An Event and a Regional Trend

The sharpness of the US-Russian contest on the European missiles’ defense shield escalated in a way that brings to mind the time of the cold war.
Meanwhile, Russia’s tendency to build a partnership with China became public, especially in the field of building a nuclear capability that deters the policy of the US, which tries to impose on Europe its political and military influence, and inherit the Soviet legacy in Asia after succeeding in controlling the former European strongholds of Warsaw alliance in the time of the cold war.
Strategic analysts consider that this context establishes a new permanent international condition, and the attempts to change this condition failed in the Putin – Bush recent summit despite wide smiles and protocols and courteous behavior.
Former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski says that Bush’s crazy international policy imposed on the US the loss of a rare opportunity to lead the world at the end of the cold war, and it is clear that Russia, which works to restore its status as a super power is disturbed by the active US interventions in its internal affairs and by the unipolar policy which was set up since the occupation of Iraq.

An Event and a Lebanese Trend

The French sponsored dialogue between Lebanese sides has entered the circle of danger in the aftermath of French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s accusation of Hezbollah of being terrorist, and in the aftermath of the French ambassador’s statement, which led to a violent reaction by House Speaker Nabih Berri, who said that ambassador Bernard Emie appointed himself as a French president overseas.
The opposition’s sources expressed resentment against these statements, which show France’s political bias and affect France’s role as an honest mediator in the Lebanese crisis.
Communications continue before the date of the dialogue forum in an attempt to urge the Elysee to issue a clarification that rehabilitates the French role to become acceptable by the opposition. But if the French policy is biased to the loyal, the opposition will not respond to the invitation to the French dialogue.
A leading source from the opposition asked: how can the French president describe Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, at a time when the French government cooperates with the party in building the equation, which is necessary to the peace of its soldiers who work within the UNIFIL, and in a time when the party plays a crucial role due to its popular and political size in forming this equation.
The question to be posed here is: Does satisfying Bush’s administration deserve sacrificing the opportunity of the new French role?

Lebanese Press

Lebanese and Arab press said there are no signs which show that Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa succeededing in influencing the Syrian stand concerning the Lebanese file, pointing out that his talks in Damascus did not lead to any important results in this respect.
A Palestinian source said head of Hamas’s political office Khalid Mishal met Amr Moussa and stressed Hamas’s wish to return to dialogue.
Lebanese press said: House Speaker Nabih Berri vehemently criticized the French ambassador to Beirut Bernard Emie and accused him of obstructing the dialogue forum in Paris.
Lebanese press focused on French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s statements, which called Hezbollah to stop his terrorist attacks, pointing out that Sarkozy said this when he met the families of the Israeli soldiers captivated by Hezbollah and Hamas.
As-Safir said Amr Moussa met President Bashar al-Assad but no progress was achieved.
Al-Ahkbar said Amer Moussa did not bring anything new from Riyadh to Damascus.
Ad-Diyar said French president Nicolas Sarkozy dealt a deadly blow to Paris dialogue forum by describing Hezbollah as terrorist.

International Press

The Emirate paper Al-Bayan said Israel’s release of 250 Palestinian freedom fighters is a mere propaganda to beautify the image of the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the world.
The US CBS network revealed endeavors led by Iraqi vice-president Tareq Al-Hashemi to oust the government of Nuri Al-Maleki through a project called "the project of Iraq" which includes pulling off the trust from the government at the Parliament.
The network pointed out that Al-Hashemi discussed this project with US vice-president Dick Cheney during his recent visit to Iraq.
Press sources in Iran said that Tehran offered the Gulf Cooperation Council states signing non-aggression treaty, joint defense treaty and a treaty for free trade.
Gulf press sources said: high ranking sides expressed pessimism concerning the Saudi- Iranian relations saying Iran did not do anything to solve the explosive files in Lebanon, Iraq or Palestine.
Agence France Presse said the international quartet’ peace envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair proposed in a message to 10 the foreign ministers of European Mediterranean states forming a strong international force in the occupied Palestinian lands.
The Emirate paper Al-Khaleej said from Jerusalem that Israel considers the issue of the Sudanese infiltrators as a geostrategic problem, pointing out that it intends to solve the problem by expelling them to Egypt.
International Press Agencies quoted Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi as saying, during his current visit to Israel, that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
Reuters and Agence France Presse quoted Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying that a high ranking Iraqi delegation will head to Saudi Arabia to discuss security issues between the two countries and fighting terror.
Arab and international press focused with concern on the Turkish military movements on the Iraqi borders, which aim at putting an end to what Turkey described as aggressive actions by the PKK, pointing out that Turkey has deployed 140 thousand soldiers on the borders.
Press Sources from Tehran said President Mahmud Ahmadinajad did not rule out the possibility of holding second round of talks between Tehran and Washington.

Arab Satellite Stations’ Interviews

Al-Arabiya
Evening News
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to meet him in any place he chooses to hold direct negotiations, pointing out that Bush clarified that he does not want to be a mediator between Bashar and Olmert.

Lebanese Television Stations’ News

The NTV said Arab League Secretary general Amr Mussa, who does not have a magical stick, came to Damascus despite his optimism and pessimism, determined to solve the problem, announcing that he does not fear failure.
The NBN said Amr Mussa has decided to continue his efforts before holding Paris dialogue forum.
For its part, the LBC said the Arab initiative is stumbling, while the _ Future quoted French president Nicolas Sarkozy as saying that Hezbollah should play the Lebanese parliamentary democratic game in Lebanon.

Television Stations’ Interviews in Lebanon

Al-Manar
Program: Between Two Brackets
Al-Diyar paper’s editor-in-chief Charles Ayoub said the Maronite Patriarchs’ statement shook the government, pointing out that dialogue in Paris is a preliminary conference for electing the president.