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.
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Lebanon’s Christians could be ‘swing vote’ in parliamentary elections
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."
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Cheikh Philippe El Khazen
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.
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Lebanon spy cases highlight Mideast espionage
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.
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FACTBOX: Facts on Lebanon’s economy
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.
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