LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 13/2018
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias
Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the
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Bible
Quotations
Therefore prepare your
minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that
Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed
First Letter of Peter 01/10-16: "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who
prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and
inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within
them indicated, when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for
Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were
serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been
announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit
sent from heaven things into which angels long to look! Therefore prepare
your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace
that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient
children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in
ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all
your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’"
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published on June 12-13/18
My School's Imam: "We Love Western Anti-West Theories"/Majid
Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/June 12/2018
We and our Friends in Italy and Spain/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/June
12/18
10 Books for a Summer Reading List/Barry Ritholtz/Bloomberg/June 12/18
Has boycott of Qatar failed/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/June 12/18
Saving Jordan and discernment in speech/Abdullah bin Bijad Al-Otaibi/Al
Arabiya/June 12/18
We and our friends in Italy and Spain/Eyad Abu Shakra/Al Arabiya/June 12/18
Anthony Bourdain: A personal eulogy to the man I never met/Walid Jawad/Al
Arabiya/June 12/18
Titles For The
Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
June 12-13/18
Lebanon: Anger over Soleimani’s Interference in Elections Results
UN Refugee Agency Hopes Lebanon Will Reverse Freeze on Residency
Applications
Bassil Says Important to Preserve FPM-Hizbullah 'Strategic' Alliance
Report: 'Hizbullah-Linked' Moguls Exploiting UAE Real-Estate Market
Sayyed briefs Aoun after STL testimony
U.N. Says Respects Lebanon Sensitivities, Urges Unblocking of Residency
Permits
Bassil on Soleimani's Remarks: We're Not Submissive to Anyone
Report: Hariri to Meet State Heads on Sidelines of World Cup Opening in
Moscow
Geagea: LF's Govt. Share 'Not for Saudi Arabia'
Decomposed Body Found Near Fidar Bridge
Report: Bassil Escalates U.N. Refugee Staff Residency Permits Row
Lebanese Man Stranded for 42 Days in Ecuador Airport
Nadim Gemayel: Refugee Return Requires Coordination with Syrian Govt.
Titles For Latest LCCC
Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on June 12-13/18
Trump, Kim Meet at Historic Summit
Kim also sounded positive about the prospects.
IAEA Welcomes Trump-Kim Joint Statement After Historic Summit
Arrest of Gunman Ends Hostage Siege in Central Paris
Netanyahu Offers Iran Solutions for Water Crisis
Israeli Police Question Netanyahu for Third Time in Corruption Probe
Israeli Police Question Netanyahu for Third Time in Corruption Probe
Rouhani tells Macron: Impossible to stay in nuclear deal unless Iran
benefits
Iraq’s Sadr and Amiri announce political alliance
Haider al-Abadi opposes repeat of Iraq elections
Germany Arrests Suspected Iraqi ISIS Member
US Ambassador to Israel Called Back to Washington for the 'Deal of the
Century'
Egypt: 4 Terrorists Killed in Arish Clashes
PM-Designate Thanks Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE for Supporting Jordan
7 Slightly Injured as Paris Suburban Train Overturns
Air Strike Kills 10 Civilians in Northeast Syria
Libya Strongman Advances in Battle to Take Eastern City
Yemen President in Rare Visit to Estranged UAE Ally
Anti-Rebel Forces Prepare for Yemen Port Attack despite U.N. Alarm
Casualties as Twin Suicide Attack Hits Eastern Libya
Israel Police Evict Wildcat Settlers as Deadline Looms
Statement by Canada’s Foreign Minister following United States-North Korea
summit
Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
June 12-13/18
Lebanon: Anger over
Soleimani’s Interference in Elections Results
Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/Beirut - Paula Astih/Asharq Al Awsat/Tuesday, 12
June, 2018/In his first comments on the results of the Lebanese
parliamentary elections, the leader of the Quds Force in the Iranian
Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, said that for the first time,
“Hezbollah” won 74 out of 128 parliamentary seats.The party has developed to
become “a resistance state in Lebanon,” he declared. Based on his comments,
Soleimani included the 29 deputies of the “Strong Lebanon” bloc, which is
affiliated to President Michel Aoun, in the “Hezbollah” parliamentary bloc.
In fact, the party only has 13 deputies represented in parliament, while the
Amal movement has 17. “Lebanon’s recent election was a referendum. They came
at a time when everybody was accusing ‘Hezbollah’ of interfering in Syria,
Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and the region as a whole,” Soleimani said. He added:
“They described all [Hezbollah] supporters, even if they were Sunnis and
others, as Iran’s agents, but these elections were not affected by these
circumstances and the $200 million dollars that were spent” during the
polls. The Iranian official’s comments drew immediate condemnation in
Lebanon. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri described the statements as
“regrettable.” “We would have liked to have state-to-state relations (with
Iran) and if some have lost in Iraq, it does not mean they should seek to
compensate for this loss somewhere else,” Hariri said following a meeting
with President Michel Aoun on Monday. A Strong Lebanon deputy also
criticized Soleimani’s comments, asserting that his bloc did not belong to a
team against another. The Strong Lebanon bloc is the largest parliamentary
bloc in the new parliament, with 29 deputies, 18 of whom are members in
political parties. Researcher at Information International Mohammed
Shamseddine said that the number of deputies, who can be classified as
directly belonging to “Hezbollah” is 43. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat,
Shamseddine said: “Soleimani’s insistence on talking about 74 deputies is
only symbolic.” The parliamentary elections, the first since 2009, were held
on May 6.
UN Refugee Agency Hopes Lebanon Will Reverse Freeze on
Residency Applications
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/The UN refugee agency hoped on
Tuesday that Lebanon would reverse its decision to freeze the residency
applications of its staff. “We are very concerned about the freezing issuing
of residence permits to international staff in Lebanon,” UNHCR spokesman
Andre Mahecic said during a briefing in Geneva. Foreign Minister Gebran
Bassil ordered the freeze last week after accusing UNHCR of hindering the
return of refugees to Syria by “spreading fear”. “We do not oppose or
discourage people returning, when they return based on their own decision
and based on informed choice,” Mahecic said. “It is the reality that some
people are returning. They are making their decision to go back,” Mahecic
said. “We have also in that regard ramped up our assistance inside Syria
where we can to be able to support those,” he said. “We hope that the
decision of the foreign ministry will be reversed without delay,” he added.
Bassil was criticized by Lebanese officials for his move against the UNHCR.
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri slammed his “unilateral” decision. In
announcing his move, Bassil said the UNHCR had discouraged refugees from
returning by asking them questions about conditions they might face in
Syria, including the possibility of military conscription, security problems
and poor accommodation. “UNHCR does not try to discourage the refugees from
returning back to Syria at all. We respect people’s decisions, the
individual decisions for people to return,” said Rola Amin, spokeswoman for
the agency in the Middle East, last week. Syrian refugees now account for
around a quarter of the population of Lebanon - around 1 million are
registered with the United Nations. The Lebanese government wants the
refugees to start going home; the UN says it is not yet safe for them to
return. Beirut is working with Damascus to arrange the return of thousands
of refugees it says want to go back to Syria, a top Lebanese official said
last month. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has been calling for Syrian
refugees to return to areas of the country he has described as secure. He
says this should happen before a final political solution to the
seven-year-long war. A conference on Syria hosted by the European Union and
co-chaired by the United Nations in April said conditions remained unsafe.
Bassil Says Important
to Preserve FPM-Hizbullah 'Strategic' Alliance
Naharnet/June 12/18/Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign
Minister Jebran Bassil on Tuesday called for preserving his movement's
“strategic agreement” with Hizbullah. “We maybe parted ways with Hizbullah
democratically in the latest elections, but we preserved our strategic
agreement and what's most important is the continuation of this agreement,”
Bassil said during an iftar banquet in the Jbeil town of Almat. He added:
“In this country no one is submissive to anyone and no one is stronger than
the other. We are all submissive to Lebanon through our national unity.”
Report: 'Hizbullah-Linked' Moguls Exploiting UAE Real-Estate Market
Associated Press/Naharnet/June 12/18/Two Lebanese businessmen sanctioned by
the U.S. for allegedly helping Hizbullah "covertly purchase sophisticated
electronics" for military drones have at least one property in Dubai,
although the UAE opposes Iran-backed Hizbullah and has placed it on its
terror list, a new report released Tuesday alleges. The report by the
Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies identifies the two
businessmen as Kamel and Issam Amhaz. It also identifies another nearly $70
million in Dubai properties owned by two other shareholders in Amhaz's
sanctioned firms. The report relies on alleged leaked property data from the
city-state. The government-run Dubai Media Office said it could not comment
on the report.
Sayyed briefs Aoun after STL testimony
The Daily Star/June. 12/18/BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun received MP Jamil
al-Sayyed on Tuesday following Sayyed’s return from the Netherlands, where
he concluded three days of testimony before the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon. According to a statement from the president’s office, Sayyed, who
is a former director of General Security, briefed Aoun on the progress of
the tribunal, which is tasked with investigating the 2005 assassination of
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Sayyed previously said during his
testimony that Hariri’s accommodating position toward Syria was the
principal reason behind his assassination on Feb. 14, 2005. Aoun and Sayyed
also discussed Lebanon’s domestic situation, especially regarding the issue
of border demarcation in south Lebanon. Sayyed thanked Aoun for his interest
in the Baalbeck-Hermel area, which the former said he expected will continue
to improve with regards to development and security, according to the
statement.
U.N. Says Respects Lebanon Sensitivities, Urges
Unblocking of Residency Permits
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/The U.N. refugee agency on Tuesday
urged Lebanon to reverse a decision to block residency permits for its
international staffers following a spat over Syrians displaced by the war.
The decision was announced on Friday by the office of Foreign Minister
Jebran Bassil who has accused UNHCR of intimidating refugees to prevent
their return to Syria. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UNHCR spokesman
Andrej Mahecic said the agency was "very concerned" by the move. "We hope
the decision of the foreign ministry will be reversed without delay," he
said. UNHCR spokeswoman Riwa Amin meanwhile told Lebanon's MTV that a
“forcible return” of refugees would “violate the international law,” while
stressing that the agency respects “Lebanon's sensitivities.” She also noted
that 85 percent of regugees “want to return” but are “demanding security,
stability, jobs and homes.”Bassil had on Thursday pointed the finger at the
agency in a posting on Twitter. "We sent a mission that verified that the
UNHCR is intimidating the displaced who wish to return voluntarily," he
tweeted. UNHCR has denied the allegations but made clear it does not believe
the conditions in Syria are "conducive for an assisted return" -- although a
spokesman said the situation was changing and that the agency was following
developments. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri had immediately
moved to disassociate himself from the move, with his office describing it
as "unilateral" and "not representative of the Lebanese government's
position."There are an estimated 1.5 million people displaced by the war in
neighboring Syria in Lebanon -- a figure representing more than a quarter of
its population before the conflict.
Bassil on Soleimani's Remarks: We're Not Submissive to
Anyone
Naharnet/June 12/18/Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil stressed
Tuesday that the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc is “independent,” after a
senior Iranian general counted it as part of Hizbullah's share in the new
parliament. “We are an independent bloc that reached parliament with its own
strength. We are not submissive to anyone and no one is submissive to us,”
Bassil said after the bloc's weekly meeting, in an apparent response to
General Qassem Soleimani's recent remarks. “The parliament only contains
political weights and no one has won the majority,” Bassil added. In remarks
that have sparked controversy in Lebanon, Soleimani has praised Hizbullah
and its allies for making significant gains in last month's parliamentary
elections, claiming that “Hizbullah has won 74 out of parliament's 128
seats.”
Report: Hariri to Meet State Heads on Sidelines of
World Cup Opening in Moscow
Naharnet/June 12/18/Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri will be flying to
Russia on Thursday to participate in the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony
where he is expected to hold “significant meetings” with several state heads
on the sidelines of the event, media reports said Tuesday. Unnamed sources
told al-Joumhouria daily that the premier is expected to meet with Russian
President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other
Asian and European leaders while in Moscow. “Hariri told President Michel
Aoun that he will have significant meetings on the sidelines of the World
Cup opening,” noting that the dates have not been specified yet, said the
sources.
Geagea: LF's Govt. Share 'Not for Saudi Arabia'
Naharnet/June 12/18/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed Tuesday
that the LF will represent itself in the new government and not the
interests of Saudi Arabia. In an interview with German news agency DPA,
Geagea refused to depict the friendly relation between his party and Riyadh
as being the “gateway” for Saudi policies in Lebanon. “We represent
ourselves in the Lebanese government and we are keen on Lebanon's interests.
Our share in the government will be for the LF and not for Saudi Arabia or
any other state. We are truly the kingdom's friends but our work inside
Lebanon is totally something else,” Geagea added. Asked about Hizbullah
central council official Sheikh Nabil Qaouq's accusations that Saudi Arabia
is interfering and obstructing the government formation process for the sake
of its allies, Geagea said: “It is not us who receive hundreds of million
yearly (from Iran) and it is not us who are linked to certain regional axes
for whom we fight in Syria and outside Syria.”
Decomposed Body Found Near Fidar Bridge
Naharnet/June 12/18/The body of a dead woman was found on Tuesday lying near
al-Fidar Bridge to the south of the northern city of Jbeil, the National
News Agency reported. NNA said the female, 24 years, was identified with her
initials as G.A. and hails from the town of Mazboud in Mount Lebanon's Iqlim
al-Kharroub region. The body was partially decomposed, said the agency.
Security Forces inspected the scene and opened investigation into the
incident.
Report: Bassil Escalates U.N. Refugee Staff Residency
Permits Row
Naharnet/June 12/18/The Foreign Ministry has reportedly officially informed
the UNHCR on Monday of caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil’s
controversial decision to freeze residency permits for its staff, despite
emphasis that relations with the U.N. are a jurisdiction of the prime
minister, media reports said Tuesday. Ministry sources told al-Akhbar daily
that “there will be no negligence. We are also considering taking stricter
measures shall the United Nations refugee agency fail to change its approach
regarding the Syrian refugees file in Lebanon and stop discouraging them to
return home.”They stressed that “other decisions could follow in the coming
days if it insists on following the same policy.”On Friday, Bassil ordered a
freeze on the renewal of residency permits for the UNHCR, saying it is
intimidating Syrian refugees in Lebanon from returning by asking them about
compulsory military service, security conditions and whether they have a
place to live. However, al-Mustaqbal Movement sources rejected in remarks to
al-Joumhouria daily Bassil’s “approach with the UNHCR,” saying “it is not
useful for national interest to make compulsory, uncalculated reactions that
place Lebanon in a difficult situation.”
Earlier, reports said that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has told
Bassil that the relation with the U.N. is “part of his jurisdiction as a
premier” and that he “cannot be bypassed” in this regard, after Bassil's
decision sparked a storm of criticism. Official sources following up on the
Syrian refugee crisis said that Bassil, in his turn, told Hariri that he
will not take further measures against the U.N. refugee agency.Lebanon is
home to more than a million Syrian refugees, or about a quarter of the
country's population. Bassil's statement came amid reports that some 3,000
Syrians are getting ready to head back home later this month. A Foreign
Ministry statement said Bassil's measure came after direct warnings by the
ministry to UNHCR representative in Lebanon Mireille Girard who was summoned
twice recently.
Lebanese Man Stranded for 42 Days in Ecuador Airport
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/A Lebanese man has been stuck in
immigration purgatory at an airport in Ecuador for 42 days after losing his
passport and being returned there from Spain. Nizam Hussein Shalak, 56, who
does not speak Spanish, has been residing in the international terminal of
the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo airport in Guayaquil, El Universo newspaper
reported. "It is a case of inadmissibility because he has no documents," a
foreign ministry source said. "The only legal body to issue a travel
document is the Lebanese consulate in Bogota," which has not responded to
requests that it do so, the source said. "We are closely following the case
and are working with the interior (ministry) to get Lebanon to issue him a
travel document so he can return to his country." The situation resembles
that of an Iranian refugee who lived in a Paris airport from 1988 to 2006
and was portrayed in the film "The Terminal" starring Tom Hanks. Shalak
visited Guayaquil two months ago and stopped on the way back to Lebanon in
Lima, Peru, and Barcelona, Spain, where he was detained after losing his
passport as well as his credit cards, El Universo newspaper reported. He
stayed in Barcelona for 10 days and Lima for another 11 before being
returned to Guayaquil, where he had to make a makeshift a bed on the seats
of the terminal. "He eats with the coupons that the airline... gives him
from time to time" and showers "every three or four days, when they take him
to a bathroom in another part of the terminal," the newspaper said.
The foreign ministry source said that while Shalak left with a passport, he
did not have one upon his return and could not pass immigration. Therefore,
"he is not legally in the country."
Nadim Gemayel: Refugee Return Requires Coordination
with Syrian Govt.
Naharnet/June 12/18/MP Nadim Gemayel of the Kataeb parliamentary bloc
announced Monday that the return of Syrian refugees to their country
requires “coordination” with the Syrian government. “The quick return of
Syrian refugees to their country is a national necessity that requires us to
directly coordinate with the government of the regime in Syria,” Gemayel
tweeted, in a rare acknowledgment by an anti-Damascus Lebanese politician.
Tiny Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million people displaced by the war in
neighboring Syria -- more than a quarter of its population before the
conflict.
Lebanon has seen its water, electricity and waste removal infrastructure
strained by the influx of Syrian refugees. Syrian refugees are a recurring
topic in Lebanon's political debate. More than 350,000 people have been
killed in the Syrian war and millions have been displaced since it started
in 2011 with the violent repression of anti-government protests. Syria's
regime has retaken more than half of the country from rebels since Russia
intervened in 2015 on its behalf.
Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News
published
on June 12-13/18
Trump, Kim Meet at
Historic Summit
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June/18/US President Donald Trump and North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un shook hands on Tuesday at a historic summit in
Singapore,
The two men clasped hands beneath the white-washed walls of an upscale hotel
in neutral Singapore, before sitting down for a half-day of meetings with
major ramifications for the region and the world.
The pair shook hands for several seconds, Trump reaching out to touch the
North Korean leader on his right shoulder. As they sat down for their
tete-a-tete, the US leader -- who had said he would know "within the first
minute" if a deal would be possible -- predicted a "terrific relationship"
with Kim. For his part, the North's leader made a reference to the two
countries' history of war and acrimony, but noted the fact of their meeting
showed they could overcome the past.
Sitting across from Trump at a small side table, Kim told the US president
through a translator: "It was not easy to get here."
"The past worked as fetters on our limbs and the old prejudices and
practices worked as obstacles on our way forward," he went on, his listener
looking him in the eye and nodding. "But we overcame all of them and we are
here today."
Trump responded: "That's true" before another handshake -- smiling this time
-- and a thumbs-up from the US president. The imagery for the high-stakes
meeting was undoubtedly positive and Kim Yong-hyun, professor at Dongguk
University in Seoul said: "The atmosphere of the summit looks very good."
"It will be hard for this meeting to agree on specific deals but it carries
considerable significance as a starting point," he said. The combatants of
the 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in
which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce.
After initial exchanges lasting around 40 minutes, Trump and Kim emerged,
walking side-by-side through the colonnaded hotel before entering a meeting
room, where they were joined by their most senior officials. Kim was heard
telling Trump through a translator: “I think the entire world is watching
this moment. Many people in the world will think of this as a scene from a
fantasy...science fiction movie.”
Asked by a reporter how the meeting was going, Trump said: “Very good. Very,
very good. Good relationship.”Kim also sounded positive about the prospects.
“We overcame all kinds of skepticism and speculations about this summit and
I believe that this is good for the peace,” he said. “I believe this is a
good prelude for peace.”
Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security
Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the
expanded talks, while Kim’s team included former military intelligence chief
Kim Yong Chol, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of
the ruling Workers’ Party. As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels,
and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an
Gulfstream 550 early warning aircraft circled.
While Trump and Kim search each other’s eyes and words for signs of trust or
deceit, the rest of the world will be watching, hoping that somehow these
two unpredictable leaders can find a way to defuse one of the planet’s most
dangerous flashpoints.
A body language expert said both men tried to project command as they met,
but also displayed signs of nerves. After the meetings, the two teams met
for a working lunch, where beef short ribs, sweet and sour pork and “Daegu
Jormin”, or Korean braised cod, were served for the main course, according
to the menu. That was to be followed by dark chocolate tarts, pastries and
vanilla ice cream for dessert.
The Singapore summit is a potentially legacy-defining meeting for both men
-- comparable to president Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China, or Ronald
Reagan's 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik.
And it is part of what Trump calls a "one-time" offer to resolve the
stand-off through diplomacy.
Many agreements have been made in the past with North Korea that have later
fallen apart.
On the table is the vexed question of denuclearization -- a word that means
vastly different things to the two parties. It remains far from clear that
Pyongyang is willing to give up its nukes -— weapons that the regime sees as
its ultimate guarantee of survival.
The totalitarian regime has made rapid progress towards marrying nuclear and
missile technology that would put Los Angeles, New York and Washington
within striking distance of a nuclear weapon.
The United States says that is unacceptable and will be dealt with, one way
or another.
For North Korea the talks are hugely significant and the image of Kim and
Trump standing before the flags of both countries is an enormous step
towards ending decades of international isolation.
Kim also sounded positive about the prospects.
“We overcame all kinds of skepticism and speculations about this summit and
I believe that this is good for the peace,” he said. “I believe this is a
good prelude for peace.”
Trump was joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security
Adviser John Bolton, and John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, for the
expanded talks, while Kim’s team included former military intelligence chief
Kim Yong Chol, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Ri Su Yong, vice chairman of
the ruling Workers’ Party. As the two leaders met, Singapore navy vessels,
and air force Apache helicopters patrolled, while fighter jets and an
Gulfstream 550 early warning aircraft circled. While Trump and Kim search
each other’s eyes and words for signs of trust or deceit, the rest of the
world will be watching, hoping that somehow these two unpredictable leaders
can find a way to defuse one of the planet’s most dangerous flashpoints. A
body language expert said both men tried to project command as they met, but
also displayed signs of nerves. After the meetings, the two teams met for a
working lunch, where beef short ribs, sweet and sour pork and “Daegu Jormin”,
or Korean braised cod, were served for the main course, according to the
menu. That was to be followed by dark chocolate tarts, pastries and vanilla
ice cream for dessert. The Singapore summit is a potentially legacy-defining
meeting for both men -- comparable to president Richard Nixon's 1972 visit
to China, or Ronald Reagan's 1986 summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in
Reykjavik. And it is part of what Trump calls a "one-time" offer to resolve
the stand-off through diplomacy. Many agreements have been made in the past
with North Korea that have later fallen apart. On the table is the vexed
question of denuclearization -- a word that means vastly different things to
the two parties. It remains far from clear that Pyongyang is willing to give
up its nukes -— weapons that the regime sees as its ultimate guarantee of
survival. The totalitarian regime has made rapid progress towards marrying
nuclear and missile technology that would put Los Angeles, New York and
Washington within striking distance of a nuclear weapon. The United States
says that is unacceptable and will be dealt with, one way or another. For
North Korea the talks are hugely significant and the image of Kim and Trump
standing before the flags of both countries is an enormous step towards
ending decades of international isolation.
IAEA Welcomes Trump-Kim Joint Statement After Historic Summit
London- Asharq Al Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/The head of the United
Nation’s nuclear watchdog has welcomed US President Donald Trump's joint
statement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Yukiya Amano, the director
general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said his agency
"stands ready to undertake any verification activities in (North Korea) that
it may be requested to conduct by the countries concerned." He noted that
the Trump-Kim statement signed Tuesday in Singapore includes a North Korean
commitment "towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."Amano
says the IAEA "will closely follow the negotiations to be held between the
two countries to implement the outcomes" of Trump's summit with Kim. After
the summit, Trump and Kim pledged to work toward complete denuclearization
of the Korean peninsula while Washington committed to providing security
guarantees for its old enemy. The joint statement signed at the end of their
historic summit in Singapore gave few details on how either goal would be
achieved but Trump fleshed out some details at a news conference. "President
Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK and Chairman Kim
Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," said the statement. DPRK is the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the formal name of North Korea.
Earlier on Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the
importance of setting peace and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula as the clear goals of the Singapore summit. The UN chief said
experts from the IAEA could help verify that North Korea has indeed scrapped
its nuclear program, if the parties request their assistance. "The world is
closely watching what will take place in Singapore in a few hours' time,"
Guterres told reporters hours ahead of the historic meeting. "The two
leaders are seeking to break out of the dangerous cycle that created so much
concern last year." "Peace and verifiable denuclearization must remain the
clear and shared goal," he added. Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un discussed on
Tuesday demands for Pyongyang to scrap its missile and nuclear programs
during the meeting, the first ever between a sitting US president and a
North Korean leader. Guterres said: "the road ahead will require
cooperation, compromise and a common cause". "There will be inevitable ups
and downs, moments of disagreement and tough negotiations." The UN chief
called for donor contributions to a humanitarian appeal of $111 million to
help six million North Koreans in need of aid and stressed the importance of
improving respect for human rights in the country. After North Korea last
month invited foreign journalists to witness the closure of its Pungyye-ri
nuclear test site, Guterres complained that international experts should
have been there.
Arrest of Gunman Ends Hostage Siege in Central Paris
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/A gunman who took two people
hostage in central Paris on Tuesday has been arrested and his victims freed
"safe and sound", police in the French capital said. "Two hostages.
including one who had petrol poured on them," have been freed police said.
The standoff began around 4:00 pm (1400 GMT), with BFM television reporting
that the man had entered the offices of a start-up company on the Rue des
Petites Ecuries, a gritty area of the bustling 10th arrondissement. At least
one other man was lightly injured while fighting with the hostage-taker and
escaping before police arrived on the scene. The motive for the attack was
not clear but incident did not appear to be terrorism-related."Based on our
initial investigations it could be a mentally unstable person whose
motivations are still unclear," another source said. France has been on high
alert after a series of jihadist attacks in the past three years, most
recently a Saturday night knife attack in Paris last month in which one
person was killed.
Netanyahu Offers Iran
Solutions for Water Crisis
London, Tel Aviv- Asharq Al Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June,
2018/Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video Sunday
personally addressing the Iranian people by announcing the launch of a
Persian-language website to address "the severe water shortage that
threatens millions of lives."Netanyahu said he was ready to personally be
responsible for marketing a new Israeli initiative called "Life for the
Iranian People," aimed at helping Iranians in the water field. He appeared
in a video filmed in his office in West Jerusalem for this purpose, and he
began with a scene in which he poured a glass of water for himself from a
glass container he said was produced by desalination plants. He then spoke
about the severe crisis faced by Iranians as a result of water shortages.
“Millions of Iranian children are suffering from mismanagement and
incompetence,” he stated. He noted that "Iran's meteorological organization
says that nearly 96 percent of Iran suffers from some level of drought," and
that Iran’s Environmental Minister had warned that "50 million Iranians
could be forced to leave their homes due to environmental problems."
Israel’s prime minister openly boasted that his country developed
“cutting-edge technologies” in the field, and it “recycles nearly 90 percent
of its wastewater.”The promoted website is actually a section at the
official site of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which indeed features some
articles on water management and agriculture in Farsi. Notably, the web page
eagerly encourages Iranians to read about the new Israeli water management
and follow the news about it on Telegram – an instant messaging service that
was actually banned in Iran as early as a month ago. The video was posted on
a special site set up by the Israeli government in Persian-language as part
of a photo-management report showing how Israel can help Iranians in water
reuse. Notably, Iran has been experiencing tension in several areas because
of a sharp drop in water supply following a drought that has been hitting
the country for 10 years now. Experts also point fingers at poor water
management in the country and the widening of the environmental crisis. In
response to Netanyahu’s video, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram
Qasemi said that Netanyahu's comments do not deserve even an answer. “I
don't know why we should answer the claims made by this showman,' Qasemi
said. “Of course, I think since he has not managed to change the Europeans'
views on the Iran Deal during his tour of the Continent, now he is embarking
on such a deceitful measure against Iran,” he said. “Netanyahu should better
stop going on with his crimes and child killings. He does not need to be
concerned about drought in Iran,” Qasemi stressed.
Israeli Police Question Netanyahu for Third Time in Corruption Probe
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/Israeli police
interrogated on Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time
over corruption charges linked to the country’s largest telecommunication
company. Police declined immediate comment, but Israel Radio said Netanyahu
was being questioned over allegations he awarded regulatory favors to Bezeq
Telecom Israel in return for favorable coverage on a news site the company’s
owner controls. Netanyahu, who has been questioned twice before in the
so-called Case 4000, and Bezeq have denied wrongdoing. A vehicle carrying
police officers pulled up at the entrance of the prime minister's official
residence, where a clutch of protesters called for Netanyahu to resign over
the investigations. In February, police recommended Netanyahu be charged
with bribery in two other cases. Israel's attorney general is still weighing
whether to indict him. Two Netanyahu confidants have been arrested on
suspicion of promoting regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to
Bezeq. In return, Bezeq's subsidiary news site, Walla, allegedly provided
positive Netanyahu coverage. The confidants have turned state
witnesses. In the first investigation, known as Case 1000, Netanyahu is
suspected of bribery over gifts from wealthy businessmen, which police say
were worth nearly $300,000. The other, Case 2000, involves an alleged plot
to win positive coverage in Israel’s biggest newspaper by offering to take
measures to curtail the circulation of a rival daily. In both those cases,
lawyers for Netanyahu said he has committed no crimes. The premier has
dismissed the accusations as a media witch hunt. Despite the probes, the
right-wing leader's popularity has risen in the past few weeks, a
reflection, commentators said, of his tough security policies, US withdrawal
from the Iran nuclear deal he opposes, and the opening of the American
Embassy in contested Jerusalem, a move Netanyahu has long advocated. The
surveys predicted that Netanyahu's Likud party, which heads a coalition
largely comprised of right-wing and religious factions, would add up to four
seats to the 30 it already holds in the 120-member parliament if an election
were held now. Israel is due to hold its next national ballot no later than
November 2019.
Israeli Police Question Netanyahu for Third Time in Corruption Probe
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/Israeli police
interrogated on Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time
over corruption charges linked to the country’s largest telecommunication
company. Police declined immediate comment, but Israel Radio said Netanyahu
was being questioned over allegations he awarded regulatory favors to Bezeq
Telecom Israel in return for favorable coverage on a news site the company’s
owner controls. Netanyahu, who has been questioned twice before in the
so-called Case 4000, and Bezeq have denied wrongdoing. A vehicle carrying
police officers pulled up at the entrance of the prime minister's official
residence, where a clutch of protesters called for Netanyahu to resign over
the investigations. In February, police recommended Netanyahu be charged
with bribery in two other cases. Israel's attorney general is still weighing
whether to indict him. Two Netanyahu confidants have been arrested on
suspicion of promoting regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to
Bezeq. In return, Bezeq's subsidiary news site, Walla, allegedly provided
positive Netanyahu coverage. The confidants have turned state witnesses. In
the first investigation, known as Case 1000, Netanyahu is suspected of
bribery over gifts from wealthy businessmen, which police say were worth
nearly $300,000. The other, Case 2000, involves an alleged plot to win
positive coverage in Israel’s biggest newspaper by offering to take measures
to curtail the circulation of a rival daily. In both those cases, lawyers
for Netanyahu said he has committed no crimes. The premier has dismissed the
accusations as a media witch hunt. Despite the probes, the right-wing
leader's popularity has risen in the past few weeks, a reflection,
commentators said, of his tough security policies, US withdrawal from the
Iran nuclear deal he opposes, and the opening of the American Embassy in
contested Jerusalem, a move Netanyahu has long advocated. The surveys
predicted that Netanyahu's Likud party, which heads a coalition largely
comprised of right-wing and religious factions, would add up to four seats
to the 30 it already holds in the 120-member parliament if an election were
held now. Israel is due to hold its next national ballot no later than
November 2019.
Rouhani tells Macron: Impossible to stay in nuclear
deal unless Iran benefits
Reuters/Tuesday, 12 June 2018/Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned world
powers on Tuesday that it was impossible for Tehran to stay in the nuclear
deal if it cannot benefit from the accord after the US withdrawal. In a call
with French President Emmanuel Macron, Rouhani said he was satisfied with
Europe’s stance, especially French efforts to salvage the 2015 deal, but
that “such statements should be combined with actions and tangible
measures”. “If Iran cannot benefit from the (nuclear) deal, then it’s
practically impossible to stay in the accord,” Rouhani was quoted by state
news agency IRNA as saying in a phone call with the French president. The
pact between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions on Tehran.
In return, Iran scaled back its nuclear activities, increasing the time it
would need to produce an atom bomb if it chose to do so, a goal it denies
having. Since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in May,
calling the accord flawed, European signatories - France, Britain and
Germany - have been scrambling to ensure Iran retains enough economic
benefits to persuade it not to pull out. Macron’s office said he had told
Rouhani in the same telephone call that France remained committed to the
nuclear deal but Tehran needed to fully comply with its commitments. “The
President of the Republic recalled the will of France, Britain, Germany,
Russia and China, to continue to implement the Vienna agreement in all its
dimensions,” Macron’s office said. “The president informed President Rouhani
of the progress in the work being done on our side. He hoped that Iran, for
its part, will fulfill its obligations without any ambiguity.”Macron’s
office confirmed a previously agreed ministerial meeting between all the
remaining signatories of the deal, the European powers, China and Russia,
would be held in the coming weeks in Vienna. French diplomatic sources said
the meeting was likely to take place during the week of June 25.
Iraq’s Sadr and Amiri
announce political alliance
Reuters, Baghdad/Tuesday, 12 June 2018/Nationalist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
and Iranian-backed militia chief Hadi al-Amiri, who won first and second
place respectively in Iraq’s May parliamentary election, announced on
Tuesday an alliance between their political blocs.
The announcement came at a joint press conference in the Shiite holy city of
Najaf, state television said. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi
said he opposed any repeat of the May 12 parliamentary election, and warned
that anyone who tried to sabotage the political process would be punished,
after allegations of electoral fraud raised tensions.
Haider al-Abadi
opposes repeat of Iraq elections
Reuters/Tuesday, 12 June 2018/Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi
said on Tuesday he opposed any repeat of the May 12 parliamentary election,
and warned that anyone who tried to sabotage the political process would be
punished, after allegations of electoral fraud raised tensions. Parliament
has demanded a nationwide recount of votes, drawing calls for the election
to be re-run. Abadi said only the Supreme Federal Court could decide whether
to re-run the vote, which was won by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s bloc.
“The matter is exclusively in the hands of the judiciary, not politicians.
The government and parliament don’t have the power to cancel the election,”
Abadi told a news conference. On Monday, Sadr urged Iraqis to unite rather
than squabble over a possible re-run of the election, in a message
apparently meant to lower the political temperature after a ballot box
storage depot caught fire. Abadi called the fire a deliberate act and said
the attorney general would bring charges against those who are trying to
undermine the political process. An Iraqi court ordered the arrest of four
people accused of setting fire to the storage site, the judiciary said.
Three of them were policemen and one an employee of the Independent High
Elections Commission. Abadi said a preliminary report had provided evidence
of gasoline at multiple areas inside the storage site. It also showed that
security cameras had been disabled and no locks had been broken, implying it
was carried out by someone with access to the storage site. Iraqi
authorities said the ballot boxes had been rescued but the fire has fueled
fears of violence. Abadi thanked Sadr for a disarmament initiative he
floated after a weapons cache at his Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City
exploded, killing 18 people, and said he hoped the cleric would stick to it.
“I welcome Sayed Moqtada’s announcement that his followers commit to not
having weapons outside the framework of the state. We consider this good,”
he said, adding that those responsible for the explosion would be brought to
justice. “What happened in Sadr City is very regrettable, it is a crime.
Those responsible will receive their just punishment.”
Germany Arrests Suspected Iraqi ISIS Member
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/German authorities have arrested an
18-year-old Iraqi man on suspicion of being an ISIS member. Federal
prosecutors said Aqram A., whose full name was withheld on privacy grounds,
was preliminary detained Wednesday in the southwestern Rhine-Neckar
district. Prosecutors said that the man is suspected of joining ISIS in 2014
in the Iraqi city of Mosul where he completed military training for
approximately four weeks. During the ensuing period, he worked as a guard
and prepared fighting positions for the extremist group. In the summer of
2015, the suspect took part in fighting near the Iraqi town Beiji. He
allegedly left Iraq in late 2015 and entered Germany in February 2016. Four
Iraqis were arrested in Germany on similar charges last week. German police
have been on high alert over potential militant attacks, particularly since
December 2016 when a man hijacked a truck and ploughed into shoppers at a
Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. The attacker was shot dead by
police in Milan four days later, and the rampage was claimed by ISIS. The
terrorist group claimed responsibility for a number of other attacks in
2016.
US Ambassador to Israel Called Back to Washington for the 'Deal of the
Century'
Tel Aviv- Asharq Al Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/The US administration has
called back its Ambassador to Israel David Friedman for urgent negotiations
in the White House on the forthcoming Middle East peace plan, also known as
"deal of the century."Friedman had been set to attend the American Jewish
Congress Global Forum in Jerusalem on Sunday, however, he canceled his
attendance at the last minute and left a recorded greeting for the
conference delegates, saying, he is in Washington in consultations on the
administration’s evolving peace plan asking them to "wish us luck."He
apologized to the attendees: "I’m sorry I cannot be with you this evening at
the conference. By the time you see this greeting, I’ll be in
Washington."The US Embassy in the West Jerusalem confirmed that Friedman had
returned to the United States, which led to increased expectations about the
date of the announcement of the deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the conflict with
the Palestinians, saying that the reason for the impasse in peace
negotiations was the consistent Palestinian rejection of the idea of a
Jewish state. "The reason we don’t have peace is not because of the absence
of a Palestinian state,” indicated Netanyahu. "That’s why a hundred years
ago, the rejectionist elements in Palestinian society rejected the Balfour
Declaration," he added. "If President Abbas wants to make peace," he warned,
"recognize the Jewish state for God’s sake! That will bring peace once and
for all." He called on Palestinians to recognize the Jewish state, invest in
peace, and stop paying the terrorists' salaries.
Egypt: 4 Terrorists Killed in Arish
Clashes
Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/Four
terrorists were killed in clashes with security forces in Arish city in
northern Sinai on Monday as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stressed
the importance of exerted efforts to confront extremism. The four terrorists
were killed in an exchange of gunfire with policemen, a security source
said, adding that the extremists had used a building that was under
construction as a hideout. For the past several years, the Egyptian army has
been conducting operations in the Sinai Peninsula to wipe out extremists. In
mid-February, the armed forces and the police launched a major military
campaign to restore security in the province. Sisi said Monday that Al-Azhar
and the Ministry of Awqaf are working on correcting misconceptions regarding
Islam. He said that Egypt has been facing major challenges in the past
years, but the people had a strong will to confront them. “They were united
in facing the forces of evil and darkness that attempted to destroy their
homeland.” The Egyptians resisted attempts to stir chaos and faced all
threats made against the country’s security, said Sisi. The people shed
their blood for the sake of the country and in defense of its stability, he
stated, adding that they patiently endured tough economic conditions and
went ahead with the reforms in order to establish a modern state and an
advanced society. In his speech, Sisi tackled the resignation of PM Sherif
Ismail’s cabinet, saying that the change of governments is necessary to give
chances to one another. During performing rituals of Laylat al-Qadr, Sisi
honored ten Quran memorizers who have won the world competition for
memorizing and explaining the Quran.
PM-Designate Thanks Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE for
Supporting Jordan
Amman, Cairo – Mohammed al-Daameh and Sawsan Abou Hussein/Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday,
12 June, 2018/Jordan’s Prime Minister-designate Omar al-Razzaz thanked on
Monday Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirate for the aid package
they pledged to Amman to help it overcome economic challenges. Following a
meeting with the general secretaries of political parties, Razzaz told
reporters that Jordan highly appreciated the three Gulf States for providing
$2.5 billion to help it address its economic crisis. “Our brothers in Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE took the initiative to stand with us during these
difficult circumstances,” Razzaz said. On Sunday, a Saudi-hosted summit held
in the holy city of Makkah pledged $2.5 billion in aid to help Jordan
overcome its economic crisis. The aid will be provided through a deposit at
the Jordanian Central Bank, guarantees for the World Bank, annual support
for the Jordanian government’s budget over the next five years and financing
from development funds for projects in the Kingdom. This came as the country
witnessed over the past week protests against a controversial income tax
bill, which Razzaz pledged to withdraw as soon as his new government takes
the oath of office. He met with the secretaries of Jordan’s political
parties within the framework of his consultations to discuss the formation
of his cabinet. He said during the meeting that the previous government had
miscalculated the move to rush to send the draft income tax law to the
parliament, stressing that he also bears responsibility as a government
member. After listening to the political party chiefs, Razzaz stressed that
a genuine and meaningful national dialogue should be initiated, adding that
the fight against corruption was linked to economic and political reform.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian House of Representatives highly valued the outcome
of the emergency summit held in Makkah. In a statement issued on Monday, the
parliament said that the support provided by “our brotherly countries of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait echoes the deeply rooted strategic
relationship between the four countries.”
7 Slightly Injured as Paris Suburban Train Overturns
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 12 June, 2018/Seven people have been slightly
injured in a rare derailment of a suburban RER train near Paris caused by a
large amount of overnight rainfall in the region, France's transport
minister, Elisabeth Borne, said Tuesday. The minister told Franceinfo radio
that three passenger cars of a RER B train came to rest on their side
because of a landslide in Courcelle-sur-Yvette, southwest of
Paris.“Fortunately, there are only seven slightly injured, who are being
treated," Borne said. All passengers have been safely evacuated. Catherine
Guillouard, president of the public transport company RATP, said train
traffic will be disrupted on the line for an undetermined period of time.
Photos on the social media show water flowing down a hole under the rails. A
section of highway west of Paris has also been closed due to water on the
road. Several departments in the Paris region have been placed on an orange
alert for heavy rains and flooding, as storms battered much of France over
the past days.
Air Strike Kills 10 Civilians in Northeast Syria
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/An air raid on a village in
northeast Syria held by the Islamic State jihadist group killed at least 10
civilians including three children on Tuesday, a Britain-based monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes on Tal al-Shair in
the northeastern province of Hasakeh were carried out by the U.S.-led
coalition fighting IS in Syria and neighboring Iraq since 2014. The
coalition's press office told AFP it was aware of the allegations but did
not have records of carrying out strikes in the area. It is the latest in a
series of raids on the area that have reportedly caused civilian casualties
in past weeks. Tal al-Shair lies in a small pocket still held by IS fighters
near the Iraqi border in the south of Hasakeh, where a Kurdish-Arab alliance
backed by the coalition has been battling the jihadists in recent
days.According to the Observatory, a coalition air strike last week killed
11 civilians in the same IS-held area, and another 12 lost their lives in
coalition raids on June 1. The coalition told AFP it was carrying out an
investigation into the June 1 allegation. Earlier this month, it admitted to
nine more civilians deaths, bringing to 892 the total number of civilians it
acknowledges to have killed since it intervened in Iraq and Syria. Monitors
like the Observatory and Airwars say the toll is much higher. The
Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria, says it determines whose
planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and
munitions involved. IS has lost most of the cross-border caliphate it
declared in 2014. In Syria it was pushed back by separate offensives -- one
by Russia-backed regime troops and another by the U.S.-backed Syrian
Democratic Forces alliance. But the jihadists still hold slithers of eastern
Syria and have a presence in the vast Badiya desert running from the center
of the country to the border with Iraq. More than 350,000 people have been
killed in Syria's war since it started in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on
anti-government protests. It has since spiraled into a complex conflict
involving world powers and foreign jihadists.
Libya Strongman Advances in Battle to Take Eastern City
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/Forces loyal to
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar said Tuesday they are advancing rapidly on
the eastern city of Derna, despite troops being hit by suicide attacks.
Haftar has vowed to "liberate" Derna, an Islamist stronghold that is home to
more than 120,000 people and the only eastern city outside of his control.
But as his self-styled Libyan National Army continued its offensive on
Tuesday, two explosions were heard as suicide bombers hit forces in the
southern Shiha district. Without giving a toll for the attack, LNA spokesman
Khalifa al-Abidi said civilians were among the casualties as the roof of a
family home collapsed. On Monday night, he said, another suicide attack
killed two LNA fighters and wounded three. The LNA was "advancing steadily
to liberate a very small remaining pocket before liberating the whole of
Derna," he added. Abidi said "terrorists" were "resorting to suicide attacks
after they failed to tackle" the LNA conventionally. Derna is held by a
ragtag alliance of Islamist and jihadist militias, including groups close to
al-Qaida, hostile to both Haftar and the Islamic State group. The city is
located more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) east of the capital Tripoli
and around 300 kilometers east of second city Benghazi.
Brink of 'humanitarian catastrophe' -
Haftar has struggled to succeed in the fight against insurgents, according
to Federica Saini Fasanotti from the Brookings Institution in Washington. "I
am not sure that this operation will bring a quick victory for him in
military terms. In social terms it is already a disaster," she said. Since
the start of the offensive on May 7, residents have faced food and medicine
shortages, as well as cuts to electricity, water and phone lines. Abdessalam
al-Hassi, leading operations in Derna, said supplies were being dispatched
to "liberated zones."An LNA victory in the city was "only a question of
time", Hassi said. The Red Cross said it has sent aid to 6,000 people in the
neighborhood of Bab Tobruk, as well as to thousands of others who have fled
the city to seek refuge in the surrounding areas. Amnesty International has
called on all sides to let relief into the city and allow civilians to leave
"without fear of arbitrary detention, harassment, intimidation and unlawful
killings." "We are receiving horrifying reports from Derna, where a
prolonged siege and heavy fighting have left the city on the brink of a
humanitarian catastrophe," said Heba Morayef, the organization's Middle East
and North Africa director. Haftar joined rival Libyan leaders last month in
Paris, where they agreed to prepare for polls in December. For Saini
Fasanotti, the LNA chief would do better to sideline his military ambitions.
"I think that he should start to focus on a political campaign for the
elections," she said. Haftar supports an administration based in the east,
which opposes the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. The
strongman's critics accuse him of wanting to establish a military
dictatorship and say he is supported by foreign forces from Egypt, the
United Arab Emirates and France.
Yemen President in Rare Visit to Estranged UAE Ally
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/Yemen's president is to hold talks
in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as he attempts to repair relations with the United
Arab Emirates, which has increasingly sidelined him in its three-year
military intervention. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi is making the rare
visit on the advice of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of
Saudi Arabia, where he lives in exile, Yemen's government-run Saba news
agency reported. Saudi Arabia and the UAE sent troops to Yemen in 2015 with
the stated goal of restoring Hadi to power after he fled the country as
Huthi Shiite rebels overran most of the country. But Hadi's close relations
with the Muslim Brotherood-dominated Islah party have infuriated Abu Dhabi,
which has swung its support behind secessionists who want to restore the
pre-1990 independence of south Yemen. With UAE backing, in January the
secessionists overran the main southern city of Aden where Hadi's government
has its headquarters. UAE forces and their allies have also occupied several
other key ports and islands, including the strategic Arabian Sea archipelago
of Socotra, where Saudi Arabia too deployed troops last month as part of a
deal to appease Hadi's government. The rift between Hadi and Abu Dhabi had
largely overshadowed the war gainst the Huthi rebels who still control the
capital Sanaa and much of the north. But last month UAE troops launched a
joint offensive with Hadi's forces and their Saudi allies against the
rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida. The city, which has a population of some
600,000, is the entry point for 70 percent of Yemen's imports, the vast of
majority of them desperately needed food, and there has been mounting UN and
Western pressure for a halt to the potentially bloody assault.
Anti-Rebel Forces Prepare for Yemen Port Attack despite
U.N. Alarm
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/Pro-government forces fighting
Yemen's Huthi rebels are sending reinforcements towards the port of Hodeida,
military sources said Tuesday, amid U.N. warnings against a high-stakes
battle for the key aid gateway. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said
his envoy Martin Griffiths has been locked in "intense negotiations" with
the Iran-backed Huthis, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to find a
"way to avoid the military confrontation in Hodeida." During a meeting with
Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Alyemany, Guterres stressed that "everyone
should redouble efforts to find a political solution and avoid a fierce,
bloody battle for Hodeida," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The city
is home to 600,000 people and is the entry point for 70 percent of Yemen's
imports, including vital aid supplies for civilians in the conflict-wracked
country. Loyalist Yemeni military sources said the UAE-backed pro-government
forces were dispatching reinforcements towards the Red Sea port. Anti-rebel
forces made use of a break in fighting from Monday to send troops and
equipment towards the front line, currently around 40 kilometres south of
Hodeida, the sources said.
The countdown to take the port has started, Emirati newspaper The National
declared on Tuesday as it warned "all signs... pointed to an imminent
offensive." The pro-government Yemeni forces are a mix of local fighters,
those loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, and supporters of the
ex-head of state, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was killed in December by his
former Huthi allies. They are backed on the ground by the UAE, while Saudi
Arabia has been leading a campaign of air strikes. The Yemeni president was
due to make a rare visit on Tuesday from Saudi Arabia, where he lives in
exile, to the UAE for talks in Abu Dhabi.
'Bloody, prolonged' battle
The anti-rebel forces are determined to drive the Huthis from Hodeida,
analysts say, having failed to score any major military victories since
taking five southern provinces and the city of Aden in 2015. In a sign of
growing international concern over Hodeida, the U.N. Security Council met
behind closed doors on Monday after Britain told aid agencies on the ground
it had received a warning from the UAE of an attack. The United Nations
pulled all of its international staff out of Hodeida early Monday morning.
U.N. envoy Griffiths briefed the Security Council by video conference from
Amman, and according to diplomats has revived a year-old plan to turn over
Hodeida port to a neutral party. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he
urged Emirati leaders to work with the U.N., making clear Washington's aims
"to address their security concerns while preserving the free flow of
humanitarian aid" and imports. But Pompeo fell short of warning the
coalition against launching an all-out offensive and the Huthis consider any
assault on Hodeida would come with Washington's authorization. The
International Crisis Group said a Hodeida battle would be "bloody, prolonged
and leave millions of Yemenis without food, fuel and other vital supplies."
The organization urged the U.S. not to approve an attack on the port city
and called on Washington to "press the UAE to halt the movement of men under
its control" and instead press on with U.N. negotiations. Anticipating the
battle for Hodeida, prominent rebel Mohammed Ali al-Huthi declared his
fighters would "defeat" the advance. Around 200 Huthis and 30 anti-rebel
fighters have been killed south of the port city in recent days, according
to military and medical sources. The rebels succeeded in retaking the
village of al-Jah over the weekend, only to be driven out, military sources
said. "It's an attempt to delay the battle for Hodeida," said Ahmed Ghilane,
a fighter loyal to former president Saleh. After completing preparations for
the Hodeida offensive, he said forces were "waiting for the green light."
Casualties as Twin Suicide Attack Hits Eastern Libya
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/June 12/18/Two suicide bombers on Tuesday hit
forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar who is leading an offensive
against jihadists in an eastern town, a spokesman for his forces said. The
explosions were heard across Derna as the bombers hit the Chiha district in
the south of the town, spokesman Khalifa al-Abidi said. Abidi did not give a
toll for the attacks but said civilians were among the casualties as the
roof of a family home collapsed. On Monday night, another suicide attack
killed two fighters of Haftar's Libyan National Army and wounded three, the
spokesman said. Over the past month, the self-styled LNA has been engaged in
an offensive to take Derna, the only eastern town outside Haftar's control.
Derna is held by a ragtag alliance of Islamist and jihadist militias,
including groups close to Al-Qaeda, hostile to both Haftar and the Islamic
State group. The coastal town is located more than 1,000 kilometers (600
miles) east of the capital Tripoli and around 300 kilometers east of second
city Benghazi. Abidi said the LNA is "advancing steadily to liberate a very
small remaining pocket before liberating the whole of Derna."He said
"terrorists" were "resorting to suicide attacks after they failed to tackle"
the LNA conventionally. Haftar supports an administration based in the east
which opposes the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. The
strongman's critics claim he wants to establish a military dictatorship.
Israel Police Evict Wildcat Settlers as Deadline Looms
Israeli police began evicting settlers from homes in a West Bank outpost on
Tuesday ahead of a court deadline to leave structures partially built on
Palestinian land, an AFP correspondent reported.
Young boys in tears were followed by a young woman holding a baby, as they
were escorted out of their home in the Netiv Haavot neighbourhood of Elazar
settlement, south of Jerusalem. They left without any resort to physical
contact by the unarmed police. In February, Israel's Supreme Court gave the
settlers until June 15 to vacate 15 homes found to have been built partly on
private Palestinian land. An estimated 2,000 people, most of them young
activists, had travelled to the outpost to support the settlers and protest
their eviction. Large Israeli flags were flying on some of the rooftops, as
well as signs pledging to return to the site. After morning prayers, men
sang and danced in a show of faith outside the homes to be razed. Police had
tried to prevent supporters from going inside but videos published on social
media showed activists joining residents in several of the homes.
- 'Peaceful protest' -One resident, Aviad Amitai, said that Tuesday marked
the start of a three-day process, with police clearing people from the
houses subject to the court order before demolishing them. "We have a
peaceful protest, we are law-abiding people, we are not going to show any
violence here," Amitai told AFP. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that
while residents did not want the event to be violent, "we’ve seen in
previous evacuations police officers being injured as a result of stones or
violent incidents."To keep away people intent on violence, police had set up
roadblocks in the area, denying access to 10 people so far, he said. Police
deployed 500 officers to secure the location and "continue to evacuate the
area, step by step". Rosenfeld said eviction of the homes was expected to
take "at least several hours, probably the whole day."Hananel Dorni,
chairman of settler group the Yesha council, said the court's decision to
demolish the homes was "unwarranted".Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, himself
a settler, said the discussions leading up to the court's decision were like
those in Sodom and Gomorrah, ancient cities that according to the Bible were
demolished by God for their sinfulness. Ariel tweeted from Netiv Haavot that
he would "not relent" before settling "all of the land of Israel." The
right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu draws support
from the settlement movement and has settlers in top cabinet posts. It has
approved a plan to build 350 homes at new plots in Netiv Haavot. The plan
also reportedly includes some 60 million shekels ($17 million, 14 million
euros) in compensation for the settlers leaving the homes to be demolished
and provision for temporary housing for them until construction is complete.
All Israeli settlements are viewed as illegal under international law, but
Israel differentiates between those it has approved and those it has not.
Peace Now, an Israeli NGO, said the Palestinian owners of the land to be
vacated have been seeking to have their property restored since the settlers
arrived there in 2001. Israel occupied the West Bank in the Six-Day War of
1967. Settlements there are seen as major stumbling blocks to a peace deal
since they are built on land the Palestinian wants for their future state.
Statement by Canada’s Foreign Minister following United
States-North Korea summit
June 12, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued
the following statement:
“Canada has always believed a diplomatic solution to the North Korean
nuclear issue is both essential and possible. We welcome the dialogue
between the leaders of the United States and North Korea that took place
today in Singapore. This meeting was an important step toward advancing
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
“As G7 leaders recognized at their summit in Canada last week, the situation
on the Korean Peninsula is not just a regional issue, but a question of
international peace and security. We note North Korea’s reaffirmation of its
commitment to denuclearization made in the Panmunjom Declaration of April
27, 2018, and support further dialogue toward the complete, verifiable and
irreversible dismantlement of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and
ballistic missile programs. The global sanctions regime imposed against
North Korea in support of the rules-based international order must remain in
place until Pyongyang changes course. This is North Korea’s only viable
option for a brighter future within the international community.
“By participating in this historic meeting, North Korea has demonstrated its
willingness to discuss denuclearization. We look forward to seeing North
Korea follow through on this commitment with concrete actions and to move
decisively toward a more positive future in the interest of the people of
both North Korea and South Korea.”
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on June 12-13/18
My School's Imam: "We Love Western Anti-West Theories"
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/June 12/2018
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12390/anti-west-imam
The purpose of brainwashing their students with inciting anger and hatred
clearly seems to be to instill in them the notion that they are being victimized
by the West.
Some members of the so-called "victim" community, such as Islamist leaders, take
advantage of this victimhood status. They use it as a shield and then become the
victimizers by crushing people in their own countries.
Such ideas and values prevent ordinary people and scholars from focusing on the
crimes against humanity that Islamist leaders of state and non-state entities
commit.
The accommodation of Muslim extremists by leaders in the West not only helps
them recruit more people to target Westerners, incite anti-Western,
anti-Christian, and anti-Semitic sentiments, but more importantly, it tramples
the millions of ordinary Muslims who seek to promote in their homelands values
such as the institutions of democracy, freedom of speech, separation of religion
and state, the independence of education and the judiciary, and equal justice
under the law.
my high school in Syria, which was directed by the Iranian regime through its
embassy staff in Damascus (Iran has several schools in Syria and sends teachers
and imams there), every student was forced to attend daily prayer at noon. We
were commanded to stand behind an extremist clergyman, mimic his actions, and
recite the prayer. After the prayer, we had no choice but to listen to the
preaching of a fundamentalist imam who was most likely employed by the regime to
advance their ideological and political interests.
me of the words preached by this radical cleric stuck with me, especially his
sharp focus on how to capitalize on some, but not all, theories that originated
in the West. We could utilize these theories, he said, to advance Islamist
values. For example, one of the concepts, he was adamant that we learn about was
"Orientalism", is a concept developed by Edward Said, a Palestinian-American who
was born in 1935 in Palestine, when it was still under the British mandate.
The theory focuses on the notion that there is a fundamental flaw in the Western
world, because it views the East, specifically the Muslim world and the Middle
East, through a prism of superiority.
In a short time, this concept gained significant popularity in the Western
academic world, and consequently it infiltrated the media and political
landscapes. Inevitably it shaped and influenced public thought.
But why would an Islamist leader applaud such ideas? Why are they teaching them
extensively in their madrassas, schools and universities? From the perspective
of radical Muslims, such ideas automatically create two categories: the
"victims", "innocents", "oppressed" and "martyrs" versus the "oppressor" or
"tyrant". In other words, the whole Muslim world is given the status of
victimhood, while all Westerners are supposedly tyrants.
The purpose of brainwashing their students with inciting anger and hatred
clearly seems to be to instill in them the notion that they are being victimized
by the West.
This is probably one of the reasons that the well-known historian Bernard Lewis,
characterized the thesis of Orientalism as anti-Western -- or, as my school's
imam put it, "We Love Western Anti-West Theories".
Unfortunately, such teachings help the radical Muslims and Islamist rulers to
exploit an already tense situation, and to justify their terrorist attacks
against the West as acts of heroism instead of atrocities.
In addition, such simplistic views that portray every Muslim as a victim harm
Westerners by preventing them from acquiring the truth about the complexities
and intricacies of the Muslim world.
Even more fundamentally, these views inflict incalculable harm on the lives of
the ordinary people in the Muslim world, who call it: Opposite Orientalism.
Put simply, some members of the so-called "victim" community, such as the
Islamist leaders, take advantage of this victimhood status. They use it as a
shield and then become the victimizers by crushing people in their own
countries.
Using this status as their reason to act in violent and controlling ways, they
suppress domestic oppositions and Muslim dissidents who might not agree with
them.
What helps these Islamist leaders even more is another idea that began in
Western academic circles, and then infiltrated the media and political spectrum.
If you oppose the idea of Orientalism -- meaning if you criticize any member of
the Muslim world or stand with the West for any reason -- then you will be
regarded by them as "uneducated", "racist", unsophisticated, or even an
imperialist. If, on the other hand, you would like to be viewed by your fellow
academics and self-righteous media pundits as "educated" and be respected in the
mainstream social, academic and political arenas, you must refrain from
criticizing the Muslim world, and instead ratchet up your criticism against the
West.
Such ideas and values prevent ordinary people and scholars from focusing on the
crimes against humanity that Islamist leaders of state and non-state entities
commit. Take a look at the grinding human rights violations that the Islamist
state of Iran commits against its own people. The ruling mullahs of Iran have
been given immunity by the international community and their unspeakable
violence and lawlessness has received little attention.
While enjoying the status of victimhood, Iran's mullahs have massacred nearly
30,000 political prisoners, and yet the International Criminal Court in Hague as
well as other powerful international organizations have not yet investigated the
cases properly. The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the world record in executing
people per capita. It is also, according to Amnesty International, a leading
executioner of children.
Theories and concepts that promote ideas such as the entire Muslim world being
victims, and that "educated" people should refrain from criticizing extremist
Muslims and radical Islam -- and that "intelligent" people should only blame the
West for the problems in the world -- are not just simplistic; they are
dangerous. They provide a platform for extremist Muslim leaders, terrorist
groups, and Islamist regimes to prove to their followers that they are correct
in pursuing their fundamentalist agenda.
This accommodation of extremist Muslims by leaders in the West not only helps
them recruit more people to target Westerners, and incite anti-Western,
anti-Christian, and anti-Semitic sentiments, but more importantly, it tramples
the millions of ordinary Muslims who seek to promote in their homelands values
such as the institutions of democracy, freedom of speech, separation of religion
and state, the independence of education and the judiciary, and equal justice
under the law.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a business strategic and advisor, Harvard-educated
scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and
president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has
authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at
Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
© 2018 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.
We and our Friends in Italy and Spain
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/June 12/18
It would be absurd to compare the Scandinavian states, Switzerland and the
United Kingdom, well-established democratic systems, with the countries of the
Arab East which have imported democracy as nothing but as a merchandise alien to
their traditions.
Even before the Syrian revolt of 2011, only the regime’s propaganda machine used
to claim and believe Syria was a true multiparty parliamentary democracy. Still,
for a while, the country lived through a short period of free elections albeit
against a backdrop of traditional and tribal political feudalism, and later army
officers’ political meddling. That period ended in 1949 with the three military
coups of Hosni Al-Za’im, Sami Al-Hinnawi and Adib Al-Shishakli. Later on, there
was another brief ‘democratic spring’ during the mid-1950s after bringing down
Al-Shishakli’s regime; however, ‘barrack wars’ between competing political
factions within the army, during the tense years of the ‘Cold War’ and ‘regional
pacts of containment’, pushed both army officers and politicians to run with
their problems to Nasser’s Egypt. That brief ‘spring’ was thus brought to an end
by the establishment of the United Arab Republic (UAR) created by the union of
Egypt and Syria, and what came after it.Well, if war-torn Syria is surely out of
the equation; what about Iraq and Lebanon?
Iraq experienced elections too in the first half of the 20th century, but
democracy was cut short by the 1936 coup led by General Bakr Sidqi, and the
internationally-connected conflicts (namely the Anglo-German confrontation) that
followed, and the growing political role played by nationalist army officers led
by what was known ‘The Golden Quartet’… and continues to be almost non-existent.
Lebanon, on the other hand, has tried representative councils for much longer
periods than its two larger neighbours. After the establishment of the
‘Mutassarrifiyyah’ (directly-governed autonomous district) system in Mount
Lebanon (the nucleus of present-day Lebanon) in 1861, after a bloody sectarian
civil war, an ‘Administrative Council’ was founded to represent various areas
and religious sects.
Later, in the early 20th century, Lebanon had both a parliament and a senate.
Party politics flourished with strong feudal and sectarian influences; and after
1943, independent Lebanon was able to at least maintain an ‘appearance’ of a
democracy even when going through conflicts, revolts, wars, and later ‘de facto
occupation’.Today, both Iraq and Lebanon ‘appear’ to practice democracy, as they
have political parties that are represented in government. The truth, however,
is different, neither country has the culture or tradition to tolerate the
‘other opinion’, which is a must in any solid democratic environment that
accepts the right of opposing, seeking accountability, and rotation of power. In
terms of sovereignty and independence too both countries are under ‘de facto
occupation’, thus their sovereignty is deficient, and they lack broad national
consensus and responsible genuine democratic institutions.
Given the above, some may rightly argue that not all countries that practice
electoral democracy – even in Europe – have deeply-rooted democratic traditions.
This is most certainly true of some south European countries which were not
members of the old Communist bloc. It applies to Greece which gave the world the
word ‘democracy’, Italy where Niccolo Machiavelli was born, and Spain and
Portugal that have spread their culture far and wide throughout the globe. But,
marking the birth of the two new governments in Italy and Spain, I shall limit
this discussion to these two countries.
The democratic traditions of Italy and Spain, which are southern Europe’s most
populous countries along with France, do not compare favorably with those of
their northern European counterparts; and below are some examples:
1- Both countries lived under the Fascist rules of Benito Mussolini and
Francisco Franco who promoted dreams of past empires as an escape from the
fragility of the two current state entities that comprised former kingdoms and
duchies. For a while Mussolini’s ‘Roman’ dream and Franco’s attempt to bring
back the Spanish Empire’s past glory served the cause of keeping Italy and Spain
together in the face of Leftist, Liberal, Republican and secessionist
challenges; and later the atmosphere of the ‘Cold War’ was an added bonus for
both entities. The situation, however, is now different, as there are no
guarantees that the two countries would remain intact, given the vigor of what
were dormant but strong secessionist sentiments. This vigor has been brought
about by the pressures of globalization and the isolationist – even racist –
reactions against it.
2- The Mussolini and Franco experiments, each in its own way, ‘legalized’
political radicalism in both Italy and Spain, as they weakened broad consensus
and accorded credibility to extremists on both Right and Left. Today, radical
and ‘regional’ parties are not in the margin but rather in the mainstream of
Italian and Spanish politics. Even when the multi-winged Christian Democrats
were the strongest party in the Italian parliament, their main competitors were
not the Socialists or Liberals but the Italian Communist Party, the west’s
largest Communist organization.
3- The legacy of Fascism, in both Italy and Spain, which caused fragility in the
political system itself as well as weak national consensus, allowed the
emergence of new and heterogeneous populist and protest movements. In fact,
Italy, for long forced to live under a ‘co-existence of necessity’ between the
Christian Democrats, Communists, as well as socialists, liberal, and
conservatives parties, finds itself today a hostage of two relatively young
populist movements which have formed the new coalition government, that many
doubt its viability.
4- The old diverse nature of both Italy and Spain has contributed to the
economic and development disparity, which in turn, is further fueling
secessionist and racist sentiments. Italy’s north, namely Lombardy, Veneto and
Piedmont are by far richer (in terms of per capita income, productivity,
employment and social development) than the regions of the south. In Spain too,
Catalonia is by far richer than the poor regions of the south and southwest. The
crisis recently caused by refugees and immigrants crossing the Mediterranean,
especially to southern Italy and southern Spain made the already volatile
situation even worse, exacerbating fear and hatred.
5- Due to Italy’s and Spain’s immature democracies, institutional accountability
and truly independent judiciary have proven too weak to remain immune against
corruption. The presence of the Mafia was an additional problem in Italy that
eventually shook the political system and destroyed the Christian Democrats who
dominated the country’s political scene between the end of WWII and the end of
‘The Cold War’. To conclude, it is true to say that the problems of both Italy
and Spain are serious and their democracy is fragile, however, it is also true
that their parties accept rotation of power, and that they are indeed two
sovereign states. On the other hand, given regional ambitions and international
confusion, refusing rotation of power and ignoring deficient sovereignty are the
most serious threats facing the Arab East.
10 Books for a Summer Reading List
Barry Ritholtz/Bloomberg/June 12/18
It’s that time of year! With Memorial Day coming, the summer reading season gets
underway. Here are 10 of the most promising titles for beach and porch.
A few caveats: First, most on this list are new, though there are some older
titles. Second, the list is based on my personal interests and not the pitches
of book agents or publicists. And last, I will actually read them — at least,
most of them.
On to the book list!“Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup”
(2018) by John Carreyrou. Carreyrou broke the story about the Theranos fraud
despite pressure and intimidation from lawyers even as the blood-testing
company’s valuation approached $10 billion. But what really makes this such an
amazing tale is how many people failed to do even the most basic due diligence,
relying instead on the roster of all-star investors and directors. Everyone just
assumed everyone else had checked out the company, its leaders and even the
basic science behind its technology. It was a recipe for disaster; Theranos
founder and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Holmes has already settled
accusations of securities fraud.
“Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's
First Journey to the Moon” (2018) by Robert Kurson. I remember as a small child
being taken out of class, brought into an auditorium with the rest of the school
to watch the very first moon landing on a black-and-white television propped up
on the stage. If you are of that generation, or are a space geek, then this
looks like it’s a must-read. “Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the
Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs (2018) by John Doerr. I consider us
lucky to live in an era where successful rock ‘n’ rollers, hedge-fund managers
and now venture capitalists feel compelled to share what they have learned over
the course of their careers. OKR stands for “objectives and key results,” the
goal-setting system Doerr learned when he was an engineer at Intel in the 1970s
under the legendary Andy Grove.
“Black Edge: Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the
Most Wanted Man on Wall Street” (2018) by Sheelah Kolhatkar. Documents the
seven-year probe by Securities and Exchange Commission into giant hedge fund
SAC. Even though the firm was closed and several of its employees were found
guilty of wrongdoing, Steve Cohen, the trading wizard behind it, survived to
fight another day. Cohen had a two-year suspension from the securities
industries, now expired. He has since opened his family office, Point 72, to
investors. Another book that looks to read like a thriller.
“Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World-and Why Things Are Better
Than You Think” (2018) by Hans Rosling. The data illustrations and TED talks of
Hans Rosling went viral for all of the right reasons: They were informative,
educational and fascinating. If you are at all interested in data analysis and
how to look at the world objectively, then I suspect like me, you are looking
forward to reading this book.
“On Grand Strategy” (2018) by John Lewis Gaddis. Written by the Pulitzer
Prize-winning author and professor of military and naval history at Yale
University, this book is timely: strategy is central to the fraught situation on
the Korean Peninsula, trade negotiations with China and the termination of the
Iran nuclear agreement. There are lessons here for investors. “Killers of the
Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” (2009) by David Grann.
I first learned about the Osage murders when researching FBI history for another
project. The story seems almost too fantastical to be real. But real it was, a
mesmerizing and horrible tale of murder of an entire family to steal oil rights.
The book, written by the author of “The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly
Obsession in the Amazon,” comes highly recommended.
“Robin” (2018) by Dave Itzkoff. I was a big fan of the improv wizard and comic
genius that was Robin Williams, and admired the films in which he starred,
including “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “Dead Poets Society,” “The Fisher King”
“Aladdin” and “Mrs. Doubtfire.” But I had no idea he suffered from a
debilitating and ultimately fatal depression. This looks to be a fascinating
read. “The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate
Choice Shapes the Animal World — and Us” (2017): Richard O. Prum. Evolution
helps to explain a lot about the natural world, but it doesn’t fully explain
beauty and mate choice in animals or in people. By a professor of ornithology at
Yale University, this looks like a tale in great natural sciences. “A World Lit
Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age” (1992):
William Manchester. I read the sentence “In the year 1500, after a thousand
years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the best on the
continent” — and I was hooked. You will be, too.
Has boycott of Qatar failed?
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/June 12/18
Recently published articles marking the first year since the boycott of
Qatar have glorified Qatar’s steadfastness and success as part of a public
relations campaign. It is clear that Qatar has not stopped its attempts,
with all means at its command, to restore relations; however, it has not
succeeded. A propaganda report said Qatar has enough to withstand the
“blockade” for 100 years and that the four boycotting countries will not be
able to harm Qatari economy and the government’s capabilities. Since Qatar
has not been affected and it does not care, then why does it make this
effort to convince official American institutions to intervene to end the
severance of ties? Why is it running in all directions and calling on others
to intervene and force the four countries to restore ties with it?
The four countries are well aware of these two points that are very clear:
Qatar is a small market and a large bank. This means that Qatar can through
its abundant funds provide the needs of its small market from any place in
the world via airfreight. The illusion that the weapon of the economy will
force it to make political concessions never existed to begin with.
If Doha wants to expand imports, exports and civil and military cooperation
with Tehran, it will clash with the US, which subjects countries that deal
with Iran to harsh sanctions
So why did the four countries boycott Qatar, close their borders and prevent
it from using their airspace and land routes to transfer goods? The four
countries complain that Qatar funds extremist groups, which oppose them and
supports everything that threatens them with domestic chaos.
They have previously resorted to several solutions to resolve this including
signing agreements but Doha did not respect them. Therefore, they decided to
cut their diplomatic, consular and economic ties with it. As a result, they
closed their airspace and land routes with Doha. The boycott pained Qatar
but this is not a goal in itself. There were five million passengers from
Saudi Arabia, which the Qatari Airways transported every year. Transporting
them has completely halted. Most of the numbers announced by Qatari
institutions are diluted and do not express the size of their real losses;
however, this will not subject them to bankruptcy.
What has the decision achieved?
It achieved the goals of the four countries, and specifically Saudi Arabia,
the UAE and Bahrain considering that Egypt is less connected with Doha. The
boycott ended Qatar’s interferences in these countries’ internal affairs
after it became prohibited to cooperate and deal with any Qatari party or
with any party that can be an agent of Qatar. The internal networks that
work for Qatar in these countries and that benefitted from the open borders
were destroyed. The four countries do not need Qatar, neither on the
political nor on the economic levels. Therefore, they, too, can live without
it for 100 years.
However, the Qatari government seems alone and isolated, and it is aware
that its people are not pleased with its interferences in other countries’
affairs and are certainly not happy to see the gates of four countries –
which they see as the most important ones for them – closed in their face.
The people of the four boycotting countries do not care much about
cancelling Qatar from the map of their visits as Qatar is not a common
destination and there are plenty of other alternatives.
What about Qatar’s threat of rapprochement with Iran? Good ties between Doha
and Tehran have existed before the boycott and represented a problem that
thwarted coordination in the Gulf Cooperation Council because of Qatar. If
Doha wants to expand imports, exports and civil and military cooperation
with Tehran, it will clash with the US, which subjects countries that deal
with Iran to harsh sanctions especially within vital fields that are linked
to American companies and interests.
Finally, most of what has been written to glorify Qatar’s steadfastness is
propaganda or an incomplete analysis that does not understand the nature of
the long dispute with Doha. The goal is to isolate Doha and its policies and
to stop dealing with it.
Saving Jordan and discernment in speech
Abdullah bin Bijad Al-Otaibi/Al Arabiya/June 12/18
When observing the policies of the region’s countries, we notice their
loyalty to one of these two: the stability of countries or the stability of
chaos. The first approach is led by Saudi Arabia and its strong alliance
with the UAE. The second one is led by Iran, Turkey, Qatar and the Muslim
Brotherhood. This is how the region’s situation, which has been as such for
over a decade, can be summed up. Jordan’s political position towards Iran
has been clear since before the “Arab Spring” thanks to King Abdullah II’s
statements about Iran’s crescent and the Iranian snake. However, Jordan’s
position regarding fighting fundamentalism and terrorism presented a
different model that can be subject to criticism. However, all this should
be viewed in context of the capabilities of Jordan; a country that has been
suffering economically due to shortage of resources and capabilities as, in
the past few decades, it has become a place of refuge for a number of Arab
peoples who have suffered from deadly wars and great unrest. The Muslim
Brotherhood sees Jordan as an outlet for its suffocating regional exclusion
and Qatar wants to show the might of its media and restore its treachery,
which it thought had helped it make political gains during what was falsely
called the ‘Arab Spring.’ Thus, Jordan is a victim of several factors. The
latest Jordanian crisis is due to internal causes resulting from the lack of
economic resources, but it also has other important regional triggers. Iran
needs to weaken Jordan to compensate its loss in Iraq. Similarly, the Muslim
Brotherhood sees Jordan as an outlet for its suffocating regional exclusion
and Qatar wants to show the might of its media and restore its treachery,
which it thought had helped it make political gains during what was falsely
called the ‘Arab Spring.’ Thus, Jordan is a victim of several factors that
have threatened its stability and civil accord.
Part of Saudi-led coalition
Let’s recall some of Jordan’s recent political positions. Jordan is a
partner in the Arab Coalition for the support of legitimacy in Yemen and is
a partner in the Islamic Military Coalition to Combat Terrorism. After the
biggest military maneuver in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, King
Abdullah II and leaders of the Arab salvation alliance met with the Saudi
Crown prince along with the Bahraini King, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
the Egyptian president. This means that this alliance is the natural
extension for Jordan politically and economically. Jordan is also an
important partner for one of the biggest new Saudi project — the Neom
project which is located on its borders with Saudi Arabia and Egypt and
which represents an ambitious dream that will have a major positive impact
on all three countries.
King Salman bin Abdul Aziz is a decisive king, and the policies of Saudi
Arabia support stability of Arab countries. The Saudi king has thus called
for a quadripartite meeting to be held in Mecca to help Jordan confront its
suffocating economic crisis and strengthen Jordan’s stability and security.
This meeting included Saudi Arabia and its strongest ally, the UAE, as well
as Kuwait which has been a supporting partner in a number of major crises in
the region. The meeting’s aim is to provide urgent and effective assistance
to save the brotherly country Jordan.
The Mecca Summit
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have formed an alliance that saves Arab countries
during all of the region’s tough crises, particularly after the so-called
‘Arab Spring.’ The two countries jointly confronted the challenges that
threatened the stability, security and sovereignty of Arab countries; with
the political, economic and military power, even if they had to oppose
policies of major countries in the world. Recent history is the best witness
to that. Apart from the lack of clarity in the near past, the differences
between the parties in the region have begun to appear. The major
rearrangement of the balance of power and the strength of alliances have
also emerged. The huge gap between the makers of the future and those who
are trapped in the sectarian and fundamentalist past has become obvious.
It’s now everyone’s duty to specify his position from these conflicts. It’s
clear who the savior and the supporter are and it’s even clearer who the
bitter enemy is. The Jordanian people’s love for their brothers in the Gulf
is clear, and the wisdom of King Abdullah II and his crown prince is also
clear. The Mecca meeting will mark the discernment in speech.
We and our friends in Italy and Spain
Eyad Abu Shakra/Al Arabiya/June 12/18
It would be absurd to compare the Scandinavian states, Switzerland and the
United Kingdom, well-established democratic systems, with the countries of
the Arab East, which have imported democracy as nothing but as a merchandise
alien to their traditions.
Even before the Syrian revolt of 2011, only the regime’s propaganda machine
used to claim and believe Syria was a true multiparty parliamentary
democracy. Still, for a while, the country lived through a short period of
free elections albeit against a backdrop of traditional and tribal political
feudalism, and later army officers’ political meddling. That period ended in
1949 with the three military coups of Hosni al-Za’im, Sami al-Hinnawi and
Adib al-Shishakli. Later on, there was another brief ‘democratic spring’
during the mid-1950s after bringing down al-Shishakli’s regime; however,
‘barrack wars’ between competing political factions within the army, during
the tense years of the Cold War and ‘regional pacts of containment’, pushed
both army officers and politicians to run with their problems to Nasser’s
Egypt. That brief ‘spring’ was thus brought to an end by the establishment
of the United Arab Republic (UAR) created by the union of Egypt and Syria,
and what came after it. Well, if war-torn Syria is surely out of the
equation; what about Iraq and Lebanon?
Iraq experienced elections too in the first half of the 20th century, but
democracy was cut short by the 1936 coup led by General Bakr Sidqi, and the
internationally-connected conflicts (namely the Anglo-German confrontation)
that followed, and the growing political role played by nationalist army
officers led by what was known ‘The Golden Quartet’… and continues to be
almost non-existent. It is true to say that the problems of both Italy and
Spain are serious and their democracy is fragile, however, it is also true
that their parties accept rotation of power, and that they are indeed two
sovereign states
Representative councils
Lebanon, on the other hand, has tried representative councils for much
longer periods than its two larger neighbors. After the establishment of the
Mutassarrifiyyah (directly-governed autonomous district) system in Mount
Lebanon (the nucleus of present-day Lebanon) in 1861, after a bloody
sectarian civil war, an Administrative Council was founded to represent
various areas and religious sects. Later, in the early 20th century, Lebanon
had both a parliament and a senate. Party politics flourished with strong
feudal and sectarian influences; and after 1943, independent Lebanon was
able to at least maintain an ‘appearance’ of a democracy even when going
through conflicts, revolts, wars, and later ‘de facto occupation’. Today,
both Iraq and Lebanon appear to practice democracy, as they have political
parties that are represented in government. The truth, however, is
different, neither country has the culture or tradition to tolerate the
other opinion, which is a must in any solid democratic environment that
accepts the right of opposing, seeking accountability, and rotation of
power. In terms of sovereignty and independence too both countries are under
“de facto occupation”, thus their sovereignty is deficient, and they lack
broad national consensus and responsible genuine democratic institutions.
Given the above, some may rightly argue that not all countries that practice
electoral democracy – even in Europe – have deeply-rooted democratic
traditions. This is most certainly true of some south European countries,
which were not members of the old Communist bloc. It applies to Greece,
which gave the world the word ‘democracy’, Italy where Niccolo Machiavelli
was born, and Spain and Portugal that have spread their culture far and wide
throughout the globe. But, marking the birth of the two new governments in
Italy and Spain, I shall limit this discussion to these two countries.
Northern European counterparts
The democratic traditions of Italy and Spain, which are southern Europe’s
most populous countries along with France, do not compare favorably with
those of their northern European counterparts; and below are some examples:
1- Both countries lived under the Fascist rules of Benito Mussolini and
Francisco Franco who promoted dreams of past empires as an escape from the
fragility of the two current state entities that comprised former kingdoms
and duchies. For a while Mussolini’s ‘Roman’ dream and Franco’s attempt to
bring back the Spanish Empire’s past glory served the cause of keeping Italy
and Spain together in the face of Leftist, Liberal, Republican and
secessionist challenges; and later the atmosphere of the ‘Cold War’ was an
added bonus for both entities. The situation, however, is now different, as
there are no guarantees that the two countries would remain intact, given
the vigor of what were dormant but strong secessionist sentiments. This
vigor has been brought about by the pressures of globalization and the
isolationist – even racist – reactions against it.
2- The Mussolini and Franco experiments, each in its own way, ‘legalized’
political radicalism in both Italy and Spain, as they weakened broad
consensus and accorded credibility to extremists on both Right and Left.
Today, radical and ‘regional’ parties are not in the margin but rather in
the mainstream of Italian and Spanish politics. Even when the multi-winged
Christian Democrats were the strongest party in the Italian parliament,
their main competitors were not the Socialists or Liberals but the Italian
Communist Party, the west’s largest Communist organization.
3- The legacy of Fascism, in both Italy and Spain, which caused fragility in
the political system itself as well as weak national consensus, allowed the
emergence of new and heterogeneous populist and protest movements. In fact,
Italy, for long forced to live under a ‘co-existence of necessity’ between
the Christian Democrats, Communists, as well as socialists, liberal, and
conservatives parties, finds itself today a hostage of two relatively young
populist movements which have formed the new coalition government, that many
doubt its viability.
4- The old diverse nature of both Italy and Spain has contributed to the
economic and development disparity, which in turn, is further fueling
secessionist and racist sentiments. Italy’s north, namely Lombardy, Veneto
and Piedmont are by far richer (in terms of per capita income, productivity,
employment and social development) than the regions of the south. In Spain
too, Catalonia is by far richer than the poor regions of the south and
southwest. The crisis recently caused by refugees and immigrants crossing
the Mediterranean, especially to southern Italy and southern Spain made the
already volatile situation even worse, exacerbating fear and hatred.
5- Due to Italy’s and Spain’s immature democracies, institutional
accountability and truly independent judiciary have proven too weak to
remain immune against corruption. The presence of the Mafia was an
additional problem in Italy that eventually shook the political system and
destroyed the Christian Democrats who dominated the country’s political
scene between the end of WWII and the end of ‘The Cold War’. To conclude, it
is true to say that the problems of both Italy and Spain are serious and
their democracy is fragile, however, it is also true that their parties
accept rotation of power, and that they are indeed two sovereign states. On
the other hand, given regional ambitions and international confusion,
refusing rotation of power and ignoring deficient sovereignty are the most
serious threats facing the Arab East.
Anthony Bourdain: A personal eulogy to the man I never
met
Walid Jawad/Al Arabiya/June 12/18
“No Reservation,” the Anthony Bourdain travel show, was my first experience
binge-watching any TV show. Since that time, a few years ago, I became a
true fan of the show and the man.
Two weeks ago, I added his newer CNN show “Parts Unknown” to my “to-watch”
list. Now that I have broken the generational gap, no longer do I watch
shows when they come out, I wait until I can binge-watch them one season at
a time.
As my cell phone blew up yesterday morning, Washington, DC local time, with
breaking news of Tony’s death, I had the urge to watch the Saudi episode one
more time. A personal eulogy to the man. I felt the loss of this intrepid
globetrotter in a way I haven’t felt about someone I never met. I felt the
loss of a talented TV host who was able to show us the human factor in
peoples we typically brush aside in simplistic, one dimensional, and almost
always wrong stereotypical fashion. That Saudi episode might have been an
eye-opener for many, but it was a nostalgic home-video of sorts to someone
like me. I left Saudi Arabia over 20 years ago without going back for any
meaningful visits. As I re-watched the episode, I found myself identifying
with Danya al-Hamrani, the warm and welcoming host who invited Mr. Bourdain
to Saudi Arabia.
This fellow American-born Saudi, missed out on many Saudi specific
experiences as I did. like Danya (up to the point of the filming of the
episode), I never ate Dhub (desert lizard), camel meat, or lamb hearts. I am
inspired now to make a culinary trip to Saudi Arabia suspending my
vegetarianism to summon the courage to try such “delicacies.”
The episode reminded me of a time of simplicity and innocence. Even Tony’s
demeanor in the episode is playful and cheerful. A markedly different Tony
from the one who appears in other episodes. I invite you to watch that
episode if you haven’t yet, Episode#13 of Season 4, titled simply: Saudi
Arabia. In contrast, you can pick up on Tony’s undercurrent of pompousness,
standoffishness, or even contemptuousness show host personality at times in
some other episodes.
The uniqueness of Anthony Bourdain’s shows is its ability to zoom out
showing us what is beyond the margins of the news frame; i.e. beyond the
myopic focus on violence
His unlikely mission
As I reflect on the man and his body of aired work I can’t help but admire
Tony’s courage and skill in breaking down the prevailing dehumanizing facade
we readily accept as we watch the alluring magical lightbox. The same facade
that serves intended or unintended agenda of fear, defensiveness,
divisiveness, and hatred. His work was a serious attempt to counterbalance
the destructive effects of daily news, even if it were not what he was set
out to do.
An impossible situation as his weekly show stood firmly in the sea of
relentless fear spewing collective. Yet he was able to move the needle
farther along the scale of human connectedness than any other show I can
think of.
They teach in journalism that common events are not newsworthy like when a
dog bites a man. But when a man bites a dog it becomes an incident worthy of
feeding the 24-hour news cycle.
Watching the news, we find the uncommon numerous and violence ubiquitous
making what is supposed to be the exception common. Viewers can’t be blamed
to point to TV sets concluding that the world is a dangerous place.
The sheer number of violent events locally and internationally prompts
viewers to divide the world into two camps: evil perpetrators and innocent
victims. More troubling is that evil seems to be winning by virtue of
imposing its physical will on people.
I, for one, am guilty of adding fuel to the fire in more ways than I care to
enumerate. Most of us in the media, if not all, believe that you, our fellow
thinking humans, need to be informed and that it’s our mission to make you
aware of such events.
Once you become knowledgeable, you are better equipped to make informed
decisions about the world you live in. Unfortunately, the law of unintended
consequences overshadows the intended benefits of gaining that knowledge.
Adopting a cause
The news viewing public fall into three major categories: some will decide
to adopt a cause and fight, while others become overwhelmed and fearful of
the environment and suspicious of humanity itself. And in between, those who
will shutdown dismissing such reality, tuning out the anxiety-filled chatter
of new channels. A social equivalent to fight, flight, or freeze responses.
Arts, entertainment, and hobbies are great options to attempt striking a
personal balance, yet external fear mongering of the 24-hour news cycle
remains unchecked. These channels have a purpose to serve and should
continue their mission. It behooves us to understand the side effects. The
uniqueness of Anthony Bourdain’s shows is its ability to zoom out showing us
what is beyond the margins of the news frame; i.e. beyond the myopic focus
on violence. As much as the news wants to compels us to the contrary,
violence is not an inevitability.
If we accept violence as the norm, we are surrendering intellectually under
the weight of the emotional pressure of fear and sadness. The bigger picture
Tony provided is a good reminder. Some of his episodes featured people from
unfavorable countries or war-torn regions, yet we identify with them as
human beings. It is essential to understand that conflict is not "bad" in
and of itself. In fact, conflict is a driving force to improve the human
condition. Resolving conflicts between people leads to equality. Resolving
conflict between us and our environment leads to innovation. Only when
conflict turns violent that it becomes “bad.”
Tony’s showed us people from around the world consumed by what humans
everywhere else are consumed by, living a peaceful and happy life. We got to
know people of other cultures not as tourist, rather as locals. He was able
to challenge his own stereotypical ideas of others and along the way broke
our disinterested judgments of others.
I mourn the man because I mourn the mission. There is no one out there who
can rise to the challenge. I will go back to my “to-watch” list and put
Tony’s shows on top my binge-watching cue. I know this time I will watch his
shows with the eyes of an anthropologist and the mind of a conflict
resolver.