May 2009 – Khazen

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Behind the News by Malek el Khazen

Sunni shift of Policy – Lebanese election no change – New Strategies in the Middle East Regions btw Israel – Arab governments and Iran

This article purpose is to point to your attention the shift in the Sunni position in Lebanon and the region overall. The upcoming election in Lebanon is only important for Lebanese but will NOT make a difference in the region. In fact, the real fight will be in the Christian cities and very few cities that are not Christian dominated. The Sunni Majority will still be under the Future movement control which has very close ties with Egyptian and Saudi-Arabia governments. The Chi’a majority will still be under Hezbollah and Amal control which has very close ties to Iran and Syria governments. You will still find Christians allied to both camps regardless the election results. And this will maintain equilibrium. The biggest change is that if the Christians that are allied with Hezbollah and Amal win election instead of nominating Hariri as head of the Gornment, Mikati most likely will be the nominee (currently allied with the Future movement). So all of these articles pointing to the regional importance of the Lebanese elections are not correct because if you analyze the situation very carefully the only change will happen is in the Christian regions and this is ASSUMING that CHANGE will happen. And from a regional perspective there are no major differences between Mikati and Hariri.

In fact, I will list number of facts later in the articles and you will notice the Egyptian Government (who is a main supporter of the current Lebanese Government and the Lebanese majority Coalition led by the Future movement) lead a fierce campaign against Hezbollah during the month of April until the beginning of the moth May. The Egyptian Gov have arrested some Hezbollah members, this is not new for some members of Hezbollah to get arrested in Egypt (previously in 2008 they were other members that were arrested) but what is new is the media campaign that Egypt has pursued against Hezbollah and Iran in a second plan through Hezbollah. They went so far in mocking the leader of Hezbollah. After President Mubarak meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the media campaign against Hezbollah leader completely stopped. But what is important to note is that after this meeting the Lebanese Internal Security Forces lead by Riffi who is very close to the Future movement is leading the arrest against the Israel spies in Lebanon. So as you can notice there is a shift of strategy with the Sunni in the region. In fact, just notice Egyptian government lead a campaign against Hezbollah then this campaign completely stop after the meeting of Mubarak and Netanyahu and their allies in Lebanon (The Lebanese government controlled by the majority coalition Future movement) after this meeting instead of continuing targeting Iran and Hezbollah spies are NOW targeting Israeli Spies in Lebanon. This strengthens Hezbollah position and weakens Israel position greatly. Why this shift of the Sunni strategy in the region in a so short of time from targeting Hezbollah spies to a shift targeting Israeli spies? Yes Egypt government has clear links with the Sunni Majority in Lebanon. So let us not try to assume that what is currently happening in Lebanon is not at the least I could say supported by Egypt. So the question is why this shift of strategy of the Sunni governments in the Middle East and suddenly getting very close to Hezbollah and Iran by leading the arrest of the Israeli spies in Lebanon?

Spies’ Roots Reach Deep in Lebanon

adminMay 24, 2009UncategorisedComments are off for this post

By ROBERT F. WORTH

Published: May 22, 2009

BEIRUT, Lebanon — When the Lebanese authorities announced the arrest of an Israeli spy ring late last year, the news aroused little surprise. It is no secret that Israel has long maintained intelligence agents here.

But in recent weeks, more and more suspects have been captured, including a retired general, several security officials and a deputy mayor. All told, at least 21 people have been arrested, and 3 others escaped over the border into Israel with the help of the Israeli military, Lebanese officials say.

The spying network’s extent has mesmerized the Lebanese and made headlines here. It has also infuriated Lebanese officials, who sent an official protest to the United Nations this week. On Friday, President Michel Suleiman complained about the matter in a meeting here with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

The arrests appear to reflect a newly energized and coordinated effort by the Lebanese security agencies, which now cooperate far more effectively among themselves and with Hezbollah, the Shiite militant group based here, than they did in the past.

“New technologies have helped in catching them,” said Gen. Ashraf Rifi, the director of the Internal Security Forces. “But we have also had better cooperation with the army than we had before.”

What Real Life Looks Like in the Middle East

adminMay 23, 2009UncategorisedComments are off for this post

By Wendell Steavenson

Sunday, May 24, 2009

THE MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF HIZBOLLAH WISHES YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East

By Neil MacFarquhar

PublicAffairs. 387 pp. $26.95

Neil MacFarquhar is that rare and wonderful thing, a Middle East correspondent who not only speaks Arabic but also grew up in the region. This experience infuses his book — the product of 20 years of reporting — with the wit, insight and eye-rolling exasperation of a near-native. MacFarquhar maintains that "the constant, bloody upheaval that captures most attention has become the barrier limiting our perspective on the Middle East" and eschews the usual descriptions of violence and gore. Instead he offers a broad cultural and personal investigation into the region. The result is an intelligent and fascinating romp full of anecdotes, acid asides and conversations with everyone from dissidents to diplomats and liberal religious sheikhs, and even a Kuwaiti woman with a sex-advice column.

Each chapter, set in a different country, illustrates a different facet of Middle East life: dictatorship, secret police, Islamic precept, the influence of Arabic satellite TV channels, reform, dissidence. Mercifully, the welter of facts and analysis which bogs down so many surveys of the contemporary Middle East is here kept brief and succinct. It’s a testament to MacFarquhar’s deep background knowledge and the lightness of his touch that complex issues like the relationship between the royal family and the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia, the Sunni-Shia divide in Bahraini politics, the myriad ways Islam can be interpreted and the rise of Hezbollah in Lebanon are distilled into clear exposition without ever being oversimplified or dumbed down.

Pope 2.0: Vatican launches Facebook application

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By ARIEL DAVID

The Associated Press
Friday, May 22, 2009; 1:49 PM

VATICAN CITY — Web surfers can now send virtual postcards of Pope Benedict XVI to their Facebook friends or follow the pontiff’s travel on their iPhones.

Under a papacy that has suffered communication woes, the Vatican is taking new, technologically savvy steps to bring its message to social networking sites and smartphones.

In its first day of operation Thursday, the Pope2You portal gathered some 45,000 contacts and 500,000 page views, while a Facebook application that sends postcards with photos of Benedict and excerpts from his messages was used around 10,000 times, the head of the project said.

Also available on the portal is an application for iPhone and iPod Touch that gives surfers video and audio news on the pope’s trips and speeches, as well as on Catholic events worldwide.

The new Web site is the latest update in the Vatican’s efforts to broaden the pope’s audience and reach out to young people. In January, Benedict got his own YouTube channel, which is now linked to the portal.

Earlier this year, the Internet figured in one of Benedict’s most criticized moves _ lifting the excommunication of a renegade bishop who had denied the Holocaust.

Benedict sparked outrage by reaching out to excommunicated, ultraconservative bishop, Richard Williamson, whose denial of the Holocaust during an interview with Swedish TV shot around the world on the Net.

Syria – US relations

adminMay 23, 2009UncategorisedComments are off for this post

Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

Jeremy M. Sharp

Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs

Despite its weak military and lackluster economy, Syria remains relevant in Middle Eastern

geopolitics. The Asad regime has its hands in each of the four major active or potential zones of

conflict in the region (Lebanon, Israel-Palestine, Iraq, and Iran). In the Levant, Syrian leaders aim

to dominate the internal politics of Lebanon, and have been accused of involvement in the

assassination of four parliamentarians and former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Asad regime

has resisted U.S. and French attempts to bolster the pro-Western government of Prime Minister

Fouad Siniora, believing that it can weather the storm of U.S. pressure over time. Syria also plays

a key role in the Middle East peace process, acting at times as a “spoiler” by sponsoring

Palestinian militants and facilitating the rearmament of Hezbollah. At other times, it has

participated in substantive negotiations with Israel, most recently in 1999-2000. A September 6

Israeli air strike against an alleged nascent Syrian nuclear facility heightened an already tense

atmosphere between the two countries, though most experts believe that neither side desires a

new war. Regarding Iraq, the Iraqi refugee crisis has affected Syria far more than Syria has

influenced internal Iraqi politics since the fall of Saddam Hussein. There now may be close to 1.4

million Iraqis inside Syria, many of whom face the dim prospect of remaining in permanent exile.

Finally, Syria’s longstanding relationship with the Iranian clerical regime is of great concern to

U.S. strategists. As Syria grew more estranged from the United States throughout this decade,

Syrian-Iranian relations improved, and some analysts have called on U.S. policymakers to woo

Syrian leaders away from Iran. Others believe that the Administration should go even further in

pressuring the Syrian government and should consider implementing even harsher economic

sanctions against it.

Lebanon’s Christians could be ‘swing vote’ in parliamentary elections

adminMay 22, 2009UncategorisedComments are off for this post

By Brooke Anderson, JEZZINE, Lebanon (CNS) — Sitting at an outdoor cafe on a mild spring afternoon, overlooking the town square of Jezzine, Samaan Dahir felt optimistic about Lebanon’s June 7 parliamentary elections. "The resistance needs to win," said Dahir, referring to the so-called March 8 coalition led by Hezbollah, the Shiite political party credited for liberating South Lebanon from 18 years of Israeli occupation and subsequently helping to rebuild the war-torn region. "Let’s give the opposition a chance and see the how they implement their reform programs. I’m definitely for March 8. I’m for change." Dahir, a Maronite Catholic from Jezzine, is optimistic about the election and is happy that the campaign appears to be giving more of a voice to Christians than in previous years.

The incumbent pro-Western March 14 coalition is composed by the Mustaqbal (Future) movement, made up mainly of Sunnis, but also various Christian groups (Lebanese Forces, Kataeb, Liberal Party, Quornet Chehwane, indpendants) and PSP . The opposition, is composed by Hezbollah,the Free Patriotic Movement of Maronite Catholic Michel Aoun, a retired army general, AMAL, MARADA, Tadamon and Democratic Party led by Arslan and other independants and smaller parties.

Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, compared the importance of Lebanon’s Christian voters to a swing state in a U.S. election."It’s an unintended consequence of the process," said Salem. "It doesn’t mean Ohio is the most important state or Christians in Lebanon are more important."

Cheikh Philippe El Khazen

adminMay 22, 2009Cheikh Philippe el KhazenComments are off for this post

In memory of Cheikh Philippe El Khazen – March 6th 1996

LE CORPS MEDICAL LlBANAIS EN DEUIL

LE PROFESSEUR

PHILIPPE EL-KHAZEN N’EST PLUS

La disparition soudaine de Philippe El-Khazen, professeur honoraire a la Faculté de Médecine de l’U.S.J., chevalier de l’Ordre du Cèdre et de la Légion d’honneur, a jeté la consternation dans les milieux médicaux, politiques et sociaux de la capitale.

Cet homme foncièrement bon et qui avait le culte de l’amitié, a succombé a une attaque cardiaque implacable.

Agrégé des facultés françaises en pathologie après des études médicales a la Faculté de Médecine de Beyrouth, il devait enseigner la pathologie avant de devenir médecin-chef de I’H6pital Libanais (Geitaoui) fonde par son père Ie Dr Hanna El-Khazen, Homme de grand bien, il n’a jamais hésité a faire profiter de sa science médicale un malade indigent.

Député au Kesrouan sous le mandat du président Chamoun, il déploya une activité remarquable au profit de sa région.

Foncièrement probe, il fut toujours un homme du dialogue profondément attaché au Liban.

Vice-président de la Ligue maronite, il accepta la vice-présidence Ie l’Union Démocrate Chrétienne Libanaise, membre de l’Union Démocrate Chrétienne Mondiale. Plusieurs membres de cette union furent ses hôtes de leur visite au Liban.

On doit au professeur Philippe El-Khazen des ouvrages et des articles de science médicale.

Ghosta, sa localité natale et le Kesrouan lui ont fait d’imposantes obsèques au milieu d’une foule émue.

Lebanon spy cases highlight Mideast espionage

adminMay 22, 2009UncategorisedComments are off for this post

By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer Sam F. Ghattas, Associated Press Writer – BEIRUT – The Middle East’s espionage wars are heating up after Lebanon’s arrest of more than a dozen alleged Israeli spies, and dire warnings from Jerusalem that Arab groups are trying to use the Internet to infiltrate the Jewish state.

Officials in Beirut say they struck a strategic blow against Israel with the recent arrests of 15 people — 13 Lebanese and two Palestinians — who they contend were gathering intelligence on Hezbollah positions, leaders’ movements and infrastructure targets. Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces fought an inconclusive war in 2006 along the Lebanese-Israeli border and both sides have since been preparing for the possibility of another.

Although Israel and its Arab neighbors have for years spied on each other, the recent announcements have highlighted the secret war of espionage and the depth of the infiltration. Lebanese officials say the spies arrested there included a math teacher and housewife, and that they were equipped with sophisticated electronics.

Lebanon holds elections June 7 but the recent arrest announcements did not seem intended to influence the vote.

FACTBOX: Facts on Lebanon’s economy

adminMay 22, 2009UncategorisedComments are off for this post

FACTBOX: Facts on Lebanon’s economy

Reuters) – The economy of Lebanon, which is set to hold a parliamentary election on June 7, has shown what the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described as "remarkable resilience" in the face of the global credit crisis.

Following are some of the economy’s main features:

GROWTH

The economy grew by more than 8 percent in 2008 according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), despite a first half marred by the worst bout of internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war and the onset of the global financial crisis. Policymakers are projecting growth of 4 percent or more in 2009.

Biden presents military aid to Lebanon

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BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 22 (UPI) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Beirut Friday in what U.S. officials said was a show of support for Lebanese independence prior to legislative elections. While in Lebanon, Biden was expected to announce U.S. military aid for Lebanese forces. He is scheduled to meet with President Michel Suleiman, pro-Western Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is aligned with the Hezbollah bloc, the British broadcaster said.

In a ceremony at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Biden presented tons of military equipment. "Mr. minister, general, it’s a delight to be back in Lebanon, and thank you for the warm welcome," Biden said in opening his remarks. A transcript of his remarks did not identify who he was addrssing. "General, we’re going to leave some of this behind," Biden continued, "but you cannot take my plane. Air Force Two I get to keep, and the helicopters I get to keep. Other than that, the rest is going to be yours." "I’m also here to assure you … the United States of America considers itself a partner in your effort to defend your sovereignty — the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and the security of all the people of Lebanon," Biden said.