English LCCC Newsbulletin For Le

English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 13/2022
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Verses telling the Story of Zechariah the Priest & His Wife Elizabeth, John the Papist’s Parents
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke01/01-25/:”Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’”

Question: “What does the Bible say about a Christian serving in the military?”
GotQuestions.org?/Friday, 11 November, 2022
Answer: The Bible contains plenty of information about serving in the military. While many of the Bible’s references to the military are only analogies, several verses directly relate to this question. The Bible does not specifically state whether or not someone should serve in the military. At the same time, Christians can rest assured that being a soldier is highly respected throughout the Scriptures and know that such service is consistent with a biblical worldview. The first example of military service is found in the Old Testament (Genesis 14), when Abraham’s nephew Lot was kidnapped by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies. Abraham rallied to Lot’s aid by gathering 318 trained men of his household and defeating the Elamites. Here we see armed forces engaged in a noble task—rescuing and protecting the innocent.
Late in its history, the nation of Israel developed a standing army. The sense that God was the Divine Warrior and would protect His people regardless of their military strength may have been a reason why Israel was slow to develop an army. The development of a regular standing army in Israel came only after a strong, centralized political system had been developed by Saul, David, and Solomon. Saul was the first to form a permanent army (1 Samuel 13:2; 24:2; 26:2).
What Saul began, David continued. He increased the army, brought in hired troops from other regions who were loyal to him alone (2 Samuel 15:19-22) and turned over the direct leadership of his armies to a commander-in-chief, Joab. Under David, Israel also became more aggressive in its offensive military policies, absorbing neighboring states like Ammon (2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Chronicles 20:1-3). David established a system of rotating troops with twelve groups of 24,000 men serving one month of the year (1 Chronicles 27). Although Solomon’s reign was peaceful, he further expanded the army, adding chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 10:26). The standing army continued (though divided along with the kingdom after the death of Solomon) until 586 B.C., when Israel (Judah) ceased to exist as a political entity. In the New Testament, Jesus marveled when a Roman centurion (an officer in charge of one hundred soldiers) approached Him. The centurion’s response to Jesus indicated his clear understanding of authority, as well as his faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not denounce his career. Many centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5; 27:54; Mark 15:39-45; Luke 7:2; 23:47; Acts 10:1; 21:32; 28:16).
The places and the titles may have changed, but our armed forces should be just as valued as the centurions of the Bible. The position of soldier was highly respected. For example, Paul describes Epaphroditus, a fellow Christian, as a “fellow soldier” (Philippians 2:25). The Bible also uses military terms to describe being strong in the Lord by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), including the tools of the soldier—helmet, shield, and sword.
Yes, the Bible does address serving in the military, directly and indirectly. The Christian men and women who serve their country with character, dignity, and honor can rest assured that the civic duty they perform is condoned and respected by our sovereign God. Those who honorably serve in the military deserve our respect and gratitude.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on November 12-13/2022
French commando lifts lid on dramatic 1991 rescue of Lebanon's Aoun
Washington Increases Aid to Lebanon, Urges Election of President
First images of Tiffany Trump, Lebanese-born businessman Michael Boulos’s wedding rehearsal revealed
Lebanon extradites to Iraq ‘Saddam grandnephew’ accused of Daesh link
Berri says consensus is 'obligatory' gateway for electing a president
Bou Habib visits Greece, discusses displaced Syrians issue
Berri discusses developments with Mikati

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 12-13/2022
UN rights body to hold urgent session on Iran amid crackdown
At least 326 killed in Iran protest crackdown: New toll
Iran charges 11 over killing of Basij paramilitary member
German leader Olaf Scholz: Iran can expect more EU sanctions
Iranian Archer Says She Did Not Notice Headscarf Falling Off
What US election results mean for the future of Ukraine aid
Zelensky says Russians destroyed Kherson’s critical infrastructure
Bahrain websites attacked as it holds parliamentary election

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 12-13/2022
A Cold Winter for Europe: Blame Strategic Blindness/Burak Bekdil/Gatestone Institute/November 12, 2022
The Ordeal of Syrian Asylum in Lebanon!/Akram Bunni//Asharq Al Awsat/November 12/2022
The 'Valdai' Club and Russia's Ambition for a New World Order/Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy/Asharq Al Awsat/November 12/2022
Post-Sudani government disasters foretold/Ibrahim al-Zobeidi/The Arab Weekly/November 12/2022

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on November 12-13/2022
French commando lifts lid on dramatic 1991 rescue of Lebanon's Aoun
Tim Stickings/The National/November 12/2022
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2022/11/11/french-commando-lifts-lid-on-dramatic-1991-rescue-of-lebanons-aoun/
Rear admiral says the former leader was reluctant to put on a rain jacket
Lebanon’s former president Michel Aoun had to be persuaded to put on a raincoat when French special forces spirited him out of the country in 1991, a French officer has revealed. Mr Aoun — who left office a second time last month after reclaiming power in 2016 — was whisked away in a secretive mission after taking refuge in the French embassy. He headed into exile after losing a violent power struggle at the end of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war. But he appeared to have second thoughts after French special forces arrived on a beach to take him to safety. “One of the biggest difficulties we had at the time was getting General Aoun to put on a rain jacket,” said rear admiral Bertrand de Gaullier des Bordes, who led a French commando unit. “I think it was probably a pretext for him to not leave Lebanon, but he didn’t want to put on the sea clothing. “Eventually he did, and it was very useful for him because the sea was a bit tricky when we left and it was very wet.”The rear admiral’s recollections came as part of a new exhibition on the history of the French special forces. He said the 1991 operation involved “everything you see in special forces films”, with an armoured car waiting as French troops with lights and radios pulled up to the beach. The rescue mission was arranged with the French embassy where Mr Aoun had taken sanctuary in 1990, following his defeat by Syrian and Lebanese forces. Mr Aoun, now 89, feared for his safety after surviving at least one assassination attempt and was granted asylum by France, the former colonial power in Lebanon. Reports at the time described decoy cars being used to lead potential witnesses astray while Mr Aoun was driven to the beach at dawn. Smuggled away to France, he lived in exile until 2005 — before returning to Lebanon and eventually winning the presidency. In other stories from the exhibition, French elite forces recalled tense moments in Afghanistan, Mali, the former Yugoslavia, and while fighting alongside Kurdish forces. France’s Army Museum called it the first exhibition to “lift the veil on one of our military’s most secretive entities”. Eric Vidaud, a former special operations commander, recalled a bizarre episode in which a Serbian general promised to comply with peace accords if the Frenchman could beat him at shooting practice. After Mr Vidaud proved the better pistol shooter, he diplomatically declared the contest a draw and the Serbs pulled back their troops days later, he said. Another French trooper recalled saving the life of a Kurdish fighter who had inadvertently set off an improvised explosive. The sergeant, named as Charlie, managed to stem the man’s bleeding after his legs were blown off in the explosion, which was apparently triggered by motion sensors. “My work … sometimes involves taking lives, but my fondest memory is of having saved a life,” he said.

Washington Increases Aid to Lebanon, Urges Election of President
Washington - Ali Barada/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 12 November, 2022
USAID Administrator Samantha Power concluded on Friday her multi-day visit to Lebanon where she announced additional humanitarian and educational aid and discussed with officials the importance of urgent action to respond to the economic crisis, elect a President and form a cabinet.
Power held in Beirut a series of meetings and events, according to a press release by USAID spokesperson Jessica Jennings. She began by meeting with US Embassy and USAID employees, thanking them for their dedication and work advancing the US relationship with Lebanon, their support for the Lebanese people in a period of crisis, and the recent accomplishment of finalizing the agreement establishing a permanent Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary. Power also visited the American University of Beirut (AUB) where she met with students from AUB and the Lebanese American University (LAU) who have received financial support from USAID for their undergraduate education. She celebrated the individual achievements of the students and discussed with them the impact they can achieve as a new generation of public and private sector leaders in Lebanon. The Administrator then announced that Washington will provide an additional $50 million for new scholarships and financial aid to AUB, LAU, and Notre Dame University-Louaize. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price had earlier explained that of the $50 million, $15 million will support 140 full undergraduate scholarships to AUB and LAU for financially disadvantaged yet academically meritorious students. The remainder of the funds will provide partial need-based financial aid for about 3,500 students over the next three years to help students who can no longer afford tuition amidst Lebanon’s economic crisis. In the Lebanese capital, Power met with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to discuss US-Lebanon relations, and the importance of urgent action to respond to the economic crisis, elect a President and form a Cabinet, and make advances on economic reforms. In her discussions, she congratulated Lebanon on concluding the historic maritime agreement and urged officials to capitalize on this moment of progress to pursue steps that will restore domestic and international confidence in Lebanon’s economy. Power then visited the Port of Beirut, where she saw the visible devastation that still remains from the explosion two years ago.
At the Port, she observed ships unloading critically-needed grain from Ukraine. The Administrator saw that compounding shocks, including the destruction of grain silos in the port blast and Putin’s war against Ukraine, have caused the price of bread to skyrocket to about nine times higher than it was in the fall of 2019, and grain shipments from Ukraine play an important role in helping address the food insecurity being experienced by many Lebanese families.

First images of Tiffany Trump, Lebanese-born businessman Michael Boulos’s wedding rehearsal revealed
Boulos and Tiffany were engaged in January 2021, the day before Trump left office following defeat in the 2020 election
LONDON: The first images from the wedding rehearsal of Tiffany Trump and Lebanese-born businessman Michael Boulos have emerged. The couple are getting married at former US president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida on Saturday. According to reports, the bride's wedding dress has been designed by Lebanese designer Elie Saab and her dazzling engagement solitaire ring was designed by goldsmith and fellow Lebanese Samer Halima. She went for an elegantly simple white dress for the rehearsal festivities, while the groom opted for a grey pinstripe-pink tie suit combo. The former president and father of the bride opted for his trademark suit, block-color tie, but former First Lady Melania Trump stunned in a floor-length, off-shoulder golden gown. Tiffany is the fourth child of Trump with his ex-wife Marla Maples, who posed for photos with Donald and Melania and was involved in the planning of the wedding, according to reports. Boulos, of Lebanese and French descent, grew up in Lagos where his father, Massad, runs Boulos Enterprises and who is the CEO of SCOA Nigeria. Boulos and Tiffany were engaged in January 2021, the day before Trump left office following defeat in the 2020 election.
Tiffany's sister, Ivanka, shared a photo of herself posing with the bride-to-be, who was dressed in a traditional white lace dress, during their recent bridal shower. And Ivanka also shared a sweet shot of her with her husband Jared Kushner and their children ahead of the nuptials.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2198461/lifestyle

Lebanon extradites to Iraq ‘Saddam grandnephew’ accused of Daesh link
AFP/November 12, 2022
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/113319/%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b4%d9%86%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%b8%d8%b1-%d8%ad%d9%81%d9%8a%d8%af-%d8%b4%d9%82%d9%8a%d9%82-%d8%b5%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%ad%d8%b3%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7/
BAGHDAD: Lebanon extradited a man said to be a grandnephew of Saddam Hussein to Iraq, where he is accused of involvement in a massacre by Daesh group, a security source said Saturday.Abdullah Sabawi, dubbed the “grandnephew” of the executed dictator by Iraqi media, was extradited on Wednesday, the security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “He is accused of having been a member of Daesh and having participated in the Speicher massacre” of 2014, in which up to 1,700 air force cadets were executed by the militant group, the source added. A Lebanese judicial source said Sabawi, born in 1994, “was detained on June 11” following an Interpol notice calling for his arrest over his alleged involvement in the massacre. “Iraq requested his extradition,” the Lebanese source added. Sabawi’s family has denied the accusations, telling AFP he had been in Yemen at the time of the killings.
The Camp Speicher massacre was considered one of Daesh’s worst crimes after it took over large parts of Iraq in 2014. Video footage released by Daesh showed an assembly-line massacre in which gunmen herded their victims toward the banks of the Tigris, shot them in the back of the head and pushed them into the river one after the other. Dozens have been sentenced to death by Iraqi courts over their involvement in the killings, many of them having already been executed.

Berri says consensus is 'obligatory' gateway for electing a president
Naharnet/November 12/2022
Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated his warning that the country cannot bear months of presidential vacuum, seeing as Lebanon's "dire" situation is much worse than it was in the vacuum period that preceded Michel Aoun's election. "Consensus is an obligatory gateway for electing a president, and without this consensus the vacuum cycle will continue and the country will pay the price," Berri added, in an interview with al-Joumhouria newspaper. Berri, however, noted that his suspension of his latest dialogue initiative does not mean that he will "stand idly by," adding that he will give the parties until the end of the year to reach consensus over a president before re-activating his initiative.

Bou Habib visits Greece, discusses displaced Syrians issue
NNA/November 12, 2022
Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Abdallah Bou Habib paid a working visit to Greece, where he met his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. During the meeting, an agreement was signed regarding exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of diplomatic training. The minister briefed the Greek side the aspects of the maritime border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Bou Habib also explained about the problem of the Syrian refugee file, Lebanon's inability to bear this burden, and the need for friendly countries to support Lebanon's position. On the other hand, he met with Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institution, Hadja Lahbib, during which he explained Lebanon's position on a number of files, including the maritime demarcation file, the file of the displaced Syrians and the Lebanese position on the Ukrainian crisis.

Berri discusses developments with Mikati
NNA/November 12, 2022
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati at the second presidential residence in Ain El-Tineh. The pair reportedly discussed the general situation, the latest political developments, and legislative affairs. After the meeting, Prime Minister-designate Mikati left without making any statement. He only said, in response to a question about whether the electricity file had been discussed in his meeting with Speaker Berri: "We agreed on a formula."

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 12-13/2022
UN rights body to hold urgent session on Iran amid crackdown
Associated Press/November 12, 2022
The U.N.'s top human rights body is poised to hold a special session on Iran in the wake of the government's deadly crackdowns on protesters, threats against journalists and other alleged human rights violations in the Islamic republic.
The Human Rights Council will hold the session in the week of Nov. 21 "if possible on Nov. 24," following a diplomatic request by Germany and Iceland. Germany sent a letter to the council offices Friday announcing the call for a special session "to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially with respect to women and children."At least one-third of the council's 47 member states need to support such a request and the move by Germany suggests it has lined up enough backing. The protests in Iran, sparked by the Sept. 16 death of a 22-year-old woman after her detention by the country's morality police, have grown into one of the largest sustained challenges to the nation's theocracy since the chaotic months after its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Security forces have sought to quash dissent. After the protests erupted, the United States and European Union imposed additional sanctions on Iran for its brutal treatment of demonstrators and its decision to send hundreds of drones to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on additional sanctions Monday. At least 328 people have been killed in the Iran protests and 14,825 others arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a monitoring group. Iran's government for weeks has remained silent on casualty figures.

At least 326 killed in Iran protest crackdown: New toll
AFP/November 12, 2022
PARIS: Iranian security forces have killed at least 326 people in a crackdown on nationwide protests since Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, Iran Human Rights said in an updated toll Saturday. The Islamic republic has been gripped by protests that erupted over the death of Amini on September 16, three days after her arrest for an alleged breach of the country’s strict dress code for women. The protests were fanned by fury over the dress rules for women, but have grown into a broad movement against the theocracy that has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution. “At least 326 people, including 43 children and 25 women, have been killed by security forces in the ongoing nationwide protests,” Oslo-based IHR said in a statement posted on its website. The latest toll represents an increase of 22 since the rights group issued its previous figures on November 5. It includes at least 123 people killed in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, on Iran’s southeastern border with Pakistan, a figure which is also up, from 118 in IHR’s last toll. Most of those were killed on September 30 when security forces opened fire on protesters after Friday prayers in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchistan — a massacre activists have dubbed “Bloody Friday.” Those protests were triggered by the alleged rape in custody of a 15-year-old girl by a police commander in the province’s port city of Chabahar. Analysts say the Baluchi were inspired by the protests that flared over Amini’s death, which were initially driven by women’s rights but expanded over time to include other grievances. IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam called on the international community to act as soon as possible to halt the crackdown. “Establishing an international investigation and accountability mechanism by the UN will both facilitate the process of holding the perpetrators accountable in the future and increase the cost of the continuous repression by the Islamic republic,” he said in the statement. Another rights group, Amnesty International, has also called for such a mechanism, which it said was supported by a petition signed by more than one million people. IHR said it was still investigating reports of other deaths, meaning the actual number killed “is certainly higher.”

Iran charges 11 over killing of Basij paramilitary member
AFP/November 12, 2022
TEHRAN: Iran has indicted 11 people over the murder of a Basij paramilitary force member during a ceremony last week in honour of a slain protester, a judiciary official said Saturday.
The incident happened on November 3 in Karaj, capital of Alborz province, when mourners were paying tribute to Hadis Najafi at the cemetery to mark 40 days after she was killed in the city. Her death on September 21 came five days into nationwide protests that erupted after the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, following her arrest for an alleged breach of Iran's hijab dress rules for women. Eleven people, including a woman, had been summoned and charged over the killing of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian, said Alborz province's judiciary chief Hossein Fazeli Harikandi. The indictments followed an investigation launched after images posted on social media networks showed "a group of rioters assaulting and killing" Ajamian, the judiciary's Mizan Online website quoted him as saying. "Rioters attacked this security officer, who was unarmed, stripped him naked, stabbed him with knives, beat him with brass knuckles, stones, and kicks, and then dragged his naked and half-dead body on the asphalt street and between cars in a horrific manner," Harikandi added. Some face charges of "corruption on earth", one of the most serious offenses under Iranian law which is punishable by death. They are also accused of serious disturbance of public order leading to murder, gathering with the intention to commit crimes against the country's security, and propaganda against the state. Amini, 22, died on September 16 in the custody of the morality police three days after falling into a coma, sparking street violence across the Islamic republic.
Dozens of people, mainly demonstrators but also security personnel, have been killed during the demonstrations, which the authorities have dubbed "riots", and hundreds more have been arrested. The Basij is a state-sanctioned volunteer force that is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

German leader Olaf Scholz: Iran can expect more EU sanctions
AP/November 12, 2022
Iran to receive additional sanctions for its brutal crackdown and its decision to send hundreds of drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine
EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on additional sanctions when they meet on Monday
BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz strongly criticized the Iranian government Saturday for its bloody crackdown on protests in the country said Germany stands “shoulder to shoulder with the Iranian people.”Scholz said the ongoing protests sparked by the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her detention by Iran’s morality police were no longer “merely a question of dress codes” but had evolved into a fight for freedom and justice. The protests have grown into one of the largest sustained challenges to Iran’s theocracy since the chaotic months after its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“We can barely begin to imagine how much courage this takes,” Scholz said in his weekly video address. “More than 300 killed, dozens of death sentences and more than 14,000 arrests. So far. Those who demonstrate against oppression in Iran risk their lives, and often also the lives of their loved ones – and face the prospect of torture and decades in prison.” Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany with Iranian roots fear for their relatives and are “appalled and disgusted by what the Mullah regime is doing to the demonstrators,” the chancellor continued. “It is clear that the Iranian government is solely responsible for this spate of violence.”Scholz said Iran would receive additional sanctions for its brutal crackdown and its decision to send hundreds of drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. European Union foreign ministers are expected to agree on additional sanctions when they meet on Monday.
Germany’s foreign minister on Friday rejected a complaint by her Iranian counterpart that she was taking an “interventionist” stance over protests in Iran and pushed back against his pledge of a “firm” response. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, that she was taking an “interventionist” stance over protests in Iran. Baerbock had made a speech to the German parliament in which she said Berlin would not let up in pursuing further sanctions against Tehran over the protest crackdown. Responding to Amirabdollahian’s threat of consequences for Germany’s position, Scholz said, “What kind of government does it make you if you shoot at your own citizens? Those who act in such a way must expect us to push back.”

Iranian Archer Says She Did Not Notice Headscarf Falling Off
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 12 November, 2022
An Iranian archer has said she did not notice her hijab falling from her head during an awards ceremony in Tehran, after a video appeared to show her allowing the headscarf to drop in what was widely assumed to be a show of support for nationwide protests. In a video posted on Instagram, Parmida Ghasemi said she had not noticed the hijab falling "due to wind and a lot of stress". "This led to reactions which caused some misunderstandings. My family and I have not, nor have ever had, any problem with the hijab. I wanted to apologize to the people, officials and my teammates,” she said, wearing a headscarf in the video. Iran has been swept by protests since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in the custody of morality police nearly two months ago after being detained for "inappropriate attire". Women have waved and burned headscarves - mandatory under Iran's conservative dress codes - during the demonstrations that mark one of the boldest challenges to the Iranian Republic since the 1979 revolution, Reuters said. Videos posted on social media purportedly showed Iran's national basketball team refraining from singing the national anthem during a match with China in Tehran on Friday, after social media videos earlier this week showed the national water polo team also failing to sing it at a competition in Thailand. In the video of the ceremony at the archery competition shared on social media this week, Ghasemi, standing alongside others on a podium, lets her headscarf fall as unseen people in the audience clap and shout "Bravo". The athlete standing next to her tries to pull up her scarf, but she moves away her head. Last month, Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi caused controversy by competing in an international competition without a headscarf, later saying she had done so unintentionally and apologizing. Iran's deputy sports minister, Maryam Kazemipour, said on Wednesday some Iranian female athletes have acted against Islamic norms and then apologized for their actions. Last week, national beach soccer team players refused to sing Iran's anthem at the beginning of a match against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, according to a widely followed activist Twitter account known as 1500tasvir. Then on Sunday, the players did not cheer or celebrate after defeating Brazil to win the championship, the account said.

What US election results mean for the future of Ukraine aid
Associated Press/Saturday, 12 November, 2022
If Republicans win the House, where does that leave Ukraine?
It's a question that is top of mind in Washington as the GOP draws closer to winning the majority in the U.S. House. Some fear the end of Democratic control in Congress — and the empowerment of "America First" conservatives — could ultimately result in the curtailment of American assistance as Ukraine battles Russia's invasion. Recent comments from Kevin McCarthy, who is in line for speaker if Republicans win the House, exacerbated those fears. He warned that Republicans wouldn't support writing a "blank check" for Ukraine if they captured the majority. But the hard-line rhetoric isn't the end of the story. While Republican control of the House is likely to make sending tranches of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine more difficult, support for the country runs deep in both parties.
Here is a look at the factors at play:
WHAT THE U.S. HAS GIVEN SO FAR
Since the Russian invasion began in February, Congress has approved tens of billions in emergency security and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. The Biden administration has also shipped billions worth of weapons and equipment from military inventories. In September, lawmakers approved about $12.3 billion in Ukraine-related aid as part of a bill that finances the federal government through Dec. 16. The money included assistance for the Ukrainian military as well as money to help the country's government provide basic services to its citizens.
That comes on top of more than $50 billion provided in two previous bills.
STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
All along, financial support for Ukraine has garnered strong bipartisan support. In the Senate, GOP leader Mitch McConnell and Richard Shelby, the lead Republican on the powerful Appropriations Committee, were early and consistent voices in favor of Ukraine aid. In recent days, other Republicans including Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Rick Scott of Florida have insisted in interviews that their party's support for the Ukrainians is resolute. "I think we have to continue to do everything we can to support Ukraine, who wants to defend their freedom and stop Russia from continuing to expand," Scott said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware also made a bipartisan show of support by visiting Ukraine just days before the election. "I am confident that bipartisan robust American support for the fight of the Ukrainian people will continue in Congress," Coons said. "The United States has long been a nation that fights for freedom, and this is the most important fight for freedom in the world today."The picture is similar in the House, where Ukrainian aid enjoys majority support. Even a letter published last month by the liberal flank of the party, asking the Biden administration to pursue diplomatic talks with Russia over the war, was quickly retracted after an outpouring of criticism from both parties. President Joe Biden also attempted to ease concerns in a post-election briefing Wednesday, expressing hope that he would be able to continue his "bipartisan approach" to supporting Ukraine. He said he intends to invite congressional leaders from both parties to the White House later this month for a discussion about how to "advance the economic and national security priorities of the United States."
GROWING FAR-RIGHT OPPOSITION
Yet support for Ukraine is far from universal in the Republican Party. Some lawmakers on the right, particularly those aligned with Donald Trump's "America First" philosophy of foreign policy, say the United States cannot afford to give billions to Ukraine at a time of record-high inflation at home.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a member of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, told a rally of Trump supporters in Iowa last week that, "under Republicans, not another penny will go to Ukraine." In Ohio, Republican JD Vance, who just won the state's Senate race, campaigned on ending financial support for the country, saying Congress has "got to stop the money spigot to Ukraine eventually."McCarthy seemed to be giving a nod to the Ukraine skeptics with his comments before the election. "I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they're not going to write a blank check to Ukraine," McCarthy said in the pre-election interview. "They just won't do it. … It's not a free blank check."McCarthy later walked back those comments, telling CNN that he's very supportive of Ukraine but thinks there should be "accountability going forward."Biden stressed that his administration has not granted every request from the Ukrainians, including their demand for a no-fly zone that would risk pulling America into the war. "We've not given Ukraine a blank check," Biden said. "There's a lot of things that Ukraine wants we didn't — we didn't do."
FUTURE OF AID
Despite the escalating opposition from the right, there is little risk of Congress ending America's financial and military support for Ukraine anytime soon. Majorities in the House and Senate back the alliance with Ukraine, saying the cost is worth paying to defend a democratic ally and resist Russian expansion.
And most Americans who voted in the midterms were firmly behind the military and financial support for Ukraine, according to AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 94,000 voters. About 4 in 10 said it was about right and 3 in 10 said it should be more active, while only about 3 in 10 wanted the U.S. to provide less to Ukraine. Yet it's clear that a Republican takeover of the House would make passing additional aid for Ukraine harder. McCarthy is likely to be under intense pressure from the right to take a hard line with the Biden administration, making it more difficult for him to work with Democrats.
With that reality in mind, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are eying the lame-duck session after the election as an opportunity to lock in billions of dollars in additional military assistance for Ukraine. That aid could be passed in an end-of-year government funding bill and ensure American support for months to come.
VIEW FROM ABROAD
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are monitoring the midterm election results closely. One official on Wednesday acknowledged having stayed awake the night before, hitting refresh again and again on his phone to track the results. But the country's defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, said Wednesday that he did not anticipate American support would erode. "I have repeatedly met with representatives of the Senate and Congress, and each time the delegations were bipartisan," Resnikov said at a news conference. "I clearly understand that the support of the United States will remain bipartisan and bicameral, too."Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's trade and economic development minister, said Thursday that regardless of U.S. support, the country is intensifying efforts to run leaner on spending, even as Ukrainians fight for what they see as an "existential war."Svyrydenko said that while there had been no pressure from American officials for Ukraine to cut its need for foreign help, Ukrainian leaders know they have to do more to stabilize the economy itself even as they battle Russian forces. Ukraine's emphasis at the war's outset had been rapidly marshaling military aid from its allies, "but we understand that one day we should rely very well on ourselves again," she said.

Zelensky says Russians destroyed Kherson’s critical infrastructure
Reuters/November 12, 2022
“Before fleeing from Kherson, the occupiers destroyed all the critical infrastructure,” Zelenskiy said in a video address
DUBAI: Russian forces destroyed the critical infrastructure in the southern city of Kherson before fleeing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday, adding that local authorities were starting to stabilize the city. Jubilant residents welcomed troops arriving in the center of Kherson on Friday after Russia abandoned the only regional capital it had captured since the start of the war. “Before fleeing from Kherson, the occupiers destroyed all the critical infrastructure: communications, water, heat, electricity,” Zelensky said in a video address. “(Russians) everywhere have the same goal: to humiliate people as much as possible. But we will restore everything, believe me,” he continued. Zelensky said Ukrainian troops had taken control of more than 60 settlements in the Kherson region. “Police have launched stabilization measures. Stabilization measures are also underway in Kherson,” he said.

Bahrain websites attacked as it holds parliamentary election
Associated Press/November 12/2022
Bahrain voted Saturday in a parliamentary and local election just hours after hackers targeted government websites in the island kingdom. The Interior Ministry did not identify the websites targeted, but the country's state-run Bahrain News Agency could not be reached online nor could the website for Bahrain's parliament. Later, Bahrain's election website could not be accessed from abroad. "Websites are being targeted to hinder the elections and circulate negative messages in desperate attempts that won't affect the determination of citizens who will go to the polling stations," the Interior Ministry said. Screenshots taken by internet users showed a picture after the hack claiming it was carried out by a previously unknown account called Al-Toufan, or "The Flood" in Arabic. Social media accounts associated with Al-Toufan said the group targeted the parliament's website "due to the persecution carried out by the Bahraini authorities, and in implementation of the popular will to boycott the sham elections." A banned Shiite opposition group and others have called on voters to boycott the election. Bahraini officials did not respond to a request for comment about the hack. Bahrain state television aired footage of people voting in the polls. The attack happened just hours ahead of the parliamentary and municipal elections in Bahrain. Voters are picking the 40 members of the lower house of Bahrain's parliament, the Council of Representatives. The parliament's upper house, the Consultative Council, is appointed by royal decree by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Bahrain is in the midst of a decade-long crackdown on all dissent after the 2011 Arab Spring protests, which saw the island's Shiite majority and others demanding more political freedom. Since Bahrain put down the protests with the help of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it has imprisoned Shiite activists, deported others, stripped hundreds of their citizenship and closed down its leading independent newspaper. Bahrain, about the size of New York City, is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 12-13/2022
A Cold Winter for Europe: Blame Strategic Blindness
Burak Bekdil/Gatestone Institute/November 12, 2022
In 2008, the "flawless democrat" Putin invaded Georgia. The West was shocked. Putin critics... were shocked that the West was shocked. In 2014, Putin invaded the Crimean Peninsula, sovereign Ukrainian territory. The West remained shocked. In February 2022, Putin invaded Ukraine and annexed parts of the sovereign state. Was the West still shocked? It should not have been.
Apparently the "flawless democrat" Putin is hoping to weaponize winter and force Europe to surrender, but giving in to the Kremlin would be disastrous.
The EastMed pipeline project was designed to improve Europe's energy security by diversifying its routes and sources and providing direct interconnection to the production fields while reducing dependence on Russian gas supplies.... U.S. President Joe Biden stepped in with a historic strategic miscalculation that came with a strategic cost: appeasing NATO's pro-Putin, part-time ally Turkey and jeopardizing Europe's energy security.
Only a few weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Biden surprised the EastMed partners by abruptly withdrawing U.S. support for the pipeline, thereby effectively killing the project, preventing a diversified energy supply to Europe, and further assuring Putin's energy blackmail against Europe.
The White House said the $6.7 billion project was antithetical to its "climate goals." Biden presumably hopes no one will actually still be using fossil fuels by 2025, the date for the planned completion of the EastMed pipeline. The Biden administration also cited a supposed lack of economic and commercial viability, even though a 2019 study financed by the EU confirmed that "the EastMed Project is technically feasible, economically viable and commercially competitive."
If the Europeans freeze this winter or must pay sky-high bills, they should drink a toast to the likes of Schroeder and Biden.
The story goes back to early 2000's when German's then Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder decided to develop strategic relations between Berlin and Moscow. He went so far as to offer partnership to Russia in EADS, a multinational European defense and aerospace powerhouse. In November 2004, Schroeder called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "flawless democrat." Unsurprisingly, in 2004, Schroeder hailed Turkey's Islamist autocrat, then prime minister (now president) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a "great reformer."
On the evening of December 9, 2005, seventeen days after Schroeder left office as chancellor, he got a call from his friend Putin. Since leaving public office, Schroeder has worked for Russian state-owned energy companies, including Nord Stream AG, Rosneft, and Gazprom, for a salary of $1 million a year. On March 8, 2022, German's Public Prosecutor General initiated proceedings related to accusations against Schroeder of complicity in crimes against humanity due to his role in Russian state-owned corporations.
In 2008, the "flawless democrat" Putin invaded Georgia. The West was shocked. Putin critics, including this author, were shocked that the West was shocked. In 2014, Putin invaded the Crimean Peninsula, sovereign Ukrainian territory. The West remained shocked.
In February 2022, Putin invaded Ukraine and annexed parts of the sovereign state. Was the West still shocked? It should not have been.
In 1972, natural gas exports from the Soviet Union accounted for around 4% of European gas consumption. By 2021, Russia was providing almost 40% of Europe's gas. As Moscow's market share has gradually increased, so has its ability to manipulate prices and trigger crises. Most Europeans now acknowledge that this reliance on Russia represents a major strategic blunder. Too late. Europe's "green energy transition" features one major flaw: it relies on Russian gas imports.
Back to the future. This will be an extremely difficult winter for all Europeans, whether they face blackouts or heating issues and sky-high energy bills. Apparently the "flawless democrat" Putin is hoping to weaponize winter and force Europe to surrender, but giving in to the Kremlin would be disastrous.
Back to the past. In 2017, the governments of Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed a declaration to confirm their support for the development of the East Mediterranean Pipeline (EastMed), a $6.7 billion, 1,900-km natural gas pipeline project to connect the gas reserves of Israel and Cyprus to Greece and onward to Europe. The pipeline would have an initial capacity to transport 10 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/y) of gas to Greece, Italy and other southeast European countries. The capacity would then be increased to a maximum of 20 bcm/y in the second phase. The project was confirmed as a "Project of Common Interest" (PCI) by the European governments.
The EastMed pipeline project was designed to improve Europe's energy security by diversifying its routes and sources and providing direct interconnection to the production fields while reducing dependence on Russian gas supplies. It would provide an opportunity for European Union member state Cyprus to connect to the European gas network, which would further enhance gas trading in southeast Europe.
Turkey, after a punishing international isolation following several diplomatic crises with Israel, threatened militarily to challenge EastMed. In contrast, other countries in the region such as Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Gulf states supported what later became the EastMed group, also favored by the EU and United States. So far so good. But wait.
As the past several years saw the East Mediterranean turning into a slow-fuse time bomb sitting over rich hydrocarbons that are claimed questionably by Turkey as a stand-alone regional force, versus an alliance of Greece, Cyprus and Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden stepped in with a historic strategic miscalculation that came with a strategic cost: appeasing NATO's pro-Putin, part-time ally Turkey and jeopardizing Europe's energy security.
Only a few weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Biden surprised the EastMed partners by abruptly withdrawing U.S. support for the pipeline, thereby effectively killing the project, preventing a diversified energy supply to Europe, and further assuring Putin's energy blackmail against Europe.
The White House said the $6.7 billion project was antithetical to its "climate goals." Biden presumably hopes no one will actually still be using fossil fuels by 2025, the date for the planned completion of the EastMed pipeline. The Biden administration also cited a supposed lack of economic and commercial viability, even though a 2019 study financed by the EU confirmed that "the EastMed Project is technically feasible, economically viable and commercially competitive."
Biden's miscalculation must have caused much laughter and substantial champagne consumption in the Kremlin. "Welcome to the brave new world where Europeans are very soon going to pay €2.000 for 1.000 cubic meters of natural gas!" tweeted Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, and the country's former president and prime minister, on February 22, 2022.
Even if Putin was hesitant about making Ukraine his new war theater in January, Biden's mistake assured him that he was on the right track. If the Europeans freeze this winter or must pay sky-high bills, they should drink a toast to the likes of Schroeder and Biden.
Burak Bekdil, one of Turkey's leading journalists, was recently fired from the country's most noted newspaper after 29 years, for writing in Gatestone what is taking place in Turkey. He is a Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
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The Ordeal of Syrian Asylum in Lebanon!
Akram Bunni//Asharq Al Awsat/November 12/2022
The tears in his eyes didn’t conceal his anger and resentment of the humiliation he felt when the owner of a Lebanese bakery refused to sell him bread because he is Syrian. He raised his head, and looked at his sister, who asked him again: “returning where? Are you insane? Yes, life here is awful, but you know that staying here is less bad. You also know that many Lebanese sympathize with us and help us in hard times.”
The aggravating fear among Syrian refugees is understandable, not only from cold and heat, or from the decreasing aids and worsening life conditions in the camps and the wasted future of many of their children, but also from the changing stances in the communities that have hosted them.
Understandable is the bitterness and oppression the Syrian refugees have been feeling because of the rejection and aggression shown by some Lebanese groups, who have treated them inhumanly. However, what can never be tolerated is supporting a hashtag against Syrians on Twitter, and the incitement practiced by Michel Aoun, head of the highest authority in the country and the ‘strategic’ ally of Hezbollah, on kicking the refugees out from Lebanon, in addition to Hezbollah’s direct intervention in the Syrian, bloody conflict.
The largest group of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon belong to a “sect” haunted by the curse of terrorism, and accused of every attack implemented by ISIS or Al Nusra on the Lebanese territories, which has significantly contributed to creating a social and mental environment that refuses their existence, in addition to the growing pressures practiced on them by political and economic parties and security bodies, that seek normalization with the Syrian regime.
When he returned angry from the bakery, he admitted to his sister that he is willing to enroll his name with those willing to come back to Syria. “They are hundreds, and they were reassured that they won’t be hurt or arrested,” he told himself in a motivating tone. Then, he asked his sister: “Why are we scared? Haven’t we left the country while we were 10 and 9 years old? Were we aware of what was going around us or do we hold any responsibility for it?”
“Our stalkers are many, and the spies of the Syrian regime here must have sent tens of reports about our life and stances. What fate could be waiting for us if someone reported our hatred of the regime, or our support of the opposition? Do I have to remind you every time you think of returning, of what happened to your friend Ahmed who left Syria when he was 10, too? Does anyone know anything about him, his father and brother a year after they returned there? Isn’t his mother looking for them in every security department,” the sister replies with a decisive tone.
“Where are these hundreds willing to come back? The Lebanese authorities themselves admitted that the number didn’t exceed tens of people. Do you want to leave me alone here? You know I’ll never return to that hell, where I have to smile every day at those who buried my parents and sister under the rubble. Where would we live? How do we recover our family’s properties? Didn’t they ruin and burn our house and seize our land? Didn’t they threaten your uncle Khaled with prison and killing if he thinks of claiming his house and lands again?” she added.
It’s not a secret that confiscating houses and properties has become a norm among the leaders of the “big triumph” in Syria, and that anyone who thinks of claiming his possessions and properties could face the direst fate, especially in the regions that lived under long siege.
But the most dangerous thing is the hidden intentions of some “sectarian” groups planning to put their hands on towns and neighborhoods that have religious and security significance to establish a homogenous population of the “sectarian” kind that helps them tighten their control.
The sister felt that her conversation was useless, and that her brother is still considering the return. “Have you thought of the circumstances in Syria? How can we provide our simplest needs? Have you forgotten the famine our people are living in? They can’t even provide food, clothes, and heating, there are no jobs, and the aids are being stolen. Have you forgotten the stories about abuse and humiliation of people, about innocent citizens who were attacked, humiliated, and blackmailed, even hurt and killed, for the silliest reasons and the perpetrators who have never been held accountable” she continued.
The regime is responsible for the worsening crisis of refugees, and it would never change its hostile stance, and its explicit exclusion of them from its homogenous society. The Syrian opposition also has a negative role in this matter, as it hasn’t been able to create healthy channels for communication and solidarity with the refugees, maybe because it sees them as a secondary matter that comes after the military and political priorities.
We must also keep in mind that Syrian refugees are influenced by the divisions in Lebanon between two political factions with opposing views about the regime, as well as the remarkable decrease in aid and grants allocated to protect the refugees and empower them. All these factors give us a glance of the options those refugees have in Lebanon.
The suffering of Syrian refugees, their degraded life conditions, the growing humiliation and abuse they are facing, can be classified as a human disaster. But when we look at the causes and results of the crisis, we see a political matter.
In other words, it’s imperative to take care of those refugees and pressure towards meeting their human needs, but it’s not sufficient, as long as there are no political efforts to put an end to the Syrian conflict, kick out foreign forces, and address the ongoing conflict in accordance with the UN Resolution number 2254, calling for imposing a solution that meets the expectations and protect the rights of Syrians, and provide the security, political, and economic conditions that motivate millions of Syrians to return to their homeland.

The 'Valdai' Club and Russia's Ambition for a New World Order
Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy/Asharq Al Awsat/November 12/2022
The Valdai Club has just concluded its nineteenth annual conference. Usually, it is an event where participants from around the world converge in Russia, to exchange views with Russian officials and experts on the state of the world and Russia’s role therein.
This time round matters were somewhat different coming amidst the Ukraine crisis. So the usual array of experts on Russia from the west shied away. In fact, since 2014 western participation has been steadily declining. Only a handful of academics, mostly Marxist showed up with a nostalgia for the Soviet era. The only exception was the remote participation of two prominent American academics and a conservative think tanker.
As is the tradition, President Putin spoke before the conference, spending some four hours, mostly answering questions. He seemed confident, relaxed, and keen to engage in debate with the audience.
President Putin was preceded by a number of senior officials from the government, most notably Foreign Minister Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Novak and Presidential Advisor Oreishkin.
The conference thus provided a window into official Russian thinking about not only how they want the world to view their present domestic situation, but also how Moscow relates to the international situation. But more importantly how the government hopes to shape the future.
The message was clear. Russia is not only confident, but defiant. It is also optimistic about the future.
As to the present, the Russian economy has proven to be resilient. What was referred to as the “ Sanctions Blitzkrieg” from the West has failed to cause the collapse of the economy. In fact, the rubble strengthened by 40 %.
Also Russia is not isolated. This was an important point to emphasize given the setback Moscow suffered at the UN General Assembly recently on the resolutions on Ukraine. It has friends everywhere. Certainly in China and developing countries. But also in the west. Not the elite as President Putin mentioned, but among those who share “ traditional values “ with Russia. Probably a euphemism for the more conservative segments of western societies and the right-wing parties that represent them.
Concerning the future, Moscow sees the world as inevitably and irreversibly moving towards Multipolarity with new “ center's of power “ emerging. US hegemony is ending. But the West is resisting change.
A Third World War may have already begun, but this time around it does not necessarily involve the use of arms, but rather a whole array of weapons from cyberwar, sanctions, food, energy, etc…
What was striking was the revival, by both the Russian officials and participants as well as some of the foreign participants of jargon lifted from the Soviet era playbook. Globalization was described as a neo-colonial ploy to perpetuate the domination by the “ imperialist west “ of developing countries and the international economy. However, once the West achieved its objectives, it started to undermine globalization through a series of measures such as imposing sanctions, trade barriers, and restricting financial flows.
The message to developing countries is specific. The West has exploited you twice by plundering your resources: once through imperialism and now by globalization. It was therefore time for the developing countries to join forces with both Russia and China to establish a more balanced and equitable multipolar international order.
True to the Russian sense of exceptionalism and messianic streak, Russia offers the world spiritual purity in the form of a new international order based on honesty and justice.
Contrary to the Biden National Security Strategy issued in early October which stipulated that Globalization “ needs adjustment “, Russia considers it in its last throws. It just needs to be nudged to its total collapse.
As to how to establish the new order, a number of ideas were presented.
First, the need to resist the notion of the “ rule-based international order “which the West employs to undermine the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of states. What is required is to uphold the UN Charter which respects the free choice of every country to determine its own future.
Second, the reform of the United Nations, in particular the Security Council. In this regard, the Russian position was clear: expansion of membership, in particular the permanent one, should be confined to developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Also, Russia is open to discussing the working methods of the Council to ensure that is able to better discharge its responsibilities. However, there can be no compromise on the veto power of the five permanent members.
Likewise the Bretton Woods institutions the World Bank and the IMF need reform to better reflect the new configuration of economic power.
Third, it is necessary to revamp the international financial system by diminishing the dependency on the US dollar as the international reserve currency. While it was acknowledged that is a steep slope, it was possible. President Putin indicated that Russia is increasingly conducting its trade with China, India, and others in local currencies, suggesting if other countries follow suit, the dollar will no longer hold sway over the international financial system.
Fourth, Regionalization was presented as the best means to achieve the new world order. Existing regional arrangements need to be enlarged and consolidated. They also need to cooperate amongst themselves. This was particularly true in the Eurasian space where Russia, China, and India would be the main pillars. In this regard there was an emphasis on eastern Eurasia is probably designed to offer an alternative to the United States' vision of an Indo- Pacific space.
The Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO were singled out. Also, BRICS was also presented as a promising inter-regional arrangement that can support regional arrangements.
The accent on Eurasia makes sense for Russia, as it is the only country that straddles both Europe and Asia and, therefore can have an advantageous position in any economic arrangements in this space.
But while Russia, at this stage, is emphasizing eastern Eurasia, it appears to leave the door open for Europe to join, provided that it is able to achieve strategic autonomy from the United States.
As to Ukraine, the narrative remained the same. The 2014 coup d'état is responsible for where we are today. Kiev did not respect the Minsk Accords and was continuously shelling the Donbas. Russia needed to act before Ukraine, which had been amassing weapons from the west, was going to take action against the Donbas.
However, what is interesting is that some Russian participants acknowledged that mistakes were made concerning Ukraine. Basically underestimating the will of the Ukrainians to fight ( implicit acknowledgment of Ukrainian nationalism which is contrary to the official Russian position which considers the two countries as one nation ) and the extent to which the west was prepared to go to support Ukraine.
Probably even more interesting is that in response to a question about the goals Russia aspires to achieve from its “ special military operation “ in Ukraine, President Putin stated, “But the plan was there, and the goal is to help the people of Donbas. This is the premise under which we are operating”. There was no mention of the two other provinces Kherson and Zaporizhia which were “ incorporated” in Russia.
What also appeared to be clear was a sense of resignation that the crisis in Ukraine will not be resolved anytime soon and that Russia although prepared for such an eventuality, was prepared to negotiate without delay.
In conclusion, while some of the main features of the proposed new order are clear, others require elaboration, particularly those that relate to cooperation between the various existing economic groupings and then between them and the inter-regional ones. The challenge is to articulate these elements in a coherent vision and convince both China and influential developing countries to participate in transforming such a vision into a plan of action.
**Former Egyptian Ambassador and Senior UN official.

Post-Sudani government disasters foretold
Ibrahim al-Zobeidi/The Arab Weekly/November 12/2022
You cannot say the Iraqis know what they are doing, especially in light of the pro-Iranian Coordination Framework kind of system produced by the failure of Moqtada al-Sadr and the withdrawal of his faction from parliament and the whole political process. Sadr has in fact handed over the country and its people to his brothers in the Shia camp and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to do with as what they wish, without accountability or oversight.
Although this is the first time in the history of governments that leading ministers have been chosen from terrorist-classified militias, the United States and European and Arab countries welcomed this new government and expressed confidence that it would usher in security, peace and tranquility for the Iraqi people and for all of their neighbours.
They extended to this government a warm welcome even though they know a lot about its realities and about Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani in particular.
Can it be that these foreign governments do not see the other side of the Sudani government which Iraqi citizens can see? Do they not know, as Iraqis do, who is behind Sudani and the coming storms that await the country?
Those entitled to be pleased with this government are Iran's Basij and Revolutionary Guards, not Iranian protesters.
This is because today Iran’s regime in dire need of an Iraq free of demonstrations, uprisings, sit-ins and rocket strikes. It wants no distraction as it deals with its own internal crisis.
Iran is expected to be hypocritical and not to speak the truth about this government, even if it is Tehran that defeated Moqtada al-Sadr, ordering him to withdraw from parliament and the entire political process and to bequeath his 73 parliamentary seats to his brothers in the Shia camp.
But what excuses do the United States or European and Arab governments have when they claim that Sudani is a man of peace, that he is the leader of the march of independence from Iranian tutelage and the flag bearer of justice, integrity and fighting corruption?
From the moment he entered premier’s office, he started digging up the files on Mustafa al-Kadhimi, to take his revenge on his predecessor and senior officials in his entourage. Part of his agenda is to strike with an iron fist at those petty thieves who thought themselves entitled to practice embezzlement without a license from the supreme Shia authority, the US or Iran.
These are the red lines for Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani not to cross. He cannot go after corruption, embezzlers, killers and smugglers beyond those targeted by Kadhimi. He cannot unearth the files of Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Haider al-Abadi nor Nuri al-Maliki, who can remove him from office when they want.
It is inconceivable that those who welcomed Sudani and pledged to cooperate with his government did not know that the Popular Mobilisation Forces had ordered the army affiliated with the Sudani government to leave Baghdad and other major cities, in order to keep security, defence and intelligence in the hands of Abu Fadak, Abu Ali al-Askari, Qais al-Khazali and pro-Iranian militias as they prepare for the looming showdown. What took place in Baghdad is a silent military coup that does not say its name. Yes, calm has returned to Iraq, but after the PMF and Nuri al-Maliki were able to take possession of the state, the army, the ministries of interior and defence, as well as money, oil, transportation and intelligence services.
After this government assumes office, there are two possibilities. Either the Iranian protesters eventually win and in that case Iraq will witness an armed invasion more sweeping than the US invasion of 2003.
The brigades of the Revolutionary Guards fleeing the Iranian people will flow in, to establish Iraq as a base from which to fight the new Iranian regime and the Wilayat al-Faqih will be established in Iraq.
But if the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij are able to crush the uprising of millions, then Wilayat al-Faqih will turn Iraq into a pool of blood retaliating against the clerical regime’s enemies. Iraq will then become another Iran or a new Yemen.
Did not the head of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, Faleh al-Fayyad, say, during a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, that "the experience of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards should be adapted to Iraqi laws and characteristics"?
Will those who were quick to welcome the Sudani government eventually see what the Iraqi citizen sees and realise the meaning of the new Dawa Party government being in power? Can they foresee the disasters and confrontations ahead? That is the question.