English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 05/2020
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
 http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/eliasnews19/english.october05.20.htm

News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
 Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006

 

Bible Quotations For today
But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
 Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12/01-14: “At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.’He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests.Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.’ He left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath? ’ so that they might accuse him. He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out?How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.’Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 04-05/2020
Health Ministry: 1,002 cases of corona
Two months since Beirut explosion, angry Lebanese mourn dead
Lance Armstrong races to raise funds following Beirut blast
Lebanon’s army prevents migrants risking sea crossing, mainly Syrian passengers
White balloons with victims’ names released on Beirut’s Port
Patriarch Al-Rahi to the political authority: You are not the masters of the people but their servants, no group has the right to make Lebanon an ally of this or that country in its conflicts and wars
Bishop Audi: The Status that we are living in currently hands over the wounded Lebanon to those who can't heal its wounds, because they make the infection wounds much worse.
Hezbollah Incites Tension Between Suwayda, Daraa In Syria
Banks' Association: To commit to closing branches in the towns covered by the Interior Minister's decision
Emir of Kuwait receives Hariri
Army: Smuggling of 37 people by sea thwarted, organizer arrested
Sleiman meets Royard: France is able to help Lebanon in international forums
Hariri and Hezbollah: No to Miqati!Hariri and Hezbollah: No to Miqati!
Photographer captures loss and hope following Beirut blast in new photo series
A Tripartite Arrangement in Lebanon under Iranian Conditions/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/October, 04/2020
Lebanon-Israel talks will mark another win for Donald Trump/Raghida Dergham/The National/October 03/2020


 Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 04-05/2020

Pope: Market capitalism has failed in pandemic, needs reform
Coronavirus: US President Donald Trump leaves Walter Reed military hospital
What happens if a candidate for president dies?
Trump Says 'Real Test' Lies ahead in his COVID-19 Fight
Pompeo to Cut Short Asia Visit amid Trump Hospitalization
Armenian Yazidis join fight against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan Says Armenian Forces Shell Second City of Ganja
Azerbaijan’s No. 2 city targeted in fighting with Armenia
Erdogan Hints at New Military Operation in Northern Syria
Thousands of Israelis Rally Against PM Despite Lockdown
French rescuers search for 8 people missing after floods
Virus spreads on panel handling Supreme Court nomination
US push for Arab-Israel ties divides Sudanese leaders

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 04-05/2020

This is America, a dystopian city on a hill/Janine di Giovanni/The National/October/04/2020
A Few Global Concerns that Affect Us All/Richard Kemp/Gatestone Institute/October 04/2020

A brave new dawn in Arab-Israeli relations/Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor/Arab News/October 04/2020
France’s push against ‘Islamist separatism’ should be supported/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/October 04/2020


The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 04-05/2020

Health Ministry: 1,002 cases of corona
NNA /October 04/2020
The Ministry of Public Health announced, on Sunday, the registration of 1,002 new Corona infections, thus raising the cumulative number since February 21 till today to 44,482 cases. It also indicated that 8 death cases were reported during the past 24 hours.

 

Two months since Beirut explosion, angry Lebanese mourn dead
AFP/Sunday 04 October 2020
Dozens of mourners gathered near what remains of Beirut’s port on Sunday to mark two months since a huge explosion widely blamed on Lebanon’s political class.The August 4 blast ripped through swathes of the city, killing more than 190 people and wounding over 6,500.
Two months later, an investigation into the disaster has yet to make public its results, further stoking public anger in a country mired in economic crisis and battered by the novel coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday just after 6:00 pm (1500 GMT), at the exact time of the explosion, balloons bearing the names of each of those who died were released into the sky from a street overlooking the port, an AFP photographer said. A large sound system played a rendition of the national anthem and Lebanese songs. Bereaved family members and activists, holding portraits of the victims and placards demanding justice, briefly blocked the road to traffic. They voiced anger at the country’s political class, widely seen as directly responsible for the catastrophe through a mixture of corruption and incompetence. “Is it too much to ask to know who committed this crime against humanity?” asked Samia, a mother of two, whose husband worked at the port and died in the explosion. “Every day we die a hundred deaths,” she added. “My children have been deprived of the word ‘Baba’ for their entire lives.”Salwa lost her uncle, who also worked at the port. “He was like a father to me,” she said. “How could God forgive them, but may God forgive” those responsible, she added. Another woman nearby interrupted her: “God have vengeance on them!” “We demand that everyone who had a hand in this disaster is punished,” Salwa said. The protest came after veteran cyclist Lance Armstrong led a bike ride to raise money to provide medical and food aid to those affected and repair damaged buildings. The immediate cause of the blast was a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive fertilizer, stored without safeguards for over six years in a warehouse on the portside and ignited by a fire nearby.
Lebanese authorities have rejected calls for an international investigation into the incident, instead launching their own probe, which has so far resulted in around 25 arrests. President Michel Aoun has acknowledged he was aware of the presence of the ammonium nitrate days before the blast, while other senior officials also knew of it and the dangers it posed to nearby residential neighborhoods, according to anonymous officials.
 

Lance Armstrong races to raise funds following Beirut blast
Robert McKelvey, Special to Al Arabiya English/Sunday 04 October 2020
Renowned US cyclist Lance Armstrong came to Lebanon to lead “Bike For Beirut” on Sunday, a charity peloton ride intended to provide much-needed aid to those affected by the Beirut blast.
The three-hour ride started at Silo 12, the damaged grain store at the blast site, and cycled through the streets of Beirut, briefly visiting each of the four NGOs befitting, before returning to the Beirut Port.
“I think it looks like we’ve got about – standing here now, at the start – about 100 people,” Armstrong told Al Arabiya English from the starting point at Silo 12. “It’s tough to get it organized.”
On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion, caused by 2,750 tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, occurred at Beirut’s port, right in the heart of Lebanon’s capital. Over 200 people were killed, thousands were injured and hundreds of thousands were made homeless. The reconstruction of affected schools, hospitals, and businesses has been estimated at several billion US dollars. Visiting Lebanon for the first time, Armstrong was struck by the scale of the destruction left in the wake of the blast.
“We toured [the city] yesterday morning for a few hours, and then obviously we’re going to do the ride through the explosion site and some of the surrounding communities,” explained Armstrong. “It’s unbelievable. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s apocalyptic.”
Organizers hope to raise both awareness and funds in support of four local NGOs currently undertaking the vital tasks of reconstruction and rehabilitation within Lebanon’s beleaguered capital, with all funds collected being split equally between the four groups. “The impetus was Tom Barrak,” said Armstrong. “Tom and I have been friends for a long time, and he asked me to come over and do the ride; try to help as much as we can; bring some awareness; raise some money. He was the main inspiration.”
Also participating in Sunday’s ride was legendary Lebanese sportsman and explorer Maxime Chaya, one of the key organizers of the event – alongside Tom Barrak and Ziad Ghandour – and a close associate of Heartbeat, an NGO specializing in providing medical care and treatment to children born with heart disease. “This is about helping those in need after the horrible August blast,” said Chaya. “Coming from more than halfway around the world to show solidarity in sport is amazing, and I wish other world-class athletes would do the same, no matter what the sport or what their background is.”
Beit El Baraka founder Maya Ibrahimsha hopes to improve further upon the work her group has already done, providing access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education to struggling Lebanese families.
“We have been taking homes and moving people out of their houses, and working very quickly under pressure to be able to put them back in their homes,” Ibrahimsha said. “Now we are repairing 3011 homes and 202 small businesses in the devastated areas.”
The third beneficiary group, Offre Joie, is a non-partisan NGO that has been assisting Lebanese families since 1985. After the blast, Offre Joie responded quickly by assessing the damages and setting up an emergency rehabilitation program in Karantina and Mar Mikhael, two of the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
Finally, the Lebanese Red Cross, who provided many of the first responders in the immediate aftermath of the blast and offer essential emergency medical services, will continue in their mission to promote peace and alleviate human suffering. Following today’s ride, Armstrong will be spending the next 10 days in the Middle East on various events. Chaya said the Bike For Beirut team will next travel to Dubai, where they hope to raise even more funds. Ride With Lance will take on August 6 at the 50km Loop Al Qudra Cycling Track, in Dubai, led again by Armstrong. However, the rest of the schedule has yet to be confirmed. “I think that this would be an awful time for anyone, you know, to see this amount of devastation,” said Armstrong. “As I said, it’s apocalyptic, but I think its times like these are when the best people, the best communities and the best comebacks happen. I wish them the best.”

Lebanon’s army prevents migrants risking sea crossing, mainly Syrian passengers
AFP/Sunday 04 October 2020
Lebanon’s army said Sunday it had prevented a boat carrying 37 mainly Syrian passengers from leaving the country by sea, the latest attempt to make the perilous Mediterranean crossing. The boat was stopped on Saturday night near an island close to Lebanon’s northern port of Tripoli. Those on board included 34 Syrians, two Lebanese, and a Palestinian, with seven children among them. A Lebanese man was arrested for organizing the operation, the statement added. Lebanon, which hosts nearly 1.5 million people displaced by the war in neighboring Syria, was struggling from a severe economic crisis and political instability even before the coronavirus pandemic struck. That was exacerbated by the massive August 4 explosion at Beirut’s port, which laid waste to whole neighborhoods of the capital and killed over 190 people. In recent weeks, dozens of Lebanese and Syrians have tried to make the sea journey from Lebanon to Cyprus, authorities on both sides say.The Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member, lies just 160 kilometers away. In mid-September, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon rescued 36 people from a boat in trouble in international waters off the Lebanese coast.
Families of the survivors said the boat had been adrift without food or water for around a week, during which time several passengers had died or jumped overboard to find help

White balloons with victims’ names released on Beirut’s Port
Annahar/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
BEIRUT: Two months after the massive blast that rocked the capital, parents of the victims organized a sit-in near the #Beirut Port to mourn the souls lost and remind those responsible that “we won’t forget, nor forgive.”
After blocking the Charles Helou Highway, the parents demanded that “the government contact them and inform them of their latest findings and developments in the investigation.”The relatives released white balloons carrying the victims’ names into the air as a tribute to their souls. Fairouz songs were played as the parents and citizens released hundreds of balloons. “The judiciary in #Lebanon is highly corrupted and it is protecting the officials behind the tragedy from being held accountable,” lawyer and activist Wasef El Harakeh said. Protester held up a big sign that stated “Women and children of the victims’ demand justice immediately.” “We will paralyze the country if we have, and believe me we have the means to do so, if the government does not release where they have reached in the investigations very soon,” Ibrahim Hteit, spokesperson of the families of the victims, said. Hteit assured the media that hundreds of people are ready to get down and protest with them once they call for a national protest and urged officials “to not test” their patience anymore. The August 4 explosion killed at least 200 people, wounded over 6,500 others and left around 300,000 homeless. The FBI recently released a statement that stated that the explosion was “not an accident.”

Patriarch Al-Rahi to the political authority: You are not the masters of the people but their servants, no group has the right to make Lebanon an ally of this or that country in its conflicts and wars
NNA/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, presided over Sunday Mass at the Church of the Patriarchal Summer Residence in Dimane this morning. Touching on the prevailing situation in his homily, the Patriarch addressed the ruling class, saying: "You are not the masters of the people, but rather servants," regretting, with great pain, the departure of many Lebanese people in search of work opportunities, security and a decent life abroad.
"As I understand the suffering of young men and women and families and the reason for their compulsive desire to stay away from tragedies, and as I share their disappointment with everything, yes everything, I invite you, our young women and men, to think carefully before making the decision to migrate," said al-Rahi. He added: "I know that you are forced to leave, you walk and look back, out of love for whom and what you leave behind. You carry your memories and your wounds, hide your tears in your bags, and preserve Lebanon in your hearts."
However, the Patriarch said to those pondering the thought of leaving their country that "the economic, financial, health and social crises are spreading across the world, and the world is trembling from the unbridled Corona epidemic...whereby all these factors do not facilitate the chances of settling in an expatriate country.""Lebanon needs you in particular: your morals and consciences, your revolution and your anger, your knowledge and culture, your advancement, your civilization, and your way of life," al-Rahi said to the Lebanese.
Meanwhile and amidst the current deadlock, where there is no government, no rescue plan, no reforms, no resorting to the constitution, the Patriarch underlined the need for a breakthrough without waiting for any external sides or affiliations, be it to the west or east. "The enormity of the situation and the possibility of developments of a diverse nature necessitate the acceleration of the formation of a government that embodies citizens' aspirations, so that the constitutional and charter work is organized," he said. Al-Rahi emphasized that no group in the country has the right to make Lebanon an ally of this or that country in its conflicts and wars.
"If only all the Lebanese leaders, spiritual, official, political and partisan, would restore the initiative of rallying around the constitutional and charter constants, and address the people's sufferings and the country's need to get out of its deep crisis," he added wishfully. Over the border demarcation issue, the Patriarch said: "We received with hope the Lebanese state's announcement that it had reached a framework agreement to demarcate the land and sea borders with Israel, allowing Lebanon to restore its international border line in the south, facilitate the extraction of its maritime wealth of oil and gas, and end the series of attacks and wars between Lebanon and Israel, according to Resolution 1701 of the Security Council, which places it on a path of peaceful negotiation instead of fighting, without this implying a process of normalization."
"On this occasion, an agreement must be found to solve the issue of the presence of about half a million Palestinian refugees on the land of Lebanon, and work to demarcate the borders with Syria in the area of Shebaa Farms, and to end the anomalous and ambiguous situation there," al-Rahi underscored. The Patriarch asserted that through more steadfastness and resilience, God willing, Lebanon is bound to overcome its ordeals and get out of its crises to reach much better conditions.

 

Bishop Audi: The Status that we are living in currently hands over the wounded Lebanon to those who can't heal its wounds, because they make the infection wounds much worse.

LCCC/October 04/2020
Suicide cases in Lebanon are increasing among young people who do not see a future ahead. Where is the mercy and while the hospitals are groaning due to the lack of the necessary equipment and medicine? Where is the mercy and the people of the afflicted neighborhoods have not returned to their homes yet, and the winter is knocking on their broken doors and their ripped off ceilings? Where is mercy and unemployment is rampant and all sectors are threatened by the ghosts of bankruptcy and closure? Where is the mercy in a ramshackle country while those politicians in control remain in their positions.
Is it a shame to distinguish between one citizen and another and claim to protect one citizen at the expense of another? Is not the duty of the official to work diligently for the sake of all citizens? Are not justice and equality a feature of the state governed by law, and the law alone? A real official does not sleep if a citizen of his country is in pain. How can they sleep when the country is dying, the economy has collapsed, the pound has lost its value, emigration has multiplied, and misery is general.
What worries me is that most of the citizens have not been able to restore their homes yet, and winter is coming. Who protects these citizens, and who protects the urban heritage, ancient homes, and the beauty of architecture? Heritage quarters have been destroyed, and the dreams of their occupants spilled. The Ashrafeah neighborhoods store the memory of Beirut. They have resisted wars and withstood the attempts to demolish, occupy, buy and change its features.
Today, we called upon the officials to recognize mercy so that God Almighty may have mercy on them, including the people and history later. May the Lord bless you, and plant true love in your hearts, so that hope will return to all broken souls and sad and desperate hearts, amen.

 

Hezbollah Incites Tension Between Suwayda, Daraa In Syria
Damascus/Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
Syrian sources said that Lebanon's Hezbollah party is inciting tension between the provinces of Suwayda and Daraa by providing arms to the Iranian-backed National Defense Forces (NDF) to confront the 5th Corps, supported by Russia. Hezbollah was active in recent weeks in southwest Syrian where factions who have different affiliations are clashing, the Suwayda 24 news website reported citing exclusive sources. “Hezbollah has been providing logistical support to the NDF, which subsequently deployed armed members in Al-Qariya, strengthening its positions with mortars.”The NDF had been deployed in most areas of the Suwayda since 2013. Following tension with the 5th Corps, the forces also bolstered their positions around Qariya. Last week, pro-Syrian regime forces and Russian-backed factions sent large military reinforcements to the area after fierce clashes erupted between the two sides. The clashes killed 15 young men and wounded more than 50 after the 5th Corps tried to enter agricultural lands in Qariya, For his part, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif urged Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in a phone call to intervene and end the clashes. Earlier, in the period between April and June, several negotiations took place among notables from the Druze-majority in Suwayda on one side and their counterparts from Daraa on the other side to contain tensions between Basra Al-Sham and Qariya.


Banks' Association: To commit to closing branches in the towns covered by the Interior Minister's decision
NNA /October 04/2020
In an issued circular by the Lebanese Banks Association's General Secretariat this evening, it indicated that "in implementation of the decision by Caretaker Interior and Municipalities Minister, No. 1205 dated 2/10/2020, banks will adhere throughout the upcoming week to closing their branches located in the towns and villages subject to the aforementioned confinement decision."

Emir of Kuwait receives Hariri
NNA /October 04/2020
The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received this morning former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, accompanied by former Minister Ghattas Khoury and advisor Fadi Fawwaz. They offered their condolences for the passing of the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Hariri also offered his condolences to the National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim, the Deputy Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and a number of notable sheikhs. --- Press Office of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri

Army: Smuggling of 37 people by sea thwarted, organizer arrested
NNA /October 04/2020
Lebanese Army Command-Orientation Directorate issued a statement this evening, in which it indicated that on 3/10/2020, its units arrested a boat used for smuggling people and thwarted the smuggling of 37 persons (34 Syrians, including 7 children and 3 women, in addition to two Lebanese and one Palestinian). The boat was arrested five miles from the Ramekin Islands, after it was spotted by the army's naval radars which are tightening their surveillance to prevent smuggling operations. After investigation and follow-up, the Lebanese Intelligence Directorate arrested the person responsible for organizing and preparing for the smuggling operation and handed over the detainees to the concerned authorities.

Sleiman meets Royard: France is able to help Lebanon in international forums
NNA /October 04/2020
Former President Michel Sleiman stressed during his meeting today with French MP Gwendall Royard, "the necessity of pursing the French initiative in a way that serves the supreme interest of Lebanon.""How can Lebanon rise from its multiple crises without the help of friendly countries? Is it conceivable that these countries, led by France, are more keen on the interest of the Lebanese than Lebanon's authorities directly concerned with the repercussions of failure, delay and impeding the Lebanese economy and the fate of the Lebanese?" Sleiman questioned. "France is able to assist Lebanon in the UN Security Council, the European Union and in the international group, to support Lebanon to ensure that it is neutralized from the conflict axes and their negative repercussions," he said. Sleiman reiterated herein his call for "the immediate start of sovereign reform that confines arms to the command of the Lebanese state alone, and puts an end to any weapons outside the framework of legitimacy, which is the actual prelude to any social or economic reform." The meeting was also a chance to review the regional and international situations, where Sleiman valued France's positive role in helping Lebanon and its people.

Hariri and Hezbollah: No to Miqati!Hariri and Hezbollah: No to Miqati!
Media Foundation/October 04/2020
The French ambassador, Bruno Foche, did not exclude Hezbollah from his farewell visits, despite the loud speeches of Emmanuel Macron. Something to be expected on the part of the representative of the state that “crushed” its political balance towards the suburb without reaping the fruits of its move so far.
However, the farewell meeting during which the backgrounds of the fall of the French initiative were discussed by each side did not constitute a breach of the wall of the crisis that threatens, according to information, the international support conference for Lebanon if the government is not formed in the fastest time.
Governmental stalemate, which is becoming more and more a captive of international and regional equations with the approaching maturity of the American elections and monitoring the implications of cutting the bar on the border demarcation with Israel through American mediation, a weak point has entered its line that has yet to be crystallized. With the choice of a government of specialists that is vaccinated with politicians or representatives of the political forces, and it exclusively names them.
Here, a fundamental problem arises related to the extent to which international financial support is provided to a government that includes representatives or close to Hezbollah in the event of a techno-political government, and in light of a decision fully clearly announced by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah “to participate in any future government.”
And if President Najib Mikati took the initiative to present the aforementioned proposal, however, the concept of “politicizing” the government is essentially an initial proposition for the Shiite duo that the Presidency of the Republic meets with fear of a “government entity” completely out of control with the presence of a staff acting as a “machine” and not as a reformist political mind It is assumed to be the stage title. From this point, negotiations for Plan B will begin in the initiative, and this is what the French have become.
Insiders assert, in this context, that “the mechanism for managing the initiative will change, as will some conditions that were imposed previously and were not among the requirements of France.” This in itself will broaden the range of options. However, this does not mean that Mikati, the author of the proposal, may be seriously marketed as prime minister, because the internal veto on it is effective! ”
In recent days, increased activity was noticed by President Mikati in re-“reviving” previous communication links that served as keys to him with the President of the Republic, Gebran Bassil, Hezbollah, and President Nabih Berri. This comes at a time when Hariri distanced himself from the circle of adopting more heads of government. There is a recent confusion in Hariri’s ear: “You must immediately stop playing the role of the“ midwife ”of heads of government, as this has negative effects on your image and your political balance!
Those who know behind the scenes of the Sunni accounts concede that Hariri has adopted the option of Mikati. And they ask: “He abandoned Nawaf Salam, and it did not occur to him to put forward the name of Tamam Salam, who completely refuses to cooperate with President Aoun, and put Fouad Siniora on the shelf for a long time. If it was the Grand Serail’s destination? They comment: “Mikati is not an option for Hariri.”
Moreover, Mustafa Adib’s experience has undermined confidence among the members of the Heads of Government Club even more. After I arrived, before Adib’s apology, messages to this effect were sent to the designated chief from the vicinity of Mikati, warning him of the consequences of complete submission to Hariri so that he would not lose his chance to become the head of the Salvation Government.
Here, many liken Adib’s “remote” management of “Hariri” to what he did with former prime minister Samir al-Khatib, who withdrew from the race in December 2019 despite Hariri’s formal cover for him. The head of the Future Movement, in their opinion, prefers to adopt someone who forms a bridge for him again to the Serail, not someone who crosses the way back, and my timing is a possibility for those who cross the road.
As for Baabda and Hezbollah, the opinion is shared: “I have no confidence in my timing, nor is there any satisfaction with his political choices. And in the center of Hezbollah is what it describes as a “conspirator” and “the most volatile politician.”
In this context, circles close to Hezbollah refer to “the message that former presidents Amin Gemayel, Michel Suleiman, Najib Mikati, Fouad Siniora and Tamam Salam sent to the Arab summit in Amman in 2017, which greatly aroused the party’s dissatisfaction that day, and its effects are still present, and is considered a sign Black in his record, which also does not “serve” him in the street. At the top of the list is the subsidized bank loans that do not constitute a legal violation, but it is definitely an unethical step !!
In the narrow scenes, there are talks about the possibilities of Hariri’s return, linked to amendments, that will enter the French initiative, which the latter recognized as his “only reference as the last chance to stop the collapse,” in parallel with the announcement that he would not run for prime minister.
According to the information, Mikati’s choice is immature, and the internal veto is greater than the external one, at a time when the president of the republic, as well as the Shi’ite duo, is studying the possibility of talking about a government that the political parties agree upon with competent faces headed by Hariri or a name outside the club of prime ministers and benefits from “lessons” In my experience Hassan Adeeb and Mustafa Adib. And it seems that going for a name outside the “club of four” is still the most difficult, unless Hariri decides otherwise.
As for President Aoun’s reluctance to call for intentional consultations to appoint a new prime minister, this time it will not appear to be faced with a counter-campaign in light of the joint talk “about the necessity of reaching an understanding that protects authorship after the assignment.”
However, in the Republican Palace currently, there is a kind of alert due to the Corona epidemic that affected a number of daily contacts with President Aoun, prompting to take more stringent precautions, while it was confirmed, despite rumors, that neither the president nor his wife were infected with the virus. Therefore, any meetings, such as conducting consultations or routine appointments, are not available at the present time except for the duty of the three presidents to go to Kuwait on Monday to offer the duty of condolence to the late Emir of Kuwait.

 

Photographer captures loss and hope following Beirut blast in new photo series
Robert McKelvey, Al Arabiya English/October 04/2020
A few days after the August 4 Beirut port explosion that devastated Lebanon’s capital city, Lebanese photographer Joe Khoury walked through the neighborhoods of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael, with 30 postcards bearing images of heritage homes in hand, trying to find their now-ravaged counterparts.
In 2016, Khoury began his “Bouyout Beirut” (Houses of Beirut) postcard series, focusing on the beautiful French-mandate and Ottoman era buildings of the Lebanese capital, intending to showcase a cultural treasure hidden in plain sight.
Now, four years on, the same buildings he photographed lie in ruins. Together with his wife and partner, Gabriela Cardozo, the pair left the corresponding postcards in the rubble of the houses, hoping to remind people of what these structures looked like before, and what might be lost if they are not restored.
“We were really shocked,” Khoury told Al Arabiya English. “Some of our friends were there and they let me go up on the building where it was destroyed. You could see the blood on the walls. “Someone called and told me that these houses I had shot were all gone,” he added. “A couple of friends, and even some members of my family, told us: ‘You need to go and take pictures of them.’”The port explosion has claimed at least 190 lives and caused thousands of injuries, along with billions in property damage. Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael – two of the city’s oldest and most popular neighborhoods – are situated near the port and were hard hit in the blast. Two months later, efforts to clear debris and repair damage are still ongoing.
Khoury has revived his series with a new set of photographs, contrasting the earlier snapshots by holding them up to the ruined facades of the buildings. Unlike his previous work, these images lay bare the brutal damage done to these beloved structures, many of which will have to be painstakingly restored, some already having endured decades of neglect and internecine conflict during the Lebanese Civil War.
“When we first started this project, we wanted to keep these [buildings] preserved in images,” Khoury said. “You tend to think that these houses are going to stay after we’re gone, because they’ve been there for a long time. We didn’t think they were going to fall down.”
The original series comprised 10 postcards documenting abandoned structures and 20 postcards that featured renovated and restored houses, some of which have been converted into businesses or restaurants, like Appetito Trattoria, which had its pastel blue façade torn open by the blast.
“We wanted to do something of a different approach from the common postcards that you see in museums that are usually the Raouche Rock or Baalbek’s temples,” Khoury said, referring to popular sites in Beirut and out in the country's eastern Beqaa Valley, respectively. “In Beirut, you can see these houses on an everyday basis when you’re walking there. You even see tourists taking pictures of them. We created this line because we wanted to shed light on this heritage.”A recent survey by the Lebanese government’s Directorate General of Antiquities determined that the blast has caused damage to 640 heritage buildings, with 60 facing the risk of imminent collapse. Khoury hopes that his project will help to raise awareness for the plight of these heritage buildings and prevent them being lost, or worse, demolished by developers eager to “modernize” Beirut. This was already seen in 1990s, in the aftermath of the Lebanese Civil War, when the joint-stock real estate company Solidere demolished much of the capital’s battered central district to build flashy towers and skyscrapers. Opponents of the multi-billion dollar company accuse it of gentrifying the center of the capital, causing rent and property values to soar, and ultimately leading to the displacement of the native working class and poorer communities. “We wanted to do something like a gesture of hope that these buildings can be rebuilt and preserved, rather than taken down and replaced by skyscrapers,” said Khoury. “It is really important to us. That’s why we took on this project in the first place. “If you look out our collections, we even left the AC compressors sat on the balconies, with the mix of greenery and trees and wires passing in front of these houses,” he added. “It reflects the cultural mix of the city itself. It’s really important to preserve this, because they are part of our identity and, to the Beirutis and the people of Lebanon, they represent part of the city.”
 

A Tripartite Arrangement in Lebanon under Iranian Conditions
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/October, 04/2020
I am not sure about the percentage of those who were optimistic of the French initiative’s success in saving Lebanon from collapse; but I am sure that those who were, did not know much about why it has failed.
It was interesting when Prime Minister designate Dr. Mustafa Adib announced, in the Baabda Presidential Palace at a Beirut suburb, that he was giving up his attempts of forming a new cabinet. Indeed, what happened then was similar to the ‘Iraqi Experience’ in the post Adel Abdul Mahdi cabinet.
In other words, what we saw then in Lebanon, and what we may continue to see until early November, is Iran’s maneuvering and playing for time as part of its long term strategy of gaining full control in Lebanon.
In Iraq, the maneuvers of Iran and its proxies ‘discarded’ two Prime Minister designates, Mohammed Tawfic Allawi and Adnan Al-Zurfi, before acquiescing to the appointment of Mustafa Al Kadhimi, whom Tehran regards too close to Washington. While in Lebanon, where Iran also enjoys almost full military and political control, Tehran’s pressure has managed to abort a high-powered French intervention; thus preventing a transitional political modus vivendi.
The most significant thing about this modus Vivendi is that it would lead to a ‘re-foundation conference’. This would be a ‘stopover’ from which Iran - and its Lebanese sectarian base - hopes to move forward from to killing of the ‘Taif Accords’; and later, go for a transitional ‘tri-partite’ Shiite-Sunni-Christian power-sharing deal that does not stipulate the disarming of Hezbollah. On the contrary, it would cement the victory of Hezbollah’s military ascendancy, along with all its political achievements, en route to full control.
Since 2003, Iran has treated Iraq as a satellite waiting to be fully incorporated into its expanding sphere of influence. In addition to Tehran’s bet on the numerical Shiite majority, several Iranian leaders have spoken openly of Baghdad as the ‘historical capital’ of Iran. This, at least, was the case before the popular uprisings against Iran and its Iraqi militias throughout the Shiite heartlands of southern Iraq.
These uprisings, that raged all over southern Iraq, including the two holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, have undermined the notion of the ‘purely sectarian nature’ of the Iraqi situation. This is the notion that has allowed pro-Iran leaders, like Nuri Al-Maliki to raise, exploit the ISIS issue in order to maintain the Sunni-Shiite sectarian divide. This blatant and divisive sectarian policy was ruthlessly adopted and implemented (by Iran) with full collusion of Iraqi politicians in Baghdad. In fact, it succeeded for a long time in silencing nationalist Shiites by blackmailing them with the ISIS threat; especially, after the latter’s atrocities in Mosul, Sinjar and the towns and villages of the Niveneh plain.
This policy was carefully designed to divert the attention of nationalist Iraqi Shiites away from their daily livelihood issues and demands, weaken their patriotic loyalty to a free, sovereign and independent Iraq, and push them to shun their inclusive Arab identity which brings together Arab Sunnis and Shiites.
In southern Iraq, as well as in Baghdad, the uprisings have proven the fragility of the intentional sectarian policy that is the core of Iran’s strategy of ‘divide and rule’. Subsequently, shaking the strategy of full control through militias created, armed and trained by the IRGC (Iran’s Revolutionary Guards), and forced on the Iraqis as a ‘legitimate’ player within their state structure.
What has been unfolding in Lebanon since last October’s popular uprising is almost a carbon copy of the above. The only difference, however, is that Hezbollah is not yet integrated within the Lebanese political and military state structure; although its military apparatus has been legalized thanks to the ‘innovation’ of ‘the people, the army and the resistance formula’ forced on the Lebanese by Hezbollah’s arms.
On the other hand, although Hezbollah is now a Lebanese reality, and possesses its own security, financial, health, educational, social services and communications institutions -functioning parallel to and independent from the Lebanese state institutions -, it still has its own share of the afore-mentioned institutions.
In other words, this militia simultaneously shares the Lebanese state institutions with other communities, but keeps its own ‘private state’, which is actually richer and more powerful than the Lebanese state.
Such a situation creates serious problems that complicate Arab and international approaches intended to deal with Lebanon’s rapidly deteriorating conditions.
The Arab world acknowledges the fact that Lebanon is now a ‘hostage’ of Hezbollah; thus, any aid given to the disabled Lebanese state is surely going to end up in Hezbollah’s coffers, or put at its disposal.
As for the European countries, namely France – Lebanon’s former mandatory power – they are also well aware of the reality, but still see a chance of doing something that would save Lebanon from impending demise. These countries, led by France, have so far regarded Hezbollah as a ‘Lebanese’ constituent that is a ‘legitimate representative’ of its sectarian community; hence, they must engage and agree with. Furthermore, these countries have continued to oppose Washington’s policies against Iran, since President Donald Trump rejected the JCPOA, and kept up the sanctions.
The conflicting US-European stances towards Iran have, understandably, given it enough breathing space, and subsequently allowed Hezbollah to further tighten its grip on Lebanon. Thanks to this tightening grip, the pro-Iran militia has been able to stage its coup against the ‘French initiative’, and undermine its idea of a government of non-partisan technocrats.
Finally, there is Washington.
From the outside, the American position looks tough and clearcut in defining Hezbollah. It regards it as a ‘terrorist organization’ controlled by Iran, a source of political instability inside Lebanon, and a lynchpin of terrorism throughout the Middle East.
However, Washington’s anti-Hezbollah actions have gone no further than economic sanctions. The problem here is that these sanctions are much more harmful and debilitating to the already disabled Lebanon than to the financially self-sufficient Hezbollah.
Moreover, Washington is now going through the countdown of its Presidential and Legislative elections; which makes any military action - whether against Iran or its Lebanese militia - quite unlikely. In the meantime, Iran with its mastery of blackmail and playing for time, is gambling on a change in Washington that would return its US ‘lobby’ to the White House, and regain control of America’s portfolio of Iran and its Middle East puppets.
This is the living example of the patient long-term strategy of a skillful carpet weaver!
 

Lebanon-Israel talks will mark another win for Donald Trump
Raghida Dergham/The National/October 03/2020
Sanctions are forcing Beirut to the table in another blow to Iran.
Whatever be the outcome of the US presidential election in November, credit must be given where credit is due. And it would be fair to say that, for the Middle East, the current incumbent Donald Trump has been consequential as an American leader. In fact, it would not be inaccurate to suggest that he has managed to bring about a radical change in the political landscape of the region – with one of the biggest beneficiaries of Mr Trump’s diplomatic efforts being Israel.
The ink is not yet dry on the Abraham accords, recently signed by the UAE and Bahrain with Israel, but progress is already being made in Israel-Lebanon relations. The surprise announcement of the start of the first civilian negotiations regarding the demarcation of land and maritime borders – brokered by the US and overseen by the United Nations – may only be receiving fleeting coverage from American media outlets. But it is a major achievement for the Trump administration.
The President will, no doubt, focus on what Israel stands to gain from having positive relations with its neighbours, in order to please the Jewish and pro-Israeli sections of America’s electorate. But the positive outcome of talks with Israel is just as important for Lebanon’s future, because it gives Beirut the option of hedging its relations with Iran. The influence of Tehran, lest we forget, is deeply entrenched in Lebanese politics – not least because its proxy Hezbollah doubles up as a powerful political party and militia inside the tiny Arab country.
The real threat of sanctions, which the Trump administration often effectively wields, has played a key role in Lebanon’s decision to talk to Israel, which is both a neighbour and an adversary.
The so-called “Shiite Duo” of Lebanese politics – Hezbollah and the Amal Movement – had long refused to demarcate the country’s borders with Israel. The reason for this being that they had sought to avoid doing the same with their other neighbour, Syria, with a view to remain coupled with the powers that be in Damascus. Iran and Hezbollah have been determined to keep the Lebanese-Syrian border wide open to allow for the flow of weapons, fighters, narcotics and cash unhindered, and to maintain the subjugation of Lebanon and its people.
Sanctions, however, have shaken the ground beneath the feet of those Lebanese leaders allied to Hezbollah and Amal.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who leads Amal, agreed to hold talks with Israel only after the Trump administration slapped sanctions on one of his closest associates, former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil. Likewise, the tone of Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement and son-in-law of President Michel Aoun, changed drastically after Youssef Fenianos, the former transport minister, was similarly sanctioned by Washington. Even Saad Hariri, the former prime minister, and his Future Movement party may avoid striking a deal with Hezbollah in the future, for fear of such retribution.
The threat of US sanctions loom large not just for Lebanese politicians, however. Many Syrian and Iranian leaders are nervous as well, and possibly counting down to US Election Day. But they must realise that whether it is Republicans or Democrats who will run Washington over the next four years, there is a consensus in American politics over how best to deal with Tehran and its proxies, be it Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Assad regime in Syria.
I got a sense of this consensus during a recent conversation with Joel Rayburn, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs, and James Jeffrey, the US Special Representative for Syria Engagement.
“Whether it's in Syria, whether it's in Lebanon, or elsewhere, we have a charge from the leaders of the administration, and we have a charge from Congress to implement our sanctions authorities – and we're on a path to do that,” Mr Rayburn told me. He added that it was a strategy that also had the backing of the international community at large. Indeed, the West has grown tired of extremists and the adverse impact they are having across Europe and North America.
This is precisely why the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act has been such an effective tool in punishing those wrongdoers who have the backing of the Assad regime and have profited from the ongoing civil war in that country – regardless of nationality. According to Mr Jeffrey, the Trump administration has “full authority and every intention” to implement the act.
“If you, wherever you are in the world, are supporting this criminal regime, we're coming after you,” he added. “There is such a rich target list of Syrian officials who have done so much to deserve sanctions, that we're still working our way through them. But people need to be patient, we're going to take them down sooner or later.”
Mr Jeffrey also claimed that the relative calm in Syria at the moment is the result of the sanctions. “[Bashar Al] Assad's not taking any more territory, [and] he's going to have to deal sooner or later.”
However, it is clear that Iran continues its attempts to push back against American presence in the region, notably in Iraq, where its proxies are constantly attacking the US embassy and personnel in Baghdad. Even as Iran struggles under the grip of a sanctions regime, its strategy in the Middle East is to depend even more on its proxies to create unrest and instability.
As Election Day nears, there is the potential for escalation, as both sides refuse to concede an inch to the other.
*Raghida Dergham is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute
 

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 04-05/2020

Pope: Market capitalism has failed in pandemic, needs reform
Associated Press/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
ROME: #Pope Francis says the coronavirus pandemic has proven that the “magic theories” of market capitalism have failed and that the world needs a new type of politics that promotes dialogue and solidarity and rejects war at all costs.
Francis on Sunday laid out his vision for a post-COVID world by uniting the core elements of his social teachings into a new encyclical aimed at inspiring a revived sense of the human family. “Fratelli Tutti” (Brothers All) was released on the feast day of his namesake, the peace-loving St. Francis of Assisi.
The document draws its inspiration from the teachings of St. Francis and the pope’s previous preaching on the injustices of the global economy and its destruction of the planet and pairs them with his call for greater human solidarity to confront the “dark clouds over a closed world.”In the encyclical, Francis rejected even the Catholic Church’s own doctrine justifying war as a means of legitimate defense, saying it had been too broadly applied over the centuries and was no longer viable. “It is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a ‘just war,’” Francis wrote in the most controversial new element of the encyclical. Francis had started writing the encyclical, the third of his pontificate, before the coronavirus struck and its bleak diagnosis of a human family falling apart goes far beyond the problems posed by the outbreak. He said the pandemic, however, had confirmed his belief that current political and economic institutions must be reformed to address the legitimate needs of the people most harmed by the coronavirus.
“Aside from the differing ways that various countries responded to the crisis, their inability to work together became quite evident,” Francis wrote. “Anyone who thinks that the only lesson to be learned was the need to improve what we were already doing, or to refine existing systems and regulations, is denying reality.” He cited the grave loss of millions of jobs as a result of the virus as evidence of the need for politicians to listen to popular movements, unions and marginalized groups and to craft more just social and economic policies.
“The fragility of world systems in the face of the pandemic has demonstrated that not everything can be resolved by market freedom,” he wrote. “It is imperative to have a proactive economic policy directed at ‘promoting an economy that favours productive diversity and business creativity’ and makes it possible for jobs to be created, and not cut.” He denounced populist politics that seek to demonize and isolate, and called for a “culture of encounter” that promotes dialogue, solidarity and a sincere effort at working for the common good.
As an outgrowth of that, Francis rejected the concept of an absolute right to property for individuals, stressing instead the “social purpose” and common good that must come from sharing the Earth’s resources. He repeated his criticism of the “perverse” global economic system, which he said consistently keeps the poor on the margins while enriching the few — an argument he made most fully in his 2015 landmark environmental encyclical “Laudato Sii” (Praised Be). Francis also rejected “trickle-down” economic theory as he did in the first major mission statement of his papacy, the 2013 Evangelii Gaudium, (The Joy of the Gospel), saying it simply doesn’t achieve what it claims.“Neo-liberalism simply reproduces itself by resorting to magic theories of ‘spillover’ or ‘trickle’ — without using the name — as the only solution to societal problems,” he wrote. “There is little appreciation of the fact that the alleged ‘spillover’ does not resolve the inequality that gives rise to new forms of violence threatening the fabric of society.”
Francis’ English-language biographer, Austen Ivereigh, said with its two key predecessors, the new encyclical amounts to the final part of a triptych of papal teachings and may well be the last of the pontificate. “There is little doubt that these three documents ... will be considered the teaching backbone of the Francis era,” Ivereigh wrote in Commonweal magazine. Francis made clear the text had wide circulation, printing the encyclical in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano and distributing it free in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday to mark the resumption of printed editions following a hiatus during the COVID-19 lockdown. Much of the new encyclical repeats Francis’ well-known preaching about the need to welcome and value migrants and his rejection of the nationalistic, isolationist policies of many of today’s political leaders.
He dedicated an entire chapter to the parable of the Good Samaritan, saying its lesson of charity, kindness and looking out for strangers was “the basic decision we need to make in order to rebuild our wounded world.”“That a theme so ancient is spoken with such urgency now is because Pope Francis fears a detachment from the view that we are all really responsible for all, all related to all, all entitled to a just share of what has been given for the good of all,” said Anna Rowlands, professor of Catholic social thought at Britain’s University of Durham, who was on hand to present the encyclical Sunday at the Vatican.
Francis enshrined in the encyclical his previous rejection of both the nuclear arms race and the death penalty, which he said was “inadmissible” in all cases.
Francis’ call for greater “human fraternity,” particularly to promote peace, is derived from his 2019 joint appeal with the grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the revered 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni Islam. Their “Human Fraternity” document established the relationship between Catholics and Muslims as brothers, with a common mission to promote peace. The fact the he has now integrated that Catholic-Muslim document into an encyclical is significant, given Francis’ conservative critics had already blasted the “Human Fraternity” document as heretical, given it stated that God had willed the “pluralism and diversity of religions.”Vatican encyclicals are the most authoritative form of papal teaching and they traditionally take their titles from the first two words of the document. In this case, “Fratelli Tutti” is a quote from the “Admonitions,” the guidelines penned by St. Francis in the 13th century.
The title of the encyclical had sparked controversy in the English-speaking world, with critics noting that a straight translation of the word “fratelli” (brothers) excludes women. The Vatican has insisted that the plural form of the word “fratelli” is gender-inclusive. Francis’ decision to sign the document in Assisi, where he travelled on Saturday, and release it on the saint’s feast day is yet further evidence of the outsized influence St. Francis has had on the papacy of the Jesuit pope. Francis is the first pope to name himself after the mendicant friar, who renounced a wealthy, dissolute lifestyle to embrace a life of poverty and service to the poor.

 

Coronavirus: US President Donald Trump leaves Walter Reed military hospital
Ismaeel Naar, Al Arabiya English/Monday 05 October 2020
US President Donald Trump said he will leave Walter Reed National Military Medical Center very soon to meet with supporters outside the hospital after receiving treatment for coronavirus, according to a tweet from the president.
 

What happens if a candidate for president dies?
Associated Press/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
WASHINGTON: It’s a month before Election Day and President #Donald Trump is in the hospital, infected with a virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans. What happens in the election — already well underway — should his condition take a turn for the worse? If the president is unable to serve, through illness or death, the 25th Amendment makes clear the powers of the presidency transfer to Vice President Mike Pence until the president regains the ability to perform his duties. But what happens if a candidate for president dies before Election Day? Or right after? What happens if the winning candidate dies before Inauguration Day?
It’s never happened in a country with a long transition between Election Day at the start of November and the start of a president’s new term on Jan. 20. The Constitution, as well as state and federal election laws, would help guide the country through the process. But with no precedent, the outcome is far from certain. The House of Representatives has the final say on who wins the presidency. Before the House might have to take charge, there are roles for political parties, state legislatures, the Electoral College, the courts and, most importantly, voters. Here are some questions and answers about what might happen if a presidential candidate dies, before or after the election:
CAN POLITICAL PARTIES REPLACE A CANDIDATE WHO DIES?
Yes, but not this close to Election Day. Nearly 63 million ballots have already been sent to voters, with nearly 3 million votes already cast. The deadline for candidates to withdraw has passed in all but two states — South Carolina and Connecticut — and their deadlines are a few days away. The date of the election is set by federal law — the Tuesday after the first Monday in November — which falls this year on Nov. 3. Only Congress can change the date of the election. “It would be impossible to change ballots at this time without delaying the election and starting the voting process over again,” said Richard Hasen, a law professor at the University of California–Irvine School of Law. “I don’t think Congress is going to do that.” But it’s important to remember that in a presidential election, voters aren’t actually casting ballots for candidates. Instead, they are voting for slates of electors who will pick the president and vice president as members of the Electoral College. To win the presidency, a candidate must win the backing of a majority of electors — 270 — in the Electoral College. In modern U.S. elections, the meeting of the Electoral College is essentially a ceremonial confirmation of the choice made by voters. This year, it will take place on Dec. 14. But if the winning candidate is no longer alive, it would be anything but routine.“The question is, Who would the electors support?” said Richard Pildes, a constitutional law professor at New York University.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WINNING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DIES AFTER THE ELECTION?
The 20th Amendment says the term of the current president and vice president ends at noon on Jan. 20. There is no provision to extend it. The amendment also says if the president-elect dies, the vice president-elect shall be sworn in as president at the start of the new term. However, the winning candidate doesn’t become president-elect until a joint session of Congress counts the votes from the Electoral College and declares a winner, Pildes said. By law, Congress is scheduled to formally receive the votes from the Electoral College on Jan. 6. The new Congress, which will be elected in November and sworn into office on Jan. 3, will preside.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WINNING CANDIDATE DIES BEFORE CONGRESS DECLARES A WINNER?
“That’s the worst, most confusing time,” said John Fortier, director of governmental studies at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “They are going to have to figure out what to do with (Electoral College) votes cast for a candidate who has died.” If the winning candidate dies before the Electoral College meets, the electors could coalesce around a replacement candidate recommended by the party, perhaps the vice presidential candidate. “For the most part, these people are picked because they are loyal party people,” Fortier said. “You could have a few stray here or there, but they are not rebels.” A party’s electors would have an incentive to coalesce around one candidate, he said, because they wouldn’t want to risk throwing the election to the other party. But there is no guarantee they would all agree on a replacement candidate. Some states have laws that require electors to vote for the presidential candidate who won the statewide vote; other states could quickly pass laws governing the electors in the event that a candidate dies. “The party can say what the party wants, but the states would decide what to do with those electors,” Hasen said.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in July that states may require electors to support the candidate picked by voters in the election. However, the court left open what would happen if the candidate dies. “Nothing in this opinion should be taken to permit the states to bind electors to a deceased candidate,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a footnote to her majority opinion. If this happens, expect litigation.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CONGRESS?
The 12th Amendment to the Constitution gives Congress the final say on who is elected president and vice president. Congress decides whether to accept or reject slates of electors from the Electoral College and to determine whether a candidate has won the required 270 electoral votes to become president.
As a check on this power, both the House and Senate must agree to reject a slate of electors. If the two chambers don’t agree, the electors get counted under federal law, said Michael Morley, an assistant law professor at Florida State University. If no candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, the House chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president, in a process spelled out in the Constitution. In the House, each state delegation gets one vote for president, and they must choose among the three candidates who received the most votes in the Electoral College. Currently, Republicans have a majority in 26 state delegations, but the numbers could change after the November elections and a new Congress takes office. The Senate would choose the vice president by a simple majority vote. Election experts said they wouldn’t expect the courts to play a role at this point because the Constitution clearly grants Congress the authority to resolve a disputed election for president. The Supreme Court did effectively decide the 2000 presidential election in favor of Republican George W. Bush by ending the recount in Florida. But the court’s ruling came before the Electoral College votes were presented to Congress. “It is really in Congress’ hands after the electors have voted,” Fortier said.
HAS CONGRESS EVER HAD TO DECIDE THE OUTCOME?
Congress has decided three presidential elections, but it’s been almost 150 years, according to a history of the House published by the chamber. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied in the Electoral College vote, with 73 electors apiece. After six days of debate and 36 ballots, the House chose Jefferson as the nation’s third president. In 1824, Andrew Jackson won a a plurality of the popular vote and the most Electoral College votes. But he failed to reach a majority in a four-candidate race, and the House chose one of his opponents, John Quincy Adams, to become the nation’s sixth president. Jackson won the presidency four years later. Congress also helped choose the president following the election in 1876 between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden. Tilden won the popular vote and the electoral count. But Republicans challenged the results in three Southern states, which had submitted slates of electors for both candidates, according to the House history.
To resolve the dispute, Congress set up a bipartisan commission of House members, senators and Supreme Court justices. After cutting a deal to remove federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction following the Civil War, the commission voted along party lines to award the presidency to Hayes.

Trump Says 'Real Test' Lies ahead in his COVID-19 Fight
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
President Donald Trump said from his hospital room that the next few days will be the "real test" of his treatment for COVID-19, after a series of contradictory messages from the White House caused widespread confusion about his condition. In a four-minute video posted on Twitter on Saturday from his hospital suite at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a tired-looking Trump said he was feeling "much better." "Over the next period of a few days, I guess that's the real test, so we'll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days," Trump said into the camera, seated in front of an American flag and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt. Trump's illness has upended the campaign ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election and cast a spotlight on the president's handling of the pandemic. The Republican president is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in opinion polls. Differing assessments of Trump's health from administration officials earlier on Saturday left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night. A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning Trump's condition was improving and that he was already talking about returning to the White House. Within minutes, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment, saying, "The president's vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We're still not on a clear path to a full recovery."Meadows, whose initial comments were delivered on condition that he not be identified, altered his tone hours later, telling Reuters that Trump was doing "very well" and that "doctors are very pleased with his vital signs."Meadows did not clarify the discrepancy in his comments. A Trump adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president was not happy to learn of Meadows' initial remarks. Administration officials have described the move to Walter Reed as precautionary and said Trump would stay for several days. Another source who was briefed on Trump's condition said the president was given supplemental oxygen before he went to the hospital. The decision to hospitalize Trump came after he had experienced difficulty breathing and his oxygen level dropped, according to a source familiar with the situation. White House doctor Sean P. Conley told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday that Trump had not had trouble breathing, and was not given oxygen at Walter Reed. "The team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made," Conley said. He declined to give a timetable for Trump's possible release from the hospital, and later had to issue a statement saying he misspoke after appearing to suggest Trump had been diagnosed as early as Wednesday. In a statement on Saturday evening, Conley said the president was "not yet out of the woods" but his team remained cautiously optimistic.
"Today's spectacle - doctors saying one thing, White House sources saying another thing, and both later amending their statements - only reinforces the credibility problems of this administration," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
Campaign reshaped
With Trump off the campaign trail indefinitely, his campaign announced "Operation MAGA," based on his slogan "Make America Great Again," which will see high-profile allies including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's elder sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, take over in-person campaigning this week. Pence, who tested negative on Friday, is scheduled to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Biden, who largely avoided direct criticism of Trump during a campaign trip to Michigan on Friday, took a more aggressive tone on Saturday while speaking to a transit workers' union, even as he wished the president well. "I'm in a little bit of a spot here, because I don't want to be attacking the president and the first lady now," Biden said, adding he hoped Trump and his wife Melania, who also has the illness, make a full recovery.
But he quickly turned to Trump's response to the pandemic, calling it "unconscionable" and blasting Trump's comment in an interview this summer that "it is what it is" when asked about the death toll. "I find this one of the most despicable things that I've encountered in my whole career," Biden said. Trump has repeatedly played down the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, even as it has killed more than 208,000 Americans and hammered the US economy.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself was seriously ill with COVID-19 earlier this year, said on Sunday he was sure Trump would be fine. "He's got the best possible care... He just needs, I mean, the most important thing to do is to follow his doctors' advice, he's got superb medical advice," Johnson said during an interview on BBC television. Biden, who tested negative on Friday, told reporters he would next be tested on Sunday. His campaign will begin releasing the results of each test, a spokesman said. Conley said Trump had received the first two doses of a five-day course of Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays. He is also taking an experimental treatment, Regeneron's REGN-COV2, as well as zinc, Vitamin D, famotidine, melatonin and aspirin, Conley has said. A number of other prominent Republicans have also tested positive for coronavirus since Trump's announcement, including Republican senators Mike Lee, Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson, former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Pompeo to Cut Short Asia Visit amid Trump Hospitalization
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will cut short his trip to Asia this week, a department spokeswoman said Saturday, visiting Japan but skipping planned stops to South Korea and Mongolia. The schedule change comes as President Donald Trump is hospitalized near Washington after testing positive for Covid-19. The US top diplomat will be in Tokyo from Sunday to Tuesday, spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement, where he will meet with foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan. "Secretary Pompeo expects to be traveling to Asia again in October and will work to reschedule visits on that trip, that is now just a few weeks off," she said, without mentioning Trump's illness. However, Pompeo touched on the topic Friday after reporters asked if Trump's health will change his schedule. "We're still planning on making the trips, but we're going to take a look at them," he responded. "We'll see which one -- see which or some parts of those trips make sense and which may not, and we'll continue to on an hour-by-hour basis take a look at it."Pompeo had originally been scheduled to visit Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday and stop in Seoul from Wednesday to Thursday, to meet with senior officials.

 

Armenian Yazidis join fight against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh
Lemma Shehadi,/Al Arabiya English/Sunday 04 October 2020
A group of Armenian Yazidi reservists have formed a military unit that will join the frontline in Nagorno-Karabakh, as fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia continues in the disputed territory. The group gathered on the premises of a Yazidi temple outside the Armenian capital of Yerevan, as reservists country-wide were mobilized after Armenia declared martial law the day the fighting began on 27 September. The military unit is led by Rzgan Sarhangyan, a veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the 1990s, and is composed of 50 soldiers aged between 18-55, activists told Al Arabiya English. Fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia began after Azerbaijan launched airstrikes over the disputed territories of Nagorno-Karabakh. The breakaway region is part of Azerbaijan, but it has been run by ethnic Armenians since 1994.
While the international community has called on both sides to end hostilities, these appear to be escalating daily. The city of Stepanakert - the capital of the Armenian-backed, self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh - was hit by shelling overnight, with over 29 civilians killed and thousands displaced since the clashes began. Yazidis are Armenia’s largest minority, numbering between 35,000-40,000 according to a 2011 census. Most of them live in Yerevan, and in the western regions of the country. “The right to live in peace has come under question,” said Sashik Sultanyan, of the Armenian NGO the Yezidi Centre for Human Rights, “Yesterday drones flew above Yerevan. Armenian Yazidis are fighting for their rights and their identity, it’s not just a war about land.”
But for many, the conflict has a symbolic significance, as Armenia accuses Turkey of supplying weapons and mercenaries to Azerbaijan.
Armenian Yazidis fled persecution from the Ottoman Empire, and share the country’s grievances with Turkey. Many view the fight against Azerbaijan as part of the resistance against Turkish aggression. Azerbaijan has categorically denied reports that Turkish-backed mercenaries are now fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. But these reports further add to the perception that Yazidis are fighting a historic battle to save their community. “They are fighting terrorists who also killed Yazidis in Syria,” added Sultanyan, reflecting a widely-held belief that these mercenaries were involved in IS attacks on Yazidis in Syria and Iraq. As thousands sign up to join the frontline, the mobilizations could take their toll on Armenia’s Yazidi population. Many of Armenia’s Yazidi villages are plagued by mass migration caused by the country’s economic woes, with more people now leaving to fight. A photo shared on social media, showed the mother of two Yazidi soldiers preparing to send her youngest son to the frontline, having lost an older son to previous conflicts. “It is too early to say what the impact will be, we don’t know how long this war will last,” said Sultanyan. The mass conscription has also fueled existing debates in Armenia about the militarization of society. In late August, the Ministry of Defense published a draft bill on the formation of a militia composed of up to 100,000 civilians, who would “participate in the armed defense of the Republic. Local authorities have said on social media posts that they will only contact reservists and volunteers on the basis of need.

Azerbaijan Says Armenian Forces Shell Second City of Ganja
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
Azerbaijan said on Sunday that Armenian armed forces had shelled its second city of Ganja in a major new escalation of the conflict in the South Caucasus. Armenia denied that it fired towards Azerbaijan, but the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, said his forces had destroyed a military airbase located in Ganja. “Permanent military units located in the large cities of Azerbaijan from now on become the targets of the defense army,” said Karabakh leader Arayik Harutyunyan. The Azeri defense ministry said the cities of Terter and Horadiz near the de-facto border with Nagorno-Karabakh were under heavy shelling, while the breakaway region’s military said its capital, Stepanakert, was under bombardment. The fighting began a week ago and has surged to its worst level since the 1990s, when some 30,000 people were killed. The conflict risks dragging in other regional powers such as Russia and Turkey and disrupting energy supplies via the South Caucasus, where pipelines carry Azeri oil and gas to world markets.


Azerbaijan’s No. 2 city targeted in fighting with Armenia
Associated Press/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
BAKU: The fighting between #Armenian and #Azerbaijani forces continued on Sunday over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with Azerbaijan’s second-largest city coming under attack and Azerbaijan claiming to have seized a town and several villages. The clashes erupted on Sept. 27 and have killed dozens, marking the biggest escalation in the decades-old conflict over the region, which lies within Azerbaijan but is controlled by local ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev tweeted on Sunday that the country’s troops “liberated from occupation the city of Jabrayil and several surrounding villages.” Nagorno-Karabakh’s officials rejected the claim as untrue, saying the territory’s army “is controlling the situation in all directions.”Azerbaijani officials said earlier Sunday that Armenian forces attacked Ganja, the country’s second-largest city. Hikmet Hajiyev, Aliyev’s aide to the Azerbaijani president, tweeted a video depicting damaged buildings, and called it the result of “Armenia’s massive missile attacks against dense residential areas” in Ganja. It wasn’t immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the video. Hajiyev said in another tweet that attacks on Ganja and other areas in Azerbaijan were launched “from territory of Armenia.”Armenia’s Defense Ministry said that “no fire of any kind is being opened from the territory of Armenia in Azerbaijan’s direction.” But Nagorno-Karabakh’s leader, Arayik Harutyunyan, said on Facebook that he ordered “rocket attacks to neutralize military objects” in Ganja, but later told his forces to stop firing to avoid civilian casualties. Azerbaijani officials denied that any military objects had been hit, but said the attack caused damage to civilian infrastructure. One civilian has been killed, and 32 others sustained injuries, authorities said.
Ganja, home to several hundred thousand residents, is located roughly 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) north of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital.
“Opening fire on the territory of Azerbaijan from the territory of Armenia is clearly provocative and expands the zone of hostilities,” Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said in a statement Sunday.
As the fighting resumed Sunday morning, Armenian officials accused Azerbaijan of carrying out strikes on Stepanakert and targeting the civilian population there. Nagorno-Karabakh’s leader Harutyunyan said that in response, his forces would target “military facilities permanently located in major cities of Azerbaijan.”
In a statement issued later on Sunday, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry rejected accusations of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Nagorno-Karabakh officials have said nearly 200 servicemen on their side have died in the clashes so far. Azerbaijani authorities haven’t given details on their military casualties, but said 24 civilians were killed and 111 others were wounded. Nagorno-Karabakh was a designated autonomous region within Azerbaijan during the Soviet era. It claimed independence from Azerbaijan in 1991, about three months before the Soviet Union’s collapse. A full-scale war that broke out in 1992 killed an estimated 30,000 people. By the time the war ended in 1994, Armenian forces not only held Nagorno-Karabakh itself but substantial areas outside the territory’s formal borders, including Jabrayil, the town Azerbaijan claimed to have taken on Sunday.
The claim sparked hope among Azerbaijanis who fled Jabrayil in the 1990s and have since wanted to return to their hometown. “The news about liberation of Jabrayil is the happiest and the most desired news for me and my family,” Zulfiya Amiraslanova, who said she and her family were forced to leave Jabrayil in 1993 and are now living in the capital Baku, told The Associated Press. “We have a comfortable life here, but me and my entire family, (my) relatives dream about returning to our hometown,” 40-year-old Amiraslanova said. This week’s fighting has prompted calls for a cease-fire from around the world. On Thursday, leaders of Russia, France and the United States — co-chairs of the so-called Minsk Group, which was set up by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1992 to resolve the conflict — issued a joint statement calling for an immediate cease-fire and “resuming substantive negotiations ... under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.”Azerbaijani President Aliyev said that Armenia’s withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh is the sole condition to end the fighting. Armenian officials allege that Turkey is involved in the conflict and is sending fighters from Syria to the region. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said earlier this week that “a cease-fire can be established only if Turkey is removed from the South Caucasus.”Ankara has denied sending arms or foreign fighters, while publicly siding with Azerbaijan in the dispute. On Sunday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on Ganja, saying it was proof of Armenia’s disregard for the law. Ankara accused Armenia of attacking civilian residential areas, and claimed that Armenia could commit crimes against humanity. “Armenia is the biggest barrier to peace and stability in the region,” the ministry said. In Istanbul, hundreds of Azeri Turks gathered to support Azerbaijan on Sunday, waving Turkish and Azerbaijani flags and singing their national anthems.
 

Erdogan Hints at New Military Operation in Northern Syria
Ankara - Saeed Abdulrazek/Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted that his country could launch a new military operation in northern Syria to cleanse the region of “terrorists” if pledges are not fulfilled, amid renewed tensions between Ankara and Moscow.
Erdogan was referring to two agreements reached between Turkey, the United States and Russia on removing the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from the Turkish border, under which Ankara halted a military operation it had launched in Syria in October 2019.
Turkey “will be taking resolute steps until absolute stability is achieved along its southern borders,” stressed Erdogan, adding that Ankara thwarted attempts to establish a “terror corridor” along its borders and showed “our Syrian brothers and sisters that they are not alone.”
Speaking during a video conference at the inauguration of Reyhanli Dam in Hatay, he vowed that Ankara will never accept any action that may lead to another humanitarian tragedy in Syria’s Idlib province.
In recent weeks, the Syrian regime and Russia have escalated attacks against the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other extremists groups in southern, northern and western parts of Idlib, which led to a new wave of displacement towards the Turkish border. Erdogan had previously announced that Turkey remains committed to the memorandum of understanding it reached with Russia on Idlib in March. He warned, however, that Ankara will not tolerate the Syrian regime’s aggression.
He cautioned the regime that Damascus would suffer "heavy losses" if it persisted in violating the ceasefire, stressing that Turkey would not allow any "dark groups" in the region to breach it either. Tensions have been rising between Turkey and Russia after a consultative military meeting held in Ankara in September failed to discuss Idlib. Sources from both sides said that the officials did not agree on the points discussed during the meeting, which was described by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as “unfruitful.”Russia had asked Turkey to reduce the number of military points in northwestern Syria or the number of forces deployed there, and withdraw heavy weapons at points under the control of the Syrian regime. Ankara rejected the request, and Russia declined Turkey’s demand to hand over the cities of Manbij and Tal Rifaat. Since the meeting, Russia has stopped carrying out joint patrols with Turkey on the Aleppo-Latakia International Road (M4), in implementation of the March 5 agreement.

Thousands of Israelis Rally Against PM Despite Lockdown
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 4 October, 2020
Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in hundreds of locations across Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pressing ahead with their campaign against the Israeli leader on Saturday night after the government banned large, centralized demonstrations as part of a new coronavirus lockdown.
The protesters have been gathering outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem each week for over three months, demanding his resignation. After imposing a second nationwide lockdown to halt a raging coronavirus outbreak, the government last week passed a rule allowing people to protest only within one kilometer (0.6 miles) of their home. While Netanyahu has said the restrictions are driven by safety concerns, the protesters accuse him of tightening the lockdown to muzzle their movement, The Associated Press reported. In line with the new rules, organizers said that over 1,000 protests were held across the country. In one of the largest rallies, hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv’s central Habima Square, blowing on horns, pounding drums and chanting anti-government slogans. “Dictatorship, sponsored by corona,” said one poster. Dozens of police officers stood behind metal barriers, and several people were arrested. Meanwhile, about 200 people gathered outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence. The protesters said Netanyahu should not serve as prime minister when he is on trial on corruption charges and accuse him of bungling the country’s coronavirus crisis, which has ravaged the economy. Many of the protesters are young Israelis who have lost their jobs. Israeli media reported attacks on protesters in several locations, including an alleged assault that left a 57-year old woman with a bloody face in Tel Aviv. Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Netanyahu’s rival and governing partner, called such attacks “unthinkable” and called on police to catch the perpetrators. “Protests that are held in line with health regulations are legitimate and vital to democracy,” he tweeted. Israel now reports over 7,000 infections a day and the nation of 9 million people has more than 250,000 confirmed cases and over 1,600 deaths. Israel’s outbreak is among the worst in the world on a per capita basis.

French rescuers search for 8 people missing after floods
Associated Press/October/04/2020
PARIS: French authorities deployed about 1,000 firefighters, four military helicopters and troops Sunday to help search for at least eight people still missing in a mountainous southeastern region after devastating floods that killed two people in neighboring #Italy. #Floods washed away houses and destroyed roads and bridges surrounding the city of Nice on the French Riviera after almost a year’s average rainfall fell in less than 12 hours. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said over 100 homes were destroyed or severely damaged.
#Rescuers on Sunday were also providing emergency assistance, including food and water, to residents living in isolated villages.
The missing people include two firefighters whose vehicle was carried away by a torrent when a road collapsed south of the village of Saint-Martin-Vesubie. Authorities fear more victims as many families couldn’t reach out to relatives due to cellphone services being down. French Prime Minister Jean Castex, who flew over the area in a helicopter, expressed “grave concern” over the toll of the flooding. About 10,500 homes were left without electricity on Sunday, French energy company Enedis said. In Italy, a firefighter was killed during a rescue operation in the mountainous northern region of Val d’Aosta. A search team also found a body in the Piedmont region’s Vercelli province, where a man had been swept away by floodwaters. Italian firefighters also rescued 25 people trapped on the French side of a high mountain pass due to the flooding.

Virus spreads on panel handling Supreme Court nomination
Associated Press/October/04/2020
WASHINGTON: Two Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have tested positive for the coronavirus, raising questions about the timing of #Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge #Amy Coney Barrett and whether additional senators may have been exposed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared the confirmation process was going “full steam ahead.”
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Utah Sen. Mike Lee both said Friday that they had tested positive for the virus. Both had attended a ceremony for Barrett at the White House on Sept. 25 with President Donald Trump, who announced Friday that he had tested positive and was later hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.Lee, who did not wear a mask at the White House event, said he had “symptoms consistent with longtime allergies.” Tillis, who did wear a mask during the public portion of the event, said he had “mild symptoms.” Both said they would quarantine for 10 days — ending just before Barrett’s confirmation hearings begin on Oct. 12.
The positive tests come as Senate #Republicans are pushing to quickly confirm Barrett in the few weeks they have before the Nov. 3 election. There is little cushion in the schedule set out by Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham and McConnell, who want to put a third Trump nominee on the court immediately in case they lose any of their power in the election. Democrats, many of whom have been critical of Barrett, seized on the virus announcements to call for a delay in the hearings.
“We now have two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who have tested positive for COVID, and there may be more,” tweeted Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. “I wish my colleagues well. It is irresponsible and dangerous to move forward with a hearing, and there is absolutely no good reason to do so.”Several other members of the Judiciary panel attended the White House ceremony, including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo. Blackburn said she tested negative after the event. Crapo said he “recently” had a negative test and a spokeswoman said he would be getting another one as soon as it could be arranged. A spokeswoman for Hawley said he was being tested Saturday, and the senator tweeted later that his coronavirus test came back negative.
Sasse tested negative, but said in a statement that he would work remotely from his home state and undergo further testing due to his “close interaction with multiple infected individuals,” his office said. He said he planned to to return to Washington in time for the confirmation hearing.
Graham was not at the White House on Saturday but sees Trump frequently. He said Friday that he had taken a test after interacting with Lee and it was negative. A spokeswoman for another GOP member of the committee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, said Saturday that he had also interacted with Lee and had also tested negative. Still, Cruz’s office said he is remaining at home until the hearings out of an abundance of caution.
Confirmation hearings for Barrett, who would replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, are scheduled to last for four days. McConnell on Saturday announced that he would seek to delay floor action for the next two weeks but that the hearings would proceed. At an event in Kentucky on Friday, he said he thought remote hearings could work if some senators couldn’t attend.
Graham also suggested the possibility of remote hearings, saying on Twitter that “any senator who wants to participate virtually will be allowed to do so.” In a statement Saturday, Graham said there would be “no change” in the hearings even if Senate floor votes were delayed. It is not unusual for committees to meet when there is no action on the floor. Senators cannot vote virtually, however, so Republicans would need a full slate of committee members to approve the nomination shortly after the hearings and all of their senators on the floor for a final confirmation vote, which they hope will happen the last week of October. After interacting with Sen. Lee, in consultation with the attending physician, Sen. Cruz is remaining at home out of an abundance of caution. He feels healthy, hasn’t exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms, and has tested negative. In accordance with medical advice he will return to the Senate for the Supreme Court nomination hearings.”Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., also announced Saturday that he tested positive for the virus and would not return until he was cleared by his doctor. He is not on the Judiciary panel, but his presence would likely be needed for a floor vote. Tillis is in a competitive reelection race against Democrat Cal Cunningham, and the two debated Thursday evening. On Twitter, Cunningham said he wished Tillis a quick recovery and said he would also get tested. Barrett, who was with Trump and many others on Saturday and met with Lee, Tillis and other members of the Judiciary panel this week, tested negative, the White House said Friday. It was confirmed that she had a mild case of COVID earlier this year and has now recovered.
Trump, who has consistently downplayed the virus and often discouraged the use of masks, was flown to Walter Reed on Friday evening after experiencing symptoms. The president tweeted Saturday that he was “feeling well,” though White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said the next 48 hours would be critical in terms of his care.

US push for Arab-Israel ties divides Sudanese leaders
Associated Press/October/04/2020
CAIRO: #Sudan’s fragile interim government is sharply divided over normalizing relations with #Israel, as it finds itself under intense pressure from the Trump administration to become the third Arab country to do so in short order — after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Washington’s push for Sudan-Israel ties is part of a campaign to score foreign policy achievements ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. Sudan seemed like a natural target for the pressure campaign because of U.S. leverage — Khartoum’s desperate efforts to be removed from a U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism. Sudan can only get the international loans and aid that are essential for reviving its battered economy once that stain is removed. While Sudan’s transitional government has been negotiating the terms of removing the country from the list for more than a year, U.S. officials introduced the linkage to normalization with Israel more recently. Top Sudanese military leaders, who govern jointly with civilian technocrats in a Sovereign Council, have become increasingly vocal in their support for normalization with Israel as part of a quick deal with Washington ahead of the U.S. election.
“Now, whether we like it or not, the removal (of Sudan from the terror list) is tied to (normalization) with Israel,” the deputy head of the council, Gen. Mohammed Dagalo, told a local television station on Friday. “We need Israel ... Israel is a developed country and the whole world is working with it,” he said. “We will have benefits from such relations ... We hope all look at Sudan’s interests.” Such comments would have been unthinkable until recently in a country where public hostility toward Israel remains strong. The top civilian official in the coalition, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, has argued that the transitional government does not have the mandate to decide on foreign policy issues of this magnitude.
When U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Sudan last month, Hamdok urged him to move forward with removing Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and not link it to recognizing Israel. “It needs a deep discussion within our society,” Hamdok told reporters earlier this week. Several Sudanese officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, said civilian leaders prefer to wait with any deal until after the U.S. election. The officials said military leaders seek a quick U.S.-Sudan deal, including normalization with Israel, in exchange for an aid package. The officials said the military fears incentives being offered now could be withdrawn after the U.S. election. One sticking point is the size of future aid to Sudan. A meeting in Abu Dhabi last month — attended by Sudanese, U.S. and Emirati officials — ended without agreement. Less than $1 billion in cash was being offered, mostly to be paid by the Emirates, said a Sudanese official who took part in the meetings. The Sudanese team, had asked for $3 billion to help rescue Sudan’s economy.
Dagalo, the military official, tweeted Friday, after meeting with the U.S. envoy to Sudan, Donald Booth, in South Sudan that he received a promise to remove Sudan from the terror list “as soon as possible.” An Israeli official said the talks on normalization remain purely between the U.S. and Sudan.
“We’re still not there,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing a confidential diplomatic matter. He said the Israeli government hopes a deal can be wrapped up before the U.S. election on Nov. 3. For Israel, a cordial relationship with Sudan would be a symbolic victory.
Sudan, a Muslim-majority African country, has long said it supports the Palestinian people in their calls for an independent state. Khartoum hosted the historic Arab League summit after the 1967 Mideast War in which Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem — lands the Palestinians seek for that state. The conference approved a resolution that became known as the “three no’s” — no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations. The designation of Sudan as a “state sponsor of terrorism” dates to the 1990s, when the nation briefly hosted Osama bin Laden and other wanted militants. Sudan was also believed to have served as a pipeline for Iran to supply weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Osman Mirghani, a Sudanese analyst and editor of the daily newspaper al-Tayar, said Sudanese leaders don’t have unlimited time to decide. “The U.S. offer of incentives .. will not last too long. It is related to the U.S. presidential election on one side, and the number of Arab states that normalize,” he said.
With Sudan’s long-time autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir deposed and facing war crimes and other charges, Sudan’s transitional authorities believe that the reasons behind the terrorism listing have evaporated. But many in the U.S. maintain Sudan should atone for its previous government’s actions.
Sudan has already agreed with the U.S. State Department, in theory, to a compensation deal for victims of the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which were orchestrated by bin Laden’s al-Qaida network while he was living in Sudan. However, questions about the fairness of the proposed compensation deal to non-American victims, including those who were working for the embassies and have subsequently become U.S. citizens, have stalled its consideration in Congress which must approve the agreement.
Meanwhile, some families of the victims of the September 11 attacks have also started procedures to claim compensation from Sudan, though the country’s links to that terror plot are less clear. Their complaint has complicated the embassy bombing compensation deal and could further deter the U.S. Congress from removing Sudan from the list. In the meantime, Sudan’s government realizes it has only so many cards to play.“We should get ourselves off that list, which the U.S. is using as leverage to get some benefits out of the relationship that it has with Sudan, which is completely legitimate,” Sudan’s acting Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din told reporters in Geneva last month.


The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 04-05/2020

This is America, a dystopian city on a hill
Janine di Giovanni/The National/October/04/2020
The US will bounce back, but we have a dreadful year and an extraordinary election to get through first.
Here on the US East Coast, it’s the traditional time for American football games, prepping for Halloween or Thanksgiving, or watching great maple trees turn red and orange.
But there is no tradition this year. Instead, most Americans find themselves caught in an increasingly dystopian world as elections grow nearer. Last week was the pinnacle, featuring the most startling presidential debate – or debacle as most see it – in history and then, a few days later, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania testing positive for Covid-19.
With Mr Trump, who is 74 and overweight, now hospitalised at Walter Reed Hospital, and more members of his circle testing positive, the 2020 election campaign has been turned upside down. There is also some confusion in the timeline of Mr Trump’s illness. He didn’t inform the public until 1am on Friday, but his doctors have made references to symptoms or treatments beginning while he was still attending large fundraisers and rallies.
It would have been less bizarre had Mr Trump recognised that stopping the spread of the virus, by wearing masks and practising social distancing, is imperative. Instead, he encouraged his fan base to eschew masks. He called for large cities to be re-opened. He suggested that people drink bleach to combat the virus. Despite warnings, he has fixated on the release of a vaccine before the election – presumably to gain votes.
There might have been more sympathy for the Trumps had his wife not been caught on the “Melania tapes” earlier in the week. In a conversation with a former aide, the First Lady peppered her halting English with profanities to describe her White House Christmas duties, and her apparent disdain for the plight of immigrant children separated from their parents.
But it was the horror of the debate that left most Americans, even some of his supporters, reeling. Mr Biden stressed how the President had failed his country during the pandemic, leaving 200,000 dead. His “empty chair” image – symbolising how many families lost a loved one to the virus – went viral.
To counter, Trump went full-throttle bully. If it left anyone undecided about their vote after witnessing the spectacle, it is – in the words of the comedian David Sedaris – like being on an airplane and being offered chicken or a platter containing bits of broken glass, and then asking how the chicken is cooked.
Looking back historically at other debates, it is possible Mr Trump could climb out of this mess, if only because his Maga (Make American Great Again) voter base saw his performance as a victory.
There have been other unorthodox debates that changed American history.
In 1960, a young senator, John Kennedy, and vice president Richard Nixon, a tireless campaigner and a skilled politician, took to the stage. Nixon had been ill and refused to wear make-up because Kennedy goaded him into rejecting it. But the duplicitous Kennedy – who used television the way Mr Trump uses Twitter – had already applied his layer of foundation over tanned skin.
Nixon had still been leading the polls. Kennedy – the scion of a corrupt Irish-Catholic mafia – was an unknown. But while the former looked gaunt and pale from his illness, the latter appeared handsome – and played dirty. He prepped for weeks and broke a gentleman’s rule not to discuss foreign policy. Nixon was unprepared for Cold War conversation. Kennedy went on to win in one of the closest presidential elections, at that time, in history.
In 1980, a former Hollywood actor whose most famous co-star was a chimp debated against President Jimmy Carter. Mr Carter’s presidency had not been successful. There were American hostages in Iran, and economic growth was stagnant. He used the debate to talk about a conversation with his 13-year-old daughter about nuclear weapons. Mr Carter had the lead in the polls. But Reagan used his refrain of “are you better off now then you were four years ago?” to help usher in a right-wing conservative shift in politics, Reaganomics and the Moral Majority movement.
In 1992, a relatively unknown governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton, went up against the formidable, popular Gulf War president, George HW Bush. Bush’s detractors said he was an out-of-touch millionaire. Ross Perot, another Texas millionaire, entered the race and began taking Bush’s Republican votes. During the debate, Bush was asked how the national debt had affected the candidates personally. Bush – a privileged senator’s son – stumbled through the question. Mr Clinton knew how to connect with the audience; he had a natural warmth. Bush got caught staring at his watch while Mr Clinton spoke. A few weeks later, Mr Clinton won the election.
By November 3, we might not remember the debate if things get increasingly worse. There is talk already of Mr Trump’s line of succession. There is increasing muttering about post-election violence and civil strife. There is speculation of a second wave of Covid-19.His own diagnosis also imperils the Supreme Court installation of Amy Coney Barrett before Election Day. It would have been daunting for the confirmation to happen in steady times – but with the President in hospital, pulling off a complex operation that would need three branches of government involved in the next four weeks seems unlikely.
Senior Republicans are adamant that they will move ahead with the hearings on her nomination; but the recent events do mean that there is a possibility Republicans can lose their slim majority in the Judiciary Committee.
We are only in October, and 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging and strange times in American history. I have no doubt we will recover, as a nation. Americans are historically resilient and Covid-19 will eventually lose its power. But whether or not Mr Trump will admit to losing his is another matter.
*Janine di Giovanni is a Senior Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs

A Few Global Concerns that Affect Us All
Richard Kemp/Gatestone Institute/October 04/2020
Now, I believe, the US is taking measures to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from dominating the world, stealing American secrets, further imposing their system on the US and benefiting from US trade in a way that they do not allow the US to benefit.... People realize this is an evil, dark regime that many people have been deluded about for many years. People are now realizing their error.... I only hope that we, in Britain, in Europe, and in the US and other countries, are able to do that more in earnest.
Another thing that is coming into question is that we -- in my view foolishly -- have plans to allow China to construct a series of nuclear power stations in Britain. We hope that Britain will review these plans and stop them from happening.
The situation with Lebanon and Hizbollah is all tied up with Iran. Hezbollah is a creation of Iran, directed by Iran and funded by Iran. It is basically an extension of the Ayatollah's right arm.... If the current US administration were to lose the election, there would probably be a policy similar to what the previous administration had, with every effort made, probably, to try and resurrect the nuclear deal. This action would certainly help enable Iran to have nuclear weapons.
The ICC are also trying to investigate Britain for war crimes in Iraq -- as well as the US for war crimes in Afghanistan. Of course, it is the usual three suspects, Britain, US, and Israel, they firmly have in their sights.... The International Criminal Court is no longer a legal body. It is now a political body. It has turned itself into something it was never intended to be.
Iran is under enormous pressure right now -- the greatest pressure since the creation of the Islamic Republic during its Islamic Revolution back in 1979. The leaders of Iran, the Ayatollah and the various others who run the country, are doubtless deeply worried about the survival of their regime.
There are a few global concerns that affect us all. The first is the current situation with Iran and its various ramifications. The second, connected with Iran, is the current situation in Lebanon, with Hezbollah in particular, which is also in Syria.
The next is the International Criminal Court, from which we are imminently expecting a decision that could have a potential impact on Israel as well as on the rest of us.
Iran, I believe, is under enormous pressure right now -- the greatest pressure since the creation of the Islamic Republic during its Islamic Revolution back in 1979.
The leaders of Iran, the Ayatollah and the various others who run the country, are doubtless deeply worried about the survival of their regime. Regime survival for them is, of course, everything. Keeping their flame alive in Iran is the number one imperative of all that they do. To maintain that regime, they carry out large numbers of extreme activities both there and around the world.
First, their economy is reeling in a great depression with little sign of hope, due mainly to the United States' "maximum pressure" campaign.
The US has imposed severe sanctions on Iran and also encouraged other countries not break those sanctions, and, in some instances, to take their own measures against Iran. These strictures have caused Iran an enormous problem.
They follow, of course, the repudiation by the current US administration of the dreadful Iran nuclear agreement, the JCPOA, which was supposedly intended to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear armed state, but which actually paved the way for Iran to become a fully nuclear-armed state.
We have been aware, ever since the start of the JCPOA, that even if Iran did not breach the agreement, it still would be an extremely dangerous country. We know, however, thanks to the Israelis, that ever since it took effect, Iran did breach it, both in letter and in spirit.
It was with incredible courage and skill, as well as an enormous risk to their own lives, that Israeli operatives and agents went into the lion's den and seized containers full of secret archives that were stored in places in Tehran that virtually no one else, even within the regime, actually knew about or knew existed. For the head of Israel's Mossad, Yossi Cohen, to decide to do that, with all the multiple risks involved, showed immense courage. The world can be grateful to him for his energy and his dedication and, above all, his courage in ordering the operation to take place.
The result -- the American repudiation of the deal -- led to those sanctions being reimposed. Unfortunately, that decision has not been followed by Europe.
The Europeans, partly out of animosity to the US, partly because of their own greed and self‑interest towards Iran, have failed to follow the American lead, despite efforts to persuade them to do so – unfortunately also the UK.
The Americans, I believe, are on the verge, in the near future, of reimposing snapback sanctions, although the UN Security Council unsurprisingly vetoed the move. It can be still done unilaterally by the United States, but of course we wait to see whether it actually works in practice.
In addition, a UN embargo on Iranian weapon import and export is due to expire shortly. The Americans are currently trying to rally support around the world, as are the Israelis, for the UN to maintain those sanctions rather than relinquish them. They were part of the nuclear deal, and if Iran had adhered to the deal, at this time they would be stopped.
Other factors that go into the decision are, first of all, the killing of the world's worst terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, responsible for a huge number of deaths inside and outside Iran, as well as in Israel, and in the military forces of Great Britain and the United States. The deaths include the killing of more than a thousand British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly done not by him but by his proxies around the world. Soleimani's death, which was mourned by some, was not mourned by many in Iran, despite the efforts of their media and Western media to show otherwise. His death was mourned mainly among the hierarchy of the regime.
Many of the Iranian people knew that part of their economic misery was due to his spending vast amounts of Iranian money on his overseas adventures. Apart from the repressive nature of the man, they resented that about him. He was the second‑most important man in Iran; removing him really undermined the Islamic Republic and caused a lot of people to doubt how powerful the leaders were, when an act like that could be taken against them by the United States with what appeared to be relative ease.
Following hard on the heels of that incident was the downing of a Ukrainian airliner over Tehran -- a terrible tragedy in its own right, but, also, one that further undermined internal confidence in the regime and caused people to question it in ways they had not before. We have also seen, over the last two years, large‑scale protests in Iran. They have been ruthlessly suppressed by the regime, which has killed a large number of Iranians in the process of preventing them. Of course, as elsewhere in the world, we have also seen the tragedy of coronavirus strike Iran. It has hit the country particularly hard and has highlighted for the Iranian people the shortcomings of their government, as well as being even more damaging to the economy.
Until recently, the Ayatollah and his followers had made it clear that Muslims were immune from coronavirus. Suddenly, he has started to wear a mask. When he was photographed in a meeting with the President of Iraq not so long ago, both men were wearing masks.
Other current nails that have been banged into Iran at the moment are a large number of unexplained explosions that have been taking place there, including in seaports. The explosions, which have affected energy infrastructure among other places, Iran has not been able to explain.
The largest was the attack on Natanz, the centrifuge facility that is critical to the Iranian nuclear regime. The Iranians have admitted that it severely damaged their nuclear program. All of these things combined undoubtedly lead to the Iranians to being worried about their future, and rightly so. It is, in my opinion, extremely important for the US to maintain maximum pressure on Iran.
It is also extremely important that other governments, particularly in Europe, join them in that. Two final thoughts about Iran: the first is that I do not believe that the Iranian regime is likely to be brought down by large‑scale public unrest. The public, although they are unhappy with the regime, are also very well aware what happened when the people in Syria tried to bring down Assad: a vast number of deaths resulted. The last thing they want is to have that visited on their own country and on their families.
If Iran is going to be brought down, it will probably be by the hand of one of the many military and paramilitary organizations that exist within it. Of course, depending on which group brought it down, we would have to see if the regime that followed the current one in Tehran would be better or worse.
The final concern about Iran is the recently leaked 25‑year strategic partnership that was announced between Iran and China, which involves China making massive investments into Iranian infrastructure: multibillion‑dollar investments over a 25‑year period, into all manner of the Iranian infrastructure, including railways, ports, energy facilities, as well as the provision of military equipment and cooperation on the military and security front.
In return, Iran would provide oil and gas to China at vastly discounted prices. That is obviously a worrying possibility. It has not come to fruition yet. Some people doubt that it will, but it could do. China is on a tightrope here. Iran is enthusiastic about it -- such a partnership could ease Iran's economic situation.
From China's perspective, though, they have bigger interests in the region, that include countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and elsewhere. Particularly with the Gulf states, they most likely do not want to damage their relationship there by too closely aligning themselves with Iran, particularly on the military side.
China may well be cautious about proceeding with such a measure, although of course it would include a way of China doing what dominates, to a large extent, their program, which is to oppose the United States in every way it possibly can.
The situation with Lebanon and Hizbollah is all tied up with Iran. Hezbollah is a creation of Iran, directed by Iran and funded by Iran. It is basically an extension of the Ayatollah's right arm.
We know that Hezbollah have been trying to add more precision‑guided missiles to the already vast missile arsenal in southern Lebanon. We also know that together with Iran and other militias, they have been doing their best to develop a base of operations from which to attack Israel from Syria, as well.
Israel has been successfully hitting back at all of these efforts, including in Lebanon and Syria. Hezbollah is deeply unhappy with this and intends to strike back at Israel. It was rumored recently that Israel killed a significant Hezbollah operative in Lebanon. We do not know for sure -- Israel has not admitted anything -- it is just speculated. Hezbollah have vowed to avenge that person.
There also recently was an infiltration operation by Hezbollah into northern Israel: it attempted to get through. Hezbollah operatives were spotted by IDF observers using, in addition to their eyes, some very advanced technology.
The Israelis fired at them before they managed to get where they wanted to be and do what they wanted to do. The Israelis did not shoot to kill. They only fired warning shots. What Israel wanted to do, rather than to respond in a way that initiates escalation of the conflict in the north, was to stop it and just give a warning -- as they did. It gives Hezbollah a way out.
Hezbollah themselves have denied that the infiltration took place. In their case, they want to do what they can, but they do not seem to be too keen either on escalating at the moment.
Striking back at Israel would be another way for the Iranian regime to try and salvage something of their current standing, but of course that would be quite precarious. It is a classic tactic of dictators to initiate aggression abroad to distract people from the problems at home; however, they seem to know that such an action could create more problems for them than it solves.
Finally, on the International Criminal Court, you are probably aware that the ICC is wanting to prosecute Israel for alleged war crimes involving previous conflicts and involving what they describe as illegal settlements in Judea and Samaria. They now think they've found a way of doing it. The pretrial panel in the International Criminal Court has been pondering for many months now whether they actually have jurisdiction in this matter. I certainly do not believe they have jurisdiction. Many distinguished lawyers also believe that. Thirteen member states of the International Criminal Court, including Germany and, I'm afraid, not including Britain, put in formal appeals to the ICC not to take this case forward, because they do not believe that the ICC has jurisdiction over this case.
The decision is awaited any time now. It is hard to know exactly. It is quite likely they will decide they have jurisdiction. That will be extremely damaging for Israel, because it won't result in an immediate decision on whether Israel did or didn't commit war crimes.
It will go on for years, but it will result in people, members of the government, members of the IDF, people who have been involved in the various operations they are trying to condemn Israel for, it will result in them being subpoenaed to give evidence in the investigation to the ICC before a trial even begins.
If they refuse to do so, the ICC have the authority to order their arrest with international arrest warrants, which of course means that people like the Prime Minister of Israel, the chief of staff, former chief of staff, foreign ministers, defense ministers, and various high‑level officials and others will be subject to arrest if they travel to countries that are willing to implement such an arrest warrant. Not only that, but of course it does give another propaganda tool to people who want to condemn Israel.
It also damages the world because the International Criminal Court was set up with good intentions, to bring to justice essentially to dictators and war criminals who carry out war crimes in countries that are either unable, because they do not have an adequate legal system or are unwilling to bring them to justice, which does not of course apply to Israel.
The ICC are also trying to investigate Britain for war crimes in Iraq – as well as the US for war crimes in Afghanistan. Of course, it is the usual three suspects, Britain, US, and Israel, they firmly have in their sights.
These things are damaging to the court. The International Criminal Court is no longer a legal body. It is now a political body. It has turned itself into something it was never intended to be.
Question: What do you find the British attitude toward China to be after its COVID‑19 offering to the world?
Col. Kemp: The view of China in Britain and much of Europe, and around the world, has changed dramatically since coronavirus. We do not know whether it was the result of a Chinese scientific experiment, which some people say it was. There were many reasons to think it could have been.
What we do know for sure is that China absolutely mismanaged it. When they first realized what was happening, they did various things to try and cover it up without any regard to the safety and the health of the rest of the world.
Just one example was that when they realized where it originated, they immediately closed down Wuhan to any kind of travel in China. You were not allowed to fly from Wuhan into any other part of China -- but you were allowed to fly from Wuhan to other parts of the world. Indeed, many, many people did. That was one of the ways it was immediately transmitted around the world.
People realize this is an evil, dark regime that many people have been deluded about for many years. People are now realizing their error. Just one way that is being manifested in Britain is the role of the Huawei Chinese telecom company in the new 5G Internet network.
Obviously, it does not take a genius to work out that giving any other country access, in any way, into that infrastructure is potentially very damaging long‑term to our own security. Many people warned the government against this when it first decided to include Huawei, which of course like every other Chinese company, is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.
The British government went ahead with the decision anyway. Now, they have reversed that decision as a result of the current pandemic as well as US pressure.
Another thing that is coming into question is that we -- in my view foolishly -- have plans to allow China to construct a series of nuclear power stations in Britain. We hope that Britain will review these plans and stop them from happening.
Since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was created, it has fought a Cold War against the West. They have been unrelenting at that. We have not been fighting back.
Now, I believe, the US is taking measures to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from dominating the world, stealing American secrets, further imposing their system on the US and benefiting from US trade in a way that they do not allow the US to benefit.
The same applies around the world, of course. The pushback has begun. I only hope that we, in Britain, in Europe, and in the US and other countries, are able to do that more in earnest.
Question: Iran has a highly sophisticated lobbying operation in Washington DC. It has made major inroads into the Democratic Party establishment. Does Iran have a similar lobby in the UK? If so, how influential is it in the UK government?
Col. Kemp: Yes, Iran does have significant lobbying power here in the UK. That we were going to go ahead with the Huawei involvement in 5G, speaks masses about their influence. It was this influence that led Britain to go with the option.
Britain also had another reason to do it: we left the EU. In leaving the EU, we have, of course, been looking around the world to try and find other opportunities to boost our economy post‑Brexit. China, of course, was one of them. It may be a valid reason, but it is not a valid reason to undermine one's own security. There was also a good deal of industrial‑level lobbying within the British government that took place, and elsewhere.
If you look at the Huawei UK board, a company controlled by China's Communist Party, you will see many prominent former British government officials and the odd minister, on their board.
When the decision was taken that the deal would not go ahead, the chairman of the board, who was a former senior British official, resigned -- so that gives you a bit of an insight into the way that China works.
The same is true in the United States. They have Confucius Institutes around the country, and in universities, which they have used to spread their propaganda and to exercise control not just on local students there, but also on Chinese students who are studying at the universities. There are a very, very large number.
The operation that China carries out, it is very clever. It is very successful. It is pretty much the same template as they use in other European countries, in Australia, they use around the world.
Any conflict is highly undesirable, but you could argue, as I would argue if I was involved in making the decision, that the level of conflict that I would expect to occur may be a price worth paying for the enormous opportunity it would give.
Regarding the Middle East, is easy to take counsel of our fears. I do not think we should in this case. As far as the rest of the Middle East is concerned, first of all, to say that most Arab governments in the Middle East want this new peace with Israel to happen.
Whatever they might say publicly, they want it to happen for two reasons. One, because they want a strong Israel, they want an Israel that is not overwhelmed or undermined by Islamic extremism. They want that because they see Israel as being on their side.
They are not going to say so publicly, not very often anyway, but that is what they want. They know that a strong Israel on their side against Iran is in their interests.
The level of cooperation that goes on between many Arab governments and Israel is unknown to most of us but is nevertheless real and growing and reflects a significant change in the relationship between Arab governments and the state of Israel.
The second reason is because they know that the current American administration supports it. They need the US administration on their side. They do not need to do anything that angers the US administration. They do not need to oppose decisions taken by the US administration. They see a far greater enemy than any of the rest of us around the world as being Iran.
If you take Jordan as an example in relation to this issue, Jordan will of course protest. Jordan have objected to it publicly. They will significantly raise their voices if this happens, but the Jordanian Army is not right now facing Israel. The Jordanian Army is facing away from Israel. They have got their backs to the Zionist entity.
They know they have no threat from Israel because Israel controls the hinterland of the Jordan Valley. Therefore, they do not represent a threat to Jordan. In fact, quite the opposite, they support Jordan's security.
If that territory was taken over by what would undoubtedly become a rogue Islamic state of some sort, that would be a great threat to Jordan amidst all the other challenges and threats that they face.
Question: Do the mystery attacks in Iran reflect concern on the part of unknown parties that the current US administration might lose the election and the other party win legislative power?
Col. Kemp: If Israel is doing some or all of these attacks, is Israel now taking the chance to strike back at the Iranian nuclear program before there is a change in administration in the White House? There could be an element of that. Also, I think it is equally likely that Iran has just crossed a specific red line, recently announced itself that they crossed a red line in acquiring quantities of enriched uranium, and there has to be a response that is not just a message, but also actually imposes damage on the regime in Iran.
Let us not forget, though, that the Stuxnet, allegedly the work of Israel and the US hand‑in‑hand, maybe even Britain had a hand, who knows? The Stuxnet cyberattack which severely damaged Iran's nuclear program, that was done during the Obama administration.
I do not know what any successor administration to the current one, what their policy would be in relation to Iran. I suppose we would have to wait and see how things developed. If the current US administration were to lose the election, there would probably be a policy similar to what the previous administration had, with every effort made, probably, to try and resurrect the nuclear deal. This action would certainly help enable Iran to have nuclear weapons.
There are so many things that would be lost to Israel if the current administration were replaced by an administration that took a much weaker view in relation to the challenges Israel faces, and a much less supportive view of Israel.
It would obviously make life a great deal more difficult for the Jewish state.
From my point of view, whether people like the current president, or hate the current president, in my opinion, he has been by far the best US president for the state of Israel.
By the way, there is one other point I should make to reinforce my view that you should not always take counsel of your fears: all these commentators who were proclaiming that the streets throughout the Middle East would burst into flames if the US opened an embassy in Jerusalem. What happened? Nothing happened, except an uptick in violence on the Gaza border by Hamas, which was already planned.
Question: Do you think Iran and China are interfering in the US elections in terms of funding some of the social unrest and mobs that are currently plaguing some US cities? Do you think there is a possibility that the Chinese planned the release of COVID?
Col. Kemp: We do not know. We may never know. I think China most certainly has and most certainly will be doing anything it can to influence the election.
If I were to be a betting man, I would say all of the influence the are applying to that election is being applied against President Trump.
Question: What is the status of cooperation these days between Iran and North Korea on nuclear weapons, smuggling, and so on?
Col. Kemp: There has, of course, been some cooperation between Iran and North Korea, particularly on their nuclear program. They were very helpful to the Iranians.
The burgeoning relationship between Iran and China is immensely more significant, both in terms of the capabilities of China, in the technological world, in the weapons world, and also the economic power of China, compared to, for example, North Korea.
We should, of course, keep an eye on North Korea in relation to Iran, but China in particular, we should. We do know that China and Iran have enormous empathy for each other and it goes back many years, the sympathy and support for each other, who both view much of the rest of the world as being, in a particular way, against them.
They see themselves as being pretty much on the same side. It is obviously not a religious issue. If you think about it, there is a degree of illogic about some of it: you know that probably the worst persecution of Muslims by a non‑Muslim state -- China against its Uighur Muslims; we have seen footage recently of Uighurs being rounded up and put into cattle cars and trains, reminiscent of the Holocaust.
Yet Iran does not seem to mind that. Iran, as far as I know, has raised no objection to the severe repression of the Muslim population in China by the Chinese Communist Party.
On the other hand, I have not seen much in the way of condemnation from any other countries in the Middle East either, but am not quite sure why. I guess that they see China as being in many countries cases of being enormously useful to them and they do not want to alienate it.
**Colonel Richard Kemp is a former British Army Commander. He was also head of the international terrorism team in the U.K. Cabinet Office and is now a writer and speaker on international and military affairs.
The above are from a briefing to Gatestone Institute on July 29, 2020.
© 2020 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Three Lessons from Nagorno-Karabakh
Ahmed J. Saade/Annahar/October 04/2020
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict offers a mosaic of information on the political developments that have been shaping the #Middle East in recent years, and will undoubtedly continue to do so. Here below, we look at the major takeaways to be drawn from this event.
1 - The Russians and Turkish have proven (once again) to be masters of foreign policy.
Let's face it. Some governments are simply smarter than others at getting what they want. Indeed, 2020 has proven to be a great year for Russian and Turkish foreign affairs (and a catastrophic one for France by the way). The Turks, with their unconditional support of allies that has now become their political trademark and has given them international credibility, are once again proving to be valuable allies who can be counted on, this time to #Azerbaijan.
The Russians, with their different but equally effective “under the table” strategy, have also achieved tactical moves along NATO’s borders – particularly its southern flank. Both superpowers (any claim that either of them is not a superpower would be a naive and subjective statement) now have their feet in Libya and are there to stay.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, just as they did in Syria and Libya, Russians and Turks fight, but remain “politically cordial”. Their political maturity has taught them that a full-blown confrontation would have disastrous consequences for both parties. Indeed, any Russian-Turkish conflict can be illustrated as the follow dialogue: “I want this, you want that. Ok, let’s fight and see who wins. Let the best man win but let’s stay friends, otherwise Western countries will take advantage”.
Trump was not wrong when he called Erdogan and Putin “world-class chess players”. They might not be familiar with Game Theory (mathematical analysis of the various actions to take against an opponent), but they clearly seem to master it.
2 - Does “Iranian ideology” still exist?
While some Iranian officials have recently come forward to claim the regime's unconditional support for their "Azerbaijani brothers", there has been mounting evidence of Iranian assistance for Armenia against the Chi'a majority country. Iran, it has been shown, is providing a crucial logistical platform for the entry of Russian tactical support to Armenia.
It is noteworthy to point out that Iranian officials were under increasing pressure recently, as important pro-Azerbaijan protests have taken place in some Turkish-speaking provinces of Iran. This, in parallel to the regime's de facto religious umbrella, certainly had a role to play in bringing about these “forced” declarations. Simply put, the Iranian regime was risking (and perhaps still is) its credibility within its international Chi'a audience.
The question remains: Why is Iran supporting Armenia and not a Chi’a majority country? The answer is a matter of geopolitical strategy, which seemingly is now of greater importance to Iran than its ideological values. Indeed, “exporting the revolution” and “fighting imperialism”, the two missions that constitute the backbone of the regime’s legitimacy, appear to be fading. In fact, if we look at the military conflicts and political struggles occurring in the MENA, Iran mostly sides with counterrevolutionaries and reactionary movements.
In this direction, Iran’s interest in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is part of a game of chess opposing it to #Turkey, and Iranian support for Armenia is an attempt to curb Turkey’s increasing influence in the region. Clearly, Turkey is the only credible challenger of Iran in the region – the Arabs definitely are not.
3 – For Gulf states, Turkey is a bigger problem than Iran.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, as evidenced by their media activity, Gulf states (headed by the UAE as is now often the case) back Armenia against Azerbaijan, siding with Iran and Russia. One might ask why, as they clearly have no business in the region. The answer is simple, and summarizes their entire foreign policy: Standing against Turkey everywhere, no matter what. Be it in Libya, Syria (yes, Syria) or Tunisia, be it in the Eastern-Mediterranean conflict opposing Turkey and Greece where the UAE has no business, or even the Kashmir issue where Gulf states have sided with India against Pakistan, and now Nagorno-Karabakh, this is their stance.
Gulf regimes propagate the idea that Iran is public enemy number one, but where are they actually fighting this enemy they dread so much? In Yemen, Emiratis and Iranians are sharing the spoils and have divided the territory between themselves. In Syria, they all backed Assad. In Libya, they jointly support Haftar against the GNA. In OPEC, Saudi Arabia and Iran are hardline allies.
Actually, one of the main reasons why Iran has not fully suffocated yet under US sanctions is because the UAE is providing a financial breathing window to Khamenei’s regime.
Undoubtedly, a distinction must be made between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on this matter. Saudis do have an ideological/moral/political problem with Iran, but Emiratis do not. In fact, Iran is a vital economic and political ally for the UAE. Nevertheless, Emiratis (which is the de facto leader of GCC policy) have been able to form a close partnership with Saudis by singling out the one concrete threat for both regimes’ existence, Turkey. The Turkish political model poses a risk to Saudi hegemony on the Sunni Muslim world, and Erdogan’s fast increasing popularity among Sunnis – which isn’t slowing down anytime soon - constitutes a major issue for this moral dominance. Consequently, Iran has moved to second place in their list of enemies, while Turkey now occupies the top spot. However, is the Emirati-Saudi strategy doing any favor to Saudi Arabia’s popularity in the Muslim world? It seems not.
2020 has proven to be a difficult year for many. Inevitably, it announces the start of a decade full of radical changes that could reshape the Middle East as we know it.
*Ahmed J. Saade is a Doctoral Researcher in Macreconomic Policy at Cranfield University. He holds a teaching position at UCL’s (University College London) department of Economics, and is a member of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy. The Economics Group he belongs to is consistently ranked among the best in the world.
 

A brave new dawn in Arab-Israeli relations
Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor/Arab News/October 04/2020
One of former South African President Nelson Mandela’s many pearls of wisdom was: “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”
After 18 years of incarceration on Robben Island, Mandela understood that violence against a militarily superior foe would not end apartheid. So he skillfully employed dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation to achieve his aim of coexistence between his people and the white minority that oppressed them.
Unfortunately, his strategy, which resulted in the cessation of hostilities between black and white South Africans, escapes the reasoning of some of my fellow Arabs, who have no solution as to how to better the lives of Palestinians. They instead prefer to hang on to the same old rhetoric and unrealistic scenarios that belong in the mid-20th century.
I have been a supporter of the Palestinians all my life, both morally and materially, but, over the decades, circumstances have changed. I’m a realist. I cannot remain stuck in some fantasyland and neither do I wait indefinitely for miracles.
Like it or not, Israel exists as an economic powerhouse under the unwavering protective umbrella of the US. To imagine that boycotting Israeli goods will force the collapse of the state is infantile and hypocritical. Many of the components in your computers are Israeli-made, with Israeli microchips found in more than 100 million devices worldwide. To isolate Israel within the region only convinces its governments to buy more weapons and construct more walls, both literally and figuratively.
I would say to those critics of the historic Abraham Accords, who say it means a loss of Palestinian leverage or an erosion of negotiating chips, that for many years neither the Palestinians nor their Arab backers have had any leverage over Israeli decision-makers.
The 2001 Taba talks that came so close to fruition ground to a halt when the hard-line warhorse Ariel Sharon succeeded Ehud Barak as Israeli prime minister and US President George W. Bush took the White House. Bush held his nose to pay lip service to the so-called road map because he was eager to lure Arab states on board with the invasion of Iraq. President Barack Obama talked a good talk, but his administration opposed pro-Palestinian UN Security Council resolutions and, as for President Donald Trump, he has showered his friend Benjamin Netanyahu with gifts.
The more Arab states that have peace treaties with Israel, the more influential the bloc will become.
There is a valid argument that says the Israelis have been intransigent. But the same can also be said for the Palestinians, who still insist on the right of return for refugees who are in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere. That is never going to happen, and they know it full well.
They would be better off asking the host nations to tear down the camps and allow the refugees the right to work and own their own homes. Refugees pass on false hopes to their children, along with the keys to the former homes of their fathers or grandfathers, keeping a visceral hatred for Israelis alive down the generations. I believe this is unfair for both generations. There are 2 million Palestinians — the descendants of those who stayed in 1948 — who have Israeli nationality. Most take pride in their Arab heritage, whether Muslims or Christians, yet are content to call themselves Arab Israelis.
It is beyond time for the Palestinians to quit blaming everyone else for the situation they find themselves in today. Instead of condemning long-standing Arab allies, who have stood by them to the tune of billions of dollars — and, in the case of Egypt and Syria, waged war with Israel on their behalf — they should first quit feuding with each other.
Hamas and other militant groups must turn their backs on the violence that rebounds onto the poor residents of Gaza and is the main reason for the crippling blockade. Arabs should not support Hamas, which is 100 percent Palestinian yet cozies up to Iran.
The beauty of the Abraham Accords is that they greatly benefit all signatories in terms of trade, commerce, tourism, technology and security. Moreover, they cement a united front against a common enemy that is working toward manufacturing nuclear weapons with which to hold its neighbors hostage.
Provided this new detente is successful, Israel will want to preserve the agreement and thus we will gain the ability to push for Palestinian rights from a position of strength. This is basic common sense. Compromise only occurs when both sides have something important to lose. The more Arab states that join Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Bahrain in having peace treaties with Israel, the more influential our bloc will become within the US and on the world stage.
Lebanon is undergoing arguably the most challenging period in living memory. Peace with Israel would be a major game changer, and I suspect that the Lebanese people would approve were it not for the obstacles strewn in the path. The Lebanese need the courage to express what is in their hearts and decide to live in peace.
Lebanon and the Lebanese people should want the same: To remove all the obstacles/issues that are holding this back. Once those issues are overcome, then a peace agreement becomes evident and the people of Lebanon can prosper. The Lebanese have to be brave enough to decide to live in peace. On this front, there is a glimmer of hope. In recent days, Lebanon and Israel, which consider themselves to be in a state of war, have agreed to hold US-mediated talks on their respective maritime limits in light of new oil and gas finds throughout the eastern Mediterranean. This could evidently pave the way for further negotiations to demarcate their land borders, leading to a long-awaited peace deal.
Hezbollah’s domination of Lebanon is reaching its end. Hassan Nasrallah and his slavish following are becoming so despised that they are attempting to disappear into the mist. To remain within the political arena, his allies are bound to distance themselves. To ensure Hezbollah never again rears its ugly head, the people should demand that its leadership and terror commanders be tried for instigating criminal wars, as well as for their stranglehold over Lebanon, which has delivered nothing but ruin, misery and unprecedented poverty.
There is no doubt that the Abraham Accords are history-making in that they are a departure from the previous Israeli-Arab peace agreements that were signed grudgingly. In the case of Egypt, the purpose was to gain the return of lands captured by Israel during 1967, while US President Bill Clinton heaped pressure on Jordan to sign up in return for debt cancelations. Until recently, there had been no genuine normalization of relations except on paper; a cold peace still reigned.
The Abraham Accords differ significantly because all sides are enthusiastically intent on creating a strong alliance to bolster a peaceful and prosperous future for the region. Economic interests dictate global policies these days, and it is the business communities that will provide the glue to ensure the three-way accords are a great and lasting success. Israel will soon discover that our nations could not be better allies.
My homeland has a progressive, tolerant culture and my compatriots have embraced multiculturalism, offering friendship and respect to people of different races and religions. We are a people who settle our differences calmly and politely, without argument or violence. We do not have time for squabbles; we are too busy working hard and making the most of our leisure time.
Lastly, I would urge all Arab leaderships to bury old hatreds that have consumed their foreign policies for 72 years without bearing fruit. Join us in forging a peaceful Middle East, with new and exciting opportunities for all, for this is the finest legacy we can leave to our children and the generations to come.
*Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor is a prominent UAE businessman and public figure. He is renowned for his views on international political affairs, his philanthropic activity, and his efforts to promote peace. He has long acted as an unofficial ambassador for his country abroad.

France’s push against ‘Islamist separatism’ should be supported
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/October 04/2020
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday unveiled a set of laws to fight what he described as the threat from radical Islamists and other extremists. The centrist president said he wanted to put the French republican values on the frontline in the battle against the divisions in society. Macron reiterated that he wanted Islam in France to be a positive part of society. “I’m not saying we need to create a French style of Islam, but that there can be a solid partnership with the French state,” he said. “The best way we can do that is by freeing it from foreign influence.”
The French president’s overhaul comes close on the heels of the bloody knife attack outside the former offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The attack has been described by French officials as a case of Islamist terrorism.
France has traditionally been a beacon for reformers. However, it is currently at a cultural and societal crossroads. Those who have been following French domestic politics will understand this at once. President Macron’s proposed neo-liberal “reform” of France’s retirement system which was established at the end of the Second World War and the yellow vest protests that only the corona pandemic managed to disperse are obvious examples. However, the traditional French values of liberty, equality, and fraternity must remain unchanged.
It is sad to see that among those who top the list of what needs to be reformed are Muslims — such as the ones who committed the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Of course, it is important to stress that not all Muslims are terrorists, but sadly many terrorists in the past few years have been Muslim — or have claimed to be.
This is not to say there are no glowing examples of French Muslims doing amazing things. There are many — doctors, politicians and football players, such as Zinedine Zidane, Hatem Ben Arfa, N’Golo Kante, Karim Mostafa Benzema, Wissam Ben Yedder and Houssem Aouar — who are perfectly integrated into French society. Another example is that of the singer Mennel Ibtissem, whom Arab News En Français interviewed recently. Despite the success she has enjoyed on shows such as “The Voice,” she was subjected to the worst kind of cyberbullying, simply because she is Muslim and later because she removed her turban. There is, of course, the danger that these cyberattacks might become actual physical ones.
Of course, many will take my words with a pinch of salt, saying that they come from the editor in chief of a Saudi Arabian newspaper based in Riyadh. Many will point a finger at the Kingdom, saying that it has often been the source of extremism. Of course, at the same time — for racist or other political agendas — they will unfairly refuse to accept the reforms made in the country by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is on the record as saying, “We want to take the Kingdom back to moderate Islam.”
Others will repeat religious extremist conspiracy theories suggesting that Saudi Arabia, along with other moderate Arab states, secretly support those who propagate Islamophobia to win publicity points.
However, one only has to compare words to actions to realize that religious reform in the Kingdom is real, brave and is for the benefit of the whole world.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, a former Saudi minister of justice who now heads the highly influential Muslim World League (MWL), told me in a 2018 interview with this newspaper: “I think no Muslim can call a Muslim woman an infidel or question her values because she has never worn a hijab. The Muslim woman, if she does not wear hijab ... is not an infidel and does not depart from Islam.”
In Belgium in 2017, he said Muslims should respect the laws, culture and customs of the non-Muslim countries in which they live, even if they felt that to do so violated their faith. If they (Muslims) were unable to legally persuade the local authorities to respect their wishes, they should either obey local laws or leave, Al-Issa advised.
We, at Arab News, have also played our part and we acknowledged that in the beginning was the word. As such, we realized the influence of radical clerics’ words on the hearts and minds of followers of different religions worldwide. With this realization in mind, in 2019, we at Arab News launched a series called “Preachers of Hate” — a series that names and shames radical preachers, from all religions and nationalities, and we started with our own in Saudi Arabia.
To support President Macron’s drive, we are pleased to translate this series into French and launch it today. It will include profiles of all the extremist preachers that we exposed in the past, along with some additional French ones.
We at this newspaper will do our part, but the French authorities must do theirs as well. “I believe that the most important thing is to control those who convey hate speech from inside or outside the country — separatists, racists, anti-Semites. Such speech is contrary to the values of the French Republic,” French Sen. Nathalie Goulet told Arab News last July. She was commenting on a news report that French lawmakers had finally recommended a preaching ban on clerics affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group classified by most countries as a terrorist group.
Of course, if President Macron is serious about freeing French Muslims from the malign influence of outsiders, then French authorities must also seriously look into the devastating impact Qatar has had ideologically — despite its “soft power” acquisition of historic buildings and the purchase of Paris Saint-Germain.
Qatar is the Muslim Brotherhood’s main global financier and backer. To understand the impact of the evil ideas of this group, we recommend skimming through the horrific videos and fatwas our research team found on Yusuf Qaradawi, the Doha-based Muslim Brotherhood preacher.
A good start for French investigators might be a fascinating book entitled “Qatar Papers — How the State Finances Islam in France and Europe,” by French investigative reporters Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot. The book reveals how Qatar is pouring hundreds of millions into Muslim Brotherhood-controlled organizations across France.
Bonne chance!
* Faisal J. Abbas is the editor in chief of Arab News. Twitter: @FaisalJAbbas
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point-of-view