.
They added that Tehran must "immediately and completely stop these actions and policies that increase regional tension and threaten security and stability".
The six states -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates -- also condemned Iran's "continued occupation of the three Emirati islands" of Abu Moussa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, which lie in the strategic Strait of Hormuz entrance to the Gulf. In addition to the dispute over the islands, relations between Iran and most GCC states have been further strained since Gulf troops rolled into Bahrain last year to help put down the Shiite-led protests. The regional powers have also taken opposite stances towards the Syrian crisis. While Tehran has openly supported President Bashar Assad's regime, GCC members Saudi Arabia and Qatar have called for arming rebels fighting regime loyalists.
In their Tuesday statement, the GCC monarchies expressed "deep sadness over the continued shedding of blood by the regime and the destruction of cities and infrastructure, making political transition a demand which must be rapidly implemented." They also urged the international community "to make a quick and serious move to end massacres" in Syria and provide humanitarian assistance to the people.
Kuwait's emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah announced Monday a donor conference on behalf of civilians caught up in the Syrian conflict to be held on January 30 at the request of the United Nations.
The GCC states also affirmed their support for the newly-formed opposition National Coalition "as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people."
The statement meanwhile welcomed a decision by Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi to restructure the army and the defense ministry, purging them of relatives and cronies of former strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Gulf states had strongly backed a political deal reached last year in which Saleh resigned following a year-long uprising in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest nation. The GCC called on "all components of the Yemeni people" to participate in a national dialogue after it failed to take place last month when southern separatists refused to join the talks. The dialogue is part of the transition period, as per the Gulf-backed deal.
The summit had opened Monday with a call for closer economic integration and unity in the face of the turmoil which has swept much of the Middle East and North Africa. In the closing statement, the meeting said the GCC states had decided to accelerate the process of integrating the economic gap between member states and had approved a security treaty, while announcing the creation of a unified military command. No further details were given. Four of the six heads of state did not attend the annual gathering. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is convalescing after a back operation in November, while Qatar sent its crown prince, the United Arab Emirates its vice president, and Oman its deputy prime minister.The next summit will be held in Kuwait.