English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For February 26/2022
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled
Luke 12,49-53: “‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I
wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and
what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to
bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five
in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they
will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against
daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials
published on February 25-26/2022
The Boasting & Bragging Plague As Stated In The Bible/وباء التباهي
والتفاخرانجيلياً /Elias Bejjani/February 25/2022
President Aoun meets delegation representing Council of Arab Justice Ministers
IMF tough conditions deepen doubts over quick Lebanon bailout
Cabinet Approves Electricity Plan 'in Principle'
Mikati launches ‘Rehabilitation of Housing in Beirut and Social Recovery
Projects’, WB’s Kumar Jha says transparency basic condition for success
Ukraine Crisis Worries Lebanon over Its Wheat Reserves
Russian Embassy Voices Shock over Lebanese Statement Condemning Moscow
Controversy in Lebanon over Foreign Ministry Condemnation of Russia
Bou Habib Tells Europeans Lebanon Won't Adopt Anti-Russia U.N. Resolution
WHO, IOM Sign Agreement to Support National AIDS Control Program in Lebanon
STL Sets March 10 Session for Hariri Case Appeal Ruling
Unnamed Hizbullah Officer: Israel Is Weak, Has No Fighting Spirit; Hizbullah's
Young Mujahideen Have The Spirit Of Martyrdom; Our Capabilities Will Surprise
Israel In The Next Confrontation, Which Will Be Its End
Al-Rahi presides over mass in Florence, prays for Lebanon
Lebanon Nutrition Sector: Most young children in Lebanon not getting diversity,
frequency of nutrition needed to
Feeding Lebanon’s energy and securing maritime border needs government
commitment/Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/February 25/2022
Between occupation and preoccupation/Eli Khoury/Now Lebanon/Friday, 25 February,
2022
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 25-26/2022
Pope Visits Russian Embassy to Express 'Concern over War'
Biden Joins Emergency NATO Session on Russia's Ukraine Invasion
Fighting in Kyiv as Putin Calls for Ukraine Coup
Ukraine Sees Radiation Spike in Chernobyl after Russia Attack
Moscow Says Outlook Unclear for Proposed Ukraine Talks
Washington Warns of Iranian Piracy Targeting World Sectors
Ukraine Crisis Deepens US Congressional Fears of an Agreement in Vienna
Syrian President Assad Backs Putin on Ukraine
UAE foreign minister, Blinken discuss Russia attack against Ukraine
Russia's move in Ukraine prompts Syria to tightly manage resources
MENA countries face risk of grain supply disruption as result of Russia-Ukraine
conflict
Israel Seeks 'Delicate Balance' in Ukraine Crisis
Hunger problem could worsen in Yemen as result of Ukraine conflict
Egypt tensions prevent Tebboune from holding tripartite summit in Doha
Libyan parliament to vote on Bashagha government next week
Titles For The Latest LCCC English
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on February 25-26/2022
The Criminal Wanderings of a Paranoid Autocrat/Charles Elias Chartouni/February
25/2022
An In-Depth Look at Islam’s Achilles Heel/Raymond Ibrahim/American
Thinker/February 25/2022
Chinese Censorship on American Soil/Peter Schweizer/Gatestone Institute/February
25, 2022
Redrawing Europe’s Map… with Blood/Elias Harfoush/Asharq Al Awsat/February,
25/2022
First Round to Putin, What Next?/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/February, 25/2022
Ukraine and the Images that Will Go Down in History/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al
Awsat/February, 25/2022
History as Putin Sees it: Unity or Else/Hussam Itani/Asharq Al Awsat/February,
25/2022
Does the war between Russian and Ukraine have any connection to the end times?"/GotQuestions.org?/February,
25/2022
Tunisia to ban foreign funding for civil society groups/Iman Zayat/The Arab
Weekly/February 25/2022
What Russia’s hold over Belarus means for Ukraine, and for Syria/Nikola Mikovic/The
Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
on February 25-26/2022
The Boasting & Bragging Plague As Stated In The
Bible/وباء التباهي والتفاخرانجيلياً
Elias Bejjani/February 25/2022
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/106568/elias-bejjani-the-boasting-bragging-plague-as-stated-in-the-bible-%d9%88%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%87%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%ae%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86/
We witness every day in our life certain disgusting evil conducts exhibited by
superficial and materialistic people through boasting and bragging, people who
are conceited and pompous.
Such conducts make those people look so stupid and so ignorant.
They isolate themselves and inspire frustration and anger among those who deal
with them, be family members or acquaintances.
As Christians are we are expected or allowed to brag and boast and act with
superiority?
Of course not, because the bible instructs us to be modest, humble meek and
loving.
Meanwhile God punishes the braggers and conceited as Isaiah states,
Below seven verses from the Holy Bible that condemns Bragging
Isaiah/10:15 Should an axe brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw
exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift
it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.
Isaiah/10:16 Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will send among his fat ones
leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of
fire.
Isaiah/10:17 The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a
flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.
Isaiah/10:18 He will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field,
both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.
Isaiah/10:19 The remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a
child could write their number.
Isaiah/10:33-34: "Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with
terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
Isaiah/10:34) He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon
will fall by the Mighty One..
Corona - Health Ministry: 2727 new Corona cases, 14
deaths
NNA/February 25/2022
In its daily report on the COVID-19 developments, the Ministry of Public Health
announced on Friday the registration of 2727 new infections with the Coronavirus,
which raised the cumulative number of confirmed cases to-date to 1062879. The
report added that 14 deaths were recorded during the past 24 hours.
President Aoun meets delegation representing Council of
Arab Justice Ministers
NNA/February 25/2022
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received a delegation from the
Arab Council of Ministers, today at the Presidential Palace. The delegation
included: Chairman of the 37th session of the Council of Arab Justice Ministers,
Algerian Justice Minister, Judge Abd al-Rashid Tabbi, Palestinian Justice
Minister, Judge Muhammad Fahd al-Shalaldeh, and Justice Minister in the
Kurdistan Regional Government, Judge Firsat Ahmed. Also attending the meeting
were: Lebanese Justice Minister, Judge Henry Khoury, Algerian Ambassador to
Lebanon, Abdel Karim Al-Rikabi, Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Dabour,
Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and President of the
Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research of the Council of Arab Ministers,
Ambassador Abdel Rahman Solh, Adviser to the President the Kurdistan Region of
Iraq, Ghazi Sabra, Deputy Ambassador of the Arab League in Beirut Youssef Al-Sabawi,
Lebanese Presidency Director-General, Dr. Antoine Choucair, former Minister
Salim Jreissati, and advisers: Rafic Shelala and Osama Khashab. Member of the
delegation explained the reasons for the visit, which are to hold an honoring
ceremony tomorrow, Saturday, to award the Arab award for the best doctoral
thesis in the Arab world in the field of law and the judiciary to three winners.
In addition, Minister Tabbi expressed his and the delegation’s pleasure for
visiting Lebanon, and thanked President Aoun for his reception. Minister Tabbi
also conveyed the greetings of Algerian President Abdel Majid Tebboune and the
Algerian people to President Aoun and to Lebanon with wishes for prosperity and
stability.Delegation members emphasized the importance they attach to Lebanon
and the love for the Lebanese people, hoping that the cloud of problems would
clear up over Lebanon so that it would return to its vitality and its bright
image.
President Aoun:
For his part, the President welcomed the delegation in Beirut, which opens its
doors to everyone, especially to the Arab brothers, stressing Lebanon’s full
desire to cooperate with Arab countries, and solidarity in all issues that help
develop and strengthen laws and unify legislation in these countries.
Moreover, President Aoun wished the delegation success in its projects and the
work that it undertakes to raise the spirit of the law and its independence.
President Aoun hoped that the delegation would contribute, through its
capabilities, to alleviating the problems that may sometimes arise between the
Arab brothers and preventing these problems from developing into what no one
wants. In addition, the President noted the efforts made by the Council of Arab
Justice Ministers to promote scientific research, and praised the choice of
Beirut, “Mother of Al-Sharia”, as a venue for the honoring ceremony, which hosts
the headquarters of the Arab Center for Legal and Judicial Research. Finally,
President Aoun stressed that this event is a new evidence of faith in Lebanon
from its brothers, emphasizing ability to overcome the difficulties that stand
in Lebanon’s way, as happened throughout ancient and contemporary
history.—Presidency Press Office
IMF tough conditions deepen doubts over quick Lebanon
bailout
Reuters/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
The IMF has asked Lebanon to fulfil a string of pre-conditions before
negotiating a bailout, four sources briefed on recent talks said, pressing for
steps Beirut has long failed to deliver and compounding doubts over whether a
rescue plan can be agreed. An IMF deal is seen as the only way for Lebanon to
recover from a financial meltdown that has plunged the country into its most
destabilising crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. The sources said IMF terms for
initiating talks on a bailout included a framework for fiscal reform, revamping
the insolvent banking sector and audits of the central bank and the loss-making
state power company. “They are saying before we have further discussions, come
up with actions,” one of the sources said. These also include implementing
capital controls, something ruling parties have failed to agree since 2019 and
amending or lifting banking secrecy, the sources said. Several of the measures
require parliamentary approval. The IMF did not immediately respond to a request
for comment, nor did the premier’s office nor the finance ministry. The IMF said
at the end of the talks in February that Lebanon’s economic recovery programme
must include fiscal reforms that ensure debt sustainability, financial sector
restructuring, electricity sector reform, anti-corruption work and “a credible
monetary and exchange rate system.” Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government
hopes of clinching an IMF staff-level agreement before a parliamentary election
set for May, a goal that seems increasingly difficult to achieve. “I fear you
will have political parties and parliamentary blocs reluctant to take any
decision on these sensitive matters, especially before elections,” said Alain
Aoun, a lawmaker with the Free Patriotic Movement founded by President Michel
Aoun.
‘No money’, ‘No hope’
The World Bank has accused Lebanon’s ruling class of orchestrating a “deliberate
depression” amounting to one of the worst financial crashes since the 1850s. The
collapse was caused by decades of state corruption, waste and mismanagement.
Many analysts doubt whether the same ruling elite will ever enact reforms that
could threaten their vested interests. “How do you want them to enhance
accountability and lift banking secrecy when it will lead to them being held
accountable? It’s impossible,” said Karim Daher, lawyer and lectures on public
finance and taxes at Saint Joseph University. Lebanon’s first attempt to
negotiate with the IMF fell apart in 2020 thanks to disagreements by politicians
and banks over the scale of losses in the financial sector and how to share them
out. While officials have now agreed a figure of some $70 billion, there is no
approved plan on how to distribute the losses, which is one of the conditions
for IMF negotiations. A major haircut on depositors will be highly sensitive. In
an apparent bid to meet IMF demands, the government approved an austerity budget
this month that included tax hikes, but parliament has yet to start discussing
it. Two political sources said deputies are hesitant to begin debating
politically explosive issues ahead of the May vote.
Prior requirements
Among the prior IMF requirements is for the government to prepare a five-year
budget to show how deficits would be reined in and economic growth ensured,
three of the sources said. It also wants Lebanon to chart a path toward
restructuring debt, including Eurobonds, on which it defaulted in 2020, while
take steps to unify the current multiple exchange rate system. Attempts to audit
the central bank have stalled due to the central bank withholding information
demanded by auditor Alvarez and Marsal. A central bank spokesperson said this
month that the bank had approved handing over outstanding information. Banking
secrecy, once credited with boosting Lebanon’s economy but now seen by many as
protecting ill-gotten gains, would need to be reformed to allow authorities to
access information, two of the sources added.
Cabinet Approves Electricity Plan 'in Principle'
Naharnet/February 25/2022
The Cabinet on Friday approved “in principle” the electricity plan devised by
Energy Minister Walid Fayyad. Cabinet stressed “the need to implement the law
and regulate the sector in an immediate manner, especially as to the formation
of the regulatory commission and naming its members according to international
standards,” acting Information Minister Abbas al-Halabi said after the session.
Cabinet has also decided to “form a ministerial committee tasked with reviewing
the law regulating the electricity sector,” Halabi added. “Hiking the
electricity tariff will take place after increasing power supply to eight to 10
hours per day, while taking into consideration the situations of low-income
citizens whose monthly consumption does not exceed 500 kilowatts,” the minister
said. Minister Fayyad for his part said Cabinet’s tentative approval of the plan
is a “constructive achievement.”“The reason for optimism is that we can continue
the negotiations with the World Bank to secure the necessary funding for
increasing power supply with the least possible cost for citizens,” Fayyad
added.
Mikati launches ‘Rehabilitation of Housing in Beirut and
Social Recovery Projects’, WB’s Kumar Jha says transparency basic condition for
success
NNA/February 25/2022
Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday launched a project titled
‘Rehabilitation of Housing in Beirut and Social Recovery Projects’ at the Grand
Serail upon the invitation of the World Bank. The launching ceremony was
attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Saadeh Al-Shami, the World Bank’s Regional
Director of the Mashreq Department, Saroj Saroj Kumar Jha, European Union
Ambassador, Ralph Tarraf, as well as the ambassadors of Denmark, Germany,
Canada, and Norway. Also present had been the Representative of the United
Nations Human Settlements Program in Lebanon, UNESCO’s Regional Director, and
the Governor of Beirut city. The World Bank’s Kumar Jha delivered a speech, in
which he deemed the response to Beirut Port blast “exceptional”.
“The relentless efforts exerted by many humanitarian and international
institutions, the Lebanese Army, the civil society, as well as local
organizations are highly commendable,” he added. Kumar Jha went on to explain
that the objective of the trust fund allocated for Lebanon was to rehabilitate
and address the remaining gaps in the post Beirut Port blast phase. “This
project was designed as an urgent and emergency one; in the wake of August 4
explosion, urgent matters became more pressing and generated crises that Lebanon
is still suffering from until now,” the WB official said.
"The project meets and responds to urgent and specific needs on the ground,
ranging from the reconstruction of many residential buildings of heritage value,
and laying the foundations for medium and long-term support for flexible urban
development,” he added.
Kumar Jha also expressed belief that to facilitate the return of the population,
prevent further displacement, evacuate the population at risk, and prevent brain
drain, there was an urgent need for a response at the civil and urban levels.
“This requires the integration of the city and the port, and a re-imagination of
the port's role within the city as a whole,” he added. Kumar Jha went on to say
that supporting workers in the cultural field helped restore cultural life and
provided incentives to continue cultural production to help restore the city’s
vitality. "This project is being carried out by the United Nations Human
Settlements Program, which has great experience on the ground in Lebanon, in
cooperation with stakeholders; the World Bank is also committed to helping
Lebanon, and this project is a continuation of the great efforts it is making,”
Kumar Jha explained. "The basic condition for the success of any project is
transparency,” he concluded. In turn, Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, delivered a
speech in which he said, “We are pleased today to launch two projects funded by
the “Dedicated Trust Fund for Lebanon”, which is managed by the World Bank. This
fund is a basic framework established to secure grants and enhance the
coordination of financial resources to support the economic and social recovery
of the most vulnerable population in Lebanon, as well as businesses affected by
Beirut Port explosion.” Mikati seized the occasion to thank the friends of
Lebanon and donors who have provided assistance to the Fund, including Canada,
Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway. “I would also
like to thank the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank who are
leading these efforts within the framework of the reform, recovery, and
reconstruction plan, which was launched after Beirut Port blast, and which will
support Lebanon on its way to recovery,” Mikati added. “These two projects,
titled: ‘Rehabilitation of Housing in Beirut, and Social Recovery Projects’ will
support the rehabilitation of many damaged buildings of heritage value and
provide the urgent needs of the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly,
people with special needs, and others,” the PM explained. “I hope that this fund
will turn into a model for cooperation with all our international partners, who
support us in addressing the social and economic needs of the Lebanese people. I
would like to commend the important role of civil society that endeavors to
implement these delicate projects. Those organizations will remain a source of
strength for Lebanon, especially under the circumstances that the country is
experiencing,” Mikati concluded.
Ukraine Crisis Worries Lebanon over Its Wheat Reserves
Associated Press/February 25/2022
Lebanon has wheat reserves sufficient for one month at the most, with Ukraine
accounting for up to 60 percent of the crisis-hit country's wheat market, the
economy minister said on Friday. Concerns about wheat reflect the rippling
effect of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Lebanese government is in talks with
other countries like the United States, India and Canada to provide wheat amid
concerns of global disruption to wheat supply during the crisis, the Minister,
Amin Salam, said. Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of wheat in the world,
accounting for around 12 percent of global supply, according the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Many countries like Lebanon depend heavily on wheat imports to
provide subsidized bread to their populations. Only about a month's worth of
wheat can be stored at a time in mills as a result of the August 2020 blast that
destroyed the country's port, shredded its grain silos and killed over 200
people. And as the country grapples with its own financial crisis, fears are
growing about whether Lebanon can continue to subsidize wheat imports with
soaring prices caused by Russia's invasion. Lebanon's economic crisis has left
around two thirds of the population of 6 million, including 1 million Syrian
refugees, to live in poverty. Salam urged the Lebanese public not to panic buy
bread seeing as supplies will continue for the next month. "Last week, we signed
off on a number of shipments that will cover the market for the next month or
so. So please do not panic that the bread will be cut off tomorrow," he added.
Russian Embassy Voices Shock over Lebanese Statement
Condemning Moscow
Naharnet/February 25/2022
The Russian Embassy in Lebanon on Friday voiced astonishment over a Lebanese
Foreign Ministry statement that condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “The
statement has astonished us for its violation of the dissociation policy
(officially adopted by Lebanon) and for siding with one party against another in
these events, knowing that Russia has spared no effort to contribute to the rise
and stability of the Lebanese Republic,” the Embassy said in a communique.
“Russia has not waged a war but rather a special operation aimed at protecting
Russian citizens, based on the request of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics,
after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized their independence,” the
Embassy added. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry had on Thursday condemned Russia’s
military invasion of Ukraine and called on Moscow to “immediately halt military
operations.”“In light of the military invasions that Lebanon’s modern history
witnessed, which inflicted heavy losses on it and its people… Lebanon condemns
the invasion of Ukrainian territory and calls on Russia to immediately halt
military operations,” the Ministry said in a statement. Lebanon calls on Moscow
to “withdraw its forces and return to the approach of dialogue and negotiations,
as the best means to resolve the current conflict, in a manner that would
preserve the sovereignty, security and concerns of both parties and that would
contribute to sparing the peoples of the two countries, the European continent
and the world the tragedies and pain of wars,” the statement added.
Controversy in Lebanon over Foreign Ministry Condemnation
of Russia
Naharnet/February 25/2022
A Lebanese Foreign Ministry statement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
has stirred political controversy in Lebanon. The pro-Hizbullah al-Akhbar
newspaper said the Ministry’s stance reflects “a flagrant inability to
understand global balances” and “idiocy in dealing with the world’s conflicts.”
It added that the statement also showed disregard for “the presence of thousands
of students and businessmen in addition to huge Lebanese investments in Russia,”
noting that no other Arab country has condemned Russia’s operation, and
wondering whether the statement was the result of “American pressures.”The daily
also reported that the statement stirred great dismay among Lebanese diplomats
and “strongly embarrassed Lebanon’s ambassador to Moscow Shawki Bou Nassar.” Al-Akhbar
said that during a book signing ceremony at the Egyptian ambassador’s residence,
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov asked Bou Nassar whether he was
consulted over the statement and “whether such a statement could have been
issued without the knowledge of the President and the Prime Minister.” “Wasn’t
the Lebanese Foreign Minister here recently to ask Moscow for help in resolving
Lebanon’s internal problems?” the newspaper quoted Bogdanov as saying. According
to the same daily, the statement was issued following consultations between
President Michel Aoun and PM Najib Miqati, as Speaker Nabih Berri said he was
not notified of the statement prior to its issuance. Lebanese Democratic Party
leader MP Talal Arslan meanwhile said that the statement “does not reflect the
stance of Lebanon, which prides itself in the historic ties with the Russian
Federation.”
“We better focus on our problems and crises and work on addressing them,” Arslan
added.
Bou Habib Tells Europeans Lebanon Won't Adopt Anti-Russia
U.N. Resolution
Naharnet/February 25/2022
The ambassadors of France and Germany to Lebanon on Friday met with Foreign
Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and thanked Lebanon for the statement it has issued
on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the National News Agency said. The two envoys
hoped Lebanon will “maintain this stance” and requested “Lebanon’s participation
in the adoption of the resolution submitted before the (U.N.) Security Council
regarding the crisis,” NNA added. Bou Habib for his part told the ambassadors
that “Lebanon’s stance is firm and stems from its keenness on abiding by the
principles of international legitimacy and international law.”“International
legitimacy and international law represent the main guarantee for protecting
international peace and order and the territorial integrity of small countries,
especially that Lebanon has greatly suffered from Israeli occupation and its
continuous violations until this moment,” the Minister added. He also told the
two envoys that “Lebanon will refrain from taking part in the adoption of the
resolution submitted before the Security Council,” adding that “the Lebanese
stance as to voting in the General Assembly will be studied in consultation with
the Arab bloc.” “The Lebanese stance is not targeted against the Russian
Federation nor against any other friendly nations; it is rather a principled and
firm stance that Lebanon has taken and will always take during any similar
crisis,” Bou Habib went on to say. He also revealed that he had met with Russian
Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov prior to the statement’s issuance on
Thursday to express regret that “Lebanon intends to issue a statement condemning
the Russian military operation.”“We stressed that this stance is not targeted
against his country and that we don’t want it to affect the strong bilateral
relation,” he added.
WHO, IOM Sign Agreement to Support National AIDS Control
Program in Lebanon
NNA/February 25/2022
A cooperation agreement was concluded between the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) and the World Health Organization (WHO) at a ceremony held on
the 18th of February 2022 in Lebanon. The agreement established a framework for
the two organizations to work together towards continuing their support to the
National AIDS Control Program (NAP) in leading the national response to HIV/AIDS
prevention and control in Lebanon. This support is made possible through the
regional Middle East Response grant (MER) from the Global Fund to IOM.
Through this grant, the NAP will be able to expand its reach and services
through 13 thematic local NGOs for voluntary counselling and testing and provide
non-interrupted medications and consumables supplies for diagnosis and treatment
till end of December 2024.
The National AIDS Control Program was established in 1989 as a joint program of
the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and WHO after the steady increase in the
number of people living with HIV in Lebanon following the first reported case in
1984. NAP reported a cumulative of 2,366 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in
Lebanon by the end of 2018[1]. NAP currently provides anti-retroviral therapy,
treatment, care, and support to nearly 2,000 people living with HIV; along with
voluntary counselling and testing to nearly 18,000 individuals through thematic
NGOs. NAP also offers treatment monitoring including viral load testing to
achieve the 95-95-95 global targets[2]; and it established an HIV PCR unit, as
part of the joint testing platform with TB, to add to its services in Karantina.
“This program did not stop operating and delivering medications to people living
with HIV/AIDS despite the challenging situation of the pandemic and Beirut Blast
which directly affected their building. I believe in health for all, and no one
should be left behind,” said Dr. Iman Shankiti, WHO representative in Lebanon.
“Lebanon is a model for the provision of differentiated prevention, diagnosis,
treatment and care services to people living with HIV with support from the
regional Middle East Response (MER) grant funded by The Global Fund and
implemented by the National AIDS Program in partnership with IOM and WHO”, added
Dr. Nevin WILSON, IOM’s Senior Regional Project Coordinator for the Middle East
Response.
Despite the limited financial and human resources, NAP has been responding
effectively and efficiently, prioritising vulnerable population irrespective of
nationality and status with a range of differentiated diagnostic, prevention and
treatment services including raising awareness amongst those who are most at
risk.
STL Sets March 10 Session for Hariri Case Appeal Ruling
Naharnet/February 25/2022
The Appeals Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has issued a
scheduling order for the pronouncement of the Appeal Judgment in the Rafik
Hariri case. The ruling will be announced in a public session on March 10 at
14.00 CET, the STL said in a statement. The Trial Chamber had pronounced its
Judgment in the case on August 18 and unanimously found Hizbullah operative
Salim Ayyash “guilty beyond reasonable doubt of all counts charged against him
in the amended consolidated indictment.” The Trial Chamber further found
Hizbullah members Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi and Assad Hassan
Sabra not guilty of all counts charged against them. The Prosecution meanwhile
filed an appeal regarding the rulings against Merhi and Oneissi as the Defencs
Counsel for the two men each filed a Response Brief.
Unnamed Hizbullah Officer: Israel Is Weak, Has No
Fighting Spirit; Hizbullah's Young Mujahideen Have The Spirit Of Martyrdom; Our
Capabilities Will Surprise Israel In The Next Confrontation, Which Will Be Its
End
MEMRI/February 25/2022
Source: The Internet - "alkhanadeq.com"
An unnamed Hizbullah officer with his face blurred said in an interview that was
uploaded to alkhanadeq.com on February 16, 2022 that Israel has become very weak
and will be defeated "very soon" because it does not have fighting spirit. He
compared this to the young mujahideen of Hizbullah and the Islamic "resistance,"
who he said have a spirit of fighting and martyrdom. In addition, he said that
Hizbullah's capabilities will surprise Israel in the next confrontation, which
he said will "spell the end" of Israel. The name of the website on which the
interview was posted, alkhanadeq.com, means "the trenches" in Arabic.
Officer: "Indeed, Israel has fallen. No matter how Israel maneuvers or acts, it
is unable to do what it did against the Arab armies. Israel has now become very
weak. The reason for its weakness is not because it lacks weapons, military
power, or technology. Israel does not have fighting spirit. We do have fighting
spirit."The spirit of martyrdom that the young mujahideen of the Islamic
resistance have is what has defeated this enemy on all the battlefields - from
1982 until their defeat in 2000, as well as in 2006, and Allah willing, [Israel]
will be defeated very soon."Any front that Israel dares to open with the
resistance will spell the end of this entity, the Israeli enemy, inshallah,
especially since the Islamic resistance has obtained very high capabilities, and
it can say to this enemy: 'Enough!' Without a doubt, the next confrontation will
surprise the Israeli enemy entity, with the capabilities of the Islamic
resistance."
Al-Rahi presides over mass in Florence, prays for Lebanon
NNA/February 25/2022
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, on Friday celebrates a
Divine Liturgy for Lebanon at 6:30 pm today in Florence on the sidelines of the
second meeting of the bishops and mayors of the Mediterranean, which opened its
sessions on the 23rd of February.
Lebanon Nutrition Sector: Most young children in Lebanon
not getting diversity, frequency of nutrition needed to
NNA/February 25/2022
Lebanon’s Nutrition Sector group warned today that results from a recent survey
of children showed a risk of an increase in malnutrition, potentially leading to
life-long negative consequences. The survey found that over 94 per cent of
children aged 6-23 months are not fed adequate diets, with 80 per cent not
eating frequently enough and the diets of 70 per cent not diverse enough for
their growth and development. The report Nutrition in Times of Crisis estimates
that 200,000 children under 5 in Lebanon are suffering from some form of
malnutrition or micro-nutrient deficiency, including anaemia, stunting and
wasting. Given the convergence of crises that have plunged the majority of the
population into poverty, the report also warns that malnutrition could further
surge unless swift action is taken. The Lebanon Nutrition Sector, led by UNICEF
and Action Against Hunger called on stakeholders from all sectors to take
concerted action to scale up a comprehensive response, stressing the need to
prioritize the prevention of malnutrition, and to provide treatment when
prevention fails. The call to action aims to mobilize efforts to improve diets,
as well as nutrition practices and services for all children under 5 and women.
The Sector also highlighted the importance of meeting nutrition needs throughout
the life cycle, with special attention to the period between a mother’s
pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. “The months, and now years, of
compound crises have left many families in Lebanon unable to afford the
nutrition their young children need, leaving them more vulnerable to
malnutrition and attributable diseases and hampering their ability to learn and
grow. The consequences of this preventable tragedy will be generational and
irreversible unless all stakeholders take action – today, to ensure every child
and every woman in Lebanon gets the nutrition they require to survive and
thrive.” Ettie Higgins, UNICEF Lebanon Representative a.i..
The report’s findings indicate:
• 7 per cent of children under age 5 are stunted – an indicator of chronic
malnutrition – with rates reaching 25 per cent among Syrian refugees and 10.5
per cent in Palestinian camps.
• 41 per cent of children under 5 and 42 per cent of women of reproductive age
are affected by some degree of anaemia, an indicator of both poor health and
poor nutrition. Anaemia is often caused by diets with low levels of iron and
other micronutrient deficiencies. Anaemia among pregnant women can have
inter-generational impacts by increasing the risks of pregnancy complications,
including premature birth.
• 70 per cent per cent of infants in Lebanon are not exclusively breastfed in
the first six months of their lives. Breastfeeding is an important practice that
provides the best start in life, protects babies against malnutrition, many
childhood illnesses, and reduces the risk of newborn deaths.
• Over 94 per cent of children aged 6-23 months are not fed adequate diets,
lacking the minimum diversity and meal frequency needed for their growth and
development. In 60 per cent of cases, children’s diets do not have sufficient
vitamin A and proteins, while 80 per cent of children miss Minimum Meal
Frequency and the diets of 70 per cent are not well diversified from five food
groups. As children grow, they need a greater amount and variety of food. Poor
dietary status during early childhood could be a reason for the identified
levels of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, which have irreversible
lifelong impacts on brain development, cause low immunity – a major concern amid
the COVID-19 pandemic – and threaten a child’s survival.
When compared to 2013-2014 data, the report shows deteriorating trends for
children of Syrian refugees – more of them are now stunted, more mothers are
anaemic, less children are receiving the lifesaving benefits of breastmilk and
almost all young children are failing to receive the diets they need to thrive.
A multisystem approach involving food, health, water, sanitation, education and
social protection is needed to address malnutrition in Lebanon, including by
making nutritious and healthy diets more accessible and affordable, enhancing
the coverage and quality of essential nutrition services and healthy practices,
and promoting healthy practices and choices across the country.
“Improving nutrition has the power to protect the health of children and their
mothers by reducing disease and mortality. It improves cognitive development,
school performance and physical work capacity. So, clearly, investing in
nutrition not only fulfils children’s right to health and nutrition, but it’s
also a smart, cost-effective investment in the socio-economic development of
Lebanon.” - Amirhossein Yarparvar, Lebanon Nutrition Sector Coordinator.
“Scaling-up nutrition requires a multi-sectoral partnership to support the
government while collectively addressing the direct and underlying causes of
malnutrition and strengthening capacities of nutrition actors in Lebanon”. -
Mira El Mokdad, Deputy Nutrition Sector Coordinator.
Feeding Lebanon’s energy and securing maritime border
needs government commitment
Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/February 25/2022
Lebanon’s energy sector has been the focus of the international community
through two initiatives: the maritime border demarcation with Israel and the
electricity and gas deals with Jordan and Egypt. Both endeavors require
high-level diplomatic engagement with the Lebanese government and state
institutions, but none involves any severe pressure on the Lebanese political
elite to implement reforms.
At their best, these diplomatic plans might help provide some very much-needed
hours of electricity to the Lebanese people, but they will not fix the real
problem in the long term. Without reforms, these solutions are not sustainable.
The maritime border negotiators have been going on for many years. Still, the
new US envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut in early February with a new
proposal, offering more than the Hof Line -- a demarcation zone proposed by
Frederic Hof in 2012. According to local media, Lebanon’s share might expand in
zigzag lines within a 1430-kilometer area created by the new boundary; less than
Lebanon considers its property rights.
Lebanon has a deadline of four to six weeks to respond to Hochstein’s offer. But
in a surprising move on February 16, President Michel Aoun announced that he
accepts the proposal, sidelining the Lebanese army, which has coordinated with
Aoun to send a letter to the UN “to shift negotiations on the southern maritime
border; from Line 23 to Line 29.”
It is indeed a step forward as the Lebanese hope that the commercially viable
hydrocarbon resources off the coast could help the country out of its financial
crisis. Israel could accept as it has been pushing for speeding up the
negotiations to start drilling for gas in the disputed Karish field. Of course,
Aoun could still be a political maneuver to marginalize the army and its
presidential-hopeful commander, General Joseph Aoun, ahead of the parliamentary
and presidential elections. In addition, Hezbollah has not commented on this
issue yet, and will probably wait until the Vienna talks conclude before giving
away a negotiations card with the US. In any case, whatever profits these
resources might bring, the Lebanese people will probably benefit the least. The
current corrupt political class will ensure to siphon the financial benefits to
themselves and not to the state and the people.
Negotiating with this current class of politicians will only boost their chances
ahead of elections and allow them to use the talks as a bargaining chip to serve
their interests.
Meanwhile, the US is facilitating another energy-related initiative to bring to
Lebanon electricity from Jordan and gas from Egypt. While the maritime border
boundaries are political, these deals are part of the humanitarian aid policy
that the Biden administration has developed to help Lebanon. Accordingly, the
World Bank is supposed to fund the logistics, pipes reconstruction, and the
rehabilitation of the power stations assigned to produce power.
The problem with these deals is that electricity and gas are going through
Syrian territory, and the Assad regime will benefit by taking a share of around
ten percent and a say in the matter. For pure humanitarian reasons, the US
assured all countries involved that there won’t be any repercussions from the
Caesar Act sanctions targeting the Syrian regime. If all goes well, and the
World Bank finally approves the funding, Lebanon will get about two full hours
of electricity in total from Jordan, and probably the same via the Egyptian gas.
But considering all the concessions that these deals involve, is it worth it?
Besides involving the Assad regime, the United States, Jordan, and Egypt will
have to work through a government where Hezbollah and its allies still enjoy the
blocking third veto. All corruption is being covered and protected. Providing
electricity to Lebanon could also demotivate the Lebanese government from
implementing critical reforms to the sector. It will also allow the current
political elite to leverage energy assistance for elections.
These are short-term fixes and will not resolve the problem. Only sustainable
energy policies and reforming the sector could offer long-term solutions. Like
every problem in Lebanon, it begins with corruption and bad management. Still,
the potential funder of these initiatives is the World Bank, which has already
offered detailed recommendations to reform the sector.
These include appointing a regulator, modernizing the transmission grid, adding
gas-fired fuel stations, changing fuel stock to natural gas, reforming
electricity tariffs, and promoting decentralized renewable energy applications.
Without reforms, the electricity sector, which suffered losses of up to $2
billion in 2018, cannot serve its primary function. These reforms will benefit
Lebanese electricity consumers and restrain those who corruptly benefit from the
current reliance on private generators.
Both the maritime border demarcation talks and the electricity and energy deals
are good for Lebanon in the long run, and Washington can do more to help the
Lebanese people. For example, the US support for the World Bank to fund the
plans and the negotiations its envoy is carrying between Lebanon and Israel
should come with an explicit requirement to the Lebanese government to implement
comprehensive energy sector reforms. These requirements would ensure that the
Lebanese people – not the corrupt political class – benefit in the long run. The
goal should always be to strengthen state institutions – not political parties.
Between occupation and preoccupation
Eli Khoury/Now Lebanon/Friday,
25 February, 2022
Similar to that of Lebanon, Ukraine’s fate lies in the hands of a neighboring
bully, writes Eli Khoury.
"Self-destructive political resignation and extreme tribalism or individualism
do not come from a void. They are the commodity of oppressed people feeling
alone and left to their fate, something we’ve seen happen to the best of
nations".The term occupation might be a bit of an exaggeration. But the outcome,
whatever you want to call Iran’s vulgar hegemony over the Lebanese republic, is
nothing short of an atrocity. By understating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’ s
branch as a “legitimate” and “democratically” elected “Lebanese” party, one
might want to pretentiously dumb it up, like French President Emmanuel Macron,
nuclear deal enthusiasts and some local or diaspora wannabes. But that does not
change the fact that it is neither, and will never be. Appeasement is a Western
preoccupation and has been for a while. Business-driven for sure, but let us not
kid ourselves, it has nothing to do with either “peace” nor its little companion
“stability.” For the sake of that preoccupation, however ill-fated it has proven
time and again, Lebanese are meant to swallow the grandest robbery, explosion,
murders and aggression in recent history as a local affair of mismanagement and
corruption. Not the result of the neighbor’s blunt racist and bigoted aggression
that it really is. Roughly meaning: “You did it to yourselves, now live with it.
Meanwhile, here’s a bowl of soup and a box of band-aids.” A painfully partial
reality dubbed as a whole, simply because it is a comfortable one. Comfortable
because it renders the crime a misdemeanor, the victim a consenting seller and
the invader a mere willing client.
Still, did the Lebanese do it to themselves?
In many ways yes. But.
Self-destructive political resignation and extreme tribalism or individualism do
not come from a void. They are the commodity of oppressed people feeling alone
and left to their fate, something we’ve seen happen to the best of nations. More
acutely, the feeling that their tiny, beautiful home is nothing but a ball at
the feet of overinflated bullies. But what about the extreme corruption and
appalling lack of ethics at legislative and executive levels, one is quick to
ask? The answer might be a little surprising, though it shouldn’t be at all.
Ours is now a failed state chiefly because those holding it hostage, since the
70s, were and remain nothing but failed states in and of themselves. Such
nauseating political class is systematically the product of appeasement. That is
when you insist on appeasing a bullying behemoth at the expense of a tormented
nation, you end up giving a free pass to crooks and dummies. “Normal” people
will certainly end up pushed or shying away from public service. Ours is now a
failed state chiefly because those holding it hostage, since the 70s, were and
remain nothing but failed states in and of themselves. Think post-WWII Germany,
and what it meant to live on both sides of the divide. In the East there was a
failure, in the West, success, and go from there. Now, whether a president,
minister, diplomat, cardinal, sheikh, activist or pretender understands this or
not, becomes a question of a match between morality and interest, with the
former absent most of the time. Why? Because business dictates. For “peace”, to
some of these people, means just a certain temporary “stability” – no matter at
whose expense, at what cost or when that happens – that one is able to use for
an agenda or the next elections. What happens later is another story, but it is
one that the Lebanese know all too well. For over fifty years, the deteriorating
political class that sold short and devastated the country was nothing but the
product of consecutive appeasements, domestic and international alike.
Living on the edge
Within a similar and current geopolitical context, Ukraine might end up better
than Lebanon. Not only for the largesse and tangibility of its land and
geopolitical significance, or a lack in exceptionally mercantile political
class, but also because – in Lebanon’s case – intangible assets, such as
cultural impact, remain too complex a concept in primitive thought processes. On
the edge of East and West; sanction and appeasement; occupation and
preoccupation, the lives of the people who live on the edge, in between, don’t
matter. Self-destructive political resignation and extreme tribalism or
individualism do not come from a void. They are the commodity of oppressed
people feeling alone and left to their fate, something we’ve seen happen to the
best of nations. But, there are times, no matter the prospects, when the most
honorable, logical and legitimate thing to do is to just say No. For the
consequences of a “yes” or a “maybe” are already, and will be, far graver.
“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are an “inalienable” set of rights
available mostly on one side of that divide, right where our hearts, families
and majority reside. “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall
meet” – except at the border gates of the Anti-Lebanon Mountain range if any.
*Eli Khoury is the publisher of NOW and is a co-founder of the Lebanon
Renaissance Foundation. He is on Twitter @eli_khoury.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published on
February 25-26/2022
Pope Visits Russian Embassy to Express
'Concern over War'
Agence France Presse/Friday,
25 February, 2022
Pope Francis went to the Russian embassy at the Holy See "to express his concern
for the war" following the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine, the Vatican press
office said Friday.Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, stayed for just
over half an hour at the embassy in Rome, the press office said, without
providing a read-out of the meeting or stating who was present. Russian
President Vladimir Putin launched a major military operation in Ukraine in the
early hours of Thursday. Francis's unannounced visit comes one day after the
Vatican's secretary of state insisted there was "still time for goodwill...
still room for negotiation."The pope, 85, said Wednesday ahead of the invasion
that the threat of war in the pro-Western country caused "great pain in my
heart."He condemned actions "destabilizing coexistence among nations and
discrediting international law" and appealed at the end of his weekly general
audience for those "with political responsibility to examine their consciences
seriously before God."Francis also proclaimed Ash Wednesday, which falls on
March 2 this year, as an international day of fasting for peace. But the pontiff
will not be presiding over Ash Wednesday Mass in person after being ordered by a
doctor to rest a painful knee.
Biden Joins Emergency NATO Session on Russia's Ukraine
Invasion
Agence France Presse/Friday,
25 February, 2022
President Joe Biden joined an emergency NATO summit Friday to strengthen the
frantic Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fears for the
security of Europe. The U.S. president, who has spent weeks trying to lead a
united trans-Atlantic response to Russia's aggression against its neighbor, was
meeting "with fellow NATO heads of state and government in an extraordinary
virtual summit to discuss the security situation in and around Ukraine," the
White House said. The meeting, with Biden joining from the White House Situation
Room, was not open to the media. It came as Russian troops entered parts of the
capital Kyiv after assaulting Ukraine from multiple directions and Russian
President Vladimir Putin called for the ouster of the country's government.
Caught between wanting to resist Russia's blatant overturning of post-World War
II European security norms and unwillingness to risk confrontation between the
nuclear armed powers, NATO is walking a fine line in the face of what looks like
a resurgence of the Cold War. Ukraine is not part of NATO, but four neighboring
countries are and the United States has rushed troops to the eastern flank to
reassure allies jittery about Putin's broader intentions. NATO also finds itself
enmeshed in the conflict because it was Ukraine's long-term ambition of joining
the alliance and the European Union -- in hopes of fully breaking free from
Russian domination -- that in part prompted the Kremlin's decision to attack.
Biden has repeatedly said that Ukraine is nowhere near being able to join NATO
and is also firm that U.S. troops will not go there to help push back Russia.
Despite that, the United States and other members of the preeminent Western
alliance have been heavily involved in trying to beef up Ukraine's beleaguered
military with weapons shipments, while border countries like Poland are bracing
for huge flows of Ukrainian refugees. Addressing Americans in a White House
speech Thursday, Biden was firm about the U.S. commitment to defending Europe.
"As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO
territory with a full force of American power," Biden said. The president added,
however: "Our forces will not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in
Ukraine."On Friday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of NATO member Turkey,
accused the alliance and the European Union of failing to take a "determined
stance" on Ukraine. "NATO should have taken a more decisive step," he said,
expressing hope that Friday's summit would not be simply a session of "advice
and condemnation," but lead to a "more determined approach." With fears that
Putin might have designs beyond Ukraine -- for example testing NATO's readiness
to risk conflict over vulnerable Baltic states -- the most likely next steps are
for even more alliance troops to be sent to the east. A diplomat told AFP that
"extra defensive land and air forces are going to be deployed to the alliance's
eastern flank, and there will be added naval measures."
Fighting in Kyiv as Putin Calls for Ukraine Coup
Agence France Presse/Friday,
25 February, 2022
Ukrainian forces fought off Russian troops in the capital Kyiv on Friday on the
second day of a conflict that has claimed dozens of lives, as Russian President
Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian army to remove the country's leadership.
Small arms fire and explosions were heard in the city's northern district of
Obolonsky as what appeared to be an advance party of Russia's invasion force
left a trail of destruction. Putin defied Western warnings to unleash a
full-scale invasion on Thursday that has displaced at least 100,000 people and
prompted the European Union to adopt personal sanctions against him. In a
televised address, Putin described the Ukrainian government as "terrorists" and
"a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis".
"Take power in your own hands," he urged the Ukrainian military.
Putin's remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is
Jewish, evoked Nazi Germany's 1941 invasion and praised his people for
"demonstrating heroism" as Russian forces advanced towards the capital. Zelensky
called on Europeans with "combat experience" to take arms and defend Ukraine,
saying the West was too slow to help his country. Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to talk but only if Ukraine's armed forces
"lay down their arms", adding that "nobody intends to occupy Ukraine."Russia has
demanded that Ukraine to drop its ambition to join NATO and has called for the
Western military alliance to scale back its presence in Eastern Europe.
Body on the pavement -
The second day of the conflict began with pre-dawn blasts in Kyiv.
In the Obolonsky district, AFP saw a dead man in civilian clothes lying sprawled
on the pavement and, nearby, medics rushed to help another man whose car was
crushed under the tracks of an armored vehicle. In contrast, the city center
felt like a ghost town. Intersections around the government district were manned
by green armored vehicles and machine-gun toting soldiers in balaclavas. Sirens
wailed over the cloudy city at jarring intervals throughout the day. Booms of
unexplained origin echoed across the deserted streets. Russian forces first
arrived on the outskirts of Kyiv on Thursday when helicopter-borne troops
assaulted an airfield just outside the city, close to Obolonsky. The Ukrainian
defense ministry told civilians to resist. "We urge citizens to inform us of
troop movements, to make Molotov cocktails, and neutralize the enemy," it said.
Ukraine said 137 people, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed
since Russia began its air and ground assault on Thursday.
Sheltering in subway
In the Ukrainian village of Starognativka near the frontline where separatists
have faced off against Kyiv's forces for years, official Volodymyr Veselkin said
the settlement had come under attack with missiles. "They are trying to wipe the
village off the face of the earth," he said. The U.N.'s refugee agency has said
that at least 100,000 people already been displaced inside Ukraine, while
thousands of others fled across the border. Streams of people in cars and on
foot were seen crossing into Hungary, Poland and Romania while hundreds camped
out in a train station in the Polish border city of Przemysl. In Kyiv, many
residents fled their homes and took shelter in the city's subway system.
'Left alone'
Zelensky said on Thursday there was now a "new iron curtain" between Russia and
the rest of the world, adding later that his nation had been "left alone". "Who
is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone."While the United States
moved to impose sanctions on Russian elites and banks, it stressed that American
forces would not fight in Ukraine. NATO also said it would not send forces to
Ukraine. Among the highest-profile strategic developments on Thursday, Ukraine
said Russian forces had seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant -- prompting
concern from international nuclear watchdogs. Ukrainian officials said Friday
that radiation levels had increased in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and warned
the capture of the plant by Russian soldiers could have "terrible consequences."
Russia said Thursday it had destroyed more than 70 Ukrainian military targets,
including 11 airfields. Western intelligence confirmed Moscow had established
"complete air superiority" over Ukraine.
Sanctions
Weeks of diplomacy failed to deter Putin, who massed over 150,000 troops on
Ukraine's borders. Western allies had initially imposed some sanctions on Russia
in an effort to stop Putin from invading, then followed through on Thursday with
vows to heavily punish Russia economically. U.S. President Joe Biden announced
export controls against Russia, alongside sanctions on Russian elites he called
"corrupt billionaires", and banks. He joined fellow NATO leaders in an
extraordinary virtual summit on Friday to discuss the security situation in and
around Ukraine. The EU also moved to impose "massive" sanctions on Russia's
energy and finance sectors on Thursday. EU officials on Friday said the bloc had
agreed go even further by freezing European assets linked to Putin and Lavrov
personally. The Council of Europe meanwhile it was suspending all Russian
representatives from participating in the pan-European rights body.
Sports cancellations
There was also a raft of sanctions in the cultural and sporting worlds, with
UEFA deciding that Paris will host this season's Champions League final instead
of Saint Petersburg. Formula One also said it was cancelling the Russian Grand
Prix while remaining World Cup skiing events were scrapped by the sport's
governing body FIS. A rare voice of support for Moscow came from the Myanmar
junta which said Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "justified", while Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad praised the invasion, saying it was a "correction of
history". Putin announced the start of the invasion in a pre-dawn announcement
on Thursday, justifying it as a defense of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and
Lugansk republics in eastern Ukraine. The leaders of the two separatist
territories had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv after Putin
recognized their independence on Monday. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine's
Western-backed government of discriminating against the Russian-speaking
population in the east of the country. A conflict between the separatists and
government forces has dragged on since 2014, killing more than 14,000 people.
Ukraine Sees Radiation Spike in Chernobyl after Russia
Attack
Agence France Presse/Friday,
25 February, 2022
Ukrainian authorities said Friday that radiation levels had increased in the
Chernobyl exclusion zone and warned the seizure of the nuclear plant by invading
Russian troops could have "terrible consequences." Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Thursday ordered his troops to invade Ukraine and on the same day they
seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in one of the most radioactive places
on earth. Ukrainian authorities also said that they had informed the
International Atomic Energy Agency that they had lost control of highly
radioactive fuel rods from the power plant. "In the terrible hands of the
aggressor, this significant amount of plutonium-239 can become a nuclear bomb
that will turn thousands of hectares into a dead, lifeless desert," said
Ukraine's environmental protection ministry. The ministry said the Russian
troops' takeover of the Chernobyl exclusion zone could have grave consequences.
"The humanitarian and environmental consequences of such a catastrophe have no
borders," the ministry added, stressing that "they will have terrible
consequences for people." Separately, the Ukrainian parliament said that data
from the automated radiation monitoring system in the Chernobyl exclusion zone
indicated higher than usual levels of radiation. Gamma radiation levels "have
been exceeded at a significant number of observation points," parliament said in
a statement. "Due to the occupation and hostilities, it is currently impossible
to establish the reasons for the change in the radiation background in the
exclusion zone,"the statement said. Speaking to AFP, Alexander Grigorash, an
official at the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, said increased
radiation levels at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone had been registered at 3:20 am
local time (01:20 GMT). Grigorash, who is deputy head at the authority's nuclear
facilities safety department, said he could not provide further details because
staff had been evacuated from the site after Russian troops had taken control of
the plant. Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that levels
of radioactivity at the plant were "normal." The explosion in the fourth reactor
at the nuclear power plant in April 1986 left swathes of Ukraine and neighboring
Belarus badly contaminated and led to the creation of the exclusion zone roughly
the size of Luxembourg.
Moscow Says Outlook Unclear for Proposed Ukraine Talks
Associated Press/Friday,
25 February, 2022
The Kremlin says prospects for possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
look uncertain due to apparent differences over a venue. Kremlin spokesman
Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to
send a delegation for talks with Ukrainian officials in Minsk, Belarus, where
President Alexander Lukashenko runs a pro-Russian government. That agreement
came in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer earlier in
the day to discuss non-aligned status for Ukraine. Peskov told reporters that
after the parties discussed Minsk as a possible venue, Ukrainian officials
changed course and said they were unwilling to travel to Minsk and would prefer
to meet in NATO member Poland. They then halted further communication, Peskov
said. Putin has claimed that the western refusal to heed Russia's demand to keep
Ukraine out of NATO prompted him to order an invasion of the neighboring
country.
Washington Warns of Iranian Piracy Targeting World Sectors
Washington - Muath Alamri/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday,
25 February, 2022
In a joint US-UK operation, US security and law enforcement agencies issued a
warning of Iranian-affiliated hacking operations targeting a range of government
and private organizations in multiple sectors around the world.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency (CISA), and other British and US agencies were quoted by Reuters
as saying that they had observed Iranian entities, known as MuddyWater, carrying
out cyber-espionage targeting the defense, local government, oil and natural gas
and telecommunications sectors across the globe. An alert issued by the US Cyber
Security Agency stated that it had revealed, in cooperation with the FBI, the US
National Cyber Command Force, and the National Cyber Security Center in the
United Kingdom, the presence of “a group of Iranian government-sponsored
advanced persistent threat (APT) actors, known as MuddyWater, conducting cyber
espionage and other malicious cyber operations targeting a range of government
and private-sector organizations across sectors…”The US Cyber Security Agency
said that MuddyWater was a “subordinate element within the Iranian Ministry of
Intelligence and Security” and had “conducted broad cyber campaigns in support
of MOIS objectives since approximately 2018.” “MuddyWater actors are positioned
both to provide stolen data and accesses to the Iranian government and to share
these with other malicious cyber actors,” according to the agency. The alert
read: “MuddyWater actors are known to exploit publicly reported vulnerabilities
and use open-source tools and strategies to gain access to sensitive data on
victims’ systems and deploy ransomware. These actors also maintain persistence
on victim networks via tactics such as side-loading dynamic link libraries
(DLLs)—to trick legitimate programs into running malware…”The US warning comes
less than two weeks after the Cyber Security Agency had cautioned against a “new
storm” of cyber-attacks targeting individuals and facilities. A report by the
FBI and the Cyber Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security on Feb.
10 disclosed major plans that some hackers might carry out to target civilian
facilities and individuals with the aim to cause wider damage. However, the
latest warning pointed specifically to Iran’s MuddyWater which mainly targeted
Middle Eastern, European and North American countries. The group’s victims are
mainly in the telecommunications and government sectors, as well as oil. The
group was previously associated with the FIN7, but MuddyWater may have been
motivated by espionage. FIN7 has been working on active financially motivated
threats since 2013 and primarily targeting the retail, restaurant and
hospitality sectors in the United States, often using point-of-sale malware.
Ukraine Crisis Deepens US Congressional Fears of an Agreement in Vienna
Rana Abtar - Washington/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 25
February, 2022 -
About 200 Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden earlier
in February urging him to put any nuclear deal reached with Iran to a vote in
Congress.
“We will view any agreement reached in Vienna which is not submitted to the US
Senate for ratification as a treaty—including any and all secret agreements made
with Iran directly or on the sidelines of official talks—as non-binding,” the
lawmakers wrote in a letter dated Feb. 16, 2022. The lawmakers linked the file
of negotiations with Iran and the Ukraine crisis, expressing concern that the
United States’ dependence on Russia as a main mediator in the Vienna
negotiations had weakened the US position with regards to Moscow’s plans to
invade Ukraine. “If your dependency on the Russians to revive the JCPOA [nuclear
deal] is weakening our deterrent posture with the Russians in other areas of the
world, the American people deserve to know,” they said, addressing Biden. In
this regard, a source in the US Congress told Asharq Al-Awsat that opponents
were increasingly concerned that the Biden Administration would exploit the
preoccupation with the Ukrainian crisis to conclude a deal with Tehran.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob
Menendez, complained that the Ukraine file had distracted his colleagues from
the talks with Iran.
In remarks earlier this month, Menendez said that he was “not comfortable” with
the lack of attention on Iran, adding that he was “not sure that [his]
colleagues are as fully immersed on the challenges of Iran as we speak, as [he]
would like them to be.”These concerns were echoed by Rep. Sen. Lindsey Graham
during his visit to Israel last week. He said that the Iranians' acquisition of
a nuclear weapon has more consequences than the Ukraine-Russia conflict. He
added that Russia and Ukraine are of great importance, “but Iran’s acquisition
of a nuclear capability will change all the rules of the game.”In remarks to
Asharq Al-Awsat, Jason Brodsky, Policy Director at United Against Nuclear Iran,
said that Russia, which used to separate internationally disputed files from
efforts to revive the nuclear agreement, might not be able this time to overcome
the tension between the negotiating parties, which Iran would exploit to its
advantage. “The invasion of Ukraine will create rifts in Vienna. With the
presence of the Russian envoy there, I think that Ukraine will complicate the
internal dynamic between the Europeans, the United States and Russia…” he
stated.
Syrian President Assad Backs Putin on Ukraine
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 25 February, 2022
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has called his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin and supported his position regarding Ukraine, the Syrian presidency said
in a statement on Friday amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
Syria has been a staunch ally of Moscow since Russia launched a military
campaign in Syria in 2015 that helped to turn the tide in a war in favor of
Assad with massive aerial bombardment of opposition-held areas.
Assad during the call described the Russian offensive in Ukraine as a
"correction of history." "His Excellency (Assad) stressed that Syria stands with
the Russian Federation, based on its conviction of the correctness of its
position," the statement said. Syria on Tuesday had recognized two breakaway
regions in eastern Ukraine that Putin has said he was seeking to protect via a
"special military operation." Russian forces on Friday were reported to have
reached the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
UAE foreign minister, Blinken discuss Russia attack against
Ukraine
AFP/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
The UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan spoke with US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday via telephone about Russia’s
attack on Ukraine, the US Department of State website said. The two sides
discussed the importance of building “a strong international response to support
Ukrainian sovereignty through the UN Security Council,” the statement added. On
Wednesday, Sheikh Abdullah stressed the “strength” of ties to Russia in a phone
call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The minister discussed with
Lavrov the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries,
according to reports. They also “reviewed a number of regional and international
developments and issues of common interest.”The Security Council will vote on
Friday on a draft resolution that would condemn Russia for invading Ukraine and
require Moscow to immediately and unconditionally withdraw, but the measure is
set to fail because Moscow can cast a veto. The US-drafted resolution is then
expected to be taken up by the 193-member UN General Assembly within days, said
a senior US administration official, speaking Thursday on condition of
anonymity. Although action will be blocked in the 15-member Security Council,
Washington and its allies see a vote as a chance to show Moscow is isolated over
its actions. Diplomats said it appeared at least 11 members would vote in favour,
while it was unclear where China, India and the United Arab Emirates would
stand.
The draft Security Council resolution would condemn Russia’s “aggression”
against Ukraine, demand it “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw
all of its military forces” and reverse its recognition of separatist regions in
eastern Ukraine as being independent. The text also reaffirms the council’s
“commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity
of Ukraine within its internationally-recognised borders.”Russian President
Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine as the 15-member Security Council met in New York
late on Wednesday to try and defuse weeks of mounting.
Russia's move in Ukraine prompts Syria to tightly manage
resources
AFP/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
The government of economically-battered Syria decided Thursday to cut spending
in an effort to reduce the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, concerned
that oil and wheat prices could sharply increase, the state-owned news agency
said. SANA reported that after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, officials
decided to manage reserves of main staples such as wheat, sugar, cooking oil and
rice for the next two months, closely watch the distribution of the commodities
and ration them. Syria’s Economy Minister, Mohammed Samer Khalil, said Crimea
offered to export wheat to Syria. He said the Syrian government is considering
the offer. SANA said the government also decided to closely monitor the exchange
rate and to “ration public spending in a way that only covers priorities during
this period.”Syria, struggling after more than a decade of war, relies mostly on
wheat imports from Russia and oil shipments from its other ally, Iran. As Russia
pounded Ukraine Thursday, Syrian authorities saw danger signs in rising oil
prices on both sides of the Atlantic and wholesale prices jumped for heating
oil, wheat and other commodities. Russia is a main backer of President Bashar
Assad’s government and its military intervention in 2015 helped tip the balance
of power in his favour. The Syrian government described the attacks on Ukraine
as a “military operation by the Russian allies to preserve their national
security and stability.”The cabinet decision to harbour resources came as oil
prices on both sides of the Atlantic jumped toward or above $100 per barrel to
their highest levels since 2014, up more than 6%. Syria's conflict which began
in March 2011 has left nearly half a million people dead and displaced half the
country’s pre-war population of 23 million. The war has also led to severe
shortages of fuel and wheat. The dollar today is worth about 3,600 Syrian pounds
compared with 47 pounds at the start of the conflict. The country's largest oil
wells are under the control of US-backed Kurdish-led fighters in the country’s
east, depriving the government of access to them. The country’s fertile
agricultural areas, where most wheat is planted, are also beyond government
control. Earlier on Thursday, Russia invaded Ukraine, hitting cities and bases
with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.
Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a
“full-scale war” that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout
already reverberated around the world. The Syrian government move came hours
after the UN warned that 14.6 million people are in need of aid in war-torn
Syria, an increase of 1.2 million people compared with last year. The report by
the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs was released late
Wednesday. The UN and its partners are reaching seven million people every
month, “but more support is required,” tweeted Mark Cutts, the UN Deputy
Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis.
MENA countries face risk of grain supply disruption as
result of Russia-Ukraine conflict
Reuters/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
Analysts point out that Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens to disrupt
exports of commodities such as grains and oilseeds from both countries to all
parts of the world including the Middle East. Moreover, the prospect of
toughened sanctions against Russia could further impact grain exports, along
with energy and metals supplies."If sanctions affect payment transactions,
Russian banks and possibly also the insurance that covers Russian oil and gas
deliveries, supply outages cannot be excluded," said Commerzbank analysts.
Russia's commodity exports could also be disrupted by buyers being unable open
letters of credit from Western banks to cover purchases. Russia and Ukraine are
major wheat suppliers, accounting for a combined 29% of global exports, the bulk
of which go through ports in the Black Sea. Much of that wheat is exported to
major buyers in the Middle East and North Africa such as Egypt and Turkey.
Ukraine is also one of the world's top four corn (maize) exporters and had been
shipping around 4.5 million tonnes a month with major customers including China
and the European Union. The two countries also account for about 80% of global
exports of sunflower oil. While crude oil rose above $100 per barrel for the
first time since 2014, wheat jumped to a nine and a half year high, corn to an
eight-month peak and aluminium soared to record highs.
Ukraine shutters ports
Ukraine's military has suspended commercial shipping at its ports after Russian
forces invaded the country, an adviser to the Ukrainian president's
chief-of-staff said, stoking even more fears of supply disruption from leading
grain and oilseeds exporters. Russia earlier ordered the Azov Sea closed to the
movement of commercial vessels until further notice, but kept Russian ports in
the Black Sea open for navigation, its officials and five grain industry sources
said on Thursday. Global farm commodities trader Cargill Inc said an ocean
vessel it chartered was "hit by a projectile" on the Black Sea, but that the
ship remained seaworthy and all crew were safe. Much of Ukraine's corn exports
are destined for China and the European Union. It also competes with Russia to
supply wheat to major buyers such as Egypt and Turkey. Industry estimates
currently put Ukraine's grain exports at about 5 million to 6 million tonnes a
month, comprising about 4.5 million tonnes of corn, 1 million tonnes of wheat
and a remaining share mainly of barley. Main grain export ports include
Chornomorsk, Mikolayiv, Odessa, Kherson and Yuzhny. Egypt's state grains buyer
cancelled an international purchasing tender for wheat on Thursday amid reports
that no offers of either Russian or Ukrainian wheat had been received. Russian
forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday in a massed assault by land, sea and air, the
biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two. "The
market is still struggling to get a clear picture of the actual military
situation on the ground. The ports in the Azov and Black Sea so far seem not to
have been damaged according to the initial shipping agency reports," one
European grain trader said. The trader said the market was looking out for any
declarations of force majeure, meaning suppliers will not fulfil contractual
obligations because of extreme circumstances. Shipping group Maersk said on
Thursday it had halted all port calls in Ukraine until the end of February and
has shut its main office in Odessa on the Black Sea coast because of the
conflict. Global agricultural commodities trader Bunge Ltd said Thursday it had
shuttered company offices in Ukraine and operations in its Black Sea grains port
in Nikolaev, Ukraine, had been suspended. Competitor Archer-Daniels Midland Co
said its Ukraine facilities, including an Odessa export terminal, were not
operating.
Request to Turkey
Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, mainly ships its grain from ports in
the Black Sea. The Azov Sea's ports are shallower and have less capacity.
Mariupol, reported to be under attack from Russian forces, one of the biggest
Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, mainly handles relatively small ships of
between 3,000 to 10,000 tonnes deadweight. The Azov Sea ports export wheat,
barley and corn to Mediterranean importers including Cyprus, Egypt, Italy,
Lebanon and Turkey. Another European trader, speaking on condition of anonymity,
said such countries would have to seek alternative supplies if the ships were
unable to depart in the near future. US wheat futures rose to the highest level
in nearly a decade as the conflict threatened to disrupt the flow of supplies
from the region while European wheat futures climbed to a record peak. Russia
produced 76 million tonnes of wheat last year and is expected by the US
department of agriculture to export 35 million tonnes in the July-June season,
17% of the global total. Ukraine asked Turkey on Thursday to close the Bosphorus
and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships, the Ukrainian ambassador to Ankara
said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he backed Ukraine's
territorial integrity but there was no immediate response to Kyiv's request. It
places Turkey in a difficult position as it shares a maritime border with
Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Ankara
has control over the straits and can limit the passage of warships in wartime or
if threatened.
Israel Seeks 'Delicate Balance' in Ukraine Crisis
Agence France Presse/February 25/2022
With Russian forces in neighboring Syria, Washington its unswerving ally and
about a million citizens with ties to the former Soviet Union, Israel is seeking
a delicate balance in the Ukraine crisis. For residents of Bat Yam, just south
of Tel Aviv and home to many Jews with roots in Russia and Ukraine, the Russian
invasion launched Thursday triggered shock and concern for relatives. "I didn't
expect it, when I got the message from my parents (in Ukraine)," said Natalia
Kogan. "People are stressed," added the 57-year-old, who works at a supermarket
catering for people from the former USSR, where Ukrainian and Russian beers are
stocked side-by-side on shelves. Max, a 33-year-old who left Russia when he was
eight, told AFP he "understood" Russian President Vladimir Putin's concerns
about Ukraine pursuing NATO membership. "But that doesn't justify an invasion,"
he said, requesting that his last name be withheld. "The most frustrating
(thing) is that normal people are suffering," he added, dismissing suggestions
of tensions between Russians and Ukrainians within Israel. He called on Israel
to avoid taking sides and focus on helping civilians, including by evacuating
any Ukrainian Jews who want to leave.
"What else can Israel do?"
Ties with both sides
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in a phone call with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, "offered Israel's assistance with any humanitarian
aid needed", the Israeli premier's office said in a statement. Calls for
neutrality on the streets of Bat Yam mirrored the official Israeli posture
presented Thursday hours after Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Michael
Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington, told AFP that Bennett's
government would likely face growing calls to back Western and US efforts to
sanction and isolate Moscow. "Doing so would be ill-advised," said Oren, who has
held senior foreign policy roles with various Israeli governments. "While Israel
has to condemn the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, we can't lose sight of
the fact that we have the Russian army on our northern border," he said,
referring to the large Russian presence in Syria since 2015.
"That is a matter of national security."Oren also recalled the toxic relations
between Israel and the former USSR, and the persecution of Jews living under
Soviet control through the Cold War. And the large Jewish population in Russia
could not be forgotten, he added. "We can't go back to a situation where Israel
is out of touch with (them). This has to be a priority." In his first remarks
after the assault on Ukraine began, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid
condemned Russia's invasion as "a serious violation of the international order,"
but also stressed Israel's "deep, long-lasting and good relations with Russia
and with Ukraine." "There are hundreds of thousands of Jews in both countries.
Maintaining their security and safety is at the top of our considerations,"
Lapid said. Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata said Thursday that Israel
was "ready to accept thousands of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine".
'Delicate balance'
Itamar Rabinovich, another former envoy to Washington, told AFP that compared
with the outright hostility that shaped ties during the Cold War, "Putin's
Russia has represented an improvement" for Israeli diplomacy, including by
allowing for closer bonds with Russia's Jews.
Rabinovich, a senior research fellow at Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern
and African Studies in Tel Aviv, stressed ties with Washington would always take
precedence, as the US relationship was a foundational element of Israeli
security. But he noted that Russia had allowed Israel "to pursue its war against
Iran" inside Syria, while also not blocking arch foe Tehran "from pursuing its
own ends" inside Israel's northern neighbor, where it backs the Damascus regime.
Israel should not "jeopardize the delicate balance in our relationship with
Russia," he said.
Hunger problem could worsen in Yemen as result of Ukraine
conflict
AFP/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
The UN's World Food Programme warned Thursday that the Russia-Ukraine conflict
will likely increase fuel and food prices in war-torn Yemen, pushing yet more
people into hunger as aid funding dwindles. The announcement came as Russia
launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending oil prices past $100 per
barrel. European wheat prices also hit a record high on expectations of lower
supplies as Ukraine and Russia are two of the world's biggest producers. At the
start of this year, WFP was forced to reduce food rations for eight million
people in Yemen, where a seven-year-long civil war between the government and
Houthi rebels has pushed the country to the brink of famine. "The escalation of
conflict in Ukraine is likely to further increase fuel and food prices and
especially grains in the import-dependent country," said a WFP statement on
Thursday. "Food prices have more than doubled across much of Yemen over the past
year, leaving more than half of the country in need of food assistance. "Higher
food prices will push more people into the vicious circle of hunger and
dependence on humanitarian assistance." The WFP has repeatedly warned funds were
drying up despite Yemen going through what the United Nations calls the world's
worst humanitarian crisis. It needs about $800 million in the next six months to
provide full assistance to the 13 million people it has been helping. The
shortfall is giving the UN organisation no choice but to ring-fence money for
five million people in Yemen "on the brink of famine", leaving the other eight
million who are suffering inadequate food supplies with only half rations. The
top donors to the WFP for its Yemen operations are the United States, Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Germany, the European Union, Sweden,
Canada and Switzerland. The UN last year appealed for $3.85 billion to pay for
urgently needed aid, but just $1.7 billion was forthcoming. Hundreds of
thousands of people have been killed directly or indirectly in the Yemen
conflict, while millions have been displaced. "We have no choice but to take
food from the hungry to feed the starving and unless we receive immediate
funding, in a few weeks we risk not even being able to feed the starving," the
WFP statement cited its Executive Director David Beasley as saying. "This will
be hell on earth," he warned.
Egypt tensions prevent Tebboune from holding tripartite
summit in Doha
AFP/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's Gulf tour, which took him to Qatar and
Kuwait, was marked by an unexpected rise in tensions with Egypt. The sudden
crisis led to the cancellation of a tripartite summit that was reportedly
planned to be held in Kuwait between the Algerian leader, his Egyptian
counterpart, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf
Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Algerian political sources linked the meeting's cancellation
to Algeria’s announcement of a new African bloc, which Cairo saw as prejudicial
to its own interests in Africa.
Another possible cause of friction, according to the sources, was the meeting
held in Doha between the Algerian president and the head of the Libyan
Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dbeibah. That encounter may have
angered the Egyptian president, whose country supports the new government of
Fathi Bashagha, who was recently designated premier by the Libyan parliament.
According to Arab media reports, the Egyptian president left the Kuwaiti capital
hours before his Algerian counterpart arrived from Qatar, hence cancelling the
summit between the leaders of the three countries.
The Dbeibah-Tebboune meeting is said to have been interpreted by Cairo as an
expression of Algerian support for the outgoing Libyan government, whch is
refusing to quit. Egypt was also apparently annoyed by reports that Tebboune's
government is launching an African Group of Four.
Relations between Egypt and Algeria seemed to have improved in recent weeks,
with Tebboune's visit to Cairo, where Egypt backed the convening of the next
Arab summit in Algeria and showed itself willing help persuade Arab countries to
attend at a high level based on an agenda agreed in advance. In recent years,
the Libyan crisis has been an issue of contention between Algiers and Cairo due
to their conflicting positions on the conflict and its possible settlement. But
both were later able to contain their lingering Libya disagreements. The
announcement of an African Group of Four, including Ethiopia, Nigeria, South
Africa and Algeria, further fuelled Egyptian concerns, in light of the simmering
crisis between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the Renaissance Dam. There have been
no details about the nature and objectives of this new African bloc, its
connection to the African Union and its position on contentious issues, such as
the Renaissance Dam and the Western Sahara. According to Algerian reports, the
four African leaders agreed to hold an official summit at a later date, to draw
a road map for Africa in the coming months and years ahead. The Algerian
president had sought, through his visit to Qatar and Kuwait, to reassure the
Gulf states of his country's desire to open a new chapter and to avoid stirring
up contentious issues, especially that of the Western Sahara, in the light of a
Gulf consensus in support of Morocco's sovereignty over the dispute territory.
Algerian sources said Tebboune received no clear answer during his Gulf tour
over his desire for a thaw in frosty relations with Saudi Arabia, despite his
expression of support to the GCC's security in the face of outside threats.
Libyan parliament to vote on Bashagha government next week
AFP/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
Libya's parliament said on Thursday it will hold a session next week in which it
is likely to vote on confirming a new interim government headed by former
Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha. The incumbent administration of outgoing Prime
Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has vowed it will not hand over power and warned
that if forced out there could be "war" and "chaos" in Libya. A year after a
unity government was installed in Tripoli and two months after a scheduled
election was cancelled amid arguments over electoral rules, political tensions
and armed militia interference, the dispute over how to move forward threatens
to plunge Libya back into division. Bashagha, the man designated by the
parliament to form the new government, said on Thursday he was ready to propose
a cabinet, while the chamber's spokesman said a session would be held on Monday.
Dbeibah, who took office through a UN-backed process, has vowed he will only
hand over power to an elected administration and this week said he was planning
to hold a nationwide vote in the summer. His unilateral move has not gained much
traction for lack of support from Libyan protagonists and institutions. The
parliament accuses Dbeibah of corruption and says his term expired on December
24 when the election was meant to take place. Dbeibah says the parliament is
itself no longer valid, eight years after it was elected. Though the parliament
also says it plans a referendum on a new temporary constitution and elections
after that, few analysts expect a national vote any time soon. The tussle
between Libya's rival political institutions now threatens to thrust the country
back into conflict after the last major bout of fighting stopped in 2020. Over
recent weeks opposing armed factions have mobilised in the capital Tripoli and
analysts say the political crisis could trigger clashes with potential knock-on
effects across the country. Libya has had little peace or security since the
2011 NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gadhafi. After the last national
election in 2014 it split between warring administrations ruling in Tripoli and
the east. The parliament mostly sided in that conflict with Libyan National Army
(LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar against the Tripoli-based government
of former Prime Minister of Fayez al-Sarraj, an administration which included
Bashagha.Eastern forces were supported by Russia, Egypt and the UAE while the
Tripoli government was backed by Qatar and by Turkey, which sent military
personnel and thousands of mercenaries. Both Russia and Turkey have kept forces
in Libya. Turkey has since moved closer to Egypt and Gulf nations, and held
talks with Bashagha.
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published on
February 25-26/2022
شارل الياس شرتوني/تراهات اتوقراطية مجرمة
The Criminal Wanderings of a Paranoid Autocrat
Charles Elias Chartouni/February 25/2022
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/106589/106589/
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in it”(Shakespeare, Hamlet)
When listening to the fabulations of a criminal dictator, we are inevitably led
to question the track records of the thirty two years which succeeded the
debacle of communism and its disastrous legacy. What has been achieved, who
achieved it, what has failed and who are those who failed, and try make sense of
both scenarios. The blatant lies of Vladimir Putin are broadcasted through and
through to cover up his criminal undertaking and its unwarranted pretexts. This
whole web of lies needs to be deconstructed instantly in order to pave way for a
clear sighted strategy that shortens the catastrophic fallouts of this
unjustified war. Both Russians and Ukrainians didn’t buy into this thicket of
official lies reminiscent of the tawdry Soviet propaganda that nobody bought in.
The brazen lies of Putin failed convincing the Russians about the rationale
behind this war, and made Ukrainians more determined to resist this unjustified
criminal aggression.
While rehashing the old rhetoric of the communist era about the American
imperialism design in Russia and its willingness to control Russia, he failed
progressively to provide the evidence and make the various national
constituencies endorse his humbug and psychotic ramblings. His usual reference
to the “catastrophic”downfall of the Soviet Union fails to pinpoint the causes
of its unraveling, while externalizing and shifting the blame away from the
internal causes that led to the implosion of this empire built on ideological
fallacies, State terror, disastrous governance and warmongering imperialism.
The ultimate failure of the Warsaw Pact was preceded by a legacy of national
revolts (Czechoslovakia 1968, Hungary 1956, Poland, 1989… ), Idiosyncratic paths
(Yugoslavia, Rumania, Albania...) partaking of the same model of communist
governance guided by communist secretary generals who successfully maneuvered
away from Soviet subservience, and bungled international interventions in
Afghanistan, Latin America Africa and the Arab world. The Putin’s self delusion
revolves around the myth of restoring the Soviet imperium, while relating to the
targeted nations as if they were disposable aggregates that should
unquestionably submit to his diktat.
The historical telescoping of Vladimir Poutine is the outcome of his paranoid
worldview, intellectual paucity and the upbringing of a cynical KGB operative
trained to kill, destroy the life of others and stage political ploys. This
whole scenario about restoring the territorial integrity of the Soviet Russian
empire, is a reverberation of a psychotic mind who succeeded transforming the
Post-Cold War Russia into an “Animal Farm”, after destroying the different
layers of an incipient civil society, where people are cowed through State
terror, political assassination, and mafia economics. He was successful
transforming the budding democratic institutions into simulacrums, eradicating
the opposition and turning Russia into a panopticon controlled by a deranged
autocrat. This whole tragedy is the unfolding of an unhinged dictatorship which
transformed a whole country into the unwalled jail of wandering psychotic.
His choices do not reflect by any means the dynamics of an incrementally liberal
civil society, and a new generation who has overcome the hang ups of a neurotic
post-totalitarian society, and with diverging scaling of values and priorities.
The Achilles heel of this reckless criminal undertaking is the deep antipathy
that is developing at a meteoric pace towards the vagrancies of a profoundly
deranged mind, his mafia coterie and the recycled red army leftovers .
The subterranean opposition developing in Russia, and the stoic attitude of a
deeply aggrieved Ukrainian population are the true bulwark against this rampant
criminality and its cascading imprints in Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and all along
the demarcation lines of the imploded communist dystopia and its defunct legacy.
This lunatic dictator who destroys deliberately the rules of international
civility, disparages basic diplomacy, overlooks the historical and national
legacies and does away with them as parentheses to be bracketed out, is the
catalyst of rising and ongoing totalitarianisms, that should be countered and
defeated unhesitatingly and with no soul searching.
An In-Depth Look at Islam’s Achilles Heel
Raymond Ibrahim/American Thinker/February 25/2022
The history of Islam and the West has been one of unwavering antagonism and
seismic clashes, often initiated by the followers of Muhammad. By the standards
of history, nothing between the two forces is as well documented as this long
war. Accordingly, for more than a millennium, both educated and not so educated
Europeans knew—the latter perhaps instinctively—that Islam was a militant creed
that for centuries attacked and committed atrocities in their homelands, all in
the name of “holy war,” or jihad. In the words of Konstantin Mihailović, a
fifteenth century Serb who was forced to convert to Islam in his youth and made
to fight as a slave-soldier for the Turks until he escaped: “the Persians, the
Turks, the Tatars, the Berbers, and the Arabs; and the diverse Moors… [all]
conduct themselves according to the accursed Koran, that is, the scripture of
Mohammed.”
This long held perspective has been radically twisted in recent times. According
to the dominant narrative—as upheld by mainstream media and Hollywood, pundits
and politicians, academics and “experts” of all stripes—Islam was historically
progressive and peaceful, whereas premodern Europe was fanatical and predatory.
Or, to quote the BBC, “Throughout the Middle Ages, the Muslim world was more
advanced and more civilised than Christian Western Europe, which learned a huge
amount from its neighbour.”
The reason for these topsy-turvy claims is that “Who controls the past controls
the future,” as George Orwell observed in his 1984 (a dystopian novel that has
become increasingly applicable to our times). It is, therefore, unsurprising to
discover that the greatest apologia for politically active Islamists and their
Leftist allies—and the first premise for all subsequent apologias for Islam—is
purely historical in nature.
Recall, for instance, the most popular and oft asked question to arise after the
September 11, 2001 terror strikes: “Why do they hate us?” Unbeknownst to most,
this question presupposed—indeed, was heavy laden with—a historical point of
view that had been forged over decades and largely remains unquestioned, even by
critics of modern Islam: Because Islam was tolerant and advanced in the past,
this entrenched perspective holds, its current problems in the
present—authoritarianism, intolerance, violence, radicalization, terrorism,
etc.—must be aberrations, products of unfavorable circumstances, politics,
economics, “grievances”—anything and everything but Islam itself. Simply put, if
they did not “hate us” before—but were rather progressive and tolerant—surely
something other than Islam has since “gone wrong.” Nor is it much help to argue
that the Koran and hadith make it clear that Islam is inherently intolerant
thanks to the widely entrenched notion that everything—especially old
scriptures—are open to “interpretation.”
From here one can see the importance of safeguarding the current narrative of a
historically “advanced” and “tolerant” Islam vis-à-vis a historically
“backwards” and “intolerant” Europe.
I myself experienced firsthand just how important controlling this narrative is
for political Islamists. After the U.S. Army War College invited me to lecture
on my last history book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between
Islam and the West, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, “CAIR”—an
unindicted coconspirator in the largest terrorist funding case in U.S.
history—and its leftist allies launched an “unprecedented” attack on me and the
War College. They issued—on two separate occasions—press releases, hysterical
petitions (presenting the War College—even me, an ethnic Egyptian—as “white
supremacists”), and made several direct calls to and met with the heads of the
War College—all in an effort to get my talk canceled.
In the end, they failed, in part because the National Association of Scholars
sent a petition letter to then president Donald Trump—signed by over five
thousand people, mostly university affiliated academics; ten congressmen also
came to my support. More to the point, and as retired U.S. Army lieutenant
colonel and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Allen West, who
also came to my support, explained, “not one sentence of his recent literary
project [Sword and Scimitar] was mentioned by these Islamo-fascists [as being
wrong].”
When CAIR and its “woke” allies realized that their attempts at academic
censorship had failed, and that I would speak anyway, they urged the War College
and it agreed to allow another historian to present a “counterview” in response
to my lecture. This was John Voll, professor emeritus of Islamic history at
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (See here for how this renowned
apologist misrepresented and whitewashed Islam’s history of terror vis-à-vis the
West.) Unfortunately, and despite the fact that the War College videotaped my
talk (objectively summarized by a reporter here), and informed me that it would
be, like all of their talks, posted online, it never was published.
At any rate, why did CAIR and its allies launch such an attack on me in the
first place, especially considering that they did not respond similarly to my
other books which I also lectured about in other prestigious venues—books that
dealt with current and hot topics (e.g., Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New
War on Christians and The Al Qaeda Reader)? Why instead did they go after a book
that revolved around, of all things, “ancient history”—and with such vehemence,
at one point desperately insisting that if I am allowed to lecture on it at the
War College, American servicemen would get so riled as to start massacring
Muslims on sight?
Because they too know what is at stake; they too know that “who controls the
past”—which they are determined to continue doing—“controls the future.” So long
as the people of the West accept as a first premise that Islam was historically
and for centuries an advanced, enlightened, and tolerant force—especially in
comparison to Europe—so long must all the violent and terrible things currently
being committed in its name be chalked up to other factors—territorial disputes,
grievances, economics, education, politics, and/or “lack of jobs” to quote the
Obama White House—never Islam itself.
Such logic is admittedly sound—but only as long as its first premise remains
unchallenged. For those, however, who become acquainted with Islam’s true
history vis-à-vis the West, there is no “why do they hate us?” or “what went
wrong?” to explain away. Rather, the obvious becomes painfully clear: the Muslim
world’s present is, sadly, an extension—often a mirror representation—of its
past.
Chinese Censorship on American Soil
Peter Schweizer/Gatestone Institute/February 25, 2022
Americans are now familiar with the sad spectacle of their own countrymen bowing
to Chinese pressure publicly. We see it done by captains of industry, Wall
Street's largest firms, the most elite universities, sports heroes, cultural
figures, and politicians alike. It has become so common that it is news when
someone instead resists the pressure from Chinese communist regime and suffers
financially because of it.
The latest example of that is professional basketball player Enes Kanter
Freedom, who was recently traded by the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets,
which then promptly waived him. The Rockets have offered no reason for this
move, but it is no secret that the team has a devoted following in and makes a
lot of money from China.
"People's willingness to speak out about these issues tends to be related to how
much business they have in China.... Everyone understands that the quid pro quo
of taking Chinese cash is that you never criticize them." — David Sacks, The
Megyn Kelly Show, February 8, 2022.
My latest book, Red Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win,
traces these themes.... It is surprising how little attention those chapters
have received in mainstream news outlets....
Highlighted are detailed actions and pro-Beijing statements of financial giants
such as Larry Fink and Ray Dalio, who run BlackRock and Bridgewater Associates,
respectively. An entire chapter catalogs similar kowtowing from Big Tech by
Silicon Valley's wealthiest CEOs, including Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cooke, and Bill
Gates. From political dynasties in the US and Canada to philanthropists and
Harvard professors, from sports stars to movie actors, the Chinese money talks
so loudly it drowns out every other sound.
"News conglomerates do not want to cover bad news about China. But it's not
because of a grand conspiracy theory. It's simply because they make so much
money." — Alex Marlow, editor-in-chief of Breitbart News and author of the book,
Breaking the News: Exposing the Establishment Media's Hidden Deals and Secret
Corruption.
Even smaller media outlets such as The Atlantic Monthly and Axios aren't immune,
[Marlow] notes in his book. Both are owned by Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs's
widow, whose fortune came from Apple and Disney, two companies that owe a lot of
their wealth to their business activities in China.
"Bloomberg News has to extend its contract every two years, so [Michael
Bloomberg] goes over there to kiss the ring." — Alex Marlow, The Drill Down,
February 10, 2022
How much longer will our large media outlets ignore the growing threat Chinese
influence poses to their core principles of presenting the truth without fear or
favor?
As Albert Camus, wrote, "The Welfare of the people... has always been the alibi
of tyrants... giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience."
"The CCP is essentially depriving Americans of their free speech rights – not in
China, but on American soil – as a condition of doing business over there."
Billionaire tech investor David Sacks recently summed up the state of Communist
Chinese intimidation of American business, sports leagues like the NBA, and
anyone else with commercial interests in China. Pictured: Sacks speaks at a
conference on September 13, 2016 in San Francisco.
Billionaire tech investor David Sacks recently summed up the present state of
Communist Chinese intimidation of American business, sports leagues like the
NBA, and anyone else with commercial interests in China. He sees it getting
worse, not better.
Appearing on a podcast hosted by former Fox News anchor and NBC talk show host
Megyn Kelly, Sacks was asked to address the backlash against his friend, Chamath
Palihapitiya, for saying "no one cares" about repression and ethnic cleansing of
the Uyghurs by China's communist regime. Sacks told Kelly he accepts his
friend's later explanation that his words simply came out wrong. But Sacks's
larger response to the question of Chinese intimidation really hit the nail on
the head:
"The CCP is essentially depriving Americans of their free speech rights – not in
China, but on American soil – as a condition of doing business over there."
Americans are now familiar with the sad spectacle of their own countrymen bowing
to Chinese pressure publicly. We see it done by captains of industry, Wall
Street's largest firms, the most elite universities, sports heroes, cultural
figures, and politicians alike. It has become so common that it is news when
someone instead resists the pressure from Chinese communist regime and suffers
financially because of it.
The latest example of that is professional basketball player Enes Kanter
Freedom, who was recently traded by the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets,
which then promptly waived him. The Rockets have offered no reason for this
move, but it is no secret that the team has a devoted following in and makes a
lot of money from China. The Rockets were, you may remember, the team whose
general manager, Daryl Morey, ran afoul of China's regime after he tweeted
support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong in 2019. His public statement
angered Beijing, which banned sales of all Rockets merchandise and took NBA
shows off the air until the team and the league came to heel. Morey stepped down
from his job with the team a year later.
Sacks is deeply concerned about China's malevolent influence in the world. Not
just the regime's persecution of the Uyghurs, but their theft of American
intellectual property and cyber espionage, their belligerent relations with
their neighbors and treatment of dissidents, the "social credit system" they
impose on their people and, of course, their actions related to the COVID
pandemic.
Still, he understands the pressures Americans are subjected to by the regime.
"People's willingness to speak out about these issues tends to be related to how
much business they have in China. I have no business in China, so I feel fairly
unencumbered in saying what I just said. But there are a lot of people who do
business in China who just won't speak out. Everyone understands that the quid
pro quo of taking Chinese cash is that you never criticize them."
My latest book, Red Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win,
traces these themes across many areas of American life, and tracks with Sacks's
observations. The best-selling book has received notice in the press for its
revelation that Joe Biden's family made $31 million in deals with individuals
connected directly to Chinese intelligence. That was in one chapter. Subsequent
chapters investigate the actions and statements of powerful figures from Wall
Street, Silicon Valley, and elite academia, among other targets. It is
surprising how little attention those chapters have received in mainstream news
outlets, apart from Fox News.
Highlighted are detailed actions and pro-Beijing statements of financial giants
such as Larry Fink and Ray Dalio, who run BlackRock and Bridgewater Associates,
respectively. An entire chapter catalogs similar kowtowing from Big Tech by
Silicon Valley's wealthiest CEOs, including Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cooke, and Bill
Gates. From political dynasties in the US and Canada to philanthropists and
Harvard professors, from sports stars to movie actors, the Chinese money talks
so loudly it drowns out every other sound.
Alex Marlow of Breitbart News recently appeared on The Drill Down, and our topic
quickly turned to how these same economic strings affect the largest media
companies in this country as well. Marlow said he believes in "following the
money," and he applied that lens to researching his own new book.
All of the large news outlets are part of corporations that owe large parts of
their revenue streams to their business interests in China. "News conglomerates
do not want to cover bad news about China. But it's not because of a grand
conspiracy theory. It's simply because they make so much money," he said.
Indeed, it is hard to feel sorry for NBC's sports broadcasting business, which
has seen viewership of its exclusive Beijing Olympics coverage plummet by 50
percent because of various boycotts and ill feelings against the Chinese
Communist hosts, turncoat American athletes who are competing under the Chinese
flag, and a visual spectacle that looks like something out of "The Hunger
Games."
NBC, Marlow explained, is part of NBCUniversal, which is in turn owned by
Comcast. Thus, they are not only the corporate sponsor of the "Genocide Games,"
but day to day make a lot of money in China from Universal Studios and its
associated theme park there. ABC News is owned by Disney, which makes huge
amounts of money in China through its theme parks and other entertainment
businesses. CNN's parent is AT&T, which last year allegedly lobbied the US
Commerce Department on behalf of China Telecom over a sanctions measure related
to human rights violations by the Chinese.
Even smaller media outlets such as The Atlantic Monthly and Axios aren't immune,
he notes in his book. Both are owned by Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs's widow,
whose fortune came from Apple and Disney, two companies that owe a lot of their
wealth to their business activities in China.
Michael Bloomberg, whose financial news empire has made him $50 billion, "has
the most access [in China] of any major media conglomerate, and it's totally at
the will of Beijing's propagandists," Marlow said. "Bloomberg News has to extend
its contract every two years, so he goes over there to kiss the ring."
As Sacks noted, he has no business interests in China and can risk speaking out.
NBC and others whose corporate paymasters owe massive percentages of their
annual sales revenue to Chinese indulgences are not so free. What they can
excuse for the sake of not offending their Chinese hosts and benefactors, they
excuse or minimize. What they can ignore, they ignore.
How much longer will our large media outlets ignore the growing threat Chinese
influence poses to their core principles of presenting the truth without fear or
favor?
As Albert Camus, wrote, "The Welfare of the people... has always been the alibi
of tyrants... giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience."
Peter Schweizer, President of the Governmental Accountability Institute, is a
Gatestone Institute Distinguished Senior Fellow and author of the new book, Red
Handed: How American Elites are Helping China Win.
2022 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.
Redrawing Europe’s Map… with Blood
Elias Harfoush/Asharq Al Awsat/February, 25/2022
History is repeating itself. The world underwent this dark period eight decades
ago. A man has risen to power carrying delusions of grandeur and dreams of
expansion beyond his country’s territory, which no longer fits his ambitions. On
top of that, he carries a score to settle with the legacy of the “aggression” of
the past that his country had been subjected to at the victors’ hands.
Adolf Hitler arrives at the Chancellery in Berlin to avenge the Treaty of
Versailles. Vladimir Putin arrives at the Kremlin to avenge the agreements
between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that brought the curtain down on the
Soviet era and deprived Moscow of its leadership of 14 neighboring countries.
However, it did open the door to the European continent for Russia, a step that
was supposed to be a gateway to turning them into a single family whose
relationships are shaped by the principles of friendly neighborliness and
respect for the right of this continent’s countries to manage their affairs as
their citizens choose.
Putin is not Gorbachev or Boris Yeltsin. He is a student of a different school.
It does not recognize the culpability of the Kremlin leadership during the
communist era for what happened to the Soviet Union. Instead, his conspiracy
theory leads him to consider this collapse to have been the result of a Western
plot to weaken the Russian leadership and impose a unipolar world order. He sees
the decision of neighboring countries that had been part of the Soviet orbit to
join the European bloc and NATO as nothing more than part of that plan.
Putin does not recognize these countries’ right to choose their own destiny
because he simply does not believe they have a right to be independent states.
This is his fundamental issue with Ukraine, as well as the three Baltic states
that face the specter of a similar fate if Russia’s invasion of Ukraine succeeds
and Putin is allowed to install the regime of his choice in Kyiv.
As the German Chancellor said yesterday, it is a terrible day for Ukraine and a
dark day for Europe. Because Olaf Scholz hails from Germany, he knows well the
heavy tax that Russia will pay because of this aggression and has it in mind
when he says that history will demonstrate that Putin committed a grave mistake
that will be disastrous for Russia.
But the responsibility is not on Putin’s shoulders alone. The West has chosen to
ignore the Russian president’s plans for over two decades, during which he has
been “experimenting” with the limits of the West’s reactions to his violations
of the rules that govern international relations. Forget about his domestic
policies and his assault on the principle of the peaceful transfer of power,
which the West considered internal matters. Putin has been poisoning his
opponents in Western capitals.
He turned the tables in Syria, perpetuating Bashar al-Assad’s hold on power
despite broad regional and international condemnation of the Syrian regime’s
crimes against its people. He has used Russia’s Security Council veto to prevent
investigations into these crimes on several occasions. He also allied himself
with the Iranian regime despite this Tehran’s interventions in several Arab
countries. He invaded and occupied Crimea under the pretext that it is “Russian
territory” and then sent his forces to the two separatist provinces in eastern
Ukraine under the pretext that Ukrainians of Russian origin reside there,
repeating the argument Hitler had made when he annexed Austria and the
Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia under the pretext that Germans make up the
majority there.
Putin did all of this while the world watched and did nothing but issue
condemnations and statements. Even when western intelligence reports affirmed
the Russian president’s intention to invade Ukraine, western leaders rushed to
the end of that long and humiliating table they were forced to sit at as though
they were in court, begging him not to invade his neighbor. Meanwhile, the US
president was reassuring Putin that he would not send US forces to Ukraine...
What other conclusion could Putin have reached from all of this beyond an
assessment that the West is totally incapable of standing up to him and has
given him the green light to do whatever he wants in Ukraine?
History is repeating itself. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and
French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier’s attempts to appease Hitler were
repeated by Macron and Scholz, whose attempts were never going to succeed. As he
sat with them to negotiate, Putin’s military was planning the attack on Ukraine.
History is not rewritten with ink, but blood. Europe found this out thanks to
the recklessness of a man who came to Munich fleeing Austria and ended up
destroying his country and much of Europe’s cities with it, leaving Germany with
heavy burdens that it carried for half a century before being allowed to unite
again and reestablish relations with its neighbors after prohibiting a return to
that dark era in its history without erasing its people’s memory.
This is what Europe is witnessing today at the hands of another madman who has
come to take revenge from his communist-Bolshevik predecessors, whom he accuses
of “creating” his neighbor Ukraine. Just as invading Poland after claiming that
it had never been an independent or normal state was the first step on Hitler’s
path, it appears that today, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, starting from its
eastern provinces, is founded on the same argument: it was never a normal and
genuine state.
However, the Russian President ignores the fact that this country, known as the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic at the time, had been part of the Soviet
orbit and that its president had been designated by the Kremlin. At that time,
45 million Ukrainians had the right to an entity with its own borders and its
own capital. Now, Putin says he will not allow the country to continue to enjoy
this right until they are subjugated and the leadership of his choice is imposed
on them.
It is a dark page of European history. Putin is not the only one responsible.
The policies of leniency and appeasement of the KGB’s spoilt prince, whom
Westerners convinced themselves had taken off that robe, were bound to lead to
what we are witnessing today.
First Round to Putin, What Next?
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/February, 25/2022
At first glance, he latest twists and turns in the Ukraine poker game might
present Russian President Vladimir Putin as the winner.
After all he is reaping what he sowed eight years ago when he incited ethnic
Russian secessionists to set up breakaway “people’s republics” in parts of
Ukrainian territory on Donetsk and Lugansk. By stationing troops in the two
enclaves, Putin makes official an occupation that he had indirectly exercised
through Wagner mercenaries and local militias. Imposing two “cooperation
treaties” on the breakaway “republics” he also shows their annexation in all but
name by Russia.
Initially, aware that he must cast himself as victim in order to win sympathy in
Western public opinion that warms up to figures like Saddam Hussein or George
Floyd, presented Russia as a victim of NATO “expansion” and his saber rattling
as an act of self-defense.
Never mind that NATO is a defensive pact and not allowed to attack anyone unless
one of its own members is first attacked. Even then, Article V under which
military action is allowed is not automatically applicable and hasn’t been
applied since the alliance was created. In contrast, led by the now defunct
Soviet Union, the rival Warsaw Pact was used for military interventions in
Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia to crush popular uprisings against Russian
domination.
Putin claimed that NATO plans to include Ukraine as a member and use it as an
advance base against Russia. That claim shows that Putin sees a war between his
Russia and NATO as a possibility if not a probability in the short run. That
claim is hard to sustain if only because, under NATO rules, a country that has
unsettled irredentist disputes with its neighbors cannot be admitted as a
member. That rule applies to both Ukraine and Georgia, another country invaded
by Putin, both of which are barred from NATO membership because of their
territorial disputes caused by Russian aggression.
Thus, Putin was making a song and dance about something that couldn’t happen
under NATO’s own rules.
In time, however, Putin may find out that he has scored hollow victory at great
political, economic and even security cost.
To start with he can no longer paly wolf disguised as sheep. Even his
apologists, not to say mercenaries among Western politicians and journalists,
are able to defend his latest move let alone presenting him as a victim of
“Imperialism”. Revealing himself as an adversary, if not a mortal foe of the
democratic world, Putin makes it easier for those in the West who have enough
backbone to stand up against appeasers. Putin may find out that although Joe
Biden may be weak and a pushover, the United States and the family of democratic
nations are not.
Putin’s call for the recognition of his two phantom republics is also likely to
fail, as did his similar calls for recognition of the annexation of Crimea in
2014 and the “independence” of Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia in 2008. Even his stooges in Tehran have not dared recognize those acts
of aggression as legitimate. His latest buddy, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
has called it “unacceptable” while Big Brother Xi Jinping in Beijing has drowned
the issue under an avalanche of equivocal spit. That leaves, Belarus’s “Mad Max”
Alexander Lukashenko who may or may not endorse Tsar Vladimir’s latest naughty
crack
Putin would be wrong to think that with the passage of time the rest of the
world will endorse his “conquest” just as no one ever recognized the annexation
of the Baltic republics by Stalin.
Putin is also wrong to think that forcing “Finlandization” on Ukraine could
offer Russia the glacis he wants.
In fact, Finland, the original model for “Finlandization”, has steadily
strengthened links with Western democracies by becoming a member of the European
Union and forging close ties of cooperation with NATO. It has also built a
strong defense, guess against whom?
Recently Finland bought 64 ultramodern F-35 warplanes enough to knock out half
of Russia’s antiquated flying machines.
Sweden, another non-NATO democracy and thus regarded as “Finlandized” has taken
note of Putin’s growing aggressive behavior and increased its defense
expenditure and strengthened its military presence in Gotland archipelago.
Since the Russian invasion of 2008, though barred from NATO membership, Georgia,
too, has been rebuilding its military defenses, almost doubling the size of its
army and acquiring modern hardware from the West.
Thus, there is no reason why Ukraine which cannot join NATO until it has settled
territorial disputes with Russia, won’t be able to upgrade its defenses with
support from Western democracies, something that is already happening albeit on
an as yet modest scale. Putin’s aggressive behavior strengthens the hands of
Ukrainian nationalists who seek a “European future” for their nation. In turn,
that would justify more expenditure on Ukrainian defense, something that could
force Putin into a mini-arms race on Russia’s Western fringes.
The spectacle of ancient Russian tanks and armored vehicles creeping into
Donbass showed how antiquarian Putin’s arsenal is.
Keeping 150,000 troops or 10 percent of his usable military capacity in Donbass
cannot be a realistic prospect at a time Putin has got Russia militarily
involved in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Transcaucasia, Tajikistan, Syria, Libya, Mali
and the Central African Republic.
Empire-building is also costly. Since 2014 Crimea, deprived of its principal
source of revenue, foreign tourism, has cost Russia some $40 billion including
the cost of a bridge to the mainland. With Donbass at point zero in terms of
economic survival, Putin would have to cater for over four million new “socially
assisted” people, including many old age pensioners.
Anyone following Russian politics with some interest might notice another fact
that might expose Putin’s victory as hollow: the absence of a large consensus on
Tsar Vladimir’s latest gamble. In the televised show designed to show that Putin
was acting on the advice of the highest officials, Prime Minister Mikhail
Michoustin and at least two other members of the National Security Council
sounded less enthusiastic about the course suggested by Putin and hinted that
the diplomatic course might not be blocked.
The haste with which Putin pushed “treaty” texts through the Duma, the Russian
parliament, also indicted concern that genuine debate might indicate lack of
full support for the Donbass adventure. Those who see Putin as a potentate might
dismiss that suggestion as fanciful and they may be right. Nevertheless, the
possibility than some in Russian leadership elite may be concerned about Putin’s
paranoia shouldn’t be ruled out.
This is a multi-round match and Putin may have won the first round. However, the
final bell hasn’t sounded yet.
Ukraine and the Images that Will Go Down in History
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/February, 25/2022
Has Vladimir Putin dealt a fatal blow to the world that was born from the
collapse of the Berlin War and over the rubble of the Soviet Union? Did he
permanently close the chapter of the world's sole great power and "American
policeman"? Has he closed the chapter of the stable Europe whose nations'
borders cannot be tampered with? Has he again imposed the language of force as
the only way to address major countries and neighbors? Has he pushed the world
towards a costly abyss more dangerous than the coronavirus pandemic?
These are many alarming questions. The West, which has been deceived by Putin's
smiles for two decades, had a terrifying awakening yesterday. Has the master of
the Kremlin revived the European memory of images of raids, rubble and refugees?
Images the Europeans have been laid to rest forever. It is no easy feat for
rockets to rain down on Ukraine and for Moscow to blatantly launch its warplanes
on a neighboring country. It is very dangerous for a powerful country to allow
itself to open the door to breaking up a neighbor over unconvincing excuses.
Yes, Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but the Russian operation is raising the
fears of the entire Old Continent, not just Poland and the Baltic nations. There
is no need to recall the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s. That crisis took
place in a world that was divided between two different camps and that could fit
men like Fidel Castro.
Some images go down instantly in history. The images of the Russian invasion of
Ukraine are one of them. They will remain in the world's memory exactly like the
image of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Russia's exit from the Soviet rubble and
George Bush Jr.'s warning to Saddam Hussein and his family, followed by the
infamous invasion that dashed a world order and destabilized historic balances.
They were followed by the image of the US tank toppling Saddam's statue and
later the image of the noose around the deposed ruler's neck. The image of Bin
Laden's planes flying into the World Trade Center towers in New York. The image
of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi emerging from Mosul. The image of Russian forces
entering Syria and changing the course of events.
Putin has awakened all ghosts of Europe's past by invading Ukraine. A regular
army invading a neighboring state without pausing to consider international law.
A country that uses missiles and air raids to plant a loyalist regime in the
targeted nation. Yes, we are not headed towards a third world war, but the
stench of memories of World War II has suddenly returned.
The world after the invasion of Ukraine will not be the same as before. Putin's
image after the invasion will completely be different from the way it was
before. The world cannot approach the invasion as it did with Russia's
annexation of Crimea. Clearly, Russia will suffer from massive isolation. It
will be targeted by severe sanctions and will be blocked from accessing advanced
western technology. A different Russia will be born from this bloody experience.
We mustn't forget that the shedding of Ukrainian blood will not sit well with
Russians given the depth of ties between the two peoples.
The West has been confronted with a difficult Ukrainian test. Joe Biden must
take difficult decisions and prove that the master of the White House is still
the general of the West. The West must retain some of its will and claws. It
does possess some solutions, even it needs to cut itself off from Russian energy
supplies.
Putin has added another searing image to the world's memory. It is a costly
adventure for Russia and the West alike. We can guess who the winner of this
crisis will be: China. It will benefit from Russia's return to being enemy
number one to the West, the position it was inching towards up until recently.
Putin has upended balances and norms. Yes, Europe may be the immediate stage of
the developments, but the Middle East is not that far away, especially since
Putin's forces are involved in Syria, achieving Russia's old dream of reaching
warm waters.
History as Putin Sees it: Unity or Else
Hussam Itani/Asharq Al Awsat/February, 25/2022
In an article published in July, President Vladimir Putin invokes historical
arguments to refute the legitimacy of the Ukrainian state. During his speech
recognizing the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, he reiterated this position,
saying that Ukraine lacks the foundation of an independent entity in the first
place. He painted a bleak picture of its political and economic conditions.
Going far back in history to justify today’s actions and behavior is a game
that, despite the risks, remains a favorite among politicians who usually share
characteristics that render “the facts of history and geography” prioritized
over today’s realities. We see copious use of revisionist histories by the Baath
in its Iraqi and Syrian wings. Comparisons not wholly disconnected from reality
between Putin’s recent statements and Saddam Hussein’s insistence on “bringing
the offshoot back to its origin” on the eve of his invasion of Kuwait. Similar
views were expressed by the Syrian Baathists when they argued that Lebanon was
an “artificial entity” before the past decade’s events demonstrated just how
artificial many of the region’s entities are.
European and Asian nationalists of various colors and strikes were amateur
interpreters of history, explaining its course in line with their whims and
interests. In the first decade of the twentieth century, Japan did not shy away
from using the past to justify its invasion of Korea, recalling the Mongol
Empire’s two attempts to occupy Japan from the Korean coast but not Japan’s
invasion of Korea in the late sixteenth century.
A historian should go over what the Russian President said in his long article
and during his fiery speech on the evening of the twenty-first of February. The
roles played by figures like Alexander Nevsky and Bohdan Khmelnitsky, Hetman
rule in Ukraine, and the relationship between the Russian Church and Russian
“boyar” class one the on hand and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on the other,
and even the degree to which the Mongol Yoke is responsibility for hindering the
Russian state’s development, are among the issues that should be put in the
contradictory contexts chosen in line with the interests of those scavenging
through ancient texts for justifications for their behavior.
There is nothing new here. History is just as much an arena of political
struggle as it is an objective and empirical academic field. Readers of modern
history ought to scrutinize Putin’s account of how the modern Ukrainian state
emerged after the 1917 revolution. He denied that the nascent state had any
popular representation, limited its founders to a few Ukrainian intellectuals
influenced by the West, and pointed to Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev’s
leadership of the Communist Party for thirty years, and the political structure
of Soviet Union, which Russia was the political, economic and human heart of, to
justify his argument on the shared fate of Russia and Ukraine that allowed these
two individuals of Ukrainian origin to reach the summit of power. As for the
Kolkhoz (collectivization of private agricultural land and turning it into state
farms) and the famine that hit Ukrainian during the early years of Stalin’s term
in the thirties, which came to be known as the Holodomor, the suffering from
these calamities was shared by Russians and Ukrainians. Meanwhile, emphasizing
the Russians’ responsibility and portraying these actions as attempts to commit
genocide against the Ukrainian people is nothing more than a Western effort to
divide the two peoples, or rather “a single people in two states” (another
Baathist slogan).
Everything that unites Ukrainians with Russians, then, is genuine and
commendable. Everything that divides the two peoples is a fabrication cooked up
under the influence of mercenaries and traitors. A simplistic and comforting
vision to those who reduce history, which is complex by its very nature- because
of the complexity of human behavior and the economic, social, and cultural
factors that shape it- to very clear cut conclusions like those Putin reached
during his televised address: deviating from the course of unity with Russia has
left the door wide open to thieves, oligarchs, and Russia’s enemies of Russia
controlling the fate of Russia Ukrainian people. Jaws could hit the floor in
bewilderment if we were to recall the identical assessment about how Putin and
his entourage manage the economy and politics in Russia.
This is to not minimize the gravity of the actions taken by the West when it
overwhelmed Russia in the 1990s. It exploited the chaos that followed the Soviet
Union’s collapse, maximizing its benefits. It ignored the most basic security
needs of a country of Russia’s size, insisting on adding former Soviet republics
such as the three Baltic states to NATO and building missile defense bases in
Poland and Romania under the pretext of countering Iranian missiles... All this
provided people like Putin- who write similar articles and give similar
speeches- the ammunition they need. Today, the West and Russia find themselves
stuck atop two tall trees, with neither side having access to a ladder that
would allow for a safe and quiet descent to the ground.
And so, are the story about the transition from paganism to Orthodox
Christianity or the story of how the Rurik Dynasty founded the Russian
principality and was behind the emergence of city-states in and around Novgorod-
to say nothing about the West’s foolishness two decades ago- valid arguments to
raise in denying today’s Ukrainians the right to an independent state and to
choose the destiny they believe will lead to prosperity and development? Does
accepting the Russian point of view not imply the right to pose the same
questions about Putin’s rule, its particularities, and virtues? At the end of
the day, the Russian president’s words are muffled by the roar of tanks heading
towards the Ukrainian border.
Does the war between Russian and Ukraine have any
connection to the end times?"
GotQuestions.org?/February, 25/2022
As of this writing, Russia has begun an outright invasion of Ukraine. We have
received many questions about this conflict. An especially common thread is
curiosity about whether this is a sign of the end times. Our ministry’s emphasis
is on biblical understanding, not geopolitical events. Given that, and how
quickly current events can change, we can only offer a broad understanding of
the situation.
Christians should pray for peace on behalf of the Ukrainian people (1 Timothy
2:1–2; Romans 12:18). The same should apply to the people of Russia—who, by and
large, are not involved in their government’s decisions in this matter (Proverbs
29:2). War is never anything but a tragedy that should grieve believers in
Christ. In so far as we can ease the suffering of those caught in such
conflicts, we should do so (Matthew 25:34–40). Of special emphasis should be
Christian brothers and sisters caught up in military violence.
Believers should not respond to these events with panic. God is ultimately in
control. Even if such things are fulfillment of the end times Bible prophecy,
those affairs are already part of God’s plan. Christians should always be
praying, serving, and seeking as if the end was imminent, with confidence rather
than despair (James 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 28:20).
Russia’s role in the end times is mostly described in connection to attacks on
Israel. The current conflict does not appear—as of this writing—to be related to
the “Gog and Magog” references in the Bible (see more in the article below).
Likewise, there seems to be no reasonable evidence linking Vladimir Putin to the
figure known as the antichrist.
For additional background, please see the below articles:
What does it mean that there will be wars and rumors of wars before the end
times?
Does the Bible say anything about Russia in relation to the end times? (this
article is below)
What are Gog and Magog?
Are we living in the end times?
Does Bible prophecy predict that there will be a World War 3 before the end
times?
Question: "Does the Bible say anything about Russia in relation to the end
times?"
Answer: With Russia back in the news in a big way, many people are wondering if
recent events in eastern Europe have anything to do with end-times prophecy—and,
if so, how? Much of the discussion has to do with an ancient prophecy from
Ezekiel: “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face against
Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy
against him and say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you,
Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). The identities of
“Gog,” “Magog,” “Meshek,” and “Tubal” are the key to fully understanding the
prophecy.
Gog is a person. Whoever Gog is, he is from the land of Magog and is the leader
of Tubal and Meshek (some translations add “Rosh” to the list) and a confederacy
of other nations: Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah (Ezekiel 38:5–6).
And, whoever he is, he will have plans to “attack a peaceful and unsuspecting
people,” viz., Israel (verses 11, 14, and 18). But, regardless of Gog’s plans,
the Lord God is against him and will defeat him soundly (Ezekiel 38:4, 19–23;
39:3–5).
Magog is a land “in the far north,” from Israel’s point of view (Ezekiel 38:15;
39:2). Most Bible commentators interpret “Magog” as Russia—and, indeed, Russia
is straight north of Israel, all the way up to the Arctic Circle. According to
this view, “Rosh” is a reference to Russia, “Meshek” is either Moscow or the
people north of the Black Sea (the area of southern Russia and Ukraine), and
“Tubal,” which is always listed with Meshek in Scripture, is identified as a
city in Siberia or an area in central Turkey.
Others see “Magog” as a general term used in Ezekiel’s day to identify
barbarians living near the Black and Caspian Seas. Regardless of the exact
locations of Magog, Tubal, and Meshek, there is no doubt that the general area
includes portions of Russia and the former Soviet Union, and possibly some Arab
countries.
So, yes, the Bible does mention Russia, although not by that name, in connection
with the end times. Ezekiel 38—39 definitely refer to a nation coming from
northern Asia to attack Israel. After the Cold War, Russia lost its superpower
status, making the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy seem unlikely in some
people’s eyes. However, recent events have shown that Russia is gaining
strength, and many believe that the invasion of Ukraine is just a first step in
Russia’s plan to restore its dominance in that hemisphere. It is also
interesting to note that, in the Soviet era, Moscow was solidly aligned with
several Muslim countries in opposition to Israel. Since the breakup of the
Soviet Union, Russia has continued to make overtures to the Muslim world.
According to the Bible, there will come a time when Russia, in alliance with
several other countries, will amass a huge army against Israel, with a view to
plunder the Jews’ land. The nations aligned with Russia for this military
endeavor are Persia (modern-day Iran), Put (modern-day Libya), Cush (modern-day
Sudan), Gomer (part of modern-day Turkey), and Beth Togarmah (Armenia). Most of
these nations are currently militant Islamic states with an express hatred of
Israel. Ezekiel says that, when the aggressors move against Israel, a few other
nations (“Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish”) will remonstrate, as
will “all her villages”—possibly colonies (Ezekiel 38:13). Sheba and Dedan are
associated with areas of northern Africa. Tarshish could be a reference to Spain
(which colonized much of South America), Britain (which colonized the United
States), or somewhere in eastern Africa. The objections to Magog’s aggression
will fall on deaf ears, however, and the invasion will continue.
Some commentators believe this war is one of the events leading up to beginning
of the tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the
tribulation, since Israel will be “dwelling without walls, and having neither
bars nor gates” (Ezekiel 38:11)—in other words, Israel will feel secure at that
time, possibly because of the covenant they have signed with the Antichrist
(Daniel 9:27). Either way, this battle is distinct from the Battle of
Armageddon, which occurs at the end of the tribulation.
God promises to destroy Gog’s army: “I will execute judgment on him with plague
and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur
on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him” (Ezekiel 38:22). The
bodies of the fallen army of Magog will be buried, but it will take over seven
months to complete the macabre task (Ezekiel 39:12, 14). This supernatural
judgment will have the effect of preserving Israel and turning many hearts to
God: “And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself
known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord”
(Ezekiel 38:23). Many will be saved during the tribulation (Revelation 7), and
the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38—39 will be one means by which God will bring
people to a knowledge of Himself.
There is much we do not know for certain about Ezekiel’s prophecy, including the
timing of these events. However, it is clear that Russia will be involved and
will in fact lead an end-times league of nations to seize Israel’s land. The
prophet Ezekiel comforts Israel in much the same way as Moses had centuries ago:
“The LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your
enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4).
Tunisia to ban foreign funding for civil society groups
Iman Zayat/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Thursday he will issue a decree to outlaw
foreign funding for civil society organisations, as he tries to hold such groups
accountable to transparency standards within the framework of Tunis’s war on
corruption. Civil society organisations, including some that have had funding
from Western countries, have played a significant role in Tunisian politics
since the 2011 uprising.
“Non-governmental organisations must be prevented from accessing external funds
… and we will do that,” Saied said, saying the change was needed to stop foreign
interference in the country.
Since 2011, civil society organisations have opposed other efforts by the
successive Tunisian governments to change the legal framework for associative
work in the country. Some political circles in Tunisia see the organisations’
rejection of any change to the legal framework as lobbying to escape oversight.
Many charities and religious associations were created after the fall of the Ben
Ali regime. A few years later, those NGOs were accused of being fronts for
financing extremist organisations and for recruiting thousands of young
Tunisians to fight in wars in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Official sources say there
are more than 19,000 active and licensed associations in Tunisia. In 2017, the
Tunisian authorities declared that 175 associations were suspected of terrorist
connections.
At the time, Ahmed Zarrouk the government's secretary-general said his
department had requested in December 2015 the suspension of many associations
because of “numerous irregularities related essentially to their finances and
the donations they had received.”
Saied, who suspended parliament in an attempt to end political deadlock in the
country, has repeatedly said that Tunisia’s freedoms are “guaranteed,” recalling
his commitment to equality before the law and his rejection of violence. On
Thursday, he maintained that a ban of foreign funding has become necessary after
the authorities revealed that such funding transfers are intended to finance
electoral campaigns or used to undermine the state.
“We reject any interference in our choices, neither by funds nor by pressure.
Tunisians are a sovereign and dignified people,” he said.
Speaking at the opening of a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Saied stressed that
“the judiciary is called to apply as soon as possible the report of the Court of
Auditors on the financing of election campaigns in 2019.”
He added: “The judiciary has all the figures relating to funds from
abroad.”Saied also insisted on the respect of freedoms. "We reject any
infringement of the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the constitution
as well as by international and regional texts,” he said.
What Russia’s hold over Belarus means for Ukraine, and
for Syria
Nikola Mikovic/The Arab Weekly/February 25/2022
With Russian forces pouring into Ukraine, Moscow’s use of Belarus to launch its
campaign is as much a test for Minsk’s independence as it is for Kyiv’s. As the
Kremlin begins what looks like a large-scale operation against Ukraine, the
former Soviet republic’s role in facilitating Russia’s attack could have
far-reaching consequences. For now, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is
trying to balance Moscow’s pressure with the interests of his own country.
Belarus, Russia’s only ally in Europe, has not recognised Moscow’s incorporation
of Crimea into the Russian Federation in 2014. Minsk also refuses to launch
direct flights to the peninsula, aware that doing so would amount to de facto
recognition of Crimea as part of Russia. Belarus is also, for now at least,
trying to avoid its own forces being dragged into the conflict. On Thursday, as
smoke rose from the Ukrainian capital, Belarus’s ministry of foreign affairs
Tweeted a quote attributed to Lukashenko: “The Belarusian army is not taking
part in the Russian special operation in the Donbass.” Lukashenko has not
officially recognised the self-proclaimed Donbas republics in eastern Ukraine,
as Russian President Vladimir Putin did earlier this week. Instead, Lukashenko
has only said that the issue of recognition would be “mutually beneficial,”
while Belarus’s foreign ministry has said it “respects and understands Russia’s
decision.”
But Lukashenko’s decision to host thousands of Russian troops on Belarusian
territory makes Belarus a party to Putin’s actions. Previously, both sides had
said the troops will return to Russia once military drills are over, but
Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin recently conceded that the Russian
forces will remain in the country indefinitely. It is now clear why the earlier
assurances were rolled back.
Despite the claim that there are no Belarusian troops currently assisting
Russia’s “special operation” in eastern Ukraine, Lukashenko has not ruled out
the possibility. He said previously that if Kyiv was to launch a military
offensive against the Russian-backed Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk
People’s Republic, the Belarusian armed forces would act in concert with the
Russian army. Such a statement demonstrates Lukashenko’s loyalty to the Kremlin.
According to open-source intelligence reports, most Russian troops in Belarus
were stationed in the south of the country, not far from the Ukrainian border
and just 260 kilometres from the Ukrainian capital. Putin’s decision to send
them in poses a political challenge for Lukashenko. Belarus is expected to hold
a constitutional referendum on February 27 and the draft document “excludes
military aggression from Belarus’s territory against other states.” While that
could give Lukashenko reason to resist any future efforts to use his country’s
territory to wage war against Ukraine, it would also give opposition leaders
ammunition. Prior to Russia’s invasion, Belarus’s exiled opposition leader,
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, called the presence of Russian troops in her country a
threat to Belarusian independence. And yet, Lukashenko may have little choice
but to play Putin’s game. Ever since the Kremlin helped Lukashenko stay in power
after the controversial election and mass protests in 2020, Belarus’s president
has had to end his multi-vector foreign policy and increasingly cede to Russia’s
wishes. In early January, following unrest in Almaty and other Kazakh cities,
the Belarusian leader sent troops to Kazakhstan to help Russia and other
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members “stabilise the situation
in the Central Asian country.” Allowing Russian troops to strike Ukraine from
Belarus may have been another non-negotiable decision.
To demonstrate his loyalty further to Moscow, Lukashenko may even have to deploy
a symbolic number of Belarusian troops to Syria, where Russia’s military
foothold is also growing. The Russian government recently instructed its
ministries of defence and foreign affairs to hold talks with Belarus and to sign
a joint declaration on providing “humanitarian aid” to Syria. Once a new
constitution is adopted and clauses about Belarus’s neutrality are scrapped,
Minsk may have no option but to start playing a more active role in Moscow’s
engagement in Syria.
For Lukashenko, entering the fray in Syria has a certain appeal. Belarus has
already begun to develop close economic ties with Syria and is assisting in
post-war reconstruction. In November 2021, Belarus’s Deputy Foreign Minister
Nikolai Borisevich met Syria’s ambassador to Belarus, Mohammad Al Umrani, to
discuss political, economic and humanitarian cooperation. Belarus is actively
exporting medications to Syria and leaders have expressed interest in expanding
business in the region. Moreover, Minsk is supporting Syria in international
forums, at least rhetorically, by expressing solidarity for President Bashar Al
Assad’s “war on terrorism.” But Belarus, pressured by Russia, may soon have to
move from words to deeds. Finally, having a Belarusian military contingent in
Syria could be a way for Russia to increase its influence not just in Belarus,
but in other CSTO countries as well. If Minsk agrees to deploy its troops to the
Middle East, Moscow will likely start looking for others to join in protecting
its geopolitical interests in Syria.
For now, the situation in Syria is subordinate to the Ukraine crisis, but the
two are connected. Russia’s regional military presence and its hold over its
allies, will limit Western-led efforts to bring the Kremlin back to the
negotiating table. The die has been cast and Belarus’s sovereignty, like
Ukraine’s, hangs in the balance.