Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July 11/12
Nigerian Christian Leader Urges U.S. Action on Boko Haram
STL Rejects to Suspend in Absentia Proceedings, Confirms Receiving 2012 Funds from Govt.
Lebanese Cabinet Approves 2012 State Budget Draft Law as Miqati Says STL Funding Complete
In Moscow, Syrian Opposition Slams Russia for Aiding Violence
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rah: Spread of Arms to Blame for Return of Assassinations
March 14: Frequent Protests Sign of Govt.’s Inability to Tackle People’s Concerns
Qahwaji Says Controlling Border with Syria Requires 2,000 Troops
U.S. Currently Unconcerned by Syria-Bound Russian Ships
Lebanese Army beefs up troops on northern border with Syria
Future, Harb warn of government complicity in assassinations
Artillery shells, gunfire from Syria hit north Lebanon border towns
Hezbollah denies U.S. allegations of money laundering activities
2 wounded in armed robbery at Mount Lebanon bank
Lebanese Cabinet to endorse amended budget after debate
In defiance of Israel, Hasbani resort expands
U.S. 'Strongly Condemns' Syrian Shelling of Northern Lebanon
Mustaqbal Says Withholding Telecom Data by Govt. Contributes to 'Liquidating Opposition Figures'
Change and Reform: Judicial Course, Army Prestige Must be Respected in Abdul Wahed Case
Pentagon: Iran improving missiles to target vessels
Israeli agents assassinated Iranian scientists
Iran: We'll introduce missile against Iron Dome
Son of Hamas, Mosab Hassan Yousef: 'Time to expose Muhammad'
Brigadier General Manaf Tlass unlikely to join FSA – Source
Egypt parliament reconvenes, defying military
Russia sends naval flotilla to Syrian port: report
Annan: Iran must be part of Syria solution
Egypt court rules against recalling parliament
Boko Haram Claims Weekend Funeral Carnage in Nigeria
Iran 'Concerned' over Saudi Violence against Shiites

Nigerian Christian Leader Urges U.S. Action on Boko Haram
Naharnet/11 July 2012/The leader of Nigeria's Christians called Tuesday on the United States to declare the Islamist group Boko Haram to be terrorists, but a U.S. official said it was more important to address social inequalities. In an unusually blunt appeal by a foreigner before the U.S. Congress, the head of the main Christian body in religiously divided Nigeria said that a decision to blacklist three Boko Haram leaders as terrorists did not go far enough. Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said that the U.S. move on June 21 was "the equivalent of designating (Osama) bin Laden a terrorist but failing to designate al-Qaida a terrorist organization." Oritsejafor said that the reluctance to brand Boko Haram as terrorists had emboldened the group, which is estimated to have killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009 in attacks on Christian and government sites.
"By refusing to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization, the United States is sending a very clear message, not just to the federal government of Nigeria, but to the world that the murder of innocent Christians and Muslims who reject Islamism -- and I make a clear distinction here between Islam and Islamism -- are acceptable losses," Oritsejafor said.
"It is hypocritical for the United States and the international community to say that they believe in freedom and equality when their actions do not support those who are being persecuted," he told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Oritsejafor said Boko Haram sought "an end to Western influence and a removal of the Christian presence in Nigeria," telling the U.S. lawmakers: "My people are dying every day." But Johnnie Carson, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told the hearing that Boko Haram was not homogeneous and that most of the group had the goal of trying to "embarrass or discredit" the government. A designation as a foreign terrorist organization would trigger a full U..S government response against Boko Haram, freezing any assets it holds in the United States and making support of the group a crime. Carson said the terrorist designation made sense for the three leaders -- Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi -- due to links to al-Qaida, but that it would be counterproductive to target the entire movement. "It would serve to enhance their status, probably give them greater international notoriety amongst radical Islamic groups, probably lead to more recruiting and probably more assistance," Carson said. Carson called instead for a "sophisticated and comprehensive" strategy of improving governance in Nigeria's largely Muslim north and curtailing human rights abuses. "Boko Haram thrives because of social and economic problems in the north that the government must find a way of addressing," Carson said.
"A coordinated government effort to provide responsible, accountable governance to all Nigerians, while creating opportunities for economic growth, will diminish the political space in which Boko Haram operates."Carson also sounded a note of caution on Boko Haram's reach, saying that some Nigerian officials have taken to blaming the group for all incidents in the region that are the work of "criminals and political thugs."Several lawmakers of the rival Republican Party have criticized President Barack Obama's administration for not blacklisting Boko Haram.
Representative Chris Smith, who chaired the hearing, said that Boko Haram had a goal of imposing Islamic sharia law. He questioned the reluctance in targeting "an organization that is claiming responsibility for horrific acts of violence which appears to have at its core a radical Islamic position."
Agence France Presse.

STL Rejects to Suspend in Absentia Proceedings, Confirms Receiving 2012 Funds from Govt.
Naharnet/11 July 2012/The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Trial Chamber rejected motions by the defense counsel for the four accused to suspend or reconsider in absentia proceedings, it announced in a press release on Wednesday. “The defense counsel had argued in their motions that in absentia trials are a violation of human rights and that the accused were not properly notified of the charges against them,” it explained. “The Trial Chamber, however, cannot find any new facts, or new arguments showing an error of legal reasoning necessitating a reconsideration of its decision of February 1, 2012 to avoid an injustice to any of the four accused,” the judges said in their decision. On February 1, the Trial Chamber decided to try the four accused in their absence.The STL’s Statute is based on a mixture of Lebanese and international law, and therefore allows for in absentia proceedings if the accused absconds. Four Hizbullah members, Salim Ayyash, Mustafa Badreddine, Hussein Oneissi, and Assad Sabra are wanted for the February 2005 suicide car bomb attack in Beirut that killed Hariri and 22 others, including the suicide bomber. The court on August 17 unsealed the indictment against the four suspects and has said Lebanon must try harder to apprehend them.The Lebanese authorities have failed to arrest them.Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said he doubted the four indictees will ever be found and has branded the tribunal a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy aimed at bringing down the party. Ayyash and Badreddine face five charges including that of "committing a terrorist act by means of an explosive device" and homicide, while Oneissi and Sabra faced charges of conspiring to commit the same acts.Later on Wednesday, the STL confirmed that it has received funding from the Lebanese government for the 2012 budget.Prime Minister Najib Miqati earlier announced that “Lebanon paid its share of the funding this morning outside of the state budget.”
“The funding was made the same way as last year and it was not necessarily done through banks,” he explained without giving further details.
“Lebanon has fulfilled its pledge to fund the tribunal,” Miqati said.The STL said in a statement: "The full amount 26,927,270 Euros, amounting to 49 percent of the Tribunal’s budget, was transferred to the Tribunal’s bank account this morning by the Lebanese Government." "The STL thanks the Government of Lebanon for its 2012 contribution and its ongoing commitment to the work of the Tribunal," it added.

In Moscow, Syrian Opposition Slams Russia for Aiding Violence
Naharnet/11 July 2012/Syria's main exiled opposition group on Wednesday slammed Russia for giving a green light to violence after failing to convince Moscow to drop its support for President Bashar Assad. Syrian National Council (SNC) chief Abdel Basset Sayda met Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in rare talks at the Russian foreign ministry but could not detect any shift in the Russian policy that has angered opponents of Assad. At the foreign ministry, Sayda diplomatically confirmed that Russia had a "different position" to the rebels' insistence that "there cannot be talk of a solution until Assad quits power". But later he left all niceties aside to launch a full-scale attack on Russian policy which he said was responsible for allowing the escalating violence to continue through arms supplies and moral support.
"We reject the Russian policy -- however it is presented -- as this policy of supporting the regime is allowing the violence to continue," Sayda told reporters at a news conference.
"The Syrian people continue to suffer because of the position of Russia at the U.N. Security Council where Russia has used its veto" to block two resolutions against the Syrian regime, he said.
But Sayda said the situation could be transformed if Russia changed its policy as it was Damascus' only significant ally other than Iran.
"The regime feels that it has Iran and Moscow behind its back. If there was no cultural, moral or military support from Russia then the Syrian regime could not continue its policy against its own people," he said. Russia said Wednesday it had no plans to impose an arms embargo on Syria and would fulfill a contract to deliver air defense systems, despite a pledge to ship no arms to the country under new contracts. Sayda said: "Legal and moral responsibility must make Russia intervene and Russia must compel the regime to halt the killing of its own people," he added.
Moscow has refused to call on Assad to relinquish power, saying that Syria's political future cannot be imposed from the outside and must be decided via a dialogue involving all parties.
Lavrov at the start of the talks earlier offered no hope of a breakthrough in disagreements between Moscow and the opposition over how to end violence which the opposition says has left over 17,000 people dead. "Sometimes your organization has questions about what we are doing and we want to clear up these questions today so that there are no doubts," Lavrov said.
He added that Russia wanted to understand in the talks if there were any "prospects" of the opposition groups uniting and joining a platform for dialogue with the Syrian government.
Alexander Filonyuk of the Russian Academy of Sciences said while the sheer fact of the meeting between the opposition and Lavrov taking place was important there was little chance of the two sides narrowing their differences. "I think that the Syrian opposition will insist on its point of view at any cost. But Russia does not share it. And Russia has no reason to change its position either now or in the future," he told Agence France Presse. Russia on Tuesday proposed a U.N. Security Council resolution on the crisis that would extend the U.N. mission in the country but did not contain any threat of sanctions against Syria or action against Assad, diplomats said. In a dismissive reaction, the French foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the Russian resolution was "below the expectations of most of the international community." Moscow's close ties with Damascus date back to its cooperation with Assad's late father Hafez Assad under the Soviet Union. Analysts say Russia is above all unwilling to lose its last strategic ally in the Middle East.
Agence France Presse.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rah: Spread of Arms to Blame for Return of Assassinations
Naharnet /11 July 2012/Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi noted on Wednesday that the powers carrying out assassinations in Lebanon enjoy political cover.
He said before reporters at his Diman summer residence: “The spread of arms in Lebanon outside the authority of the state is to blame for the return of assassinations.”
“The absence of the state and lack of loyalty to it have led to the current reality. Arms are spread everywhere among the Palestinians, Hizbullah, parties and the people,” he said.
“Who is responsible for the country?” he wondered. He stated that the people no longer feel safe and “the return of political assassinations is a result of the lack of loyalty to the state and its institutions.”
“Is it possible that there should be dialogue over whether the army should deploy at the border?” asked the patriarch.
“Have any of the criminals behind the assassinations since 1975 until now been caught?” continued al-Rahi.
“Do we know why they were killed?” he asked.“Lebanese officials receive orders from foreign forces. None of them take independent decisions as each one has a foreign authority to follow,” he added. “Lebanon is in need of individuals who are only loyal to Lebanon” and who place their country’s interests before those of their sect, leader, or party, continued the patriarch.
“Such a situation cannot persist,” he stated.“We hope that Lebanon will be declared a neutral country that does not become linked to regional or international axes, but it must also commit to Arab and international causes,” al-Rahi said. He hoped Lebanon will remain “a country that can cater to all sides.”
“This is the meaning of neutrality and not that of choosing not to interfere in any regional or international axes as is currently happening,” he continued.
“Lebanon must play a pioneering role in the Arab world,” stated the patriarch.

Lebanese Cabinet Approves 2012 State Budget Draft Law as Miqati Says STL Funding Complete
Naharnet/11 July 2012/Cabinet approved on Wednesday the 2012 state budget draft law, referring it to parliament, and with Prime Minister Najib Miqati announcing that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon had been funded.He revealed: “Lebanon paid its share of the funding this morning outside of the state budget.”
“The funding was made the same way as last year and it was not necessarily done through banks,” he explained without giving further details.
“Lebanon has fulfilled its pledge to fund the tribunal,” Miqati said.
On the draft law, LBC television said that several “contentious” issues were removed from the draft law. The state budget draft law was approved despite the absence of Minister of State Salim Karam who criticized the government for failing to discuss development projects in Ehden.
He walked out of the session, telling reporters that he would boycott the next meeting on the budget and would not approve it.
According to financial experts, the legislature is not likely to approve it before the end of the year, which is the date of approval for the 2013 budget. If adopted, Lebanon would have the first budget since 2005.Authorities were so far covering the expenses of state institutions through the approval of extra-budgetary spending bills.
During its session at Baabda palace under President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday, the government studied around 30 out of the 105 articles of the budget which would stand at LL21 trillion, while the deficit would reach LL5.6 trillion.The budget does not include any new taxes, but it may impose fees on certain items such as tobacco, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and luxury cars that cost more than $35,000 in the countries of origin. In 2011, Miqati announced that the funding of the tribunal was made from the prime minister's office's budget, which does not need cabinet approval. Lebanon is obligated to pay 49 percent of the tribunal budget, which amounts to around $33 million.

Future, Harb warn of government complicity in assassinations
July 11, 2012/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The Future Movement accused the government Tuesday of indirectly helping criminals target members of the opposition March 14 coalition, claiming that Cabinet’s continued refusal to allow security agencies to obtain telecoms data encourages political assassination attempts.
“The decision by the majority of this government not to allow security agencies to obtain telecommunications data is contributing to the killing of opposition members and obstructs investigation,” the movement said in its weekly statement.
The statement also said that Hezbollah, which launched an attack on Beirut in May 2008 in defense of its own telecommunications network, is now cooperating with the Change and Reform ministers to prevent the state from accessing telecoms data.
MP Butros Harb, the target of an attempted assassination last week, said the government would be held responsible for any crime committed from now on.
Without giving any names, Harb accused several ministers of obstructing investigations into the assassination attempt against his life.
Detonators were found on the ceiling of the elevator in Harb’s law office last week after his security guards reported the presence of several suspicious men near the building in Beirut. The three men suspected of planting the explosive detonators fled the area.
“The government from now on is responsible for any crime that takes place ... the people can no longer stand for what is happening,” he said in a news conference at his Hazmieh residence.
Harb’s comments come after the Cabinet failed to agree by consensus to allow security agencies to obtain telecommunications data considered essential for investigating assassination plots against Harb and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who was targeted in a sniper attack in April.
The Cabinet decided Monday to form a committee, headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, to look into demands by security bodies for telecoms data.
The deal came after the March 8 ministers refused to give the agencies the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) – which is a unique identifying number stored in any cellphone’s SIM, except for in certain unannounced geographical areas of Lebanon – as stipulated by the government Monday.
But Harb said that handing over the IMSI does not infringe on people’s civil liberties.
“I regret that the Cabinet’s decision will give cover to the crimes and criminals in Lebanon ... and encourage the killing of politicians and innocent civilians,” he said.
Harb believes that tracking down the suspects in his attempted assassination should be easier than other cases of attempted assassinations.
During the late-night Cabinet session Monday, ministers from the Change and Reform bloc and Hezbollah refused to grant security agencies access to such data, while Mikati along with President Michel Sleiman and ministers with the National Struggle Front remained adamant that the data should be handed over to the agencies to ensure the safety of all Lebanese.But Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui argued that providing all telecoms data to the security agencies would be a violation of people’s privacy.
The March 14 coalition holds the government responsible for last week’s attempted assassination of Harb because it had earlier withheld telecoms data from security bodies.
The Telecommunications Ministry has long argued that the acquisition of data should be subject to the approval of the Judicial Committee, which is made up of three top judges.
Harb dismissed the Cabinet’s decision to form a committee to study the telecoms issue as a meaningless measure, saying that such a course of action would “provide cover for and encourage crimes.”
In his news conference Tuesday, Harb accused some ministers of being “complicit in not providing security agencies with the telecoms data.”

Cabinet to endorse amended budget after debate
 July 11, 2012/By Osama Habib The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The Cabinet is edging closer to endorsing an amended 2012 draft budget after a constructive debate among the ministers Tuesday, Economy and Trade Minister Nicolas Nahhas told The Daily Star. “We hope to conclude all the discussions on the draft budget on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. All indications show that the bill will pass without any hindrance,” Nahhas added.
As expected, the draft budget will not include any new taxes, but it may call for fees on certain items such as tobacco, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi did not take part in the Cabinet meeting Wednesday, but ministers assured that Prime Minister Najib Mikati has the power to discuss the bill even if the minister responsible for the file is absent.
Sources also said that Mikati did not include any allocations for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. However, the prime minister is likely to pay the country’s share of the tribunal costs without passing a proposal to do so through the Cabinet or Parliament, the sources added. Nahhas said that the discussions among the ministers were smooth and none of them had major reservations about the budget.
However, the budget will need the approval of the Parliament even if the Cabinet passes it. Sources close to the Cabinet believe the bill will surely be endorsed by the Parliament as all MPs affiliated with PSP leader Walid Jumblatt will likely give it their seal of approval. Nahhas declined to say what the projected budget deficit will be in the bill.
Sources told The Daily Star that the projected deficit in the new bill would not exceed LL5.4 trillion. Nahhas said that there won’t be any problem financing some of the electricity projects which were called for by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, noting that the previous government had made all the necessary allocations for these proposals.If passed, Lebanon would have its first official budget since 2005.
But the bill will likely come under harsh criticism from March 14 parties, economists and even ratings agencies, because the draft budget did not call for real reforms to fix the fiscal deficit and cut swelling public debt. In February, Safadi made important amendments to his original 2012 draft budget, reducing his proposed VAT tax from 12 to 11 percent and proposing higher taxes on property profits. But Safadi admitted that more was needed to reduce the projected budget deficit. The minister also revealed that the proposed new budget would stand at LL21 trillion, while the budget deficit would reach LL5.3 trillion. “With all of the taxes proposed, the budget is set at LL21 trillion and this includes an additional LL1.5 trillion to cover the increase in salaries for government employees, civil servants and army and security personnel,” he said. Safadi said the cost of debt servicing in 2012 would reach LL5.3 trillion, salaries and benefits for government employees would stand at LL7.2 trillion and the electricity deficit at LL3.1 trillion, bringing the total spending to LL15.6 trillion.


Pentagon: Iran improving missiles to target vessels
Yitzhak Benhorin Published: 07.10.12/Ynetnews
Report submitted to Congress also reveals Tehran has 'methodically cultivated network of sponsored terrorist surrogates capable of targeting US, Israeli interests' . WASHINGTON - The Iranian army is continuing to improve the accuracy and destructive power of its long-and-short-range ballistic missile force, according to a Pentagon report that was submitted to the US Congress.The report, which was obtained by Bloomberg News, said that as part of the improvements, Iran's military is designing a maneuvering weapon to target vessels
The June 29 report, which was signed by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, states that Tehran "has boosted the lethality and effectiveness of existing systems by improving accuracy and developing new submunition payloads" that extend the destructive power over a broader area than a solid warhead.
According to Bloomberg, the report found that the improvements are in tandem with routine ballistic- missile training that "continues throughout the country" and the addition of "new ships and submarines."
Bloomberg said the report also addresses the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and the assistance it offers to Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas and Iraqi Shiite groups. It also repeated the US assessment that Iran with "sufficient foreign assistance may be technically capable of flight-testing" an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2015. There was a theme that Iran is improving the accuracy and lethality of its missiles," Bloomberg quoted Congressional Research Service Iran analyst Kenneth Katzman as saying.
"US government reports have previously always downplayed the accuracy and effectiveness of Iran’s missile forces," he added.
Senior diplomats from the European Union and Iran are scheduled to meet on July 24 for technical talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear program to try to salvage diplomatic efforts to resolve the decade-long standoff.
The meeting in Istanbul will be the second in a series of discussions to clarify technical aspects of Tehran's activity.
It follows an agreement by Iran and six world powers in June to use such talks to decide whether diplomacy tackling broader political issues should continue in the face of vast differences in views over the nature of Iran's nuclear ambitions.Iran, which denies its work has any military dimensions, wants international sanctions lifted before it makes any concessions, and formal recognition of a right to enrich uranium. But the six are loath to make concessions before seeing evidence of Iranian willingness to address their concerns.
New sanctions went into place in the past few weeks, with EU governments imposing an embargo on Iranian oil on July 1.
The Pentagon's report predicted that Iran "would present a formidable force while defending Iranian territory.
"We assess with high confidence" that over the past 30 years Iran "has methodically cultivated a network of sponsored terrorist surrogates capable of targeting US and Israeli interests. We suspect this activity continues," it said.
The report further claimed that the Islamic Republic is continuing to develop ballistic missiles capable of reaching regional adversaries, Israel and Eastern Europe, including an extended-range Shahab-3 and a 2,000 kilometer (1,240 mile) medium-range ballistic missile.
Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington was quoted by Bloomber as saying that the report appears to verify that Iran has actively deployed a new solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile and that the Shahab-3 has improved accuracy and submunitions.
Cordesman said the report also revealed that Tehran is looking to improve its missile counter-measures against US and Gulf Cooperation Council missile defenses and poses a potential new threat to Gulf shipping. Iran, like China, is "developing and claims to have deployed short-range ballistic missiles with seekers that enable the missile to identify and maneuver toward ships during flight," the report stated.
"This technology also may be capable of striking land-based targets," the Pentagon's report said.
Reuters contributed to the report

'Israeli agents assassinated Iranian scientists'
By YAAKOV LAPPIN
07/11/2012/J.Post
New book says foreign mercenaries not behind attacks; Co-author to ‘Post:’ Targeted killings damaged Tehran’s nuclear program.
The shadowy men on motorcycles who were behind the assassinations of four Iranian nuclear scientists in recent years were Mossad agents, not foreign mercenaries, according to a new book on the history of Israeli intelligence services. The book, co-authored by veteran Israeli intelligence correspondent Yossi Melman and CBS journalist Dan Raviv, is called Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel’s Secret Wars, (Levant Book). It was published this week. Related: •Iran: We caught ring of assassins hired by Israel“It’s very hard to assume that such a delicate, sensitive mission was carried out by hired guns or mercenaries,” Melman told The Jerusalem Post in an interview based on incites from the book.
He added that Iran “is not a hermetically sealed state. The agents operating in Iran face the highest level of danger. These people are endangering their lives more so than on missions in say, Lebanon, which is not a police state.” According to Raviv’s chapters in the book, in its pursuit to delay Iran’s military nuclear program, Israeli intelligence services are working with ethnic minorities in or around Iran, such as Kurds and Baluchis, as well as the Iranian Mujihadeen-e Khalq (MEK) organization, which is dedicated to the overthrow of the current Iranian regime.
“There is undoubtedly cooperation,” Melman said. The MEK’s 2002 announcement of an Iranian heavy water reactor at Arak and a uranium enrichment facility at Natanz came directly from Israeli intelligence, he added.“They work together. But in the most sensitive missions, it has to be Israeli agents,” Melman said based on what Raviv wrote.
Melman, who currently provides commentary on the intelligence world for the Walla Hebrew news site, said that the operations in Iran have placed the Tehran government in a tight spot.
“Iran is under pressure, as their botched terror attacks in Georgia, India and Thailand have shown,” he said. “[Israeli] agents are working in Tehran as if it was their home. Iranian counter-intelligence are not managing to secure the scientists. Iran decided to seek revenge at any price.”
Despite the successful assassinations, “This technique of hitting the scientists has worn itself out. It won’t stop the nuclear program. It is one tool in the box,” Melman said.
In fact, he argued, although the assassinations inflicted some damage on Tehran’s nuclear program, they should be seen as just one component of a much wider effort to convince Iran to give up its program.
That effort includes sanctions, sabotaging industrial equipment and computer viruses. “The assassinations are also psychological pressure, to tell Iranian scientists, your regime is not protecting you, think twice before working for them,” Melman said. “The message to nuclear scientists is, if you care about your family, do theoretical science.”
Melman believes Tehran could eventually give up its nuclear ambitions, but said this would only occur if the regime was “threatened from the inside.” He highlighted a protest letter by Iran’s domestic paramilitary force, the Basij – which has been crucial in repressing the Iranian opposition – as an example of growing cracks inside the Islamic Republic. The letter asked Iran’s government to focus more on domestic economic needs and less on foreign issues.
The hope behind covert operations is to delay Iran’s atomic program long enough for the regime to decide to suspend it altogether, he added.
Both ex-Mossad chief Meir Dagan – who apparently oversaw much of what occurred in Iran – and former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin have warned against a current military strike on Iran, with Diskin going as far as accusing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak of being “messianic.”
“I don’t like that expression,” Melman said, adding that he wondered whether Dagan and Diskin themselves “might be driven by a messianic sense of mission.”
“Dagan is not against an attack, but thinks the covert measures will delay things and that the US will act if necessary,” he said.
The new book takes a wide look at the history of Israeli intelligence, and touches on recent events such as the alleged Israeli airstrike on a Syrian uranium enrichment facility in 2007.
During deliberations ahead of the strike, Melman quotes Raviv as saying in a chapter about Syria, that Barak argued that there was enough time to wait with the attack, causing amazement among many in the defense community.“In Syria, there was no time. As soon as radioactive material goes in the facility, it cannot be bombed,” he said.
Melman also attempts to do away with the misconception that the Mossad is an organization dedicated to killing enemies of the state, saying that since the founding of Israel in 1948, it did not assassinate more than 50 individuals. “It is mostly about intelligence gathering,” he said. “The Mossad is known in the world because of its mythology.It captures the imagination.But there are other intelligence organizations in Israel with larger budgets, such as Military Intelligence, and its signal intelligence collections 8200 Unit, as well as its Special Operations unit,” Melman said.
“To think that it’s all about the Mossad is a misconception,” he added.
Spies Against Armageddon will be published in Hebrew in Israel next week by Yediot Aharonot Books.

Son of Hamas, Mosab Hassan Yousef: 'Time to expose Muhammad'
By DEBORAH DANAN
07/10/2012 16:22 Mosab Yousef in a candid interview about the prophet's role in perpetuating terror. The Jerusalem Post
Mosab Hassan Yousef stepped out of the airport terminal in a dark suit and tie, looking every inch the Hollywood darling. It’s perhaps not surprising then, that his close friend and the man who accompanied him on his trip to Israel this month, is producer and actor Sam Feuer. Feuer played the role of Yousef Romano in Steven Spielberg’s Munich, a movie about the aftermath of the Black September. Full of intrigue, spies, and clandestine operations—not to mention terror attacks on Israeli citizens—the plot of Spielberg’s cloak-and-dagger movie is not unlike Mosab’s own life as a secret agent.
Most people know the story by now, so I’ll be brief: In 1978, Mosab is born to the son of one of Hamas’ seven founders, Sheikh Hassan Yousef. Prepped to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a terrorist, Mosab starts asking questions until gradually, over the years, he becomes convinced that the ways of Hamas cannot be the truth. He subsequently converts to Christianity. He becomes an agent for Shin Bet. The intelligence he provides prevents terror attacks and leads to the incarceration of Hamas terrorists. In 2007, he leaves the West Bank in favor of the west coast. He gains political asylum in the US and remains there before coming back to Israel for a surprise visit last month.
Something about his life story—and indeed, certain aspects of his personality, including the fearless chutzpah with which he deceived Hamas—is distinctly reminiscent of Frank Abagnale, the real-life protagonist of yet another of Spielberg’s classics, Catch Me If You Can. But unlike the notorious confidence trickster, the former Shin Bet agent did not do what he did to advance his own interests (and neither did he forge millions of dollars worth of checks.) In his own words, Mosab Yousef did what he did in order “to save lives.”
Upon first meeting Yousef, there were a number of things I was curious to discover about his personality. Is he naïve or a realist? Is he extraordinarily foolish or extraordinarily brave? Has playing with fire become a way of life for him or does he take risks out of a sense of moral duty? More than once I was asked by other people, “Is he normal?” Considering the mind-boggling events that have shaped the life of Hamas’ prodigal son, the question is forgivable.
Normal or not, one thing about Mosab Yousef is that he is no politician. When asked whether he has any political aspirations, Yousef answers with a categorical “no.” Given his personality, his answer is hardly surprising. Yousef doesn’t seem to have a single trait that is conducive to being a politician. He has no sense of political correctness, and even though he is polite and refined, he lacks the diplomatic airs and graces of successful politicians. With utmost sincerity and an almost child-like earnestness, Yousef simply states the truth as he sees it.
When one considers that his upbringing was entrenched in a black-and-white value system (Israel is evil, destroying the Jewish State and its citizens is a divinely righteous pursuit, and so on), Yousef’s 180 degree turnaround seems rather miraculous. But then again, perhaps it is precisely because of his black-and-white upbringing that Yousef is now able to view things in such an uncomplicated manner, untainted by the confusion and ideals that so often color Western sensibilities.
Devoid of underlying messages or double entendre, he states his opinions eloquently. “I love Israel because Israel is a democratic country,” he has said on more than one occasion. Attending a panel on Israel’s future borders at the President’s conference last month in Jerusalem, Yousef loudly applauded the following statement from one of the panelists: “The issue is not whether the world can accept the Jews’ right to this land. The issue is whether Jews will accept their right to this land.” Regarding sovereignty, Yousef maintains an unequivocal party line: “All I can say is that the Israeli historic right to this land is obvious and clear to any person who can read.”
At a press conference a few days prior, Yousef caused a flurry with his explosive comments. “Islam is not a religion of peace, it is a religion of war,” he said. “If people don’t see the truth we will keep spinning an empty cycle of violence.”
But he balances his bombastic remarks by adding that Muslims themselves are a peaceful people. The problem, according to Yousef, is that most Muslims are not educated enough about their religion. “Out of 1.6 billion Muslims, perhaps only 300 million actually understand the language of the Koran,” he said. This is because for most Muslims, Islam is far more than a religion – “it is an identity and culture, it is everything they know.” He further posited that a full understanding of the text and of Mohammed’s life necessarily leads Muslims towards extremism and terrorism. According to Yousef, anyone who studies the life and the behavior of the prophet will arrive at the conclusion that Islam is a religion of war.
Yousef declares, “It is time to expose the life of Muhammed.”
The way that he proposes to do this is by making a feature film on the life of Islam’s apostle. Anyone who was around during the Danish cartoon controversy knows just how dangerous an endeavor this can be. According to the Muslim faith, depicting Muhammad is forbidden, and the violence that erupted following the Danish scandal resulted in over 100 deaths. But Yousef believes that the importance of the project overrides any fallout that may result from portraying Muhammad on the big screen. His aim is to challenge religious authorities by depicting the life of Muhammed in an objective and honest way, and as such it was imperative for the screenwriters to engage with Muslim theologians and remain true to the text of the Koran.
“We are not trying to offend Muslims, we’re trying to bring the truth,” he said. He hopes that the film will target the average Muslim and cause them to revisit the beliefs and ideology upon which they’ve been raised. “If this suicide bomber who is trying to kill many people is motivated by that ideology, I would love to seed [sic] doubt in his head, at least to be able to question before he goes to commit suicide.
“Today we have this powerful medium and the new generation can watch and see and make a judgment. They are looking for a difference in their life – they are looking for a better future. Let’s help them.”
Does Yousef harbor any fears that he may be risking his life by making a movie on Muhammed?
Yousef remains unfazed at the suggestion and answers simply: “There is nothing to be afraid about. We’re doing the right thing and we do it not through the power of conviction or the power of opinion, but through the power of truth.”
Finally, in answer to some of the aforementioned questions I had prior to meeting him, the impression I received is that Mosab Hassan Yousef is a remarkably courageous man with a bold vision and more than a hint of foolhardiness. And is he normal? It is, of course, all relative and perhaps in his new home of Los Angeles the answer might have been different. But here in this region at least, Yousef definitely comes off as one of the sane ones.

Brigadier General Manaf Tlass unlikely to join FSA – Source
By Mohamed Nassar/Asharq Alawsat
Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat – The family of Syrian army defector, Brigadier General Manaf Tlass, is extremely angry regarding Bashar al-Assad’s targeting of their home town of Rastan. This is reportedly one of the reasons that led to his defection from the al-Assad regime, but not the only one. A well-informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Tlass had been subject to several death threats leading up to his defection, and it was this that ultimately led him to flee Syria. Tlass had also been marginalized in the months leading up to his defection, being placed under house arrest by the al-Assad regime.
A source close to the Tlass family informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Tlass’s defection from the Syrian regime army was expected, adding “I do not believe that he left to lead or fight a war against Bashar al-Assad.” The source claimed that Tlass had left the country to protect his own life, after he had received numerous death threats. The source stressed “it is not likely that he will join the FSA or Syrian National Council [SNC].” The source claimed that Manaf Tlass rejected the security solution to crush the Syrian revolution, particularly after his home town of Rastan was targeted. He added that Tlass, due to his closeness with the Syrian president and his influence over the Syrian military, “was able to say that the military solution was wrong…and he believed that he could influence al-Assad in this regard, however it became clear that the pro-violence camp was stronger, and he found himself marginalized, and they placed him under house arrest.”
As for how a senior officer like Brigadier General Manaf Tlass was able to leave the country, the source told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Manaf, as a soldier, cannot leave Syria except with the permission of his direct commanding officer, and I personally do not know how he was able to leave.”
The source, who is close to the Tlass family, said “the Tlass family are angry at the regime’s behavior in Rastan…Rastan is the home town of Mustafa Tlass, and it is home to 1,700 officers, the majority of whom defected from the regime…for a human being cannot watch his home town being destroyed in this manner and sit and watch, or take part in this destruction.” He added “I do not believe Manaf will join the FSA, but he is not outside of the mantle of al-Assad.”
The source also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Manaf Tlass had attempted to reconcile the Syrian government with the Syrian dissidents in Rastan and Deraa, but these attempts all ended in failure. He also revealed that the Brigadier General had stopped wearing his military uniform approximately one month ago, instead wearing civilian clothes and growing his hair and beard.
Media reports claimed that the split between Manaf Tlass and the regime occurred over the military operation targeting the Baba Amro neighborhood of Homs, after Tlass refused to lead the military unit that attacked this neighborhood. Since that time, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad placed him under house arrest.

The Egyptian President in Saudi Arabia
By Emad El Din Adeeb/Asharq Alawsat
Egyptian President Dr. Mohammed Mursi's visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, scheduled for tomorrow, is crucially important for the bilateral relations between Cairo and Riyadh.
The fact that the new Egyptian President is initiating his term in office by visiting the Kingdom conveys the following significant messages:
Firstly: The change in governance from the republic of former President Hosni Mubarak, who once had excellent relations with the Kingdom, to that of the Muslim Brotherhood's republic will not affect the main pillars of bilateral relationship that relies mainly on "interests" and "facts", rather than specific individuals.
Secondly: Saudi diplomacy, by organizing this visit, has smartly blocked the way in front of Iranian efforts that had hoped to lure the Egyptian President to visit Tehran first, to attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
Thirdly: The visit will help to remedy the negative impact of "Ahmed al-Gizawi’s crisis”, currently being investigated in Saudi Arabia, which could have caused great harm to the relations between Cairo and Riyadh, were it not for the cunning conduct of the Saudi Ambassador to Cairo, Ahmed al-Qattan, who acted promptly to control the situation and its impact.
Fourthly: This visit gives Riyadh the opportunity to become closely acquainted with the new Egyptian president's vision regarding the following issues:
1- His attitude towards exporting ideas and experiences abroad.
2- The Muslim Brotherhood's true stance towards Iran.
3- How the new President will handle the issues of Hamas, Hezbollah and relations with Israel.
Fifthly: The visit will help determine the size of Saudi support required by the Egyptian economy during the transitional period in Egypt; from the post-revolution economy to the stage of restoring the confidence of the international market and investors in Egypt.
This particular issue is of tremendous importance considering the new Egyptian President's plan to achieve stability in the first 100 days of his rule.
The success of the Egyptian President's visit to the kingdom could mark the beginning of greater Egyptian openness to all the Gulf States.
The importance of the visit also lies in its scheduled date, preceding Hillary Clinton's visit to Cairo early next week to convey an important message from President Obama and discuss a joint-Egyptian-American action plan.
Egypt's activity in the Arab world is the essential foundation that could support Cairo's stance against wild American "desires" to administer the region from the perspective of Washington alone, without any consideration of the other countries involved.

US: Iran can't help resolve Syria conflict
By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT 07/10/2012
White House spokesman Carney dismisses idea that Tehran could be constructive in resolving conflict in Syria.
WASHINGTON – The White House criticized Tuesday the concept that Tehran could be constructive in resolving the conflict in Syria, after UN mediator Kofi Annan held meetings with Iranian officials.
“I don’t think anybody with a straight face could argue that Iran has had a positive impact on developments in Syria,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday.
Related: •Annan starts talks with Assad in Damascus•Three dead after more Syrian shells hit LebanonThe comment came after weeks of discussion over Iran’s possible role in helping a UN-brokered attempt at a ceasefire in the strife-riven country in which the US has made it clear that it opposes Iranian participation.
Though Annan had overlooked US objections in reaching out to Iran, Carney still indicating US backing for his efforts.
“Broadly, on the Annan plan, we believe that it is essential that the international community come together behind the plan, that the plan be implemented,” Carney said.
He added, “We remain highly skeptical about Assad’s willingness to meet his commitments, which is another reason why Syria's future cannot plausibly have Bashar Assad in the government. He’s long since lost his credibility.”
Carney also urged a change of course in countries like Iran that have supported the Syrian leader.
“We also call on other nations to recognize the obvious, which is that allying with Bashar Assad is allying with a tyrant and putting your nation on the wrong side of the Syrian people,” he said.