LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 27/2012

Bible Quotation for today/The Enemy of Christ
01 John/02/18-29: "My children, the end is near! You were told that the Enemy of Christ would come; and now many enemies of Christ have already appeared, and so we know that the end is near. These people really did not belong to our fellowship, and that is why they left us; if they had belonged to our fellowship, they would have stayed with us. But they left so that it might be clear that none of them really belonged to us. But you have had the Holy Spirit poured out on you by Christ, and so all of you know the truth. I write you, then, not because you do not know the truth; instead, it is because you do know it, and you also know that no lie ever comes from the truth. Who, then, is the liar? It is those who say that Jesus is not the Messiah. Such people are the Enemy of Christ—they reject both the Father and the Son. For those who reject the Son reject also the Father; those who accept the Son have the Father also. Be sure, then, to keep in your hearts the message you heard from the beginning. If you keep that message, then you will always live in union with the Son and the Father. And this is what Christ himself promised to give us—eternal life. I am writing this to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you. As long as his Spirit remains in you, you do not need anyone to teach you. For his Spirit teaches you about everything, and what he teaches is true, not false. Obey the Spirit's teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ. Yes, my children, remain in union with him, so that when he appears we may be full of courage and need not hide in shame from him on the Day he comes. You know that Christ is righteous; you should know, then, that everyone who does what is right is God's child.

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Asharq Al-Awsat Interview: with Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin/By Tha'ir Abbas/March 26/12
Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Dubai police chief/By Mshari Al-Zaydi/Asharq Alawsat/March 26/12
The most important lesson/By Hussein Shobokshi/Asharq Alawsat/March 26/12

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for March 26/12
Baghdad heavily secured against Syrian or al Qaeda attack on Arab Summit
Poll: Most Jewish Israelis say Iran strike less risky than nuclear threat
Report: Israeli teams monitor Iran's nuclear program on the ground
'Mossad, CIA agree Iran has yet to decide to build nuclear weapon'
Obama: Window for diplomatic solution to nuclear Iran is closing
Report: U.S. believes Iran trying to secure foothold in Gulf with activity in Yemen
Jordan arrests 10 Syrian army defectors on charges of spying for Assad regime
Syria's Muslim Brotherhood says it will not monopolize power
Obama pledges 'non-lethal' aid for Syria rebels
'France shooter's brother charged as accomplice'
Christian, Muslim leaders call for bolstering national unity
Al-Rahi Rejects Violence, Urges Reconciliation during Mass Boycotted by March 14
Druze cleric comments on Christian-Muslim meeting
Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel: Cabinet trying to be unbiased toward Syrian crisis
'Hamas, Hezbollah helping Iran in Yemen'
March 14 Regains Majority in Engineers Order Elections

Report: Israeli teams monitor Iran's nuclear program on the ground
By Haaretz
The Sunday Times cites western intelligence sources as saying that special IDF forces are searching for 'smoking gun' evidence in Iran, disguised as Iranian military personnel. Israel has been operating special forces teams on the ground in Iran in an attempt to collect evidence on the Islamic Republic's contentious nuclear program, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday, citing western intelligences sources. The report came after a New York Times report earlier this month, which claimed that Israel’s intelligence services agree with American intelligence assessments that there wasn't not enough proof to determine whether Iran is building a nuclear bomb.
The newspaper said that senior American officials believe there is little disagreement between the Mossad and U.S. intelligence agencies over Iran’s nuclear program, despite the fact that Israeli political leaders have been pushing for quick action to block Iran from becoming what they describe as an existential threat.
The report further quoted one former senior American intelligence official who states that the Mossad “does not disagree with the U.S. on the weapons program,” adding that there is “not a lot of dispute between the U.S. and Israeli intelligence communities on the facts.”
On Sunday, however, western intelligence sources indicated to the Sunday Times that Israel was actively searching for "smoking gun" evidence that would point at the Iranian program's military dimensions.
According to the report, Israel was using a permanent base in northern Iraq, from which special forces teams, disguised as members of the Iranian military, enter Iran on board Black Hawk helicopters.
The report added that the Israeli teams use sensitive equipment to monitor the radioactivity and magnitude of explosives tests suspected to have been carried out near at the Parchin military base near Tehran.
"We've detected clean-up efforts recently in Parchin, which might indicate that the Iranians are trying to hide evidence of warhead tests in preparation for a possible IAEA visit," an unnamed sources told the Sunday Times.
Also on Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama said there was still time to resolve the Iranian nuclear standoff through diplomacy, but that the window for such a solution was closing.
Obama reiterated his position on the Iran nuclear issue after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of a nuclear security summit in Seoul.
"I believe there is a window of time to solve this diplomatically, but that window is closing," Obama told reporters.
Obama has pressed Israel to hold off on any attack on Iran's nuclear sites to give sanctions and diplomacy time to work, but has said military action remains an option if all else fails

Baghdad heavily secured against Syrian or al Qaeda attack on Arab Summit
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report March 25, 2012/+02:00) The three-day Arab summit, the first to be held in Baghdad in more than two decades, opens Tuesday March 27 after Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Emirates obtained a promise from Iraq’s Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki not to invite Iran and receive only a low-ranking Syrian official. Although Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was invited to former summits, Maliki bowed to those conditions because he badly needed to boost Iraq’s credibility in the Arab world and demonstrate its recovery from years of violence.
And so, Iran will be absent and Syria represented by its foreign Minsiter Walid Moallem - not by is president, Bashar Assad. Gulf rulers also insisted in a low-profile Palestinian delegation. Palestinian leaders are in low standing in most Gulf Arab capitals these days. Egypt is to send a low-ranking delegation because its acting ruler, Field Marshal Mohammed Tantawi, is unable to leave Cairo in the tense weeks leading up to the first post-Mubarak presidential election in June and the general state of domestic unrest. Two days before the summit opening, Baghdad and its environs are in heavy security lockdown to ward off terrorist threats: Around 100,000 extra security forces were drafted in to man hundreds checkpoints along with SWAT teams. War-weary Baghdad citizens complain about huge traffic jams and other disruptions. Large security and military teams armed with advanced anti-terrorist electronic gear have also flown in ahead of the Arab rulers.
At the same time, Western sources familiar with conditions in Iraq are skeptical about these blanket security measures being 100 percent proof against the various terrorist organizations active in Iraq, especially the local al Qaeda affiliate. Its lairs have never been so close to such an important gathering of Arab big wheels in one place.
Even a small attack in their general neighborhood would give any terrorist group unprecedented propaganda exposure and is therefore an opportunity not to be missed. It might help that al Qaeda gets most of its funding from Iraqi Sunni factions supported by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf emirates. They might well have forked out extra bonuses as incentives for al Qaeda to keep the peace for the three days of the summit, although the maze of violent groups in Baghdad is such that no one can be sure of controlling them. Conducting the event in the heavily-fortified Green Zone of Baghdad, seat of government and foreign embassies, is no guarantee of safety. Even this enclosed enclave is frequently prey to mortar and rocket fire. Western security experts also point out that Syrian President Bashar Assad has a beef with most Arab rulers, who denounce his brutality, especially those supporting the anti-regime rebels with arms and cash.Only three months ago, Prime Minster al-Maliki accused Assad of sending terrorists to Baghdad to blow up explosives-packed cars and shell Iraqi government and foreign embassy buildings. Iraqi intelligence experts are convinced that the heavy rocket attack on Turkish embassy in Baghdad, January 18, was carried out as warning message from Damascus to Ankara to stop meddling in the Syrian crisis

Christian, Muslim leaders call for bolstering national unity
March 25, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: A gathering of Lebanese Christian and Muslim religious leaders at Bkirki called for the bolstering of national unity and expressed sorrow over the political divisions in the country.
“The gatherers discussed the situation in Lebanon and stressed the need to bolster national unity, which is based on coexistence between Muslims and Christians, to protect from the effects of the events in the region on Lebanon,” a statement following the meeting at Bkirki said. “We reject discrimination and strife, and stress the main Lebanese decision to remain together in an entity that is their final homeland, independent and united,” the statement added. Participants at the event, which coincides with Annunciation Day, included Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, Grand Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, the deputy head of the Higher Shiite Council, Druze religious leader Sheikh Naim Hasan, Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios Lahham III and Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Audi.
The statement said the participants expressed their sorrow over the political divisions in the country, adding that Lebanon could not confront the divisions except through dialogue on matters of dispute.
They also expressed their support of the measures taken by the state to protect citizens, and “called on them to take further steps.”
Turning to the subject of developments in the region, the participants stressed the right of all Arab peoples to make their choices but expressed concern should reforms take a protracted amount of time.
“The gatherers discussed the transformations in the region that has entered a new phase in its history that has led to the toppling of political regimes. They stressed the right of the people to make their own choices but expressed concern about what could happen during the period in which there is a positive quest to bring in the state of law, justice, reforms to the citizenry in these communities,” a statement following the meeting at Bkirki said. Turning to Lebanon, the participants called for a strengthening of national unity “that is based on coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
The participants also expressed their condemnation of the ongoing violence in Syria and their “grief over the victims who fall every day. They prayed to God to preserve security there and [the country’s] unity and peace.”They also expressed their deep sorrow over the “cycle of violence and repeated explosions in Iraq, where many innocent lives are lost every day and hoped this sisterly country would regain its internal unity in its variety.”The conditions in Palestine were also a topic of discussions, and the attendees denounced what the Palestinian people had to face in terms of “oppression and continuous attacks on lives, religious sites, property and called on the international community to end the Israeli occupation and to recognize the state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital and that all international resolutions, particularly the ones dealing with the Palestinian right to return, be implemented.” The statement concluded by saying the participants expressed their readiness to work toward hosting a Christian-Muslim spiritual gathering at the Arab level which would aim to strengthen Christian-Muslim coexistence.”

Druze cleric comments on Christian-Muslim meeting
March 25, 2012 /Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Naim Hassan said that the participants at Sunday’s Christian-Muslim meeting at Bkirki did not respond to his request that the meeting’s statement calls for a “peaceful political” solution to the Syrian crisis based on the Arab League initiative. Hassan’s press office said in a statement that the Druze leader requested that participants at the meeting call for rejecting violence and extremism, however, they “insisted” to issue a statement including “some [other] positions” The Arab League plan to resolve the Syrian crisis called for a halt to violence, prisoners to be freed, tanks withdrawn from towns, and observers and foreign media to be allowed free movement within the country.Syria has witnessed anti-regime protests since mid-March 2011. The United Nations estimated that more than 8,000 people have been killed in the regime’s crackdown on dissent. -NOW Lebanon

Al-Rahi Rejects Violence, Urges Reconciliation during Mass Boycotted by March 14
إby Naharnet /25 March 2012/Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi rejected on Sunday any form of violence in Lebanon and elsewhere and called for “sustainable reconciliation” among the Lebanese.
In his sermon on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the first anniversary of his election, al-Rahi said: “Based on our Christian culture we reject and condemn any violence committed on our territories or anywhere else.”“We also reject any incitement to violence,” he stressed. Al-Rahi added that division and political and religious differences are rejected by the Maronite church. Furthermore, the patriarch considered any attack on human beings or their dignity as an assault on God who alone gives and takes life. He urged the Lebanese to overcome their differences and “achieve sustainable reconciliation among the different factions.” The mass in Bkirki was attended by current and former officials, including Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, several members of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc and Energy Minister Jebran Bassil.But March 14 opposition officials and mainly Lebanese Forces lawmakers boycotted the mass. Asked about the boycott, Aoun refused to comment, saying “This is a political issue. I came here to congratulate (al-Rahi) on the feast.” The patriarch has come under severe criticism by the LF, whose leader Samir Geagea accused him of defending the Syrian regime and endangering Christians in the region.Aoun held closed-door talks with al-Rahi after the mass.

'Hamas, Hezbollah helping Iran in Yemen'
By REUTERS 03/25/2012
US envoy to Sanaa tells 'al-Hayat' that Washington believes Tehran working with Shi'ite Muslim rebels in northern Yemen. Washington believes that Hezbollah and Hamas are helping their backers in Iran to expand its influence in Yemen at the expense of Yemen's Gulf neighbors, the US envoy to Sanaa told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.
In a London interview, Gerald Feierstein was quoted as accusing Hezbollah and Hamas of helping their backers in Shi'ite Iran at the expense of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a bloc in which Sunni-led oil giant Saudi Arabia's influence is dominant. is working with Shi'ite Muslim rebels in northern Yemen and secessionists in the country's south to expand its influence, Feierstein said.
"The Iranians want to build influence in Yemen... both internally and more broadly in the region by establishing a foothold in the Arabian Peninsula," the paper quoted Feierstein as saying in remarks published in Arabic. "It's something that's naturally regarded as a security threat to Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC states."
Feierstein told Reuters in an interview last month that there were signs of greater Iranian activity in Yemen, but did not specify where and how.
specify where and how."There is evidence that Hezbollah and Hamas support this Iranian effort. We are aware of a southern Yemeni presence in Beirut that has been used as a conduit for Iranian support for obstruction in southern Yemen," he said. A spokesman for the US embassy in Yemen did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment on the published remarks.
Feierstein was referring to the resurgence of secessionist sentiment in the south, formerly a separate socialist republic which fought a civil war with the north in 1994 after four turbulent years of formal political union. That sentiment, based in charges of economic and political marginalisation, gained strength in the final years of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule, and the south saw a boycott of a vote last month to replace Saleh with his deputy. That election was a key to a transition deal, crafted by the GCC with US and UN endorsement to avert civil war after mass protests against Saleh turned into fighting among a divided military and territorial gains by the country's al-Qaida wing. Feierstein said the group had benefited from Yemen's political turmoil, but could be defeated by a reunited Yemeni military. The US has backed units of the military led by Saleh's relatives as part of its campaign against al-Qaida, which has plotted abortive attacks abroad from Yemen.
"If we solve some of the political problems that created chaos in the Yemeni military, we will have improved the possibility of succeeding in our initiatives against al-Qaida," he said.
Washington has carried out a campaign of drone strikes - including one last year to assassinate a US citizen it claims played a role in plotting an attack - against alleged al-Qaida members in Yemen.
Its top "counter-terrorism" official has made co-ordination with a united Yemeni military a priority in relations with the administration of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. An attack claimed by al-Qaida killed at least 26 people hours after Hadi was sworn in, vowing to fight the group. Feierstein refused to comment when queried about the present US role in airstrikes earlier this month that killed dozens in areas of south Yemen controlled by an al-Qaida-linked Islamist group."I can say that we are working closely with the security institutions of the Yemeni government regarding counter-terrorism initiatives, specifically those aimed at defeating al-Qaida," he was quoted as saying.

Candidates supported by March 14, PSP win Beirut engineering elections
March 25, 2012 /The National News Agency reported on Sunday that the candidates supported by March 14, the Progressive Socialist Party and Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya won the engineering syndicate’s sub-elections to choose five members for the syndicate’s Beirut council.-NOW Lebanon

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel: Cabinet trying to be unbiased toward Syrian crisis
March 25, 2012 /Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel said that the Lebanese cabinet was “trying to deal in an unbiased way with the Syrian crisis.”“Any intervention or any mistake in political calculations can cause a crisis amid a community which is divided regarding the [events] in Syria,” the National News Agency quoted Gemayel as saying on Sunday during an international conference in Brussels.
He also said that the main mission in Lebanon was to preserve stability “because any unintentional mistake would have dire consequences”
Syria has witnessed anti-regime protests since mid-March 2011. The United Nations estimated that more than 8,000 people have been killed in the regime’s crackdown on dissent.
Lebanon’s political scene is split between supporters of Assad’s regime, led by Hezbollah, and the pro-Western March 14 camp.
-NOW Lebanon
 

Jordan arrests 10 alleged Syrian defectors
March 25, 2012 /Jordan has arrested 10 Syrians who claimed they were army defectors after they left a designated area in the northern city of Mafraq, a security official said. "They were arrested last week and currently under interrogation," he told AFP. "They lived in a building in a Mafraq area that is designated for Syrians who flee to Jordan. They were not allowed to leave that area without permission."
A senior rebel leader alleged that the 10 men were spies. "After checking with the Free Syrian Army, we found they are not army defectors. They are spies who came here to gather information on Syrian refugees," he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Amman government has said around 80,000 Syrians have sought refuge in the kingdom since March last year, when protests began against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday it has registered more than 6,000 Syrians in Jordan since last year, with a further 2,500 awaiting registration.
The violence in Syria has killed at least 9,100 people over the past year, according to monitors. -AFP/NOW Lebanon

Syria's Muslim Brotherhood says it will not monopolize power
March 25, 2012 Syria's Muslim Brotherhood will share power and respect democracy if President Bashar al-Assad is toppled, its leader said on Sunday. "The regime is trying to show that the Muslim brotherhood are trying to control Syria alone," Mohammad Riad Al Shaqfa told a news conference in Istanbul in remarks translated into English. "We want a democratic Syria and we do not want to control the country alone," he said, ahead of the international conference of "Friends of Syria," scheduled in Istanbul for April 1.Meetings of various factions of Syrian opposition will take place this week in Istanbul, and "90 percent of the opposition parties will be united by April 1, under the umbrella of Syrian National Council," which already includes majority of opposition parties, said the Islamist leader. The movement's number two, Farouk Monir Khalid, described as "good news" a decision by the United States to assist Syrian rebels in a non-lethal fashion. "It is a good step to help" the rebels, he told AFP. US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Sunday on the need to send "non-lethal" aid to Syrian rebels, including communications equipment, said US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes. The United Nations says at least 8,000 people have been killed in Syria since anti-regime protests broke out last year.-AFP/NOW Lebanon

Islamic guide: Beat wife 'by hand or stick'
Ynet Published: 03.25.12,/
'Gift For Muslim Couple' tells husbands 'it might be necessary to restrain wife with strength or even to threaten her' An Islamic 'marriage guide' book has drawn fire for advising men on the best ways to beat their wives, the Daily Mail reported Sunday. Accordiing to the British newspaper, "A Gift For Muslim Couple" tells husbands that they should beat their wives with "hand or stick or pull her by the ears". The book was criticized by moderate Muslims who claimed it encourages domestic violence. The book claims to be a 'presentation for newlyweds' or couples who have been together for some years. It was written by Maulavi Ashraf Ali Thanvi, who is considered to be a prominent Islamic scholar. '
Pitfalls of marriage.' Copy of book
The book's blurb says it "deals with the subject of marriage and after marriage relationship, as well as the various pitfalls of marriage, causes of breakdown and their causes." It also claims to give "real life incidents'" and advises on "different aspects of family life and how to run the institution of marriage successfully." However, the Daily Mail reports, the book also states that "it might be necessary to restrain her with strength or even to threaten her." It continues to say that that "the husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes." The author then gives the "rights of the husband," which, according to the book, include his wife’s inability to leave "his house without his permission." The wife must then "fulfill his desires" and "not allow herself to be untidy ... but should beautify herself for him." The book also encourages men to scold their wives. According to the book, they may also "beat by hand or stick, withhold money from her or pull (her) by the ears."
It the adds that men should "refrain from beating her excessively." According to the Daily Mail, the book came to light after going on sale in a Canadian book store. It is understood to have sold out there. It is also widely available from Islamic online book stores. Canadian political campaigner Tarek Fatah said the book should be banned from stores. "I wouldn’t say it’s hate, but it is inciting men to hit women," he told the Toronto Sun. "This is new to you, but the Muslim community knows that this is widespread, that a woman can be beaten. Muslim leaders will deny this, but..."

Asharq Al-Awsat Interview: with Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin
By Tha'ir Abbas/Asharq Alawsat
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat- Asharq al-Awsat recently met with the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin, to discuss his country’s position with regards to the ongoing Syrian crisis. During the interview, Zasypkin outlined the principles of Russia’s stance focusing on a political solution in Syria, and what steps are now required in order to implement this. He also dismissed reports of Russian involvement on the ground in support of the al-Assad regime, stressing that his country wholly rejects foreign military interference.
The following is the text of the interview:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is Russia’s genuine position towards the current events in Syria?
[Zasypkin] The constants of the Russian stance toward the internal conflict are known, and they have not changed throughout the past incidents. These constants focus on the need for all parties to cease violence, organizing comprehensive national dialogue between the authority and the opposition, and reaching an agreement on all the reforming steps in Syria to attain a democratic regime in this country. We seek to achieve these objectives and need the assistance of the international community to start the political process in Syria.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can we speak about an "internal crisis" when the opposition is complaining of "violence from one side", carried out by the authorities through a strong and disciplined army? Is it possible to talk about two kinds of violence?
[Zasypkin] Of course there is the regular Syrian Army, which has the military superiority over the armed groups. At the same time, when we speak about halting violence, this relates to all parties because should the authorities alone stop the violence, then this would lead to armed groups seizing their positions, and this would not calm down the situation.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How can a peace process be reached in Syria in light of the opposition's strong rejection of dialogue with a regime it considers to be criminal, and due to the brutality of this regime?
[Zasypkin] The opposition should agree to hold dialogue with the regime without preconditions. As for the role of the international community, we view the presidential statement issued by the Security Council yesterday as support for the UN envoy Kofi Annan's mission, which aims to cease violence and start the political process in Syria. We hope that all the foreign parties will make efforts to influence the parties to the conflict in Syria to sit at the negotiations table.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you mean that foreign parties are having a negative influence on the Syrian issue?
[Zasypkin] Throughout this period, we have been trying to change the situation from a confrontation to a political process. We wanted to benefit from the Arab League's initiative and the observer mission, but the task of the mission was curtailed soon after it began its work. We consider this as having an adverse impact on the political settlement. The second thing is that we believe that the sanctions are not beneficial because they do not influence the policy of the regime, but they increase the burden on the people. And now when we seek anew to activate a political settlement through Annan's mission, we hear talk about new sanctions and calls for international and Arab interference and measures such as the recalling of ambassadors. All these things are not beneficial. Anyway, since yesterday, we have taken a concerted stance at the Security Council and we want to rely on it to unify the efforts of the international community.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Russia has directed criticism towards the Syrian authorities. Why was that?
[Zasypkin] Since the beginning, we have been adhering to a balanced and open stance. When the popular protests and peaceful demonstrations took place, we pointed out that the regime’s reactions to these demonstrations were unacceptable. At the same time, we also highlighted the provocative actions of the armed elements, within the context of demonstrators, since April last year.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you think that the policy the authorities are following in terms of confronting the demonstrations and the protests is appropriate?
[Zasypkin] We see mistakes, and at the same time we see the measures that have been taken over the past months, such as the issuance of laws and the holding of municipal elections and the referendum on the constitution, and now there are elections scheduled for the People's Council, and we consider all these to be positive steps.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you think that the Syrian Government is moving on a positive track then?
[Zasypkin] Once again, I repeat that the reactions represented in the response to the demonstrations and the delayed reforms are unacceptable. At the same time, the reforms that have been implemented are positive steps.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There is talk that Russia is risking its Arab relations as a result of its stance on the Syrian issue?
[Zasypkin] We are very concerned with preserving our traditionally good relations with all the Arab countries. At the same time, in light of the developments taking place at present, we adhere in the first place to the UN Charter and international legitimacy to a great extent, and we consider principles such as the sovereignty of the state and respecting the rights of people to self-determination to be more important than the temporary considerations in the relations with any state in the region. We think that this approach is better than playing for self-interests. The values related to the nature of international relations are more important than passing economic or military interests.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The Russian Foreign Minister yesterday spoke about concerns of “Sunni rule" in Syria. What did he mean by this?
[Zasypkin] We want to keep away from sectarian conflicts, and during the developments taking place in the region, we seek to preserve the fraternal coexistence among all ethnicities and sects in the Middle East. We in Russia give a great attention to this issue because Russia is a country that has multi ethnicities and sects, and we hope that no problems emerge among the sects in Syria or in other countries.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The same as the Christians are the majority in Russia, the Sunnis are the majority in Syria. Is their rule of the country not something normal in any democratic process?
[Zasypkin]We are putting forward a set of principles, including one that says that democracy means respecting the rights of all the sects in this society, and this is the most important thing.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] To what extent Russia is involved in the Syrian issue? We hear talk about shipments of Russian weapons to the regime and military warships paying visits to Syria. To what degree are you ready to defend your stance on the ground?
[Zasypkin] All that has been said about Russian ships calling at Syrian ports to support the regime is untrue. The first ship visited Syria to receive supplies of food and fuel, and the other ship that has recently paid a visit did so for the same purpose. It is participating in an operation against the pirates in the Gulf of Aden along with NATO and European Union. As for Russian weapons, they have been possessed by the Syrian Armed Forces for decades. And as for defending our stance, we rely on political action and no other means.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The Syrian opposition talks about direct Russian support for the regime in terms of training, drones, and other services?
[Zasypkin] All this is talk within the framework of a media war that is taking place at present. We deny such talk on a daily basis and consider it untrue, like the talk about Russian warships.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you assess the Lebanese stance toward the Syrian crisis?
[Zasypkin] We are aware of the peculiarity of the Lebanese situation concerning what is going on in Syria. We share the Lebanese officials’ opinion that the Lebanese should as much as possible avoid the negative impacts of the Syrian conflict. We positively appreciate the measures that the Lebanese Government and the commanders of the Lebanese Army are adopting to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and unity. We also believe that the political forces in Lebanon are adhering to the security and stability in the country, and this is positive.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you have information about the smuggling of weapons and fighters from Lebanon to Syria?
[Zasypkin] We have information from various sources that weapons are coming into Syria from the neighboring countries regardless of the stances that the authorities in these countries are adopting and without a decision by them. We know that among the measures adopted by the Lebanese leadership are moves to tighten the monitoring of weapons smuggling, and we are confident that this policy will continue.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] It has been said that Russia has learned from two previous lessons, in Iraq and Libya, and it does not want to lose Syria. Do you seek a price in return for abandoning al-Assad?
[Zasypkin] The main lesson from what happened in Iraq and Libya is that the world should have to witness the tragic results of the occupation of these two countries. Therefore, we do not accept the repetition of the NATO operations or any foreign military interference in Syria, and this is a principled position for Russia. As for the talk about the stance toward the Syrian regime, it has been and continues to be the same. The priority for us in Syria is to cease the fighting and ensure the democratic option for the Syrian people, including selecting a leadership through fair and transparent elections. We do not decide the stance toward the Syrian president and leadership because this is an internal Syrian affair, and it is not the right for any foreign party to try and impose its will on the Syrians.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Who can ensure the integrity of the elections?
[Zasypkin] We are now seeking to arrange dialogue on the steps for reform, including the presidential elections, and this is one clause that the Syrian authorities can agree on with the opposition, so that the dialogue can then focus on the principles and the details. In light of the attention focused on Syria by the international community, it is possible to secure good international monitoring, and there would be no doubts about the results of these elections. I am explaining this subject on an assumption basis because we are now at the beginning of the political settlement. As for these steps, they are going to be followed by other steps later on.

The most important lesson!
By Hussein Shobokshi/Asharq Alawsat
Perhaps the most pleasant result of the Arab Spring carnival that continues to take place in the Middle East is the new linguistic diversity that this has created; particularly with regards to the expressions people are using to describe the Arab Spring itself. This situation is somewhat reminiscent of the previous "heresies" that were publicized by the media of the tyrannical regimes in our Arab world. Who can forget the expression “Naksa” [setback], which was used to describe the worst defeat the Arabs experienced in modern history [1967 Six Day war]? Indeed, this expression was repeated and reiterated day and night in order to completely sedate the Arab public and allow the authorities to avoid being held accountable this catastrophic defeat.
Along the lines of Nasser and his army of journalists, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who encountered a crushing defeat forcing his withdrawal from Kuwait, persisted in using his media mouthpieces to promote the expression “mother of all battles”, perversely claiming to have been victorious, not defeated! This expression was repeated by some affiliate writers and journalists. It was not long until this concept was developed and modified and all those who sought to end the rule of Saddam Hussein were described as “infidels”. At this time, of course, this expression aroused much curiosity and even mockery and ridicule, until we eventually reached a stage where there is now a striking glossary of such terms and expressions.
Every regime that has been toppled – as well as those who are still in the process of this – has either created new expressions, or new expressions have been created to describe it; in order to explain certain conditions or circumstances one way or another. We have seen how some people have described criminal and tyrannical regimes as "representatives" of the people, whilst, more accurately, they should in fact be described as regimes that "feign" representation of the people. What is even worse than this is those regimes that have lied to the people and promoted the lie that they are regimes of “resistance” whilst in reality they have voluntarily relinquished their own soil [to Israel] in distinctly dubious and vague circumstances. This, however, has allowed the world to uncover these monstrous lies and their consequences. In addition to this, the security and police apparatus have been openly transformed into armed gangs that kill and torture their own people without mercy or leniency. Such movements are called "thugs" or "Shabiha", something which, undoubtedly, functioned as a clear example of injustice, despotism and savagery.
The real problem is that we cannot assess or view Arab politics solely with a political or linguistic viewpoint; we must also assess this utilizing a psychological viewpoint. This is because the suppressive and duplicitous mind-set still exists within each of us, and this is why many of us continue to champion tyrants like Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi, Nasser, al-Assad and others on the pretext that they are defenders of Arabism and confronted Israel. People tend to forget that those figures were nothing more than criminals par excellence who suppressed their own people, producing nothing but more backwardness, defeat and humiliation. If such duplicity persists, we will continue to produce horrible examples and create tyrants out of them, and then view these tyrants as symbols of nationalism who are closer to gods than men, offering religious sacrifices in their honour. What is most important in the Arab Spring is not regime change and getting rid of the tyrants in our region, but rather changing our political mentality, attitude and mind-set, and the culture of accepting and indeed championing tyrants. We must review this culture as our greatest and most dangerous enemy, otherwise the Arab Spring will ultimately be nothing more than a temporary situation without any permanent benefit.

Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Dubai police chief
By Mshari Al-Zaydi/Asharq Alawsat
All the contradictions of the region and the conflicts of the world have been manifested in the Syrian crisis. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of the daily bloodshed and grief suffered by the Syrian people. We have seen how Hassan Nasrallah and the supporters of the axis of resistance switched from heralding and hailing the collapse of the Mubarak and Ben Ali regimes to accusing the Syrian people - who are only emulating what the Egyptian and Tunisian people have done - of treason and betrayal!
To be fair, some reactions have been completely contrary to the aforementioned example. In terms of calculating political interests, other parties were deeply disturbed by the Mubarak regime falling to political trends that are hostile to the Gulf's general policies in the region. The most prominent of these political trends is the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood organization. Following the enthusiastic welcome given by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to what happened in Egypt; these parties became even more disturbed and apprehensive. These responses are the result of purely political calculations.
Last week Dubai police chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan issued a series of statements against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood organization in Egypt and Tunisia. This confrontation occurred following Khalfan's verbal confrontation with Muslim Brotherhood “spiritual guide” Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, who attacked, denounced and condemned the United Arab Emirates [UAE] government over an old "vendetta". It is worth noting that the UAE had previously banned Sheikh al-Qaradawi from entering the country, however it seems that the Sheikh could not accept the idea of a country being bold enough to stand up to him.
Khalfan paid Sheikh al-Qaradawi back twofold in response to the latter's fiery statements against the UAE. Earlier, al-Qaradawi exploited an incident concerning some Syrian residents of the UAE who had allegedly been prevented from staging any protests, even if in support of the Syrian revolution. This prevention came in line with the UAE’s policy of precluding such behaviour. It was claimed that some Syrian residents had been deported due to their failure to obtain legal residency documents. Then propaganda came out claiming that the UAE was intending to extradite them back to Syria, back into the hands of the killer al-Assad regime. Subsequently, Sheikh al-Qaradawi flew off the handle, but Lieutenant General Khalfan countered with force and threatened Sheikh al-Qaradawi with international arrest. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt then quickly came to the defence of al-Qaradawi, launching a vigorous campaign against the UAE via its spokesman Mahmoud Ghuzlan who threatened the UAE with the fury of the entire Muslim world, merely for angering the Muslim Brotherhood! This brings to mind the ancient Arab proverb which goes:
They do not ask their brother for evidence of what he said whenever he seeks their aid!
Lieutenant General Khalfan carried on with his attacks on the Muslim Brotherhood and even told the Algerian “Shorouk” newspaper that the Muslim Brotherhood should be prevented from rising to power in Syria. Khalfan issued this statement even though the UAE’s official position is similar to that of the rest of the Gulf States which staunchly backs the Syrian revolution and opposes the al-Assad regime. Here we reach the following conclusion: How could a mere dispute with a certain figure produce this level of controversy?
The Muslim Brotherhood felt euphoric [after their recent election successes], and so they mounted a campaign against the UAE. I must also say that the UAE is right to be afraid of the Brotherhood’s projects, but what about the situation in Syria?
Personally, I was and remain opposed to the political and intellectual views of the Muslim Brotherhood. I believe these views rank as one of the greatest intellectual, social and political catastrophes to have occurred in our region in the past century. Indeed, I think we can compare the damage done to the concept of liberty and freedom from this catastrophic ideology to the damage caused by nuclear explosions!
I also believe that the Muslim Brotherhood is one of the most dominant currents within the Syrian opposition. But this is one thing and assessing whose political interests are served by the survival or ouster of the al-Assad regime is something else.
I would presume that the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood branch is the least harmful and toxic of all Brotherhood branches, whether with regards to the Gulf States in particular or the Arab world in general. I am basing this presumption on a number of reasons, including:
- The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood’s old and stable relationship with Turkey's Islamists and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and the hope that this will allow them to emulate the most successful Islamist experience in the region. To be more precise, the hope that they emulate AKP’s experience with regards to understanding the relationship between religion and politics, and put in place the idea of development and reconciliation with secularism. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan advocated this path in Egypt following the Muslim Brotherhood’s overwhelming parliamentary election victory, but the Brotherhood reacted angrily to this.
- Their hostile relations with Iran due to the al-Assad regime's alliance with Tehran's Mullahs, or to be more accurate, its subordination to Iran’s Supreme Leader and Wali al-Faqih. This runs in contrast to the close ties that bind Egypt's, Tunisia's and Gaza's Muslim Brotherhood branches to the Khomeinist regime.
- The prolonged exile of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leaderships in Western countries, especially Europe and America, which has taught them to reconcile with the concept of democracy.
- Finally, let us recall that the General Guide of Syria's Brotherhood, Mr. Riad Al-Shaqfa, resides in the city of Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
All the considerations mentioned above, along with the nature of the fabric of Syrian society, which is known for its sectarian and cultural diversity, means that it is hard to imagine the Libyan, Egyptian or even Tunisian scenario occurring in post-Assad Syria. It also allows us to say that the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria during the period of the Arab Spring - or shall we say Arab chaos, will be the least harmful. If we take all this into account, in addition to the gravity of the alliances forged between the al-Assad regime, Tehran and anti-Saudi groups, as well as certain organizations and parties within the Gulf (like Hezbollah, the Sadrist bloc, Nouri al-Maliki and his Dawa Party and even the Gazan and Egyptian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood during a previous era), we would reach the conclusion that it is imperative to take a definitive decision to target the venomous and hostile al-Assad regime.
At least the damage inflicted by the al-Assad regime is well known, while the harm caused by a potential Muslim Brotherhood replacement is only hypothetical. If a person is given the option of choosing between definite harm and hypothetical harm, they must surely choose the latter.
The delicacy and complexity of appraising the political situation in Syria is due, in no small part, to this dilemma.
Despite the atrocities committed by the al-Assad regime, the issue is not merely about making a moral judgment; political interests are also in the balance. It is also not as the short-sighted believe, namely that there is a contradiction in positions towards each Arab Spring country, on a case by case basis.
Ever since the start of the [political] earthquakes across our region, there have been changes and alterations in adopting specific stances on this or that revolution. Each party – and this is only natural – wants to steer the situation to their own advantage and view it within their own particular context.
Some countries in the region tried to steer the events and interpret them according to their own private agendas. In February 2011, Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani described the popular uprisings that had broken out in the region as evidence of the return of the "Islamic Awakening" in the Middle East. He even went so far as to scold Al-Azhar clerics for not taking part in the Egyptian revolution. The hidden message here was that the Iranian city of Qom was the throbbing heart of the "Islamic Awakening" Larijani was speaking about, as reported by "CNN".
The paradox is that the rest of the Salafi Islamists, including activists and academics, shared Larijani's opinion that what was happening was evidence of the resurrection of the Islamic awakening. They even issued statements to that effect. However, there can be no doubt that they differed sharply with Larijani with regards to determining the model of this awakening.
Apart from Islamists, we have pan-Arab nationalists who believe that what happened in Egypt and Tunisia among other countries was evidence of the return of the unifying pan-Arab Nasserite spirit. In the pan-Arab suffused al-Khaleej newspaper, I read – as I mentioned in February – an article by Saad Mahyou in which he promoted his pan-Arab sentiments using Cairo’s Tahrir Square as evidence. In that article, the writer recalled a conversation which took place a few years ago in a Beirut-based coffee shop, between himself and late owner and publisher of “al-Kahleej” newspaper Taryam Omran, who also happened to be a pan-Arab intellectual. In a doleful voice Omran reportedly told Mahyou that “our time, that is the time of the sons of pan-Arabism, has come to an end.” Mahyou reportedly answered, “Our time has returned with Tahrir Square!”
This is to say nothing of the aims of the US and Europe who see, in recent developments across the Arab World, the beginning of a liberal democratic era. Regardless of this, some voices in the US Congress were naïve enough to warn against the danger of the "Muslim Brotherhood" in Egypt.
Broad headlines always succeed in rallying throngs of excited people under any slogan or banner. But the devil lies in the details, and this leads to a clash of wills. For this reason, Arab media outlets adopted different tones of addressing and covering what was happening in our region, from one place to another. Al-Jazeera satellite TV station approached the "Bahrain" incidents in a manner completely different to the one it adopted in dealing with the Egyptian revolution. The same goes for "Al-Arabiya" satellite TV station which covered the "Libya" incidents in a completely different manner to its coverage of the Egyptian events.
The language of [political] interests is as powerful as the language of emotion. This is how human beings work. They always find themselves caught between idealism and practicality. This is how it will always be. In any case, what is happening now in Syria necessitates us to search for any possible exit, because it truly has become a do or die situation.