Kidnapped Lebanese Soldier

This is the video of Ali Al-Hajj Hassan, one of the Lebanese soldiers kidnapped lately by ISIS (or the Islamic State).

Ali Al-Hajj Hassan also happens to be the brother of The Iman Foundation's Vice-Chairman and its President for the Middle East, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hajj Hassan.

Things get complicated

Syrian rebels captured an ammunition depot north of Damascus from President Bashar Al Assad’s forces yesterday, activists said, seizing a hoard of anti-tank missiles and rockets which will strengthen their firepower after a string of defeats. Video footage of the raid showed delighted rebel fighters carrying out boxes of weapons from the arms cache in Denha, near the town of Yabroud, following an overnight attack.

Meanwhile the Syrian civil war grows more and more sectarian in nature, were that possible. Everything in Syria is viewed through a sectarian lens these days. One of the Syrian Christian members of the NCF (name withheld) writes today:

I have been watching the news on a Lebanese TV channel. The announcer says: “a family in Tripoli, Lebanon has announced the death of their two sons who died in fighting in Kalat al Hosn, Syria”. One died whilst using a suicide belt in an attack on an army check point. The other was killed in fighting in the same area. Both young men were students, resident in Sweden, Swedish citizens, living in one of the most civilized countries in the world. They took Swedish citizenship, as the family is poor in Tripoli . . .

I learnt from my own family in Syria that my nephew is serving his compulsory military service as an officer in that province, looking after a couple of check points. His soldiers are of different religious and ethnic backgrounds, none of them from the president's sect, and are not in battle, only checking IDs of drivers of passing cars, in one of which the young suicide bomber has attacked.

They are not defending the regime but serving their duty within the law of the country, until the time comes for them to return to civilian life.

How can someone  who lives in one of the most civilized nations in the world, and is offered all the comfort he needs, even the chance to study at university, and get a bright future for a good job and new family . . . leave all this to go and fight in another country - and not his own country,

1-      What is the responsibility of Swedish government or EU to let one of its citizen go to another country and kill their citizens, regardless of the motive. is citizenship just to give a passport to someone so they can gain financial benefit from the EU or does it entail a commitment to the laws of that country ?

What is the responsibility of the Lebanese government? He came to from  Sweden to Lebanon, and entered Syria.

What is the responsibility of the Syrian government for it is citizens? These soldiers on check points have no tanks but are enforcing the law of the country by not allowing people to carry illegal things. Is it right that these soldiers on check points who are looking forward to finishing their military service to go home, should leave their duty and  go to the other side who might not accept them because of their religious and ethnic background,,,,

Should the Syrian government take legal action  against Sweden and Lebanon for the damage done to it is citizens.

And meanwhile, on the international stage, Saudi Arabia, nervous that its Syrian work is being undermined, is trying to seduce Russia - prompting a visit to the Kremlin by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief and the secretary-general of its National Security Council - and not doing the job very well. This came in today via splendid Conflicts Forum organisation:

Saudi Arabia Tries to Cut a Deal With Russia Regarding Syria
Sami Kleib Translated from As-Safir (Lebanese independent 'leftist' newspaper) 2 August 2013

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/08/saudi-arabia-tries-deal-with-russia.html

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal recently accused Russia of “supporting genocide” in Syria. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said that Moscow will harm its Middle East interests if it keeps supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has continued to support Assad, thus prompting a visit to the Kremlin by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief and the secretary-general of its National Security Council.

It is clear that it is not Moscow that changed, but Saudi Arabia. The Kremlin distributed a picture showing a smiling president receiving a smiling prince, who came to the “capital of communist atheism,” as they call it in Riyadh. Prince Bandar did not wear his elegant suit. Nor did he wear jeans and an open shirt as he did before the Iraq war when he visited his good friend George W. Bush, the man who destroyed Iraq. The Moscow visit had greater reverence. The Russian czar is not easily affected by charm or pressure.

Prince Bandar is not an ordinary man in Saudi Arabia today, and he may not be ordinary in the future either. In his book Inside the Kingdom, British author Robert Lacy reveals how Bandar, who spent 22 years as a diplomat in America, has completely mastered the art of knitting internal and external strategies behind closed doors and understanding major international transformations.

Like all Saudi Arabian leaders, Bandar wants to deal a blow to Hezbollah and weaken Iran. And they will do anything to accomplish that, including hitting President Assad’s regime.

But why did Saudi Arabia change its mind and decide to send Prince Bandar to a country that “supports the genocide in Syria”?

To find the answer, first look for Iran. Some Gulf countries are genuinely concerned about a rapprochement between Tehran and Washington. Despite Congress pressuring US President Barack Obama to extend the Iran sanctions, which have been extended, there is “flirting” going on between the two countries. Tehran has invited the Americans to attend Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration. And he might meet Obama on the sidelines of the next UN session. The P5+1 group is awaiting the formation of the new Iranian government, according to the foreign minister. Despite pressure from Israel and the pro-Israel lobby, Rouhani’s open-minded discourse has had positive echoes in Washington.

Then look for the true US and European positions. There is information that Obama has officially informed the Russians that there will be no significant arming of the Syrian opposition for now, and that he wants to give the political solution a real opportunity. American officials have informed the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) leaders of this position. The French and the British are leaning in the same direction. So, Saudi Arabia felt that it was almost alone in trying to militarize and arm the opposition, especially since the new Qatari leadership might adopt a new position on the Syrian crisis. Saudi Arabia faced a choice: to reach an understanding with either Iran or Russia. Prince Bandar chose the least embarrassing path ... perhaps temporarily.

Then look for the reason behind the international confusion on the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi Arabia is currently leading the Gulf campaign against the Brotherhood. Saudi Arabia has killed the Qatari strategy, which was built atop the Brotherhood’s shoulders after the so-called Arab Spring. So, it is natural for Saudi Arabia to encourage democratic, liberal, tribal and communist parties to grab some of the Brotherhood’s influence within the SNC. Riyadh, whose rule is based on Wahhabi Islamic law, no longer opposes a former “atheist” like Michel Kilo, who for months has been paving the way for that relationship by staunchly opposing the Muslim Brotherhood, the left and even the idea of a civil state. (See his articles in Asharq Alawsat). Some have even started to wonder whether Kilo is still an oppositionist.

Then look for Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Turkey. It is hard to imagine that the relationship between the two is sound after their sharp disagreement on Egypt. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan considered what happened in Egypt to be a coup. In contrast, Saudi Arabia supported the coup and became one of its biggest financiers after it happened. Didn’t Saudi Arabia persuade the Salafists to support the Egyptian army and its commander?

Then look for the military situation in Syria. Looking at the Syrian map reveals that the country is divided into three sections. One runs along the coastal road and includes Homs, Hama, Idlib, Tartous and Latakia and reaches Lebanon’s Bekaa. That section is in the regime’s hands. The second section is Damascus and most of its countryside. And the third section comprises most of the areas adjacent to Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. Those areas are in the hands of either the armed opposition or the Kurds.

Except for Khan al-Asal, which was a painful blow to the Syrian army, the remaining areas are experiencing remarkable progress. There is information that the Syrian regime is continuing to fight and that it expects major military changes in the next phase, whereby at the beginning of 2014 the regime would have regained control of all the big cities and strategic areas, including Aleppo.

Then look for what is happening in Egypt. Is it normal that European Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton is the one in charge of mediating a solution? Why have the Americans let go of their historic stronghold in Egypt? Is it to burn the European role, or is it because Obama is confused about the Egyptian situation and wants to put off the matter for a while?

Then, finally, look for what America is doing about the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. Obama wants any kind of achievement there. The tunnels between Egypt and Gaza were destroyed to tighten the siege on Hamas. The Europeans put Hezbollah on their terrorism list. If Obama succeeds in pushing the Palestinians and the Israelis to start negotiating, then that by itself would be an important achievement for Obama for now. But it would also be a reflection of American powerlessness in achieving a breakthrough in Syria or Egypt, or perhaps an expression of despair.

In that context, Assad’s visit to Darya carried important messages. This vast area has seen fierce fighting. His visit there means that the army, which in the past few weeks has adopted a strategy of slowly recapturing the Damascus countryside, has completed the bulk of that mission away from media attention. There is information that the same thing is happening in other areas and that there will be major surprises before summer’s end.

Given these developments, it is natural for Saudi Arabia to search for exits. One of the exits used to be, and perhaps still is, a military victory for the Syrian opposition. Prince Bandar visited a number of Western countries to convince them to arm the opposition. He reassured his Western interlocutors that the Free Syrian Army and the opposition’s leadership are being restructured in a way that prevents weapons reaching extremists. But Western reports say otherwise. Prince Bandar was unable to convince the West of intensifying their arming effort. For example, France refused to deliver the opposition Mistral missiles. But Saudi Arabia still hopes to change the military equation. The Europeans and the Americans told Saudi Arabia that if a military victory is achieved then they would welcome it, but that they cannot deal with the repercussion of a defeat. The military option is still in effect, but other options are being considered.

One of those options is for Saudi Arabia to convince Moscow of a deal. But Putin seems firm. He openly declared that there will be no solution if the flow of arms continues. He complained about Saudi support for Chechnya. He warned about the danger of terrorism, which is spreading everywhere. He explained that Moscow will not accept any outside military intervention. And he pointed out that the US has moved closer to the Russian vision about a solution, but that the road is still long.

Saudi Arabia must pressure the opposition to facilitate the Geneva II conference.

It is significant for Putin to personally receive Bandar bin Sultan. Moscow wants the Saudi visitor to know that deals and compromises are possible, but not at any price. The departure of Assad is out of the question, unless this is what the Syrian people want. The negotiations will come first, then the interim government and then the elections. And after that, anything can be decided in due time.

Nothing suggests that the Russian position has softened. Damascus is unworried. Of course, the issues of Egypt and Palestine are normally discussed in such meetings. Bandar’s visit is in the interest of both Russia and Saudi Arabia. The visit allows Bandar to wave the Russian card in the Americans’ faces, and it allows Putin to claim that all the cards are in his hands.

The danger now lies in the fact that such visits usually precede significant developments. SNC head Ahmad al-Jarba and other oppositionists and armed groups, have clearly said that the Geneva II conference will not happen before the power balance is altered. He said that from Doha, two days after the opposition said that it is going to Geneva without conditions. There are preparations for military offensives like the one at Khan al-Asal. The Syrian regime realizes that going to Geneva before achieving a major breakthrough in the north or elsewhere would be meaningless. It seems that the war will go on for a while.

Half a decade on from the "Cedar Revolution": What has changed?

Following the assasination of Rafik Hariri in February 2005 and the unprecedented mass demonstration in Beirut against Syria's overt influence over Lebanese politics, commentators familiar to the region heralded it as landmark in Lebanon's crisis-ridden history. The withdrawal of Syrian armed units from Lebanon as well as a promise from Bashar Al-Asad that the new political landscape in Lebanon would be respected, in particular, seemed to mark a divergence from the past. Nonetheless, much like the renaissance that Syria and its political elite has enjoyed since the dark days of 2005 (principally, a recognition of the fact that Syria is integral to any future Arab-Israeli Peace), the changes that Lebanon experienced in 2005 have also dramatically altered. There are many indications that seem to show that the crassly named "Cedar Revolution" was far from what its name suggested.

Saad Hariri's external and internal support, manifested in the March 14 coalition, has melted away as regional powerhouses such as Saudi Arabia have willingly prioritized reconciliation with Syria over respecting Lebanese sovereignity. In turn, those humbling treks that Nicholas Blanford impressively documents in Killing Mr. Lebanon have also resumed. Most notably, Walid Jumblatt, who once described Bashar Al-Asad as a butcher has made several trips to Damascus to meet Bashar and discuss the future of Lebanon (similarly, Saad Hariri has taken several members of the Lebanese cabinet in a similar vein to Damascus). Syria's proxy Hezbollah also continues to go from strength to strength in Lebanese politics. And within the March 8 alliance, Hezbollah wields 13 seats out of a total of 57 and there is no doubt that its arms gives Hezbollah additional influence to act on Syria's behalf (although this relationship is far from one of subservience). Even Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who died yesterday, and is widely credited with being a spiritual guide for Hezbollah, recognized that Lebanon would be persistantly weak whilst the "state within a state" syndrome was perpetuated by Hezbollah. The simple reality is that many of the gains, such as the removal of the divisive and corrupt Rustem Ghazali (former head of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon) pale in comparison to the reality that Syria has been allowed to reassert itself in Lebanese politics as a consequence of regional powerplays that do not prioritize Lebanese sovereignity. 

The paradox faced by the Obama administration and regional allies such as Saudi Arabia is thus: by reconciling themselves with the Syrian government in order to advance the Arab-Israeli Peace Process, isolate Iran and encourage Syria to curb its support for groups such as Hezbollah, Bashar Al-Asad and his advisors get more breathing space to act as they please to undermine Lebanon and consequently Israel's unease increases - making it more likely that another war on Lebanese soil will occur (although political commentators now see 2011 as a more likely year for confrontation given that Israel is aware of international opinion in light of the flotilla crisis). Thus, despite Obama's Cario's Speech that marked a new beginning, his administration like countless others before it is now coming to realize the intracacies of Middle Eastern politics.

The disappearance of Nawar Abboud

Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hajj Hassan, the leader of the Free Shiite Movement and Rolf Ohler, member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) have met for discussions concerning the Nawar Abboud issue.

The first speaker was Sheikh Al-Hajj Hassan who said:

“It has been four months since Syrian citizen Nawar Abboud’s disappearance when he was arrested by the Lebanese Army intelligence in Tripoli on December 24, 2008 and his whereabouts are still unknown. According to the available information, Abboud was possibly delivered over to the Syrian intelligence.

What crime did this man commit to deserve punishment in the form of forced disappearance?”

Mr. Rolf Ohler, member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) said:

“We strongly condemn the disappearance of the Syrian opposition member Nawar Abboud, of the United National Assembly, and call on the Lebanese authorities to uncover the circumstances of this crime. We have been provided with information by Sheikh Al-Hajj Hassan and others in this regard, and we will submit it to the European Union and international organizations in an attempt to uncover Abboud’s whereabouts, return him to his family and friends, and have the criminals punished.”

Syrian Dissident Killed?

One of the Syrian opposition figures has dissapeared, missing presumed dead, in Tripoli in Northern Lebanon. Human Rights Watch have taken up his cause but he was almost certainly murdered. Still there is always a chance he is still alive. Let's hope. He leaves a pregnant wife and young son whose lives have been threatened as well. Sad world wouldn't you say?

Human Rights Watch says that Nawar Abboud, who worked as an accountant for a Syrian opposition group, was detained in the northern city of Tripoli three months ago and hasn't been heard of since.

Syrian Commandos in Lebanon

The Syrians are becoming active again in Lebanon - especially in Alawite towns and villages. Perhaps that's natural. And certainly Lebanon needs stability - if that's what it takes.

Lebanese and Israeli media are reporting at least two Syrian commando (special operations) battalions have crossed the Syrian-Lebanese border into north Lebanon and taken up positions in seven Alawite-controlled villages.

Syria in Lebanon

From Jerusalem - We picked up a Farid Ghadry e-mail complaining about the Syrian exchange of Ambassadors with Lebanon. I know Farid is opposition but sometimes he protests too much. They recognise Lebanon as a seperate country from Syria and he doesn't like it. Heavens the guy will always be unhappy. Meanwhile the question here is can Bashar al Assad do anything to swing Israeli public opinion further towards peace and undermine Olmert's reticence. One idea is that he grant an audience to an Israeli satellite channel. Might work.

Shebbaa Farms

It seems Syria is to negotiate it's border with Lebanon - and establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon. But there's a big difference between saying and doing. The Syrians have always hated the Palestinian State but finally a couple of years back they said they'd establish diploamtic relations with Palestine - and they still haven't done it. How long Lebanon. And they say they won't negotiate their border at Shebbaa Farms with Lebanon until the Israelis withdraw from the Golan. What's the point then? That's always been Lebanese land. Why can't they admit it?

Syrian and Hezbollah troops using Heavy Artillery

This came in from our friends in America - the perspective predictable I guess - but valid?

Beirut - May 11, 2008/World Council for the Cedars Revolution/ -- As of this morning, Sunday May 12, Lebanon sources from the field reported that a full fledge offensive conducted by Hezbollah and backed by Iranian Pasdaran and Syrian armed groups has been launched against the southern Mount Lebanon on several axis. The Iranian-backed forces are using long range artillery, Katiusha rockets and armor. Hezbollah has massed around 10,000 troops for this invasion of the Druze villages along the Beirut-Damascus road.

Reports confirm that the Commander of the Lebanese Army, General Michel Sleiman, who was appointed under there Syrian occupation in 1998, has ordered his troops not to intervene to help the Lebanese population under Terrorist attack. Sleiman has also abandoned the Sunni neighborhood in the capital few days ago, when Hezbollah and its Iranian militias invaded the city. At this point, indicate the sources, and unless the Lebanese Army intervene, it is expected that the Hezbollah forces would gradually overrun the Druze villages in Aley district and link up with their forces in the Bekaa valley.

TO VIEW FULL ITEM CLICK HERE

Anatomy of Syrian-Israeli Tensions

This came in from Oded in Jerusalem. It makes interesting reading:

Jerusalem Center Strategic Affairs Unit

Syria served as a primary conduit for the build-up of Iranian-backed Hizbullah prior to the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War in July 2006. Damascus supplied the majority of the heavy-payload rockets Hizbullah fired at Israel.

The Syrian-Israeli military balance has been characterized by a gross asymmetry in Syria's favor in standing active-service formations along the Syrian-Israeli border. In October 1973, Israel was forced to repel a massive Syrian ground assault with only 177 tanks against a total Syrian force of 1,400 tanks, providing an advantage for Syrian armor of more than eight to one.

Syria has undertaken a massive military build-up over the past few years, focusing primarily on Scud (B, C, and D) heavy rockets and chemical warheads. Syria has become a regional superpower in chemical weaponry.

Russia is providing state-of-the-art weaponry and military technology to Syria, and is reopening a Russian naval base on the Syrian coast. Additionally, Iran's huge petrodollar-driven financing capability has played a major role in Syrian weapons procurement.

Syria's destabilizing role in the region was underscored by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., former U.S. Commander in Iraq, who confirmed that Syria has acted as a primary line of supply for weaponry and volunteers that continue to stream unfettered over the Syrian-Iraqi border to support the Iraqi insurgency against U.S. and coalition forces.

One of Syria's prime motivations in its current military behavior is to free itself of international pressure in the context of its continuing involvement in destabilizing Lebanon and with regard to its suspected main role in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Syrian Rockets Hit Northern Israel in the Second Lebanon War

The report of Israeli air force activity over northeastern Syria along the Turkish-Syrian border on September 6 comes in the context of disturbing trends in Syrian military behavior. Syria served as a primary conduit for the build-up of Iranian-backed Hizbullah prior to the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War in July 2006. Damascus supplied the majority of the heavy-payload rockets Hizbullah fired at Israel, including, 220mm rockets and 302mm rockets.1 Syrian-supplied rocket warheads usually contained anti-personnel munitions - a mixture of lethal explosives and steel balls or fragments.

Syria has also increased the tempo of its military exercises and has removed roadblocks that existed for years between Damascus and the city of Kuneitra in the Golan Heights that is adjacent to its front line with Israel.

Historically, the Syrian-Israeli military balance has been characterized by a gross asymmetry in Syria's favor in standing active-service formations along the Syrian-Israeli border. While Syria maintains its army on battle-ready status, the bulk of the Israeli army is organized around army reserve units that are only mobilized in the event of an imminent attack. For example, in October 1973, Israel was forced to repel a massive Syrian ground assault with only 177 tanks against a total Syrian force of 1,400 tanks that stretched back from the Golan Heights to Damascus, providing an advantage for Syrian armor of more than eight to one.

Key Factors in Syrian Behavior

At present, Syria's behavior is a function of the following factors:

The Syrian perception that it has a realistic military option against Israel based on their view of Hizbullah's successes in last summer's war.

Syria's continued sponsorship of radical Palestinian Islamic terror groups including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and other Jihadi organizations.

A massive Syrian military build-up focusing primarily on Scud (B, C, and D) heavy rockets and chemical warheads, with a massive commensurate increase in military spending over the past few years. The Syrian armament build-up in recent years has included a major investment in chemical weaponry, in which Syria has become a regional superpower. It is important to stress that Damascus' strategic decision to build up its military arsenal preceded the U.S. decision to provide advanced military weaponry to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Syria has also increased the tempo of its military exercises, and has enhanced its infrastructure on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.

Syria's recent military build-up is all the more destabilizing in view of the decision by Russia to upgrade its influence in the region by providing state-of-the-art Russian weaponry and military technology, and to reopen a Russian naval base on the Syrian coast. Additionally, Iran's huge petrodollar-driven financing capability has played a major role in Syrian weapons procurement.

Syria's Destabilizing Role in the Region

Current Syrian-Israeli tensions are also punctuated by the additional Syrian strategic need to free itself of international pressure in the context of its continuing involvement in destabilizing Lebanon, as well as Damascus' interest in shaking off international pressure stemming from Syria's suspected main role in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Syria's destabilizing role in the region was underscored by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., former U.S. Commander in Iraq, who confirmed that Syria has acted as a primary line of supply for weaponry and volunteers that continue to stream unfettered over the Syrian-Iraqi border to support the Iraqi insurgency against U.S. and coalition forces.2 At this sensitive juncture, it is in the interests of both Syria and Israel to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

* * *

Notes
1. Uzi Rubin, "Hisbullah's Rocket Campaign Against Northern Israel: A Preliminary Report," Jerusalem Issue Brief, Volume 6, Number 10, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, August 31, 2006,
2. Thomas E. Ricks, "General: Iraqi Insurgents Directed from Syria," Washington Post, December 17, 2004,

On the Terrorist Bombing Attack, in Lebanon

And is the Syrian Government behind the Lebanon bombing? They have been flexing their muscles recently - engaged in stupid acts of intimidation that do nothing to help them. Here's a press release from the Government of Japan sent to us today by Kohei san:

1. The Government of Japan is deeply shocked by the act of terrorism in Beirut on 19th which killed a number of innocent people including Mr. Antoine Ghanim, Member of the Parliament of Lebanon, and expresses its condolences to the victims and their families. Such an act of terrorism can never be tolerated and the Government of Japan strongly condemns it.
2. The Government of Japan, together with the international community, fully supports the efforts of the Lebanese Government for the stability of Lebanon and calls anew upon that all the parties concerned in Lebanon to overcome their differences through dialogue and negotiations, and work together to achieve the stability and reconstruction of Lebanon.

Preserve Lebanon’s democracy and independence

Farid of the US based Syria Reform Party sends this item. Personally I should think there would be a lot of Lebanese who'd like to see Syria back in control and an end to Western meddling - but am I wrong?

Washington DC, July 18, 2007/William Harris - Now Lebanon/ -- In the contemporary world it is fashionable to represent conflicts as involving various shades of gray among contending parties, with clear moral choices being problematic. In the current Lebanese crisis, however, the choice is clear – it is between day and night, between light and darkness.

Above all, Lebanon’s future depends upon the survival and consolidation of its recently renewed democracy and independence. This requires agreement among political leaders on a new president committed to democracy and independence, implementation of the Lebanese state’s rightful monopoly of force on all its territory, and total cooperation with the international community in the proceedings of the coming UN murder tribunal. The Syrian/Lebanese security apparatus that commanded Lebanon until 2005, an apparatus still headed by Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Emile Lahoud, remains the prime suspect in the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Until the culprits for this crime and a succession of plainly associated murders and attempted murders of Lebanese critics of the Syrian regime are apprehended, political murder will rule supreme and Lebanese democracy cannot be secured.

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Rice breaks the ice with Syria, but not Iran

· Iraq conference backdrop for high level discussion
· US praises Damascus's counter-insurgency effort

Ian Black in Sharm el-Sheikh
Friday May 4, 2007
The Guardian

Efforts to stabilise Iraq by involving its neighbours in talks brought Condoleezza Rice together with Syria's foreign minister yesterday for an ice-breaking meeting but talks with her Iranian opposite number, Manouchehr Mottaki, failed to happen.

The US secretary of state's session with Walid Moualem on the margins of an international conference on Iraq followed rare praise from the US military that Syria was doing more to seal its border with Iraq to foreign fighters joining the Sunni insurgency.

The high-profile diplomatic encounter in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh was the first of its kind since Syria, Iran's only Arab ally, was accused of being behind the murder of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. It denies the charge and is resisting calls for a UN tribunal to investigate the killing.

TO READ FULL STORY CLICK HERE

Farid Ghadry, from the Syrian opposition, has sent us the following opinion piece on the Rice meeting, posted on the Reform Party of Syria website.

A Safe Iraq is the Purpose
Farid Ghadry, RPS,Washington DC
May 4, 2007
With Iraq becoming the center of gravity of US foreign policy in the Middle East, the Syrian opposition is witnessing some disturbing events taking place that look like a reversal of the past policy by the US in its approach to dealing with the Assad regime. But a closer look may reveal a different perspective...

After the meeting yesterday, the White House spokesman Tony Snow downplayed its importance when he said: "Any conversations would not be bilateral discussions. They would not be formal negotiations." He added: "The one and only topic, again, in Sharm el- Sheikh is to say: 'It is time now to step forward and support the government of Iraq. ' That is the strong message that is being sent." It is obvious from the narrow goal that precipitated this meeting to take place that Iraq and only Iraq was the central issue...

TO READ OPINION PIECE IN FULL CLICK HERE

A Syria-Israel peace process?

David Sassoon sends this Bitter Lemons item:

Edition 8 Volume 5 - February 22, 2007 A Syria-Israel peace process? • America's veto on Syrian-Israeli talks is counter-productive - Rime Allaf
The long-awaited return of the Golan Heights to Syria should not be marketed as a reward offered to Syria for "good behavior" in other arenas. • Include Lebanon - Riad Kahwaji
First Israel must convince the Americans, who in turn must ease Lebanese fears and recognize the benefits of engaging with Syria. • Washington is obstructing progress on Syria - Ghassan Khatib
Washington seems to be saying to Damascus that "you are invited to negotiate but only after you give up the bargaining chips you have." • Syria can switch camps - Alon Liel
Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights in exchange for a total reorientation of Syria's regional and global policies

Anniversary Demonstrations in Lebanon

This item comes from Farid:

Washington DC - February 14, 2007/RPS/ -- On the 2nd anniversary of the killing of Rafik Hariri, dubbed the Valentine massacre, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese descended upon the Freedom Square in downtown Beirut to listen to Lebanese politicians, in the most direct speeches ever, accuse Syria.

Speakers like Depute Walid Jumblatt and head of the Druze community, who behind a bullet-proof pulpit, delivered one of his most passionate speeches ever. Jumblatt ended his speech by insisting that the international tribunal will bring equality, justice, and hanging.