LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 09/2019

Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted
Luke 18:9-14/To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on March 08-09/2019
Pompeo to Persuade Lebanon to Joint Regional Strategic Alliance
UK: Blacklisting Hezbollah Will Not Affect Ties with Lebanon
Aoun Signs Decree Setting Tripoli by-Elections
Aoun Urges UNHCR Assistance to Return Refugees
Hariri Says Tax Evasion Must Be Addressed to Reduce Budget Deficit
Government Defers Military Council Appointments
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Marks International Women’s Day
Nasrallah: Corruption Battle Sacred Like Resistance and We're Not Seeking Revenge
Lebanese Officials Mark International Women’s Day
Saniora: Hizbullah, Aounists Trying to Deviate Attention from Their Hegemony
Former President Amine Gemayel: Good Governance Is Key to Lebanon's Rescue
Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel Warns of Police State Rise in Lebanon
Hankache: Kataeb Party to Submit Amendment Proposal on Parliament's Accountability Vote Threshold
U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Marks International Women's Day
UK Minister for Middle East Ends Two-Day Visit to Lebanon
Richard Highlights Economic Developmental Projects for Northern Lebanon

Litles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 08-09/2019
Assad in Tehran: Soleimani’s goons snatched him to swear allegiance to Khamenei. Putin retaliates
US Urges UN to Impose ‘Real’ Sanctions on Iran
London Grants Jailed UK-Iranian Aid Worker Diplomatic Protection
Netanyahu Warns Israeli Navy Could Take Action against Iran Oil Smuggling
Khamenei Appoints Raisi as Iran’s Judiciary Chief
ISIS Ambush Kills 6 PMF Members in Northern Iraq
Egyptian Delegation Heads to Gaza to Revive Truce with Israel
US State Department Hails Chemical Attack Report on Douma
Temporary Solution Reached in Golden Gate Spat in Jerusalem
Turkey Will Deploy S-400 System despite US Warning
Algeria Lawyers Protest against Bouteflika, Demand Transition Govt.
Trump Brands Democrats 'Anti-Israel,' 'Anti-Jewish'
Democrats Including Ocasio-Cortez Condemn U.S. Strategy on Venezuela

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 08-09/2019
Richard Highlights Economic Developmental Projects for Northern Lebanon/Naharnet/March 08/19/
Assad in Tehran: Soleimani’s goons snatched him to swear allegiance to Khamenei. Putin retaliates/DEBKAfile/March 08/19
Iran: Child Executions, Amputations, Floggings/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/March 08/19
Mullahs Pushed Off the Gravy Train/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/March, 08/19
Is This the End of the Anglosphere/John Micklethwait/Bloomberg View/March, 08/19
Deficit Hubris Looks Like the Next Economics Mistake/Noah Smith/Bloomberg View/March, 08/19
Saving the date palm from the Red Weevil/José Graziano da Silva/March 08/19

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on March 08-09/2019
Pompeo to Persuade Lebanon to Joint Regional Strategic Alliance
Beirut - Khalil Fleihan/ Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement that he will pay a visit to Beirut did not come as a surprise to Lebanese officials, most notably since the top diplomat had declared such plans during a trip to Riyadh some two months ago.
A diplomatic source linked on Thursday Pompeo’s visit and its timing to the growing influence in Lebanon of not only Iran, but also Russia through its investments in the energy sector. Rosneft, Russia’s state-owned oil company, closed a 20-year deal in late January to rent, operate and expand storage near the northern city of Tripoli. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source said Pompeo would use his trip to Lebanon to persuade Beirut to join the “strategic alliance in the Middle East against threats facing the region.”The official is aware, however, that Lebanon cannot take part in such an alliance given that several local political forces reject “anything American”. Moreover, the government is bound to a dissociation policy aimed at keeping Lebanon away from regional conflicts. The agenda of Pompeo’s trip remains unclear, officials informed about his trip said. One of the officials predicted that “talks between Pompeo and Lebanese officials are expected to be difficult.”The sources explained: “Usually, Beirut does not respond to Washington’s demands. Several examples could be listed in this regard, including a decision by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil to not attend a Middle East conference co-hosted by the US in the Polish capital last February.” Other demands that Lebanon has failed to comply with include the disarmament of the Hezbollah party and limiting Iran’s powers in the country. However, the diplomatic source expected that Lebanon will coordinate with US over the armament of the Lebanese army and training of its personnel.

UK: Blacklisting Hezbollah Will Not Affect Ties with Lebanon
Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/British Minister for Middle East and International Development Alistair Burt said that his country’s decision to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization would not affect relations with Lebanon and its army. Burt met separately on Thursday with President Michel Aoun and Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab, after holding talks on Wednesday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. “Lebanon has the will to move positively to overcome the current situation,” Aoun told the visiting UK minister. “We are working hard to implement the recommendations of CEDRE conference, especially with regard to reforms and projects, based on cooperation between the public and private sectors,” he added. Aoun lauded the ongoing cooperation between Lebanon and Britain in various fields, especially the act of providing the Lebanese Armed Forces with much-needed equipment and building observation towers that have enabled the Lebanese army to defeat terrorists in the Bekaa border area. The president expressed hope that bilateral relations would be strengthened, pointing out that Lebanon “has taken note of the British position towards Hezbollah.” He stressed that Hezbollah’s regional expansion “does not mean that its influence on Lebanese politics goes beyond its capacity as part of the Lebanese people and its representation in the government and parliament.”Burt, for his part, conveyed to Aoun his country’s desire to strengthen Lebanese-British relations in all fields. “The recent economic conference in London is part of the British support plan for the Lebanese economy. UK’s relations with Lebanon will not be affected by any position taken by Britain against Hezbollah,” Burt added.

Aoun Signs Decree Setting Tripoli by-Elections
Naharnet/March 08/19/President Michel Aoun on Friday signed a decree setting April 14 as the date to hold by-election in the district of Tripoli to fill the fifth Sunni parliamentary vacant seat, the Presidency said in a tweet. The MP seat was left vacant after the election annulment of al-Mustaqbal Movement MP Dima Jamali. In February, the Constitutional Council invalidated the 2018 election of Jamali in Tripoli’s parliamentary elections based on an appeal by failed candidate Taha Naji of the National Dignity List led by MP Faisal Karami.

Aoun Urges UNHCR Assistance to Return Refugees
Naharnet/March 08/19/President Michel Aoun has called upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to keep pace with Lebanon in “facilitating and expediting” the return of Syrian refugees.During a meeting with the UN Commissioner General Filippo Grandi in the presence of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Salim Jreissati, Aoun stressed the importance of providing assistance to displaced Syrians “after returning to their homeland.”The President highlighted the cooperation between the competent Syrian and Lebanese authorities arranging the return of refugees, mainly Lebanon General Security agency. For his part, Grandi described as “reassuring” the situation of the displaced in Syria after visiting a number of areas there. He said he met with several Syrian officials in Syria for the purpose of coordinating efforts to return of refugees.

Hariri Says Tax Evasion Must Be Addressed to Reduce Budget Deficit
Kataeb.org/ Friday 08th March 2019/Prime Minister Saad Hariri said that Lebanon would be able reduce its budget deficit by improving tax collection which makes up between 23 and 25 percent of the country's GDP. However, the current rate is less than 20% due to tax evasion; a problem that Hariri's government will have to address in order to lower its deficit-to-GDP ratio by at least 1 percentage this year, as pledged in its policy statement. “We will have to save some money by stopping some projects that are unnecessary, and at the same time, we need to make sure that we collect more from taxes,” Hariri told The Daily Star newspaper. The premier stressed the need to make “hard decisions” in order to reach the deficit reduction target, assuring that no projects will be passed if they burden the state's finances.

Government Defers Military Council Appointments
Kataeb.org/ Friday 08th March 2019/The government deferred discussions on key military appointments during its weekly session on Thursday, after it had been expected to fill four vacant posts in the six-member Military Council headed by Army commander Joseph Aoun. According to media reports, it was Prime Minister Saad Hariri who asked that this issue would be postponed till next week in order to allow further talks. The appointments include the posts of the Army's chief of staff, secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council, general inspector and a full-time council member. The government, however, appointed Judge Mahmoud Makieh as its secretary-general, thus replacing Fouad Fleifel who reached retirement age. The Cabinet also appointed Brigadier General Elias Al-Baissari as acting director of General Security for a period of one year during which he who would fill in for Abbas Ibrahim in case of absence.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Marks International Women’s Day
Naharnet/March 08/19/UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis issued a statement on Friday marking International Women’s Day. Kubis paid tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and achievements made by women in different fields in Lebanon and encouraged more inclusion of women in decision-making positions. Noting this year’s international theme: Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change, the Special Coordinator said, “Women are already making commendable contributions in different fields in Lebanon whether as political leaders, journalists, lawyers, judges, engineers, pilots, bankers, teachers, academics, military servicewomen and in many other professions,” the Special Coordinator said. “But,” he added, “more needs to be done to ensure women reach leadership positions and are included in decision-making roles.”Kubis met this morning with Minister of Interior Raya al-Hassan and congratulated her on her appointment as the first woman Minister of Interior in Lebanon and the Arab world. “This shows that barriers can be broken ultimately for the benefit of Lebanon and its people,” Kubis said. The Special Coordinator welcomed the increased representation of women in the new Cabinet and hoped this will pave the way for increased female participation in Lebanon’s political sphere. There are currently four women out of 30 Cabinet ministers and only five women are serving in Lebanon’s Parliament of currently 127 members. “At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres has set gender parity as one of his priorities and this has already been achieved in the Organization’s senior management team,” the Special Coordinator added.
The objective is to now achieve gender parity throughout UN ranks. Similarly, Lebanon and other countries are encouraged to take pro-active measures to involve more women in leadership positions and across the board. Women’s empowerment and gender equality have been recognized as essential for achieving long-term peace, security and development as highlighted by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals that was adopted by all UN member States in 2015 as well as by a series of UN conventions and resolutions. Despite that, many legal, cultural and social barriers continue to restrict women’s potential and rights. The Special Coordinator hoped that in addition to the adoption of necessary laws and their implementation, efforts are exerted in all sectors in Lebanon to ensure inclusion and participation of women and that their rights are upheld. Kubis said the United Nations, through its different agencies, funds and programmes stands ready to support Lebanon in achieving the objective of gender equality and women empowerment in line with the broader efforts to promote Lebanon’s sustainable development, stability and security. The United Nations has observed International Women’s Day on 8 March since 1975.

Nasrallah: Corruption Battle Sacred Like Resistance and We're Not Seeking Revenge
Naharnet/March 08/19/Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah announced Friday that the anti-corruption fight is “as sacred as” his group's military resistance against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon. “Today more than ever, there is national consensus on fighting corruption,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech marking the anniversary of the establishment of the Hizbullah-affiliated Islamic Resistance Support Association. “The remarks voiced by the Finance Ministry's director general should be looked into by the judiciary,” Nasrallah pointed out, referring to Alain Bifani's press conference about the issue of the state's financial accounts between the years 1993 and 2017. “Hizbullah would be a hypocrite party if it ignores the financial accounts file and anyone who seeks to sideline this file would be a hypocrite,” Nasrallah said.
Noting that tackling this file is the “correct beginning” seeing as it is “the most important” in the anti-corruption battle, Hizbullah's leader said a “suspicious financial situation persisted between the years 1993 and 2017.”“You can expect everything from Hizbullah in this battle because it is necessary and is related to the survival of the state and the country,” he pledged. “Do not bet that we will be scared and do not try to intimidate us with threats of a sectarian strife,” he added. “Anyone who has evidence against us can resort to the judiciary,” Nasrallah went on to say in response to accusations that Hizbullah is involved in corruption. He added: “Do not bet that we will despair. We know that the battle is difficult and we do not expect results within months. We do not care about insults and accusations and we're used to them.”“This is one of our central battles. We tell everyone not to bet on our exhaustion. We have never grown tired,” Nasrallah boasted. Apparently referring to the controversy involving ex-PM Fouad Saniora and MP Hassan Fadlallah's remarks about the financial corruption file, Nasrallah denied claims that his party is “seeking political vengeance against certain politicians and parties.”
“This is untrue,” he underscored. “The corrupts and the thieves will be punished and the counter-attack is normal,” Nasrallah noted, adding that “the corrupts in Lebanon and the thieves will stand in the face of this battle and will try to defend themselves.”
He stressed: “We don't want to be alone in this battle but we are not afraid to stay alone.”“Anyone who has evidence and documents related to financial corruption will be supported by us. We support anyone who makes a move in this battle,” Nasrallah added, noting that Hizbullah is not “competing against anyone in this battle.”
He clarified: “We are only keen on the ultimate goal and we are not seeking political gains. We want to recover the state's funds.”“We are in a necessary, important and national battle against corruption that is not less sacred than the resistance's battle against occupation,” Nasrallah added.
Clarifying the timing of his party's endeavor against corruption, Nasrallah said: “Lebanon is precious to us and we are among the Lebanese who have offered hefty sacrifices and blood for the sake of the country, so we cannot stand idly by in order not to irritate some parties.”Warning that any financial collapse in Lebanon represents an “existential threat” to everyone, Hizbullah's leader emphasized that claims that his party “wants to take the state's money” are baseless. As for the issue of the U.S. sanctions on Hizbullah and the latest British measure against the party's political wing, Nasrallah said: “The resistance axis has triumphed in all countries and they are imposing sanctions on us because we have defeated their scheme.”“More countries will put Hizbullah on their terror lists and we are aggrieved but strong,” he underlined. “The resistance axis is standing in the face of (U.S. President Donald) Trump and his son-in-law (Jared) Kushner's 'deal of the century' plans,” Nasrallah added, referring to a reported U.S. plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The resistance axis is triumphing across the region,” Nasrallah boasted.

Lebanese Officials Mark International Women’s Day
Lebanese officials on Friday marked International Women’s Day noting the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Using this year’s theme #balanceforbetter, Prime Minister Saad Hariri said in a tweet: “We commit ourselves to continue to work for equality of rights as well as duties among citizens and empowering women to lead all sectors in order to achieve development, economic advancement and balance in our society because the failure to benefit from this energy is a national loss,” he said. Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan tweeted: “On Women’s Day, we must pay a double tribute to the Lebanese woman whom I am proud of and invite to make more successes and achievements. “The second is for Lebanese men who increasingly believe in the need for equal opportunities and equal rights between men and women,” Hassan said. First Lady Nadia al-Shami Aoun urged women to be strong, “confront and speak up and the National Commission for Women's Affairs will always stand by your side.”“I don't call for equality between men and women because I believe it’s a natural and obvious right. I demand more laws that guarantee these absolute rights in Lebanon and the Arab world,” Social Affairs Minister Richard Kouymjian said in a tweet. MP Rola Tabsh called for approval of a law allowing women married to non-Lebanese to pass the Lebanese nationality to their children.“The biggest victory for the Lebanese woman is when she becomes able to pass her nationality to her children. Hopefully we will achieve that,” she tweeted.

Saniora: Hizbullah, Aounists Trying to Deviate Attention from Their Hegemony
Naharnet/March 08/19/Ex-PM Fouad Saniora on Thursday accused Hizbullah and its ally the Free Patriotic Movement of seeking to “deviate attention” from “their hegemony over the state,” the upcoming Special Tribunal for Lebanon rulings and the U.S. sanctions on Hizbullah. Saniora was referring to the latest corruption-related controversy sparked by the remarks of Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah. “They think that by silencing me they would be silencing others,” Saniora said in an interview on Al-Arabiya television. “During my tenure, I was the biggest obstacle in Hizbullah's way,” Saniora added. Saniora has recently described the issue of the “missing” $11 billion as a “farce,” as he announced that those “setting up mini-states inside the state” are the real corrupts, in an apparent jab at Hizbullah. At a press conference he held to comment on perceived accusations against him, Saniora said the 11 billion dollars in question were spent on interest hikes, treasury loans for Electricite Du Liban, and wage hikes and recruitment expenses for the armed forces.

Former President Amine Gemayel: Good Governance Is Key to Lebanon's Rescue
Kataeb.org/ Friday 08th March 2019/Former President Amine Gemayel on Friday stressed that good governance is key to the development and rescue of Lebanon, deeming it as the only way out of the tunnel that the country has been trapped inside for years. “After all those long years of conflicts, wars, occupations and political vacuum that have marred Lebanon's modern history for more than half a century, it is not surprising that the Lebanese society is affected by many flaws and illusions,” Gemayel said in a conference held at House of the Future. "There is an interactive correlation between politics and society: if one weakens, the other does too."Gemayel noted that a nation is based on inter-related factors, adding that when politics gets shaky, the economy is affected; and when the economy is affected, the society breaks down.

Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel Warns of Police State Rise in Lebanon
Kataeb.org/ Friday 08th March 2019/Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel on Thursday condemned the growing oppression of journalists in Lebanon, warning of the rise of a police state. "It is unacceptable to keep on summoning citizens and journalists, and arresting them by security and legal authorities because of opinions and posts they shared on social media platforms, while the pillars of the political settlement and their supporters are violating the laws without being subject to accountability," Gemayel wrote on Twitter. The Kataeb chief's comment was made after the Military Court had sentenced in absentia Al-Jadeed TV reporter, Adam Chamseddine, to three months in prison over a Facebook post in which he criticized the State Security agency. "The police state, which we warned of its rise three years ago, has become a reality that we must not remain silent about it," Gemayel stressed.

Hankache: Kataeb Party to Submit Amendment Proposal on Parliament's Accountability Vote Threshold
Kataeb.org/ Friday 08th March 2019/Following his election as member of the Higher Council, tasked with trying presidents and ministers, MP Elias Hankache said that the Kataeb party is planning to submit a draft law proposing an amendment of the voting mechanism adopted by said body. Hankache told Al-Markazia news agency that the proposal will suggest modifying the clause which requires a two-thirds majority at the Parliament, i.e. 86 votes, in order to validate any accusation against a minister. "The Parliament will remain constrained as long as a two-thirds majority of the total members of the Chamber of Deputies is required in order to be able to hold ministers and presidents accountable for their wrongdoings," he said, adding that the Kataeb party will propose lowering the vote threshold. The Kataeb lawmaker called for giving the Higher Council a wider margin to work within, saying that, otherwise, it will continue to be ineffective. “The Higher Council does not convene unless a President or a minister are referred to it for trial, and that should be changed. It is unacceptable for it to meet only to discuss these matters; it should have given a larger framework," Hankache stressed.
“When put to the vote at the Parliament, this draft law will serve as a test for the Parliament to prove how serious it really is about fighting against corruption,” Hankache noted. According to Article 80 of the Constitution, members of the Higher Council are re-elected with each new Parliament. It consists of seven MPs and eight of Lebanon's top judges. Three MPs and three judges are elected as reserves. Any verdict issued by the council must be validated by at least ten of its members.

U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Marks International Women's Day
Naharnet/March 08/19/U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Philippe Lazzarini has marked the occasion of International Women's Day, which the world celebrates on March 8, with an op-ed. Below is the op-ed titled “Women in Lebanon - Unreached Potential for Growth”:“International Women’s Day is a time to commemorate women’s rights, a time to celebrate women’s achievements and a time to take stock of the progress made towards gender equality. But more importantly, it is a time to reflect on our shortcomings, and recommit to working towards a more gender-balanced, equal and empowered world. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable society. Together with 192 other nations, Lebanon committed in 2015 to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development – and as part of this agenda, to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Yet we are still far from achieving this goal. Legislative frameworks in Lebanon have so far significantly hindered women's access to equal economic rights. Ownership of property is mainly registered on behalf of men. Women have limited opportunities to receive their shares of inherited lands, which hinders their ability to have access to loans and therefore investment opportunities. Personal status laws often do not recognize the concept of marital property, nor do they recognize the value of unpaid domestic work. The Lebanese labour law prevents women from working in certain fields considered too hazardous or difficult, such as mining, welding, alcohol production or in slaughterhouses. As a result of gender discrimination, women often secure lower-paying jobs and many end up in unsafe working environments. According to the World Bank, only 25% of women participated in the labour force in 2017. Women remain significantly underrepresented in the areas of science, technology, and engineering. Sadly, steps ahead in education do not translate to economic empowerment and political empowerment.
No wonder Lebanon is ranked 140th on the 2018 Global Gender Gap Index. The journey to equality is long and unless bold measures are taken, it will take generations. And that time is no longer available if we are to achieve the ambitious 2030 Agenda and its 17 sustainable development goals leaving no one behind. “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change” is the theme of International Women’s Day this year. This could not come at a more timely moment for Lebanon.
In spring 2018, a record 86 women ran for parliamentary elections. Only a few weeks ago we saw the formation of a new Cabinet comprising four women, the highest number so far in the history of Lebanon, even though this still represents only 13% of its members. In its ministerial statement, the government committed to eliminating all forms of gender discrimination and enhancing women’s participation in political and public life. Also, at the recent Mashreq Conference on Women's Economic Empowerment, the Prime Minister announced Lebanon's commitment to a national action programme to economically empower Lebanese women and increase their participation in the labour market by at least 5 percent in the next five years. It is now time to walk the talk and make the empowerment of women and girls in the Lebanese society a reality. Time and time again, we’ve seen that investing in women’s economic empowerment contributes to economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Interim President of the World Bank Group, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, recently pointed out that the global economy is losing $160 trillion in wealth because of gender inequality, due to access to credit, property rights and differences in lifetime earnings between women and men. As she rightly points out, the fact that women are blocked from realizing their full potential is not just morally wrong but is also costing the earth. The time to act is now. The implementation of the Lebanese Government’s “Vision for stabilization, growth and employment” and accompanying reform plan could create a myriad of opportunities for women and their economic empowerment. This needs to be accompanied by bold legal reforms to remove obstacles impeding gender equality and equal opportunities for women and men in the country. International Women’s Day is a day to reiterate our pledge to invest in women, not only to protect their rights but also to put an end to a devastating human, social and economic waste. Let us join together as partners – women and girls, men and boys – to address one of the biggest unfinished businesses of our time and make gender equality Lebanon’s reality.”

UK Minister for Middle East Ends Two-Day Visit to Lebanon
Naharnet/March 08/19/British Minister of State for the Middle East and International Development Alistair Burt has visited Lebanon for two-days, where he “reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting a strong and prosperous Lebanon, while explaining the UK government’s decision to proscribe Hizbullah in its entirety,” the British embassy said on Thursday. Burt held a series of meetings with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Education Akram Shhehayyeb, Minister of Social Affairs Richard Kouyoumjian, and Director of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim. The minister visited a local school part of the joint DFID-British Council Connecting Classrooms program, accompanied by Shehayyeb. “With education remaining one of the UK’s key pillars, and in working towards the goal of reaching every child in Lebanon with education, the UK had committed up to £160 million to education in Lebanon from 2016-2021,” the embassy said. Minister Burt also met the UK – Lebanon Tech Hub team and heard from the team how the hub is providing support to Lebanese start-ups in both Lebanon and the UK.
Promoting a Balance for Better gender based world, Burt also attended an International Women’s Day reception. Speaking about his visit, the British minister said: “I am pleased to be back in Lebanon again. I am here to congratulate the new Lebanese government on its formation, and to reiterate the UK’s support for a strong, stable and prosperous Lebanon.” “I came to Lebanon at an important time. Last week, the UK government proscribed Hizbullah in its entirety. My government took this decision for the sole and simple reason that we can no longer judge there is any meaningful distinction between Hizbullah’s military and political wings,” he added. “To be clear, the decision is not about our commitment to Lebanon or the Lebanese, and I want our $200m per year of support to Lebanon to continue. But there should be no illusion about our deep concerns about Hizbullah’s destabilizing actions,” Burt went on to say.
He added: “The economic relationship between the UK and Lebanon is growing stronger, and I look forward to more British companies investing and operating in Lebanon – a country that is very much open to business for the UK. In order to provide certainty and confidence to UK and Lebanese businesses, I hope we can agree immediately a UK-Lebanon bilateral trade agreement.”“We look forward to rapid progress following from the commitments made at CEDRE in Paris now that a government has been formed. At the Lebanon-UK Business and Investment Forum in London last December, I announced an additional £30 million program to support the Lebanese Government’s reform plans. Speedy implementation of this reform program will be important to build momentum and unlock further international funding,” Burt went on to say.
He said that many of his conversations during the trip focused on the large number of Syrian refugees Lebanon “generously hosts.”“Our policy is clear: we want Syrians to return, and we have no position on this other than ensuring they are safe, voluntary, and dignified, as verified by UNHCR. I welcome any initiative that helps achieve this,” he added. He, however, pointed out that while “the great majority of Syrians want to return, the conditions in Syria, particularly on security, must improve.”“Whether it is the U.N.’s access inside Syria, conscription into the Syrian army, or the other important issues that affect refugees’ desire to return, ultimately establishing the right conditions for returns is only in the gift of the Regime in Damascus. In the meantime, we will continue our support for the Lebanese state, for vulnerable Lebanese and for the refugees themselves,” Burt went on to say.

Richard Highlights Economic Developmental Projects for Northern Lebanon
Naharnet/March 08/19/
United States Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard traveled to Tripoli to visit American funded projects focused on economic development and education in Northern Lebanon, the U.S. embassy said on Thursday.
“As part of the $825 million in assistance the United States provided to Lebanon in 2018, we are funding projects in northern Lebanon to provide youth with the education, tools, and skills to succeed in the marketplace. Today, we commemorated two projects: 'Lebanon Youth SEEK Jobs' which has already helped dozens of young people find jobs, and a new project 'Tripoli Youth Economic Engagement,' also designed to assist young people in northern Lebanon by offering them vocational training in fields with high demands for skilled labor,” the embassy said in a statement.
Ambassador Richard reiterated in her speech that the United States is “committed to helping support the Lebanese people.”
“Our support, which amounts to over $5 billion in total assistance since 2005, demonstrates the United States’ long-term commitment. The projects celebrated today demonstrate our focus on empowering the next generation in northern Lebanon,” the embassy added in its statement.
Following are Ambassador Richard’s remarks:
“Good morning everyone. It is great to be back in Tripoli. I am really delighted to be back here, especially with my old friends: Mr. Minister, my dear friends and religious leaders of Tripoli, Mr. Mayor and other leaders, here in the Tripoli area and the North.
I am very happy to be here because this is a very special project to us. U.S. investment in Tripoli is not something new. We have been doing this for a long time and we have a long relationship with Tripoli. In fact they tell me there is even a neighborhood here called the neighborhood of the Americans - Hay al-Amercan, which I must go visit. We are here today to celebrate two of the latest U.S. Embassy projects in Tripoli, one that is ending called “Lebanon Youth SEEK Jobs” and one that is beginning “Tripoli Youth Econ-Engagement.” Both projects help Lebanese youth develop the tools and skills they are going to need to enter the Lebanese job market. We are supporting these programs because we believe that education has to be accessible to everyone, especially to the citizens of the North. This region is vital to the Lebanese economy and has been neglected by the central government for too many years.
You know, we invest over $50 million every year in education in Lebanon – from reading programs for primary students all the way through sending talented Lebanese to the United States for graduate degrees through our Fulbright program. Along the way, we send high school students to the U.S. to study English. We do social entrepreneurship programs including right here in Tripoli. We fund full scholarships for smart young people who would otherwise not have the means to go to university and we support vocational training, like the great programs we are here today to highlight. In the U.S., I would like to mention, vocational training and the jobs that they create, support a large number of our citizens and their families, including members of my own family. So, we are proud to be partners with Safadi Foundation’s vocational school. And I’m very happy to report that graduates of this school are even now being hired to work on our billion dollar new U.S. Embassy project in Lebanon. Let me say a word about a couple of other U.S. programs that benefit Tripoli and the North. Right here in Tripoli, we have started a program called “Hope.” The U.S. government pays all expenses for 100 students from Tripoli to attend the Lebanese University here in town. As part of the scholarship, we also provide English language instruction, leadership training, and career planning workshops.
More broadly, we invest about $12 million each year in our University Scholarship Program. Each year we offer 100 talented Lebanese high school graduates comprehensive four-year scholarships to LAU and AUB. And I’d like to point out that nearly 250 very bright talented people from Tripoli and the North have already won these scholarships and graduated from these two great Lebanese Universities.
The enduring partnership we have forged with the Lebanese people through the education programs fits into a much larger effort by the United States here in Lebanon. I’d like to give you one more number, if I may. In 2018 alone, the United States provided $825 million dollars in assistance to Lebanon. That includes: $168 million in to development programs that finance businesses, particularly in agriculture, access to clean water, and measures to improve governance, including here in Tripoli. $362 million in humanitarian assistance, including to Lebanese communities who are hosting, very generously, such large numbers of refugees. For example, we recently refurbished over 2,000 residences across Tripoli - from Jabal Mohsen to the old city. And we provided over $180 million in assistance to the LAF, just this year, including support for the Border regiments which are located not very far from here. They are for the first time in many decades putting Lebanese soldiers on your border to protect you from Da’esh and other threats coming from outside the country. But assistance is only a tool that helps Lebanon in the short term. The real solution to the economic problems here is investment and economic growth. We are trying very hard to bring more U.S. companies to invest in Lebanon. U.S. firms are committed to clear and transparent business practices. When you see a U.S. firm, you can be sure that it is abiding by U.S. laws, including laws that prohibit U.S. companies all around the world from paying bribes to win contracts. They pay fair wages and ensure fair working conditions. And when they invest outside the U.S., they are always investing for the long term. The energy sector is a great example of where U.S. technologies and investments can make a big impact on the Lebanese economy. Today, American companies are bidding on projects to transition Lebanon’s power production from dirty diesel and heavy fuel oil to cleaner, cheaper natural gas. These projects are going to establish natural gas terminals at Deir Ammar, Selaata, and Zahrani.
I very much hope that the new government moves quickly on the badly needed reforms and investment that would bring reliable and affordable energy to all Lebanese.
In closing, from talking to countless Lebanese from North to South and East to West in this country, I hear that the Lebanese want more from their government. They want action from their government. There is a new government now and the United States is absolutely committed to helping support this government, helping support the Lebanese people, and helping build this economy, and the state institutions for the long term. We have been here a long time – at least since the founding of AUB and IC in the mid-1800’s. And we are going to be here for a long time in the future, very committed to be with you as you build a future for Lebanon, so thank you very much. Mr. Minister thank you very much for everything Safadi Foundation is doing and thanks all for being with us today.”

Latest LCCC English Miscellaneous Reports & News published on March 08-09/2019
Assad in Tehran: Soleimani’s goons snatched him to swear allegiance to Khamenei. Putin retaliates
DEBKAfile/March 08/19
Al Qods Brigades, the Iranian Rev Guards’ external wing, “brought” Syrian ruler Bashar Assad to Tehran on Feb. 27, for an audience with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This was revealed on Wednesday, March 6, by Al Qods deputy chief Brig.-Gen Esmaeil Qaani in an interview with Iranian media. Assad arrived alone without aides – a sign that he did not come voluntarily. And, indeed, Qaani also admitted that “his men accompanied Assad” all the way to Tehran, another sign that he was virtually snatched for the trip. DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources, who followed this revelation, discovered that Assad was bundled onto an Iranian plane and flown directly to a Revolutionary Guards air base in western Tehran. The only official on hand to receive the Syrian president was Al Qods chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who never left his side throughout the visit.
The only Iranian advised of his arrival was supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Assad later met President Hassan Rouhani, who was surprised to find the Syrian ruler in Tehran. All the photos and videos of the visit showed Assad on his own without the usual Syrian aides.
Our sources report that the entire purpose of this virtual abduction was to force the Syrian ruler to bend the knee and kiss the hand of Ayatollah Khamenei, a gesture tantamount to an oath of allegiance to Iran’s supreme leader. Assad became the only Arab ruler to swear allegiance to the Shiite revolutionary ruler of Iran. He was not given much choice.Having discovered how Tehran forced Bashar Assad to its will, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who two days later, on Feb. 27, sat down in Moscow with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and IDF Military chief Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman, granted Israel a free hand to attack Iranian targets in Syria. Putin also invited Israel to accept its first role in the military and political processes ongoing in Syria. According to our sources, Iran is not taking the Russian concessions to Israel lying down. Assad is being subjected to brutal pressure from Tehran to declare Israel’s attacks on Iranian sites in his country tantamount to attacks on Syrian targets, and to issue a strong warning that Damascus and Tehran will initiate payback.

US Urges UN to Impose ‘Real’ Sanctions on Iran
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/The United States accused Iran on Thursday of defying a UN resolution with one ballistic missile test and two satellite launches since December and urged the Security Council to impose new sanctions on Tehran.
In a letter to the 15-member Council, acting US Ambassador to the United Nations Jonathan Cohen said Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile on Dec. 1, 2018, and attempted to place satellites in orbit on Jan. 15 and Feb. 5. "Iran has carried out these three launches in defiance of the expressed will of the UN Security Council, and such provocations continue to destabilize the entire Middle East region," Cohen wrote. Security Council Resolution 2231 -- adopted just after the 2015 nuclear deal - "called upon" Iran to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons following an agreement with six world powers. Some states argue that the language does not make it obligatory. Cohen's letter called upon the Council to "join us in imposing real consequences on Iran for its flagrant defiance of the Council's demands and bring back tougher international restrictions to deter Iran's missile program."Asked for a response to the US letter, spokesman Alireza Miryousefi for the Iranian mission to the US said Tehran does not have any ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear weapons "therefore none of the ballistic missile launches of Iran are covered by that resolution." There was no immediate request from the United States for a Council meeting to discuss Iran and no further steps were announced in the letter. At a Security Council meeting in December, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the body to toughen that measure to reflect language in a 2010 resolution that left no room for interpretation by banning Iran from "activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology."

London Grants Jailed UK-Iranian Aid Worker Diplomatic Protection
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/The UK will hand diplomatic protection to British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to underline the government's belief that Iran has behaved unjustly in its treatment of her, Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday. Hunt said while the move, a little-used way for governments to seek protection on behalf of their nationals, was unlikely to be a "magic wand," it may help the aid worker's case. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested in April 2016 at a Tehran airport as she headed back to Britain with her daughter after a family visit. She was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment, a charge denied by her family and the Foundation, a charity organization that operates independently of Thomson Reuters and Reuters News. "I have today decided that the UK will take a step that is extremely unusual and exercise diplomatic protection," Hunt said in a statement, adding that the move signaled to Tehran that "its behavior is totally wrong". "It is unlikely to be a magic wand that leads to an overnight result. But it demonstrates to the whole world that Nazanin is innocent and the UK will not stand by when one of its citizens is treated so unjustly," he said. Iran's ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad, said on Twitter that Britain's move "contravenes international law". "As (the) UK Govt is acutely aware, Iran does not recognize dual nationality. Irrespective of UK residency, Ms. Zaghari thus remains Iranian," Baeidinejad added. Diplomatic protection is a mechanism under international law through which a state may seek reparation for injury to one of its nationals on the basis that the second state has committed an internationally wrongful act against that person. Earlier this year, Zaghari-Ratcliffe went on hunger strike in protest at her treatment in jail. She has suffered from health issues, including undergoing tests for breast cancer and a series of panic attacks, while her emotional state has worsened during her confinement.

Netanyahu Warns Israeli Navy Could Take Action against Iran Oil Smuggling
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened Iran that the navy could launch operations against its oil smuggling operations, calling on the international community to stop Tehran’s attempts to circumvent US sanctions. "Iran is trying to circumvent the sanctions through covert oil smuggling over maritime routes, and to the extent that these attempts widen, the navy will have a more important role in blocking these Iranian actions," Reuters quoted the PM as saying at a navy cadets’ graduation ceremony in Haifa on Wednesday.
"I call on the entire international community to stop Iran's attempts to circumvent the sanctions by sea, and of course, by any (other) means." US President Donald Trump last year quit the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran and reimposed some sanctions, aiming to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero. It was not clear how Israel would stop Iran's shipping activities or whether it would risk direct confrontation at sea with Iranian vessels. The Israeli navy, whose largest vessels are missile corvettes and a small submarine fleet, is most active in the Mediterranean and Red seas, according to Reuters.
According to maritime experts, Iranian oil smuggling methods have included changing the names of ships or flag registries, switching off location transponders on ships and conducting ship-to-ship transfers offshore and away from large trade hubs.
"In a few days, the leaders of Cyprus and Greece will come here, together with... (US Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo, to advance a gas pipeline from Israel to Europe via these countries," Netanyahu said, hailing the role of the navy. He and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman later visited the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system deployment site in Israel. Netanyahu said: “This is a testimony to the strong alliance between Israel and the United States. The coalition for joint defense, which is expressed not only in words but also on the field, is exceptional.”"We are very pleased with the cooperation and the US commitment to Israel's security, which President (Donald) Trump often expresses," he added.

Khamenei Appoints Raisi as Iran’s Judiciary Chief
London - Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed on Thursday former presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi as head of the Iranian judiciary, taking over from Sadegh Amoli Larijani, who became the chairman of the powerful Expediency Council last December. Raisi had lost to President Hassan Rouhani in the 2017 presidential election. "I am appointing you as the head of the judiciary, as a person who is familiar with the judiciary after years of serving inside the system," Khamenei said in a statement carried by IRNA news agency. Hardline cleric Raisi is a protégé of Khamenei. His appointment is for five years, and could be renewed for a second term. The new head of the judiciary is said to be one of the contestants for the post of Supreme Leader in post-Khamenei Iran. He is known for his role in overseeing the execution of political prisoners in the late 1980s. An audio file release in 2016 proved he was part of a four-person committee that ordered the execution of several thousand political prisoners in 1988. Human Rights Watch said the appointment of a former judge responsible for mass executions to be head of Iran’s judiciary reflects the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. “It’s disturbing and frankly frightening that Ebrahim Raisi will be overseeing justice and accountability in Iran,” said Sarah Leah Whiteson, Middle East and North Africa director at HRW. Khamanei said he appointed Raisi to bring about a transformation in the judiciary, in line with its needs, advancements and challenges on the 40th anniversary of the Revolution.

ISIS Ambush Kills 6 PMF Members in Northern Iraq
Baghdad – Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/Six members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were killed in an ambush by the ISIS terrorist group in northern Iraq, officials said Thursday. Thirty-one others were wounded when ISIS ambushed a bus carrying the members in an area south of Mosul city. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi opened an investigation into the attack, which took place late Wednesday near the town of Makhmour. An official from the PMF said the bus was en route from Mosul to the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. He blamed the attack on ISIS, which was vanquished in Iraq in late 2017 but has recently stepped up activities. The wounded were transported to the nearest health-care facility in the nearby town of Qayyarah, in Nineveh Province. Member of the parliamentary security and defense committee former interior minister Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban told Asharq Al-Awsat that such attacks demonstrate that ISIS has breached security measures. He demanded that the breaches be properly addressed, highlighting the need for bolstering intelligence efforts, which would “greatly limit such attacks, but not eliminate them.”“Some of these violations, including this one, are politically-motivated on the local and regional levels,” he added without elaborating. Former Nineveh governor Atheel al-Nujaifi underlined to Asharq Al-Awsat the need to resolve pending political issues in the Makhmour area and its surroundings in order to prevent ISIS from exploiting them to carry out more attacks in the future.

Egyptian Delegation Heads to Gaza to Revive Truce with Israel
Ramallah – Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/An Egyptian security delegation headed to the Gaza Strip on Thursday on a mission to defuse tensions between the Hamas movement and Israel following days of escalation between the two sides. The Health Ministry in the coastal enclave said a 15-year-old Palestinian died from Israeli gunfire during overnight border skirmishes. The Israeli military on Thursday demolished the family home of a Palestinian accused in the deaths of two soldiers and an Israeli newborn. The Egyptian delegation’s visit was the second in three days. It visited the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian-Egyptian border before later meeting with Hamas leaders. The movement had informed the delegation that it had no intention to escalate tensions with Israel, demanding that Tel Aviv commit to truce agreements reached months ago. These understandings include allowing funds to flow into Gaza, expanding fishing zones and resolving frequent power cuts. Once this part of the truce is finalized, then discussions could turn to greater issues, such as working on large projects in Gaza. Israel has been demanding that all attacks from Gaza cease, including the launching of incendiary balloons towards its territories. On Monday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of "opting out of short and long term understandings" aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He said that last year Israel and Hamas reached understandings for Israel to extend Gaza's fishing zone, increase the territory's electricity supply and allow cash into Gaza for Hamas public servants. But he said a botched Israeli undercover raid in Gaza last fall undermined understandings on broader issues "as if they never existed."

US State Department Hails Chemical Attack Report on Douma
Washington - Elie Youssef/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/The US State Department has hailed a report issued earlier this month by the global chemical weapons agency on the use of chemical weapons in an attack last year in the Syrian town of Douma. “The report concluded that there were reasonable grounds that chlorine was used as a chemical weapon in the attack. The FFM (an impartial outside investigator) found that the weaponized chlorine was not manufactured at the sites, as alleged by the regime, and that it is possible that the chlorine was released by cylinders that had been dropped from the air, as indicated by their condition and surroundings,” State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement. "The conclusions in the FFM report support what the United States determined in our assessment of the attack last April – that the regime is responsible for this heinous chemical weapons attack that killed and injured civilians," it added. he Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said last week that the mission visited Douma, analyzed samples taken from the scene and from people affected, interviewed witnesses and studied toxicological and ballistics analyses. The data, it said, provided "reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon" took place on April 7, 2018. "This toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine. The toxic chemical was likely molecular chlorine." The State Department said that “the Assad regime’s use of chlorine as a chemical weapon is a violation of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which it is a party, as well as UNSCR 2118.”“Further, the United States rejects the efforts of the Assad regime and its supporters – Russia chief among them – to sow disinformation about alleged chemical weapons attacks,” the statement read. The US expressed deep concern about such disinformation. "As noted in our own assessment in April 2018, after the CW attack in Douma, the regime falsely accused opposition groups of perpetrating the chemical weapons attack in Douma; and regime and Russia forces delayed inspectors from entering Douma in an expedited manner with appropriate access consistent with their mandate.”“Unfortunately, this is just the latest case where chemical weapons use in Syria has been confirmed by the FFM,” the statement added. The US called upon “the Assad regime to fully cooperate with the OPCW, verifiably destroy its remaining chemical weapons program and completely disclose its activities related to chemical weapons.” “These are all obligations Syria accepted when it became a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, but has failed to honor,” it said.

Temporary Solution Reached in Golden Gate Spat in Jerusalem
Ramallah - Kifah Zboun/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/A temporary solution appears on the horizon in the dispute over the Golden Gate, or Bab al-Rahma, prayer yard in Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound. There have recently been scuffles between worshippers and Israeli police there over the use the Bab al-Rahma closed by Israel since 2003. The latest dispute erupted over the renovation of the Bab al-Rahma. Israel had ordered the closure of the area to carry out renovations, sparking an objection from Jordan, which oversees holy sites in Jerusalem. It instead said that it should be entitled with renovating Bab al-Rahma with the supervision of the Religious Endowments Authority, or Awqaf, which will in turn bar entry to the site for the duration of the renovation. Jordanian and Israeli officials held a meeting Wednesday to address the dispute that ended with disagreement with Amman insisting on its right to carry out the renovations. Senior officials soon intervened to avert an escalation. Talks ended with the agreement for Jordan to hold the renovations and the Awqaf to close the site until they are complete. A senior Jordanian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Israel will allow the Awqaf to bring in the necessary building material for the renovations. The date for the renovation has not been set yet, but it is said to be soon. He added that Jordan and Israel are in agreement over the need to renovate Bab al-Rahma, saying that worshippers will not be allowed to enter the area when the process begins. Access to Bab al-Rahma was closed by an Israeli court order in 2003 during the second Palestinian intifada over alleged militant activity there, police say. The compound is the third-holiest site in Islam and a focus of Palestinian aspirations for statehood. It is in the walled Old City in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move never recognized by the international community.

Turkey Will Deploy S-400 System despite US Warning
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday US officials have told Turkey it would be impossible for Congress to approve the sale of F-35 jets if Ankara buys the Russian S-400 air defense system, but that Turkey is working to overcome those problems. Turkey says it has already paid Moscow some of the bill, and analysts say President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is campaigning for March 31 local elections, would find it hard to back away from the Russian deal now. The US had agreed to sell 100 of its latest, fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey, and has so far delivered two of the aircraft. But Congress last year ordered a delay in future deliveries. Erdogan said that his country will go ahead with the purchase of S-400 system, despite a US warning that such a move would force it to cancel a sale of the F-35 jets to Ankara. In an interview with Kanal 24 television late Wednesday, he said: "The S-400 is a done deal, there can be no turning back. We have reached an agreement with the Russians." "We will move toward a joint production. Perhaps after the S-400, we will go for the S-500." Erdogan added that first delivery of the S-400 would be made in July. This week, the top US military commander for Europe, Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, told the US Congress that NATO member Turkey should reconsider its plan to buy the S-400 from Russia or forfeit other future American military aircraft and systems. He said Turkey's use of the Russian surface-to-air missile defense system would be a threat to the F-35. It was the latest in a series of warnings the US has made to Turkey over its plans to buy the S-400. The US and other NATO allies have repeatedly complained about the purchase, saying it is not compatible with other allied systems and would represent a security threat.
The issue has aggravated already souring relations with Ankara, including tensions over the war in Syria. In December, the State Department approved the sale of a $3.5 billion US Patriot missile defense system to Turkey. Erdogan said Turkey could still purchase the Patriot system "if the conditions are suitable, the prices are suitable (and) if we can conduct a joint production." The last diplomatic crisis between the two countries contributed to driving the lira to a record low in August. This week, despite the Central Bank maintaining interest rates well above inflation, Turkey’s currency has fallen 1.5 percent - largely due to renewed concerns over relations with Washington, traders say.

Algeria Lawyers Protest against Bouteflika, Demand Transition Govt.
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 8 March, 2019/Hundreds of Algerian lawyers took to the streets of the capital Algiers on Thursday to rally against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s run for a fifth term in office. “The people want to overthrow the regime”, shouted lawyers, who protested in front of the constitutional council building. “Republic, not a kingdom,” others chanted. Security forces were deployed to monitor the demonstration but as with previous protests, they did not intervene. Tens of thousands of Algerians, tired of the dominance of elderly veterans of the 1954-1962 war of independence against France, have taken to the streets to urge the ailing president not to stand in an election scheduled for April 18. He has submitted his candidacy papers. He has not spoken in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 and remains in a hospital in Geneva. One lawyer said that Bouteflika was no longer able to carry out his duties, starting with his inability to submit his candidacy paper himself. “Isn’t his presence in a Geneva hospital for 12 days enough evidence to reject his nomination?” he asked. Bouteflika’s campaign director, however, offered an upbeat assessment, saying there was "nothing to worry about." "The recent information saying President Bouteflika's heath has deteriorated is without foundation and the health tests will soon be finished," said Abdelghani Zaalane. The national association of lawyers has demanded that the authorities postpone the election and set up a transitional government. On Wednesday, the influential Algerian war veterans association expressed support for the so far peaceful protests. Two branches of powerful Algerian labor union UGTA, representing tens of thousands of workers, also opposed the re-election plan. Some officials from Bouteflika’s ruling FLN party have turned up at demonstrations. Several public figures have announced their resignations in a country where personnel changes normally take place behind closed doors. Later on Thursday, Bouteflika issued his first warning to protesters, saying the unrest could destabilize the country. In a letter reported by the state news agency APS, he said: “Breaking this peaceful expression by any treacherous internal or foreign group may lead to sedition and chaos and resulting crises and woes.”He did not say who any of these groups might be. “We need to preserve the continuity to allow the authorities and people to maintain the battle of construction in order to achieve more progress,” said the president.

Trump Brands Democrats 'Anti-Israel,' 'Anti-Jewish'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/March 08/19/President Donald Trump said Friday that a recent U.S. House of Representatives vote condemning bigotry shows the opposition Democrats have become an "anti-Israel" and "anti-Jewish" party. "I thought yesterday's vote by the House was disgraceful," Trump told reporters at the White House. "The Democrats have become an anti-Israel party and anti-Jewish party." The Republican president spoke a day after the vote on a resolution originally intended to condemn anti-Semitism following controversial comments by Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar that instead became a broader anti-hate measure.

Democrats Including Ocasio-Cortez Condemn U.S. Strategy on Venezuela
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/March 08/19/Sixteen Democratic lawmakers, among them rising star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, on Thursday sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticizing what they described as "counterproductive" US strategy on crisis-hit Venezuela. "We write to express our deep concern regarding the Trump Administration's handling of relations with Venezuela, particularly its suggestions of military intervention, imposition of broad unilateral sanctions, and recent recognition of an opposition leader as interim president," the legislators wrote. They warned recent sanctions could "exacerbate the country's grave economic crisis, causing immense suffering for the most vulnerable in society who bear no responsibility for the situation." Venezuela is in the midst of a power struggle between President Nicolas Maduro and national assembly leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president in January and is backed by more than 50 countries, chief among them the United States. Guaido accuses Maduro of rigging last May's election which saw the socialist successor to Hugo Chavez win a second term despite a freefalling economy and hyperinflation that has left millions without basic necessities and triggered a mass exodus. The lawmakers also strongly condemned Maduro for his repression of the country's civil society, economic failure, killing of unarmed protesters, holding illegitimate elections and blocking humanitarian aid. Since 2015, Washington has sanctioned dozens of current and former Venezuelan officials -- among them Maduro himself -- accusing them of human rights violations, corruption and drug trafficking. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump's administration continued to tighten the screws on its campaign of sanctions to force Maduro from power, revoking the visas of 77 people linked to the regime. "The U.S. stands alone in its decision to impose economic sanctions against the Venezuelan government, that as currently implemented, are hurting the civilian population," the lawmakers wrote, branding the policies as "counterproductive" as they "play into the Venezuelan government's narrative" that the opposition is a puppet of Washington. Along with Ocasio-Cortez, lawmakers who signed included representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard.

Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 08-09/2019
Iran: Child Executions, Amputations, Floggings
د. ماجد ربيزاده /معهد جستون: إعدام الأطفال وبتر الأطراف والجلد في إيران
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/March 08/19
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/72819/dr-majid-rafizadeh-iran-child-executions-amputations-floggings%d8%af-%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%af-%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%b2%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%87-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%87%d8%af-%d8%ac%d9%8a%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88/
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13841/iran-executions-amputations-floggings
Europe ravenously throw sanctions on a country that has been home to Jews for more than three thousand years, yet tries to find ways to keep on doing business with a country such as Iran that is not only trying to establish its hegemony throughout the Middle East, but is also the serial violator of just about every human right imaginable. The only conclusion one can come to is that Europe would evidently still like to kill the Jews and is happy to support those wishing to kill them.
"In February [2018], Canadian Iranian academic and environmental activist Kavous Seyyed Emami died in Evin prison following his arbitrary arrest two weeks earlier. Authorities claimed he committed suicide and refused to release his body unless his family agreed to an immediate burial without an independent autopsy." — Amnesty International.
The list of unspeakable human rights violations committed by Iran's regime is lengthy; however, by far the most disturbing seems the cruelty enacted against children.
Now is the time for the EU to halt its appeasement policy with a regime that does not hesitate to flog people -- publicly, as a message to others -- torture any citizen they choose to target, enact cruel punishments such as amputation without a fair trial, and execute children just starting their lives. These are acts that should be condemned -- not condoned through the pursuit of appeasement policies, moral depravity and raw greed.
According to a report published by Amnesty International on February 26, the human rights situation in Iran has "severely deteriorated". Why then does the European Union continue to pursue appeasement policies with a regime that has an excruciating human rights record? Sadly, Europe -- in spite its endless moral preening and self-righteousness -- seems to have become the world most immoral player -- if it was not already. The European Union, for instance, unjustly singles out for bullying the only liberal, democratic, human-rights-abiding country in the Middle East: Israel. Not Turkey for occupying Northern Cyprus, China for obliterating Tibet, or Pakistan for occupying Kashmir. Europe and the corrupt United Nations do not lay a glove on the real perpetrators of crimes against humanity such as China, Cuba, Russia, Turkey, North Korea, Nigeria or Sudan, to name just a few.
The stench of Europe's duplicity cannot be overstated. Europe ravenously throws sanctions on a country that has been home to Jews for more than three thousand years, yet tries to find ways to keep on doing business with a country such as Iran that is not only trying to establish its hegemony throughout the Middle East -- through proxies in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon -- but is also the serial violator of just about every human right imaginable (here, here, here, and here). The only conclusion one can come to is that Europe would evidently still like to kill the Jews and is happy to support those wishing to kill them. How much more immoral can one get?
The list of unspeakable human rights violations committed by Iran's regime is lengthy; however, by far the most disturbing seems the cruelty enacted against children.
According to the Norway-based organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), which closely monitors executions in Iran:
"Despite ratifying the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child which bans the death penalty for offenses committed at under 18 years of age, Iran stays the world's top executioner of juvenile offenders. According to reports by IHR, Iranian authorities have executed at least 40 juvenile offenders since 2013. "
These children are held in custody and executed before they have the chance to reach adulthood. At least 6 minors, including two child brides were executed in 2018. Amnesty International comments on Iran's use of capital punishment on children:
"Girls as young as nine can be sentenced to execution; for boys it's 15. At least 73 young offenders were executed between 2005 and 2015. And the authorities show no sign of stopping this horrific practice.
"We have the details of 49 people on Iran's death row who were under 18 at the time of the crime they are alleged to have committed. The UN says there are at least 160 such people facing execution in the country. In fact, there are likely to be many more young offenders on Iranian death rows, as use of capital punishment in Iran is often shrouded in secrecy."
Consider Zeinab Sekaanvand Lokran. In October 2018 the former child bride, who came from a poor minority family, was executed the day after giving birth to a stillborn baby. Under Iran's Islamic Penal Code, executions can be conducted in four different ways: hanging, stoning, firing squad, or crucifixion.
Vague charges can be brought up by the Islamic Republic's judiciary system or the Revolutionary Court, such as "waging war against God", spreading moharebeh ("corruption on earth") such as protesting, or endangering the country's national security. These charges can be stretched to allow for simple acts such as criticizing the Supreme Leader to become crimes, simply to allow an order of execution to be carried out.
Iran's Islamic Penal Code allows girls as young as nine to be executed. This is all allowed to occur while the deeply cynical EU continues to label the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as a "moderate".
The theocratic establishment is also known for forcing confessions and televising torture, in order to strike fear in the public. As Iran Human Rights recently stated:
"In 2018, the Iranian authorities once again displayed their systematic violations of due process and the rule of law. Televised confessions, unfair trials, and reports of torture are reminders of the fact that sustainable improvements in the status of human rights and serious steps towards abolition of the death penalty are not possible without fundamental changes in Iran's judicial system."
In 2018, at least 273 people were executed in Iran, according to Iran Human Rights. The Iranian government ranks second (China ranks first) when it comes to the absolute number of people that it executes, and ranks first for the execution of people per capita. Because of lack of transparency in the Iranian regime, the unofficial number of those executed is believed to be even higher.
The use of cruel and inhumane punishments is also on the rise in Iran. According to Amnesty International's report, the use of various forms of torture such as amputation and flogging has been increasing at an alarming rate.
One example included tying a man to a tree in plain sight of the public, in the Razavi Khorasan province, and flogging him 80 times. His crime? Drinking alcohol a decade before, when he was 14 or 15 years old.
In the case of an accused thief, he allegedly stole some livestock. His punishment? His hand was cut off. Not only are these punishments barbaric, but one can assume that neither of these men, nor any of the multitudes of others treated in a similar way, was given a fair trial or anything close to a legal defense.
Iranian leaders have also been increasing their crackdown on the whole population. Detainees have been dying suspiciously in prison, such as a 63-year-old Iranian-Canadian professor. According to Amnesty International:
"In February [2018], Canadian Iranian academic and environmental activist Kavous Seyyed Emami died in Evin prison following his arbitrary arrest two weeks earlier. Authorities claimed he committed suicide and refused to release his body unless his family agreed to an immediate burial without an independent autopsy."
Due to the recent protests in the country, the theocratic establishment has also ratcheted up its censorship of media, jamming of foreign satellite television channels, and detention of human rights defenders. Human rights defenders and prominent lawyers, including Nasrin Sotoudeh and her husband Reza Khandan, who defended or supported social movements such as the opposition of compulsory hijab, have been unfairly prosecuted and sentenced to long prison sentences.
These increasingly wanton human rights violations should raise alarms among the European governments, who are always lecturing the rest of the world about how caring they are -- for instance not sending criminals back to countries where they might be tortured. It should horrify them to know that they are in some way enabling and emboldening this regime and empowering it to continue to commit these vicious acts.
Now is the time for the EU to halt its appeasement policy with a regime that does not hesitate to flog people -- publicly, as a message to others -- torture any citizen they choose to target, enact cruel punishments such as amputation without a fair trial, and execute children just starting their lives. These are acts that should be condemned -- not condoned through the pursuit of appeasement policies, moral depravity and raw greed.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13841/iran-executions-amputations-floggings

Mullahs Pushed Off the Gravy Train
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/March, 08/19
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/72822/amir-taheri-mullahs-pushed-off-the-gravy-train-%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%b7%d8%a7%d9%87%d8%b1%d9%8a-%d8%a3%d8%a6%d9%85%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%a9-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a5%d9%8a%d8%b1/
If you are one of the 3,400 mullahs who work as Friday Prayer Leader (Imam Jum’ah) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, you better start getting worried, very worried. The reason is that you may soon find yourself disembarked from the gravy train and your cushy seat given to a spring chicken novice.
Last week eight “Imams” were disembarked, among them heavy weights from Tabriz, Shiraz, Rasht and Ahvaz. And, if Tehran rumor mills are right, 25 more are already scheduled for disembarkation. Judging by the “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenei’s latest message to the nation, an ambitious “change of generations” scheme is to be implemented in the months ahead.
Being a Friday Prayer Imam in the Khomeinist republic is like owning a gold mine. To start with you receive a mouth-watering tax-free monthly stipend plus “resources” to cover expenses. In most cases, you are also given a suitable “residence” plus a bullet-proof limousine and specially trained bodyguards to protect you against any black sheep in your flock. Other perks include free medical care, annual all-paid pilgrimages to “holy” cities in Iraq and, at least one grand Hajj trip to Mecca. Thanks to the position you will also have priority access to luxuries and services and tax-free imported goods. Moreover, if you or family members wish to travel, your visa application is fast-tracked through the Foreign Ministry.
But what does one have to do in exchange for such a cushy position?
Strictly speaking: nothing. Well not quite. You have to grow a substantial beard, wear a turban and a mullah’s gear, fondle a rosary in public and attend public events with a sober and straight face.
The highlight of your activity is the sermon you deliver at Friday mass at the mosque assigned to you. The good thing about that, however, is that you don’t have to compose the sermon; the text is faxed, or nowadays emailed, to you from the Central Office of Friday Prayers in Tehran. But even if the text from Tehran is delayed or doesn’t arrive, you need not worry. All you need is dwell on three themes: blaming the American “Great Satan” for every problem under the sun, including the Islamic Republic’s multiple failures, praising the late Ayatollah Khomeini as the man who “revived Islam”, and praying for eternal life for the current” Supreme Guide” so that he can unite mankind under the banner of “Islamic Revolution.”
The scheme, originally launched by Khomeini when the mullahs seized power in 1979, worked reasonably well for the new political masters in Tehran. It turned mullahdom, if one is allowed such a neologism, into a popular career choice, attracting energetic and ambitious men.
Before the revolution Iran counted around 80,000 full-time mullahs for a population of 40 million. Four decades later, and with its population doubled, it boasts almost half a million.
However, the real picture isn’t that simple.
To start with the vast majority of clerics have gradually distanced themselves from the regime, preferring to preserve the old traditional clerical universe in which mullahs devoted themselves to theology, philosophy and religious history. Slowly but surely, the clergy has been divided between turban-wearing politicians and genuine clerics who, in the words of Grand Ayatollah Alawi Borujerdi, have to deal with enough theological problems not to have time for politics.
Next, something that is worrying for ruling mullahs, happened.  The Khomeinist system’s failures provoked a backlash against the religious narrative. And, as always in Iran’s history in the past five centuries, setback for religious narrative leads to a rise of nationalistic discourse. The nationalist narrative is especially popular with the millennials born after the mullahs seized power, who account for half of the country’s population.
In the meantime, government mullahs grew old. Today, the average age of the 5,000 government mullahs, from the “Supreme Guide” down and including Friday Imams, is around 70. The age disconnect is only one reason for the dramatic fall in turnouts at Friday prayers. According to the latest report by the central office in charge of the Imam networks, Friday prayers in Tehran no longer attract more than 20,000 people from a population of over 12 million. In some cities, Tabriz and Isfahan for example, the numbers have fallen below 1,000.
However, age isn’t the only worrying factor.
People, especially the younger generation, are not interested in the shopworn anti-American discourse seasoned with empty pseudo-Islamic slogans. The anti-American discourse sounds even more hallow when the Islamic Majlis publishes claims that some 15,000 children of senior Islamic Republic officials, including many mullahs, are in the United States for further studies and that hundreds of top Khomeinist officials are either US citizens or hold American “Green Cards” (permanent residence documents.) Reports of top officials and mullahs or their families traveling to the West for holidays, medical services and shopping further contribute to the falseness of official Friday sermons.
Would Khamenei’s new plan correct the disconnect between the regime and the Iranian society? No one could know for sure. Replacing older, tired, and less enthusiastic mullahs with younger, leaner and more ambitious ones may attenuate the current mood of doom and gloom among the regime-owned clergy. But, I suspect, age therapy alone may not do the trick. The second plank of Khamenei’s plan is to use as much of the Iranian nationalist discourse, as peddlers of down-market Pan-Islamism could appropriate without losing face.
In the past few weeks, sermon texts coming from Tehran have been peppered with patriotic themes about the Iranian “nation” rather than the “ummah” and Tehran’s attempts at dominating several Arab countries justified, in the words of Quds (Jerusalem) Corps chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani, as “moves necessary to protect our national territory.”In the final analysis, however, a change of personnel and official discourse may not be enough to save a tired system in deep crisis. The core question in the debate about Iran’s future remains: change within the regime or regime change?

Is This the End of the Anglosphere?
John Micklethwait/Bloomberg View/March, 08/19
Look around the Western world. Which country’s politics seem the most shambolic? In the past, your eyes might have headed instinctively toward southern Europe. The politicians in Athens, Madrid and Rome are certainly trying hard, but if you want dysfunctionality, there are only two places to go: Washington and London. America’s government was shut for a long stretch of this year — and now President Donald Trump is stuck in a row with Congress over whether there is a national emergency on the southern border of the United States. Britain’s government is meandering toward Brexit with all the discipline of a drunk on an icy road. If nothing changes, the United Kingdom will topple out of the European Union in five weeks.
Is this the end of “the Anglosphere”? For nearly four decades, America and Britain have touted the benefits of open markets, globalization and personal freedom. Now that voice has either shrunk to a murmur, or is singing a very different tune. It is not silent yet, but the faltering partnership that has set the mood music for much of the world is something that matters far beyond the English-speaking world. You may not like pontificating Anglos, but everybody who cares about liberty and the rule of law should pray for them to be heard.
By “Anglosphere,” this pontificating Anglo means something narrower than the fifth of the world that speaks English; this is about the US and Britain. And yet it’s a definition that is also meant to encompass something much more powerful and evangelical than the tweedy “special relationship.”
A half-century ago, Britain was certainly America’s closest ally, with strong historical, military and personal ties and a shared aversion to communism and the Soviet Union. Still, it was hardly evangelical. In the 1970s, Britain was both farther left and far less successful than America; not that the United States, limping through Vietnam and Watergate, looked especially inspirational either.
All this changed in the 1980s with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. The Anglosphere broadcast a message that handbagged the world: Words like “privatization” and “deregulation” became commonplace, first in the West and then in the emerging and ex-communist realms. As Victor Hugo once pointed out, “Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come,” and globalization jumped forward, driven by technology as well as ideology. Tony Blair and Bill Clinton; Blair and George W. Bush; David Cameron and Barack Obama — a succession of youngish prophets walked the world, telling people what to do, with various degrees of smugness.
Again the United States was the bigger and more influential partner; Britain’s economy is smaller than California’s and its total defense budget is less than half the size of the US Navy’s. But the fact that America had a partner that spoke the same language (on many different levels) made the alliance greater than the sum of its parts. Britain gave the Anglosphere a voice in the European Union. Britain also brought a lot of soft power. It came to the table with an unusually global media, Oxbridge, and, of course, London, a commercial entrepôt rivaling New York in finance and cosmopolitanism.
Gradually, the Anglosphere became a presumption. Some countries hated its message; many more wanted to adapt it to their needs, or delay it. Nevertheless, the presumption, even in places as hostile to it as Brussels and Beijing, was a grudging acceptance that most countries, if they wanted to do well, would have to become more Anglo.
Looking back, this presumption was more vulnerable than anyone realized. Although the Sept. 11 attacks initially united the world behind the Anglosphere, the idea that Britain and America were on the right side of history was brutally questioned by the bloody quagmire in Iraq, the illiberal horrors of Guantanamo, and then the credit crunch. What’s more, as China continued to rise, a rival trumpet began to sound that was especially attractive to governments across the emerging world: The “Beijing consensus” promoted the idea that authoritarianism was a better spur for prosperity than “chaotic” laissez faire.
The hope is that the Anglosphere will recover. If a recovery is to happen, it has to happen soon. History does not wait for dysfunctional countries to sort themselves out. An idea whose time has come can soon become one whose time has passed. The Anglosphere changed the world for lots of reasons, but one was because it had sustained momentum. Let’s hope it recovers it soon.

Deficit Hubris Looks Like the Next Economics Mistake
Noah Smith/Bloomberg View/March, 08/19
The 2008 financial crisis and the deep recession that followed taught the world to be more skeptical of macroeconomic theories. In the years leading up to that crisis, many leading macroeconomists displayed a startling amount of complacency, bordering on hubris. The defining quote came in a 2003 essay, when Nobel-winning macroeconomist Robert Lucas made a startling declaration:
Macroeconomics in [its] original sense has succeeded: Its central problem of depression prevention has been solved…and has in fact been solved for many decades.
Lucas believed, like so many others did, that the Federal Reserve and other central banks had learned how to use monetary policy to fine-tune the economy and smooth out recessions. And part of the reason for his belief was an overreliance on the modern macroeconomic theories that he himself had helped create. Indeed, those theories completely failed to see the Great Recession coming.
Why did the theories fail in 2008? One reason was that most of them omitted a critical piece of the economy -- the financial industry. Macroeconomic models are, by necessity, highly simplified pictures of the economy; they have to choose which sectors, agents and institutions to include and which to gloss over, and in this case they chose wrong. Another reason is that the models were designed to cope with normal conditions and modest economic fluctuations -- a very large recession was outside the scope of the theories, and so they stopped working just when they were needed most.
A third reason macro models failed in 2008 was that even the parts of the economy they did try to describe were probably modeled incorrectly. These models are chock full of unrealistic assumptions about how consumers, workers and companies behave. Since even a small departure from realism can potentially make a macroeconomic model’s results go completely haywire, this is probably a vain hope most of the time.
Thus, macroeconomic models have little hope of matching the quantitative accuracy of theories in the natural sciences, or even in microeconomics. They can’t forecast the economy, and whether they can be used to offer any sort of precise, quantitative policy guidance is doubtful. Instead, policy makers tend to use them as heuristics -- useful stories about the economy that can inform how they think about the forces at work, but not to spit out hard numbers.
But using theories like stories introduces another problem -- how to tell which story to use. Policy makers have a vast number of different models sitting on their bookshelves, with very little in the way of a road map for which to pay attention to and which to ignore. It all comes down to judgment. If that judgment is wrong, there can be serious unintended consequences. For example, many central banks have kept interest rates at very low levels ever since the financial crisis, on the assumption that inflation was the only possible danger. But a few economists have suggested that low rates distort the economy in other ways, such as encouraging monopolies or reducing productivity.
For this reason, many have called on macroeconomists to show more humility. Brash, confident declarations like Lucas’s should be avoided, in favor of an eclectic, circumspect approach that acknowledges how little really can be known. Policy makers should generally avoid making huge changes to the way the economy is managed, except in an emergency like the 1930s or after 2008.
The people who run the Fed definitely seem to have recognized the need for humility and caution. Academic macroeconomists have been chastened somewhat, too. But outside of the mainstream, there are thinkers and activists advancing new kinds of macroeconomic theories with unchecked confidence, and calling for dramatic changes to US macroeconomic policy.
Chief among these theories is so-called modern monetary theory, or MMT. This theory, promulgated by a handful of heterodox thinkers and recently embraced by some activists on the left, purports to overturn the standard understanding of how money, government spending and taxation work. The theory lies at the center of the Green New Deal, an ambitious proposal put forth by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to address climate change and economic inequality.
Because MMT holds that government spending isn't funded by taxes, the Green New Deal doesn't include any measures to finance the very large, open-ended fiscal commitments it would undertake. According to MMT economists, the only possible danger from the resultant government debt would be inflation, which can usually be controlled with tools other than raising taxes. In other words, deficits almost never matter. So confident are they of their theory’s universal applicability that MMT proponents often respond to their critics with scorn.
This incredible confidence can make even Lucas’s precrisis pronouncements seem humble by comparison. The MMT economists and their activist believers would have the US dramatically change its whole approach to macroeconomic policy, on the strength of a theory that has undergone much less empirical examination and logical interrogation than the theories that failed so spectacularly in 2008. Even after watching the Great Recession take the economy into uncharted territory that mainstream theories had no hope of describing, MMT fans assume that their own doctrine will continue to hold absolutely true no matter what huge policy changes they make.
This is hubris. Economies are so complex that there is no such thing as a perfect macroeconomic theory. They all make simplifications, and they all have limits beyond which the theories stop applying. For MMT, there’s now very little general understanding of what those simplifications and limits might be. Until the picture clears up, a lot more humility from MMT theorists -- and a lot more caution from those who would embark on bold new policy adventures -- is in order.

Saving the date palm from the Red Weevil
José Graziano da Silva/March 08/19
Deeply rooted in the economies and cultures of the people of the Near East and North Africa, the date palm is under severe threat and with it the livelihoods of an estimated 50 million farmers in the region.
The cause of this is the Red Palm Weevil, the most dangerous and destructive pest of palm trees worldwide, capable of feeding on the trees’ growing tissue from the inside. This insect originated in South East Asia and has spread rapidly through the Near East and North Africa where an estimated 90 percent of the world’s date palms are grown. Part of the problem is that early detection is difficult because there are few externally visible symptoms that indicate the presence of the pest in a host tree. Field teams must look for small insect entry holes in the base or crown of each tree. Lapses in quarantine procedures are also to blame: The invasive pest moves from one country to another mainly through infested planting material.
It is clear that combating this pest effectively requires enhanced solidarity and cooperation between countries and regions, in particular to ensure pest freedom of traded host plants of the Red Palm Weevil and to harmonize monitoring and control strategies.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is at the forefront of efforts to tackle the Red Palm Weevil, working together with many partners, such as the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, the Near East Plant Protection Organization and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari.
In 2017, FAO hosted a Scientific Consultation and High-level Meeting that included member countries, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, regulatory authorities, international scientists, farmer organizations and the private sector. The meeting agreed on a framework strategy for the eradication of Red Palm Weevil and support for the establishment of a Trust Fund to implement it. Containing, controlling and ultimately eradicating the Red Palm Weevil is possible. In Mauritania for example, an integrated pest-management approach based on the active participation and strong commitment of farmers and their cooperatives, has led to considerable success in curbing the spread of the previously Red Palm Weevil-infested Tidjikja region.
Part of the solution lies in geographic information systems that collect data from infested trees to better manage pest control operations. In addition, research is underway to develop natural pest-control measures. Other innovative solutions include dogs that can sniff out infestations, detection through thermal imaging and highly-sensitive microphones that can hear larvae feeding inside a palm tree.
FAO is developing simple yet powerful tools to assist farmers in better monitoring and managing the Red Palm Weevil. A mobile app, SusaHamra, is used to collect standard data when inspecting and treating palms and checking pheromone traps for Red Palm Weevil.
A global platform is being established for mapping field data and analytics for better decision making. Remote sensing is being combined with artificial intelligence to map palm trees for improved monitoring of Red Palm Weevil spread. Stopping the spread of the Red Palm Weevil also requires countries’ commitment to enforce international phytosanitary measures on movement of infested material across borders.
FAO has developed a five-year regional programme for the Near East and North Africa to support efforts in more than 15 countries in order to contain the spread and finally eradicate the pest. This program focuses on three interrelated elements: research, capacity development, as well as transfer of knowledge and technology. Success hinges on the support of governments and partners. With this purpose, on the 9th and 10th of March in Abu Dhabi, FAO is co-organizing a donor meeting to replenish the trust fund that was established in 2017.
FAO counts on the generosity of all countries, especially those from the Near East and North Africa region, to to tackle the Red Palm Weevil. We must build on the momentum to stop this serious threat to palm trees.
*José Graziano da Silva is the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He tweets @grazianodasilva.