LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 08/2012
Bible Quotation for today/The Flock of God
1 Peter 05/01-11: " who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among
you. I am a witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that
will be revealed. I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you
and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do
your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule
over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock. And
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will
never lose its brightness. In the same way you younger people must submit
yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to
serve one another; for the scripture says, God resists the proud, but shows
favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that
he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him,
because he cares for you. Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams
around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Be firm in your faith
and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going
through the same kind of sufferings.0 But after you have suffered for a little
while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union
with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a
sure foundation.11 To him be the power forever! Amen.
Latest analysis,
editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Israel needs referendum before attacking Iran/By Zvi
Bar'el/March
07/12
The Eager Lion!/By Tariq Alhomayed/March
07/12
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for March 07/12
Netanyahu returns empty-handed from Washington
Netanyahu asked Panetta to approve sale of bunker-busting
bombs, U.S. official says
US
bunker-busters, aerial refueling for Israel alongside diplomacy for Iran
Obama warns against effects of 'premature' military action
on Iran
Journalist arrested in connection to New Delhi attack on
Israeli diplomat's wife
France: Iran continues to be 'two-faced' on nuclear issue
World powers agree to restart talks with Iran over nuclear
program
Israel cautiously welcomes Western nuclear talks with Iran
India police arrest man
with Iran link over Israel attack
U.N. aid chief in
Syria, rebels bombarded
Maronite bishops urge
end to Syria violence
Israel to use 'tunnel warfare' to combat Hezbollah
Slieman
Franjieh fears Syrian
humanitarian corridors a plot against Lebanon
Israel fails to begin
scheduled security work on border
Jumblatt draws fire from pro-Syrian
rivals over his criticism of Hafez Assad
UN humanitarian chief visits Syria to urge aid access
Connelly meets Mikati, reiterates concerns for Lebanon's
stability
Air France cancels Syria service “until further notice”
Super Tuesday: Romney wins Ohio, but Santorum vows to
fight on
Russia Asks West to End 'Wishful Thinking' on Post-Poll
Syria Shift
Aoun: Jumblat Was Never Part of Parliamentary Majority
Berri Stresses Jumblat still Part of Parliamentary
Majority
Former PM Saad Hariri during Mustaqbal Movement Launch of
Political Document on Arab Spring
Maronite Bishops: New History Book Must Not Lead to More
Division in Lebanon
Franjieh: Dangerous Thing Plotted against Lebanon under
Slogan of Humanitarian Corridors
Stripper in Ain el-Mraisseh
Fassouh Building Owners Acquitted of Charges
Israel needs referendum before attacking Iran
By Zvi Bar'el/Haaretz
"If there's a need to destroy Iran's nuclear capability, we'll make every effort
to prevent harm to civilians." Is that another declaration by Defense Minister
Ehud Barak? A comment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit with
U.S. President Barack Obama? Actually, the words were spoken in 2003 by
then-Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz in an interview on Israel Radio in Persian.
His Iranian counterpart had warned that if Israel attacked Iran, Iran would
respond with the Shihab, a missile developed to retaliate after an Israeli
strike with Jericho missiles.
Three years later, senior Defense Ministry officials traveled to the United
States to examine the F-35 stealth fighter. About a year and a half ago, Barak
approved a deal to purchase, at an astronomical price, the sophisticated plane
that would give Israel "continued air superiority," as he put it, "perhaps even
against Iran."
The first F-35s will apparently arrive in 2016, or in 2018. If the excuse for
acquiring them is the Iranian nuclear program, why did Mofaz speak years ago
about a possible attack on Iran without those planes? What does that say about
Israel's ability to attack today, and what does it say about the seriousness of
declarations by senior government officials regarding that ability?
Mofaz's words indicate that already about 10 years ago Israel was nearly
prepared to attack. Why did it hesitate? Was the Iranian threat insignificant?
After all, even in 2003 the Mossad chief at the time, Meir Dagan, told the
Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "the Iranian nuclear program
is the greatest danger to the State of Israel since its establishment."
At the time, the Iranian president was Mohammad Khatami, not Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
According to the U.S. intelligence report published in 2007, Khatami had decided
to halt the nuclear weapons program in the fall of 2003. So Mofaz threatened an
attack and Dagan talked about the terrible danger, but they should have known
about the Iranian government's decision to stop the program.
Did they know and not think it necessary to reassure the public, or did they not
know about it? In any case, we can wonder whether today's defense minister and
Mossad chief know more, or at least know everything necessary to justify an
attack, including the targets.
For more than a decade, with the help of our television channels' graphics
abilities, we have been taught the ranges of Iran's Shihab missiles. Colored
circles mark out where those missiles could land, and red flames show the damage
they could cause. According to the WikiLeaks documents, former Chief of Staff
Gabi Ashkenazi explained to a delegation from the U.S. Congress that in 2008
Iran had about 300 Shihab 3 missiles, whose 500-to-750-kilogram warheads could
strike anywhere in Israel. If we recall what a one-ton bomb did in Gaza, and if
we assume that over the past five years Iran has increased its missile
inventory, we can figure out how many dead would result from an Iranian response
to an Israeli strike. But wonder of wonders, suddenly the colored circles have
disappeared. When did anyone last show us the Shihab's ranges? What do we know
about the damage these missiles can cause? If they are not really dangerous, so
that even an estimate of 500 dead is an exaggeration, as Barak says, why did
they scare us then? Was that a bluff too? Somehow they gave us the feeling that
an attack on Iran would be a piece of cake - "we finish and leave." They're
convincing us that we can attack alone, even without F-35s, that fewer than 500
civilians will be killed, that the Shihabs are nothing but toys, and if they
once scared us, that wasn't serious.
Maybe instead of being asked again to believe that we're omniscient and
omnipotent, we could hold a referendum on the intention to attack Iran. We may
be surprised to see how being fed lies can make us wiser.
Netanyahu returns empty-handed from Washington
Haaretz Editorial
Israel's right to defend itself is a matter of consensus. But whether Israel is
sovereign in its decision on when and how to use its American weapons and
entangle its most important friend - that's another question.The Israeli and
U.S. governments agree that Iran's striving for nuclear weapons is dangerous for
Israel, the region and the world. Everyone understands what a nuclear bomb might
do in the hands of an extremist Muslim regime aspiring to regional hegemony.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who has placed nuclear disarmament at the top of
his foreign-policy platform, needs no introductory course on the subject.
Everyone remembers Israel's resolute response when suspicions arose that hostile
regimes were developing such weapons - Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007. No one
doubts that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu means it when he says he intends
to save Israel from an Iranian nuclear bomb. No component of this equation
changed after the prime minister's visit to Washington. Without knowing whether
secret understandings were reached, the visit can only be defined as a failure.
Netanyahu sought to lay the groundwork for a military operation against Iran;
preferably an American operation, but alternatively an Israeli one. From that
perspective, he returns from Washington empty-handed, and his government's
policy (which does not necessarily conform to Israeli interests ) is in worse
shape than when he left. The tactical differences between Obama and Netanyahu
are obvious, irreconcilable, and in this case, when the goals are shared but the
conditions and means are in dispute, tactics lead to strategy. Netanyahu wants
an attack now, Obama opposes military action before the presidential elections
in eight months, and Obama is the one who decides. Israel's right to defend
itself is a matter of consensus. But whether Israel is sovereign in its decision
on when and how to use its American weapons and entangle its most important
friend - that's another question. The intelligence assessment in both countries
is that Iran will not have nuclear weapons before the November elections. Under
these circumstances, Netanyahu's pressure on Obama to approve an operation
before then is not only useless, it's perceived as an outside attempt to take
advantage of U.S. politics. Netanyahu should let up lest the Israeli-Iranian
conflict become an Israeli-American one.
Obama warns against effects of 'premature' military action
on Iran
By Haaretz and The Associated Press
U.S. President says Iranian representatives must show they are serious in
planned round of nuclear talks, adding that Tehran has to prove its nuclear
program is 'peaceful.'
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that it is his belief that there is
a still a "window of opportunity" to use diplomacy instead of military force to
resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. During a press conference,
Obama also warned against prematurely instigating war over the matter.Referring
to his position that the world should exhaust the path of sanctions and
political pressure on Iran before considering a military option, the U.S.
president urged caution in reference to talk of war, adding: "This is not just
an issue of Israeli interests - this is an issue of American interests."
However, Obama added, "It's also not just an issue of consequences for Israel if
action is taken prematurely. There are consequences for the United States as
well."
"When I visit [U.S. veterans hospital] Walter Reed, or when I send letters to
families whose loved ones didn't come home, I'm reminded that there is cost,"
Obama said, adding: "Sometimes we bear that cost, but we think it through. We
don't play politics with it. When we have in the past, when we haven't thought
it through and it gets wrapped up in politics, we make mistakes."
In an apparent gesture toward American officials who have urged the president to
attack Iran, Obama said: "Typically, it's not the folks who are popping off who
pay the price it’s the men and women in uniform who pay the price." He added
that the Iranian issue requires a "careful, thoughtful approach."
"Those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities," Obama added. "They are not
commander in chief."
"Historically, we have always cooperated with Israel with respect to the defense
of Israel…. And that broad statement is confirmed with what we've done with the
last 3 years things like Iron Dome that prevents missiles from being rained down
on Israel…and we're going to continue this unprecedented security commitment,"
Obama added.
When asked whether or not he thought nuclear talks with Iran - which are
reportedly scheduled to be renewed soon - would last as long as they did, Obama
said that "there is no doubt that over the last three years, when Iran has
engaged in negotiation, there has been hemming and hawing and stalling the issue
in a way that the international community concluded were not serious."
Asked whether or not the upcoming talks represent a "last chance" for diplomacy
with Iran, Obama said the world's expectations, "given the consequences of
inaction for them, the severe sanctions, the huge toll that's taking on their
economy, (the indication) was that Iran's representatives to the talks... were
serious."
"They understand that the world community means business. To resolve the issue
Iran will have to come to the table" and prove that "the intentions of their
nuclear program is peaceful," Obama added.
Referring to the crisis in Syria, Obama said that unilateral military action by
the U.S. against President Bashar Assad’s regime would be a mistake. He added
the situation in Syria is more complicated than it was in Libya. Obama has
resisted calls to get drawn into the turmoil in Syria to stop Assad’s bloody
crackdown on protesters. More than 7,500 people have been killed there.
According to Obama, the international community has not been able to muster a
campaign against Syria like the one in Libya that ousted Muammar Gadhafi last
year. Russia has blocked a UN Security Council resolution against Assad’s
regime. Obama’s strategy has been to use sanctions and international diplomatic
isolation to pressure Assad into handing over power.
Netanyahu asked Panetta to approve sale of bunker-busting bombs, U.S. official
says
By Barak Ravid/Haaretz
Top administration source says Obama instructed Defense Secretary to work with
Defense Minister Barak, to give all due consideration to the request for
purchasing GBU-28 bombs, advanced refueling aircraft.
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested the United States
approve the sale of advanced refueling aircraft as well as GBU-28
bunker-piercing bombs to Israel during a recent meeting with Defense Secretary
Leon Panetta, a top U.S. official said on Tuesday. The American official said
that U.S. President Barack Obama instructed Panetta to work directly with
Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the matter, indicating that the U.S.
administration was inclined to look favorably upon the request as soon as
possible.During the administration of former U.S. President George Bush, the
U.S. refused to sell bunker-penetrating bombs and refueling aircrafts to Israel,
as a result of American estimates that Israel would then use them to strike
Iran's nuclear facilities.
Following Obama's entrance into the White House, however, the United States
approves a string of Israeli requests to purchase advance armament.
Diplomatic cables exposed by the WikiLeaks website exposed discussion concerning
advanced weapons shipments. In one cable which surveyed defense discussions
between Israel and the United states that took place on November 2009 it was
written that "both sides then discussed the upcoming delivery of GBU-28 bunker
busting bombs to Israel, noting that the transfer should be handled quietly to
avoid any allegations that the USG is helping Israel prepare for a strike
against Iran." Another issue raised during Obama's Monday meeting with Netanyahu
was the Syrian crisis. Netanyahu pointed out that Israel feared that chemical
and biological weapons from Syrian army stockpiles could end up in the hands of
Hezbollah or other terror groups. A top U.S. official indicated that the United
States recently discussed the issue with Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi
Arabia, in an attempt to prepare for the possibility that a collapse of the
regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad would endanger the country's WMD
stockpiles. At this point the American administration does not possess
information that indicates that chemical or biological weapons were passed from
Syria to Hezbollah.
Netanyahu and Obama also discussed the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Israel
and Turkey. The United States feels that, amid ongoing unrest, that there
existent a supreme interest to rehabilitate Jerusalem-Ankara ties. Obama told
Netanyahu at the meeting that an effort should be exerted to reconcile between
the two states.
US bunker-busters, aerial refueling for Israel alongside
diplomacy for Iran
DEBKAfile Special Report March 6, 2012/American sources disclosed Tuesday March
6, that President Barack Obama had decided to let Israel have weapons systems
suitable for long-range military operations and strikes against fortified
underground targets. They include four KC-35 aerial refueling aircraft, doubling
the number already in the Israeli Air Force's inventory, and GBU-31 Direct
Attack Munition-JDAM bombs of the type which serve US bombers especially those
based on aircraft carriers.
This news came together with the announcement that European Union’s Catherine
Ashton had proposed to Iran that long-stalled nuclear negotiations be resumed
with the Six World Powers.
debkafile reported earlier Tuesday, March 6:
The morning after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pledged before the
pro-Israeli AIPAC convention that he would head off the threat of Israel’s
annihilation by a nuclear Iran, and his agreement to disagree with US President
Barack Obama in their White House talks, the European Union’s Catherine Ashton
suddenly jumped up with a proposition to Tehran to resume the long-stalled
nuclear negotiations with the world powers. She made her offer on behalf of
China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the
United States.
Following the same script as Ashton, Tehran signaled its willingness to let
international inspectors visit the military base of Parchin where nuclear
explosive tests are strongly suspected of taking place.
Straight after this two-way messaging, Tehran prevaricated by announcing,
“Considering the fact that it is a military site, granting access is a
time-consuming process and cannot be permitted repeatedly. Nevertheless it would
be allowed after the International Atomic Energy Agency submits paperwork about
related issues.”
Monday, March 5, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano declined to spell out the
suspicion that the Iranians needed time to remove the nuclear evidence from
Parchin. "But I can tell you that we are aware that there are some activities at
Parchin and it makes us believe that going there sooner is better than later,"
Amano said.
debkafile has reported in the past that this military base was used for the
secret testing of nuclear explosives and warhead triggers.
Our Washington sources add that US intelligence certainly knew what was going on
there. So did President Obama, when he addressed the AIPAC convention and
promised to “prevent, not just contain” Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear weapon.
And so did Netanyahu, when he met the president at the White House Monday
Yet Parchin did not come up on any of those occasions.
The prime minister knew there was no point because Obama was already firmly set
on engaging Iran in nuclear diplomacy with the Six Powers – probably in Istanbul
next month as Tehran had proposed – irrespective of any other considerations.
Tehran was to be allowed to flex its military muscle so as to reach the table in
the strong position of a nuclear power.
(On Feb. 18, debkafile first revealed that agreement had been reached to resume
those talks.)
Netanyahu spoke from this knowledge when he declared “Israel must be master of
its fate” and “The pressure (on Iran) is growing but time is growing short.”
He made it clear that he has no faith in the diplomatic option achieving
anything. As in the past, Tehran would apply “bazaar tactics” to duck, weave,
procrastinate and haggle, the while using the talks as a safe cover for
continuing with impunity the very processes under discussion.
Yet a few hours after the Obama-Netanyahu impasse, Washington and Tehran whipped
whip out the diplomacy ploy to cut short Israel’s military plans. It was assumed
that Israel would not risk attacking Iran while it was locked in international
negotiations. But Netanyahu has always resisted making this promise. Israel may
therefore see its chance when the diplomatic process inevitably hits bumps in
the road and stalls. US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta echoed President Obama
when he spoke before the AIPAC conference on Tuesday: He vowed that the United
States would take military action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear
weapon if diplomacy failed. "Military action is the last alternative when all
else fails," he told the pro-Israel lobbying group. "But make no mistake, we
will act if we have to."
He carefully sidestepped any reference to a timeline. So there is no guarantee
that Iran won’t already be armed with a nuclear weapon by the time Washington
gets around to determining that diplomacy has failed.
Israel to use 'tunnel warfare' to combat Hezbollah
March 07, 2012/ The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The Israeli army has introduced a method it dubs "tunnel warfare"
designed to penetrate underground tunnel systems used by Hezbollah and Hamas in
any future war, an Israeli newspaper reported Wednesday. According to Haaretz,
"The method, which has been developed since the Second Lebanon War and Operation
Cast Lead, is meant to combat the underground tunnel systems used by Hezbollah
in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip." Israel believes that Hezbollah has an
extensive network of underground tunnels and bunkers which it uses to store and
transport rockets and other weapons. On Tuesday, the Israeli army used a video
demonstration to showcase the recent combat technique. The video depicted
soldiers entering a constructed tunnel system. According to the paper, the army
“avoids entering tunnels and underground command centers if it can avoid doing
so, because of the danger posed to the soldiers.” But it added that in some
cases, such as when a soldier is kidnapped or vital intelligence can be
gathered, the army may find it essential to do so.
Maronite bishops urge end to Syria violence
March 07, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The Council of Maronite Bishops hailed the Lebanese Army Wednesday for
its vigilance on the Lebanon-Syria border and called for an end to the violence
that has gripped Syria for the past year. “The Bishops feel profound sorrow for
the victims of the bloody confrontations in Syria,” said a statement read at the
end of their monthly meeting. They urged Syrians to let their conscience be
their guide and “avoid violence and bloodshed.” “Pursue dialogue and peaceful
solutions,” the bishops advised, adding that violence cannot determine the
future of the people. “Deep bonds [between the people] bolster unity and
establish a political system worthy of the human being and his dignity,” the
statement said. Turning to Lebanon, the Council of Maronite Bishops praised the
Lebanese Army for remaining alert on the border with Syria and ensuring the
country's stability. “The Bishops commend the national security forces,
particularly the Lebanese Army, for protecting the borders and maintaining
security in all Lebanese regions,” the statement said. On the ongoing bickering
over the exercise of power in Lebanon, the Bishops expressed concern that this
issue would “inevitably lead to greater disputes in the country.” The Bishops
also criticized the row over a new history curriculum. “National consensus is
needed on Lebanon’s history book," they said. “If it is not a history book of
all Lebanon it will set the stage for a new divide in the country.”Controversy
erupted last month when it was revealed that the ministerial committee charged
with developing the history curriculum had decided to omit the term “Cedar
Revolution” when referring to the 2005 protests following the assassination of
ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
India police arrest man with Iran link over Israel attack
March 07, 2012/By Annie Banerji/Daily Star
NEW DELHI: An Indian journalist who worked for an Iranian news agency has been
arrested in connection with last month's Israeli embassy car bomb blast, police
and court officials said on Wednesday, the first arrest linked to the attack.
The Feb. 13 blast, which wounded an Israeli defense attache's wife, her driver
and two others, coincided with a foiled attack on Israeli diplomatic staff in
Tbilisi, Georgia, and Israel has said both were engineered by the Quds Force, a
covert arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The Indian journalist, Mohammed Kazmi, was an employee of India's state
television channel and also freelanced for Iran's state funded Islamic Republic
News Agency, his lawyer and members of his family said. It was not immediately
clear if he still worked for the agency.
Kazmi was arrested in New Delhi on Tuesday and was presented in court, face
covered, on Wednesday. He was put in police custody for 20 days for further
investigations into the attack. Kazmi was not directly involved in the attack
itself, in which a motorcyclist attached a magnetic bomb to the car in moving
traffic and set off the device, police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said. The main
suspect was a foreigner, possibly an Iranian, a senior police source who did not
want to be named told reporters. "What we have learned from the interrogation is
that this man (Kazmi) had been in touch with the main accused," said the source.
"We have also found out that the main accused had visited Kazmi's residence."
Last month, Israel accused arch-enemies Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah,
of being behind the twin bomb attacks that targeted Israeli embassy staff in
India and Georgia.
They were followed a day later by three explosions in Bangkok, Thailand, one of
which seriously wounded an Iranian man. Israel said that was also part of an
attempted terrorist attack by Iran. Tehran denied involvement in the attacks,
which amplified tensions between two countries already at loggerheads over
Iran's nuclear program, and accused Israel of carrying out the attacks itself.
Jumblatt draws fire from pro-Syrian rivals over his criticism of Hafez Assad
March 07, 2012/The Daily Star /BEIRUT: The tension between Walid Jumblatt and
his pro-Syrian critics continued Tuesday, in the wake of the Druze leader’s most
recent comments on the situation in Syria and his criticism of the late Hafez
Assad. Jumblatt’s weekly article in Al-Anbaa newspaper, which was published
Tuesday, contained harsh words about Assad’s actions and rise to power in the
1960s and 1970s.
Jumblatt stated that Assad’s treatment of the Palestinian cause resembled that
of the Zionist movement, noting that Assad was responsible for the arrest of
Yasser Arafat by the Syrian authorities. Jumblatt’s rival, Tawhid Party leader
Wiam Wahhab, took exception to Jumblatt’s comments and said the late Assad was
responsible for “supporting the Druze community during the [1983] War of the
Mountain, and supporting an election law [in 1992] that helped some people who [Assad]
said were afraid in Lebanon.”
Wahhab was referring to the first rounds of parliamentary polls after the Civil
War, when electoral districting was catered to the needs of Jumblatt.
Wahhab said it was “shameful” for Jumblatt to have made such comments about a
late political leader.
Meanwhile, a leading Baath Party official said the rising level of criticism of
Syria in Lebanon represented a violation of the law and bilateral treaties
between Beirut and Damascus. A Sidon-based Salafist sheikh organized a protest
Sunday against the Syrian regime in Downtown Beirut, alongside a rival rally by
the Baath Party.
Baath official and Baalbek-Hermel MP Assem Qanso urged leaders to look into
violations of the 1989 Taif Accords, “which stipulate that no threat to the
security and stability of Syria should be made from Lebanese territory.”
In a statement, Qanso said he wanted to issue “the strongest possible
condemnation” of Sunday’s anti-Syrian protest, which was facilitated by the
Lebanese authorities.
Connelly meets Mikati, reiterates concerns for Lebanon's
stability
March 07, 2012/The Daily Star/BEIRUT: U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly,
during a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati Wednesday, reiterated her
country's fears that turmoil in Syria could affect Lebanon. “She [Connelly]
underscored U.S. concerns that developments in Syria not contribute to
instability in Lebanon,” a U.S. Embassy statement said. Connelly, who was
accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Mills, discussed with the prime
minister both the political and security situation in Lebanon, the situation in
Syria and bilateral cooperation, the statement said.
The U.S. envoy also renewed the U.S. commitment to a “stable, sovereign and
independent Lebanon.”
Air France cancels Syria service “until further notice”
March 7, 2012 /Air France on Wednesday said it had cancelled its Paris-Damascus
service "until further notice" because of unrest linked to ongoing protests
against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. "Because of the situation in
Syria, Air France has decided to suspend its flights to Damascus until further
notice," a spokesperson said, after the airline had already cancelled two
flights to Damascus earlier in the week. Air France had maintained its flights
schedule to Damascus since protests began in March last year. Over 7,500 people
have been killed around the country since then, according to a United Nations
estimate.France said last week it was closing its embassy in Syria.-AFP/NOW
Lebanon
The Eager Lion!
By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat
The above title is the name of the joint military exercises that are set to take
place this May in Jordan between the US and 17 “Arab and friendly” states,
according to the statement issued by the Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff. This is a military drill in which every category of weapon – land, sea
and air – will be utilized: so who exactly will this “Eager Lion’ target?
A worthy question, particularly as Syria is in flames thanks to the “vicious al-Assad”
[Assad in Arabic means “Lion”] , however one might say that these military
exercises are not the first of its kind, and this name is not new, as there were
previous “Eager Lion” military exercises in 2011. However information reveals
that the 2011 Eager Lion exercises took place in June last year, whilst the
Syrian revolution broke out in March, which means that the exercises occurred
after the revolution, not before. It is interesting to note that these exercises
were joint US – Jordanian military exercises, whereas the 2012 Eager Lion
exercises will include 17 “Arab and friendly” states. I do not think the
objective of these military exercises is to deal with Iran, for the Arab states
will not work side by side with Israel to strike Iran, even if there can be no
doubt that some of these states would like to see Iran being struck; this is
because Iran is the real enemy of the Gulf states, and this is something that
Tehran has openly stated, both in words and actions. I previously asked a high
ranking Gulf official if the Gulf States had reviewed the consequences of a
military strike against Iran, the official immediately replied that “for the
Gulf States, the consequences of militarily striking Iran will be less than the
consequences of a nuclear Iran.”
Therefore, the Gulf States will be glad to see Tehran’s wings being clipped,
however they will not take part in this, rather the Gulf States will take a
position of “we did not order this, but it does not harm us.” Therefore, it is
most likely that the “Eager Lion” will target the “vicious al-Assad” in
Damascus. This does not necessarily mean military intervention – although this
is not out of the question – but rather is based on the standpoint of the famous
proverb attributed to former US president Theodore Roosevelt, who said “speak
softly and carry a big stick.” When we say that foreign intervention is not out
of the question, this is for a number of simple reasons, namely that voices are
being raised in America, not calling for the Syrian opposition to be armed, but
rather for the US to carry out air strikes against the al-Assad forces who are
carrying out crimes against humanity in Syria, which is something that cannot be
tolerated in any way, shape or form.
From here, it seems that the “Eager Lion” military exercises are a message to
the “vicious al-Assad” in Syria, and if not, then this should certainly be the
case, particularly as this is the only language that the tyrant of Damascus –
who is backed by Iran and its agents with hardware and money to kill the people
of Syria – understands. It is sufficient here to look at the statement issued by
a “Lebanese Shiite leader with strong ties to Damascus” who was quoted by
Reuters as saying that “there is no Syria after al-Assad” which represents
explicit threatening language. Therefore, so long as what is happening in Syria
indicates that we are living by the law of the jungle, then I welcome the “Eager
Lion”, particularly if it is seeking to eliminate the “vicious al-Assad”.
Super Tuesday: Romney wins
Ohio, but Santorum vows to fight on
By Olivier Knox/Agencies
In a Super Tuesday nail-biter, Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney
barely edged out conservative rival Rick Santorum in the vital battleground of
Ohio and won four of the night's other contests as voters helped widen his
delegate lead without conclusively settling the fight for the nomination.
Romney also notched victories in Idaho, Vermont, Virginia and his home-state of
Massachusetts, while Santorum won North Dakota, Oklahoma and Tennessee, and Newt
Gingrich carried his home state of Georgia. As of 1:07 a.m. EST, news outlets
had yet to call Alaska. "This marks an important moment in this election,"
Romney said in a fundraising email sent moments after news media projected he
would beat Santorum in Ohio after narrowly trailing for much of the night. "We
are moving forward with momentum and a clear message to the American people:
more jobs, less debt, smaller government. And it's this message that will help
us defeat President Obama in November,"
Eight months from Election Day, the former Massachusetts governor widened his
already sizable lead in delegates to the nominating convention that will pick
the party's standard-bearer against President Barack Obama, and made it
ever-more mathematically implausible for his rivals to pry the nomination from
his grasp. Santorum, his standing as Romney's top conservative rival confirmed
anew by the outcome, vowed to keep fighting. "This campaign is about the towns
that have been left behind -- and the families that made those towns the
greatest towns across this country, " Santorum said in a hoarse but defiant
speech in Steubenville, Ohio. "This was a big night tonight. Lots of states.
We're going to win a few, we're going to lose a few. But as it looks right now,
we're going to get at least a couple of gold medals, and a whole passel full of
silver medals." "We're ready to win across this country," said Santorum, who
traded his trademark sweater vest for a staid business suit.
At a rowdy rally in his hometown of Boston, punctuated by chants of "All! The!
Way!" and "Go! Mitt! Go!", Romney celebrated his victories and trained his
rhetorical fire on Obama's handling of the economy. "To the millions of
Americans who look around and see jobs they can't get and bills that they can't
pay, I have a message: You have not failed. You have a president that's failed
you. And that's gonna change," he promised. "To this administration, the
unemployment number is just another inconvenient statistic, standing in the way
of a second term."
The 10 states in play accounted for 419 delegates of the 1144 needed to clinch
the party's nomination -- more than every preceding nominating contest combined.
And analysts were sure to scour results from Alaska, Georgia, Idaho,
Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia for
clues to the best path to the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the keys
to the White House. Gingrich's faltering campaign got a shot in the arm as media
forecasts anointed him the winner in Georgia. The former speaker wasted no time
scolding the "elite media" for counting him out time and again. "It's alright.
There are lots of bunny rabbits that run through. I'm the tortoise. I just take
one step at a time," he said with wife Callista at his side in his Atlanta
headquarters as supporters waved "Newt-a-Mania" signs. Texas Representative Ron
Paul, backed by a devoted army of mostly young voters, showed no sign of giving
up his long-shot campaign.
Paul, who has yet to win a state in the nomination battle, spent the day
campaigning in Idaho and North Dakota. Speaking in Fargo as early returns came
in, the veteran lawmaker said he was the only candidate to buck the two major
parties' orthodoxies. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin told CNN
television moments after voting in Alaska that she would be open to running in
2016. She later reportedly told Fox Business Network that she had cast her
ballot for Gingrich. At the White House, the man Republicans have vowed to oust
wasn't relinquishing the political spotlight: Obama held his first solo press
conference of 2012 Tuesday, and playfully joked about what aides implausibly
insisted was an accident of scheduling. "Now, I understand there are some
political contests going on tonight, but I thought I'd start the day off by
taking a few questions, which I'm sure will not be political in nature," he
said, before blasting his Republican critics on Iran.
Berri Stresses Jumblat still Part of Parliamentary Majority
by Naharnet /Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that National Struggle Front
leader Walid Jumblat was still part of the March 8 parliamentary majority
despite accusations that he had joined the March 14 opposition. In remarks to
several newspapers published Wednesday, Berri said: “The March 14 team should be
comforted. Walid Jumblat is still in the majority … and still one of its
leaders.”
His remarks came after several parties said Jumblat, who is also the head of the
Progressive Socialist Party, went back to support the March 14 coalition
following a decision by his lawmakers to boycott last Monday’s legislative
session along with opposition MPs. On Tuesday, Change and Reform bloc leader
Michel Aoun said that Jumblat was never part of the parliamentary majority and
accused him of only seeking to ensure his own interests. Aoun’s accusation along
with criticism by other members of the March 8 forces came despite assurances by
Jumblat that his bloc’s decision to boycott the session lied in its insistence
on finding a political solution to a dispute on extra-budgetary spending. “This
doesn’t mean that we are no longer part of the ruling majority,” he was quoted
as saying on Monday. The March 14 forces and Jumblat’s bloc did not attend
Monday’s session that was scheduled to discuss among other things a 2011 $5.9
billion spending bill referred to parliament by Premier Najib Miqati’s cabinet.
The opposition has conditioned its approval of the bill to a settlement of
spending made by the governments of ex-PMs Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri between
2006 and 2010.
Berri stressed that there is nothing wrong with Jumblat having his own thoughts
within the parliamentary majority. This thwarts accusations by March 14 forces
that Miqati’s cabinet is ruled by Hizbullah, he said. Berri also warned that
those who want to harm his ties with Jumblat would fail.