LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 15/2018
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias
Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the
lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/newselias18/english.august15.18.htm
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Bible
Quotations
Truly I
tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter
the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18/01-05: "At that time the disciples came to Jesus
and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a
child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you
change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven.Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."
Titles For The Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published on August 14-15/18
Lebanon's
mountains offer cool refuge from Mideast heat/Associated Press/August 14/18
Forbes Middle East awards 30 Lebanese business leaders/Maria Matar/Annahar/August
14/18
Aoun’s deteriorating health sparks succession rumours in Lebanon/Gulf
News/August 14/18
Toronto Shooting: Politically Correct Cover-Up/Tom Quiggin/Gatestone
Institute/August 14/2018
Analysis/Turkey Crisis: Erdogan Resorts to Fantasy, Paranoia to Grapple With
Crashing Lira/David Rosenberg/Haaretz/August 14/18
Why is Nobody Talking about the Union for the Mediterranean/Judith Bergman/Gatestone
Institute/August 14/2018
UN Enabling Hamas's War Machine/Bassam Tawil//Gatestone Institute/August
14/2018
Myanmar’s failed experiment with democracy/Dr. Azeem Ibrahim//Al Arabiya/August
14/18
Erdogan’s confrontation with Trump/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/August
14/18
The man who refuses to say ‘President Trump/Mamdouh AlMuhaini/Al Arabiya/August
14/18
US-EU dispute over Iran further erodes transatlantic relations/Kerry Boyd
Anderson/Arab News/August 14/18
Turkey’s nightmares will come true if Erdogan refuses to back down/Omer
Taspinar/Arab News/August 14/18
Titles For The
Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
August 14-15/18
Lebanon’s Hariri says government formation may take more time
Aoun to address neglect of Akkar district
Lebanese Intelligence Agents Hurt in Israeli Border Attack
Lebanese Forces’ Concession Fails to Make Breakthrough in Govt. Formation
Process
Damascus Welcomes Refugees Returning from Lebanon with Charm Offensive
Syria Embassy Refutes Anti-Lebanese Remarks Attributed to Mufti Hassoun
Brazilian President to Visit Lebanon, Aoun Affirms 'Historic' Ties
Report: ‘Secretive’ Initiative to Resolve ‘Druze Stalemate’ Fails
Nasrallah Says Hizbullah 'Stronger than Israel', Advises Hariri to Reverse
Stance on Syria
Hariri: No Govt. if Others Insist on Restoring Lebanese-Syrian Ties
Saudi Envoy Says Riyadh Keen on Speedy Govt. Formation
Lebanon's mountains offer cool refuge from Mideast heat
Forbes Middle East awards 30 Lebanese business leaders
Aoun’s deteriorating health sparks succession rumours in Lebanon
Titles For The Latest LCCC
Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on August 14-15/18
US designates leader of Bahrain’s Al
Ashtar Brigades as global terrorist
Turkey ‘frustrated with Qatar silence’ amid US sanctions imposed on Ankara
OIC: Remarks by EU’s Mogherini are blatant interference in Saudi affairs
Mike Pompeo holds telephone talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
King Salman
receives Egypt president El-Sisi in Neom
Three Hurt in Suspected Terror Attack outside UK Parliament
30 Dead in Italy Motorway Bridge Collapse 'Tragedy'
Rights Groups Slam Egypt 5 Years after Deadly Protest Crackdown
Erdogan Says Turkey to Boycott U.S. Electronic Goods
The Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on August 14-15/18
Lebanon’s Hariri says
government formation may take more time
Reuters/August 14, 2018/BEIRUT: It may take Lebanese parties
more time to form a coalition government, prime minister designate Saad
Al-Hariri said on Tuesday more than three months after the general election.
“Perhaps we need more time to arrive at a final formula,” he said to
reporters before a meeting of members of parliament from his party in
Beirut. Lebanese politicians have repeatedly warned that the country — which
has one of the world’s highest rates of public debt — urgently needs to put
a government in place, but they have jostled over cabinet positions. “There
is no doubt that some sides still stick to their terms, but, as we see, all
of them retreat and concede a little,” he said, adding that the new
government needed to include all sides. The May 6 elections delivered a
majority for the Shiite Hezbollah and its parliamentary allies, a reversal
of the previous vote in 2009, when groups with Western and Saudi support won
most seats. The result has further complicated Lebanon’s tangled sectarian
politics, as Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Christians and Druze compete among
themselves for ministries. The delay in forming the government has prompted
recriminations between rival parties. Last week, Hezbollah members of
parliament warned that the delay risked Lebanon “sliding toward
tensions.”“We are a state that has problems, and we must form a national
unity government in which there is cooperation between all the parties.
Otherwise we will create a problem in the cabinet,” Hariri said. The
International Monetary Fund has warned that Lebanon needs “an immediate and
substantial fiscal adjustment” to make its public debt — which measures
about 150 percent of gross domestic product — sustainable.
Aoun to address neglect of Akkar district
The Daily Star/August
14/18/BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Monday said he will address the neglect
that the Akkar district has been facing, a statement from the presidency
said. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of Akkar politicians and
local officials, Aoun listened to the demands of the delegation and the
needs of the area. “President Aoun assured [the delegation] that Akkar is
close to the heart of all Lebanese” and that “he will [address the] neglect
of Akkar through taking care of its developmental and social problems like
all Lebanese areas, based on his commitment to equal development,” the
statement added.
Lebanese Intelligence Agents Hurt in Israeli Border Attack
Naharnet/August 14/18/Two Lebanese military intelligence
agents were injured Tuesday in an Israeli attack in the southern border area
of Rmeish, the Lebanese Army said. “As a patrol from the Intelligence
Directorate was inspecting a land lot between the points B36 and BP14, it
came under an attack from a patrol belonging to the Israeli enemy,” the army
said in a statement. The Israeli force “hurled six smoke grenades, which
resulted in suffocation injuries of two agents and a blaze that spread into
the occupied territories,” the army added. “A Lebanese Army patrol and
members of the liaison unit of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
and the Civil Defense immediately arrived on the scene and worked on dousing
the blaze on the Lebanese side of the border,” the military said.
Lebanese Forces’
Concession Fails to Make Breakthrough in Govt. Formation Process
Beirut - Caroline Akoum/Asharq Al Awsat/August 14/18/The
optimism that surrounded the Lebanese government formation process last week
dropped on Monday after concerned parties failed to resolve disputes over
the Christian and Druze ministerial shares. Backed by Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri, the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) is
standing firm behind its “rightful” demands to appoint all Druze ministers
in the next cabinet. This pits it in confrontation with the Free Patriotic
Movement (FPM), which is insisting on appointing head of the Lebanese
Democratic Party, MP Talal Arslan, as a minister representing the Druze
share. Caretaker Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh said that a cabinet could
be formed soon should the PSP enjoy "exclusive" rights to represent the
Druze in Lebanon. On the Christian side, several potential government
formations have been discussed, but no formula could please both the
Lebanese Forces (LF) and FPM. Although the LF informed Hariri about its
readiness to offer some concessions by obtaining four ministerial
portfolios, including one sovereign ministry, caretaker Foreign Minister and
FPM Jebran Bassil responded that President Michel Aoun and the largest
Christian bloc should receive two sovereign portfolios. He added that
whichever party wants to grant the LF a sovereign ministry should do so from
its own share. The FPM later claimed that the LF had accepted a proposal to
obtain a “semi-sovereign” ministry or four service ministries, said deputy
Mario Aoun. This was categorically denied by a leading LF source. It told
Asharq Al-Awsat: “We already gave up our demands for five ministries by
accepting to receive four, including a sovereign one. Any attempt to evade
our demands is unacceptable.” “We are demanding that the sovereign Christian
portfolios be distributed fairly between the two largest Christian blocs:
The LF and FPM,” he went on to say. MP Aoun said that resolving the
inter-Christian cabinet formation "knot" does not necessarily mean reaching
a final solution to the formation process.
Damascus Welcomes
Refugees Returning from Lebanon with Charm Offensive
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/18/Several years after fleeing
Syria, a group of wide-eyed refugees stare through the tinted windows of
their bus to see the homecoming committee the government has organized for
them. The few dozen people who step off the coach that ended their exile in
Lebanon look slightly alarmed by the crowd forming around them and the sight
of Russian soldiers supervising their crossing at the Jdeidet Yabous border
post. Doctors are at hand to offer medical assistance, along with a group of
volunteers handing out food and drinks. Ayham al-Nassar's job is to
distribute government-subsidized SIM cards to his freshly-returned
compatriots. "The refugees are family, we're all Syrians. We hope for their
return now that the situation is quiet," he says. Nearby, a group of
teenagers dressed in blue jackets and waving the national flag chant slogans
celebrating Syria's unity and President Bashar al-Assad. Sporting flawless
makeup and snazzy sunglasses, 21-year-old Rama looks more like a student
returning from a summer holiday than a refugee tasked with rebuilding her
country. "We've been told that the university was rebuilt, now we have to
rebuild our village and our homes," she tells an AFP journalist during a
tour of Damascus' southern outskirts organized by the Syrian government and
the Russian military.
'Moral duty'
Russia, a long-time ally of Syria, launched a military intervention in 2015
to support the embattled regime, a move that changed the course of the war.
Assad and his allies have since recovered swathes of territory and the
government is turning its attention to post-conflict reconstruction.
"Refugees are returning voluntarily, everything is so quiet now in Syria,"
says Ghayth Abdel Rahman, a gynecologist braving the scorching afternoon sun
to wait for the bus. "Every Syrian should take part in the reconstruction of
the country," Local Administration Minister Hussein Makhlouf said at a press
conference on Monday to mark the refugees' arrival. "It is their moral
duty," said the official, who also heads a committee formed last week to
coordinate refugee returns. The war that erupted in 2011, one of the most
devastating conflicts since World War II, has displaced more than half of
Syria's population, including more than five million beyond its borders.
Most of them fled to neighboring countries, particularly Lebanon, Turkey and
Jordan. "Syria's victory will only be complete once the return of refugees
is achieved," said Makhlouf, purportedly quoting Bashar al-Assad. To achieve
that goal, Syria "needs the help of its allies," Deputy Foreign Minister
Faisal Mekdad said at the same ceremony.Russia last month presented the
United States with an initiative for the coordinated return of refugees that
involves working groups in Lebanon and Jordan.
- Return for all? -
Moscow's envoy to Damascus stressed that Syria was currently unable to
finance such a huge operation alone. Mekdad stressed, however, that not all
refugees would be welcome back to their country. He singled out the Syrian
Civil Defense rescue service known as the "White Helmets", which Damascus
accuses of having ties with jihadists and being a Western stooge. The AFP
team and other reporters were also taken to a brand new camp for displaced
people south of Damascus, as well as to freshly rebuilt schools and
hospitals in nearby Yalda. "Today's Syria isn't like yesterday's Syria,"
Mekdad said, stressing that 12 out of the country's 14 provinces were now
under government control. "The government will guarantee a dignified return
for refugees," he added. Some want to go home, while others are under
pressure from their host countries to make the journey -- but many are still
unwilling to return.
The U.N.'s refugee agency has consistently warned against premature returns
and argued that the situation in Syria meant there were not enough
guarantees for mass returns. Roueida, who fled from Latakia, a town on the
Mediterranean that lies in the heartland of Assad's Alawite minority,
refuses to leave her Swedish exile. "My friends keep telling me to come
back, that the country is peaceful, that we will rebuild it together," she
tells AFP by phone. "But it is not my Syria anymore and I don't trust the
government's promises anymore."
Syria Embassy Refutes Anti-Lebanese Remarks Attributed to Mufti Hassoun
Naharnet/August 14/18/The Syrian embassy in Beirut on Tuesday refuted
anti-Lebanese remarks attributed to Syria's grand mufti Sheikh Ahmed
Badreddine Hassoun. “A Twitter account calling itself 'Ahmed Badreddine
Hassoun' has posted tweets attributed to... Sheikh Ahmed Badreddine Hassoun,
the grand mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic, which are against the nature of
the brotherly ties between the two brotherly countries Syria and Lebanon,”
the embassy said in a statement. “After contacting Mufti Hassoun, the
embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Beirut denies any link between His
Eminence and the aforementioned account,” the embassy added. “The remarks
attributed to him are totally baseless and the embassy wants to make use of
this occasion to stress its permanent approach of exerting utmost efforts to
reinforce the bonds of brotherhood that link our two brotherly countries,”
the Syrian embassy went on to say. It also called on “all those keen on
security and stability in our two countries” to “shun everything that
contributes to distortion and discord.”A parody Twitter account with the
handle @Ahmadhson_ had posted a number of anti-Lebanese tweets on Sunday and
Monday.
“I urge the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Ali Abdul Karim Ali, to
respond in the right manner against the Lebanese idiots and to put an end to
their insults against their masters in Syria. If the matter requires the
entry of the Syrian Arab Army into central Beirut to discipline them once
again, the leadership and us are ready for this and we do not fear
anything,” the account tweeted. The fake tweets and the embassy's
clarification come against the backdrop of tensions in Lebanon over calls
for restoring full diplomatic relations with the Syrian government. Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced Tuesday that the new government
“will not be formed” should the pro-Damascus camp “insist on restoring
Lebanese-Syrian ties.”
Brazilian President to Visit Lebanon, Aoun Affirms
'Historic' Ties
Naharnet/August 14/18/Lebanon is expected to receive Brazilian President
Michel Temer, the Special Secretary for Strategic Affairs Hussein Kalout
told President Michel Aoun on Tuesday. Heading a Brazilian delegation to the
Presidential Palace, Kalout met Aoun conveying a message from Temer “wishing
Aoun success in governance. We look forward to expanding partnership and
promoting relations at various levels,” said the message. For his part, Aoun
said Lebanon and Brazil enjoy “historic” relations, “Brazilian President is
welcome in Lebanon.”“A significant number of Brazilian-Lebanese have
benefited from the Citizenship Restoration Act,” added Aoun. For his part,
the Brazilian delegate assured Brazil's readiness to support Lebanon’s armed
forces. He said: “Brazil is willing to back the Lebanese Armed Forces,”
noting that Temer is expected to visit Beirut in November.
Report: ‘Secretive’ Initiative to Resolve ‘Druze
Stalemate’ Fails
Naharnet/August 14/18/The Druze representation in the new
government, one of the obstacles hampering the formation, “could have been
eased” if Druze MP Talal Arslan had accepted a “secretive” formula suggested
by Speaker Nabih Berri, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.
Well-informed sources told the newspaper that contacts have lately
“accelerated between Berri and Druze parties” in a bid to find common ground
regarding their representation and ministerial seats, but the efforts have
“failed” though. Efforts of Berri, who was mandated by Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri and PSP leader Walid Jumblat, were kept away
from media spotlight, said the daily. In light of the Progressive Socialist
Party’s insistence to get the whole three Druze seats and Arslan’s
insistence to get a share, “Berri brought up a suggestion granting one Druze
seat to Development and Liberation bloc MP Anwar al-Khalil, in view of his
privileged relation with various parties,” it said. But Khalil has thanked
Berri for his initiative and suggested that his son, Ziad, take his please
citing health reasons. Arslan, however, assured that Khalil and his son are
highly esteemed but “rejected the proposal out of principle,” said the
daily.
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was tasked with forming a new
government on May 24, but his mission has since been delayed because of
wrangling between political parties over shares and ministerial portfolios.
Nasrallah Says Hizbullah 'Stronger than Israel',
Advises Hariri to Reverse Stance on Syria
Naharnet/August 14/18/Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah suggested
Tuesday that his group could be “stronger than the Israeli army,” as he
advised Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to reevaluate his stance on the
Lebanese-Syrian ties. “We will soon emerge victorious from this grand war on
our region,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech marking the July 2006 war
with Israel. “The events of the past seven years have been a 'greater July
war' aimed at achieving the same objectives. The same as we emerged
victorious from the July war, the axis of resistance will emerge victorious
very soon,” Nasrallah added, referring mainly to the conflict in Syria.
Citing remarks by an Israeli officer who reportedly said that Hizbullah has
become the strongest army in the region, Nasrallah said “Hizbullah might not
be the strongest army in the Middle East but it is certainly stronger than
the Israeli army.” “Because we have more faith in our cause and greater
willingness to sacrifice,” he explained. Nasrallah also boasted that “the
resistance in Lebanon -- with its arms, personnel, expertise and
capabilities -- is stronger than ever.” “The Israeli enemy, which has been
defeated in Syria, is insolently seeking to impose its conditions in Syria,
but this will not happen,” Hizbullah's chief added. “Let no one threaten us
with wars. If anyone wants to wage a war, they are welcome to do so. We are
ready for it and we will win,” he stressed. Turning to the domestic
situations, Nasrallah called for “avoiding street protests” and “preserving
security in Lebanon,” in connection with the government formation crisis.
“If someone is betting on foreign developments, then they are mistaken,” he
added. Commenting on remarks voiced earlier in the day by Hariri, Nasrallah
said: “Some officials in Lebanon should not commit themselves to stances
that they might be obliged to reverse in light of the regional
developments.” Hariri had announced that the new government “will not be
formed” should the pro-Damascus camp “insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian
ties.”“If others insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian ties from the gateway
of the reopened Nassib border crossing, then the government will not be
formed,” Hariri said in a chat with reporters, referring to a key border
crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian border that has been recently recaptured by
Damascus. “I do not agree to a restoration of Lebanese-Syrian ties and this
is nonnegotiable,” Hariri added. The PM-designate however stressed that “the
obstacle is purely the result of Lebanese failure,” emphasizing that “the
relation with Saudi Arabia is excellent” and that the kingdom is “urging us
to speed up the formation process.”
Hariri: No Govt. if Others Insist on Restoring
Lebanese-Syrian Ties
Naharnet/August 14/18/Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri
announced Tuesday that the new government “will not be formed” should the
pro-Damascus camp “insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian ties.”“If others
insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian ties from the gateway of the reopened
Nassib border crossing, then the government will not be formed,” Hariri said
in a chat with reporters, referring to a key border crossing on the
Syrian-Jordanian border that has been recently recaptured by Damascus. “I do
not agree to a restoration of Lebanese-Syrian ties and this is
nonnegotiable,” Hariri added. The PM-designate however stressed that “the
obstacle is purely the result of Lebanese failure,” emphasizing that “the
relation with Saudi Arabia is excellent” and that the kingdom is “urging us
to speed up the formation process.”“We still need some time to reach a final
government format. It is true that there is no progress until the moment but
there are no more tensions among the parties,” Hariri added. Calling for the
formation of a “national unity Cabinet in which all parties would
cooperate,” the PM-designate said: “We've gotten rid of March 8 and March 14
and the cards have been reshuffled.”“There will be no turning back,” he went
on to say. Confirming that the Free Patriotic Movement and President Michel
Aoun have agreed to get a combined share of “ten seats,” Hariri revealed
that the Lebanese Forces has “rejected a proposal to get four key
ministerial portfolios as a compensation for not getting a sovereign
portfolio.”“The LF are honest about their demand to get a sovereign
portfolio and nothing prevents that and we're seeking an exit that would
satisfy everyone,” the PM-designate added. And describing Progressive
Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat as a “key component of the country who
has won the elections in his strongholds,” Hariri said “the two parties must
calm their rhetoric,” in reference to the war of words between Jumblat and
Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan. “I do not like to pin the
blame on a certain party and we all know what the obstacles are. I will
visit the president when there is something new to present,” the
PM-designate added. Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May
24. His mission is being hampered by political wrangling over shares,
especially over Christian and Druze representation. Some parties such as
Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement have suggested that some
countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are behind the ongoing delay
Saudi Envoy Says Riyadh Keen on Speedy Govt. Formation
Naharnet/August 14/18/Saudi charge d'affaires in Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari on
Monday denied allegations that the kingdom is obstructing the government
formation process in Lebanon. “The practical experience during the election
of the parliament is the biggest answer. Some media outlets were betting on
(Saudi) interference but it was proved that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was
very keen on Lebanon's security and stability,” Bukhari said, in response to
a reporter's question about the obstruction claims. The kingdom “has
stressed -- at international conferences and through all its platforms --
the importance of speeding up the formation of the government,” the envoy
added. He noted that some parties “were betting that the kingdom would
interfere in the election of the parliament and the electoral law.”“It has
been proven that the kingdom did not interfere in this at all but quite the
opposite... The kingdom was the only country that sought, in word and
action, to respect Lebanon's sovereignty, security and stability,” Bukhari
added. “When the kingdom supports Lebanon in three major conferences, this
indicates that this is the kingdom's approach,” the envoy went on to say.
PM-designate Saad Hariri, an ally of the kingdom, was tasked with forming a
new government on May 24. His mission is being hampered by political
wrangling over shares, especially over Christian and Druze representation.
Some parties such as Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement have
suggested that some countries, especially Saudi Arabia, are behind the
ongoing delay.
Lebanon's mountains offer cool refuge from Mideast heat
Associated Press/August 14/18
FARAYA, Lebanon: The passengers' chatter on the Beirut-bound flight was far
from reassuring. Taxi drivers were striking. Traffic was going to be bad.
Add the heat and suffocating humidity of a typical summer day and you're hit
with a powerful urge to get out of town.
The mountains? Absolutely.
Whether during war or peace, Lebanon's high mountain ranges have long been a
favorite refuge for Lebanese living in cities, towns and villages along the
Mediterranean coastline. "If anything happens here (in the mountains) now,
then it's probably the end of the world," said 24-year-old old hotelier
Elyse Salamah.
Just a short drive from Beirut, the mountains offer an escape from summer
heat and, for those with deep pockets, a place to ski in winter. Others make
the trip in pursuit of culinary bliss: the perfect tabbouleh, the ultimate
hummus or the divine pastry kunafeh.
The mountains saw some of the worst battles of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil
war. But they have also served as a safe haven from conflict, including the
2006 war between the Shiite Hezbollah group and Israel, when tens of
thousands fled there to escape the month of fighting and bombardment.
My destination was Faraya, a ski resort high enough — 1,850 meters (6,000
feet) above sea level — to be sufficiently cool in July. It took nearly an
hour and a half to drive the 50-kilometer (30-mile) route, winding around
sharp mountain curves. The moment I stepped out of the car at my destination
— a small family-run hotel — I knew I made the right decision. The
temperature was a pleasant 22 C (72 F), noticeably cooler than Beirut along
with a just fraction of the capital's humidity.
But what does one do in a ski resort in summer?
Not an awful lot, to be honest. But you can hike on nature trails if you
feel up to it. One trek takes you up to an imposing, 23-meter (75-foot)
statue of St. Charbel, a 19th-century saint revered by Lebanon's Maronite
Christians. A hooded monk, he raises a hand in blessing over the landscape
of mountains, barren in the summer, snow-covered in winter. Or you can drive
around the surrounding hills in a quad (all-terrain vehicle) or just swim
and sunbathe at any of the many small pools in the village, which charge a
fee for a day's use. But if you are a big city boy like myself — my
hometown, Cairo, is a city of 20 million with the unflattering distinction
of being among the world's most polluted cities — then a short break in
Faraya offers a rare opportunity to kick back, relax and savor Lebanese
food.
And the village offers visitors unique little experiences you rarely
encounter in big city life.
Like most other mountain villages, almost all hotels and restaurants in
Faraya are family run, so staying there has a personal feel. From where I
sat in my hotel's dining room, I could hear the chef, Mahmoud Mohammed, in
the kitchen cooking, chopping the onions and parsley for my tabbouleh. And
at every meal, he came out to discuss the food with me. "The vegetables you
just ate I picked from our kitchen garden today," the chef boasted one
evening after serving a light dinner of tabbouleh and hummus. "I spent years
spying on experienced chefs while they cooked. I have my own secrets now and
I make sure that no one is watching when I cook."
Or, take the woman running the local supermarket. When I asked her, "Are
these strawberries grown in Lebanon?" she clearly thought it was a silly
question. "Yes, they come from my back garden," she declared.
Go to a restaurant in the center of the village and you can be sure you'll
find three generations of family involved in running it — usually the
grandfather cooking, the daughter or son waiting tables and the
grandchildren glued to smart phones between running errands.
One thing visitors must remember when in Faraya, which is on the Matn
mountains range, that this is not the Swiss or French Alps with
tourist-poster landscapes. In the summer, the mountains around Faraya are
dry and treeless.
And all through Lebanon's mountains, there are the infrastructure woes that
plague the country. But don't focus too much on the litter on roadsides or
in some of the mountain streams. Don't complain too much about the quality
of the running water in your hotel room (drink only bottled water). The
country's economic problems also mean the mountains are dotted with
half-finished structures meant to be hotels or holiday apartments.
Electricity? Make sure that your hotel has its own power generator. The
alternative would be maddeningly frequent power cuts.
Instead, enjoy the hospitality offered by locals, and of course, the
wonderful food.
Forbes Middle East awards 30 Lebanese business leaders
Maria Matar/Annahar/August 14/18
Forbes Middle East is a leading source for
business news and financial information, and is widely considered one of the
region’s premier business magazines.
BEIRUT: On a gala night of inspiration and innovation, Forbes Middle East
hailed the success of 30 top Lebanese business leaders on Monday, at Le
Royal Hotel Beirut. Women in fancy gowns and men in suits walked the red
carpet with photographers taking pictures and reporters interviewing the
awardees.
To mark the beginning of the ceremony, the national anthem was played
recognizing the entire nation of Lebanon that was home to these
businesspersons. Khuloud Al Omian who is Editor-in-Chief at Forbes Middle
East described Lebanon as “The lighthouse of the Middle East,” and recounted
how Forbes Middle East crew – made up of people from different nationalities
– were dazzled by Lebanon’s beauty and the Lebanese people’s hospitality.
She also thanked the sponsors which included GMC, Le Royal Hotel, River
Paints and Coatings, Diasporaid, Mondanite Ice International Events, Le
Commerce Du Levant, The Daily Star, Sawt El Mada, and Nostalgie. Forbes
Middle East is a leading source for business news and financial information,
and is widely considered one of the region’s premier business magazines.
It’s part of the Forbes global brand.
Neemat Frem, chief executive of the multinational company INDEVCO Group and
member of Parliament, noted the importance of this kind of economic
recognition to the country: "Forbes magazine is a prestigious international
magazine and it's very important that it’s highlighting Lebanon's
achievement.”
“I’m awarded by this incredible magazine tonight due to my efforts and my
strong belief in youth. For a better country we should invest in young
people,” said Elias Bou Saab, a former minister of education and current
advisor of the President of Lebanon Michel Aoun on international
cooperation.
Many of the awardees thanked their families and their work team describing
them as contributors to their success. Two women, in particular, used their
speech to convey a message.
“To every girl who dreams to be in my place tonight; dare to dream and don’t
be afraid to venture,” said Raghida Dergham, a journalist who was named in
2018 as one of the 50 influential women in the Arab World. Similarly,
Claudine Aoun Roukoz, who is the CEO of Clementine, hoped that the following
year more women would be awarded and more Lebanese women would be recognized
for their efforts. Maroun Chammas CEO of Berytech took the chance to
encourage young entrepreneurs. “Yes Lebanon is small, but the sun doesn’t
forget small countries, it still shines on them," Chamas said.
The awardees were Fayez Rasamny, Raed Khoury, Akram Kassatly, Christophe B
El-Kallasy, Neemat Frem, Elias Abou Saab, Eduardo Fakhoury, Peter Daniel,
Dr. Charbel El Hachem, Nayef Maalouf, Dr. Matta Matta, Dr. Raed Lattouf,
Roger Edde, Andreas Illovits, Rabih Reaidy, Maroun Chammas, Yeprem
Chakardemian,Tony Issa, Sakr A. Sakr, Dr. Karim S Ghanem, Hicham Itani,
Raghida Dergham, Roula Moussa, Claudine Aoun Roukoz, Michel Zovighian, and
Elie Habib and Eddy Maroun.
Aoun’s deteriorating
health sparks succession rumours in Lebanon
Gulf News/August 14/18
His son-in-law, Jibran Bassil, is seen as a likely successor, having
increased his political activity in recent years.
Damascus: What was once a hushed concern over President Michel Aoun’s health
has come out into the open, after the Lebanese leader, aged 83, stuttered
with a slip of tongue during Army Day celebrations on 1 August. Instead of
saying “jurood” (barren ridges) the ageing president said “qurood”
(monkeys).
Since then speculation has been rife in the country on whether or not Aoun
is capable of completing his term when it ends in 2022. Veteran Lebanese
analyst Fadi Akoum confirms that the president’s health is suffering.“While
Lebanese officials are pretending that the president is in good health,
everybody knows that the reality is different,” he told Gulf News. “He only
works around two hours per day. Those who have meetings with Aoun often end
up meeting with his aids instead,” he said.
Previous health scares
In 2013, Aoun reportedly suffered a brain stroke.Since then, there have been
multiple rumours that he has died. In 2017, he tripped and fell at the Arab
Summit in Jordan. It was caught on camera and the media repeatedly aired the
clip. Aoun has suffered from various illnesses since his youth days as a
military cadet and had often undergone medical treatment at French hospitals
during his long exile in Paris.What happens if Aoun dies while in office?
Since there is no post of vice-president in Lebanon like in Iraq or Syria,
parliament would urgently convene to elect a successor.
In the case of a dissolved parliament, an election body has to be set up to
find a replacement.
Potential hereditary successors
Jibran Bassil: Not only does he serve as Lebanon’s foreign minister, he is
the son-in-law of Aoun. Observers believe Bassil is actually the one calling
the shots in the country, pointing to his increased political activity. He’s
already taken over from Aoun as the head of the Christian Free Patriotic
Movement (FPM). Having three daughters and no sons, Aoun has largely leant
on Bassil to manage his affairs. A civil engineer turned politician, Bassil,
48, visited the US earlier this month to attend a conference on religious
freedom, meeting with Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.
Back home, some speculated that he was marketing himself to the Americans as
a president-in-waiting. However, Bassil has refuted such rumours as
“baseless accusations”. Other relatives of Aoun that could possibly be
contenders are Brigadier General Chamel Rokouz. The 56-year-old is a former
commander of an elite unit in the Lebanese army who also happens to be
Aoun’s son-in-law.He won a parliament seat in May’s election. Less likely
candidates are Aoun’s nephews and FPM veterans, Naim and Alan,
Political opponents
During his tenure as president and even before, Aoun has racked up many
political opponents like Maronite heavyweights, Samir Geagea of the Lebanese
Forces and Sulaiman Franjieh of the Marada Movement and former president,
Amin Jemayel. These men have far more political experience and will to push
for their candidacy. Geagea was a nominee two years ago but withdrew his
candidacy when all sides decided to back Aoun in 2016. However, the powerful
Shiite militant group, Hezbollah, which wields significant political power
in the country, would never support Geagea for president given his
anti-Hezbollah positions. Franjieh, on the other hand, stands more of a
chance, given his close relationship with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
Hezbollah has been actively involved in Syria’s civil war, having sent
troops to help Al Assad, their chief ally, stay in power. Franjieh was
nominated for office back in 2016 but was abandoned by the pro-Syrian March
8 Alliance in favour of Aoun. Since then, he has been bitter with the FPM
and specifically, with Bassil. Jemayel, another Maronite heavyweight, was
president back in the 1980s, when he inherited the post from his brother
Bashir, and has an ambition to return to power, serving as an independent
within rival Christian factions. Aoun came to power through a 2016 agreement
between Hezbollah and the largely Sunni Future Movement of Prime Minister
Sa’ad Hariri, making him president in exchange for Hariri’s return to the
premiership.
-With inputs from Layelle Saad, GCC/Middle East Editor
The Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News
published
on August 14-15/18
US designates leader
of Bahrain’s Al Ashtar Brigades as global terrorist
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/uesday, 14 August 2018/The US State
Department on Monday designated as a terrorist an Iran-based leader of a
Shiite militia that seeks the overthrow of the Bahraini government. Qassim
Ali Ahmed, also known as Qassim Al Muamen, was named as a Specially
Designated Global Terrorist by the State Department. He is the leader of the
Al Ashtar Brigades, which has already been designated by the US as a
terrorist organization and has claimed responsibility for a number of
bombings and attacks in Bahrain, including two that killed police. Bahrain
has also identified him as a key member of an Al Ashtar Brigades plot to
"assassinate prominent figures in Bahrain and target three oil pipelines,"
according to local media. Al Muamen has recruited "terrorists in Bahrain" as
well as "facilitated training on weapons and explosives for AAB members, and
supplied AAB members with funding, weapons, and explosives to carry out
attacks," the State Department statement said. Bahrain also identified him
as a key member of an Al Ashtar Brigades plot to "assassinate prominent
figures in Bahrain and target three oil pipelines."The militant group has
carried out attacks in response to what it calls a Bahraini government
crackdown on a 2011 Shiite-led uprising. It has since
Turkey ‘frustrated with Qatar silence’ amid US
sanctions imposed on Ankara
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English /Tuesday, 14 August 2018/A state of
frustration is currently permeating Turkish society due to the “silence of
Qatar” regarding the crisis that hit Turkey’s economy as a result of US
sanctions against Ankara, Turkish daily newspaper Takvim reported.In a
report published on Tuesday, the newspaper said that instead of supporting
Ankara, Qatar has chosen to remain silent about what is happening in Turkey,
although the latter was quick to support the Doha during the Arab Quartet’s
boycott. The newspaper recalled what it described as “the great Turkish
support” offered by Ankara to Doha at various levels following the boycott,
which was carried out by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt who
believe that Qatar is “supporting terrorism and interfering in the affairs
of other countries and fostering relations with Iran.” The newspaper stated
that Turkey has sent dozens of cargo flights to Qatar and has stood side by
side with Doha during the boycott. “Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged
that the government of Qatar is currently overlooking the situation in
Turkey and did not provide the necessary political and humanitarian support…
is this how a friendship should be?” the newspaper’s report said. Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a phone call to the emir of Qatar,
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a day after the British Financial Times
reported that Erdogan would turn to Qatar in his latest feud with US
President Donald Trump. According to the Anatolia news agency, official
sources at the Turkish Presidency reported that: “The two leaders maintained
their countries’ determination to strengthen bilateral relations in all
fields and agreed to keep close contact between them.”The Turkish lira has
lost about 40 percent of its value since the beginning of the year, after US
President Donald Trump doubled, on Friday, customs duties on imports of
aluminum and Turkish steel, days after Washington imposed further sanctions
against the Turkish Ministers of Justice and Interior, under the pretext of
not releasing American Pastor Andrew Branson, who is detained by Turkey on
terrorism-related charges. In response to the move, the Turkish president
called on citizens to support the lira and boycott US electronic products,
describing the sanctions as an economic war, and threatening to give up
using the US dollar in trade with other countries. Against the backdrop of
these developments, British Financial Times reported that it is likely that
Erdogan would turn to Qatar and request financial assistance from Doha to
save the Turkish lira, nevertheless the newspaper reported that the Turkish
president would eventually give in to the pressure exerted by Trump and
release the priest who has been held under false pretenses. The Takvim
article has since been removed from the news outlet’s website, however it is
still mentioned on their official Twitter account.
OIC: Remarks by EU’s Mogherini are blatant interference
in Saudi affairs
Saudi Press Agency/Tuesday, 14 August 2018/The Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) was surprised at the remarks made by EU External Affairs
Commissioner Federica Mogherini, and considered them a blatant interference
in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia, the member state of OIC. OIC's
Secretary General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen said that these
statements are unacceptable and impose dictates on sovereign states that is
rejected in international relations, adding that the OIC does not accept
dictates and interference in the affairs of Saudi Arabia, the country that
has combated terrorism and extremism and stands by its intellectual,
security, societal and cultural efforts against all that disturb human
security and jeopardize the achievement of human civilization.
Al-Othaimeen pointed out that the Charter of the United Nations and the
Charter of OIC refuse interference in the internal affairs of states because
it is a violation of the sovereignty of states and a renewed attempt to
impose trusteeship, which is rejected by the General Secretariat of OIC in
line with international charters. He said that the involvement of the
European Union in the affairs of a member state of OIC is not in line with
the positive relations between OIC and the European Union, stressing that
OIC will not stand idly by in this approach and will have a strong reaction
if its continued.
Dr. Al-Othaimeen affirmed OIC's support for the actions taken by Saudi
Arabia in accordance with its laws and regulations. OIC's Secretary-General
concluded his statement by warning that interference in the internal affairs
of states serves only the efforts of extremists and terrorist groups whose
method of action propagates hatred and creates a gap among peace-loving
peoples.
Mike Pompeo holds telephone talks with Saudi Arabia’s
Crown Prince
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Tuesday, 14 August 2018/Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman on Monday received a telephone call from US Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo. During the conversation, they discussed a number of
regional and international issues of common concern, according to a Saudi
Press Agency statement. A US state Department statement said Pompeo thanked
the crown prince “for Saudi Arabia’s support for northeast Syria’s urgent
stabilization needs” and Riyadh’s “engagement with the Iraqi
government.”They also “discussed their support for a ceasefire in
Afghanistan over the coming Eid, and peace in Afghanistan more broadly. They
also reviewed the UN Special Envoy’s work to resolve the conflict in Yemen
and other topics of mutual interest,” the statement said.
King Salman receives
Egypt president El-Sisi in Neom
Arab News/August 14/18/
King Salman received the Egyptian president Abdel Fateh El-Sisi in the city
of Neom
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt were discussed during a lunch
meeting
NEOM: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman received the Egyptian president Abdel Fateh
El-Sisi in Neom on Tuesday.Relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt were
discussed during a lunch meeting between the king and El-Sisi, a meeting
which was also attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Several Saudi
Arabian officials and dignitaries also attended the meeting.
Three Hurt in Suspected Terror Attack outside UK Parliament
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/18/A car swerved into passers-by
then slammed into a barrier protecting Britain's Houses of Parliament in a
suspected terror attack on Tuesday. Three people were injured, one
seriously, in the incident in London, close to where five people were killed
last year in another vehicle attack. A man in his late 20s, not previously
known to the security services, has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist
offenses. Police said he was refusing to co-operate.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the suspected attack was "shocking" and an
"appalling incident" as she condemned the "twisted aim of the extremists".
Footage shows the silver Ford Fiesta veering across an intersection, hitting
a number of cyclists and pedestrians, before speeding into a barrier outside
the Houses of Parliament in London at 7:37 am (0637 GMT). Another recording
shows injured cyclists and pedestrians lying in the street in the immediate
aftermath of the incident. Armed officers swooped in to arrest the driver,
removing him from the vehicle at gunpoint. Later images showed police
holding the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, in handcuffs.
Roads and Underground train stations around parliament were sealed off.
"Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being
an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident," said Britain's
counter-terror police chief Neil Basu. Police said there was nobody else in
the vehicle, which remains at the scene and was being searched. No weapons
have been recovered.
'Carry on as normal'
A man and a woman were taken to hospital. The man was later discharged while
the woman was being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A
third person was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Prime Minister
Theresa May urged the public to "remain vigilant but also to come together
and carry on as normal.""The twisted aim of the extremists is to use
violence and terror to divide us. They will never succeed," she said. May's
spokesman said there were 676 live investigations being carried out by the
security services and counter-terror police at the end of June, up from more
than 500 in March. Some 13 Islamist and four far-right extremist plots have
been foiled in the past 18 months, he added. U.S. President Donald Trump
urged tough action. "Another terrorist attack in London... These animals are
crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!" he tweeted.
Witness Ewalina Ochab told Britain's domestic Press Association (PA) news
agency that the incident "looked intentional." "I was walking on the other
side. I heard some noise and someone screamed," she said. "I turned around
and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even
on the pavement."I think it looked intentional -- the car drove at speed and
towards the barriers."
'Loud bang'
Witness Jason Williams, 45, also said that the incident looked deliberate.
"I saw a car going at high speed towards parliament. It hit a bollard," he
told PA. "It didn't look like an accident. How do you do that by accident?
It was a loud bang."London Mayor Sadiq Khan said "all Londoners, like me,
utterly condemn all acts of terrorism on our city.""We will never be cowed,
intimidated or divided by any terrorist attack," he said. Westminster was
the scene of a terror attack last year when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old
British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge
over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside
parliament. The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only
ended when police shot Masood dead. Britain endured a tumultuous period
following the March 22 rampage, with four further terror attacks within
months. Twenty-two people -- including children -- were killed in a bomb
attack at Manchester Arena on May 22 and eight people were killed weeks
later when a van plowed into people on London Bridge. Far-right extremist
Darren Osborne killed one man after ramming his van into Muslim worshipers
in north London on June 19, while 51 people were injured when Ahmed Hassan,
18, planted an explosive device, that partially exploded on an Underground
train.
30 Dead in Italy Motorway Bridge Collapse 'Tragedy'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/18/Italy's Interior Minister Matteo
Salvini said Tuesday that "around 30" people had been killed after a
motorway bridge collapsed in the northwestern port city of Genoa.
"Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious
condition," Salvini told reporters in the Sicilian city of Catania. The
45-year-old, who is also deputy prime minister and the leader of the
nationalist League that governs with the anti-establishment Five Star
Movement, said that he was going to find out who was responsible for the
tragedy."I have gone over this bridge hundreds of times, and I will do
everything I can to have the names of those responsible, past and present.
It is unacceptable to die like that in Italy," he said. Eurosceptic Salvini
also said that Italy needs to make massive investments in its
infrastructure, much of which is dilapidated, alluding to supposed potential
restrictions from the European Union should his government unleash funds.
"There is a large part of Italy that needs to be made secure, and if there
are external commitments that prevent us from spending the money we need to
on the safety of motorways ... we will have to ask ourselves whether we
continue to respect these commitments or put the safety of Italians first
and foremost," he said. "Obviously I will choose the second option."
Rights Groups Slam Egypt 5 Years after Deadly Protest
Crackdown
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/18/Global rights groups have slammed
Egyptian authorities for failing to prosecute members of the security forces
over a bloody 2013 crackdown on protesters that left hundreds dead. Five
years ago on August 14, 2013, security forces moved in to disperse a
sprawling Islamist protest camp in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya square, where
demonstrators had rallied against the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi a
month earlier. Amnesty International says at least 900 protesters were
killed by security forces, marking "a horrific turning point for human
rights in Egypt". Since then hundreds of Islamists, including leaders of
Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, have been convicted at mass trials. But not one
member of the security forces has been prosecuted for the deaths of
protesters. The lack of prosecutions has "contributed to an environment in
which the security forces feel empowered to violate human rights with
absolute impunity," said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty's North Africa campaigns
director.Egyptian officials have blamed protest leaders for the 2013
bloodshed, pointing to the presence of armed gunmen at the sit-in and the
deaths of several police officers. - 'Mass show trial' -President Abdel
Fattah al-Sisi last month approved a law giving senior military officers
immunity from prosecution tied to the unrest that followed Morsi's ouster.
On the eve of the anniversary, Human Rights Watch slammed Egyptian
authorities for trying to "insulate those responsible for these crimes from
justice". "The response from Egypt's allies to the crimes at Rabaa and to
the lack of justice for the victims has been complete silence," Sarah Leah
Whitson, HRW Middle East director, said in a statement. The US-based rights
group said the protest crackdown was "the largest mass killings in Egypt's
modern history", leaving at least 817 demonstrators dead. "Without justice,
Rabaa remains an open wound. Those responsible for the mass killings of
protesters shouldn't count on being able to shield themselves from
accountability forever," Whitson said on Monday. In late July an Egyptian
court sentenced to death 75 Islamists over the 2013 unrest, as part of
proceedings involving 700 defendants which Amnesty described as a "mass show
trial".Among those still awaiting a verdict are prominent photojournalist
Mahmud Abu Zeid, widely known as Shawkan, who in May received UNESCO's Press
Freedom Prize.
The dispersal of the protest camp was followed by several months of deadly
clashes with police in which hundreds more people were killed. The Muslim
Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation in Egypt in December
2013 and banned. Former armed forces chief Sisi won the presidency in 2014
after leading the ouster of Morsi following mass protests against the
Islamist's rule. Sisi won reelection with 97 percent at a vote in March
against a single opponent widely seen as a token challenger, with critics
saying the president had carried out a widespread crackdown on dissent.
Erdogan Says Turkey to Boycott U.S. Electronic Goods
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/18/President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Turkey would boycott U.S. electronic goods
like the iPhone in retaliation for punitive sanctions from Washington, as
the Turkish lira finally clawed back some ground after going into a tailspin
over the tensions. The dispute between the NATO allies -- brought to a new
intensity by Turkey's holding of an American pastor for two years -- has
raised questions over the future of their partnership and fanned fears of a
looming economic crisis in Turkey. "We will boycott U.S. electronic goods,"
Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara, again showing no sign of compromise in
the dispute. "If (the United States) have the iPhone, there's Samsung on the
other side," he said, referring to U.S. giant Apple's iconic phone and the
top South Korean brand. "We (also) have our Venus and Vestel," he said about
homegrown Turkish electronics brands. Shares in Vestel zoomed up seven
percent on the Istanbul stock exchange after Erdogan's remarks.
Economic attack'
Erdogan has been repeatedly photographed with Apple products including the
iPhone and iPad. He also made his now famous speech on the night of the July
2016 failed coup calling citizens out into the street through FaceTime, an
iPhone app.
Some joked bitterly on social media that the plunge of the lira would make
Apple products unaffordable for Turks in any case. The lira's plunge --
which had been ongoing for weeks -- was turned into a rout on Friday when
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that Washington was doubling aluminum
and steel tariffs for Turkey. Turkish Airlines also announced on Twitter
that it would join a campaign circulating on social media with a hashtag #ABDyeReklamVerme
(don't give ads to America). "We, as the Turkish Airlines, stand by our
state and our people. Necessary instructions on the issue have been issued
to our agencies," Yahya Ustun, spokesman for the country's flag-carrier,
wrote on Twitter. Erdogan said Turkey was facing an "economic attack" and a
"bigger, deeper operation". "They don't hesitate to use the economy as a
weapon," he said. "What do you want to do? What do you want to achieve?" he
added, referring to the U.S.
Foreign investor talks'
The lira posted gains on forex markets for the first time after days of
losses, giving the currency much-needed respite. The lira was at 6.5 to the
dollar, a gain of 5.0 percent on the day and 7.4 to the euro, well off the
record lows of 7.24 to the dollar and 8.12 to the euro seen Monday.
The lira has lost about a fifth of its value against the greenback since
Friday. Turkey's central bank on Monday announced it was ready to take "all
necessary measures" to ensure financial stability after the collapse of the
lira, promising to provide banks with liquidity. However, the move failed to
impress financial markets, which want to see a massive rate hike of as much
as 1,000 basis points by Turkey to combat the lira's weakness and fight
inflation. "Significantly more than just official promises of action are
needed to exit the current crisis," said Andy Birch, principal economist at
IHS Markit, calling for "a sharp central bank rate rise."Treasury and
Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Erdogan's son-in-law, will speak with about
1,000 foreign investors on Thursday via a teleconference, the private NTV
broadcaster said. Albayrak said Tuesday Turkey would press ahead with its
action plan to prop up the lira against the dollar, calling for a trade that
is conducted "in our own currency.""We will protect our Turkish lira, we
will march with Turkish lira and we will see a stronger lira in the coming
period."
'Without delay'
The current crisis was sparked by Ankara's refusal to release pastor Andrew
Brunson, who is currently under house detention on terror-related charges
and espionage. Brunson's lawyer Cem Halavurt confirmed to AFP that he
appealed for the release of his client once again on Tuesday, saying that:
"The court should deliver its ruling in the next three days."U.S. embassy
charge d'affaires Jeffrey Hovenier on Tuesday visited Brunson in the western
city of Izmir. Hovenier said Washington expected the release of detained
American citizens including Brunson "without delay" and "in a fair and
transparent manner."
Turkey's ambassador to Washington Serdar Kilic on Monday held talks with
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton in a meeting what Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said was arranged by the White House. The Turkish
envoy conveyed the message the pressure and threats would only lead to a
"chaos" in relations which could only improve after Washington abandons the
language of "threats," Cavusoglu said.
The Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on August 14-15/18
Toronto Shooting: Politically Correct Cover-Up?
توم كويغن: حادثة اطلاق النار في تورنتو: تغطية سياسية لما جرى
Tom Quiggin/Gatestone Institute/August 14/2018
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/66741/tom-quiggin-gatestone-institute-toronto-shooting-politically-correct-cover-up-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%BA%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7/
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12831/toronto-shooting-cover-up
The Hussain "family statement" was not written by the murderer's parents at all,
but rather by Mohammed Hashim, a professional activist connected with the
National Council of Canadian Muslims. Its American parent organization, as
stated in its own documents, is CAIR, designated as a terrorist entity by the
United Arab Emirates.
Contrary to what Hashim purportedly wrote in the statement, there is no evidence
that Hussain was diagnosed with or treated for a mental illness, even after one
of his high-school teachers reported to the police 10 years ago that Hussain had
said "I want to kill someone... I just feel it would be really cool to kill
somebody."
Given the global climate, to which Canada most certainly has not been immune --
as well as Hussain's dubious connections -- the attempt by the government and
the media to dismiss potential links to terrorist groups or inspiration from
jihadist ideologies, is both premature and politically transparent.
On July 22, two youngsters -- 18-year-old Reese Fallon and 10-year-old Julianna
Kozis -- were killed, and another 13 people, ranging in age from 17 to 59, were
wounded in a brutal shooting attack at a number of restaurants on Danforth
Avenue, in Toronto's popular Greektown neighborhood. The perpetrator, who was
later identified as Faisal Hussain, killed himself after exchanging gunfire with
police.
Hussain's firing stance and ability to reload his 40-caliber Smith and Wesson
handgun while on the move suggested that he had experience with firearms.
The following morning, the Toronto Police Service issued a statement that
indicated they had already identified the shooter, yet did not release his name
until later that afternoon. Meanwhile, a statement allegedly from the Hussain
family made the rounds in a number of news outlets.
The statement read, in part:
...We are utterly devastated by the incomprehensible news that our son was
responsible for the senseless violence and loss of life that took place on the
Danforth.
Our son had severe mental health challenges, struggling with psychosis and
depression his entire life.
The interventions of professionals were unsuccessful. Medications and therapy
were unable to treat him.
While we did our best to seek help for him throughout his life of struggle and
pain, we could never imagine that this would be his devastating and destructive
end...
Much of the media, led by the CBC and the Toronto Star, accepted this version of
the tragedy, and asserted that the mass shooting had not been a terrorist
attack, while blaming a breakdown in the mental-health-care system for Hussain's
actions and calling for stricter gun-control regulations.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said of Hussain, "There is no
connection between that individual and national security."
It emerged, however, that the so-called Hussain "family statement" had not been
written by the murderer's parents at all, but rather by Mohammed Hashim, a
professional activist who served as chairman of the "Stronger Together" program
of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM, formerly the Council of
American Islamic Relations Canada or CAIR CAN). Its American parent
organization, as stated in its own documents, is CAIR, designated as a terrorist
entity by the United Arab Emirates.
CAIR was also identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in an American
terrorism-funding trial whose judge determined it to be one of many
organizations involved in funding Hamas.
In 2016, Hashim was instrumental in getting the Toronto Star to stop using the
term "Islamic State" and refer to the terrorist group only as "Daesh,"
presumably to dissociate Islam from terrorism.
In 2017, Hashim was a speaker at an event held at the ISNA Islamic Centre of
Canada facility in Toronto. (Three years earlier, the ISNA Development
Foundation lost its status as a charity on the grounds that it had been funding
terrorism.)
In addition, contrary to what Hashim purportedly wrote in the statement, there
is no evidence that Hussain was diagnosed with or treated for a mental illness,
even after one of his high-school teachers reported to the police 10 years ago
that Hussain had said "I want to kill someone... I just feel it would be really
cool to kill somebody." Although he was apprehended at the time under the Mental
Health Act, he was released and deemed as not an immediate threat.
As for Faisal Hussain's actual family: Faisal has a brother, Fahad, who -- while
awaiting trial for crack-dealing -- overdosed last summer on a cocktail of
cocaine and heroin, leaving him in a vegetative state. Both Faisal and Fahad
were friends with 33-year-old Maisum Ansari, who, according to the Toronto Sun,
"was charged last September with possessing 53 kilograms of carfentanil, an
analog of fentanyl and 100 times stronger than the painkiller and notoriously
deadly street narcotic... the largest such seizure of the synthetic opioid in
Canadian history."
During the investigation into Ansari's drug operations, police discovered a
weapons cache in the basement of his rented-out house. This is possibly an
example of the intersection of the drug trade and terrorism. Furthermore,
carfentanil, specifically, has been of concern to the US government as a drug
that also could be used as a chemical weapon.
The question of whether the Danforth shooting was an act of terrorism has yet to
be answered. Although ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, Toronto police
said they "have no evidence to support these claims."
Nevertheless, Faisal Hussain's actions need to be taken in a wider context.
Since 2013, several low-scale terrorist attacks with an extremist Muslim
connection have taken place in Canada. Among these were: the attempted 2013
bombing plot on a Via Rail train; the 2014 car-ramming attack that killed a
Canadian soldier; the 2014 gun attack on the National War Memorial and
Parliament; a 2016 botched suicide bombing that ended with only the terrorist
dying; a 2016 knife attack on a Canadian Forces recruiting center, a 2016 knife
attack in a Canadian Tire store by a woman claiming to work for ISIS; and a 2017
vehicle-ramming and knife attack.
More recently, a restaurant bombing in Mississauga on May 24, 2018, which left
15 people wounded, is still being investigated.
Since Faisal Hussain is dead, it is unlikely that a complete picture of what
motivated him to commit a mass shooting will be painted. However, given the
global climate, to which Canada most certainly has not been immune -- as well as
Hussain's dubious connections -- the attempt by the government and the media to
dismiss potential links to terrorist groups or inspiration from jihadist
ideologies, is both premature and politically transparent.
*Tom Quiggin is a former military intelligence officer, a former intelligence
contractor for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a court appointed expert on
jihadist terrorism in both the Federal and criminal courts of Canada. He is the
author of SUBMISSION: The Danger of Political Islam to Canada – With a Warning
to America, written with co-authors Tahir Gora, Saied Shoaaib, Jonathon Cotler,
and Rick Gill with a foreword by Raheel Raza. He is also the primary contributor
to the QUIGGIN REPORT podcast.
© 2018 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.
Analysis/Turkey Crisis: Erdogan Resorts to Fantasy,
Paranoia to Grapple With Crashing Lira
دايفيد روزنبارغ من الهآررتس/الأزمة التركية: اردوغان يهرب من مواجهة انهيار عملة
بلاده باللجؤ إلى مبررات الخيال وجنون الشكوك
David Rosenberg/Haaretz/August 14/18
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/66745/david-rosenberg-haaretz-turkey-crisis-erdogan-resorts-to-fantasy-paranoia-to-grapple-with-crashing-lira-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%BA-%D9%85/
Rather than owning up to his own fatal errors, Erdogan is blaming
foreign conspiracies for Turkey's failing economy – and Trump is only making
matters worse
More than most economic crises, the one Turkey is now facing is the work of one
man alone: Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has been in office for 16 years, during
which he has amassed more and more power and put into place the irresponsible
and often idiosyncratic economic policies that are responsible for the plunging
of the Turkish lira.
Turkish voters could have put an end to this many times, but instead returned
him to office, stood by passively as he imposed emergency rule after the 2016
failed coup and granted him extraordinary powers under an amended constitution.
In the meantime, he presided over an economic boom built on cheap money,
imported capital and real estate development.
It couldn’t last and by this spring it was obvious that the end of the boom
years was approaching. But again Turkish voters re-elected Erdogan with full
knowledge that not only would he continue pursuing his bizarre economic strategy
– whose centerpiece concept is that high interest rates cause inflation – but
that there would be no institution legally empowered to resist him.
And that is what is happening. The Turkish lira is in free fall, which will
leave Turkey’s dollar-indebted corporate sector with debts they can’t repay,
threatens to create a banking crisis, will stoke Turkey’s already high inflation
rate and could easily push the economy into a deep recession.
There isn’t any easy way out of this for the government, but the obvious
immediate solution would be for the central bank to raise interest rates far
higher than they are now to at least stabilize the exchange rate. That is what
any ordinary government would have done long before its currency has lost 40% of
its value, as the lira has done.
Instead, the Turkish central bank (which is now beholden to Erdogan) and the
finance minister (related to him by marriage) offered some aspirin in the form
of extra liquidity to the banking system at a time when major surgery is
required. For now, at least there will be no rate rise or capital controls that
would stem the decline. The option of an International Monetary Fund bailout
seems unlikely, too, because it would require Erdogan to adopt policies he
deeply opposes and accept a humiliating future of taking orders from an overseas
institution.
If the first prong of Erdogan’s economic policy is fantasy, the second one is an
equally dangerous one of paranoia. Rather than owning up to the errors that have
pushed Turkey into a crisis, the president has been telling Turks it’s all about
foreign conspiracies aimed at putting Turkey in its place.
“We are facing economic attacks today, and we need to defend our country,”
Erdogan said last week in remarks that are typical of his approach. “The
economic attack against us now is the same as the coup attempt against us.” With
that, the president has urged ordinary Turks to change the euros, dollars and
gold “that you are keeping beneath your pillows” into lira and step up exports.
Erdogan may well get his extra exports, but not because patriotic Turkish
industrialists answer his call but because the value of the lira has collapsed,
which makes the goods more price competitive overseas. As to selling dollar and
buying liras, it simply won’t happen; indeed, the reason why the lira has been
depreciating as it has is because Turks have for quite some time been bailing
out of their currency. Erdogan’s policies give Turks no good reason to change
their attitude.
Why is Nobody Talking about the Union for the
Mediterranean?
Judith Bergman/Gatestone Institute/August 14/2018
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12838/union-for-the-mediterranean
The EU countries involved in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) appear
unbothered by promoting "integration" -- or even claiming "a common heritage" --
with countries such as Mauritania, where, according to recent reports, up to 20%
of the population (Haratines and other Afro-Mauritanian groups) is enslaved, and
anti-slavery activists are regularly tortured and detained.
There is not the slightest allusion in the UfM yearly report, or in the 2017
Roadmap for Action, to the fact that in most Muslim countries, sharia law
influences the legal code -- especially regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance
and child custody -- and that gender inequality may therefore be
institutionalized and not something likely to change, regardless of the number
of UfM projects.
Given these large sums of money involved, it is remarkable that the UfM and its
activities enjoy little to no scrutiny in the European press.
In July, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) celebrated its 10-year
anniversary. Most Europeans, however, are unlikely to have heard about the
Union, let alone the anniversary. The media rarely reports on the UfM and its
activities.
The participating countries in the UfM are the 28 European Union (EU) member
states and the Southern Mediterranean countries, which include Albania, Algeria,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Monaco,
Montenegro, Morocco, "Palestine", Syria (temporarily suspended), Tunisia and
Turkey. Libya has observer status in the UfM. The UfM is chaired by a
"co-presidency" shared between the European Union and Jordan. The UfM
Secretariat maintains the daily operations of the UfM and is run by a Secretary
General, presently Nasser Kamel (Egypt).
The UfM was launched by a decision of the UfM Heads of State and Government in
Paris in July 2008, and constitutes an institutionalization of the Barcelona
Process, which began in November 1995 with the signing of the Barcelona
Declaration.
According to the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), the
Euro-Mediterranean alliance launched by the Barcelona Declaration Process "was
structured around three main work areas (political and security dialogue;
economic and financial partnership; and social, cultural and human partnership)"
between the EU and the mainly Muslim majority countries in North Africa and the
Middle East (usually referred to in UfM context as the Southern Mediterranean).
In January 2017, the 43 foreign ministers of the UfM agreed on a "Roadmap for
Action" in Barcelona, which aims at "enhanced regional cooperation and
integration in the Mediterranean," setting out "three key interrelated
priorities, regional stability, human development and integration." It was the
first political document adopted by the UfM foreign ministers since 2008.
The UfM lists a number of ways in which it seeks to achieve regional stability
and human development. One of them is "Intercultural and Interfaith dialogue"
the aim of which is, among other things:
"[T]o exert all efforts to bridge any potential cultural divide to fight against
extremism and all forms of racism and to build upon a common heritage and
aspirations. Intercultural and Interfaith dialogue in the Mediterranean is an
important underlying dimension of all regional cooperation activities in the
framework of the UfM." [1]
The EU countries involved in the UfM appear unbothered by promoting
"integration" -- or even claiming "a common heritage" -- with countries such as
Mauritania, where, according to recent reports, up to 20% of the population (Haratines
and other Afro-Mauritanian groups) is enslaved, and anti-slavery activists are
regularly tortured and detained.
The UfM has held 15 ministerial conferences on "key strategic areas" in the past
5 years on topics such as, Strengthening the role of Women in Society (Egypt,
November 2017), Sustainable Urban Development (Egypt, May 2017), Water (Malta,
April 2017), Energy (Italy, December 2016) Employment and Labour (Jordan,
September 2016), Regional Cooperation and Planning (Jordan, June 2016), Blue
Economy (Belgium, November 2015) Digital Economy (Belgium, September 2014),
Environment and Climate Change (Greece, May 2014), Industrial Cooperation,
(Belgium, February 2014) Energy (Belgium, December 2013), and Transport
(Belgium, November 2013), as well as two Foreign Minister Conferences (Spain
January 2017 and Spain November 2015). [2]
The UfM aims to reach its priorities through projects such as "Empowering women
and youth in the Mediterranean", "Promoting job creation and inclusive growth"
and "Enhancing the Role of Women and Youth in Preventing Violent Extremism." [3]
There is not the slightest allusion in the yearly report, nor in the 2017
Roadmap for Action, to the fact that in most Muslim countries, sharia law
influences the legal code -- especially regarding personal status law, which
concerns marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody -- and that gender
inequality may therefore be institutionalized and not something likely to
change, regardless of the number of UfM projects. Nor is there any allusion to
the role of Islamism in fostering "violent extremism". Instead, the roadmap for
action speaks of joining "regional and international efforts to address
socio-economic root causes of terrorism and extremism" and "developing further
projects and initiatives of high impact, with a special focus on youth
employability and women empowerment." [4]
According to the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed):
"From 1995 to 2006, the EU allocated 16,000 million euros through MEDA
programmes for bilateral and regional cooperation, aimed at fostering both
socioeconomic projects (modernisation of the industry, promotion of the private
sector, reform of the health sector, development funds...) and political and
good governance reforms...
"The cooperation funds are channelled through the European Neighbourhood and
Partnership Instrument (ENPI), aimed at both the eastern European and southern
Mediterranean neighbourhood. The joint budget for both regions for the period
2007-2013 amounts to 11,000 million euros...
The funds allocated to cooperation with the EU neighbouring countries (in
eastern Europe and the southern Mediterranean) for the period 2014-2020 amount
to 15,000 million euros."
These figures do not include bilateral agreements between the UfM and EU
countries, such as the €6.5 million multi-annual financing agreement between the
UfM Secretariat and Sweden "to deepen and amplify UfM specific cooperation
initiatives and core activities promoting regional dialogue."
Given these large sums, it is remarkable that the UfM and its activities enjoy
little to no scrutiny in the European press. Especially as, in the words of
IEMed in its 2015 assessment of the 20th anniversary of the Barcelona Process,
"The scenario of concord set out for the Mediterranean in the 1995 Barcelona
Declaration has never become a reality".
Subsequent Islamic radicalization and terrorism and the years-long migrant
crisis constitute recent examples of the failure. IEMed's assessment continues:
"The roadmap designed in the Catalan capital could not predict the destabilising
effects on the region of al-Qaeda on 11S and the subsequent invasions of
Afghanistan and Iraq; the political immobility and lack of reforms and
improvements in governance in many MPCs; the non-creation of the free trade area
in the Mediterranean scheduled for 2010; the lack of south-south regional
integration; the instability caused by the Arab Spring since 2011, currently
with two failed states, Syria and Libya; the migration and refugee crises; or
the emergence of Islamic State terrorism that is ravaging Syria and Iran and has
already shown its capacity to attack Europe."
The UfM has itself conceded:
"UfM countries have among the highest unemployment rates in the world, affecting
mostly youth and women, which adds to many other pressing issues such as social
cohesion, migration or efforts to counter radicalization." [5]
Despite this apparent evidence of the failure of the Barcelona Process and the
UfM, the latter nevertheless sees itself as having "entered a new phase,
building on the progress achieved so far... increasing and expanding activities
demonstrate that windows of opportunity exist to further develop regional
cooperation." [6]
The UfM, undeterred, barrels on with its goal to achieve:
"greater levels of integration and cooperation in the region through a specific
methodology that has yielded positive results in terms of political dialogue and
the implementation of region-wide initiatives in which young people play a key
role.
With more than 50 labelled projects and over 300 ministerial and expert fora
gathering 25,000 stakeholders since 2012, UfM activities illustrate the strong
belief that regional challenges call for regional solutions and that there is no
security without development."
It seems counterintuitive that nearly a quarter century of costly investment by
Europe in the southern UfM countries appears to have yielded few to no positive
results. Despite the UfM's own aforementioned assessment of challenges having
reached "unprecedented levels," the EU nevertheless continues the Barcelona
Process in the form of the UfM. It is also bizarre that any substantive
evaluation of the costs and benefits of the Barcelona Process, and the UfM and
its many projects is absent from most public discourse, as the media apparently
fail to report on the UfM and its activities.
A map of the Union for the Mediterranean members. Blue are EU member states,
brown are other members, Libya (red) is an official observer, and Syria (green)
is a suspended member. (Image source: Treehill/Wikimedia Commons)
*Judith Bergman is a columnist, lawyer and political analyst.
[1] UfM Roadmap for Action 2017, p 12.
[2] UfM annual Report 2017, p 9.
[3] Ibid. p15 ff.
[4] UfM Roadmap for Action 2017, p 14.
[5] UfM annual Report 2017, p 15.
[6] Ibid p 10.
© 2018 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.
UN Enabling Hamas's War Machine
Bassam Tawil//Gatestone Institute/August 14/2018
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/12845/un-hamas-ceasefire
This ceasefire initiative is rather disturbing: it requires no meaningful
concessions on the part of Hamas. It leaves, for example, wholly intact Hamas's
extremist ideology, which calls for the destruction of Israel, and does not
demand that Hamas lay down its weapons.
A ceasefire may sound good, but in the current circumstances it will send a
deadly message to Hamas and the other terror factions in the Gaza Strip: namely,
that long-term terror bombardment of Israel gets you economic and humanitarian
projects funded by the United Nations and Western donors, and perhaps even a
seaport and airport. The ceasefire would give Hamas five to ten years to
continue amassing weapons, tightening its grip on the Gaza Strip, and preparing
for its next war with Israel.
Any ceasefire agreement will be perceived as a reward for Hamas-sponsored
terrorism and violence against Israel. These negotiations will spur other
terrorist groups around the world to continue their attacks with the hope of
gaining legitimacy and forcing the UN and the international community to
negotiate also with them.
Why is the UN apparently prepared to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in
the Gaza Strip while keeping Hamas in power and even allowing it to become
stronger? Why is the UN being allowed to play the role of savior of Hamas?
The Palestinian Hamas terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip has
reportedly accepted, in principle, an Egyptian and United Nations initiative for
a long-term ceasefire with Israel. According to some reports, the initiative
calls for a ceasefire of five to ten years in return for the easing of economic
sanctions and humanitarian and economic aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip.
This ceasefire initiative is rather disturbing: it requires no meaningful
concessions on the part of Hamas. It leaves, for example, wholly intact Hamas's
extremist ideology, which calls for the destruction of Israel, and does not
demand that Hamas lay down its weapons.
Essentially, the message to Hamas from the international community is that it
will reap rich rewards for nothing more than temporarily halting its terror
attacks on Israel.
As the past few weeks have shown, Hamas appears to be more than willing to sit
quietly in order to get the benefits and privileges offered by Egypt and the UN.
Hamas has been facing a severe crisis as the result of the economic sanctions
imposed on the Gaza Strip, particularly those initiated by its rivals in the
Palestinian Authority government of President Mahmoud Abbas. Thus, Hamas is
grabbing hold of the Egyptian and UN proposal as a kind of life-vest.
Once the ceasefire agreement goes into effect, Hamas will have additional time
to continue amassing weapons and tightening its grip on the Gaza Strip.
Under the umbrella of the ceasefire, Hamas will be able to continue building new
tunnels that will be used to infiltrate Israel to kill civilians and soldiers.
Hamas will also be able to continue smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip
through tunnels along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Thanks to the
Egyptian and UN-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas will be able to do all these
things without having to worry about an Israeli military response.
The proposed ceasefire agreement will give Hamas five to ten years to prepare
for the next war with Israel. During this period, Hamas will have recruited tens
of thousands of more Palestinians into its ranks, turning them into jihadists in
preparation for the jihad (holy war) against Israel.
In other words, the proposed ceasefire agreement absolves Hamas, the de facto
government in the coastal enclave, of its duties and responsibilities towards
its own constituents. Hamas will no longer have to worry about improving the
living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip because the UN and the
rest of the international community will be fulfilling that job.
The international community and the UN will, according to the proposed
ceasefire, attend to the needs of the Palestinian population and will even
launch various economic and humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas
leaders will be sitting in their luxurious offices and homes and laughing at the
duped Western donors, who will even be funding fuel and electricity supplies to
the people living under its rule.
Worse, the proposed agreement, now being discussed by Hamas leaders with
Egyptian and UN officials, offers the Hamas rulers a seaport and airport in the
nearby Egyptian peninsula of Sinai. Of course, there is no guarantee that Hamas
will not use these ports to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. Those who
believe that the Egyptians will be able to prevent the smuggling of weapons into
the Gaza Strip are living under the dangerous illusion of a bribery-free Middle
East.
Besides, the Egyptian authorities already have their hands full with the various
Islamist terrorist groups that have been operating in the Sinai Peninsula in
recent years. If the Egyptian army and other security agencies have thus far
been unable to root out the problem of the terror groups in Sinai, how exactly
are they supposed to deal with Hamas's weapons smuggling?
Moreover, what about Hamas's involvement with some of the jihadi groups in
Sinai? For the past few years, reports have surfaced in several Arab media
outlets about Hamas's cooperation with some of these groups in carrying out
terror attacks against the Egyptian military and civilians in Sinai.
Far more worrying is that any ceasefire agreement will be perceived as a reward
for Hamas-sponsored terrorism and violence against Israel. Since last March,
Hamas has been dispatching thousands of Palestinians, including women and
children, to the border with Israel as part of the so-called March of Return. As
part of these protests, Palestinian have been throwing explosive devices, petrol
bombs and stones at Israeli soldiers. They have also been launching hundreds of
flaming kites and balloons at Israeli communities along the border with the Gaza
Strip, and causing fires that have destroyed tens of thousands of acres of
agricultural fields and forests.
As if that were not enough, Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups in the
Gaza Strip last week again fired more than 180 rockets and projectiles at
Israeli communities.
Such rocket attacks are far from uncommon; they have been taking place since
Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. It was then that Israel handed the
entire Gaza Strip to the Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2007,
Hamas violently ejected the PA from the Gaza Strip, and has been in control of
the territory since then.
A ceasefire may sound good, but in the current circumstances it will send a
deadly message to Hamas and the other terror factions in the Gaza Strip: namely,
that long-term terror bombardment of Israel gets you economic and humanitarian
projects funded by the United Nations and Western donors and, if things go well,
perhaps even a seaport and airport.
The proposed ceasefire agreement, therefore, is nothing but a UN and Egyptian
bribe to Hamas to agree to a temporary halt of terror attacks against Israel.
Appeasing terrorists, however, is a recipe for perpetuating and escalating the
conflict and emboldening the terrorists. In addition, it will only increase
Hamas's appetite to continue extorting Israel and the rest of the world for more
concessions.
Negotiating with Hamas grants legitimacy to terror groups, making them appear as
acceptable parties. By contrast, one might note that the UN never considered
initiating a negotiated ceasefire between the US and Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda
terror group or ISIS. The current negotiations that the Egyptians and the UN are
conducting with Hamas to achieve a ceasefire with Israel sends precisely the
wrong message to jihadi groups around the world. These negotiations will, in
fact, spur these groups to continue their terror attacks with the hope of
gaining legitimacy and forcing the international community to follow suit and
negotiate also with them, as they have been doing with Hamas. Is there any
difference between Hamas and Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram, the so-called
Islamic State in Western Africa? Not really.
Hamas, as mentioned, is of course happy that the Egyptians, the UN and other
international parties are chasing it and literally begging it to accept a
temporary truce with Israel, especially under such golden conditions. Hamas has
nothing to lose by agreeing to a ceasefire that will allow it further to
strengthen its military power in the Gaza Strip, while not being required to
cease bad behavior or do anything to help its own people.
A sign of Hamas's elation can be found in a statement issued by its leaders in
the Gaza Strip on August 8, 2018. The statement, which was issued after a series
of meetings between Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, added that Hamas
will not pay any "political price" for the lifting of the sanctions on the Gaza
Strip.
So here we have Hamas itself making it clear that even if a ceasefire agreement
is achieved with Israel, the terror group will never abandon its dream of
pursuing the fight until Israel is replaced with an Islamist state.
We are left with some questions: Why is the United Nations negotiating with a
terror group that is sworn to Israel's destruction? Why, instead, are the UN and
Egypt and other parties not demanding that Hamas disarm and relinquish control
of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who have been held hostage for the past
11 years? Why is the UN apparently prepared to invest hundreds of millions of
dollars in the Gaza Strip while keeping Hamas in power and even allowing it to
become stronger? Why is the UN being allowed to play the role of savior of
Hamas? The next time Hamas targets Israeli civilians, perhaps the UN and all
those who are now trying to appease Hamas will have some answers.
**Bassam Tawil, a Muslim Arab, is based in the Middle East.
© 2018 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.
Myanmar’s failed experiment with democracy
Dr. Azeem Ibrahim//Al Arabiya/August 14/18
Myanmar has come a long way since its days as a closed authoritarian state led
by a military junta which characterised most of its history.
One could argue the beginning of the end of the junta stated 30 years ago this
month when over two million people rose up against the regime in pro-democracy
street protests. The response by the military junta in 1988 was brutal. Some
3,000 to 10,000 dead, many more tens of thousands injured, imprisoned, or run
out of the country altogether. Among the imprisoned, Aung San Suu Kyi, the
daughter of one of the country’s post-independence founders, and a newly emerged
pro-democracy icon. Over the next 21 years, she would spend 15 in prison for her
advocacy of democracy and human rights in Myanmar – work for which she also
received international recognition and a Nobel Peace Prize. Yet today, Ms Aung
San Suu Kyi is the de facto leader of the country, holding the position of 1st
State Counsellor, and a number of ministerial portfolios, following a general
election in 2015 which swept her pro-democracy movement, the National League for
Democracy, to a dominant majority in the country’s parliament (after gaining
around 60 percent of the vote for both houses).
But scratch beneath the surface and it quickly becomes evident that the promises
of democracy have been, and continue to be betrayed: and by Ms Suu Kyi and her
National League for Democracy as much as by anyone else.
The most obvious sign that something is very wrong in Myanmar is the ongoing
genocide against the Rohingya minority in the north-west of the country.
Democracies tend not to kill their citizens en masse. And sure enough, though
the Rohingya were all born in Myanmar and have existed in their region for
centuries, they are not citizens.
Democracy in Myanmar was a nice dream. But today, it is nothing more than a thin
veneer over a nightmarish reality
Citizenship Law
Successive leaderships of the military junta disenfranchised the darker-skinned,
minority-religion group, until the 1982 Citizenship Law rendered the members of
the group illegal foreigners, ineligible for citizenship or even naturalisation
in the country of the birth and of their forefathers.
One would have expected a democracy and human rights icon to advocate for the
rights of powerless, disenfranchised groups. Many in Myanmar and the West were
expecting Aung San Suu Kyi to do just that upon winning the 2015 general
election.
Instead, she has opted to deny the Rohingya their very identity as a people,
repeating the Buddhist-nationalist hardline propaganda claims that they are
“illegal Bengali immigrants”. And defending the use of violence against them by
the Myanmar armed forces in the process.
That is not something that the typical democratic leader does in a normal
democratic country. But then, Aung San Suu Kyi is not a typical democratic
leader, and Myanmar is hardly a democratic country.
Ms Suu Kyi’s views on the Rohingya are not new. In 1985 she was writing about
the Burmese “racial psyche”, where Buddhism “represents the perfected
philosophy. It therefore follows that there [is] no need to either to develop it
further or to consider other philosophies”.
Hardly the mindset needed to be a democratic leader in a diverse country. From
such unfortunate “accidents of language”, and from her systematic pattern of
behaviour and policy since Ms Suu Kyi has been in power, one can conclude that
she at most aspires for democracy just for the ethnic Burmese Buddhist citizens
of her country. And other senior figures in her NLD party make that case
explicitly.
But the Rohingya are just the tip of the iceberg. Even as the military
operations in Rakhine state were winding down earlier this year, after they
successfully pushed the overwhelming majority of the Rohingya in the region
across the border to Bangladesh, the military, with the backing of Ms Suu Kyi’s
government, were redeploying to wage full scale ethnic war against other ethnic
minorities in border regions in the north and south-east. And these groups
largely do have acknowledged citizenship.
Ethno-nationalist state
So why is Myanmar behaving not like the democracy it appears to be, but much the
same as it used to behave when it was run by the military juntas: a
Buddhist-Burmese ethno-nationalist state engaged in perpetual warfare against
any of its people who do not belong to the majority group?
The leaders of Myanmar military retain ownership of the vast majority of the
country’s productive resources. When it voluntarily transitioned towards the
current “democratic” constitution in 2008, after a wave of public pressure, the
Army retained automatic control of 25 percent of the seats in the country’s
federal government, and fully autonomous control over areas of government
concerning security, defense and foreign policy. The Commander-in-Chief of
Myanmar’s Armed Forces remains above the entire civilian administration in the
constitutional power hierarchy, and has the power to veto, overrule or take over
the government entirely, whenever he sees fit. In other words, Myanmar is still
a military dictatorship, both de facto and de jure. The only thing that has
changed is that they are now allowing Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, and other
approved political actors to play at power, within “safe constraints”. And Ms
Suu Kyi, her NLD, and other “democratic” parties are happily playing along, now
that they are allowed at the table.
In 2015-2016, we could have been persuaded that at least this was progress. And
at least the country was going in the right direction. After a campaign of
ethnic cleansing which has successfully removed almost an entire ethnic group of
some 1 million people from the country, and after the flaring up of all the
other ethnic wars the Myanmar Army is involved in, over the past two years this
is no longer obvious.
Not least because the “democratic” civilian government is choosing to use its
position not to moderate the excesses of the Army, but rather to shield the Army
from international condemnation for their assault against their own people.
Democracy in Myanmar was a nice dream. But today, it is nothing more than a thin
veneer over a nightmarish reality.
Erdogan’s confrontation with Trump
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/August 14/18
No country stood against the US and won. They all lose no matter how long it
takes. This is a fact in most cases.
The Americans’ strongest weapons are not military but economic. Turkey is not
stronger than Germany and China, the two countries which preferred not to
confront the Trump administration and which chose to negotiate, make concessions
and keep away from escalation and verbal wars. What’s the problem? Washington
expects Turkey to meet few demands, of which the most important is suspending
trade with Iran, and the least important is releasing the American pastor whom
Turkey accuses of espionage.
In terms of besieging Iran, there are three countries that can together or alone
play the balancing role to the regime in Tehran, and they are Pakistan, Turkey
and Saudi Arabia. The three countries have strong ties with the US but Turkey is
the major passage of Iranian trade.
Turkey is an important country in the western system as it is the only Islamic
state in NATO, and is important in any upcoming confrontation with Russia as the
Russian-American dispute escalates and with the possibility of the return of the
Cold War.
Trump wants Turkey to either play its normal role as an ally or not. Washington
will not accept that Turkey buys strategic defense weapons from Russia and be
commercially open to Iran while at the same time sits with it in the NATO and
considers itself an ally.
Washington will not accept that Turkey buys strategic defense weapons from
Russia and be commercially open to Iran while at the same time sits with it in
the NATO and considers itself an ally. The tense relation between Washington and
Ankara limits the strategic relation between the two countries. Despite the fuss
that accompanied it, US President Donald Trump imposed limited “sanctions” on
Turkey, and which are symbolic for the purpose of pressuring President Erdogan.
He froze the bank accounts of two Turkish ministers and imposed fees on only two
Turkish products. Of course, the consequences of these two measures are serious
on Turkey. The lira declined and there’s panic in the Turkish market. The reason
is primarily political because pessimism dominated the relation with the US and
its future.
At the front of the crisis there are a Turkish cleric and an American pastor.
Erdogan accuses Trump’s government of granting asylum to opposition leader Gulen,
an opposition, which was eliminated during the elimination operations following
the coup attempt. Trump links lifting the sanctions off with the release of the
American pastor detained in Turkey.
Pastor and Gulen
I think neither Gulen nor the pastor is the problem, even though they’re the
mentioned excuse in the media. The dispute has been escalating for a while now
and it includes different issues including the dispute inside Syria and the
relation with Russia and which is related to objections to Ankara’s strong
commercial relation with Iran.
This latter reason specifically may be the most dangerous one behind the tension
with Trump who is determined on commercially suffocating Iran. This does not
please Turkey, the Iranians’ major commercial partner. Trump is neither hasty
nor reckless despite the massive damages caused by his decision to double the
fees on Turkey’s exports of iron and aluminum. Truth is Trump has shown special
appreciation to Erdogan, against the desire of other American politicians. He
intervened and pressured the Israeli government to release a Turkish woman
accused of funding the Hamas Movement and released Erdogan’s bodyguards who were
accused of beating up protestors in Washington.
Trump was one of the first presidents in the world to call Erdogan and
congratulate him for winning the presidency. There is a good relation between
the two countries that sets aside the conspiracy theory, which Erdogan talked
about. Turkey is not a revolutionary state like Iran and Turkey’s value is
thanks to its economy and not its revolutionary guards and terror activities
like Iran. Turkey’s worth is also due to its presence within the political and
military western system. Does the Turkish government dare confront the US? It’s
unlikely. Turkey is a state that boasts it is economically successful, and its
economy is based on trade with the West and not with Iran or the Arabs.
Turkey cannot defy economic sanctions on Iran, as it did so during Barack
Obama’s presidential term but the Trump administration made several warnings to
the countries dealing with Iran and said it will punish them. Also, a marginal
issue, such as the detention of the pastor – who has been released from prison
and put under house arrest in Turkey’s Izmir – is not reason enough to sabotage
the Turkish economy.
Trump is using the pastor’s case as a card in this pressuring game because he
knows that if Turkey releases him, he will take the credit and if it does not
release him, he will use him as an electoral card in his favor by showing he
stood by him and punished Turkey for detaining him. As for Turkey, it’s the
loser on both sides if it leaves the problem open.
The man who refuses to say ‘President Trump!’
Mamdouh AlMuhaini/Al Arabiya/August 14/18
Journalists and friends of John Brennan, the former CIA director, urge him to
say “Mr. President” instead of the “Mr. Trump” he always says, but they have
failed. Brennan could not bite his tongue and accept the reality and instead
decided to call Trump using his name. If he’s in a hostile mood, and he is most
of the time with the American president, he adds insults like “Trump the liar”
and “Trump the deranged.” Most recently, he said “Trump the traitor” after the
president met with Kim Jong-un.
Brennan’s position expresses the bitter hatred he has towards “Mr. President,”
to the extent that he does not recognize him as president. He says Trump is a
man who does not deserve this honor and to sit in an office which great figures
sat in. This talk may seem ordinary if it comes from a citizen who has not held
any state positions but when this stance is announced by the former chief of the
strongest espionage apparatus in the world, it’s suspicious. It’s thus normal to
ask this question: Does this important man have secret information about Trump
that make him bear such a grudge towards him and not even acknowledge his
presidency?
He has not presented anything credible until today, and it’s certain that if he
had anything on Trump, he would have put it forward a long time ago and got rid
of him. Brennan knows more than anyone else that there is no conclusive
evidence, but he’s not naïve to close the investigation and announce the
innocence of his rival. His aim is to resume making these accusations in the
media and through his angry Twitter account without providing any proof and
while creating a state of doubts, suspicions and allegations that may harm more
than facts do.
Due to his long work in the world of darkness, Brennan knows the powerful
influence of rumors and conspiracies on people’s minds. It’s not unlikely that
he or one of his men were behind the leaks about Trump’s relations to
prostitutes and the audio recording of him. What’s certain is that Brennan is
the man who launched the whirlwind of a secret suspicious relationship between
Trump and the Russians as he received an unreliable British intelligence report
and it was put up for discussion in security and intelligence apparatuses and
leaked to the press later. Hence, the black cloud that follows the president
everywhere was formed and it will not leave him until his last day in office.
Brennan seizes any opportunity to attack the president because he despises him
so much on a personal and moral level. In private gatherings, Brennan does not
hesitate to call him names and disdain him, saying he lacks principles by citing
his relations with women and even his multiple marriages.
“This man got married three times!” This is how Brennan once mocked Trump in
reference to Trump’s disrespect of women and the idea that he treated them like
pieces of meat and replaced them like dolls.
The clash between Brennan and Trump also happened because of the difference in
character and political tendencies. Trump is a man of money while Brennan is a
man of the government. Trump works in public and Brennan works in secret.
Brennan plays the role of a watchdog that protects intelligence institutions
while threatening to bite Trump following his fierce attack on them and his
accusations that these institutions are pursuing him like witches were pursued
in the Middle Ages. This is true as Brennan is leading a team of former
intelligence officials, including James Comey, Andrew Mccabe and James Clapper,
threatening to punish the president they do not recognize.
This is rare behavior as previously, former officials prefer to keep silent,
isolate themselves and not criticize current officials to avoid causing
divisions and chaos within the society. However, the rules of the game changed
around a year and nine months ago, as seeing Trump expelled and defeated and
perhaps handcuffed is seemingly now more important than all old traditions and
unwritten norms.
Two entirely different men
The clash between Brennan and Trump also happened because of the difference in
character and political tendencies. Trump is a man of money while Brennan is a
man of the government. Trump works in public and Brennan works in secret. Trump
only uses religion but he does not wholeheartedly believe in it (it’s said that
during his inauguration ceremony, he thought about swearing on his book The Art
of the Deal instead of on the bible) while Brennan is known to be pious since
his childhood years and thought about becoming a priest.
Trump is playful and loves women while Brennan is loyal and he’s only had one
wife. Trump serves himself while Brennan serves his party. Trump did not become
interested in politics until recently and Brennan in his early years decided to
vote for a communist candidate for the presidency as a reaction to his dismay
towards the Watergate scandal.
Trump is social and he dazzled everyone with his capabilities to move people
while Brennan is firm with a face of a ruthless wrestler. Trump is realistic and
without principles while Brennan is ideologically rigid and a preacher of
morals. Due to Trump’s amusing character, that cannot be taken fully seriously,
not many people pause at his lies. However, Brennan is perceived as delusional
he excitedly repeats illogical rumors.
The Obama link
Another reason Trump hates Brennan is due to another man named Obama. The two
men fell in love with each other when they first met. They share their vision of
the world, dyed with a leftist hue. According to one report, the pair
intellectually clicked and there was chemistry between them to the point that
they completed each other’s sentences. However, each one saw in the other
something that somehow benefits him. Brennan, who donated to Obama’s campaign
with the maximum allowed amount, saw in this rising young man an embodiment of
his political vision. Obama had no political experience so he needed Brennan’s
long experience in the government and his knowledge, especially in the
intelligence’s secret society, until he became the bearer of his messages to the
world.
Brennan is the real engineer of the drones project that target terrorists in
Yemen and Afghanistan. This is one of Obama’s greatest achievements in the war
on terrorism despite the ethical doubts it stirred. And of course he gave him
the most wanted prey, with the murder of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. At the
time, Brennan was Obama’s counterterrorism advisor. Brennan was the muscles
which Obama, the former community organizer, needed and he succeeded in
displaying them.
If Brennan is this much in love with Obama and his ideas and vision of the
world, it was expected that he would hate Trump, who sent Obama’s entire legacy
up in smoke, and seek to crush him. But can he? It’s currently unlikely, given
the economy’s prosperity but it seems Brennan will not stop at smear campaigns
and will never utter the word “president” even if Trump does make America great
again, like he promised his supporters.
US-EU dispute over Iran further erodes transatlantic
relations
Kerry Boyd Anderson/Arab News/August 14/18
The US last week reimposed a number of sanctions on Iran following President
Donald Trump’s decision in May to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action. On the same day, the EU put in place a “blocking statute” designed to
protect European companies with interests in Iran from US sanctions. The dispute
presents a test of the extent to which the US can use its economic might rather
than persuasion to force its European allies to comply with its wishes.
The EU’s blocking statute “forbids EU persons from complying” with the US
extraterritorial — sometimes referred to as “secondary” — sanctions that aim to
penalize non-US firms for doing business with Iran. It is also designed to help
European firms “recover damages” suffered by US penalties. The blocking statute,
which the EU updated to counter the Iran sanctions, is an unusual move. It was
originally instituted in 1996 in response to secondary sanctions regarding Cuba,
but the current situation is very different in many ways.
The EU faces significant challenges in countering the US sanctions that were
reimposed last week and, more importantly, the further sanctions that are
scheduled to be reintroduced in November, which include targeting Iran’s oil and
gas sectors. The EU is hoping that it can maintain sufficient trade and business
relations with Iran to persuade Tehran to continue abiding by the JCPOA’s terms.
However, the blocking statute is a fairly weak instrument, at least regarding
large, multinational firms based in Europe. The Trump administration has been
clear that it intends to strictly enforce the sanctions. On Aug. 7, for example,
Trump tweeted: “Anyone doing business with Iran will not be doing business with
the United States.”
Many large European companies have extensive interests in the US and rely on
American financing and the US dollar. These interests nearly always exceed their
far smaller interests in Iran. In many cases, European companies would prefer to
face EU penalties rather than US fines or loss of access to the US market or
financing. The EU might struggle to enforce its ban on European companies
complying with the US sanctions, as many firms could claim that they pulled out
of Iran or chose to avoid entering the Iranian market for other reasons.
Certainly, some European firms that looked at Iran after the JCPOA was signed
chose not to invest due to concerns about political and business risks inside
Iran and difficulty obtaining financing from European banks.
Several large European companies have already suspended or are winding down
operations in Iran, including Total, Daimler, PSA, Siemens and Maersk, among
others. Even Renault, which originally indicated a desire to remain in Iran
despite US sanctions, appears likely to pull out, according to multiple media
reports.
The EU and individual European governments are considering other measures that
might encourage companies to do business with Iran. In July, the European
Parliament voted to allow the European Investment Bank to invest in Iran.
However, the EIB’s president indicated that it was unlikely to do so, given that
it would threaten the EIB’s ability to tap into US financial markets. Some
governments offer or are considering other measures, including export and credit
guarantees, to support businesses interested in Iran, but few firms have taken
advantage of the existing options so far.
Faced with sanctions, tariffs, personal spats with Trump, questions about NATO
and other disagreements, many in Europe are questioning the nature of their
relationship with the US.
While most large, multinational firms are likely to choose their US interests
over their Iranian ones, the EU blocking statute might allow some smaller firms
with limited or no exposure to the US to pursue business in Iran. In fact, the
removal of larger competitors might benefit smaller European firms that want to
gain a foothold in the Iranian market.
Much will depend on the impact of the additional sanctions that Washington will
reimpose in November and, in particular, on how much success the Trump
administration has in persuading Europe and other countries to cut their oil and
gas imports from Iran. The Trump administration has a target of zero imports,
but that is unrealistic.
Before the JCPOA, in 2012, the EU imposed an oil boycott against Iran; however,
this reflected not only US persuasion but also real European concern about
Iran’s nuclear activities. Today, Europe strongly supports the JCPOA and opposes
the US sanctions, and is very unlikely to impose its own oil sanctions on Iran,
at least as long as Iran complies with the JCPOA. Analysts disagree over the
extent to which US sanctions will force European lenders, refiners and insurers
involved in the oil trade to opt out of importing from Iran. The outcome will be
significant in deciding the actual economic impact of US oil sanctions on Iran.
The extent to which Asian importers continue importing crude and condensates
from Iran will be more important, but Europe also is a significant player.
There is no doubt that the US sanctions will badly damage Iran’s economy and
Europe’s investment and trade relations with Tehran. It remains unclear,
however, how successful the sanctions will be in cutting Europe’s economic ties
to Iran. Certainly, the situation today will be different than in the years
prior to the JCPOA, when Europe and the US were united in pressuring Iran
through sanctions.
Meanwhile, the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and strict imposition of
extraterritorial sanctions is another unusual point of contention in
transatlantic relations under the Trump White House. Faced with secondary
sanctions, tariffs, personal spats between Trump and European leaders, questions
about NATO, and other significant disagreements, many Europeans are questioning
the fundamental nature of their relationship with the US.
*Kerry Boyd Anderson is a writer and political risk consultant with more than 14
years’ experience as a professional analyst of international security issues and
Middle East political and business risk. Twitter: @KBAresearch
Turkey’s nightmares will come true if Erdogan refuses to
back down
Omer Taspinar/Arab News/August 14/18
Depending on how you look at it, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is either a political
genius with a keen sense of electoral timing, or his country’s worst economic
nightmare. For Erdogan, politics is the art of survival — and he is extremely
good at that. He correctly judged voters’ temperament and called early elections
on June 24. But what has been good for Erdogan at the polls has not been good
for Turkey, with the lira now in freefall and a major crisis brewing in
Turkish-American relations that, in turn, is pummeling the economy. Worse yet,
Erdogan is just getting started.
With Erdogan as Turkey’s leader, financial market confidence has been, and will
remain, elusive. Indeed, the current financial crisis is all of his own making;
a result of his populist spending policy and inexplicable belief that the best
way to fight inflation is to lower borrowing costs. Add to that his tendency to
surround himself with sycophants and his control of the central bank and the
result is a financial and economic crisis whose root cause is Erdogan himself.
But what of the role in the crisis played by the worsening of relations with the
US? To be sure, Erdogan and Donald Trump used to make a “beautiful” pair, as
perhaps the American president might have put it. Trump famously gave Erdogan a
fist bump and heaped much praise on him at the NATO summit last month. Yet,
ironically, it was during a brief conversation at that very summit that the seed
of today’s strained ties was planted. Trump apparently believed Erdogan promised
to release the American pastor, Andrew Brunson, who has been detained on dubious
charges by Turkey, in return for Washington’s help in securing the release of a
Turkish citizen jailed by Israel for helping Hamas. But, while Trump delivered,
Erdogan did not. Fury followed.
Seeking Brunson’s release has been a major cause for the powerful evangelical
community in America and Trump needs all the help he can get from the Christian
right to prevent a Democratic landslide in congressional elections this
November. After a storm of angry tweets demanding that Turkey immediately
release Brunson, the previously unimaginable occurred: The US imposed political
and trade sanctions on Turkey.
What is good for Erdogan has not been good for Turkey. But, with the lira in
freefall and a major crisis brewing in relations with the US, it seems he is
just getting started.
Turkey’s interior and justice ministers were made “specially designated
nationals,” barred from doing business with Americans and from gaining access to
financial assets in the US. More ominously, last Friday, when the lira took a 15
percent nosedive, Trump announced a doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs,
sending the Turkish currency even lower.
The Turkish-American partnership until now was believed to be too big and too
important to ever be allowed to fail. Ankara is a NATO ally that hosts a US
military base with nuclear weapons. Turkey, in its fight against terrorism, has
been a regular recipient of American intelligence. It was unthinkable that it
would be lumped together on the sanctions list with the likes of Iran, North
Korea and Russia. Yet that it is where it resides today.
But being on the wrong side of the US is not where Turkey’s interests lie. With
the central bank’s reserves dwindling, $250 billion in private-sector debt due
this year, foreign investors fleeing and inflation rising, the meltdown of the
lira threatens to create a balance of payments crisis that will bankrupt a large
number of companies. The result will be higher unemployment and recession.
Should that occur, Erdogan will have no choice but to seek support from the
International Monetary Fund, over which Washington exercises veto power.
Of course, there are steps Erdogan can take immediately to avoid that. The
central bank should be freed of political interference, allowing it to urgently
raise lending rates by 5 to 10 percentage points. Erdogan needs to announce an
emergency budget that tightens fiscal resolves and commits to cutting all big
projects. But, should all that not be enough — and there is a strong possibility
it won’t be — the release of Brunson and offer of an olive branch to Washington
would greatly help avert new sanctions and signal to markets that, if the worst
were to materialize, at least the possibility of an IMF stabilization package
would not be unfavorably looked upon by the Americans.
But, then again, Erdogan is not known for backing down. In an opinion piece in
the New York Times, he blamed the US for Turkey’s troubles and declared that his
country was ready to find new strategic partners — Erdogan harbors fantasies
about Russia, China or Qatar bailing out Turkey. In reality, however, none of
these countries has the power to save Erdogan from himself. Voters who gave him
a resounding victory in June could not have imagined the road he would lead them
down. Today, the political obstinacy of the master politician is fighting
economic orthodoxy. If Erdogan wins, all of Turkey loses. Expect much turbulence
ahead.
*Omer Taspinar is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a professor
of national-security strategy at the National Defense University in Washington.
Twitter: @otaspinar Credit: Syndication Bureau