LCCC ENGLISH NEWS BULLETIN
August 18/2006
Latest
New from the Daily Star for August 18/06
Signs of life: Airlines resume passenger service to
Beirut
France disappoints UN with small size of troop contingent
Lebanese Army begins historic deployment along
Southern border
Hajj Hassan: 'Hizbullah's arms are part of national
defense'
Hizbullah fighter recalls pitched battles with
invading forces
Fatfat order house arrest for general videotaped
having tea with Israeli officers
Brammertz resumes probe into Hariri assassination
Hizbullah begins monumental task of rebuilding southern suburbs
Unexploded munitions pose deadly threat to returning
displaced
Save the Children official outlines group's evolving
program for Lebanon
Long-suffering Lebanese deserve something better
German foreign minister urges Damascus to soften its
stance
Despite the bombing, Hizbullah appeals to Arab-Israelis-By
Yossi Alpher
US government blacklists pair of Syrian intelligence
officials
Latest
New from miscellaneous sources for August 18/06
Harper pledges $25 m for Lebanon relief
Despite Setbacks, We Will Prevail-Yahoo!
News
Rice: UN force is not expected to disarm Hezbollah-Ha'aretz
Lebanese troops take control of Hizbollah strongholds
France to send 200 extra troops to Lebanon-Reuters.uk
UN bodies call for Lebanon oil spill cleanup funds-Reuters
Ross: Deal with Syria using carrots and sticks-Ynetnews
Hizbollah Rooted in South Lebanon, But Hides Guns-AINA - Modesto,CA,USA
US Expects Swift Sanctions Action if Iran Defies UN Resolution-Voice
of America
Latest
New from miscellaneous sources for August 18/06
Lebanese troops will not disarm Hizbollah-Telegraph.co.uk
Lebanese troops deploy in
Hezbollah heartland-Times
Online
Lebanese army deploys in southern Lebanon-Telegraph.co.uk
Lebanese deployment a 1st step in truce-AP
Israel warns `this war is not over
yet'
Echoes' of
Musaylimah. By:
Ahmed Al-Jarallah
-August 17/06
Lebanese Cabinet agrees to deploy troops-AP
Lebanese Army Shifts From Spectator to Peacekeeper-Washington
Post
South Lebanon littered with war's lethal leftovers-Reuters
Israel begins giving positions to U.N-AP
Lebanese Cardinal
Concerned About Christian Exodus-AINA
The road to Middle East peace is spiritual not political,
CathNews
Hariri accuses Assad of sowing
strife in Lebanon-Jerusalem Post
Israel's failed mission in Lebanon-Toronto Star - Ontario
Hizballah, Syria Political Maneuvering Raises Concern-CNSNews.com
Middle East: Lebanon's Cedar Revolution Hangs In
The Balance-RadioFreeEurope
The public - and secret - orders of Fouad Siniora-Ha'aretz
Beirut cools to disarming Hezbollah
By Betsy Pisik
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 17, 2006
BEIRUT -- The prospect that a triumphal Hezbollah militia will give up its
weapons slumped yesterday, with the Lebanese government backing away from a
vague promise to disarm it, and a promised international force showing no
interest in the mission.
The Lebanese Cabinet was largely silent on the issue at a meeting yesterday,
where it agreed to begin deploying 15,000 soldiers today to replace departing
Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
In keeping with its own commitment to deploy its army, Lebanon early today began
moving convoys south toward the border with Israel, Reuters reported. Trucks,
armored troop carriers and jeeps were streaming south through the town of
Nabatiyeh and were expected to start crossing the Litani River shortly.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, meanwhile, said in an interview published
yesterday that it was up to the Lebanese, not the international community, to
force the Iranian-armed Islamist militia to surrender its missiles and other
heavy weapons.
At a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York yesterday,
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni said Israel wants an expanded U.N. force
to help monitor the Lebanese border to prevent Iran and Syria from replenishing
Hezbollah's weapons.
She stressed that implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701 that led to Monday's
cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah is a test for the
international community and the Lebanese government. "I think this is a moment
of truth for the international community," she said. "A full implementation of
Resolution 1701 can lead to a change in the region, in Lebanon, and lead to a
better future for us all." French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in
Paris that France was willing to lead the enlarged U.N. force in Lebanon until
at least February. But she complained that the force's mandate was "fuzzy" and
said the peacekeepers need to have sufficient resources and a clear mission.
"When you send in a force and its mission is not precise enough, and its
resources are not well-adapted or large enough, that can turn into a
catastrophe, including for the soldiers that we send," Miss Alliot-Marie told
reporters.
No country considering sending troops for the mission has forgotten what
happened the last time Hezbollah objected to a foreign troop presence in
Lebanon. It sent a suicide bomber to destroy a barracks in Beirut, killing 241
U.S. Marines and 58 French paratroopers in 1983.
In an interview yesterday with USA Today, Miss Rice said the expanded U.N. force
in Lebanon -- known as UNIFIL -- will have a robust mandate, but will not be
searching for militias and weapons. "I don't think there is an expectation that
this force is going to physically disarm Hezbollah. I think it's a little bit of
a misreading of how you disarm a militia," she said.
"You have to have a plan, first of all, for the disarmament of a militia, and
then the hope is that some people lay down their arms voluntarily."
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who has achieved heroic status in the
Arab world simply by keeping his forces in the fight against Israel for a month,
said in an address broadcast on Monday that his militia would not give up its
weapons.
He also insisted that Hezbollah would not give up its positions in southern
Lebanon, though the militia's top official in the south, Sheik Nabil Kaouk, told
reporters in Tyre yesterday that he welcomed the Lebanese army's deployment into
the region. "Just like in the past, Hezbollah had no visible military presence,
and there will not be any visible presence now," the Associated Press quoted him
as saying. In fact, most of Hezbollah's most dangerous weapons have been
well-hidden in bunkers and tunnels. The State Department, which has classified
Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, told reporters in Washington it would be
up to Beirut to disarm Hezbollah. The United States will be "working with the
Lebanese government to create a situation, an environment where this can all
happen," spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said yesterday. "This is an ongoing process.
The [Lebanese] government has said it is committed to doing this."
Lebanese and U.N. Security Council statements both allude to disarming Hezbollah
but, in recognition of the complexities of Lebanon's delicate power-sharing
arrangements, do not say so directly. Under Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad
Siniora's "seven-point plan" for peace with Israel, endorsed by his Cabinet
three weeks ago, the government "extends its authority over its territory
through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons or
authority other than that of the Lebanese state" in accordance with national
law. The U.N. cease-fire resolution uses similarly careful language, saying
there should be "no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and
no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon." The council did
unanimously agree that the land between the Israel-Lebanon border and the Litani
River should be free of any armed personnel, assets or weapons other than those
of the government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL. • Sharon Behn contributed to this
report from Washington.
Hezb stand risks future
Posted on 8/17/2006
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
HEZBOLLAH’S refusal to withdraw from the Litani region on the premise that
Israeli will re-occupy it again is foolish and will put a question mark over the
future of Lebanon and its people. Hezbollah is playing this game to please its
masters in Syria and Iran. In a recent speech Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad
yelled and shouted to catch the attention of the United States in the hope that
it will bring him back to the negotiation table with Israel. Al-Assad’s speech
indicates he is a confused man with no clue to what is happening in the region.
The Syrian President was not serious about Hezbollah’s so-called resistance and
the consequent damage caused to Lebanon. Al-Assad was hoping the United States
will be forced to open another battlefront in southern Lebanon and believed it
will be afraid to enter into a new war after Iraq. During the speech President
Al-Assad resembled a poorly-programmed computer, which cannot produce a better
solution. The segment of the media, which supports Iran and Syria, may portray
Al-Assad’s speech differently like they have been claiming Hassan Nasrallah is
infallible and invincible.
Hezbollah is acting against the demands and wishes of the people of Lebanon and
their government by refusing to withdraw from Litani and give the Lebanese
government administrative control of the area.Although the Syrian President has
been trying to cover-up the wrong doings of Nasrallah, the facts will soon
become public. Those who listened to Al-Assad’s speech, which was full of fancy
and delusion, must understand the Syrian regime has been isolated by the
international community and Al-Assad has no friends except Hezbollah and Iran.
So the Syrian President is trying to misuse the name of resistance to advance
his wrong policies.
The fact that Al-Assad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have given
almost simultaneous speeches on the war, which saw the destruction of the
infrastructure of Lebanon and death of hundreds of innocent civilians, indicated
Syria and Iran are one the side with the US and Israel on the other. The people
of Lebanon had no role in this war. These speeches should convince those who
justified the war as an effort of Hezbollah that Hezbollah is nothing but a
mercenary organization which implements the wild policies of Iran and Syria at
the expense of the Lebanese. We must face the facts and understand that the
Iran-Syria combine and Hezbollah have lost the war.
We hope Syria and Iran will liberate areas occupied by Israel after the 1967 war
— including the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza.
However, we know it will be difficult for this defeated alliance to liberate
even an inch of these areas. The proof of the defeat of Tehran and Damascus lies
in the destruction of southern Lebanon and other parts of that country.
Currently it appears Nasrallah is changing tack. He has been pouncing on the
Lebanese government to establish himself as the King of Islamic Lebanon. He
knows Hezbollah will be finished for good if the Lebanese government regains its
power.
Hezbollah can no longer get the attention of the Lebanese by behaving
self-important because its policies have destroyed that country. Israel’s
withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 was not due to Hezbollah. It was a
unilateral decision taken by Israel to secure its political and security
interests. After Al-Assad’s speech Hezbollah is preparing to take on the
Lebanese government. The government of Lebanon should not waste any time in
asking for the help of international community to finish off Hezbollah.e-mail:
ahmedjarallah@hotmail.com
Another war, another disappointment
Posted on 8/17/2006 9:54:51 AM
Lidia Qattan ANOTHER war, another disappointment, for in spite of the illusion
of victory the damage and the suffering far outstrip any moral satisfaction, if
one can call it that. As long as men continue to rely on their emotions rather
than on their intellect in solving their problems, there will be disastrous
consequences for those who get in their way; innocent bystanders whose only
thought in life is to live a happy and rewarding life, which they struggle to
build for themselves and their loved ones.
The latest incident in Lebanon testifies to men’s narrow points of view. It is
not a victory of arms that brings peace and fights injustice, rather it is the
combination of wisdom in politics and cleverness in achieving an objective
without violence that can yield the best results. One wise man, a lawyer by
profession and a patriot, was able to get back his country and free his people
from the mighty British Empire not with arms but with words, which can be far
more stronger and effective than bombs and a whole arsenal of weapons.
Mahatma Gandhi instilled in his people a practical dream; he taught them to rely
on their own industry as their ancestors had done centuries and millennia before
the British Empire imposed on them their own idea of development, which only
impoverished them, making them destitute, while the Empire grew richer and more
powerful.Gandhi also instilled in his people a hope of redemption through peaceful
demonstrations that exacerbated the British; for, they could not fire on
defenseless civilians without provoking the scorn of the whole world. The
massacre of innocents, the defenseless men, women and children who staged
peaceful demonstrations, stirred such a widespread criticism that it embarrassed
the British and eventually led to the freedom of India.
A similar situation developed in Lebanon recently when the massacre of
civilians, most of them children, evoked the criticism of the whole world
against Israel. It was a situation that could have been taken advantage of,
through some clever diplomacy instead of rockets striking back at Israel. So the
shelling and destruction continued on both sides, until the very last moment
before the cease-fire was enforced on them.
It seems that there is never two wars without a third. The latest event in
Lebanon is the third war against Israel and hopefully it will be the last. It is
easy to start a war but is very difficult to stop it and come to peaceful terms.
It is easy to affect the masses with hopes and dreams but quite difficult to
realize them, unless the plan of action is seen on a broader scale and all pros
and cons are carefully evaluated.
Thirty-three days ago, before the war erupted, the Lebanese people were living
peacefully, creating through their industry a little heaven for themselves and
for the tourists who dreamed of spending a happy vacation in Lebanon. Things
were going well, people nurtured their own dreams and were planning their
future, when suddenly they were robbed both of their dreams and their future.
They were also robbed of the home they had so laboriously created, when their
lives were disrupted, some of them scattered far and wide, and others crushed to
death under the debris of their houses.
The belligerents, having only war in mind, did not see the broader picture; they
did not pause to think of the appalling losses they had caused; did not think
that to overcome the destruction of roads, building, bridges and vital
facilities they would need a lot of money and capital, they did not think of
suffering of the innocent and the deaths of so many, they did not think that a
war, even if it gives the illusion of victory, leaves only uncertainty behind
until some form of readjustment is done.
Gandhi, when he planned to free his people, must have weighed all this and much
more; for he was dealing with a people divided into sectarian groups and their
fanatics; striving to bring them together as a nation was an arduous task but
had to be done, to achieve, for his country, its true freedom. At the same time
he was seeking to free India from the British yoke.
Gandhi was no ordinary man, he was wise and a visionary, he was a noble example
of a true humanitarian leader who thought of his people and of his land far more
than he thought of himself or of his family. India was his family and to it he
gave his life. He was a man who by example taught love and cooperation, he
taught peace and tolerance among sectarian groups to achieve the unity of
endeavor and purpose and for it he was assassinated.
This was his destiny which I believe he must have seen coming because, he was
too transparent a soul, too sensitive to people’s emotions and ways of thinking,
not to have sensed it, but having done his good work he was ready to go. Gandhi
set an example of how the weaker party can become formidable and regain its
freedom and dignity without resorting to violence, thereby winning the respect
and admiration of the world.
Violence breeds violence. Terrorism is not an answer to injustice for it itself
causes injustice through the killing of the innocent. When their violence is
carried out in their own land, they contribute to its weakness through the
destruction of human resources which could be used to improve their living
conditions. Also the money spent on their deadly operations could be put to good
use for the benefit of their people.
In the latest event, the belligerents on both sides knocked each other, each
determined to kill and destroy one another till the last minutes before the
cease-fire. The peace that has been imposed on them is indeed precarious and as
the resentment amounts it could be consequential. Terrorism and wars are ugly
episodes not only because they cause a colossal waste of human resources and
much-needed capital for human development, but also because they leave a trail
of hate and resentment in their path.
The belligerent spirit of man has often provided the strongest incentive that
spurs human ingenuity and creativity to invent ever more efficient means of
death and destruction, while indirectly leading to a new technological
breakthrough that benefits humanity by spurring research of a wider field.
However, those belligerent countries which rely on imported technology both for
their warfare and peaceful purposes, unless they make their own effort in
scientific research, will lag behind and only benefit those countries from where
they import their technology.
To survive nowadays and become a power one must concentrate on scientific
research and for this there must be stability in the country. India, which was
looked upon as an undeveloped country, is now making her stand in electronics.
Another rising giant is China.
Incidentally both China and India have the pride of having the oldest
civilizations and both are fast becoming competitive agents in the world
markets; this means real power.
The Arab world could also become a power if it unites in a common endeavor, puts
aside its petty jealousies and reaches a degree of internal stability. The GCC
has already set an example from the early 80s, but jealousy and the conflict of
interests among the other Arab countries still prevail. Stability is needed to
achieve anything and this brings us back to the last war against Israel in which
a faction took the initiative. Its bravery has stirred the masses in a flare of
heated emotion, but the painful consequences of the conflict leaves one
pondering: was it worth it?
Unfortunately the combination of pride and hate kills wisdom and what could have
been prevented and at the same time resulted in a true victory, was lost. It was
a golden chance to gain through the sympathy of the world what could not be
gained through violence, but the latter prevailed and that brought the situation
back to square one, while Lebanon has to rebuild itself and bear the anguish and
pain of its losses. What affects Lebanon, also affects the entire Arab world.
By Lidia Qattan - Kuwaiti artist, writer
IDF, Lebanese, Hizbullah Side By Side
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu and Hillel Fendel
With the Lebanese Army starting to deploy, the fragile ceasefire now puts IDF
and Lebanese soldiers side by side with armed Hizbullah terrorists, who blend in
with the civilian population. Lebanese troops have crossed the Litani River and
are on their way to southern Lebanon Hizbullah terrorist strongholds. Some
15,000 Lebanese troops are to be sent to the area - marking the first time in
three decades that the Lebanese Army is taking firm control of the southern part
of its country. Among the 30 villages it has so far taken control is Marun A-Ras,
where Israeli forces fought Hizbullah just a few weeks ago.
In some places, only several hundred yards separate the Lebanese forces from
thousands of Israeli soldiers.
"You can see red dust in the air as [the IDF soldiers are] maneuvering their
tanks," an ABC journalist reported. "Hizbullah people are behind, looking at
their positions, and the Israelis are looking back, and it is places like this
where the ceasefire is really being put to the test. Israeli drone aircraft fly
overhead, surveying the battlefield."
IDF to Lebanese Army
Israel is preparing, with the help of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, to turn the
area over to the Lebanese Army. Israel's position has been severely compromised,
however, by the decision of the Lebanese cabinet, which includes two Hizbullah
terrorist organization ministers, to deploy its soldiers without disarming
Hizbullah. The Lebanese government has agreed not to force Hizbullah to disarm
south of the Litani River, on condition that its weapons are concealed. This
violates the UN ceasefire resolution, which states in Paragraph 8 that southern
Lebanon must remain free of armed groups other than the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL.
However, a contradictory clause in Paragraph 3 "emphasizes [as opposed to 'calls
for' - ed.] the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of
Lebanon over all Lebanese territory... so that there will be no weapons without
the consent of the Government of Lebanon."
An indication of Lebanese intentions was given by Information Minister Ghazi
Aridi, who referred to Hizbullah terrorists as "brothers." "There will be no
confrontation between the army and brothers in Hizbullah," he said. "That is not
the army's mission... They are not going to chase or, Allah forbid, exact
revenge [on Hizbullah]."Hizbullah: No Plans to Disarm
The terrorist organization has flatly stated it will not disarm, nor does it
plan to leave its positions in southern Lebanon. Many Hizbullah terrorist
guerillas are from border villages, and keeping them away from their homes does
not appear to be in the Lebanese plans.
Hizbullah's entrenchment in southern Lebanon for the past 20 years leaves it an
essential part of society. "Hizbullah has used charity work and social welfare
programs financed by Iran to win wide support throughout Lebanon," AP reported.
"It continued that tradition Wednesday, saying it would help tens of thousands
of Lebanese reconstruct homes that were destroyed by Israel, a move likely to
deepen support among Shi'ites."
Hizbullah terrorists are likely to "put their weapons into hiding and melt away
into the civilian population," a New York Times report states. The paper quoted
a top terrorist guerilla, Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, saying, "Just like in the past,
Hizbullah had no visible military presence and there will not be any presence
now."
A Hizbullah legislator, Hassan Fadlallah, told the Arabic Al Jazeera television
station that his organization would not pull back north of the Litani, and that
the army deployment would not affect the presence of Hizbullah.
Israel has insisted it will not leave southern Lebanon until an international
force can be deployed to work alongside the Lebanese army. However, France,
which has led the move for the force, has stated it wants a clearer
understanding of the soldiers' mandate. In the meanwhile, France congratulated
Lebanon for deploying its army in the area. The UN resolution passed this
weekend authorizes the peacekeepers to use force "to ensure the movement of aid
workers and protect civilians in imminent danger, among other situations." It
does not define when soldiers can open fire.
Israel already has relinquished several positions to the small UN force already
operating in the area. IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni maintain, however, that they will not rely on Lebanese troops to keep
Hizbullah terrorists from re-arming.
The Syrian Threat
The most serious obstacle to Israel's aim of preventing Hizbullah from
re-building its arsenal and infrastructure is Syria. Foreign Minister Livni told
CNN this week that Israel has evidence that Damascus already is re-arming
Hizbullah. Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy for the United States, told the
Washington Post that one problem with the UN cease fire resolution is that it
does not include Syria. "It does not seem likely" that the UN resolution can be
carried out without Syria, Ross said.
MKs Demand Public Inquiry, Not Internal Committee
By Hillel Fendel
Defense Minister Peretz announces a new committee to review the army's
performance before and during the war in Lebanon. His friend Lipkin-Shachak will
head it. Criticism heard from all sides.
The committee, which was announced Wednesday night by Minister Peretz, has been
charged with investigating the readiness of the IDF and the Defense Ministry for
war, as well as the IDF's wartime functioning. It is to be staffed by former
Defense Ministry Director Gen. (ret.) Ilan Biran, other former IDF generals, and
Chairman of the Teva pharmaceuticals company Eli Horowitz. The committee is to
submit its findings within three weeks.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Amnon Lipkin-Shachak will chair the
committee. He headed the army until 1998, when he was replaced by Sha'ul Mofaz.
More recently, however, he served as an advisor to his friend Defense Minister
Amir Peretz - including during the very war in Lebanon that he is now supposed
to investigate. Labor MK Danny Yatom said, "There is a large problem with the
appointment of people to a committee that has been formed to investigate the
decisions made by their friend." The Movement for Quality in Government
called upon the nominees to the committee not to accept the job. "The committee
will be nothing more than a fig leaf against public criticism," the movement's
officials said in a statement.
MK Benny Elon (National Union) is strongly against the formation of the Shachak
committee, and is confident that a public investigative committee "with real
teeth" will take its place. "This is because many voices are calling for it, and
not only from the opposition," he told Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine today.
"They are also the voices of soldiers who fought in the war with great
dedication and motivation, and we cannot silence them. They have a bitter
feeling of disappointment, after being allowed to fight only at the last minute
until they were stopped."
Elon said that very many aspects of the fighting must be investigated:
"From little things such as how it happened that soldiers merely 2-3 kilometers
from Israel did not have food, and up to big things such as the fact that for
three weeks, the armored forces did not have a defined mission, but were rather
brought in and out of Lebanon a few times; even their division commander could
not explain what was going on." Elon added that the functioning of the Homefront
command and the non-implementation of evacuation plans must also be looked into.
Seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, MK Elon said, "It is at difficult
times like this that leadership can grow for the People of Israel. Crises and
war are nourishing grounds for young leaders - people who... were in war, and
saw the cries and suffering of the people. You have talents, and I call upon you
to come and assume the leadership."Likud MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), former
Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that
Peretz's decision is shameful, and that its purpose is merely to "prevent the
establishment of a serious, external investigative committee."
MKs Shteinitz, Yatom, Yossi Beilin and others have joined Elon's call for a
public committee of inquiry, to be headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Aharon
Barak. Shteinitz said it should begin work only after the last of the soldiers
return from Lebanon. If such a committee is formed, the Shachak committee will
be disbanded.