LCCC ENGLISH NEWS BULLETIN
September 9/06

Bible reading of the Day
"He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 7,31-37.
Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!") And (immediately) the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and (the) mute speak."

Opinions
The Turks Are Back.By: Walid Choucair 09.09.06

 Stop Appeasing “Muslim Opinion”. By:Alex Epstein-American Chronicle 09.09.06
Lessons from Lebanon: Rethinking national liberation movements-Al-Ahram Weekly
Opinion: "Germany Should Make No Compromises in Lebanon"Deutsche Welle
Lebanon's other border-International Herald Tribune - France

Latest New the Daily Star for September 9/2006

Hizbullah ignores new freeze by US Treasury
Olmert lays out his terms for talks on Shebaa Farms
Maritime blockade ends as UN naval forces start coastal patrols
Fatfat discusses continuing plight of displaced with top UN official
Harb warns against departure of Cabinet without careful planning
UN official touts progress on Hariri court draft

Qatar Islamic Bank considers issue of Lebanese sukuk

Lebanon's bank deposits shrink but sector remains confident

'Kiss me not on the eyes, a kiss on the eyes tears people apart'

Lebanon's problems are many, but solving them could be easy

Understand 9/11 in its full historical context -By Rami G. Khouri

Deadlock or compromise on Tehran's nuclear program? By Sadegh Zibakalam
In Iran, a surprising, confounding world -By David Ignatius

Khatami tells Washington audience: US should stop threatening, start talking

Arab-Israeli MPs defy ban on visits to Syria

Latest New from Miscellaneous sources for September 9/2006

Israeli might cede Shebaa Farms to Lebanon-Ya Libnan, Lebanon 

Treasury Department Targets Hezbollah's and Iran's Financial Institutions-Counterterrorism Blog

IDF captures 4 Lebanese in Aita al-Shaab-Ynetnews, Israel
Israeli sea blockade of Lebanon over: UN-RTE.ie
Israel ending sea blockade of Lebanon-CNN - USA
Olmert agrees to lift Lebanon blockade-Jerusalem Post
Israel begins lifting blockade on Lebanon-People's Daily Online
Israel to lift naval blockade of Lebanon within hours-USA Today
Israel signals a staggered end to Lebanon blockade-Scotsman

IDF seizes four people in s. LebanonJerusalem Post

Video is said to show bin Laden prepping for 9/11 attacksCNN 

Iran's Khatami Urges Talks, Not ThreatsABC News

Israel to withdraw forces from Lebanon within two weeks: PeretzPeople's Daily Online
MECC General Secretary Activities in August-Worldwide Faith News (press release) - New York,NY,USA
Terror war waged on many fields of battle-Hattiesburg American
UN Rights Experts Investigate Conduct of Israel-Hezbollah War-Voice of America
Cypriot police quiz 'Syria arms' ship-ISX-Data.com
Explosions rock south Lebanon as Israeli Army leaves-Zee News
Finnish president approves sending 250 peacekeepers to Lebanon-International Herald Tribune
LEBANON: PARISI -MOTION BY FINI? I'LL READ IT AND THEN DECIDEAgenzia Giornalistica Italia -
Lebanon: UNHCR warehouse fire-Reuters
UN peacekeepers make their first steps in South- LebanonInternational Herald Tribune
Israel ends Lebanon air embargo-Swissinfo
Chinese engineering troops to stay with UN forces in Lebanon, says -People's Daily Online
Spain sends 1,100 troops to Lebanon-Aljazeera.net - Qatar
Turkey's high-stakes march into Lebanon -Asia Times Online
Indonesian forces to be placed in "blue lane" in Lebanon-People's Daily Online
Relief and Reconstruction Efforts in Lebanon Will be Costly-Voice of America -
Turks unhappy with Lebanon mission-Aljazeera.net
What now, Lebanon? Stresses and strains show in a country divided-The Age

The delegation has expressed its solidarity with the Lebanese people
Balad chairman MK Azmi Bishara -Last update - 12:59 08/09/2006
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Balad chairman MK Azmi Bishara was due to arrive in Syria on Friday, where he will join other members of the Israeli Arab Knesset faction and meet with Syrian leaders, in violation of Israeli law. The delegation has expressed its solidarity with the Lebanese people harmed in the Israel-Hezbollah war, for which it blamed Israel. "The public in Lebanon and in Israel are the victims of the same policy," said Balad MK Jamal Zahalka, who headed to Damascus on Thursday, along with MK Wasal Taha. "We don't see Syria as an enemy state," Zahalka said Friday, in an interview with Israel Radio from Syria. "There is an opportunity today to discuss peace." Friday's visit marks the first time in five years that Bishara has been to Syria. In the wake of his 2001 visit, the Knesset passed a law prohibiting Knesset members from traveling to enemy countries. MK Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, said Friday there was no difference between the Balad delegation's trip and an act of espionage against the Jewish state. The Balad party released a statement this week saying that the MKs' visit was "the realization of the right of Arabs in Israel to remain in contact with Arab nations."Party officials said the delegation was seeking a just peace in the Middle East. Members of the Balad delegation expressed their fear of a "second round" of fighting in Lebanon, and called for refraining from additional wars.
The MKs had planned to go to Syria two months ago, but put off the trip due to the political tensions surrounding the war.

Treasury Department Targets Hezbollah's and Iran's Financial Institutions
By Andrew Cochran
In actions announced yesterday and today, the Treasury Department makes it clear that the U.S. will pursue the financial institutions which assist Hezbollah and the Iranian regime. Today, Treasury cut off access to the U.S. financial system by Iran's Bank Saderat, one of Iranian-owned banks, by making it impossible to conduct "U-turn transactions," which allow U.S. banks to process payments involving Iran that begin and end with a non-Iranian foreign bank. The Treasury statement asserts, "The bank is used by the Government of Iran to transfer money to terrorist organizations, including Hizballah, Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. A notable example of this is a Hizballah-controlled organization that has received $50 million directly from Iran through Bank Saderat since 2001." Stuart Levey, the senior Treasury anti-terrorist financing official, said, "Bank Saderat facilitates Iran's transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars to Hizballah and other terrorist organizations each year."
This follows yesterday's designation of two financial companies and one individual that provide financial support to Hizballah. The action prohibits any transactions between U.S. persons and the designated entities and also freezes any assets those entites may have under U.S. jurisdiction. From the Treasury press release:
Bayt al-Mal is a Hizballah-controlled organization that performs financial services for the terrorist organization. Bayt al-Mal operates under the direct supervision of Hizballah Secretary General Hasan Nasrallah. As Hizballah's main financial body, Bayt al-Mal serves as a bank, creditor, and investment arm for Hizballah. The central headquarters of Bayt al-Mal was located in Hizballah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs. Bayt al-Mal utilizes the Yousser Company for Finance and Investment to secure loans and finance business deals for Hizballah companies.
Husayn al-Shami, the head of Bayt al-Mal, is a senior Hizballah leader who has served as a member of Hizballah's Shura Council and as the head of several Hizballah-controlled organizations, including the Islamic Resistance Support Organization. Shami is also responsible for foreign donations to Hizballah fundraising organizations.
Under Secretary Levey discussed these actions today at a 9/11-related event in Washington. "It is remarkable that Iran has a nine-digit line item in its budget to support Hizballah, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations at the expense of investing in the future of its young people."

Are there real winners in the Lebanon war?
By Robert Chahine
When the violence of the Israel-Hezbollah war was tenuously stopped in mid-August by a UN resolution demanding "cessation of hostilities", a stampede of claims of victory promptly ensued. Hezbollah's members and supporters demonstrated in the streets with fireworks, and distributed candy and fruits. And the presidents of Iran and Syria rushed to support the victory claim with speeches and congratulations. On the other hand, the Israeli government also claimed victory and President George W. Bush said that Israel was the winner.
In fact the Israelis failed to achieve their two declared goals: first disarming Hezbollah and pushing its fighters north of the Litani River and second freeing the two soldiers held hostage. Yet they did achieve some benefits. The Lebanese army moved to the Lebanese-Israeli border, a matter that Hezbollah had vehemently opposed and successfully obstructed before the war. Israel also reportedly destroyed most of Hezbollah's long and medium range missiles and established important obstacles to their replacement. Further Resolution 1701 prohibits the deployment of any Hezbollah rockets or missiles south of the Litani and brings in significant UN forces to monitor and enforce that. Thus Hezbollah from here on will encounter major obstacles to positioning offensive arms in that area, let alone attempt to fire any.
As to Hezbollah, nobody denies its moral victory in demonstrating a better ability to fight and resist the Israeli military than any of the large Arab armies that fought previous battles. At the end of the day Hezbollah was neither abolished, nor disarmed and still had the two Israeli soldiers to try to negotiate prisoner exchanges, despite the fact that UNSC Resolution 1701 requested their unconditional release. Nevertheless, a leading Lebanese columnist is quoted as saying "If Hezbollah won a victory, it was a pyrrhic one and many leaders and analysts in the Diaspora are wondering: "If this is a victory, how would defeat be?" Amir Taheri wrote recently "Hezbollah didn't win" in the Wall Street Journal and listed many reasons, some probably legitimate and some may be inspired by his hatred for the current Iranian regime. Among the many negative results for Hezbollah cited by Taheri, none is more important than the fact that, apparently, there are leaders in the Shiite community who are now daringly criticizing Hezbollah and many are distancing themselves from it. Iran may not be able to send enough cash to buy back the trust that was shaken or lost in the heart of God only knows how many. Further, although probably unfair, it may still hurt Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's ego that the Taheri commentary refers to "him and his masters in Tehran". Yes, Mr. Taheri may be a westernized Iranian writing for readers in the US, but in our globalized world, whether the Wall Street Journal is read or not in Lebanon, the article is circulating widely on the internet and that is how it came to our attention. It will certainly be read by many Shiites and other Lebanese inside Lebanon.
In fact, despite all the claims of victory from all sides, in the Israeli-Hezbollah war, there were only losers and some lost a lot more than others. The biggest loser unfortunately was Lebanon: About 1,000 dead, mostly civilians, nearly one-fourth to one-third of the population displaced, large exodus of youth and intelligentsia, massive destruction of infrastructure with damages amounting to multi-billion US dollars, loss of the tourist season that was expected to bring in between one and two billion US dollars, and most importantly loss of hope and credibility affecting many Lebanese and their friends. All this is making a previously difficult economic situation, more and more critical. Israel also had dead and displaced citizens but much fewer, than Lebanon. It did not liberate the prisoners whose abduction sparked the war, and was clearly blamed by most of the international community for an excessive and unwarranted response. But most importantly and dangerously for its future, Israel lost at least for now its aura of invincibility. The Olmert government will sooner or later have to account and pay a price for a mismanaged war and its results. The Bush administration, which is widely believed to have given the green light to Israel, also suffered significant damage to its policies in the Middle East and will have to deal with an emboldened Iranian regime which may show stronger resistance to halt its drive towards developing nuclear capabilities.
Further Hezbollah and Iran sustained more significant losses than what ever is truly or falsely mentioned in the Taheri commentary. We hear now amongst the Lebanese Diaspora significant questions about the democratic Hezbollah winnings in the latest free elections. People are talking louder of the foreign (Iranian) money used to purchase votes and the fake alliances that gained votes based on Nasrallah's statement of commitment to the Lebanese 10,452 square kilometer principle. More importantly there is a new focus on the intimidation factor resulting from their possessing illegal arms that are an antidote for true democracy.The war also exposed the unrealistic expectation of deterrence based on the "balance of terror" concept. Published statistics about the losses and destruction in Lebanon report 10 to 100 times bigger Lebanese losses than those sustained by Israel. Further, Hezbollah and Iran lost the possible deterrent factor against an Israeli or American military strike on the Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel was supposedly worried about a Hezbollah reaction to such strike that would shower Northern Israel with rockets and missiles. With Hezbollah now north of the Litani and no significant rocket launching potential south of the Litani, in the presence of the Lebanese army and the United Nations forces, Israel is now protected to a significant extent from such threat. Therefore, Iran is now more vulnerable to a possible military option and Hezbollah is of significantly lesser value for deterrence.
A thorough and honest analysis of the Israel Hezbollah war up to the cease fire produced by UNSCR 1701 obviously supports the principle that "In wars most of the times there are no real winners".
In this one there were only losers and bigger losers.
The only possible potential for winning is for all sides to be realistic and learn lessons to avoid the mistakes that brought damages and disasters to all involved. On the Lebanese side we are gratified by the efforts displayed by all concerned to preserve national unity. We are impressed by the Lebanese government tactful efforts to extend its authority over all the national territory. And most importantly, we are comforted and reassured by Nasrallah's recent interview, whereby he implicitly acknowledged the key mistake and admitted that had he known that the two soldiers' abduction would result in this extensive war, he would not have approved the abduction. We are also encouraged that he does not foresee a resumption of hostilities anytime soon. We certainly hope he is well informed and correct on such foresight. The expatriate community wishes that the lessons learned from a thorough and sincere analysis of the results of this war will divert the attention of all concerned, away from violent initiatives, towards peaceful and diplomatic means, to secure Lebanon's rights and interests. We certainly stand ready to do our utmost to help in such efforts.
**Dr Robert CHAHINE, President, American Lebanese Foundation: http://www.alfusa.org/

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: MDE 18/008/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 233
8 September 2006
Lebanon: Grinding impact of maritime blockade on civilians
Amnesty International hopes that Israel's lifting of its air blockade of Lebanon yesterday will lead to an improvement in the human rights situation as Lebanon struggles to recover from the devastating effects of the war. However, the organisation is concerned that the civilian population of Lebanon continues to be affected by Israel's ongoing maritime blockade.
The blockade, which Israel states is aimed at preventing the re-arming of Hizbullah and the transport out of Lebanon of two captured Israeli soldiers, has continued to hamper reconstruction and recovery efforts. Thousands of shipping containers have had to be re-directed to other ports in the eastern Mediterranean, or remain at sea, drastically increasing transport costs and delaying the economic and social recovery of the country. Economic activity was already severely impacted by the war and Israeli bombings, much of which targeted civilian infrastructure including a number of large businesses, and certain sectors are completely devastated. Amnesty International delegates have met with a range of individuals in Lebanon including representatives of the fishing, construction, agricultural and medical sectors which remain affected by the sea blockade.
While blockades are not prohibited per se by international humanitarian law, they must never prevent foodstuffs and other essential supplies from reaching the civilian population. The manner in which they are imposed should also minimize the adverse impact on the civilian population. Israel's maritime blockade has meant that sufficient medical supplies and other vital equipment and goods have not been able to reach Lebanon.
Among more vulnerable sectors of the civilian population who have suffered most through more than eight weeks of blockade are the country's fishermen. Unable to fish since the start of the conflict the boats of some 8,000 fishermen remain idle and many of the men and their families have become destitute. In addition, in an Israeli air-force attack of early August that was a possible war crime, the fishermen's port at al-Wazai near Beirut was destroyed including 400 fishing boats and various workshops and offices. Even when the lifting of the maritime blockade occurs, the fishermen and their families will continue to be affected by the huge oil spill caused by the Israeli bombing in mid-July of the coastal Jiyye power station. The slick from some 10-15,000 tons of fuel oil presents a long-term threat to marine life of the region and to the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
Amnesty International reiterates its call for the immediate establishment of a comprehensive, independent and impartial inquiry into violations of international humanitarian law by both Israel and Hizbullah in the conflict. The inquiry should examine in particular the impact of this conflict on the civilian population. It should propose effective measures to hold accountable those responsible for crimes under international law, and to ensure that the victims receive full reparation.
-------------------------------------
East Mediterranean Team
Amnesty International, International Secretariat
Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street
London WC1X 0DW
United Kingdom
E-mail: Eastmed@amnesty.org
Tel: +44 (0)20 7413 5500
Fax: +44 (0)20 7413 5719

The Turks Are Back…
Walid Choucair Al-Hayat - 08/09/06//
Political analysts inside and outside Lebanon, along with foreign diplomats and Western experts in the region's affairs betray a tendency to speak of a similarity between the events that have been taking place in Lebanon for some time now (which culminated in Israel's open war against Lebanon) and the old history of struggles in this small country since before the birth of Christ and in later centuries, particularly the 19th century, when the 'oriental' crisis erupted during the Ottoman Empire. Then there was the deluge of foreign, particularly European, armies on Lebanon, ushering a change in the regional map and leading to a century of French, British, and other European mandates in the region, before receding during the wars of independence when new areas of influence were carved in the Middle East.
Some are inclined - based on their own preferences, State and group affiliations - to indulge in the influences of remote and recent history on the present. They draw conclusions from current events, and then make analogies with past events.
Accordingly, some Arabs and orientalists view the eruption of war and the current standoff as one between Persians and Arabs for control of the region, in a replication of the events that took place hundreds of years ago.
They also see that some Arabs side with the West against the Persians and that the ongoing standoff between Israel, the US, and the West on one side and Iran on the other, draws Israel closer to some of the Arabs.
Nevertheless, the views of those who indulge in the influences of the events before the Muslim conquest on the current situation are untenable, at least when it comes to the Israeli role.
They mention another influence: the Persians and the Jews were allied against the Arabs when the first occupied Arab lands and waged war against them; in the present, Iran is inevitably heading toward a pact with Israel, and indications (such as the Contra Gate scandal during the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s) in the modern age make this possibility feasible.
These comparisons, nevertheless, encourage those in question to refresh their memories to verify historical events, since the emergence of one different essential element makes the belief in these influences erroneous or incomplete.
Also among the similarities, drawn against the backdrop of the formation of a new UNIFIL, and its mission and size, is that the French are 'back' in Lebanon and the region with a vengeance. And more important, the Turks are 'back', too.
For those who are making comparisons, the former reminds them of France's mandate and the influence it enjoyed in the Arab Orient from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century. The Turks see in the determination of the Justice and Development ruling party in Ankara to participate in the UNIFIL a historical basis for Turkey's regional role since the Ottoman Empire.
A certain contradiction in that area, however, sheds doubt on these comparisons.
The French are not coming back this time eying the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, known at one time as the 'sick man of Europe'. Their comeback, along with several other European nations, and their leadership of UNIFIL, at least until the end of this year (when leadership might be transferred to the Italians) is based on Europe's oppressive concern with - with Paris assuming a leading role - preventing the escalation of tensions and wars in the region and exerting even greater efforts to prevent the transformation of the Palestinian Cause into a pretext for destructive regional wars, whether because of Iran's ambitions of a more predominant and widely accepted regional role, with the Palestinian issue as one of its 'means', or due to Europe's fears of growing extremism on its doorstep because of the unsolved Palestinian issue.
As for Turkey, its proximity to Europe and its aspirations to join the European Union were pivotal in Ankara's making the decision to participate in UNIFIL. These, along with the Islamists who rule the country, have led to a flexible approach to reconcile their Islamic identity with Atatork's secularism that constitutes the basic 'faith' of Turkish society and its fear of a revival of Islamic extremism that would undermine regional stability.
The events on the ground in Lebanon make intellectualized comparisons tempting, just as these events lead to different kinds of interferences. But historical comparisons leave out many fundamental factors that point to differences between the past and present: oil, terrorism, Israel's expansionism and rampaging tendencies, and, last but not least, the existence of experimenting leaders in the most powerful nation in the world and their reliance on absolute power that, in turn, instigates major regional nations to do the same.

DF captures 4 Lebanese in Aita al-Shaab
Roee Nahmias

 Israel Defense Forces soldiers entered the southern Lebanese town of Aita al-Shaab and kidnapped four people, the al-Jazeera network reported Friday. The IDF confirmed the information.   IDF soldiers have been operating in the town since the onset of the fighting in Lebanon , and also following the withdrawal of most of the forces from the south of the country.  A force of the Herev Battalion, which carried out an ambush in the area, was involved in Friday's operation. During the ambush, the soldiers spotted four Lebanese men who endangered the force and decided to question them. They will apparently be released following the interrogation. The IDF spokesperson reported that the four were armed, and were questioned by IDF soldiers after their arrest. The identity of the four has not been reported, and it is unclear whether they are Hizbullah fighters.  Israeli soldiers still operating in area