LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 17/2019
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive for ever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades
Book of Revelation 01/09-20/:”I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, ‘Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’ Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive for ever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 16-17/2019
Lebanon Bank Staff Union to Discuss Ending Strike after Receiving Security Plan
ISF Puts Security Plan for Banks into Effect
Protest Graffiti Fills Beirut's Posh Downtown
Berri Says Situation Getting More ‘Complicated’
Activists Innovate ‘Revolution’s Bus’ Symbolic of Unity
U.N. Votes to Oblige Israel to Compensate Lebanon
Israeli army arrests Lebanese man who jumps border fence
PSP denies circulated news of the injury and death of two people along Naameh road
Lebanese citizen arrested by enemy forces upon crossing the technical fence, after shooting at two people in Wazzani area
Makhzoumi: It is time to look forward to a civil state
Daher says Salameh must issue a decision to put 'Capital Control' into effect
Troops halt Lebanese ‘revolution bus’ over security concerns

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 16-17/2019
Violent protests grip major Iranian cities over gas price rise
At least 12 people killed in Iran amid protests over fuel prices
Iran opposition leader: High prices to intensify if ‘anti-human regime’ remains
‘Death to the dictator’: Iran protests intensify after petrol price hike
One Dead as Petrol Protests Spread in Iran
Protesters Spill Back Onto Bridge in Iraq Capital
Security Scandals Haunt Iraq’s Government
Iraq Welcomes Continued International Efforts to Combat ISIS
Iraq closes southern border with Iran to travelers: Sources
Turkey Says Kurdish YPG Attack Kills 10 People in Northern Syrian Town
Turkey Says it Bought Russian S-400s to Use them, Not Put them aside
Iraq Protesters Edge Closer to Baghdad’s Green Zone
Car Bomb Kills 14 in Northern Syria
Sisi, Merkel Discuss Regional, International Affairs
Egypt Wins Chairmanship of UN Committee, Supports its Role in Africa
Israel carries out fresh strikes on Gaza targeting Hamas positions: Army
Israel Strikes Hamas Targets in Gaza after Rocket Fire
Denmark to end consular assistance to extremist fighters
Sudanese court sets verdict in al-Bashir trial for December

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 16-17/2019
Lebanon’s Thawra Bus crosses North to South in a show of unity/Maysaa Ajjan/Annahar/November 17/2019
Lebanon's sovereign rating downgraded by S&P/Michael Fahy/The National/November 17/2019
Former Lebanese finance minister Mohammad Safadi withdraws prime minister candidacy amid protests/Nicky Harley/The National/November 17/2019
Lebanon's new leaders must reflect the concerns of a young generation/National Editorial/The National/November 17/2019
Lebanon has become an arena for the Iranian regime’s battle for influence and survival/Raghida Dergham/The National/November 17/2019
Jeremy Corbyn Poses a Potent Threat to Western Security/Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/November 16, 2019
The World Is Awash in Financial Capital/Noah Smith/Bloomberg/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
The French president has Gaullist aspirations but lacks firepower or backing/Damien McElroy/The National/November 17/2019
Protests spread to Iranian cities/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/November 16/2019

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 16-17/2019
Lebanon Bank Staff Union to Discuss Ending Strike after Receiving Security Plan
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
Lebanon’s bank staff union will meet on Sunday or Monday to decide whether to call off a strike, after receiving a plan to secure banks with a stepped up police presence, the president of the Federation of Syndicates of Bank Employees said on Saturday. The union began the strike on Tuesday over safety fears, as protests against political leaders sweep Lebanon and depositors demand access to their money after banks imposed new curbs. George al-Hajj said banks could re-open as early as Monday if the union agrees that the plan is satisfactory. Hajj expressed support for the plan but said there was not yet a final decision. It calls for police officers to guard select branches and provides a hotline for banks to call in immediate security assistance if needed. The demonstrations have been fueled by anger at Lebanon’s ruling elite, widely perceived to have overseen rampant state corruption for decades. Banks have been seeking to prevent capital flight by imposing restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad.

ISF Puts Security Plan for Banks into Effect
Naharnet/November 16/2019
The Internal Security Forces put security measures into effect on Saturday to protect banks and their staff when the latter open their doors after a nearly two-week closure. ISF Directorate said security institutions enrolled in the plan include Police of Beirut and Territorial Gendarmerie. ISF said Lebnaes banks were provided with a summary about the plan along with phone numbers to contact in case of emergency. Ongoing nationwide protests since October 17 have paralyzed the country. The country's financial troubles have worsened since — initially against new taxes — snowballed into calls for the entire political elite to step down. Banks reopened Nov. 1 after a two-week closure amid the protests. But depositors have rushed to withdraw their money in recent days, while the country's various lenders have imposed varying capital controls that differ from bank to bank.Many schools and universities were closed, as were banks after their employees called for a general strike over alleged mistreatment by customers.

Protest Graffiti Fills Beirut's Posh Downtown
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
A majestic phoenix spreads its wings as Hayat Nazer adds a splash of color to a Beirut wall. As Lebanon's uprising enters its second month, graffiti has enveloped the capital's posh downtown. Since October 17, the chanting of tens of thousands of Lebanese denouncing the political elite have shaken the normally staid district around two Beirut squares -- Martyrs' and Riad al-Solh. Nazer, a 32-year-old artist, is one of the protesters who would not normally frequent the area, famed for luxury boutiques and elegant buildings. But the unprecedented protests also offered her a first experience with street art.
"I decided to go out in the street to be inspired by the people," she said during a cigarette break, standing next to pots of red, green and yellow paint. Then she turned to place the final brushstroke on the mythical bird emerging from a burning forest -- a reference to the fires that ravaged Lebanon's mountains shortly before the protests began. "The phoenix reminds us that the Lebanese shouldn't lose hope. When we fall, we need to rise up and fly to freedom, to claim our rights," she said, according to AFP.
'Icon of capitalism'
The long concrete barrier Nazer was painting protects a United Nations building, but has been named the "wall of the revolution" for the graffiti adorning it. A ballerina pirouettes under shells, accompanied by the slogan "Rise up". Further down, a big purple hand flashes a V for victory. On nearby buildings, various causes are championed with spray-painted and stencilled slogans: "Our revolution is feminist"; and "We will burn your palaces". Political leaders are lampooned in caricature, including outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, longstanding parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and central bank governor Riad Salameh. The contrast is striking compared with the nearby opulence of a district that was controversially rebuilt after being ravaged during the 1975-1990 civil war. Today a Rolex clock tower stands in front of a parliament cordoned off by security forces. Working-class souks have been replaced by a modern commercial center, home to banks and French luxury brands. The reconstruction of the district, famed for its stone buildings in neo-Venetian and neo-Moorish style, was led by Solidere, the real estate company of billionaire former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Its detractors say the project killed the soul of a formerly vibrant neighborhood in order to attract foreign investment and wealthy tourists. "This city has become an icon of capitalism," said artist and rights activist Selim Mawad.He jumped onto a plastic barricade to retouch a mural of stylized bulls alongside the slogan: "What is the future of our revolution?"
'Personal liberation'
Lebanon's uprising -- like protests elsewhere in the Middle East and Latin America -- is both political and social. "It's also about personal liberation, which is the foundation of a revolution," Mawad said. He sees symbolism in graffiti. "People say, 'I can't touch this building, I can't live there, so I'll leave my mark on it'," the paint-spattered artist told AFP. One day, assailants attacked the protesters in the area where Mawad was painting his mural. He was beaten and his bicycle stolen. "Give back the stolen money -- and don't forget the bike," he later painted next to a picture of a bull brandishing a red bicycle.
He hopes the paintings will be preserved. "It's the memory of an uprising. If they erase them, we will forget." Nearby, Rida Mawla left a meeting and decided to take a walk in the city center, something he said he never previously did. "I'm starting to feel like downtown is a bit more like me," the business consultant said. "In theory it's the place where everyone should meet, but the ruling class has taken possession of it," he said. He pointed out his favorite graffiti, a big black tag scrawled on a wall: "Beirut has spoken".

Berri Says Situation Getting More ‘Complicated’
Naharnet/November 16/2019
Speaker Nabih Berri warned that the situation in Lebanon is getting more “complicated,” emphasizing the need for a quick “resolve” for the crisis, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday. “Things are becoming more complicated and a quick solution must be found to get Lebanon out of this crisis,” Berri told his visitors, following the latest wave of demonstrations rejecting the nomination of Mohammed Safadi for the position of PM. “A lot of time has been wasted, by now the state budget of 2020 should have been approved to then proceed to the application of urgent reform items that have been agreed upon,” said Berri.
To a question whether Lebanon is going to benefit from the CEDRE conference despite the latest developments in the country, Berri said the visiting French envoy assured it will. “CEDRE still stands and was not affected by the events in Lebanon,” French envoy Christophe Farnaud, told Berri during a two day-visit to Lebanon where he met Lebanese officials. Lebanese protesters demanding radical reform since October 17 have reacted with anger to the reported designation of Sadafi as new prime minister they regard as emblematic of a failed political system. Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on October 29 -- nearly two weeks into the unprecedented nationwide protests demanding the removal of a ruling elite seen as corrupt and incompetent.

Activists Innovate ‘Revolution’s Bus’ Symbolic of Unity
Naharnet/November 16/2019
A group of activists from the northern region of Akkar innovated a new method in a bid to prove that Lebanese protesters demanding radical reform since October 17 are united from north to south Lebanon. The activists named a bus as the “Revolution’s Bus”, symbolizing the unity of Lebanese. It is planned to tour Lebanon from north to south.The coordinators of the campaign said the vehicle will pass through all the squares and points of protests, starting in Tripoli’s al-Nour Square to Batroun, Jbeil, Jal el-Dib, Ashrafieh, Ring Bridge, Martyrs Square in Beirut, all the way to Khaldeh to place the "crown of revolution" where Alaa Abu Fakhr was killed. The bus will complete the tour heading south to Naameh, Barja, the city of Sidon, Kafr Rumman and Nabatiyeh. The tour will conclude in Tyre where a dialogue session will be held. The buss is accompanied by a convoy of vehicles to “paint a bridge of love and eradicate sectarianism.”The activists said their march will continue to achieve their demands in "building a state of law, justice, freedom, dignity and equality away from quotas." “We are in a strong position because our demands are not personal,” they said “our request is to restore our legitimate rights as citizens in this country, lift deprivation and injustice, live freely in dignity and confine the use of weapons to the state’s military and security institutions.”
Nationwide protests demanding the removal of a ruling elite seen as corrupt and incompetent erupted in Lebanon on October 17.

U.N. Votes to Oblige Israel to Compensate Lebanon
Naharnet/November 16/2019
The U.N. on Friday voted in favor of obliging Israel to pay Lebanon compensations over the 2006 oil spill caused by its bombing of the seaside Jiye power plant. According to a tweet posted by MP Hagop Terzian, the U.N. decision obliges Israel to pay Lebanon $856.4 million in compensations.
158 member states voted in favor of the resolution as nine rejected it and six abstained. The oil spill was caused by an Israeli airstrike on oil storage tanks during the 2006 war.

Israeli army arrests Lebanese man who jumps border fence
The Associated Press, Jerusalem/Saturday, 16 November 2019
The Israeli military said on Saturday that it arrested a man who crossed its northern border from Lebanon. The army said the Lebanese national was being held for questioning. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said a Lebanese man jumped over the border fence into Israel after shooting two people on the Lebanese side of the frontier. Israel has been on high alert since August, when its aircraft struck targets in Syria and Lebanon linked to Iran and its regional proxy, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. In September, brief cross-border fighting erupted after Hezbollah fired a barrage of missiles in response to Israeli airstrikes.

PSP denies circulated news of the injury and death of two people along Naameh road
NNA - Sat 16 Nov 2019
Progressive Socialist Party's Shouf branch denied in a statement today, "what is being circulated through social networking sites, about the death and injury of two persons as their vehicle was passing along the road to Naameh," stressing that "this news is false and groundless."The statement cautioned against circulating such baseless news that only serves to trigger an atmosphere of tension and panic among citizens, while urging citizens to be more responsible and verify the credibility of any news before circulation.

Lebanese citizen arrested by enemy forces upon crossing the technical fence, after shooting at two people in Wazzani area
NNA - Sat 16 Nov 2019
A Lebanese citizen fleeing justice entered the occupied Palestinian territories by crossing the technical fence on the Southern Lebanese border, after he had shot two people in the area of Wazzani this morning, NNA correspondent in Marjayoun reported. The fleeing citizen was detained by Israeli enemy forces and taken for interrogation.

Makhzoumi: It is time to look forward to a civil state
NNA - Sat 16 Nov 2019/
National Dialogue Party Head, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, said in a statement on Saturday that "the time has come to look forward to a civil state, as the Lebanese place sectarian divisions behind their backs." He cited the national slogans raised by the popular movement in various regions, cities and villages of Lebanon, which have unified all protest squares, namely in rejecting sectarian quotas and demanding a decent living, social justice and the right to citizenship. Makhzoumi concluded his statement by calling for "a civil state that treats its citizens as equals, preserves the rights of all away from sectarian restriction and protects liberties under the rooftop of the law."

Daher says Salameh must issue a decision to put 'Capital Control' into effect
NNA - Sat 16 Nov 2019
MP Michel Daher tweeted Saturday, saying: "Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh must issue a decision to put 'Capital Control' into effect, so that Lebanese banks would refrain from withholding their funds outside Lebanon due to the increased lawsuits against them by depositors wishing to withdraw their money so they can transfer them to their accounts abroad.""Banks are in need of a legal cover to put a stop to this bleeding," Daher corroborated.

Troops halt Lebanese ‘revolution bus’ over security concerns
Arab News/November 16/2019
BEIRUT: A Lebanese “revolution bus” traveling from north to south to unite protesters was halted by troops outside the city of Sidon on Saturday. The army set up a road block to prevent the bus and a large protest convoy entering Sidon, the third-largest city in the country. Local media said that the decision had been made to defuse tensions in the area following widespread protests. Lebanese troops blocked the Beirut-South highway at the Jiyeh-Rumailah checkpoint over “security concerns,” a military source told Arab News. “Some people in Sidon objected to the crossing of the bus and we feared that problems may take place,” the source added. A protester in Ilya Square in Sidon said: “Those who do not want the bus to enter Sidon should simply leave the square because there are many who want to welcome the bus.”The army allowed the bus to enter the town of Rumailah, 2 km from Sidon. “The bus will stop here after nightfall because of security fears and the risk of an accident,” the military source said. The protest convoy is aiming to reach Nabatieh and Tyre, two cities that have challenged Hezbollah and the Amal Movement in southern Lebanon during weeks of unrest. Activists said the protest bus “is spreading the idea of a peaceful revolution by unifying the people.”“The pain is the same from the far north of Lebanon to the south and the only flag raised is the Lebanese flag,” one activist said. Organizers of the protest convoy rejected claims that the cities of Sidon, Nabatieh and Tyre were reluctant to welcome the bus, and voiced their respect for the Lebanese army decision. After leaving Akkar the bus passed through squares that witnessed protests in Tripoli, Batroun, Jbeil, Zouk Mosbeh, Jal El Dib and Beirut. Protesters chanted “Revolution” and lined the route of the convoy, turning it into a “procession of the revolution.”
The bus paused in Khalde, where the first victim of the protests, Alaa Abu Fakhr, was shot and killed a few days ago by a Lebanese soldier. The victim’s widow and family welcomed the convoy and protesters laid wreaths at the site of the shooting. Activists’ tweets on Saturday claimed that life in Beirut’s southern suburbs is as difficult as in other areas of Lebanon. “As a Shiite girl living in the heart of the southern suburbs, I deny that we are living well and not suffering. We are in a worse position than the rest of the regions,” said an activist who called herself Ruanovsky.“No one is doing well,” said Wissam Abdallah. “The suburbs have external security and safety, but unfortunately there is a lot of corruption. There are forged car van plates, motorcycle mafia, Internet and satellite mafia, royalties mafia, and hashish and drugs mafia. Municipalities have to deal with these things as soon as possible.”

Lebanon’s Thawra Bus crosses North to South in a show of unity
Maysaa Ajjan/Annahar/November 17/2019
“This event was orchestrated to show that the demands of the Lebanese people are one, from the North all the way to the South,” Mira, a passenger on the bus who came all the way from Nabatiyeh, said.
BEIRUT: From blocking roads to forming a human chain across the country, Lebanese protesters certainly know how to get creative. Their latest initiative is the “Thawra bus” or the revolutionary bus, which took off from Akkar this morning with the aim of passing through all of Lebanon’s protest areas, from the North to the South. It paused in each area for about 15 minutes during which the organizers spoke to various media outlets. “This event was orchestrated to show that the demands of the Lebanese people are one, from the North all the way to the South,” Mira, a passenger on the bus who came all the way from Nabatiyeh, said. “For the first time, we are united by our demands.”After passing through Tripoli, Batroun, Byblos, Zouk Mosbih, Jal el dib, Achrafieh, Ring bridge, Martyr’s Square, Khaldeh and Barja, the bus reached Sidon, where it was met with opposing opinions.
Protesters' in Sidon were divided on whether they should allow the bus enter their city and pass through Elia Square or not, claiming that it was organized by political parties and funded by the US embassy. The US embassy shortly tweeted that it has nothing to do with the bus.
“The only organizers in this [initiative] are regular people like you and me. If you want to talk to someone you can choose anybody from the bus, as this is a group initiative,” Ahmad Salameh from Akkar told Annahar. In addition, there were claims that MP Osama Saad, leader of the Popular Nasserite Organization, was the one who ordered the army to stop the entrance of the bus to Sidon. Saad, however, released a statement to the media stating his wishes for the army to facilitate the entry of the bus. He also headed himself to Al Awaly, Sidon’s entrance, to facilitate talks. The bus was finally able to enter Sidon, but decided to end the tour there without visiting Nabatieh and Tyre. “They [the people with power] can no longer separate us using religion and sects as a tool. We are brothers and sisters,” Mohammad El Saj, another passenger from Akkar, told Annahar.

Lebanon's sovereign rating downgraded by S&P
Michael Fahy/The National/November 17/2019
Downgrade follows similar actions by competitors Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service
Ratings agency S&P Global lowered Lebanon's sovereign rating further into junk status, stating that diminishing confidence in the country and its economy has led to a reversal of inflows into the country's banks.
The agency cut Lebanon's long- and short-term foreign and local sovereign credit ratings to CCC/C from B-/B, and said the outlook on its debt was negative, citing a one-in-three chance of a further downgrade as its next rating action. Its downgrade follows similar recent actions taken by competing credit ratings agencies Fitch and Moody's. "Depositor confidence has eroded further following recent political developments, protracted social unrest, prolonged bank shutdowns, and individual banks reportedly placing some restrictions on foreign exchange transfers and operations. This reflects rising pressure on Lebanese banks' liquidity, and continued outflows will likely weigh on (Lebanon's central bank) Banque du Liban's foreign exchange reserves," S&P Global said in a note announcing the downgrade. It also warned the risk of "a protracted political vacuum" increasing "policy uncertainty". Lebanon's prime minister Saad Hariri resigned last month following several weeks of protests, with citizens blaming Lebanon's political elite for widespread corruption and nepotism, which they say contributed to the country accruing $86 billion (Dh316bn) of public debt, equivalent to 150 per cent of gross domestic product.
Confidence in the country's financial system has ebbed, leading to an outflow of capital of about $3bn in the first nine months of the year, according to the Institute of International Finance.
Last week, Banque du Liban's governor, Riad Salameh sought to reassure investors, stating that the central bank would look to protect depositors in the country's banks and was not planning to impose capital controls or impose a haircut (a term used to describe the devaluation of an asset) on the country's bonds. S&P Global, which downgraded three of Lebanon's banks on Thursday evening, said in its sovereign downgrade that if a new, technocratic government was able to push through immediate reforms it could help to ease social tensions and support depositor confidence, but warned that the country's fragmented power-sharing system meant any solution could be delayed. "Furthermore, potential reforms might not be sufficient to fundamentally alter the large financial and economic stresses," it said, forecasting that double-digit deficits are set to continue, which could push government debt to 169 per cent of GDP by 2022. The premiums required on credit default swaps — a form of insurance on Lebanon's sovereign bonds — point to an 84 per cent chance of a default on the country's debt within the next five years, London-based Capital Economics said in a note on Thursday. A default on the country's debts and a devaluation of the Lebanese pound would trigger severe strains on the country's banking sector and the economy would be plunged into a recession, it added.

Former Lebanese finance minister Mohammad Safadi withdraws prime minister candidacy amid protests
Nicky Harley/The National/November 17/2019
Withdrawal come hours after Lebanon's sovereign rating was lowered further into junk status
Former finance minister Mohammad Safadi has withdrawn his candidacy to be prime minister of the next Lebanese government. In a statement, Mr Safadi said it would have been difficult to form a “harmonious” cabinet supported by all parties. He said he hoped outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri would be designated again for the post. On Thursday, three of Lebanon's main political parties agreed on the 75-year-old billionaire businessman as their choice to become Lebanon’s new prime minister. Caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), had confirmed on Friday that Mr Safadi would be nominated for the post when formal deliberations on forming the next government begin in parliament on Monday. But on Saturday evening Mr Safadi said in a statement that he had decided to withdraw following consultations with political parties and a meeting on Saturday with Mr Hariri.
"It is difficult to form a harmonious government supported by all political sides that could take the immediate salvation steps needed to halt the country's economic and financial deterioration and respond to the aspirations of people in the street," the statement said.
It comes just hours after ratings agency S&P Global lowered Lebanon's sovereign rating further into junk status, stating that diminishing confidence in the country and its economy has led to a reversal of inflows into the country's banks. The agency cut Lebanon's long- and short-term foreign and local sovereign credit ratings to CCC/C from B-/B, and said the outlook on its debt was negative, citing a one-in-three chance of a further downgrade as its next rating action. Lebanon's prime minister Mr Hariri resigned last month following several weeks of protests, with citizens blaming Lebanon's political elite for widespread corruption and nepotism, which they say contributed to the country accruing $86 billion (Dh316bn) of public debt, equivalent to 150 per cent of gross domestic product. After the candidacy announcement on Thursday there were further protests in Mr Safadi's home city of Tripoli.
Demonstrators gathered in front of one of his properties to protest against his nomination, which they said was the opposite of the changes demanded in a month of protests across the country. Mr Safadi, who amassed his fortune largely through real estate, is also a retired politician with a string of alleged corruption cases behind him. Protesters are demanding a change from the nation's current political elite, whom they consider to be old and corrupt. Mr Hariri quit as premier on October 29 in response to protesters' demands for sweeping change in Lebanon's political system and an end to corruption and sectarian cronyism but politicians had been unable to agree on a new cabinet. Lebanon’s caretaker Defence Minister, Elias Bou Saab, said on Thursday that the country was in a “very dangerous situation” and compared recent street unrest to the start of the 1975-1990 civil war. Rallies have been overwhelmingly peaceful but a protester was shot dead in an altercation with soldiers on Tuesday.

Lebanon's new leaders must reflect the concerns of a young generation
National Editorial/The National/November 17/2019
Disenfranchised youth must be given hope and improved prospects
With its yacht club, designer stores and multimillion dollar homes, Zaitunay Bay in downtown Beirut epitomises much of what Lebanon’s protesters object to.
To the million-plus demonstrators who have been gathering daily on the streets of Lebanon, its association with Mohammad Safadi, the nominee for prime minister and a majority shareholder in the luxury marina project, is emblematic of the problems that plague the country. Among those issues are the privatisation of public waterfront and the country’s shrinking coastline, which protesters say reflect the corruption that pervades business and politics and prompted them to march on the waterfront a fortnight ago, chanting “Zaitunay is ours”.
This weekend, demonstrators were planning to return to Zaitunay Bay and gathered outside Mr Safadi’s homes in Beirut and his home town of Tripoli, chanting slogans such as: “All of them means all of them – and Safadi is one of them.” The renewed anger comes after caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri met president Michel Aoun and representatives of Iran-backed Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal and reached a consensus on Mr Hariri’s replacement. Political parties will be consulted on Monday before Mr Safadi, who has agreed in principle to take up the post, is confirmed as prime minister. Stand-in foreign minister Gebran Bassil said if he does not take up the post, parliament will be locked in “stalemate”.
Mr Safadi has much to prove. At the age of 75, he will have to work hard to show he understands the concerns of a younger generation
He is right in one respect: Lebanon needs strong leadership to steer it out of its current crisis. Its previous government, which resigned on October 29, was only formed after more than 250 days of political wrangling. Indecision and uncertainty have beleaguered the country for too long. The country stands on the cusp of economic collapse, unable to access an $11 billion lifeline promised by donors if it implements tough measures, but paralysed from moving forward with such steps without proper governance.
Schools, universities and banks have been repeatedly disrupted over the past month. Medical supplies are running dangerously low. Petrol stations are running out of fuel after currency caps were introduced, preventing them from importing petrol. Forty per cent of its population are under the age of 25 but many feel hopeless, disenfranchised and voiceless.
It is critical whoever is appointed Lebanon’s new prime minister represents their concerns, works hard to provide opportunities for them and improves their job prospects. The brain drain from Lebanon is indicative of a disconnected youth; they must be given fresh hope by the country’s new leadership.
Mr Safadi has much to prove. At the age of 75, he will have to work hard to show he understands the concerns of a younger generation. Much of the groundswell of resentment aimed at him is because as a billionaire, he is perceived to be a symptom of the vast disparities in income and wealth in society. He has also faced a string of corruption allegations in the past, leading to accusations from protesters that he is in the same league of the ruling class that protesters want removed from power. And as a former minister in some of the departments that have chiefly led Lebanon to this critical point – finance, electricity and water – he will have to prove he can tackle the issues that prevent Lebanon from running smoothly, from frequent power cuts to the downgrading of Lebanon’s banks. He will also have to bridge the sectarianism that continues to split the government.
Critics say appointing Mr Safadi will only widen the rift between the ruling class and protesters, many of whom feel hopeless about the future. The future government of Lebanon should be one that understands their concerns and includes young voices, who can best articulate the needs of a generation whose lives will be affected most by the decisions made today. They cannot be excluded from a conversation that will shape their tomorrows.

Lebanon has become an arena for the Iranian regime’s battle for influence and survival
Raghida Dergham/The National/November 17/2019
Iran is now vulnerable in Iraq, Syria and Yemen as well as at home, where protests are beginning to erupt against the regime’s authoritarianism
There will be more danger ahead for the Lebanese uprising. Iran’s proxies will continue to orchestrate a dispersal of the protests by force or attrition and fulfill their promises to their Russian-backed leadership. On the surface, Tehran and Moscow say the revolution is not against Hezbollah but corruption. In reality, however, the two powers are well aware that the uprising has Hezbollah in its crosshairs as well as the government. The militant group cannot escape accusations of corruption and demands for accountability. Hezbollah itself has declared its allegiance to Iran’s supreme leader and admitted that its funds and hardware are supplied by Tehran. Tehran has decided not only to prevent Hezbollah from falling at any cost but has told the Russian regime it intends to use the current situation in Lebanon to increase Hezbollah’s power, even if it requires force. Iran sees Lebanon as an important arena in the duel with Washington and will not sacrifice its prize, no matter the cost.
The multi-generational revolution in Lebanon against the corrupt political class is in danger. It has a regional behemoth as an adversary, which will not allow it to stand in the way of its projects or undermine its gains. It is therefore imperative for the uprising to take stock of regional and international dynamics, develop tactical and strategic steps to ensure its survival, capitalise on its gains and achieve its demands gradually and consistently. The revolution must not be extinguished as the so-called axis of resistance wishes it to be. If it truly is a revolution, then it will be a long, difficult and bloody march. Its first martyr has already been claimed: Alaa Abou Fakher, killed by a bullet that made him an icon.
Washington of course welcomes the uprising as a benefit to its policy of tightening the noose around Hezbollah and expanding sanctions against the party. However, this is a patriotic, homegrown revolution.
Russia’s leadership has so far sided with the ruling class. At the Paris Peace Forum, foreign minster Sergey Lavrov dismissed a key demand of the uprising, namely to form a technocratic government with no career politicians, saying it was “unrealistic”. He expressed implicit support for Hezbollah’s position of forming a government of politicians combined with technocrats.
The axis of resistance has claimed it now commands a bigger bloc of supporters than the protesters
According to Russian sources, Moscow sees the discord in Lebanon as a threat to its efforts to stabilise Syria, where it faces a complex mission with no guarantee of success. It sees Hezbollah and Iran as easier to deal with than the Lebanese army, say the sources. Perhaps it is Washington’s ties with the army that frustrate Moscow but there is a risk that in supporting and expanding Iran’s influence in Lebanon, Russia is jeopardising Lebanon’s sovereignty.
The sources revealed Tehran had given Moscow promises to pacify the situation and restore normality to the country by putting an end to the protests, adding that instability in Lebanon was not in the Russian interest.
The axis of resistance has claimed it now commands a bigger bloc of supporters than the protesters. But such a bloc of people would not represent either Lebanon’s independence or its national army. Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who has long spoken of his support for the national army, is today hostage to his affiliation to the axis. Indeed, by condoning the Iranian project in Lebanon, he has undermined his own country’s sovereignty and the army he once led. Iran and Hezbollah do not want to allow the national army to lead so the president must remember his oath of allegiance instead of being a silent witness to the attack on his country by Iran.
The president must also apologise for saying the Lebanese should emigrate if they are unhappy with his rule. He must reassure his people that he is not simply a puppet of the axis of resistance and do everything he can to restore confidence and prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran from turning a peaceful uprising into a bloody confrontation. Washington is determined to choke Iran and its proxies economically to force it to adjust its behaviour in issues such as its nuclear and ballistic missile programme and its regional expansionist projects in Arab countries. Hezbollah is the most successful implementation of that model. Lebanon has become an arena for the Iranian regime’s battle for influence and survival. This regime sees uprisings as a threat to its projects, even when they are primarily challenging corruption. Washington, meanwhile, sees Lebanon as a key factor in its bid to block Iran’s schemes. Iran is now vulnerable in Iraq, Syria and Yemen as well as at home, where protests are beginning to erupt against the regime’s authoritarianism, and the hardship and isolation that have resulted from successive rounds of US sanctions.
In view of this equation, the Lebanese army is the country’s safety valve. If the president chooses Lebanon over Iran, he must not fear the social media-fuelled protests and instead forgo his political alliances. Otherwise he will be bound in the service of Iran.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 16-17/2019
Violent protests grip major Iranian cities over gas price rise
Arab News/November 16/2019
TEHRAN: Protesters angered by Iran raising government-set gasoline prices by 50 percent blocked traffic in major cities and occasionally clashed with police on Saturday after a night of demonstrations punctuated by gunfire, in violence that reportedly killed at least one person. The death occurred in the central city of Sirjan, where people tried to set fire to a fuel depot but were thwarted by security forces including police, the Revolutionary Guards and Basij militia, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. The protests put renewed pressure on Iran’s government as it struggles to overcome the US sanctions strangling the country after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. Though largely peaceful, demonstrations devolved into violence in several instances, with online videos purporting to show police officers firing tear gas at protesters and mobs setting fires. Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, a Harvard educated Iranian-American political scientist, told Arab News that the Islamic Republic appears to be scrambling to compensate for the loss of revenues that it is encountering due to a major decline in the regime’s oil exports. “US sanctions on the country have exerted significant pressure on the ruling clerics.” He said: “Tehran is desperate to generate revenue, in order to fund its military interests in the wider region and support its proxies everywhere from Yemen to Lebanon. “It is important to point out that the current protests in Iran are expression of broad frustration with the clerical regime. While representing a political risk for President Hassan Rouhani ahead of February parliamentary elections, it also shows the widespread anger among Iran’s 80 million people who have seen their savings evaporate amid scarce jobs and the national rial currency’s collapse.

At least 12 people killed in Iran amid protests over fuel prices
Ismaeel Naar, Al Arabiya English/Saturday, 16 November 2019
The death toll in Iran from protests over gasoline rationing and price hikes of at least 50 percent has risen to 12 over the past two nights, Al Arabiya sources confirmed. One protester was killed in Sirjan on Friday night while four died from their wounds in the city of Mahmara, south of Ahwaz province. At least one person was killed in the Iranian capital of Tehran in the Shahriar district. At least 13 people are being treated for injuries as of Saturday. Protests have erupted in at least 37 cities, including Mashhad, Sirjan, Poldokhtar, Ahwaz, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Birjand, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Shar-e Quds, Damavand, Sanandaj, Bandar Rig, Yazd, Babol, Rasht, Urmia, Garmsar, Neyshabur, Saqqez, Chabahar, Ahar, Rudehen, Eslamshahr, Tehran, Gachsaran, Zahedan, Fardis, Qazvin, Hamedan, Khorramabad, and Kermanshah. Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 percent on Friday, saying the move was aimed at helping citizens in need with cash handouts. Videos being shared on social media showed protesters gathering in squares across the southwestern city of Ahwaz in Iran’s Khuzestan province. One video showed tires being burned to block the roads while another showed a group of protesters shouting anti-regime slogans near a petrol station.

Iran opposition leader: High prices to intensify if ‘anti-human regime’ remains
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Saturday, 16 November 2019
If Iran’s “anti-human regime” remains in power, high prices and unemployment will only intensify, the head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Maryam Rajavi, said on Friday hailing recent demonstrations protesting the government’s decision to ration and hike the price of petrol. "By tripling gasoline prices, the mullahs further impoverish the people," Rajavi tweeted. Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 percent on Friday, saying the move was aimed at helping citizens in need with cash handouts. However, protests across 53 cities in Iran erutped following the decision, with several protesters blocking main highways in Tehran using their cars, and burning tires while chanting "Death to the dictator. Rajavi hailed the protesters in cities like Sirjan, Shiraz and others, calling on the youth to join demonstrators in order to “get rid of high process, poverty, inflation and calamities the mullahs’ regime inflicted on the Iranian people.”

‘Death to the dictator’: Iran protests intensify after petrol price hike
Lenah Hassaballah & Leen Alfaisal, Al Arabiya English/Saturday, 16 November 2019
Several protests erutped across Iranian cities on Saturday, with many protesters blocking main roads with their cars and burning tires while chanting “Death to the dictator,” a day after the government announced a surprise decision to ration and hike the price of petrol. One civilian was killed and other people injured in Iran's Sirjan, the semi-official news agency ISNA said Saturday. Accodring to Al Arabiya sources, another protester was also killed, named Maitham Abdel Wahab Moneiat. “Unfortunately someone was killed,” Sirjan's acting governor Mohammad Mahmoudabadi said in the report, adding that the cause of the death was still unclear. Other people were injured during the demonstrations, he said. Mahmoudabadi emphasized that "security forces did not have permission to shoot and were only allowed to fire warning shots... which they did."He said it was a "calm gathering" that was exploited by some who "destroyed public property, damaged fuel stations and also wanted to access the oil company's main fuel depots and set fire to them." Protests have erupted in at least 37 cities, including Mashhad, Sirjan, Poldokhtar, Ahwaz, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Birjand, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Shar-e Quds, Damavand, Sanandaj, Bandar Rig, Yazd, Babol, Rasht, Urmia, Garmsar, Neyshabur, Saqqez, Chabahar, Ahar, Rudehen, Eslamshahr, Tehran, Gachsaran, Zahedan, Fardis, Qazvin, Hamedan, Khorramabad, and Kermanshah. In the city of Bushehr, security forces used water cannons and live ammunition to disperse protesters as they chanted "dishonorable" while running away.
A number of protesters in Tehran blocked a main highway (the Hemmat Expressway) by turning off their car engines while chanting “Death to the dictator,” in a sign of rising anger against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Other protesters blocked another main road in the Iranian city of Isfahan with their cars as well. Shiraz and Sultanabad, the capital of Iran's southern Fars province, also witnessed road closures, with some protesters burning tires. In Shiraz, Iranian protesters chanted “No Gaza. No Lebanon. I give my life for Iran,” in reference to the Iranian regime's support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Videos circulated on social media showing Iranian protesters setting fire to the Central Bank of Iran in the city of Behbahan. Despite the Iranian government’s blocking of the social media network Twitter, the hashtag #IranProtests is slowly making it to the top trends, with more than five tweets being sent out every one second. Other hashtags in Farsi and Arabic have emerged as well. State news agency IRNA also reported the sporadic protests that erupted in cities across Iran on Saturday. The demonstrations were “severe” at Sirjan in central Iran as “people attacked a fuel storage warehouse in the city and tried to set fire to it,” the news agency reported. But police intervened to prevent them. IRNA said “scattered” protests also broke out in other cities including Mashhad, Birjand, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Mahshahr, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas. They were mostly limited to blocking traffic and were over by midnight, it added.
The decision
Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 percent on Friday, saying the move was aimed at helping citizens in need with cash handouts. The measure was expected to bring in 300 trillion rials ($2.55 billion) per annum, the head of the country’s Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, said on state television. On Friday, in his first reaction to the angry protests, President Hassan Rouhani defended the decision, saying that it is in the interest of the poor in Iran. Iran’s Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi are backing the government's decision to ration and hike the price of petrol despite widespread protests against the decision, the official Iranian Presidential website reported. “All branches of government will fully cooperate in the implementation of this program,” said Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli at the session of the “Supreme Council of Economic Coordination,” attended by Rouhani, Larijani and Raisi. Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi called for the removal of the Iranian regime on Friday, saying that it has given “nothing more than poverty and suffering to Iranians.”“A regime that came to power promising free water & electricity, has given free oil to its fellow dictatorships and nothing more than poverty and suffering to Iranians. The only solution is the removal of this criminal, anti-Iranian regime. We must believe in our power & strength,” he tweeted. In his tweet, Pahlavi references a famous speech by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the 1979 revolution, in which Khomeini promised Iranians free electricity, water, and public transport.
- With AFP

One Dead as Petrol Protests Spread in Iran
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 16/2019
One person was killed and others injured in protests that spread across Iran on Saturday after a surprise decision to impose petrol price hikes and rationing in the country hit by US sanctions. The death occurred in the central city of Sirjan, where people tried to set fire to a fuel depot but were thwarted by security forces including police, the Revolutionary Guards and Basij militia, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. The demonstrations broke out on Friday, hours after it was announced that the price of petrol would be hiked by 50 percent for the first 60 litres and 300 percent for anything above that each month. "Unfortunately someone was killed," Sirjan's acting governor Mohammad Mahmoudabadi said in the report, adding that the cause of the death and whether "the individual was shot or not" was still unclear. Mahmoudabadi emphasised that "security forces did not have permission to shoot and were only allowed to fire warning shots... which they did." It was a "calm gathering" that was exploited by some who "destroyed public property, damaged fuel stations and also wanted to access the oil company's main fuel depots and set fire to them," he said.
Besides Sirjan, "scattered" protests were also held on Friday in other cities including Abadan, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Gachsaran, Khoramshahr, Mahshahr, Mashhad and Shiraz, state news agency IRNA said.
But they were mostly limited to blocking traffic and were over by midnight, IRNA reported.
Drivers block streets
Fresh demonstrations were held on Saturday in the cities of Doroud, Garmsar, Gorgan, Ilam, Karaj, Khoramabad, Mehdishahr, Qazvin, Qom, Sanandaj, Shahroud and Shiraz, IRNA said.
"Some drivers have protested the new petrol price by turning off their cars and creating traffic jams," the official news agency added. Iran imposed petrol rationing and raised pump prices by at least 50 percent on Friday, saying the move was aimed at helping citizens in need with cash handouts. The measure was expected to bring in 300 trillion rials ($2.55 billion) per annum, the head of the country's Planning and Budget Organisation, Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, said on state television. About 60 million Iranians in need would get payments ranging from 550,000 rials ($4.68) for couples to slightly more than two million rials ($17.46) for families with five members or more, he said.
Under the scheme, drivers with fuel cards will pay 15,000 rials (13 US cents) a litre for the first 60 litres of petrol bought each month, with each additional litre costing them 30,000 rials. Fuel cards were first introduced in 2007 with a view to reforming the subsidies system and curbing large-scale smuggling. Iran's economy has been battered since May last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions. The rial has plummeted in value against the US dollar, inflation is now running at more than 40 percent and the International Monetary Fund expects Iran's economy to contract by nine percent this year and stagnate in 2020.
'Under pressure'
President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that currently 75 percent of Iranians were "under pressure" and the extra revenues from the petrol price hike would go to them, and not the treasury. Rouhani had tried to hike fuel prices in December but was blocked by parliament in the wake of protests that rocked Iran for days. The speaker at the time ruled out the move as unpopular and said it was "not in the interests of the country". The rationing and price hike come at a sensitive time as Iran prepares for a parliamentary election in February. According to Nobakht, the price hike was agreed by the High Council of Economic Coordination, made up of the president, parliament speaker and judiciary chief, implying it had received the system's approval across the board. Rouhani in his first term had voiced opposition to the petrol dual-price regime adopted by his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying "it caused corruption and that is why we made a unified rate" in a 2015 tweet. His administration also scrapped Ahmadinejad's fuel card scheme, only to revive it this year while still denying rumours it was a precursor to petrol rationing and price hikes.

Protesters Spill Back Onto Bridge in Iraq Capital
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 16/2019
Anti-government demonstrators spread to a second bridge in the Iraqi capital Saturday after security forces retreated from a key area where they had clashed with protesters, AFP correspondents said. Protesters have occupied Baghdad's Tahrir (Liberation) Square for more than three weeks, demanding the overhaul of a ruling system they see as corrupt and unjust. On Friday night, at least one person was killed and more than a dozen wounded in Tahrir when explosives beneath a parked car detonated, Iraq's state security forces said. The protest movement had spilled over onto four bridges crossing the river Tigris that link east Baghdad to the city's west where government buildings and foreign embassies are based. Security forces retook three of those bridges and nearby districts more than two weeks ago, pinning the protesters back in Tahrir and on Al-Jumhuriyah bridge with volleys of tear gas, live ammunition and even machine-gun fire. On Saturday morning, Iraqi units pulled back from some of those areas and crowds of protesters chased them down, resuming their sit-in at the mouth of Al-Sinek bridge. "The security forces withdrew to another concrete barrier on Al-Sinek," one protester told AFP. An elderly woman, who had travelled from the southern port city of Basra to join the rallies, cheered in support. "You didn't just lose us, you lost all of Iraq!" she said, addressing Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi. "Get out, get out, there's no place for you here. Tonight, we'll be in the Green Zone," she said, referring to the area across the river housing Abdel Mahdi's office, parliament, the US embassy and other key buildings. Dozens climbed up into a large parking complex near the bridge, unfurling a sign in support of demonstrators in nearby Tahrir. The morning after Friday's blast, small clusters of men deployed around the square to search all those entering it. "We had a security breach yesterday and this explosion happened," said Abu Karrar al-Basrawi, a middle-aged man from Basra volunteering for the search. "But we've multiplied our checkpoints so it doesn't happen again," he told AFP.

Security Scandals Haunt Iraq’s Government
Baghdad – Fadhel al-Nashmi/November 16/2019
As hundreds of thousands of Iraqis continue to demand the government to step down, two security scandals surfaced involving the incumbent cabinet headed by Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. The first scandal involved an armed gang kidnapping a senior security official in the Interior Ministry in central Baghdad, while the second was the denial of Defense Minister Najah al-Shammari that the munitions that hit Iraqi demonstrators had entered the country through the government. Shammari said on Thursday a “third party” is behind shooting at the demonstrators and security forces alike.
He explained the rifles used by the security forces have a range of 75 and 100 meters, and gas bombs are of the conventional type used by all countries in the world to disperse demonstrators. However, he said it was usual that some protesters have been killed by bullets fired from a distance of 300 meters, saying such weapons have been imported to the country without the knowledge of Iraqi officials. These arms have never been imported by the government and officials of Iraq, he emphasized, adding that it is vague and unclear how they have been brought in. Political observers pointed the finger towards Iran and its proxy militias in the country. Amnesty International had announced earlier that Iran is one of the manufacturers of tear gas bombs being used against protesters. Street protests erupted in several Iraqi cities in October over unemployment, a lack of basic services and rampant corruption. Protests have often turned violent, with security forces opening fire, leaving hundreds dead.

Iraq Welcomes Continued International Efforts to Combat ISIS
Baghdad - Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
Iraq welcomed on Thursday the continued international efforts to combat ISIS, said Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim. He expressed Iraq’s appreciation for the member states of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. He was speaking at a meeting for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Small Group. The event was held less than a month after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a US raid in Syria. Hakim praised coalition efforts to restore stability, offer basic services to liberated Iraqi cities, return refugees back to their homes and back reconstruction.He also thanked the NATO mission for its role in boosting security capacities and training. He further commended intelligence efforts exerted by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and its key role in the operation that lead to Baghdadi’s death. “Cooperation, intelligence sharing and high-level coordination among coalition countries have resulted in locating and eliminating the ISIS leader,” he said. The minister stressed “the importance of bolstering the work and unifying international efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria that ensures its unity and sovereignty,” highlighting its direct impact on regional security and stability. Moreover, called for “addressing the humanitarian situation of families in the al-Hol displacement camp in Syria and preventing ISIS from infiltrating such camps, spreading its terrorist ideology and reorganizing its ranks.” He said Iraq was ready to receive Iraqi families from these camps after carrying out the necessary security checks and ensuring they are of Iraqi origins. Hakim urged the coalition states to assist in the process of transferring these families and developing reintegration and rehabilitation programs. “Iraq urges coalition states to assume their responsibilities, receive their citizens and ensure that those involved are held accountable.”

Iraq closes southern border with Iran to travelers: Sources
Reuters, Baghdad/Saturday, 16 November 2019
Iraq closed its southern Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran to travelers from both countries on Saturday, an Iraqi security source and an Iranian diplomat said. The security source said Tehran had demanded the closure because of ongoing public protests in both Iran and Iraq. The border would remain shut until further notice but would not affect goods or trade, the security source and the diplomat said.Several protests erutped across Iranian cities on Saturday, with many protesters blocking main roads with their cars and burning tires while chanting “Death to the dictator,” a day after the government announced a surprise decision to ration and hike the price of petrol.

Turkey Says Kurdish YPG Attack Kills 10 People in Northern Syrian Town
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
The Turkish Defense Ministry said on Saturday that a car bomb attack by Syrian Kurdish fighters killed 10 people and wounded more than 15 in the northern Syrian border town of al-Bab, which Turkish forces seized in a 2016 offensive. Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said that 18 people were killed and at least 30 others were wounded in the attack. It said several cars and buildings in the vicinity of the blast had also been damaged. In a statement on Twitter, the Defense Ministry said the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) had detonated the car bomb in the al-Bab bus terminal, killing 10 people. “Inhumane and uncivilized PKK/YPG terrorists continue to target innocent civilians using the same methods as ISIS,” the ministry said. Turkey and allied opposition Syrian factions have so far mounted three separate offensives in northern Syria against ISIS and the YPG, seizing areas along its border. They launched another offensive against the YPG in northeastern Syria last month. Ankara views the YPG, the main component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. Turkey’s latest offensive was widely condemned by Ankara’s Western allies, who said the assault could hinder the fight against ISIS in Syria. Turkey has dismissed the concerns, saying it will continue to combat ISIS.

Turkey Says it Bought Russian S-400s to Use them, Not Put them aside
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
Turkey bought S-400 missile defense systems from Russia to use them, not put them aside, the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate said on Saturday, days after talks between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. Erdogan and Trump held talks in Washington on Wednesday to overcome increasing differences between the NATO allies, ranging from Syria policy to sanctions threats over Turkey’s purchase of the S-400s, which Washington says pose a threat to its Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. Washington has warned that Ankara will face sanctions over its purchase of the S-400s, and has suspended Turkey from the F-35 program, in which it was a customer and manufacturer. It has yet to impose any sanctions on Turkey, which began receiving the Russian systems in July. In an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk, Ismail Demir said it was not logical for any country to purchase such systems only to put them aside, and added that Ankara and Washington aimed to tackle the issue. “It is not a correct approach to say ‘we won’t use them for their sake’ about a system that we bought out of necessity and paid so much money for,” Demir said, according to Reuters. “We have allied relations with Russia and the United States. We have to go on and respect the agreements we signed,” he said. On Wednesday, Trump urged Erdogan at the White House to drop the S-400 systems, but Erdogan later said Ankara could not harm its relations with Russia. He reiterated Turkey’s desire to buy US Patriot defenses in addition to the S-400s. A top aide to Erdogan said on Friday that Turkish and US officials had begun working as part of a joint mechanism aiming to evaluate the impact of the S-400s on the F-35s. Demir said the move showed an easing in the position of the United States, and added that Turkey was ready to take measures that will address US concerns over the S-400s after the talks. “As a loyal friend and ally, we have said we were ready to take measures if there are any risks that we have overlooked on this issue,” Demir said. “We still believe we can find a middle ground on the S-400 issue, so long as both sides are open.”He also said Turkish personnel were continuing their training on the S-400s in Russia, but added that there would be no Russian personnel coming to Turkey to operate the systems.

Iraq Protesters Edge Closer to Baghdad’s Green Zone
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
Protesters in Iraq have edged closer to the Green Zone in Baghdad, security and medical officials said on Saturday. The Green Zone is the fortified seat of government and it also houses many foreign embassies. The officials said that protesters took control of the strategic Khilani Square and part of Sinak bridge leading to the area after security forces pulled back following a night of violent altercations. Security forces are still deployed on part of the bridge in order to block the protesters from pushing into the Green Zone. Officials said a roadside bomb killed three people and wounded 18 late Friday near Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the protest movement. Another roadside blast in the southern city of Nassiriya wounded 18 that same evening.

Car Bomb Kills 14 in Northern Syria
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 16/2019
A car bomb killed 14 people, nine of them civilians, on Saturday in the Turkish-controlled town of Al-Bab in northern Syria, a war monitor said. The bomb, which struck a bus and taxi station in the town, also wounded 33 people, some of them seriously, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Turkey and its Syrian proxies control several pockets of territory on the Syrian side of the border as a result of successive incursions in 2016-17, 2018 and 2019. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing but the Observatory said there had been persistent security incidents in the town since its capture by Turkish troops from the Islamic State group in February 2017. The town, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of Syria's second city Aleppo, was one of the westernmost strongholds of the jihadists' self-styled "caliphate" which was finally eradicated by US-backed Kurdish forces in eastern Syria in March.

Sisi, Merkel Discuss Regional, International Affairs
Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed bilateral relations and a number of regional and international issues during a telephone call on Friday. According to Bassam Radi, the Egyptian Presidency’s spokesman, Sisi affirmed Egypt’s firm strategic stance towards the Libyan crisis and the need to restore the institutional pillars of the Libyan national state to end chaos and the spread of criminal groups and terrorist militias, prioritize the fight against terrorism and achieve stability and security. “The illegitimate foreign interventions in the Libyan domestic affairs will further deteriorate the situation and pose a threat to the security and stability of the entire Middle East and Mediterranean region,” the president added, as quoted by Radi. “Merkel expressed her country’s keenness on reaching a political solution to the Libyan crisis with dialogue between the Libyan parties,” he underlined in a statement. Germany is also keen on reading the Egyptian vision about the recent developments in Libya in the light of Egypt’s pivotal role in the region and its current leadership of the African Union, Radi added.

Egypt Wins Chairmanship of UN Committee, Supports its Role in Africa
Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
Egypt’s winning the chairmanship of the Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division maximizes means of supporting the continent in safe migration, women's empowerment and social welfare, said the Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates' Affairs on Friday. The cabinet announced on its official Facebook page that Egypt had won the chairmanship of the UN committee for two years, starting from 2020 and for the third consecutive time since the establishment of the body in 1979. It won the majority of votes in elections that saw the participation of more than 50 African countries. Dr. Saber Suleiman, assistant minister of state for emigration and Egyptian expatriates' affairs, said this victory helps in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa Agenda 2063. He was speaking at the third session of the committee on gender, poverty and social policy that concluded in Addis Ababa on Friday. Minister of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates' Affairs Ambassador Nabila Makram stressed that Egypt's chairmanship of the committee boosts its leadership role in Africa and maximizes opportunities to support it. She gave her remarks during her participation in the first annual conference for the Boutros-Ghali Foundation for Peace and Knowledge held in downtown Cairo. The conference coincided with former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s birthday. “Ghali proved that diplomacy is a lifestyle and not just a name,” Makram was quoted as saying, pointing out the she met him 2016 and he advised her to increase cooperation with Africa. Makram said she is working on promoting positive models in her foreign visits to motivate more Egyptians to follow this path and emphasize the importance of Africa. In a message to the conference, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Boutros-Ghali “my distinguished predecessor left a significant imprint on the United Nations.”“Serving during a tumultuous period in international affairs, he brought formidable qualities to the job, including deep knowledge as a scholar of international law and great skill as a diplomat.”
Boutros-Ghali served as UN chief from 1992-1996. He passed away in 2016.

Israel carries out fresh strikes on Gaza targeting Hamas positions: Army
AFP, Gaza City/Saturday, 16 November 2019
Israel carried out fresh strikes on Gaza, targeting Hamas positions, the Israeli army said on Saturday
Unlike earlier operations, the army said the strikes did not target Islamic Jihad, but Hamas, which has de facto control over Gaza and so far has kept out of the violence that erupted this week. “Two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory” and were intercepted by air defenses, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. The army added that it was “currently striking Hamas terror targets” in Gaza. Palestinian security sources said the Israeli strikes were aimed at two Hamas sites in the north of the territory. On Tuesday, Israel carried out an operation that killed a top commander of Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas. That strike triggered almost immediate retaliatory rocket fire from Islamic Jihad at Israel, setting off air-raid sirens and sending Israelis rushing to bomb shelters in the country’s southern and central regions. Israel’s military said around 450 rockets were fired at its territory in the fighting and air defenses had intercepted dozens of them in fireballs high in the sky. It then responded with its own air strikes, saying it targeted more Islamic Jihad militant sites and rocket- and missile-launching squads.
After two days of violence -- which left 34 Palestinians dead in exchanges of fire, with no Israeli casualties -- a ceasefire was agreed that was put in place on Thursday morning. But the ceasefire has so far been precarious, with Israel launching fresh air strikes on Gaza and rocket fire coming from the enclave after it went into effect.

Israel Strikes Hamas Targets in Gaza after Rocket Fire
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 16/2019
Israel targeted Hamas in strikes on Gaza early Saturday after rockets were fired towards it from the Palestinian enclave, the army said, two days after a fragile ceasefire began. Hamas, the Islamist movement that has de facto control over the Gaza Strip, had been spared the brunt of Israeli bombardment during this week's flare-up which focused on its hardline ally Islamc Jihad. A ceasefire has been in place since Thursday morning following the wave of tit-of-tat air strikes and rocket fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad -- the territory's second most powerful militant group. The Israeli military said Saturday it hit the ruling Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where AFP journalists saw the Israeli strikes. The army said it launched the strikes after "two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory" and were intercepted by air defences. Palestinian security sources said the Israeli strikes were aimed at two Hamas sites in the north of the territory. "Among the sites targeted was a military camp of the Hamas terror organisation and a military compound used by the Hamas naval forces," an army statement said. "In addition an underground terror infrastructure was also targeted."It was the first time Hamas had been hit since this week's escalation began with Israel's targeted killing of a top Islamic Jihad commander early Tuesday. That strike triggered almost immediate retaliatory rocket fire from Islamic Jihad at Israel, setting off air-raid sirens and sending Israelis rushing to bomb shelters in the country's southern and central regions.
- Fragile ceasefire -
The Israeli military said around 450 rockets were fired at its territory during the fighting and air defences intercepted dozens of them. The military responded with air strikes it said targeted Islamic Jihad militant sites and rocket- and missile-launching squads. After two days of fighting which killed 34 Palestinians and no Israelis, a ceasefire was agreed. But it has so far been precarious, with fire coming from both sides on Friday after the agreement went into effect. There have been three wars since 2008 between Israel and Palestinian militants in the blockaded territory which is home to some two million people. Israeli analysts said that the focus on Islamic Jihad rather than Hamas earlier this week was a clear signal that the army sought to avoid a major new conflict. Hamas repeatedly said it would not abandon its ally, but keeping out of the fighting helped it maintain a fragile truce with Israel that has seen tens of millions of dollars in Qatari aid flow into Gaza since last year. On Thursday, Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters that the army had "wanted to keep Hamas out of the fighting". "Throughout the operation, we of course distinguished between Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and all of our operations were measured, proportionate and focused only on military assets belonging to Islamic jihad," he said.

Denmark to end consular assistance to extremist fighters
AFP, Copenhagen/Saturday, 16 November 2019
Denmark said on Saturday that it planned to withhold consular assistance from Danish citizens who went abroad to fight for extremist groups such as ISIS in Syria or Iraq. The announcement comes days after Turkey began sending back foreign extremists to their countries of origin, deporting Europeans including those from France, Germany and Denmark. “We owe absolutely nothing to foreign fighters who went to Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIS,” Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod tweeted. “This is why we are now taking measures against the access of foreign fighters to consular assistance by the foreign ministry and Danish representations abroad,” he said. According to Danish news agency Ritzau, consular assistance usually consists of prison visits and discussions with local authorities about detention conditions. If parliament approves the measure, it would “apply to all foreign fighters who travel to join ISIS or other terrorist movements,” Kofod told Ritzau. “Denmark should not be forced to help people who turned their backs on us, represent a threat to Denmark’s security and fight against everything that we defend,” he said.
After a Turkish offensive in Syria forced many ISIS fighters to flee, Denmark said last month it would strip extremist fighters with double nationality of their Danish citizenship to stop them from returning to Denmark.
In September, the government said it thought 36 extremists had travelled from Denmark to combat zones. Of the total, 10 held a Danish residence permit which the authorities took away, and 12 Danish citizens had been imprisoned.

Sudanese court sets verdict in al-Bashir trial for December
The Associated Press, Cairo/Saturday, 16 November 2019
A Sudanese court says it will deliver its verdict in the trial of former President Omar al-Bashir on corruption and money laundering charges next month. The court says following testimonies from defense witnesses on Saturday, it will declare the verdict on December 14. Al-Bashir is accused of money laundering following the seizure of millions of US dollars, euros and Sudanese pounds from his home. He was ousted and arrested in April following months of mass protests against his three-decade authoritarian rule. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide linked to the Darfur conflict in the 2000s. Dozens of al-Bashir’s supporters gathered outside the courtroom in the capital, Khartoum, to protest against calls to extradite him to The Hague.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 16-17/2019
Jeremy Corbyn Poses a Potent Threat to Western Security
Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/November 16, 2019
By far the most likely casualty of a Corbyn government would be the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, where there is a strong likelihood that other member states of the alliance will be deeply reluctant to share highly sensitive material with a British prime minister who has spent his entire political career openly associating with regimes and groups that are utterly hostile to the West and its allies.
At the heart of his hard Left approach to foreign policy lies a deep hatred for the US and its role in safeguarding the interests of the Western democracies.
Thus Mr Corbyn's instinct is to be more sympathetic to the views of Russia, Iran, North Korea and the Assad regime in Syria than Britain's long-standing allies in Washington and Europe.
With the British general election now well underway, Britain's allies need to give serious consideration about how they would deal with Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour party's hard left candidate, in the event of him becoming prime minister.
The prospect of Mr Corbyn entering Downing Street is of particular concern for the US given the current level of close cooperation that currently exists between Washington and London, especially regarding national security issues.
As one highly influential American security source told me earlier this week, "A Corbyn government would not just be a disaster for Britain. It would be a disaster for the US and other Western allies who work closely with London on a whole range of global security issues."
One of the pillars of the so-called "special relationship" between London and Washington, for example, are the close ties they share on military and intelligence cooperation. Britain's nuclear deterrent relies heavily on American technology to enable the Royal Navy's fleet of specially-adapted submarines to fire Trident missiles armed with nuclear warheads.
It is a similar picture on the intelligence-sharing front, where the close level of cooperation between the American and British intelligence services forms the bedrock of the elite Five Eyes intelligence network, with Canada, Australia and New Zealand being the other members of an alliance that was originally established during the Second World War. Consequently, serious questions are now being asked in Washington and other key Western capitals about the likely implications of a Corbyn victory in next month's general election and whether, with the Labour leader resident in Downing Street, they will be able to maintain the same level of military and intelligence-sharing cooperation.
By far the most likely casualty of a Corbyn government would be the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, where there is a strong likelihood that other member states of the alliance will be deeply reluctant to share highly sensitive material with a British prime minister who has spent his entire political career openly associating with regimes and groups that are utterly hostile to the West and its allies.
From supporting the IRA at the height of its campaign to kill and maim British troops in Northern Ireland and Britain to, more recently, associating with Islamist terror groups sucj as Hamas and Hezbollah, Mr Corbyn makes no secret of where his true sympathies lie.
It is a similar picture with regard to the Labour leader's global vision. At the heart of his hard Left approach to foreign policy lies a deep hatred for the US and its role in safeguarding the interests of the Western democracies. Thus Mr Corbyn's instinct is to be more sympathetic to the views of Russia, Iran, North Korea and the Assad regime in Syria than Britain's long-standing allies in Washington and Europe.
Mr Corbyn's high regard for the ayatollahs even resulted in his undertaking the controversial role of being a contributor for Press TV, the Iranian-run propaganda channel, where he was paid the equivalent of around $30,000 until the channel was banned by British regulators for its part in filming the detention and torture of an Iranian journalist. MoreoverMr Corbyn has never apologised for his association with the broadcaster, and claiming his appearances over three years allowed him to raise "a number of important human rights issues".
Another example of Mr Corbyn's pro-Iranian bias can be seen in his frequent public association with members of Hezbollah. In a speech made to the British-based Stop the War Coalition, he called members of Hezbollah and Hamas "friends". Consequently there can be little doubt that, in the disastrous event that he becomes Britain's next prime minister, he would insist that Britain pursue a far more sympathetic approach to Tehran.
Another area of concern for Britain's allies would be Mr Corbyn's close association with other Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Mr Corbyn has appeared at a number of rallies with Hamas leaders, and his pro-Islamist sympathies were revealed again earlier this week when, speaking on the campaign trail, he criticised the Trump administration's recent special forces operation that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, claiming that the US should have made more of an effort to take him alive.
The possibility, therefore, that Mr Corbyn could be Britain's next prime minister needs to be given serious consideration by the US and other allies. The presence of a hard-Left leader in Downing Street could have serious implications for the future well-being of the Western alliance.
*Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
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The World Is Awash in Financial Capital
Noah Smith/Bloomberg/Saturday, 16 November, 2019
A huge shift has taken place in the global economy during the past few decades. Financial capital was once scarce and it’s now abundant. This has huge implications for policies ranging from taxation to fiscal austerity to financial regulation. Economists and commentators who haven’t internalized that shift can sound irrelevant and out of touch.
It’s getting easier for companies and governments to borrow. Interest rates have come down steadily since their peak in the early 1980s.
Some of this represents a decline in inflation, which reduces nominal interest rates. But real rates have come down, too. Nor is it simply a return to normalcy after the high interest rates of the 1980s.
Economists Marco Del Negro, Domenico Giannone, Marc Giannoni, and Andrea Tambalotti estimate that global real interest rates are lower now than at any time on record. Stock returns, meanwhile, are very hard to predict, but historically high price-to-earnings ratios suggest that future returns will be lower than in past decades. Why are interest rates dropping? One possibility is that growth is simply slowing and that all that capital is chasing a shrinking pool of profitable investments. Although that explanation could apply to the US and other rich countries, it makes less sense in a global context. World economic growth has held steady at about 3% since the 1970s.
Del Negro et al. crunch the numbers and find that growth isn't a major reason for falling real interest rates. Instead, they cite an increasing desire for safety and liquidity. But this doesn’t mean investors are abandoning riskier investments; corporate borrowing spreads, apart from recessions, have remained roughly constant since the 1970s.
It’s not just governments that are finding it easier to borrow money; it’s corporations, too. The flood of investment dollars into high-profile projects with low expected returns, such as WeWork, is a sign of the times.
There are many potential reasons for capital abundance, including the rise of China, changes in the global population structure, the increase in wealth inequality, the increased ease of investing online and so on. But capital abundance also changes the way elected officials, central bankers and economists should think about policy.
A number of government policies are designed to spur investment in financial assets. Capital gains and dividends are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income to encourage investment in stocks and bonds. One argument against wealth taxes and estate taxes is that they deter people from saving. But in a world of capital abundance these fears seem overblown. Why is it necessary to lure more dollars into the markets when people are already throwing their money at governments and companies alike?
There are implications for macroeconomic policy as well. Traditionally, the argument against government deficits is based on the idea of “crowding out.” More government borrowing, the idea goes, sucks up investment dollars that would otherwise be used to fund more productive private enterprises, starving businesses of financing. But with interest rates so low, this fear seems remote and overblown. Olivier Blanchard, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, estimates that low interest rates mean that the US could increase its ratio of debt-to-gross domestic product by 60 percentage points (from 104% today) without adverse consequences. Of course, the government money would have to be put to some useful purpose, although even borrowing to redistribute might make sense.
Higher government deficits might even help monetary policy do its job. If government borrowing did manage to raise interest rates from near zero, it would give central banks more space to stabilize the economy by cutting rates if a recession hits.
Governments might shy away from raising taxes on capital and wealth and borrow more out of fear of harming business investment (which is a very different thing than financial investment). A drop in capital spending would then hurt wages and reduce long-term living standards. But the fact of low interest rates means that if businesses aren’t investing, it’s not because of a lack of capital in the system; it’s because capital is being showered on some borrowers while selectively being withheld from other businesses that could put it to better use. Financial regulation that encourages lending to companies with high employment growth might therefore be a better tool for boosting investment than efforts to keep interest rates at historic lows.
So there’s a danger that governments will apply old solutions designed for the era of capital scarcity to today's age of abundance. But there’s also the possibility that a shift to new approaches could go too far. Even as governments take advantage of capital abundance by increasing taxes and deficits, they must monitor conditions carefully should capital scarcity return.

The French president has Gaullist aspirations but lacks firepower or backing
Damien McElroy/The National/November 17/2019
Emmanuel Macron has global ambitions but has failed to enlist support in his quest for change
French President Emmanuel Macron is a world leader with a penchant for challenging inertia. He won the presidency as an outsider of the two-party power structure and has repositioned France on both the European and world stage.The problem for the French leader is how difficult the task has been of enlisting people in his quest for change. The second Paris Peace Forum held in the French capital last week illustrated the scale of his ambition and his personal commitment to upending the status quo – but also the damaging mix of indifference and opposition that met his agenda.
Having triggered uproar from around Europe with his remark that Nato, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, was “brain-dead”, Mr Macron refused to backtrack from his comments.
In making overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer, Mr Macron had already split the Europeans. Germany does not want France going it alone and dragging Europe away from its policy of containment and sanctions. Indeed, German officials have briefed that they heard of Mr Macron’s “reset” talks with the Russians not from the French but the Kremlin.
Some French officials have privately conceded they expect no recovery in the key Berlin-Paris foreign policy axis until 2021, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to hand over to a next-generation successor.
In making overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer, Mr Macron had already split the Europeans
The troubles for the French leader do not end there. Grand gestures like the forum are not enough. Almost no American representatives appeared there and relatively few big name European leaders joined. There was a strong African representation but they were largely frustrated.
The contributions from a handful of Sahel leaders was particularly striking. The leaders of Mali, Niger and Chad complained their countries were being let down in the aftermath of the French-led military offensive against Islamist extremists. Given the prestige that Mr Macron invested in the forum, the collective tone of the African presidents' remarks was remarkable in itself.
Another attendee in Paris, Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, warned that extremist threat was on the rise both in the conflict zone and spreading to other parts of West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. He said the G5 Sahel Joint Force, set up to introduce a multinational stabilisation effort, was in trouble.
The near-5,000-strong Sahel force was severely hampered by a lack of resources and strategic support, according to Mr Guterres. “The Joint Force continues to face significant training, capability and equipment shortfalls, which hamper its full operationalisation,” Mr Guterres said in his report. “The lack of air assets, armoured vehicles and transport capabilities and individual protection equipment compounds the threat posed by the use of improvised explosive devices.”
Coming on the heels of his departure from Paris, the UN intervention signalled one of the biggest French foreign policy commitments was in effect bogged down.
Energetic and at times inventive diplomacy by Mr Macron saw multiple attempts to draw Iran and the US to the negotiating table, to no avail. A combination of the raw power of US sanctions and the European collective failure to find a mechanism to sustain trade with Iran stymied the Elysee Palace. The push went nowhere.
Mr Macron has also been actively pursuing a mediating role in the Ukraine crisis. On Friday he announced a four-nation summit between Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France would take place on December 9.
With the US impeachment hearings closely examining Mr Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, it remains to be seen how much appetite the protagonists have for compromise on the issue.
Mr Macron is a politician with not only global aspirations – bridging the differences around the Arabian Gulf is often mentioned – but a man with a clear historical vision.
This allows him to refuse to acknowledge that he has alienated eastern Europe and beyond with his Nato comments. He derided the “priggishness and hypocrisy” of those critical of the idea the institution was brain-dead.
With Britain leaving the EU, there was a chance for Paris and Berlin to come together to create a more effective European presence on the world stage. Paris has constantly gone out of its way to alienate other capitals. Berlin seems less keen to weigh in behind its neighbour while other smaller states are wary of being led by a duopoly in which France was calling the shots. After the Second World War, general Charles De Gaulle recreated a singular profile for French diplomacy. The country pulled back from Nato and sought to maintain a global presence despite the painful retreat from empire in Vietnam and Algeria. The essence of Gaullist foreign policy was to be seen as strong state with its own agenda and objectives.
Mr Macron seeks a Gaullist reputation and works the French machine to that end. The elusive challenge for Mr Macron is to shape European policy in the same way.
*Damien McElroy is the London bureau chief for The National

Protests spread to Iranian cities
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/November 16/2019
Iran has become the scebe of widespread protests and demonstrations, having first erupted in Ahvaz and spread to many other cities including the capital Tehran.
The protesters are angered over the regime’s decision to unexpectedly increase gasoline prices by 50 percent. Some protesters blocked the Mullah Thani expressway and were heard shouting “Gasoline has become more expensive, the poor have become poorer,” and “dignified Ahvazis, switch off your cars.”
They also carried signs reading: “We will never again buy gasoline, one hand does make much noise.” Protesters also blocked several roads by switching off car engines or leaving their vehicles in traffic.
The authorities have responded with aggression. Security forces attacked demonstrators and at least one person has been killed, with several injured.
The Islamic Republic appears to be scrambling to compensate for the loss of revenues that it is encountering due to a major decline in the regime’s oil exports. US sanctions on the country have exerted significant pressure on the ruling clerics.
Tehran is desperate to generate revenue, in order to fund its military interests in the wider region and support its proxies everywhere from Yemen to Lebanon. According to the latest reports, US sanctions have forced Iran to cut funds to its militias in Syria, making it extremely difficult for them to continue fighting.
Tehran is desperate to generate revenue, in order to fund its military interests in the wider region and support its proxies everywhere from Yemen to Lebanon.
A militant with an Iranian-backed group in Syria told the New York Times: “The golden days are gone and will never return. Iran doesn’t have enough money to give us.”
Feeling the pressure of the sanctions, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, has been calling on his group’s fundraising arm “to provide the opportunity for jihad with money and help with this ongoing battle.”
Iran is also facing strategic challenges in Iraq and Lebanon from protests against the leaderships of both, backed by Tehran, which have crossed long-established political and religious divides.
It is important to point out that the current protests in Iran are expression of broad frustration with the clerical regime.
The economic situation has become dire for much of the Iranian population. The prices of basic necessities are skyrocketing, and many people are jobless. This is not because people do not have skills — Iran has an educated youth population, but almost 30 percent of them cannot find jobs do to a shortage in labor demands. In some provinces, the unemployment rate is over 60 percent. According to an official representative of the regime’s Planning and Management Organization, “42 percent of unemployed people in Iran have a university degree, and huge sums of money have been spent on their education.” While an acceptable inflation rate around the world is about 2 percent, Iran’s is currently over 33 percent.
The political nature of these protests has been clear from the get-go, despite the rise in gasoline price lighting the fire. That is why people have been heard chanting for the regime to step aside.
People are angered by corruption, mismanagement, embezzlement, and money laundering.
The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the main figures of the theocracy, have become a permanent fixture in the protestors’ slogans. Throughout Rouhani’s more than six years as president, the Iranian public has been subject to an escalating crackdown, involving mass arrests of activists, journalists, partygoers, and other advocates of a liberal society.
Also of concern is the vast expenditure of Iranian wealth on foreign conflicts and in support of terrorist proxies. Some protestors, at great risk to themselves, have been heard chanting: “Let go of Syria, think of us.” The Iranian regime allocates a significant portion of its budget to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Clearly, the public is fed up that they are being prioritized.
The Iranian people are not only protesting economic mismanagement, but also expressing much broader political frustration with the direction of the theocracy.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman and president of the International American Council. He serves on the boards of the Harvard International Review, the Harvard International Relations Council and the US-Middle East Chamber for Commerce and Business. Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh