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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lahoud: We Must Defend Lebanon Whenever Being under Attack
2016-03-02
[ALMANAR.LB] Former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud stressed on Monday that "Leb did not abandon the Arab consensus, but Arabs abandoned it as they are working to reach consensus on Israel," attributing the reason of Saudi escalating policies towards Leb to the losses of Kingdom in the Syrian battlefield.

During an interview with Al-Manar TV channel, President Lahoud pointed out that Saudis wanted to deliver a message to the Lebanese people that the existence of their country depends on its sponsorship, stating that whenever there is an attack on Leb, the Lebanese people must defend themselves and not distance themselves.

Lahoud expressed beliefs that the root problem of the region is 'Israel', which is plotting conspiracies sponsored by the United States within the Persian Gulf states, and implemented by the so-called 'Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
 of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed...
 group.

"The outline is made by Israel and the executioners are some regional states with the help of Washington, whose foreign policy is influenced by the Zionist lobby," the ex-President said, adding that the United States wanted to topple Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Supressor of the Damascenes...
 as a punishment for his stand with the resistance against Israel.

"His [Assad's] stance rescued Leb, especially Christians who are being exterminated in the region at the hands of ISIL and other terrorist groups," he said.

He noted that the first loser in Syria will be 'Israel', which is trying to compensate for its defeat by provoking sedition in Leb.

"If the Saudi claims about fighting ISIL were true, so why they would have stopped the aid to the army that is fighting terrorist groups?" Lahoud asked in reference to halting the Saudi 'grant' promised for Leb, stressing that those terrorist groups are being supported by the countries that halted aid to the Lebanese army.

"Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
 is confused today, therefore it is behaving this illogic in Leb, while the Lebanese politicians who are walking the Saudi path receive monthly salaries from the Kingdom, while the Saudi aid for Leb is being allocated for the leaders and not for the impoverished people in the North, Akkar and other poor regions.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanon parliament fails again to elect new president
2014-08-13
The Lebanese parliament failed Tuesday for the tenth consecutive time to elect a new president to replace incumbent president Michel Suleiman because of lack of the required quorum.

Speaker Nabih Berri called for a new session to be held on September 2, after no one won two thirds of the parliament as required by the constitution.

The western-backed March 14 alliance is backing head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea as candidate for the post, while the Syrian-Iranian backed March 8 camp has not declared the candidacy of any of its components as MP Michel Aoun, one of its prominent leaders, insist on running to the post as a consensual candidate.

Centrist Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced the candidacy of the Gathering member MP Henri Helou.

Because of the sharp division among the political forces in the parliament, the presidential elections have failed so far on none occasions to conclude as the constitution requires the presence of two thirds of the 128-member parliament which is far from being achieved.

Since May 25, the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam is running the country according to a constitutional article that stipulates that in the absence of a president, the cabinet will take charge of the post until the election of a new president.
Might not be the worst thing to happen...
Lebanon has witnessed a vacuum in the presidency post in the past following the end of the term of former President Emile Lahoud in 2007 and following the end of the term of former President Amine Gemayel in 1988.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran's Envoy To Lebanon: We Won't Stand By If Israel Attacks Syria
2013-05-24
[Ynet] Iranian Ambassador to Leb Ghazanfar Ruknabadi met with former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to discuss the developments in the country and in Syria.

Asked about Iran's position regarding the possibility of an Israeli attack in Syria, Ruknabadi said: "We will not stand by should Syria find itself in any sort of trouble, particularly if it emanates from the Zionist enemy."
Y'all are getting low on spare boys to send across the mine fields carrying only plastic golden keys to open the gates of Paradise, your nuclear weapons aren't anywhere near ready yet, and you're sending ever greater numbers of IRG and Hizb'allah hard boys into the Syrian maw. Still, there are always the missiles stored under houses in southern Lebanon, the ones Israel pinpointed the location of a while ago.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
The Syrian Position
2011-01-25
[Asharq al-Aswat] By Tariq Alhomayed

It is generally assumed that states, like individuals, benefit from their mistakes, and evaluate their experiences, especially when dealing with particular issues. However,
The infamous However...
 this is not the case with the Syrian position, in terms of dealing with Leb, specifically the International Tribunal, and nominations for the next Prime Minister.

Regarding the parliamentary ruling [in 2004] to extend former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud's term in office, Damascus insisted on him staying in power at any price, knowing that it would then be easier to bring in another pro-Syrian President afterwards. At the time, Damascus seemed as if it was playing in accordance with the rules of the game in Leb. Syria ignored all warnings and extended Lahoud's term in office, in what was considered to be a landslide Syrian victory. However,
The other infamous However...
 what actually happened was to the contrary. The move was costly for Damascus and brought serious consequences, consequences which ultimately came to a head when the Syrian President announced, in front of his parliament, that his country had made mistakes in Leb. On that same day, he even announced his intention to withdraw the Syrian army from there!

Today, Lebanese affairs are following the same pattern, whereby Damascus is repeating its mistakes. In the event that Hezbullies's project is victorious, in its attempt to seize the whole of Leb, Syria will be the loser. If the situation erupted -- and this is both likely and expected -- then the Syrians will pay the price and take the blame. If Hezbullies's project is victorious, Tehran will be in control, and Iran will reap the fruits of this success, not Damascus. In such a case no one would go to Syria to negotiate, but instead everyone -- yes everyone -- would negotiate with Iran, instead of Syria. Why would there be a mediator so long as Iran is the dominant force? This is what Iran is explicitly seeking, and has told the West very clearly, amidst the backdrop of negotiations surrounding its nuclear program. Tehran's search for a regional role must be recognized by the West, because it holds the keys to the troubled areas of the region, and this is no secret!

If the Iranian project was to fail in Leb, the situation may still erupt, and this [eruption] is expected as I said previously. Damascus would bear the consequences of this, faced by the Lebanese first and foremost. This would deepen the gap between the two neighbors, and it would subsequently be difficult to build any wall of confidence between the Syrians and the Arabs, and matters would worsen. Arabs will deal with Damascus in accordance with past experiences, rather than listening to its promises and the same can be said of the West. Furthermore, such a scenario would also create tensions within Syria itself, and this is an obvious matter which does not require further analysis.

Hezbullies's control over Leb would inevitably fuel sectarian sentiments, and awaken the Sunni fundamentalist giant, which is currently stirring and has a genuine presence. Then it would not matter whether Hezbullies had light or heavy arms with which to intimidate its opponents, for it only takes one thug to have the same impact as an artillery assault. This is something we have seen in sectarian conflicts throughout the Arab and Islamic world, and we have witnessed the extent of its damage.

Syria's interpretation of the current situation is a dangerous one, because it is an old interpretation of a new case; or rather it has not developed over time. The current situation comes in light of changing global conditions, and dramatic changes in the rules of the game, while following up on the daily occurrences will stop many from asking the question; when will they learn?
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Raad: March 8 to Name Personality with History of National Resistance as PM
2011-01-14
[An Nahar] Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad unveiled Thursday that the March 8 forces
... the opposition to the Mar. 14th movement, consisting of Hizbullah and its allies, so-called in commemoration of their Mar. 8th, 2006 demonstration of strength in Beirut ...
 will name a personality with a history of national resistance to head the new government.

The opposition is consulting with all parties and hopes to achieve solutions that would consolidate Leb against foreign interferences, Raad said after meeting former President Emile Lahoud.

The foreign meddling "wants to politicize everything in favor of Israel," the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance
That'd be the Hezbullies, natch...
 bloc told news hounds.

When asked which personality the March 8 coalition would name to head the new cabinet following the collapse of the government, Raad said: "A personality with a national resistance biography."
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Iraq
Hashimi Wants an Arab President
2010-04-04
[Asharq al-Aswat] Perhaps Jalal Talabani hasn't been the ideal president for Iraq over the past four years but nobody can claim that it is because he is a Kurdish president that Iraq's ties with Arab states are deteriorating. Tariq al Hashimi, one of two Iraqi Vice Presidents, whose term is coming to an end, suggested not appointing another Kurd to the presidential post so as not to hinder reconciliation with the Arabs. This remark could be described as racist, especially coming from a politician who is complaining about detestable sectarianism and its elements in Iraq and who based his electoral presentation on the idea of an Iraq for everyone.

Let us suppose that the Arabs really do not want another Kurdish president to head the Iraqi republic but an Arab; would it be right for the Iraqis to bow down to an order like this? Nobody outside [of Iraq] has the right to dictate to the Iraqis who they should choose as a president or to fill presidential positions unless the nominated candidate is hostile against other Arabs, in which case the decision remains in the hands of the voters.

If the Arabs are proud of historical leaders such as Salahaddin al Ayoubi and are not critical of Ayyubid rule of half the Arab world, then what harm will it cause them if another Kurd rules Iraq, especially as it is the Arabs who are against the idea of Kurdistan seceding from Iraq and insist on a united Iraq with Kurds and Arabs. In this case, the Kurd becomes Iraqi and it is his right to assume any position his people choose him for.

The leader of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani sought to justify Talabani's suspicious visit to Tehran by saying that he was not invited to the Arab Summit -- suggesting that there is some kind of Arab racism against the president because he is Kurdish -- and that Talabani responded to their boycott by visiting Iran. I am not sure that the Arab Summit held in Sirte, Libya deliberately neglected Talabani and failed to invite him. I believe that the problem is an internal Iraqi one that relates to the fact that there are two principal positions; prime minister and president. According to the rules, the invite should have been extended to the Iraqi government. The evidence is that the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who is also Kurdish, was present at the Arab Summit and represented Iraq. When he planned to withdraw because the Libyans were receiving expelled Iraqi Baathists, all the Arabs present tried to dissuade him. This is how Minister Zebari continued to participate in the conference.

The problem with the two principle positions also exists in Lebanon and the two positions also clash over invites to the summit. Let me remind you of the chaos that ensued at the Arab Summit in Oman when both the then Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and the late Prime Minister Rafik al Hariri insisted on attending the summit. Both sat down and were at odds. The same thing happened at the Beirut Summit.

My interpretation of the Arab aloofness is that the Arabs are searching for an excuse to keep away from Iraq's shifting sands. The Arabs don't care about who becomes president as long as he is not hostile towards them. Despite his disturbing closeness to the Iranians, President Talabani did not antagonize any Arab or Arab government. Also, the Arabs did not boycott Iraq because the president is Kurdush; in fact they boycotted when [Ghazi] Al Yawar, who is of Arab origin, was head of state. Matters have changed since. Today, Arab-Iraqi ties are less divided and everyone is waiting for the security and political situation [to improve] and the situation will not change much regardless of whether there is a president or a prime minister.
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International-UN-NGOs
'Where is the Arab World's Nelson Mandela...'
2010-01-16
In an article in the UAE English-language daily The National, titled "We Need a Nelson Mandela Who Knows When To Go," Sultan Al Qassemi, whom the paper notes is a non-resident fellow at the Dubai School of Government, writes about the dearth of democratic practices in the Arab world, particularly the absence of presidential term limits and other restraints on absolute power. He asks, "Where is the Arab world's Nelson Mandela? He too was hugely popular when his second term expired, and yet he followed the constitution to the letter -- stepping down and allowing others the opportunity to run and be elected."

The following is the article:
"Almost Every Leader in the Region Seems to Find a Good Reason to Amend Their National Constitutions As and When They See Fit"

"There are 22 countries in the Arab world, and not a single one is a true constitutional democracy. Almost every leader in the region seems to find a good reason to amend their national constitutions as and when they see fit: Apparently there is always a 'special case.'

"In Syria, for example, Dr Bashar Al-Assad was 34 years old when his father, President Hafez Al-Assad, passed away in 2000. Inconveniently, the constitution stipulated that only persons above the age of 40 could become president. Lawmakers and parliamentarians instantly came together and decided to amend the constitution to allow a 34-year-old to assume the office. This is a country where judicial, economic and political reform may take years to become a reality.

"One state that I had high hopes for was Algeria. I always admired this country that fought the French for freedom and gave a million lives for their liberty. When Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected president of Algeria in 1999, I thought it was the beginning of the end of dictatorships in the region; this former fighter in the Front de Liberation Nationale would value his country's struggle and not try to perpetuate his term of office, as has happened in some failed states in the region.

"But I was proved wrong. Last November Mr Bouteflika's Council of Ministers announced a constitutional 'revision' removing the presidential two-term limit. In February, following more than three years of uncertainty over his health after several lengthy periods in hospital, Mr Bouteflika announced that he felt fit enough to run for a third term. And in April it was announced that he had won the presidential election, and would serve for a third five-year term.

"Yemen is a case on its own. I detailed the ills that have befallen the impoverished state in an article in The National a year ago, entitled 'Can a weed really destroy a country?' Sadly, matters have only grown worse since then. The country's lifetime president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978, repeatedly states that he is seeking a peaceful transfer of power to the next president, but always 'succumbs to the will of the people' by extending his term.

"In the Palestinian territories, Hamas won parliamentary elections in January 2006 and now controls Gaza, but fails to comprehend the basics of governance. For instance, Article 38 of the Palestinian constitution states that any accused person 'is innocent until proven guilty by a fair trial wherein he shall be afforded the guarantees of self-defense.' Hamas is known for its summary executions of individuals it suspects of being spies for Israel.

"Meanwhile the current Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, whose constitutional term expired on January 9, simply stayed in office and quietly extended his term by a year without much media scrutiny. And the most notorious case of amending an Arab state's constitution is possibly that of Lebanon in 2005, when President Emile Lahoud's term was extended by Syria."

"However... Two Individuals Stand Out" -- The Leaders of Kuwait and Morocco

"However, all is not lost. Two individuals stand out, in my opinion. Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah, who introduced the Kuwaiti constitution in 1962 and after whom the current parliament hall is named, is the father of the modern democratic movement in the monarchies of the Gulf. He also introduced parliamentary elections in the midst of the backwardness that came with the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser's encouragement of replacing kings with dictators in the region.

"And the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, who ascended to the throne 10 years ago this week, introduced reforms allowing for a truth and reconciliation commission that presented the Arab world for the first time with the most moving accounts of civilian torture and abuse during the rule of his father, King Hassan II. These accounts were recorded and broadcast live on television. Because of the truth and reconciliation committee, Morocco is a stronger nation, not a weaker entity."

"Where is the Arab World's Nelson Mandela... [Who] Followed the Constitution to the Letter [?]"

"Many leaders in the region have an opportunity to leave behind a better legacy than the one they inherited when they assumed office. Regardless of a person's popularity, he or she must respect the sacred document that governs the state. Where is the Arab world's Nelson Mandela? He too was hugely popular when his second term expired, and yet he followed the constitution to the letter -- stepping down and allowing others the opportunity to run and be elected.

"We desperately need a visionary leader in the Arab world, monarch or republican, who steps aside and oversees in his lifetime a peaceful democratic transfer of power. That would truly be a 'special case' that we could all be proud of."
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Aoun: I Will Not Grieve over Feltman
2009-03-11
MP Michel Aoun on Monday took a jab at Jeffrey Feltman saying he was "not in mourning" for being snubbed by the top U.S. envoy, who visited Lebanon twice last week but did not include the Free Patriotic Movement leader in talks with the political leadership. "Feltman did not visit me. And I am not in morning," Aoun said, after a weekly meeting of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc. "I gained an hour of what could have been a waste of my time," he added.

Feltman and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro were in Lebanon on Friday and again Sunday to reassure leaders of Washington's continued support despite rapprochement with Syria.

Shifting his focus to Lebanon, Aoun slammed the judiciary for becoming politicized and said he did not want a review of recent judicial appointments rather a revamp of the whole system. A reshuffle Friday of top judicial posts, ending a three-year vacuum, sparked controversy after the parliamentary minority voiced reservations over some nominations and slammed the move as "politicized."

"Judicial independence is missing," Aoun said, lamenting that the judiciary "has become subject to partitioning and to the (political) authority."

The way through which the appointments were handled was reminiscent of "the former troika" system, Aoun said. He was referring to the previous system of governance under President Emile Lahoud, late Premier Rafik Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri, when the three top figures monopolized decision-making.

"As a matter of principle, we reject and oppose the conditions under which the judicial appointments were made," Aoun said.

He explained that the minority's position on the appointments was not a personal attack against the judges. "Regardless of who the judges are, there are ethical standards that must be implemented and this is a matter we will not compromise on."

The judicial appointment that drew the most controversy was that of the Investigative Magistrate into the February 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri, Judge Saqr Saqr, who was named government delegate to the military tribunal. Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted sources from the opposition as saying Suleiman's appointment of Saqr was a "reward" for his refusal to free the four former security chiefs detained for alleged involvement in the Hariri assassination.

"The judiciary's most important qualities are integrity and competence," Aoun said, disclosing that his bloc was preparing a draft law under which Parliament would ensure judicial independence. Under the bill, the Supreme Judicial Council will become the "highest elected authority and will have command of decision-making." Aoun said what he was proposing was "a new judicial system altogether."

On the much anticipated elections, Aoun warned that "registrars in some provinces, such as the Shouf-Alley, have been falsifying identity cards." He urged Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to put an end to the practice saying "we are ready to help the judiciary uncover the offenders."
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanese president starts groundbreaking visit to Syria
2008-08-14
(Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman arrived in Damascus on Wednesday for a groundbreaking visit to Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife received their Lebanese counterparts at the Damascus International Airport, according to the official SANA news agency.

This is Suleiman's first visit to Syria after he took the presidency and also the first by a Lebanese president to Damascus since March 2005 when then Lebanese President Emile Lahoud came here.

Suleiman told the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir on Wednesday that his visit to Syria, in response to an invitation of Assad, is a "turning point" to restore the situations to the normal position between the two sisterly countries, according to SANA.

Suleiman also described his relations with Assad as "fraternal and distinguished", saying preparations for the visit from both sides are "positive and good".

During his two-day stay here, Suleiman will discuss with the Syrian senior officials "issues of common interest and the latest developments on the regional and international levels," said SANA.

The establishment of diplomatic ties and the opening of embassies were expected to top the agenda of the meeting between Suleiman and Assad, analysts said.

Last month, Assad and Suleiman announced in Paris after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy that they agreed to establish diplomatic ties and open embassies in each other's territory.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Six more killed in Beirut clashes
2008-05-10
Six people were killed and at least 35 injured in a gunfight during a funeral ceremony in a Sunni neighborhood west of Beirut on Saturday, bringing the death toll of Lebanese riots to 24, local LBC TV reported.

The gunbattle erupted when some supporters of majority leader MP Saad Hariri were holding a funeral for a member of Hariri's Future Movement in Tarik Jedideh neighborhood of western Beirut, said the report.

The pan-Arabic Al-Arabia TV reported that eyewitnesses saw gunmen of the Lebanese Parliament speaker's Amal Movement shooting at the funeral crowds, which was immediately denied by the Shiite group.

Local NBN TV, mouthpiece of the opposition Amal Movement, said Al-Arabia office in Dubai reported dummy news for provocation and stirring up the already tense situation in Beirut.

The deadly clashes ignited Wednesday one day after the Lebanese cabinet decided to cease the private communication network of Hezbollah, and remove the only international airport's security chief Gen. Wafik Shqaier for alleged links to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah considered such decisions as "a declaration of war against the Resistance™."

Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant for months since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Eight killed, 40 wounded in Beirut clashes
2008-05-10
(Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 40 wounded during three days of sectarian fighting in Beirut, Lebanese security sources said on Friday. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that among the 40 injured, two were badly injured and their lives could suffer menace.

The sectarian fighting between Hezbollah and pro-government supporters in Beirut entered the third day on Friday, with crackle of gunfire and sporadic bursts of rocket-propelled grenade echoing in Beirut overnight. Lebanese Al Mustaqbal (Future) TV, mouthpiece of majority leader MP Saad Hariri's Future Movement, stopped local and cable broadcasting Friday morning, after opposition gunmen sieged the station and turned it over to the Lebanese army.

Meanwhile, local Naharnet news website reported that Al Mustaqbal newspaper building in Ramlet al-Baida, southwestern Beirut, was attacked by rockets and automatic gunfire at dawn Friday. Hezbollah gunmen heavily deployed in Beirut, particularly in districts of Hamra, Karakol Druze, Raouche, Mulla, Talet el-Khayat, Zaidaniyeh, Ras Nabaa, Basta Zoqaq Blat and Nweiri, said the report.

Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down. While the rival factions have agreed on the election of army chief Michel Suleiman as the successor, they disagreed on the shake-up of a new cabinet and 18 attempts of parliament to choose a president have been cancelled so far.

The presidency deadlock deepened the Lebanese political crisis as fears are mounting that failure in reaching a deal on the presidential candidate could result in more violence in the country.
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
U.N. chief calls for Hezbollah disarmament
2008-04-22
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Monday for immediate presidential elections in Lebanon without foreign interference and told Syria and Iran they must support the disarmament of Hezbollah's well-armed militia.

Ban highlighted the mounting international concern over Lebanon's failure to fill the top post, left vacant after pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud stepped down last November. He also warned that Lebanon will not be a fully sovereign, democratic state until Hezbollah is disbanded.

The secretary-general's six-month report to the U.N. Security Council, obtained by The Associated Press, focused on implementation of a 2004 resolution that calls for presidential elections under the constitution and the disbanding of all militias.

"Parliament, which has not met in more than a year, must be allowed to convene urgently to fulfill its constitutional duties in order to elect a president...," Ban said. "A free and fair presidential election, without foreign interference or influence must take place immediately. The current situation is no longer sustainable."

Lebanon's sharply divided parliament has failed to elect Army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as a consensus president because Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's pro-Western, anti-Syrian government and pro-Syrian opposition factions led by Hezbollah remain at loggerheads over power-sharing and the shape of the future Cabinet.

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