5/12/07

No, that’s NOT the story, you racist Lebanese
By sasa(sasa)
So yesterday, I mentioned how Human Rights Watch has accused Lebanon of imprisoning Iraqi refugees, even though they have committed no crime apart from being Iraqi. Now, ‘Ya Libnan’ has run this headline to cover up the story: “HRW: US …
saroujah.blogspot.com/2007/12/no-
thats-not-story-you-racist-lebanese.html

Hezbollah in the driver’s seat in Lebanon
By Olivier Guitta
While Lebanon is without a president for now, it looks like a favorite
is quickly emerging: Lebanon army chief and Damascus ally General
Michel Sleiman. If he were to be elected, the winner would not only be
Syria, but more importantly …
counterterrorismblog.org/2007/12/hezbollah_in_the_drivers_seat.php

Bad development in Lebanon – Hezbollah in the driver’s seat
By Kevin Gregory(Kevin Gregory)
Hezbollah’s power and influence in Lebanon is growing day by day.
Counterterrorism Blog has the details.
cancelthebee.blogspot.com/2007/12/
bad-development-in-lebanon-hezbollah-in.html

Plus ça change
By Riemer Brouwer(Riemer Brouwer)
“Lebanon has about 400000 inhabitants, gathered into more than six
hundred towns, villages and hamlets…The various religions and sects
live together, and practice their conflicting superstitions in close
proximity, but the people do …
lebanon-update.blogspot.com/2007/12/plus-change.html

Presidential choice still up in the air in Lebanon
By abock
Meanwhile, although the “official” deadline for choosing a new president in Lebanon passed long ago, the factions are still tussling in parliament rather than out on the streets, which is probably not a bad thing. …
eyeontheempire.freedomblogging.com/2007/
12/04/presidential-choice-still-up-in-the-air-in-lebanon/

Obstacles in Lebanese Army Chief’s Rise
The Associated Press –
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — A leading member of Lebanon’s anti-Syria
parliament majority accused the Hezbollah-led opposition Tuesday of putting
up new obstacles …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hCz5Bj
D6LDTTl_SL_4AHaeKUJ_NAD8TASVGG1

Why are Iraqi refugees returning home from Syria?
Slate – USA
In Search of the Least Bad optionwhy are Iraqi refugees returning home from
Syria? By Anna Husarska DAMASCUS, Syria—If only Iraqi refugees were
returning to …
www.slate.com/id/2179175/

Come back, Iraqi TV urges exiles
Scotsman – United Kingdom
The state television service, Iraqiyah, serves as a countrywide soapbox –
and also sends its optimistic message to more than two million refugees in
Syria, …
news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1896862007

HR abuses on the rise in Syria
The News – International – Pakistan
The plight of the Abdullah family highlights the clampdown that human
rights groups say Syria has long imposed on its opponents at home to
silence them a …
www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=84398

Going nuclear about Syria
By Rime Allaf
But no serious analyst or nuclear expert, not even hysterical fear mongers, can actually back up claims that Syria in its present condition could truly pose a threat to the security of Israel. As things stand, it is difficult to believe …
www.rimeallaf.com/mosaics/index.php?entry=entry071204-220253

Fatah al Islam: How the connection with Syria turned propaganda
By LadyBird
Although we said many times, that Fatah Al-Islam is not connected to Syria, It is Harriri created organization, but the connection with Syria still widely believed even by major newspapers such as Washington Post “UN Report Suggests …
www.roadstoiraq.com/2007/12/04/fatah-al-islam-
how-the-connection-with-syria-turned-propaganda/

Report: Syria To Host, Fund Conference Of Annapolis Opponents
Syria has announced to the leaders of the Palestinian factions residing in Syria that it has agreed to host, and fund, a conference of opponents of the Annapolis conference. The conference is to take place in January 2008. …
www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/3897.htm

Iraqi Red Crescent: 25000 Refugees Returned From Syria
An Iraqi humanitarian group says 25000+ Iraqi refugees who fled to Syria have returned to Iraq since mid-September.
www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/
news/iraq/2007/12/iraq-071204-voa02.htm

Lebanon PM accuses opposition of obstructing army chief for president
Jerusalem Post – Israel
By AP A leading member of Lebanon’s anti-Syrian parliament majority accused
the Hizbullah-led opposition on Tuesday of putting up new obstacles that
could …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=119554680
3476&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

UNHCR: Lebanon violating international principles
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
By Michael Bluhm BEIRUT: Lebanon is violating international principles by
indefinitely detaining Iraqi refugees until they agree to go back to Iraq,
…
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?
edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=87254

French FM in fresh bid to spur Lebanon presidential vote
AFP –
BEIRUT (AFP) — French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner held talks with
Lebanon’s feuding political leaders Tuesday in his latest drive to spur
them to …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gUil1OTxfkwLt_lLxV0W3HgzWYXQ

Rights group says Lebanon ‘coerces’ Iraqis
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
“Wissam has been in jail here in Lebanon for three months because he has no
residency papers and I am dead scared that they put him on a plane back to
Iraq …
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?
edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=87255

Palestinians brave desolation at bombed-out Lebanon camp
AFP –
NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon (AFP) — Aisha Abdul Rahim’s home has no doors or
windows but she would still rather suffer the cold at her own home in a
bombed-out …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hM3UGKnB-RLoQWA_Mzv4DGkKMcAQ

Cyprus: Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon granted banking business …
Al-Bawaba – Amman,Jordan
The Central Bank of Cyprus has recently granted a banking business licence
to “Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon SAL” of Lebanon, to carry on
banking …
www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/219633

Syrian Family Torn Apart by Crackdown
The Associated Press –
Still, US criticism was never enough anyway, he told The Associated Press
from Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, where he now lives. …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idjFjuq
FOztZc-Bviz5kqav6cuAQD8TAQPGO0

4/12/07

Lebanon’s slaves, Lebanon’s shame
By admin
Following the documentary, Al-Jarass magazine, a Lebanese tabloid that usually limits its pages to the exploits of aspiring pop artists, decided to defend Lebanon’s honor through an article entitled, “Don’t buy a slave without a stick. …
www.migrant-rights.org/2007/12/04
/lebanons-slaves-lebanons-shame/

Lebanon: Refugees Coerced to Return to Iraq
“Iraqi refugees in Lebanon live in constant fear of arrest,” said Bill Frelick, refugee policy director for Human Rights Watch. “Refugees who are arrested face the prospect of rotting in jail indefinitely unless they agree to return to …
www.whatreallyhappened.com/archives/cat_iraq.html#074364

Lebanon’s search
The general has carefully fostered an image of political neutrality, although the fact that he was appointed in 1998 during the era of Syrian control over Lebanon has tainted him with the stain of Damascus’s approval in the eyes of some …
www.terrorism.com/modules.php?op=m
odload&name=News&file=article&sid=84421

Iraqi Red Crescent Says 25000 Refugees Returned From Syria
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News An Iraqi humanitarian group says more than 25000 Iraqi refugees
who fled to Syria have returned to Iraq since mid-September. …
www.voanews.com/english/2007-12-04-voa16.cfm

Rival groups in search of a president
PRESS TV – Tehran,Iran
General Suleiman was appointed Lebanon’s Army Chief in 1998, when Syria
still influenced Lebanon’s political affairs. Some say he was selected by
Syria, …
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=33665&sectionid=3510303

When even the LF don’t believe anymore…
By Riemer Brouwer(Riemer Brouwer)
It’s a sad, sad state Lebanon finds itself in. Even the Lebanese Forces don’t believe in the country anymore, at least not enough to organize a congress here. Instead, they held it in Cyprus, see picture:
lebanon-update.blogspot.com/2007/12/
when-even-lf-dont-believe-anymore.html

Report: Lebanon harsh on Iraqi refugees
BEIRUT, Lebanon (UPI) — Iraqi refugees in Lebanon have almost no rights and live in fear of being imprisoned, a Human Rights Watch report said Tuesday.
www.arcamax.com/newsheadlines/s-267899-416696?source=1930

Iraqi refugees in Lebanon face crisis
CNN – USA
Human Rights Watch on Tuesday published 66-page report, “Rot Here or Die
There: Bleak Choices for Iraqi Refugees in Lebanon.” The report “documents
the …
www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/04/lebanon.refugees/

Hezbollah holding the cards in Lebanon
Winnipeg Free Press – Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada
Michel Suleiman as the future president of Lebanon, the key to solving the
Lebanese crisis remains Hezbollah. UN resolution 1701, which was adopted by
the …
www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/
columnists/top3/story/4087798p-4686483c.html

French FM in Lebanon to spur presidential vote
Middle East Online – London,UK
Kouchner due back in Lebanon to meet political leaders for push to elect
new president. By Hala Boncompagni – BEIRUT French Foreign Minister
Bernard …
www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=23355

Is Nahr el-Bared battle a victory for Lebanon?
Al-Arabiya – Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Given that the state of Lebanon is party to the Geneva Conventions and
Protocols, the Lebanese government is obliged to conduct a transparent
investigation …
www.alarabiya.net/views/2007/12/04/42503.html

mtc touch connects Lebanon to the world
AME Info (press release) – United Arab Emirates
This comes after having launched for the first time in Lebanon in 2005 the
high-end GPRS roaming service, which allowed all ‘touch’ postpaid lines …
www.ameinfo.com/140680.html

Feltman on Lebanon II
By Abu Muqawama(Abu Muqawama)
TWI invited US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman and blogger Tony Badran to speak on the presidential crisis. You can listen to the event here. Badran writes a widely-read blog on Lebanon, but … well, look, Badran is one of the …
abumuqawama.blogspot.com/2007/12/feltman-on-lebanon-ii.html

Iraqi Aid Group: 25000 Refugees Return
The Associated Press –
BAGHDAD (AP) — More than 25000 Iraqis who fled to Syria have returned,
the Iraqi Red Crescent said, offering an estimate of refugee returns
radically lower …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oY
eFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8TAIV504

US Admitting Fewer Iraqi Refugees
The Associated Press –
Another factor has been a lack of cooperation from some foreign countries,
notably Syria, which between May and mid-November had refused to allow
Homeland …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ieqkwUlK6
WxXWFk_gh89h8I-TU2QD8TA81T01