LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 25/07

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 20,27-40. Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called 'Lord' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive." Some of the scribes said in reply, "Teacher, you have answered well." And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Releases. Reports & Opinions
The International Lebanese Committee For UNSCR 1559:UN to investigate former president Lahoud’s crimes. November 25/07
Dr. Walid Phares: Seniora's cabinet in charge until a free President is elected.Washington DC, NRO. November 24/07
Defeating the demagogues.By: Martin Sherman.Ynetnews. November 24/07
How did the indefatigable Lebanese end up with such loathsome 'leaders?-The Daily Star-November 24/07
30 years after Sadat's journey, peace remains elusive.By Shlomo Ben-Ami-November 24/07

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 24/07
Geagea Rejects a Hizbullah-Inspired President.Naharnet
Saniora Reassures Christians Regarding Presidential Powers.Naharnet
Lebanon power vacuum sows confusion.BBC News
Lebanon: Once More to the Brink.TIME
Lebanon: A State Lacking President
Aoun Summons Christians-Naharnet
Syria Prepared to Sacrifice "Criminals" to Salvage Regime-Naharnet
France for Two Presidential Candidates-Naharnet
Saniora Rejects Lahoud's Predicted Risks of Emergency State-Naharnet
U.N. Chief Concerned about the Lebanon Situation-Naharnet
Bush Administration Urges Calm in Lebanon-Naharnet
Lebanon: A State Lacking President-Naharnet
Lahoud Packs Sack!-Naharnet
Lebanon faces power vacuum-BBC News
Political Crisis Deepens in Lebanon-The Associated Press
Lebanon in crisis as Lahoud leaves army in charge-Independent
Prez chaos in Lebanon - war next?New York Daily News
Lebanon's election farce-Middle East Times
Lahoud steps down, but no one else steps up-Daily Star
Aoun back in presidential running after March 14 rejects 'salvation initiative-Daily Star
All sides urged to stay calm, continue negotiations on filling presidency.AFP
'Not all-out mudslinging:' signs of a thaw in Beirut-Daily Star
UN chief urges Lebanon's feuding factions to stay calm, work ...International Herald Tribune
Rival factions return to arms as Lebanon stares into the abyss.Times Online
US Urges Calm in Lebanon-The Associated Press
No pressure on Lebanese pound despite logjam-Daily Star
Lebanese must do away with sectarianism-Daily Star
Situation 'very nice' as security forces keep tight grip on Lebanon-Daily Star
NGO Offre Joie marks Independence Day with symbolic march across bitterly divided Beirut-Daily Star
'Possible problems' paralyze Lebanon's education sector-Daily Star
Aoun a Presidential Candidate Again after a One-Day Break-Naharnet
Lebanese president leaves office amid 'state of emergency.AP
Lebanon risks power vacuum after vote failure-AFP
Syria says Golan on agenda of Mideast peace conference-Xinhua
lebanon's maronite patriarch warns presidential elections-People's Daily Online
PM Siniora focus of Lebanon power struggle-Reuters

Phares: Seniora's cabinet in charge until a free President is elected
Washington DC, NRO
November 23rd, 2007
Thomas Smith from National Review's Military Blog spoke with Dr Walid Phares, senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington regarding the situation on the ground in Lebanon today. Phares said:
"Departing pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud today issued a decree putting the Lebanese Army in charge of security across the country because as he stated "the current government [democratically elected] lacks legitimacy."
Lahoud, acting on the instructions of the Syrian and Iranian regimes planned on having the Lebanese Army competing over security with the sitting government of Fouad Seniora. According to the Lebanese constitution, if the president leaves without a successor elected by the parliament — as is now the case — presidential power is to fall into the hands of the council of minister "until a new president is elected."
Lahoud — an ally of Hezbollah — wanted the Lebanese Army to take over "national security" from the Seniora government while at the same time protecting Hezbollah.
However, Lahoud's plan may not work as designed: According to Lebanese constitutional sources, a departing president — who loses legal authority — cannot "estimate" the legality of the sitting and democratically elected government. More importantly, the army according to the constitution is under the authority of the government - not above or equal.
So the Lebanese Army as of Friday midnight is under the authority of the Seniora cabinet as an institution, not as a prime minister. Also, the Lebanese Army has already warned it will not side against the cabinet and that it will not tolerate the use of weapons inside Lebanon, a message that militia activities will not be tolerated.
As of now, according to the law, the Seniora government is in charge until a new president is elected. But this time-frame isn't very long. First, the last decision made by the speaker of the parliament, pro-Syrian Nabih Berri, was to designate next Friday as the day for the election of the president. Second, the March 14 movement, the anti-terrorist alliance, can technically hold a meeting and elect a new president. But there are other considerations slowing that move."
Meanwhile, Seniora's office has reportedly declared Lahoud's move regarding the army as "not valid and is unconstitutional. It is as if the statement was never issued."
You can read it at: (link) http://tank.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MGJlZmEwNGMxNGUxODhhZGYwOTEwZGEzOWEzZjMxYWU=
On BBC 5: "Lebanese army will be supported if Hezbollah agresses"
***Speaking to BBC 5 in London last night, Phares said: "The Lebanese Army is in charge of security now until a new President is elected in Lebanon. If threatened by terrorists, it will be backed by the UN and Lebanon's friends worldwide as would be the case of any Government under Terror attacks. The Seniora Government is in charge as a cabinet but the Lebanese MPs have the duty to elect their new President. They can't dodge their mandate as legislators. Hezbollah and its allies are threatening to use force with Lebanon's civil society if the MPs elect a President abiding by the UN resolutions. In that case, said Phares, the international community will have to assume its responsibilities."

Saniora Reassures Christians Regarding Presidential Powers
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora stressed Saturday that no one can assume the president's powers, noting that his government maintains its responsibilities in line with the constitution pending the election of a new head of state, hopefully soon.
The president's authorities have been referred, in line with the constitution to a "collective government handling, and this is only an interim procedure pending the election of a new president," Saniora stressed. He also opposed any attempt to elect an interim president, stressing that the constitutional term of the head of state is six years.
Saniora, addressing reporters after talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at the latter's seat in suburban Bkirki, also praised the army's performance in protecting civil order. "We respect the army's performance and highly appreciate its mission," Saniora said. His cabinet's main mission, Saniora said, is to "look after the people's needs while waiting for the election of a new president, hopefully soon." He called for re-activating the role of parliament, which he termed "the mother authority so that it can host true dialogue." Saniora stressed that the nation was not living under a state of emergency "and nothing requires concern regarding the security situation."
In answering a question regarding a warning by Iran that Lebanon is heading towards civil war, Saniora said: "we've learned painful lessons from the past and the Lebanese do not want to resort to violence again.""The people's main interest is in the election of a new president," he added." Beirut, 24 Nov 07, 14:45

Geagea Rejects a Hizbullah-Inspired President
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Saturday he opposes the election of a president who is committed to the existing understanding between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement of Michel Aoun. He stressed that Aoun is not the leading Christian leader and urged him to consider consensus on presidential candidates Nassib Lahoud and Butros Harb who represent the March 14 alliance to "salvage Lebanon." Geagea, addressing a news conference, also noted that blocking presidential elections opens the door to Syria's renewed influence in domestic Lebanese affairs "that is why Arab and international envoys talk to the Syrians about Lebanon." He said Syrian leaders have invested 40 years in trying to convince the world that Lebanon is not a viable state and that the Lebanese are not capable of ruling themselves. "We will not permit a return of Syria's influence and no revolution would survive in Lebanon except the Cedar Revolution. This is Cedar Land," Geagea pledged. He expressed the belief that a new president would be elected before year-end.
He said the interim rule by Premier Fouad Saniora's government "is not the solution (to Lebanon's crisis) the solution is in holding the presidential election as soon as possible." "What prevents the election of Butros Harb or Nassib Lahoud?" Geagea asked. "Is the present situation better than what it would have been had either of them been elected president?" "I propose this solution to hold the election, otherwise, the alternative solution would be more difficult," Geagea said.
In answering a question as to whether the Lebanese Forces is applying a U.S.-set agenda, Geagea said: "If the U.S. agenda is to elect a president on constitutional schedule, we are with the U.S. agenda, but if the U.S. agenda is to block presidential elections then Hizbullah is applying a U.S. agenda" because the MP's of the Iranian-backed party have boycotted the vote. He stressed that political differences with the FPM would persist within the "political frame and there would be no confrontation" with Aoun's partisans. Geagea concluded by stressing that electing a president by simple majority remains an option, denying reports of differences with Druze leader Walid Jumblat or any other leader of the March 14 forces. Beirut, 24 Nov 07, 15:47

Aoun Summons Christians
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun invited Christian political, spiritual, economic, Labor and media personalities to meetings at his residence to discuss threats facing the nation due parliament's failure to elect a new head of state. The Monday-to-Wednesday meetings were called due to the "extraordinary political situation arising from the presidential vacuum and claims by a non-constitutional government that it has assumed power," according to text of the invitation.
That was a reference to Premier Fouad Saniora's government which assumed powers after former president Emile Lahoud ended his nine-year extended term in office at midnight Friday following failure by parliament to elect a new head of state. Aoun said assuming presidential powers by the Saniora government "contradicts the constitution and entente and deals a blow to coexistence" between Lebanon's 18 sects. He urged all Christian politicians invited to the meetings at his residence in suburban Rabiyeh, east of Beirut, to "shoulder your responsibilities … in order to salvage the nation and preserve Lebanon's pluralist image." Beirut, 24 Nov 07, 15:14

Lebanon: A State Lacking President
Lebanon woke up Saturday a state without a president, a government termed "illegitimate" by the Hizbullah-led opposition and an army guarding social order with consent of the feuding parties. Foreign powers called for calm and speed up of efforts to elect a new head of state, while Iran cautioned that Lebanon is "so close to civil war." Former Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud left the hilltop Baabda Republican Palace at midnight Friday, ending a controversial term of nine years in office after Parliament failed to elect a successor hurling the nation into power vacuum. "Lahoud's term end to a republic without a president," the daily an-Nahar headlined its front page. "Political and security guarantees govern the transition era," it added in the eight-column double headline.
"Lahoud walked out," shouted al-Moustaqbal daily, which is affiliated with MP Saad Hariri, leader of the largest parliamentary bloc that opposed Lahoud.
"A republic without head .. protected by organized vacuum," outlined as-Safir in its front-page banner. An air of organized vacuum was evident in the streets of Beirut late Friday evening where partisans of Hariri's al-Moustaqbal Movement celebrated the end of Lahoud's term with fire crackers and chants of "Lahoud out, out" in Tarik Jedideh district while supporters of Hizbullah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's AMAL movement maintained calm in the adjacent district of Barbour.
An army captain in charge of checkpoints along the Kourniche Mazraa thoroughfare, which separates the two neighborhoods, told reporters: "Things are under control. Both sides know that we are here and we will not tolerate disturbances." Businesses and public institutions were open for normal services Saturday as calm prevailed over Lebanon, amidst calls by the United States, The European Union and the United Nations to maintain calm and speed up efforts to elect a new head of state.
The only difference observed, however, was that Lahoud's pictures have been removed from offices of some government institutions in areas traditionally hostile to the ex-president and the pro-Syrian opposition.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed deep concern over the Lebanon situation and said he "regrets" the failure by rival politicians to elect a successor to Lahoud. Ban "regrets this development and urges all parties to maintain calm as well as to further intensify efforts to reach a compromise as soon as possible," a statement said. Noting that he was "deeply concerned at the fragility of the situation in Lebanon, the secretary general called on "all parties to live up to their responsibilities and act within the constitutional framework as well as in a peaceful and democratic manner."
The Bush administration, on its part, urged all parties in Lebanon to remain calm and refrain from violence after the country's parliament failed to elect a new president as required by the constitution. A Parliamentary session to elect a new head of state was rescheduled for Nov. 30. The U.S. State Department appealed for the Lebanese military and security services to uphold the rule of law and for political actors to negotiate. The U.S. statement, however, noted that Premier Fouad Saniora's majority government, labeled by Lahoud and the Hizbullah-led opposition as illegitimate, "will temporarily assume executive powers and responsibilities until a new president is elected by Lebanon's Parliament." "This is the procedure stipulated by the Lebanese constitution and will ensure that the government is able to continue conducting its business without interruption," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in the statement.
"The United States government commends Lebanon's armed forces and security services for their stated commitment to ensuring law and order during this interim period, and we urge all Lebanese political groups to do their part to maintain calm and promote security for Lebanon's citizens," he said.
The European Union also voiced regret that Lebanon failed to elect a new head of state and urged political factions to agree on a compromise.
"The EU Presidency notes with regret that it hasn't been possible to elect a president of the Republic of Lebanon," Portugal, current holder of the bloc's rotating presidency, said in a statement. "The EU Presidency appeals to all political parties to continue dialogue with a view to electing a president as soon as possible," the statement said. Portugal urged "all concerned to respect the Lebanese constitution and to abstain from all actions that could upset public order and the security of the citizens," noting that that Lebanon's stability is "important for the entire region".
Saniora had rejected a controversial last minute measure by Lahoud ordering the army to enforce law and order after claiming that "risks of a state of emergency" prevail over the nation. A statement issued by Saniora's press office said the presidential measure is "not factual and not based on constitutional or legal authorities."
It recalled that, constitutionally, only the government has the authority to declare a state of emergency, subject to revision by parliament in eight days.
Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa noted that the army was entrusted with the task of maintaining law and order days before the Lahoud declaration and the regular force is "carrying out its duties." Beirut, 24 Nov 07, 09:28

Syria Prepared to Sacrifice "Criminals" to Salvage Regime
Syria is seeking a deal with the United States to stabilize Lebanon and normalize relations with Beirut in return for refraining from targeting President Bashar Assad's regime by the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 Hariri Killing and related crimes.
Under the headline "tempting offers in return for a come back by Syria's political influence to Lebanon," an-Nahar's Emile Khoury wrote that Syria is trying to offer the United States and moderate Arab states a deal based on: "setting up diplomatic relations with Lebanon and facilitating demarcation of the joint borders, including in the Shebaa Farms area, dismantling Palestinian military bases outside refugee camps and controlling weapons within the camps."
Syria, according to Khoury, also is offering to facilitate "implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions, especially UNSCR 1701 with the aim of tackling the issue of Hizbullah weapons and enabling the spread of state authority throughout Lebanon."
In Return, Khoury wrote, Syria wants to guarantee that the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes "would not be used for political vengeance that puts the Syrian regime in danger." "The (Syrian) regime, like any regime, may include criminals, and these criminals may have assassinated Hariri and others in Lebanon, but the regime is not a criminal regime," Khoury added. Unnamed political observers noted, with special emphasis, that a joint statement released after talks between King Abdullah of Jordan and Assad included total Syrian support for the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas, Khoury wrote. "This means ending Syria's support for Hamas, which opposes the Palestinian authority and adheres to armed struggle against Israel," He noted. The joint statement also "stressed on the importance of the positive role that Syria could play to guarantee Lebanon's security and stability," he added.
Has Damascus started implementing the deal by halting its support for Hamas? Khoury asked. eirut, 24 Nov 07, 11:29

Lebanon: A State Lacking President
Lebanon woke up Saturday a state without a president, a government termed "illegitimate" by the Hizbullah-led opposition and an army guarding social order with consent of the feuding parties. Foreign powers called for calm and speed up of efforts to elect a new head of state, while Iran cautioned that Lebanon is "so close to civil war." Former Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud left the hilltop Baabda Republican Palace at midnight Friday, ending a controversial term of nine years in office after Parliament failed to elect a successor hurling the nation into power vacuum. "Lahoud's term end to a republic without a president," the daily an-Nahar headlined its front page. "Political and security guarantees govern the transition era," it added in the eight-column double headline.
"Lahoud walked out," shouted al-Moustaqbal daily, which is affiliated with MP Saad Hariri, leader of the largest parliamentary bloc that opposed Lahoud.
"A republic without head .. protected by organized vacuum," outlined as-Safir in its front-page banner. An air of organized vacuum was evident in the streets of Beirut late Friday evening where partisans of Hariri's al-Moustaqbal Movement celebrated the end of Lahoud's term with fire crackers and chants of "Lahoud out, out" in Tarik Jedideh district while supporters of Hizbullah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's AMAL movement maintained calm in the adjacent district of Barbour.
An army captain in charge of checkpoints along the Kourniche Mazraa thoroughfare, which separates the two neighborhoods, told reporters: "Things are under control. Both sides know that we are here and we will not tolerate disturbances." Businesses and public institutions were open for normal services Saturday as calm prevailed over Lebanon, amidst calls by the United States, The European Union and the United Nations to maintain calm and speed up efforts to elect a new head of state.
The only difference observed, however, was that Lahoud's pictures have been removed from offices of some government institutions in areas traditionally hostile to the ex-president and the pro-Syrian opposition.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed deep concern over the Lebanon situation and said he "regrets" the failure by rival politicians to elect a successor to Lahoud. Ban "regrets this development and urges all parties to maintain calm as well as to further intensify efforts to reach a compromise as soon as possible," a statement said. Noting that he was "deeply concerned at the fragility of the situation in Lebanon, the secretary general called on "all parties to live up to their responsibilities and act within the constitutional framework as well as in a peaceful and democratic manner."
The Bush administration, on its part, urged all parties in Lebanon to remain calm and refrain from violence after the country's parliament failed to elect a new president as required by the constitution. A Parliamentary session to elect a new head of state was rescheduled for Nov. 30. The U.S. State Department appealed for the Lebanese military and security services to uphold the rule of law and for political actors to negotiate. The U.S. statement, however, noted that Premier Fouad Saniora's majority government, labeled by Lahoud and the Hizbullah-led opposition as illegitimate, "will temporarily assume executive powers and responsibilities until a new president is elected by Lebanon's Parliament."
"This is the procedure stipulated by the Lebanese constitution and will ensure that the government is able to continue conducting its business without interruption," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in the statement. "The United States government commends Lebanon's armed forces and security services for their stated commitment to ensuring law and order during this interim period, and we urge all Lebanese political groups to do their part to maintain calm and promote security for Lebanon's citizens," he said. The European Union also voiced regret that Lebanon failed to elect a new head of state and urged political factions to agree on a compromise. "The EU Presidency notes with regret that it hasn't been possible to elect a president of the Republic of Lebanon," Portugal, current holder of the bloc's rotating presidency, said in a statement.
"The EU Presidency appeals to all political parties to continue dialogue with a view to electing a president as soon as possible," the statement said.
Portugal urged "all concerned to respect the Lebanese constitution and to abstain from all actions that could upset public order and the security of the citizens," noting that that Lebanon's stability is "important for the entire region". Saniora had rejected a controversial last minute measure by Lahoud ordering the army to enforce law and order after claiming that "risks of a state of emergency" prevail over the nation. A statement issued by Saniora's press office said the presidential measure is "not factual and not based on constitutional or legal authorities." It recalled that, constitutionally, only the government has the authority to declare a state of emergency, subject to revision by parliament in eight days. Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa noted that the army was entrusted with the task of maintaining law and order days before the Lahoud declaration and the regular force is "carrying out its duties." Beirut, 24 Nov 07, 09:28

Lahoud Packs Sack!
By Mohammed Salam
Emile Lahoud packed the sack and evacuated the hilltop Baabda Republican Palace at midnight Friday, leaving behind a record of two Syrian-sponsored constitutional amendments that placed him in office … and kept him there for nine years. A cheerful crowd took to the streets of Beirut's Tarik Jedideh district to celebrate the end of Lahoud's term in office chanting "Lahoud out." Lahoud, 71, also has a long list of leftovers: Four military aides behind bars, 12 unsettled political crimes, a split nation struggling to avoid renewed civil strife and a vacant presidential office waiting for the election of a new head of state who can patch up a people that cannot agree even on one answer to a simple question: Who is the enemy? In 1998, Syrian President Hafez Assad sponsored a constitutional amendment that allowed Army Commander Lahoud to run for Lebanon's top post. The Syrian-controlled parliament responded, not only by adopting the Assad-inspired constitutional amendment, but also by unanimously electing his chosen candidate to Lebanon's top post.  Blessed by "the father", Lahoud enjoyed another constitutional amendment inspired by the late Syrian President's son-heir Bashar Assad in 2004 that kept him in office for three years more.
Shortly after Lahoud received the second Assad Blessing, Communications Minister Marwan Hamadeh survived a car-bomb attack on Oct. 1, 2004 and the list of serial killings rolled:
Ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, Minister of Economy Basel Fleihan, columnist Samir Qassir, former leader of the Communist Party George Hawi, TV journalist May Chidiac, Defense Minister Elias Murr, MP Jibran Tueni, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, MP Walid Eido and MP Antoine Ghanem.
The Assassination of ex-MP Elias Hobeika in 2002 also remains a mystery.
No coincidence, all the victims were prominent opponents of Lahoud, or both Lahoud and Syria's dominance over Lebanon.
"We want vengeance from Lahoud and Bashar," the angry crowds chanted in the mass Hariri Funeral in February 2005. Syrian troops rolled out of Lebanon two months later, leaving Lahoud guarded by Hizbullah … to the last minute of his term.
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah has labeled Lahoud "Zalami", colloquial for man, and Hizullah-sponsored billboards in the suburbs of south Beirut describe him as "God's Grace."
The head of Hizbullah's parliamentary Bloc, Mohammed Raad, visited Lahoud on Thursday and declared in advance that whatever decision taken by the president before his term runs out would be "legitimate," thus approving, in advance, any procedure that the Syrian-backed head of state might adopt to guard against possible attempts by the March 14 majority alliance to elect a head of state who is not controlled by either Assad or Nasrallah.
Lahoud evacuates the Baabda Palace while his four generals-aides remain jailed for alleged links to the Hariri murder.
Former directors of the General security and Internal Security Force, Jamil al-Sayyed and Ali Hajj, as well as former commander of the Republican Guards Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan and former Director of Military Intelligence Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar have been described by Nasrallah as "political prisoners" who should be set free. "You come from the people's agony" goes a song by which Lebanon's famous composer-entertainer Milhem Barakat greeted Lahoud's election nine years ago.
Disappointed by Lahoud's performance, Barakat later apologized to the nation for the song.
Nine years later, Lahoud evacuates the Baabda Palace leaving a people in agony after predicting risks of an emergency state that does not exist.
Beirut, 23 Nov 07, 23:42

Saniora Rejects Lahoud's Predicted Risks of Emergency State
Premier Fouad Saniora on Friday rejected a controversial measure by outgoing President Emile Lahoud ordering the army to enforce law and order after claiming that "risks of a state of emergency" prevail over the nation. A three-article statement signed by Lahoud said: "The risks of a state of emergency prevail over all the territories of the Republic of Lebanon as of Nov. 24. "The army is assigned the task of maintaining security and all military forces would be placed at the army's service," the statement added. It said that once a "legitimate government is formed" the army command would coordinate its moves with it. However, a statement issued by Saniora's press office said the presidential measure is "not factual and not based on constitutional or legal authorities." It recalled that, constitutionally, only the government has the authority to declare a state of emergency, subject to revision by parliament in eight days. The Saniora statement said Lahoud wants to allude that the nation is facing serious threats "at a time security prevails because the army maintains the nation's security and protects the people's safety."The statement concluded by stressing that the government is both "legal and constitutional." Beirut, 23 Nov 07, 22:37

U.N. Chief Concerned about the Lebanon Situation
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed deep concern over the Lebanon situation and said he "regrets" the failure by rival politicians to elect a successor to President Emile Lahoud. Ban "regrets this development and urges all parties to maintain calm as well as to further intensify efforts to reach a compromise as soon as possible," a statement said. Noting that he was "deeply concerned at the fragility of the situation in Lebanon, the secretary general called on "all parties to live up to their responsibilities and act within the constitutional framework as well as in a peaceful and democratic manner."
With tanks and troops on the streets of Beirut to maintain security, lawmakers from the Western-backed majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition had been scheduled to convene on Friday in a final bid to pick a new president. But the session was postponed, for a fifth time in two months. The move threatens to plunge Lebanon -- suffering its worst crisis since end of the civil war in 1990 -- into further chaos. Lahoud's office said he would step down as scheduled despite the inability of the pro- and anti-Syrian camps to replace him and that he had handed over security to the army.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 23 Nov 07, 23:09

Aoun a Presidential Candidate Again after a One-Day Break
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun retained his status as full-fledged presidential candidate after a deadline set to accept his initiative expired late Friday.
The FPM, in a short statement, said the deadline for accepting Aoun's initiative expired at 10:00 p.m. Aoun, meanwhile, expressed regret because his "salvation initiative, was rejected a half hour after it was announced, which reflects an intention to reject it" without considering its terms. Aoun also cautioned his allies in the Hizbullah-led opposition that the majority government of Premier Fouad Saniora wants to become a "de facto permanent government" after president Emile Lahoud's term in office expires at midnight. He stressed that "tomorrow will be another day and we will have to face many things in calm to achieve our goals.""We will not accept a government that usurps power to remain in office," Aoun concluded. Beirut, 23 Nov 07, 23:01

Defeating the demagogues
Amos Oz’ piece in favor of peace talks with Abbas delusional, detached from reality
By: Martin Sherman
Ynetnews - Israel
Published: 11.24.07, 10:55 / Israel Opinion
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3474919,00.html
Published: 11.24.07,
Israel Opinion
The minute we leave south Lebanon we will have to erase the word Hizbullah from our vocabulary, because the whole idea of the State of Israel versus Hizbullah was sheer folly from the outset. It most certainly will no longer be relevant when Israel returns to her internationally recognized northern border.
Amos Oz in "Try a Little Tenderness" (Interview) Ha'aretz, March 17, 2000
As the above excerpt clearly illustrates, Amos Oz's considerable literary talents do not translate into commensurate political acumen. Advertisement
However, this is a shortcoming that has in no way deterred him from dispensing his views on matters political; nor has his manifest lack of competence in the field diminished the prominence these views are allotted in the media. This was again underscored by his latest pronouncement on the upcoming Annapolis conference in an Op-Ed piece entitled "Defeating the extremists" posted in this section on November 21.
It is an article so delusional and detached from reality that one cannot help wondering whether Oz's literary successes have left him unable to differentiate fact from fiction. It gives the impression that the distinguished author has not quite made the transition from the imaginary world of the novel to that of everyday reality. He appears blissfully impervious to fact that while in the former, a stroke of pen and the whim of the writer are sufficient to conjure up personalities, invent processes, create events and determine outcomes, in the latter matters are considerably less malleable to wishful thinking. In the real world of politics – as opposed to the imaginary one in literature - dangers must be confronted, not written out of the plot.
Thus when Oz declares that the Palestinians "accept the principle of the two-state solution", one can but wonder on what he bases his extraordinary optimism, for this is an assertion that flies in the face of the facts. A total of 90 percent of the Palestinian electorate voted for factions (Hamas - 56%, and Fatah - 34%) - which explicitly advocate the destruction of the "Zionist entity (see Hamas Charter and Fatah Constitution). Indeed if anything the Fatah is even more emphatic in this regard, declaring its aim to be "complete … eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence (Article 12 of its Constitution).
Moreover, less than a week before the publication of Oz's article, the allegedly "moderate" head of the PA negotiating team, Saeb Erekat, categorically and publicly refused to recognize the Jews' right to a sovereign state, declaring: "The Palestinians won't accept Israel as a Jewish state." Clearly then, even if the Palestinian have accepted the principle of a two state solution, as Oz alleges, they certainly do not see it as a principle involving "two states for two people". So is Oz woefully misinformed…or willfully misleading?
Oz's attempts to dismiss his political opponents by scornfully exposing alleged inconsistencies in their arguments. But it is an attempt that falls flat on its face. He writes: “The hawkish Right in Israel argues that Mahmoud Abbas is too weak and therefore making peace is not worthwhile. This is the same rightist camp that argued that Arafat was too dangerous, and therefore it was not worthwhile making peace with him either.”
Oz is of course correct. Could it be that Oz's sanctimonious arrogance blinds him to the fact that the "hawkish Right" was indeed right, while the dovish Left was wrong? For clearly Arafat was too dangerous to make peace with (as even those who initially advocated doing so now admit); and Abbas is too weak to make peace with (as his crushing humiliation by Hamas clearly indicates. So are we missing something here, or is Oz actually castigating his opponents for having their position vindicated?
Insane fanaticism?
If inconsistency is up for discussion, Oz would do better to look at his own faction. For example, first explaining Palestinian terror as an expression by extremists of their frustration at the lack of a "peace" process, but later (once such a process was in fact instigated), as an expression, by the same extremists, of their desire to undermine the peace process, whose previous absence so frustrated them.
Moreover, it was the Left who dismissed pre-Oslo attempts by Israel to negotiate with potential indigenous Palestinian partners, claiming they were weak and lacked the necessary authority. It was the Left that proclaimed Israel cannot choose or cultivate a convenient Palestinian partner who could "deliver the goods." Indeed, this was the very reason they insisted on dealing with the strong and authoritative Arafat.
Now that this approach has failed miserably, we are being told that we should revert to the former policy that they themselves discredited – of choosing and cultivating a Palestinian partner even though he is, by their own admission, weak and lacking in authority.
Not surprisingly, in his blueprint for "defeating the extremists," Oz envisages Israel withdrawing behind a "border … similar to the 1967 boundaries." Nothing could underscore the intellectual bankruptcy of Oz's proposal more than this unswerving embrace of the failed and futile idée fixe of territorial retreat. Even more disturbing – and infuriating – is his stubborn refusal to acknowledge the disastrous consequences this policy has wrought in the recent past: Retreat in the North brought about the build-up of Hizbullah in Lebanon and the bombardment of the Galilee; retreat in the South brought about the rise of Hamas in Gaza and the ongoing bombardment of the Negev.
Now Oz suggests retreat in the East As recipe for "defeating the extremists"? Yet all he offers as a rationale for the hope that this time it will be different is his unsubstantiated belief that the Palestinians "recognize their duty to settle, through negotiations, the questions of Jerusalem, settlements, refugees, borders, security, and water." How very reassuring.
Oz's obsessive adherence to a doctrine of appeasement brings to mind two quotes from two prominent figures of the previous century – physicist Albert Einstein and political philosopher George Santayana. It was Einstein who defined "insanity" as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"; whereas Santayana characterized "fanaticism" as "redoubling your efforts having forgotten your aim". We are therefore left to wonder whether they would have judged Oz's proposal to be "insane fanaticism"…or "fanatical insanity."

The International Lebanese Committee For UNSCR 1559
2300 M Street NW, Suite 800, Washington DC, USA 20037
Phone ( 202) 416 1819, Fax ( 202) 293 3083
www.UN1559.org
SG1559@UN1559.org
Press Release
Washington Nov 24th 2007
UN to investigate former president Lahoud’s crimes
The ILC 1559 expresses its satisfaction that former President Emile Lahoud has finally left the Presidential Palace in Baabda after more than three years from his illegal extension of power, a breach of laws and principles which was addressed by one stipulation of the UNSCR 1559 issued in September 2004, one day after the constitutional piracy was forced on the Lebanese People. However now that Mr. Lahoud has left the office, the Committee is calling on the UN special prosecutor in the Terrorist attacks in Lebanon since the fall of 2004 and the special envoy of the Secretary General of the UN to investigate General Lahoud regarding the following serious charges:
1. The Hariri and Lebanese politicians assassinations:
General Lahoud was an imposed President of Lebanon between October 2004 and November 2007. Under his Presidential mandate six political leaders, including legislators and a minister were savagely assassinated and two political activists murdered for political reasons. Under his Presidency the joint operations room between his regime, the Syrian regime and Hezbollah was still in function. General Lahoud was the higher supervisor of this joint operation room and thus is aware of the cooperation between the two regimes and Hezbollah in Lebanon during this period of time. A UN investigation with General Lahoud is now warranted in the Terror assassinations of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, MP Basem Fleihan and their escort, Samir Qassir, George Hawi, MP Gebran Tueni, Minister and MP Pierre Gemayel, MP Walid Eido and MP Antoine Ghanem. General Lahoud as the highest security official overseeing the joint intelligence operation room along with the Syrian regime and Hezbollah must be investigated at once by the UN investigation committee.
2. The assassination of Lebanese activists:
General Lahoud, being the head of the regime between 1998 ad 2007 and the highest authority overseeing the intelligence joint operation room with Syria and Hezbollah, should also be investigated in the assassination of Lebanese political activists who were kidnapped, tortured and killed between 1998 and 2007.
3. The Lebanese detainee in Syria:
General Lahoud, being the head of the regime between 1998 ad 2007 and the highest authority overseeing the intelligence joint operation room with Syria and Hezbollah, should also be investigated in the illegal arrest, kidnapping and transfer to Syrian jails of hundreds of Lebanese and non Lebanese national where they were tortured and some have been killed while others are still unaccounted for.
4. The Lebanese military and civilians murdered in 1990
General Lahoud, having deserted the legal Lebanese Army in 1990 and appointed by a Syrian-backed Government as a new commander of a Syrian controlled Lebanese Army that same year took responsibility for a joint Syrian-Lebanese military operation against the Ministry of Defense and the Presidential Palace in Lebanon between 7 AM and 5 PM on October 13, 1990. During that operation hundreds of Lebanese soldiers and civilians were executed against all norms of international law and a number of military personnel and civilians were detained and transferred to Syria. General Lahoud should be investigated for information he may have kept about these executions and the fate of the vanished persons.
The Committee 1559 also calls on the parents and relatives of all the victims mentioned above to inform the UN Investigation Commission about all questions related to these crimes and acts of terror, so that the investigation with General Lahoud can be comprehensive.
Tom Harb
Secretary General
The International Lebanese Committee
For UNSCR 1559