LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
October 28/17
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11/25-30/:"‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’"

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day
First Letter to the Corinthians 04/09-17/:"For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day. I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me. For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church."

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 27-28/17
Militias vs. Palestinian "Reconciliation"/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/October 27/17
New Kennedy assassination files don’t solve two main riddles/Debeka Files/October 27/17
The ultimate multidimensional Iran strategy/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/ArabNews/October 28/17
The consequences of Iran’s regional dominance/Diana Moukalled/ArabNews/October 28/17
After Raqqa, Daesh will be more virulent/Talmiz Ahmad/ArabNews/October 28/17

Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on October 27-28/17
Sorry Nasrallah!' Lebanese Shia man who insulted Hizballah leader makes humiliating apology
Sami Gemayel tackles refugee affairs with Duma deputies
Aoun welcomes British Secretary of State for International Development: We utterly reject naturalization
Aoun inaugurates judicial year: We have to retrace judicial institutions with new approach
Aoun to UK Minister: Lebanon Refuses to Naturalize Anyone on Its Soil
Hariri on Govt. Performance: Ten Months Have Passed with Tens of Achievements
Bassil welcomes visiting British, Maldivian ministers
Berri welcomes visiting British Secretary of State for International Development
Mashnouq Says Not to Blame for Voting Mechanism Delay, Vows Timely Polls
Report: Govt Remains Indecisive over 'Biometric' Cards
ISF Detains Two Suspects Involved in Drug Deals
Qassem: No Withdrawal from Syria before Political Solution
Lebanese Ambassador Hosts Dinner in Honor of Gemayel in Moscow
Abu Faour, Energy Minister Engage in War of Words

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 27-28/17
HRW calls for sanctions on Damascus over chemical arms
Russia: ‘Many inconsistencies’ in UN report on Syria sarin attack
Egypt’s news agency: 12 militants killed in western desert
Gaza security director survives assassination attempt
Peshmerga retreat amid international efforts to defuse tensions
Iraq PM orders halt in operations against Kurds for 24 hours
UN’s Zeid decries hunger in Syrian siege, demands aid access
Europe Stands by Spain over Breakaway Catalonia
State Dept. Says U.S. Considers Catalonia 'Integral Part of Spain'

Latest Lebanese Related News published on October 27-28/17
Sorry Nasrallah!' Lebanese Shia man who insulted Hizballah leader makes humiliating apology
The News Arab/October, 2017/Ali Abdo Chamas, a resident of the group's stronghold in southern Beirut, publicly insulted the leader of Hizballah on Wednesday, sparking a fierce backlash and a televised apology. A Lebanese Shia Muslim man apologised to Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday after becoming the first person from a Hizballah stronghold to publicly criticise the group's leader on national television. Ali Abdo Chamas offered to fight in Syria, where Hizballah is shoring up the regime of Bashar al-Assad, to atone for his actions, after he and another woman broke a taboo in their community by speaking out publicly against Nasrallah personally. Chamas first complained about poor living conditions in Beirut's Hizballah-controlled southern suburbs before swearing at Nasrallah directly on live television on Wednesday. He had been speaking in a television interview after the authorities closed down a number of unlicensed market stalls in his area.
Protests had broken out early after the clampdown by Hizballah caused residents to become angry, ultimately placing burning tires in the road to block the area off.
Hussein Moussaoui, a Hizballah MP in Baalbeck said the incident at Hay al-Salam had come as a shock. "We did not expect anyone to criticise Nasrallah," he told L'Orient le Jour.
"They spoke out of hunger and poverty after their stalls were destroyed by the security forces."The backlash against Chamas' comments was swift and strong, some of which became personal. Pro-Hizballah media outlets accused Chamas of selling drugs and suffering from drug addiction problems. The New Arab could not verify these accusations. This pressure triggered an apology from Chamas on national television and a subsequent apology and explanation on Facebook Live.
Living conditions have severely deteriorated in Beirut's suburbs in recent months and tensions have started to rise over a relatively high death toll for Hizballah fighters in Syria. The New York Times reported that 2000 Hizballah fighters have died in Syria since the start of 2017. In a press conference, Hizballah said the Shia community of Lebanon must remind themselves they are not above the law and similar crackdowns on illegal businesses would happen again in the future.

Sami Gemayel tackles refugee affairs with Duma deputies
Fri 27 Oct 2017NNA - Kataeb Party Leader, MP Sami Gemayel, on Friday pursued his meetings with officials in the Russian capital of Moscow, which he is currently visiting upon an official invitation. Within this framework, Gemayel held a meeting at the Duma, the Russian parliament building, with a number of deputies, in presence of former minister Alain Hakim and members of Kataeb Politburo, Serge Dagher and Fadi Ardo. A statement by Kataeb Party said that Gemayel had briefed Duma deputies on the role played by the opposition preserving the sovereignty of Lebanon and on its effort to launch a reform workshop countering the current practices of the existing authority. "Talks between Gemayel and the Russian MPs focused on the Syrian refugee dossier and on the need to develop a quick and clear plan for their return to their country as soon as possible," the statement read.
Gemayel asked the Russian side to play a mediating role between Lebanon and political parties in Syria in order to preserve Lebanon's official neutrality towards the Syrian crisis. "Russian President Vladimir Putin's special representative for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, has confirmed to the Kataeb leader Russia's readiness to play a coordinating role between the Syrian regime and factions opposing the return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to their country," the statement added.

Aoun welcomes British Secretary of State for International Development: We utterly reject naturalization
Fri 27 Oct 2017/NNA - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, welcomed at Baabda Palace on Friday visiting British Secretary of State for International Development, Alistair Burt. "Lebanon urges a speedy solution to the Syrian crisis because any delay resolving this calamity increases the sufferings of Syrians, not mention the repercussions of their displacement on Lebanon," President Aoun told his visitors, stressing Lebanon's utter refusal to naturalize any foreigner present on its territories. During the meeting, which had been also attended by British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, and an accompanying British delegation, President Aoun also stressed "the strong existing relations between Lebanon and the United Kingdom."The President thanked the UK for its support to the Lebanese Army, especially in training the land border army units deployed along the eastern borders of Lebanon. Aoun also expressed hope that Britain would consider increasing its aid to the Lebanese army in a bid to maintain stability and combat terrorism. President Aoun also briefed the British delegation on Lebanon's position vis-a-vis Syrian displacement. "Lebanon bears a heavy burden as a result of this displacement," Aoun said, adding that he has also echoed this plea to the heads of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the European Union, and the Arab League. "Lebanon is no longer capable of addressing the security, economic and social consequences resulting from the presence of Syrian refugees," Aoun added. Moreover, the President asked of his British visitors "to intervene to stop the hostile Israeli actions against Lebanon and to stop the threats that have been recently increasing." In turn, Burt stressed his country's desire to develop bilateral relations with Lebanon in all fields, especially within the military and economic fields. He also praised the achievements of the Lebanese army liberating the country from a group of terrorists. Burt also offered Aoun condolences on the military martyrs who fell during battles against Daesh, and who were kidnapped back in 2014. "My country looks forward to support the Lebanese economy and development projects, as well as everything that would help to mitigate the repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis on Lebanon," he added.

Aoun inaugurates judicial year: We have to retrace judicial institutions with new approach
Fri 27 Oct 2017/NNA - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, said on Friday that it was high time the state reconsidered the systems by which the Lebanese judicial institutions abided. He suggested the adoption of a new approach that took into account the flaws, deficiencies, and gaps that infested the core the judicial system, "thus enhancing its independence and impartiality."The President's words came in speech he gave earlier today during the inauguration of the judicial year at the Palace of Justice. "The judiciary I am talking about includes all the institutions that adjudicate disputes and issue rulings, and also determine the validity or illegality of legislations in appeal cases," Aoun added. "Rumors have targeted the judiciary on many different levels, accusing it of corruption and inefficiency. It also accused it of being controlled by political authorities that have abolished its independence and pressured it to deviate from proper performance and forget its right to prosecute people," the President said. Aoun went on to explain that when rumors were spread repeatedly, they became certain in the minds of people. "This is the worst thing for a society because it leads to the loss of trust between institutions and the people," the President maintained. "We must not forget that man has a reputation, and that the worst wars that may be fought against a person are those that seek to destroy his/her reputation. Hence, the judge must be aware that he belongs to a society with its own behavior, as well as its customs and traditions, and to refrain from any action that may facilitate smearing his/her reputation." Aoun also mentioned the possibility to opt for change by making the judiciary an elected authority. "This will make the judiciary an independent authority with administrative independence, and thus we will effectively separate the authorities with the necessary legislation to create balance between them," Aoun explained, adding that such change might take time and undergo many difficulties. "We must be aware that any legislation or regulation is of no value and does not include any justice if the values are void of morals, efficient and independent characterization, and conscience," Aoun stressed in his speech. "If proper judiciary is based on independence, integrity, and efficiency, there will still remain a need to amend many of the procedural laws that are not useful, especially those that prolong the ruling time without need, not to mention the files are stacked on tables and in safes," Aoun added. Moreover, Aoun mentioned the Lebanese citizens' failure to understand the reason behind the years of delay to issue court verdicts. "Let us all remember that late justice is not fair and that it is high time to jettison this equation."

Aoun to UK Minister: Lebanon Refuses to Naturalize Anyone on Its Soil
Naharnet/October 27/17/President Michel Aoun held talks Friday in Baabda with Alistair Burt -- the UK Minister of State for International Development and the Minister of State for the Middle East. “Lebanon demands quick efforts to find a final solution to the Syrian crisis, because any delay will worsen the suffering of the Syrians as well as the impact of their presence as refugees on the country,” Aoun told the visiting British minister. “Lebanon refuses to naturalize anyone on its soil,” he stressed. During the meeting, which was attended by a delegation accompanying Burt and UK Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter, Aoun underscored “the firm ties that Lebanon has with the United Kingdom,” thanking Britain for “the support it has offered to the Lebanese Army, especially in terms of training the land border regiments that are deployed on Lebanon's eastern border.” He also called for “increasing British assistance to the Lebanese Army to enable it to preserve stability and combat terrorism.” Turning to the situation in the South, Aoun decried “the continued Israeli violations of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701,” urging the UK to “interfere to put an end to the hostile Israeli actions against Lebanon and to halt the verbal threats that have increased recently.”The British minister for his part underlined the kingdom's desire to boost bilateral relations at all levels, especially in the military and economic fields, the National News Agency said. He also applauded Lebanon for hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, reassuring that Britain will continue to offer them assistance.Burt also held talks on Friday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.

Hariri on Govt. Performance: Ten Months Have Passed with Tens of Achievements
Naharnet/October 27/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri boasted Friday that his government has made “tens of achievements” in the ten months that followed its formation, vowing that the country's situation will be even better in a year from now.
“My duty was and still is, first of all, to prevent collapse and fortify stability... so that we all address the difficult economic, social, security and political situations and thank God we were able to do that,” said Hariri in a speech at the Lebanese National Energy forum at Beirut's BIEL venue. “We elected a president, formed a government, Parliament resumed legislation and the government resumed addressing the pending problems,” Hariri said. “We renewed the term of the Central Bank Governor and put an end to the attempts to target the Lebanese pound and the monetary situation... During these ten months, we approved a new electoral law..., and put the gas and oil plan on the right track,” the premier added. He also noted that the Syrian refugee crisis has been put “on the discussion table.” “We prepared a well studied file that I took all over the world: to the European Union in Brussels, the White House, France, Russia, the Vatican, the Arab countries, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and all the places I visited,” he said. “Ten months have passed with tens of achievements including the electricity plan, improving internet and reducing its fees... and managing to organize international conferences in Paris to support investments and in Rome to support the army and the security forces,” Hariri added. “Does this mean that our situation is really good? Certainly not… but it is incomparably better than it was a year ago, and rest assured that the situation, a year from now, will be much better than today,” the PM pledged.

Bassil welcomes visiting British, Maldivian ministers
Fri 27 Oct 2017/NNA - Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Gebran Bassil, welcomed on Friday British Secretary of State for International Development, Alistair Burt. The pair reportedly broached the general situation in the region, the Syrian crisis, as well as Britain's support to the Lebanese army. Bassil also met with the Foreign Minister of Maldives, Mohamed Asim, who is on his first official visit to Lebanon. Both men discussed the best means to strengthen and develop cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

Berri welcomes visiting British Secretary of State for International Development
Fri 27 Oct 2017/NNA - Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, welcomed on Friday British Secretary of State for International Development, Alistair Burt, who visited him along with an accompanying delegation, and British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter. Also, Berri received a call from former UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, who left to assume her new position as Minister of Foreign Trade and Development in the Netherlands. In turn, Berri congratulated her on her new position and wished her success.

Mashnouq Says Not to Blame for Voting Mechanism Delay, Vows Timely Polls
Naharnet/October 27/17/Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Friday denied accusations that he is seeking to delay the upcoming parliamentary elections, reassuring anew that the polls will be held on time. In a statement, Mashnouq said “political forces have been quarreling over the interpretation of some articles of the new electoral law ever since it was approved on June 17, 2017, especially the article on voting in the place of residency.”
“After dozens of meetings over the past four months, this article has remained a point of contention,” the minister noted. He stressed that “disputes among the political forces are what prevented an agreement on the means of implementing Article 84 of the new electoral law, which stipulates allowing voters to cast ballots in their places of residency with or without pre-registration.” “These disputes are still ongoing, separately from the Interior Ministry's executive role,” Mashnouq said. The minister called for implementing the electoral law away from “political bickering,” describing it as a “major national responsibility and not a material for polarization.” He, however, reassured that “the parliamentary elections will be held on time under the new law and without any delay or postponement.”Lebanon's parliamentary election are slated for May 6, 2018.
The polls will be held under a complex proportional representation law for the first time in Lebanon's history. The electoral law was reached after years of political wrangling and three extensions of parliament's term.

Report: Govt Remains Indecisive over 'Biometric' Cards
Naharnet/October 27/17/Lebanon's cabinet failed to reach consensus on whether to adopt biometric cards for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 6 with debates postponed for some other government meeting. Thursday's meeting held at the Grand Serail witnessed long debate between Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq over the issue. Bassil had insisted on issuing biometric cards to be used by voters in the coming polls, while Mashnouq stressed that the procedure is not possible because of the time factor. It would have been “possible to issue biometric cards before September 30. But now all I can do is issue between 500 thousand and 1 million cards to be given to pre-registered voters because they will vote outside their places of registration," argued Mashnouq. Bassil, backed by ministers of the Change and Reform bloc, has rejected calls for the pre-registration of voters who wish to cast ballots in their places of residency. He argues that they are “targeted against the freedom of these voters.” Ministrial sources told al-Hayat daily that Mashnouq has asked the government to approve a financial advance to print around 1 million biometric cards for those who wish to vote outside their place of registration. But Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil considered that any assignment for printing the cards must be duly bid. Lebanon's parliamentary election are slated for May 6, 2018. The polls will be held under a complex proportional representation law for the first time in Lebanon's history.
The electoral law was reached after years of political wrangling and three extensions of parliament's term.

ISF Detains Two Suspects Involved in Drug Deals
Naharnet/October 27/17/Internal Security Forces have arrested two suspects involved in drug dealing in south Lebanon, the ISF Directorate said in a statement on Friday. The ISF anti-narcotics bureau arrested the first suspect after tracking his mobile. He was caught with cocaine drugs in his possession, said the statement. The second suspect, identified by his initials M.G., had arranged to meet the first suspect with the aim of buying the narcotics.
Both were referred to related authorities.

Qassem: No Withdrawal from Syria before Political Solution
Naharnet/October 27/17/Hizbullah will not withdraw its fighters from neighboring Syria before a “political solution” is reached for the war-torn country, Hizbullah's deputy chief has said.
“The withdrawal of Hizbullah's forces is linked to the political solution in Syria and to the eradication of terrorism,” Sheikh Naim Qassem told France 24 television.
The group has lost an estimated 1,500 fighters in Syria and has faced sharp criticism from Lebanese rival parties and some Arab countries over its intervention in the Syrian conflict.Its role has helped Syrian regime forces recapture several strategic regions from the hands of rebels and jihadists. The party argues that its intervention in the neighboring country was necessary to protect Lebanon from extremist groups and to prevent the fall of Syria into the hands of Israel and the United States.

Lebanese Ambassador Hosts Dinner in Honor of Gemayel in Moscow
Kataeb.org/Friday 27th October 2017/Lebanese Ambassador to Russia, Chawki Abu Nassar, on Thursday held a dinner banquet in honor of Kataeb chief Samy Gemayel at the embassy in Moscow. The dinner was attended by the ambassadors of Arab countries in Russia.

Abu Faour, Energy Minister Engage in War of Words
Kataeb.orgFriday 27th October 2017, Abu Faour, Energy Minister Engage in War
Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil and MP Wael Abu Faour got into a war of words on Friday, as the latter lashed out at the negligent way in which the minister is dealing with important issues. "The minister of energy went out and didn't come back," Abu Faour said mockingly. "Those who have information about him should contact the competent authorities for he [Abi Khalil] has taken decisions that concern the Lebanese as hostage with him." The minister fired back at Abu Faour's statement, saying that he is there to meet the possible and feasible demands. "Your Excellency, you are noncompliant [to the standards]," he said. "I congratulate the Lebanese, living in Lebanon and abroad, for finding the minister of energy safe and sound. God has answered our prayers," Abu Faour replied back.

Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 27-28/17
HRW calls for sanctions on Damascus over chemical arms
AFP, BeirutFriday, 27 October 2017/Human Rights Watch on Friday urged the international community to slap sanctions on the Syrian government after UN investigators blamed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime for a sarin gas attack that killed dozens. “The (UN) Security Council should move swiftly to ensure accountability by imposing sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for chemical attacks in Syria,” the New York-based rights watchdog said in a statement. The April 4 attack in which sarin gas projectiles were fired into Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in Idlib province in northwestern Syria, killed 83 people, according to the United Nations. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gave a death toll of 87, including more than 30 children. A UN panel of investigators said Thursday in a report it was “confident that the Syrian Arab Republic is responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Sheikhun”, an attack which prompted a retaliatory US strike on a Syrian air base. Ole Solvang, deputy emergencies director at HRW, said the panel’s report “should end the deception and false theories that have been spread by the Syrian government”. “Syria’s repeated use of chemical weapons poses a serious threat to the international ban against the use of chemical weapons,” Solvang said. “All countries have an interest in sending a strong signal that these atrocities will not be tolerated.”UN experts have also accused the Syrian regime, in a war with rebel forces for the past six years that has cost more than 330,000 lives, of launching chlorine gas attacks in the north of the country in 2014 and 2015.

Russia: ‘Many inconsistencies’ in UN report on Syria sarin attack
AFPFriday, 27 October 2017/Russia on Friday criticised a United Nations report, which blamed a sarin gas attack in Syria on Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with a deputy foreign minister saying it contained inconsistencies and unverified evidence. “Even the first cursory read shows that many inconsistencies, logical discrepancies, using doubtful witness accounts and unverified evidence... all of this is still (in the report),” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency. UN report finds Syrian regime responsible for sarin attack. The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for a deadly sarin gas attack on a rebel-held town in April, a UN report found Thursday. “The panel is confident that the Syrian Arab Republic is responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Sheikhun on 4 April 2017,” stated the report seen by AFP. More than 87 people died in the nerve gas attack on the town in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province. Horrific images from the immediate aftermath of the attack drew global outrage and prompted the United States to fire cruise missiles at a Syrian air base from which the West says the assault was launched. Last month, UN war crimes investigators said they had evidence that the Syrian air force was behind the attack, despite repeated denials from Damascus. Syria ally Russia maintains that the sarin attack was most likely caused by a bomb set off directly on the ground, not by a Syrian air strike as alleged by the West.

Egypt’s news agency: 12 militants killed in western desert
The Associated Press, CairoFriday, 27 October 2017/Egypt’s state-run MENA news agency says that security forces have killed 12 militants in a shootout in the country’s western desert. The report quoted an unnamed Interior Ministry official as saying that the exchange of fire took place on Friday about 175 kilometers, or 109 miles, southwest of Cairo. No policemen were reported killed. The area is near the region where 16 policemen were killed a week ago in a brazen ambush by militants. MENA says that firearms and ammunition were also confiscated from the militants. After last week’s ambush, security officials had told The Associated Press and other media outlets that the death toll was over 50, making it one of the worst attacks against Egypt’s police in years. But that higher death toll was never confirmed by authorities.

Gaza security director survives assassination attempt
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishFriday, 27 October 2017ظThe Director General of Internal Security in the Gaza Strip Major General Tawfiq Abu Naeem survived an assassination attempt on Friday. An explosive device placed on his car detonated in what is belived to be an attempt on his life, according to security sources.The Hamas movement security chief slightly injured by the explosion but was taken to hosp[ital. and appears to be in good health.

Peshmerga retreat amid international efforts to defuse tensions
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishFriday, 27 October 2017 /Colonel Ahmad al-Jubouri, commander of the Iraqi army’s Nineveh Operations Command, said Peshmerga forces withdrew from the center of the Makhmur district, south of Erbil, after receiving orders to do so few hours after they seized control of wide parts of it, the Anadolu Agency reported. Meanwhile, following deadly clashes between Iraqi forces and Peshmerga forces, the international community seems worried as there are efforts on several levels to defuse the crisis between Baghdad and Erbil. In a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for dialogue and confirmed his country’s support to enforcing law in disputed areas according to the Iraqi constitution. The UN Security Council called on the Iraqi government and Kurdish leaders not to resort to power and for ending escalation. It also called on both parties to go back to dialogue based on a timeframe to end the crisis which resulted from the independence referendum which Kurdistan held. Turkey said the Kurdistan Region’s move of freezing the referendum’s results was not enough and will not fix what has been ruined. International efforts to ease tensions between Baghdad and Erbil are being met with opposing efforts that aim to maintain these tensions for financial gains.Sources in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said Peshmerga forces affiliated with the sons of Masoud Barzani are fiercely fighting to stay in control of the Syrian Rmelan and Karatchok oil fields and the town of Mahmoudiyah which oil is smuggled through in agreement with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the PJAK forces affiliated with the Iranian Kurdistan Freedom Party.

Iraq PM orders halt in operations against Kurds for 24 hours
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishFriday, 27 October 2017/Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday announced “a halt to movements by the armed forces for 24 hours” in zones disputed by Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish region. Abadi, who also heads the armed forces, said the pause aimed to “give the opportunity to a joint technical committee of the federal authorities and those of Kurdistan to work on deploying federal forces in all of the disputed zones” in northern Iraq. Eariler, Coalition spokesperson said he incorrectly announced ceasefire has been reached between Iraq and Kurds after the coalition’s media office reported that the Iraqi army has reached an agreement with the Peshmerga fighters to stop fighting. Heavy gun battles raged on Thursday between Kurdish and Iraqi troops moving towards a border crossing with Turkey on the route of a major oil pipeline in northern Iraq. The Kurdish and Peshmerga fighters fired mortar shells and used anti-tank guided missiles, which were very resistant to the advance of the Popular Mobilization militia. On Thursday morning, Iraqi armored vehicles launched from the oil-rich area of Zamar, northwest of Mosul. Iraqi forces returned some villages, passing dirt tracks along the paved road to the Nineveh Plain. Violent clashes also took place in other villages. The Kurdish authorities announced at dawn on Thursday that Iraqi forces and the Popular Army militia bombed “the Peshmerga positions at 6:00 am (3:00 GMT) from the Zammar Front northwest of Mosul using heavy artillery.”
(with AFP)

UN’s Zeid decries hunger in Syrian siege, demands aid access
Reuters, GenevaFriday, 27 October 2017 /The humanitarian situation in the besieged eastern suburbs of Damascus is an outrage and parties to the conflict must allow food and medicine to reach at least 350,000 trapped Syrians, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said on Friday. “The shocking images of what appear to be severely malnourished children that have emerged in recent days are a frightening indication of the plight of people in Eastern Ghouta, who are now facing a humanitarian emergency,” Zeid said in a statement.

Europe Stands by Spain over Breakaway Catalonia
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/October 27/17/Spain's allies in Europe and the United States rallied behind Madrid on Friday after Catalonia's regional parliament declared independence in a escalating constitutional crisis.Catalan MPs passed the motion by 70 votes to 10 -- in a ballot boycotted by the opposition -- in a move that threatens the stability of Spain and the European Union. After the vote, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he had dissolved the Catalan parliament, formally removed separatist leader Carles Puigdemont from office and called regional elections on December 21 as part of measures to "restore normality."Here are some of the key reactions:
EU: 'Argument not force'
European Council President Donald Tusk said Madrid "remains our only interlocutor" following the independence vote. "I hope the Spanish government favors force of argument, not argument of force," he tweeted. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker also warned of the danger of "more cracks" opening up in the 28-member bloc."We shouldn't insert ourselves into what is an internal debate for Spain, but I wouldn't want the European Union to consist of 95 member states in the future." Brussels has insisted the standoff is an internal matter, resisting Catalan efforts for international mediation and backing Madrid's position that the referendum was illegal.
U.S.: 'Keep Spain strong and united'
The United States considers Catalonia an "integral part of Spain" and supports Madrid's measures to keep Spain "strong and united," the State Department said. "The United States enjoys a great friendship and an enduring partnership with our NATO ally Spain," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
U.N.: 'An internal matter' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said any discussions about the allocation of power remained an internal matter, spokesman Farhan Haq said. But he added: "The secretary-general encourages all concerned to seek solutions within the framework of the Spanish constitutional and through established political and legal channels."
Germany: 'Dialogue and de-escalation'
Germany "does not recognize" Catalonia's unilateral declaration of independence, a government spokesman said, calling for dialogue between the two sides. "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Spain are and always will be inviolable," spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter.
France: 'one partner in Spain'
French President Emmanuel Macron said Rajoy had his full support.
"I have one partner in Spain, that's Prime Minister Rajoy... the rule of law prevails in Spain, with constitutional rules. He wants to ensure they are respected and he has my full support."
UK: 'Unity preserved'
Britain "does not and will not" recognize the unilateral declaration of independence, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said. "It is based on a vote that was declared illegal by the Spanish courts. We continue to want to see the rule of law upheld, the Spanish Constitution respected, and Spanish unity preserved."
However, a minister in Scotland's independence-minded devolved government said it respected the Catalan government action.
"While Spain has the right to oppose independence, the people of Catalonia must have the ability to determine their own future." said Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs. "Today's declaration of independence came about only after repeated calls for dialogue were refused."
NATO: 'Resolved within Spain'
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the "Catalonia issue must be resolved within Spain's constitutional order.""Spain is a committed ally, with important contributions to our security," he said on Twitter.
Portugal: 'Total solidarity'
Prime Minister Antonio Costa of neighboring Portugal expressed his "total solidarity in the defense of the constitutional principle of Spanish unity," and said he considered the declaration of independence "a disruption of Spanish political life."

State Dept. Says U.S. Considers Catalonia 'Integral Part of Spain'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/October 27/17/The United States considers Catalonia an "integral part of Spain" and supports Madrid's measures to keep Spain "strong and united," the State Department said Friday after Catalan lawmakers voted to declare independence.
"The United States enjoys a great friendship and an enduring partnership with our NATO ally Spain," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. "Catalonia is an integral part of Spain, and the United States supports the Spanish government's constitutional measures to keep Spain strong and united."Nauert added that the United States and Spain "cooperate closely to advance our shared security and economic priorities."Catalan lawmakers voted earlier to declare independence, as Madrid vowed in turn to "restore legality" and quash the region's secessionist bid. The Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona passed a resolution to "declare Catalonia an independent state in the form of a republic."

Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 27-28/17
Militias vs. Palestinian "Reconciliation"
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/October 27/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11230/palestinian-militias-gaza
The notion that Hamas would ever dismantle its security apparatus and deliver the Gaza Strip to Mahmoud Abbas's forces is a fantasy.
It is estimated that there are about 50 different militias operating in the Gaza Strip. These militias are said to be in possession of about a million pieces of weaponry.
If Hamas refuses to disarm, that is one thing, but when Abbas's supposed loyalists also come out with similar statements, that this is akin to spitting in the face of the Palestinian Authority president.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas says he does not want to see "militias" in the Gaza Strip if and when the "reconciliation" agreement he reached with Hamas is implemented. "The Palestinian leadership will not accept the model of militias in the Gaza Strip because it isn't a successful one," Abbas told the Chinese news agency Xinhua. "There should be one authority, one law and one weapon, with no militias."
Hamas, for its part, has already rejected Abbas's demand. Hamas has said it has no intention of disarming despite the "reconciliation" agreement recently signed in Cairo. "We can't give up our weapons and because the Palestinian people are still in the phase of national liberation," said Yehya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip. "We also can't and won't recognize Israel."
Hamas's refusal to disarm should come as no surprise. Since Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip ten years ago, it has built a huge security apparatus that consists of thousands of militiamen, most of them members of Ezaddin Al-Qassam, the movement's military wing. Hamas has also smuggled large amounts of weapons into the Gaza Strip and dug dozens of tunnels along the borders with Israel and Egypt.
The notion that Hamas would ever dismantle its security apparatus and deliver the Gaza Strip to Mahmoud Abbas's forces is a fantasy. Hamas has no problem allowing Abbas loyalists to return to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, as was the situation before 2007, when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. But this is the most Hamas would be willing to sacrifice to support the success of the "reconciliation" accord with Abbas and his Fatah faction.
Masked gunmen from a Fatah militia are pictured on January 30, 2007 in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, during a period of armed clashes between Fatah and Hamas. Later that year, Hamas expelled Fatah and seized complete control of the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Abid Katib/Getty Images)
This is a price Hamas is prepared to pay, not out of affection for Abbas but because it serves its own interest. The reopening of the Rafah terminal will allow Hamas to breath after years of isolation and blockade. A few hundred Abbas loyalists who manage the Rafah border crossing do not pose a threat to Hamas's rule over the Gaza Strip.
Above all, Hamas seeks to prevent a return to the pre-2007 era, when the Palestinian Authority had exclusive control over the Gaza Strip. Until that year, the PA had multiple security forces that maintained a tight grip on the Gaza Strip and employed an "iron fist" policy against Hamas and other opposition groups.
The statements of Hamas leaders in the past few days show that they are seeking to duplicate the model Hezbollah uses in Lebanon. Hamas wants to remain in charge of security matters in the Gaza Strip while restricting the Palestinian Authority's responsibilities to civilian affairs. Hamas's refusal to disarm and hand over security responsibilities to Abbas could torpedo the Egyptian-sponsored "reconciliation" agreement -- especially in light of the PA's rejection of copying the Hezbollah model in the Gaza Strip.
While Abbas is talking about the need for Hamas to disarm and dismantle its militia, however, some Palestinians are wondering what would be the fate of armed groups in the Gaza Strip that are affiliated with Fatah if the "reconciliation" agreement is implemented.
Hamas is far from the only party with a militia in the Gaza Strip. Almost all of the other Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), have their own militias there -- in addition to a number of ISIS-inspired militias that have also appeared in the Gaza Strip in the past few years.
It is estimated that there are about 50 different militias operating in the Gaza Strip. These militias are said to be in possession of about a million pieces of weaponry.
Abbas's real test will be the day he is forced to face the unruly Fatah-affiliated armed groups in the Gaza Strip. Abbas has good reason to be worried about the Hamas, Islamic Jihad, PFLP and DFLP militias. None of these groups will ever voluntarily lay down its weapons or dismantle its militias just because the Egyptians or Abbas want it to. Abbas, moreover, also needs to worry about the Fatah-affiliated groups: they also are unlikely to comply with his wish to see no militias in the Gaza Strip.
Fatah has in the Gaza Strip several armed groups not known for their blind loyalty to Abbas. Some of these disgruntled armed groups, in fact, often sound more like Hamas and Islamic Jihad than Fatah.
Fatah has quite a number of militias in the Gaza Strip: Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Ahmed Abu Rish Brigades, Abdel Qader Al-Husseini Brigades, Martyr Ayman Judeh Groups and Nidal Al-Amoudi Brigades.
Although they are affiliated with Abbas's Fatah, these armed groups continue to talk about an "armed struggle" against Israel and their desire to "liberate Palestine, from the [Mediterranean] sea to the [Jordan] river." The unruly Fatah-affiliated groups have a history of angering and embarrassing Abbas and the Fatah leadership in the West Bank. The groups often issue statements applauding terror attacks against Israel, such as the recent shooting at Har Adar, near Jerusalem, in which three Israelis were murdered.
For the past few years, the Fatah leadership in the West Bank has sought to distance itself from the actions and rhetoric of those Fatah armed groups in the Gaza Strip. That effort reflects the desire of the Fatah leadership in the West Bank to present itself to the international community (and Israel) as a "moderate" party that opposes violence and seeks a peaceful solution with Israel.
Even more worrying for Abbas is that in addition to Hamas, the Fatah armed groups in the Gaza Strip are refusing to disarm as a result of the "reconciliation" agreement.
Now, not only does Abbas have to worry about Hamas and Islamic Jihad; he has his own Fatah gunmen saying that they too will not disarm. This headache for Abbas poses yet another obstacle to the implementation of the "reconciliation" agreement.
As Abu Mohammed, a spokesman for the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in the Gaza Strip, said recently: "We won't give up our weapons until all Palestine has been liberated." His statement echoes the position of Hamas and all the other armed groups. If Hamas refuses to disarm, that is one thing, but when Abbas's supposed loyalists also come out with similar statements, that is akin to spitting in the face of the Palestinian Authority president.
The "reconciliation" agreement has yet to be implemented on the ground, yet the issue of the militias in the Gaza Strip is already emerging as a major obstacle and a severe blow to Abbas. He will now have to decide: either to proceed with the "reconciliation" agreement and accept playing the role of president of a Gaza Strip filled with armed groups and militias -- most of which are no friend of his, or to backtrack and realize that his wish to have one law, one police force and one authority in the Gaza Strip is nothing more than a pipe-dream.
**Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in Jerusalem.
© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

New Kennedy assassination files don’t solve two main riddles
Debeka Files/October 27/17/
Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy? Or was he sent by the KGB or the mafia? And who sent Jack Ruby to kill him?
The 2,891 hitherto unpublished papers released Friday Oct. 27 by the US National Archives Friday on the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy were awaited in suspense, after decades of conspiracy theories were thrown up by that momentous event. The release also touched a responsive chord in the American national and political consciousness that is sensitive to any suggestions of a KGB hand in their affairs.
However, the thousands of files, including FBI, CIA and other agency documents formerly withheld in part from public, offered no new evidence to confirm that Lee Harvey Oswald was sent to assassinate the US president by the Russians or a crime organization, or that the Jewish bar owner Jack Ruby was hired to shoot dead the president’s assassin.
Some of the missing evidence may be found in the classified documents that are still withheld, possibly the very papers which relate to a possible Russian hand in the murder, or information gathered from foreign spy agencies.
It is now revealed that, just half an hour before the murder, an anonymous caller warned a local paper in Cambridge, England, to prepare for “some big news.” Did the British MI6 follow up this anonymous call? And if so, what did they find?
The inquiry commission headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Early Warren determined that President Kennedy was murdered on Nov. 22, 1963 by a single shooter – Lee Harvey Oswald – acting on his own. Americans were deeply divided over this ruling, and a batch of conspiracy theories nourished a slew of films and books for many years.
Oswald, then a young US Marine, absconded to Russia in 1959, declaring he was a Communist, and married a Russian woman. He returned to American in 1962, three years later, and, eight months before he murdered the US President, he tried to kill retired US Maj. Gen. Edwin Walker, an anti-Russian and anti-Communist figure, by shooting at him from a window. The general was injured but survived.
Ballistic checks after the Kennedy murder found it “extremely likely” that the bullets which killed him were identical to those fired against the general. This discovery led the investigators to Oswald.
On Sept. 26, of 1962, a couple of months before the Kennedy shooting, Oswald was found to have traveled to Mexico City. A call is revealed to have taken place between him and the Russian embassy, during which he was flagged by the CIA as speaking to Consul Valeriy Vladimirovich Kostikova “in broken Russian,” whom the documents say was an “identified KGB officer.”
He is also revealed to have gone to the Cuban consulate in Mexico City and applied for a visa to visit Havana in the hope of reaching the Russian consulate there and obtaining a permit to enter Russia. But the Cuban consul turned him down and referred him directly to the Russian consulate. Disappointed, he returned to the United States. The mystery surrounding his actions in Mexico City gave rise to some of the speculation that the Kennedy assassination was a conspiracy.
The Warren Commission, however, stated there was no certainty that the individual who called at the Cuban and Russian consulates in Mexico City was in fact Oswald, and he may well have been an impersonator.
The questions surrounding his identity and whether the suspected assassin who was murdered and buried was the real Lee Harvey Oswald, or someone posing as him, gave rise to endless alternative theories. Speculation that the body in the Oswald grave was in fact a Russian secret agent prompted at length to the body’s exhumation in 1981 for a second autopsy.
The newly-released files shed no new light on this enigma, any more than on the identity and motives of the Dallas barkeeper Jack Ruby – or how he managed to enter the secured corridor in the basement of the Dallas police station on Dec. 24, pull a gun and shoot Oswald dead on the spot.
Was Ruby the instrument of an unknown entity? If some mafia crime organization sent him, which one was it? He was rumored to have ties with Chicago’s underworld. One theory flying about at the time claimed that Ruby acted for the US secret service.
The only fresh element exposed by the newly released documents is that, after Oswald was in police hands, having shot dead a police officer while resisting arrest, the FBI was warned that their prisoner was targeted for assassination.
But they don’t supply answers to the key question: Was Oswald the only gunman who aimed at the president’s car? Or where there two shooters?

The ultimate multidimensional Iran strategy
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/ArabNews/October 28/17
Many governments and institutions have failed to implement a successful Iran policy because they do not examine the whole picture. An effective policy should not just focus on one of Iran’s activities, such as funding and arming terrorist groups.
It should be a broad, multidimensional strategy that includes, among other things, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, regional interventions, terrorist-related activities and human rights abuses. This comprehensive strategy emphasizes the use of soft power and prevents a war with Iran.
The ballistic missile program, which is a pillar of Iran’s foreign policy and is directly linked to the nuclear program, should be restricted and part of any nuclear deal. States should urge the UN Security Council (UNSC) to impose sanctions on Tehran if it continues to test-fire ballistic missiles, in violation of UNSC Resolution 2231.
The resolution “calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.” It has fired more than 10 ballistic missiles since the nuclear deal.
An effective policy recommendation would be to make any agreements with Iran contingent on respecting human rights and freedoms, as well as a full moratorium on the death penalty for children. Iran is the world’s leading executioner per capita.
Countering Tehran does not mean going to war with it. It means change from within by relying on the Iranian people and the organized opposition.
Governments should impose political and economic sanctions against Iranian officials who are responsible for human rights violations, just as the US previously did against affiliates of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington recently designated a terrorist organization. More importantly, the international community should bring to justice those who committed the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners in Iran.
Countering Tehran does not mean going to war with it. It means change from within by relying on the Iranian people and the organized opposition. Officially and publicly supporting them would be the strongest blow to the mullahs’ rule, which is an aberration. Tehran fears this soft power more than regional and global hard power.
In addition, the US should create a united front with regional powers to counter Tehran’s hegemonic ambitions. Many countries in the region would welcome this initiative. Iran’s military sites should be inspected as part of the nuclear deal. The current agreement paves the way for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, as there is no efficient enforcement or monitoring mechanism. In addition, the deal’s sunset clauses, which lifts restrictions on the nuclear program after 14 years, should be removed. There should also be inspectors from various countries, not just from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Tehran has been able to expand its influence so remarkably and repress its own people via a multidimensional policy. Thus a multidimensional counterstrategy is required.
• 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

The consequences of Iran’s regional dominance
Diana Moukalled/ArabNews/October 28/17
In a speech broadcast on Iranian TV a few days ago, President Hassan Rouhani said his country is now stronger than ever. “No decisive actions can be taken in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, North Africa and the Gulf region without Iran’s consent,” he added.
The speech provoked many parties in Lebanon, especially Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri and his political allies. Others remained silent, mainly President Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, which is headed by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.
Iran is waging wars to expand its power via armies including Iraq’s and Syria’s, and via Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese militias. International indifference has allowed Tehran to score one victory after another and contain its opponents’ worthless anger. It has undermined Iraqi-Kurdish ambitions by seizing Kirkuk, and dominates the governments of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
Iran triumphed over Daesh, Hezbollah won in Lebanon, Bashar Assad won in Syria and the PMU won in Iraq. Are there more favorable conditions for the imminent rise of a violent group?
Rouhani may be right in saying no decisive actions can be taken without Tehran’s consent. But its victories have paved the way for the imminent rise of a monster similar to Daesh. We would be stupid to expect anything else. A regional sectarian power won the war against Daesh, and the international coalition seemed to be affiliated with Iranian forces, just like Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Tehran’s victory leads us to a fate that is more miserable than the one faced with Daesh. A monster will be born amid destroyed cities and camps of hunger and disease. Iran triumphed over Daesh, Hezbollah won in Lebanon, Bashar Assad won in Syria and the PMU won in Iraq. Are there more favorable conditions for the imminent rise of a violent group?
These parties — as well as Arabs who have given up, Turks who have opened their borders, and the retreating West — share responsibility for this. The West has not learned what this sectarian victory over Daesh will mean, and has not realized that it will not remain immune against this colossal imbalance. Rouhani’s speech showed arrogance, but he was speaking the truth. It deserves a stronger reaction than mere angry expressions.
• Diana Moukalled is a veteran journalist with extensive experience in both traditional and new media. She is also a columnist and freelance documentary producer.
Twitter: @dianamoukalled

After Raqqa, Daesh will be more virulent
Talmiz Ahmad/ArabNews/October 28/17
On Oct. 17, elements of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) paraded through Raqqa’s Paradise Square, declaring the end of Daesh’s control of its “capital” in Syria. This followed the capture of Mosul, Daesh’s capital in Iraq, by Iraqi forces in June. While there are still pockets of resistance in Raqqa and parts of Iraq, the so-called “caliphate” has ceased to exist, just over three years after it was proclaimed.
At its peak two years ago, Daesh controlled territory the size of Britain and a population of 9 million, similar to that of Jordan. It had an armed force of over 100,000, income of several million dollars annually from oil sales and ransom, and a functioning government. Besides its core cadres from Iraq and Syria, it had attracted 40,000 foreign fighters from more than 100 countries.
Daesh controlled Raqqa for three years, gaining notoriety for its grisly beheadings displayed on social media, and for its harsh rule. Fearing the spread of this menace, the US worked assiduously to put together a global coalition of more than 70 countries, and train and mobilize local armed forces in Iraq and Syria, under Operation Inherent Resolve.
The US rejuvenated the Iraqi Army, which was supported by American and Iraqi special forces and by Iran-backed militias. In Syria, the US opted to develop a composite army, the SDF, comprised largely of Kurdish militants with some Arab elements.
These forces have decimated the structures of the “caliphate,” and killed or dispersed most of its fighters. Raqqa was subjected to massive aerial bombardment that broke Daesh’s ranks, but also destroyed large parts of the city.
Brett McGurk, the US diplomat heading anti-Daesh operations in Iraq and Syria, said in July that the group’s capacity to regenerate as a military force had ended. But the continuing threat of extremist violence remains very real. Since the victory parade in Raqqa, hundreds of mines, explosives and suicide vests have been discovered, suggesting that the remaining extremists are well-equipped to inflict considerable damage on soft targets.
The most dangerous aspect of extremist violence is the role of lone-wolf actors who attack soft targets in various parts of the world.
The most likely targets will be countries experiencing civil conflict and a breakdown in state authority, such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, parts of Nigeria and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. It is noteworthy that in Syria and Iraq, where Daesh has experienced significant setbacks, it is still able to carry out lethal bombings in Damascus and Baghdad.
Civil conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya have destroyed the infrastructure of governance and civic life, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced and destitute.
Several thousand residents of Raqqa are eking out a miserable existence in inadequately funded and poorly organized makeshift camps. While the US and its allies are focused on war, they have little interest in reconstruction and nation-building projects, so “liberated” towns are becoming recruiting spaces for new jihadists.
Besides weak central authority in Arab states experiencing conflict, regional sectarian and ethnic divisions will ensure that extremist groups continue to attract youths propelled by a sense of grievance and victimhood.
For instance, in the ongoing fight against Daesh remnants in Iraq, a leading role is being played by sections of the Iran-backed militias, some of them using prominent Shiite symbols and slogans. This is bound to encourage some Sunni youths in the country to join extremist groups.
The most dangerous aspect of extremist violence is the role of lone-wolf actors who attack soft targets in various parts of the world, particularly Europe. Their earlier activities do not indicate any direct association with radical groups; they seem to be indoctrinated via social media. Though several lone-wolf attacks have taken place in the West, no clear profile of the perpetrators has emerged that would enable security experts to pre-empt their attacks.
Two years ago, former CIA chief Leon Panetta was quoted as saying: “I think we’re looking at kind of a 30-year war… one that will extend beyond Islamic State (Daesh) to include emerging threats in Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Libya and elsewhere.” This seems to be a very likely prospect.
• Talmiz Ahmad, a former diplomat, holds the Ram Sathe Chair for International Studies, Symbiosis International University, Pune, India.