Rima Maktabi with an Excellent Update Report on Syria

Note: Many activists and commentators have suggested that the man in civilian clothing surrounded by security, seen taking aim and shooting at protesters is no other Bashar al Assad's brother Maher al Assad.

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Leb Web Digest 06.05.11

• Hussain Abdul Hussain: In Syria, It's the Economy
• Lee Smith: Why is Obama Protecting Assad? 
• Tony Badran: Delusional Hope Over Reality
• Time: How Syria and Libya got to be Turkey's Headaches
• Nassim Taleb: The Black Swan of Cairo 
• NYTimes: Arab Unrest Threatens Turkey's Newfound Influence
• Beirut Spring: Single Issue Political Parties in Lebanon
• Rational Republic: Illegitimate Arab Regimes
• Michael Young: Osama is Dead. Good, but so what?

Special Forces Dog in Osama bin Laden Raid

Via Gizmodo, the UK's Sun reports:

A fearless four-legged recruit joined US Special Forces as they stormed Osama Bin Laden's secret lair.

The explosive-sniffing dog was strapped to an assault team member as they took on one of their greatest challenges to date.

He was part of the operation in which the elite US Navy Seals lowered themselves down ropes from three Black Hawk helicopters into the terrorist supremo's hideout in the town of Abbottabad, Pakistan, on Sunday.

...

Heavily armoured hounds — equipped with infrared night-sight cameras — have been used in the past by the top-secret unit.

The war dogs wear ballistic body armour that is said to withstand damage from single and double-edged knives, as well as protective gear which shields them from shrapnel and gunfire.

German Shepherds have been leading the way in SAS raids in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wearing oxygen masks, the pooches have been trained to jump from aircraft at 25,000ft, before seeking out insurgents in hostile environments.

The animals will attack anyone carrying a weapon and have become a pivotal part of special operations as they crawl unnoticed into tunnels or rooms to hunt for enemy combatants.

The cameras on their heads beam live TV pictures back to the troops, providing them with critical information and warning of ambushes.

Dogs were also used in the capture of Saddam Hussein and in the killing of the Iraqi dictator's two sons.

Also via Gizmodo, more titanium-toothed black-ops dogs from The Daily.

The Syrian Regime Insiders

Dated April 22 2011, the video shows a group of pro-government armed men roaming the streets of Homs and shooting arbitrarily.

An informative "factbox" by MSNBC on the Syrian leadership and the inner circle of the ruling Assad family:

Power in Syria is concentrated in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, his brother and several aides who have acted as guardians of a 48-year old autocratic Baathist system under challenge by pro-democracy protesters.

Members of the pervasive security apparatus underpin the power structure and enforce decisions taken at the top.

Here are the big names who make up Assad's inner circle:

MAHER AL-ASSAD

* Assad's brother, who commands the Republican Guard and is the second most powerful man in the country. He also controls the Presidential Guard and the Fourth Armored Division, units which form the state's security backbone.

* Last week, the 4th Division stormed the southern city of Deraa, where the unrest first started, shelling the old quarter to quell protests calling for the downfall of Assad, more political freedoms and an end to corruption.

* W. Andrew Terrill, research professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Army War college and a specialist in Syrian military affairs, said of Maher:

"Some observers consider (him) to be excessively violent and emotionally volatile. It appears that President Assad views his brother as totally trustworthy."

* Diplomats say Maher shot his brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, deputy chief of staff of the armed forces, in the stomach during an argument in 1999. Shawkat was reportedly flown to France for treatment and survived.

* He was named in a preliminary U.N. report investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri as one of the people who may have been behind the killing.

RAMI MAKHLOUF

* Assad's influential cousin, and one of the first names protesters chanted against in demonstrations, for his reputation as being corrupt. He is owner of the country's largest cellphone company, Syriatel, and several large firms in the construction and oil sectors.

* In 2008, the United States imposed sanctions on Makhlouf whom the U.S. Treasury department said "improperly benefits from and aids the public corruption of Syrian regime officials." His brother, Hafez, a senior official in the General Intelligence Directorate, is also under U.S. sanctions.

* The tycoon insists his businesses are legitimate and provide professional employment for thousands of Syrians.

ASSEF SHAWKAT

* Former head of military intelligence, now deputy chief-of-staff of the armed forces. Born in the port city of Tartous and married to Assad's sister, Bushra.

* He has been sidelined in the last several years.

* Shawkat was also named in the preliminary U.N. report which implicated him in Hariri's killing.

* The United States imposed sanctions on him in 2006, following the Hariri assassination. At the time, Shawkat was head of military intelligence and Syria had not yet ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon.

"Shawkat has been a key architect of Syria's domination of Lebanon, as well as a fundamental contributor to Syria's long-standing policy to foment terrorism against Israel," the U.S. Treasury said, when sanctions were imposed.

ADULFATTAH QUDSIYEH

* The head of military intelligence, formerly head of air force intelligence.

* The agency's prime perogative is to ensure the loyalty of the army and in countering foreign espionage.

JAMIL HASSAN

* Head of Air Force intelligence since 2009. He previously served as a security official in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor and was promoted to become a key figure in Syria's security apparatus.

* Air Force intelligence, which is also in charge of securing Syria's airports, is of particular significance since Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, mounted his 1970 coup from within the air force.

ALI MAMLOUK

* Head of General Security directorate, and one of the figures whom Washington most recently imposed sanctions on following the unrest gripping the country.

* A leaked WikiLeaks cable dated February 2010 showed Mamlouk had been the surprise guest at a meeting with U.S. officials during which he discussed efforts to increase joint security cooperation with the United States.

Mamlouk's attendance at the meeting was "extraordinary and did not occur even with friendly countries like Britain and France," Syria's ambassador to the U.S. was quoted as saying in the cable, at a time when Washington was actively working to rehabilitate relations with Syria.

* Mamlouk said his department had been more successful at fighting terrorism in the region because "we are practical and not theoretical," according to the cable.

ZUHAIR HAMAD

* Deputy head of General Security directorate, considered a rising star within Syria's security organs. Human rights activists say he played a major role in a campaign of arrest of opposition and independent figures that intensified in the months leading up to the unrest.

MOHAMMED NASSIF KHEIRBEK

* Deputy vice president for security affairs and one of the most senior advisers who has the ear of Assad. He is reported to have medical problems and wears a pacemaker.

* Pointman for Syria's relationship with Iran, its closest ally in the region, according to a leaked WikiLeaks cable.

HISHAM IKHTIAR

* Head of national security bureau of Baath party, Ikhtiar was initially charged with quelling protests in the southern city of Deraa, cradle of the uprising against Assad family rule.

* In 2007, he was included on a list of Syrians forbidden to enter U.S. soil. Washington imposed financial sanctions in 2006.

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• Turkey and U.S. Discussed Welfare of Assad Family
• Easter Weekend Massacre in Syria: Enforced Disappearances
• Easter Weekend Massacre in Syria
• Video: Face the Nation - U.S. Perspectives on Syria
• Al Jazeera English Video Interview: The Syrian Police State
• HRW: Syrian Protesters Being Tortured
• Video: Al Jazeera English on Syria
• The Bloody Damascus Spring
• Syrian Secret Police (Intelligence) Memo 
• Syria Update
• HRW Documents Atrocities by Syrian Regime
• The Dismal State of Analysis on the Syrian Regime
• Released Syrian Activist Speaks Out
• HRW Condemns Syrian Regime for Killing Civilians
• American Student Describes 15 Days in Syrian Prison 
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Clues to Early Christianity?

Could 70 lead books hold the key to early Christianity and the Hebrew converts who formed a portion of that community?  The Economist reports:

The fate of the Jews who followed Jesus is one of the puzzles of the history of monotheism. The New Testament has much to say about a related issue: the dilemmas faced by Jesus’s non-Jewish adherents. ... But when it comes to followers of Christ who were Jewish by culture and religious practice, the evidence is hazier. Such people clearly existed: the Epistle to the Hebrews, a deeply enigmatic section of the New Testament, is addressed to those who were steeped in the lore of the Jewish Temple ... Then there is a handful of references in other texts to Christians who fled eastward from Jerusalem before the Roman-Jewish war of 66AD. One account speaks of an exodus towards Jordan, after the Christian bishop, James, was attacked in the Temple courtyard.

... By the fourth century, a ferocious Cypriot bishop was describing a group of people whom he deemed heretics because they kept the Mosaic law—but who were also loathed by fellow Jews because of their belief in Christ. As in so many conflicts, people who straddled the divide upset both sides.

All that helps explain the excitement generated in recent weeks by the emergence of a collection of lead codices, which might, if they are genuine, throw light on the missing links in Christian and Jewish history. Some 70 or so ring-bound “books”, with up to 15 leaves each, are said to have been found, along with other artefacts, in a cave in Jordan, near the place where the Hebrew Christians seemingly took refuge.

They are now in the possession of an Israeli Bedouin, but the government of Jordan has claimed ownership, saying they came to light on Jordanian soil a few years ago. Amid much confusion, the objects’ keeper asserts that they have been in his family for a century. Ziad al-Saad, head of Jordan’s antiquities department, has said this could be the biggest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. David Elkington, who is writing a book about the lead “books”, backs Jordan’s claim, saying it offers the best chance of ensuring the artefacts are open to scholars. An Oxford laboratory, after testing one of the codices, believes the lead might be 2,000 years old.

... But so far, no scientific authority in a position to judge has seen more than a fraction of the objects.

If they are authentic, the lead objects tell a teasing Judeo-Christian story. There is writing in an ancient script, Paleo-Hebrew, which was used by Jews largely for ceremonial purposes. The writing is mostly indecipherable; it may be in code. The imagery features the Jewish feast of Sukkot, which is both a harvest thanksgiving and a celebration of the Jews’ sojourn in Egypt. During this festival, celebrants brandish palm fronds (bound up with willow and myrtle) in one hand and a lemon-like fruit, the etrog, in the other. This is familiar Jewish material, but some may ask what it has to do with Christianity.

A good question. In various forms, most Jewish festivals found their way into the Christian calendar. Imagery and language from Sukkot occur at many moments in the Christian year; in the stories of Christ’s birth, baptism, transfiguration, and most obviously at Palm Sunday, when Christians wave palms (or in Russia, willow twigs) to commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. In Christian commentaries on the Hebrew Scriptures, it is stressed that Sukkot was associated with the advent of the Messiah and with the coming of all nations to worship in Jerusalem. So images of Sukkot would be dear to the heart of Hebrew Christians.

None of that proves a Christian connection. The imagery might also be consistent with an alternative theory which was aired in the Jewish Chronicle, a British weekly: that the codices belonged to forerunners of the mystical tradition which became known as Kabbalah. But by stirring a discussion about the resonance of certain images to Jews and Christians alike, the lead objects have refocused attention on a deep but contentious commonality.

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Daily Star Interview with Army Commander Jean Qahwaji

The Daily Star has released the full text of its interview with Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Jean Qahwaji.  The release came in response to an article published by the newspaper which had apparently led "to some erroneous interpretations".

Earlier today MP Marwan Hamadeh, a stalwart of the pro-sovereignty March 14 movement had this to say regarding the Army Commander:

"The new majority's inability to form a government led it to create the joke of requesting the army commander, who should distance himself from political divisions, to name candidates for ministerial positions in the government."

"We hope that General Jean Qahwaji would not embroil himself in a political maneuver aimed at targeting him and the military institution, which is a source of stability for the country,"

Below is a [slightly] abridged copy of the Daily Star interview:

Q: The formula of the “army, resistance, people” is widespread. What is it based on? To what extent are you convinced by this formula and to what extent do you abide by it?

A: The formula of “the army, the people and the resistance” ... was clearly mentioned in the ministerial statement of the national unity Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri which is still currently a caretaker Cabinet awaiting the formation of the new Cabinet.

This formula is primarily resulting from Lebanon’s high need ... to confront the Israeli enemy, especially since this enemy constitutes a permanent threat against Lebanon ... This fact necessitates the existence of a deterrent force which is able to compensate for the disproportionate balance of military powers.

The Lebanese Army abides by this formula since it is part of the decisions and guidance of the political authority represented by the Cabinet and it is totally convinced by this formula since experience has proved its primary role in liberating the greater part of south Lebanon and western Bekaa from Israeli enemy occupation in addition to its role in defeating this enemy in the war of July 2006...

Q: Many reports mention a pivotal role played by Hezbollah inside the army. What is the validity of these foreign reports? What is the type of coordination between the army and the resistance and what is the extent of this cooperation?

A: These reports are erroneous ... since the Army is a unified national institution based on distancing itself from politics, sectarianism and factional issues and does not allow any side to intervene in its internal affairs. Furthermore, the Military institution immediately takes disciplinary measures when any soldier  ... takes advantage of his post to make political relations with any side.

As for the coordination between the Army and the resistance I can say that it is ongoing and its extent is tied to Israeli enemy threats and military developments on the southern border.

Q: The Army receives aid from many sides and countries, especially from the United States. What if this aid were suspended? Is it linked to conditions? Is it sufficient? What are the equipment and expertise that the Army needs?

A: The Army has ties of military cooperation with many friendly and Arab Armies ... The main fields of cooperation are currently based on training, military logistics and the exchange of expertise in addition to receiving quantities of equipment, weapons, vehicles and spare parts. We have repeatedly emphasized that the Army will not accept any aid in case it is coupled with certain conditions which will likely affect the institution’s performance and national inclusive role.

Concerning the types of equipment and weapons needed ... we can say that the Army is in need of equipment and weapons used to maintain security in addition to effective defensive weapons such as airplanes, helicopters, boats, anti-aircraft missiles, armored vehicles and surface-to-surface missiles as well as heavy-duty vehicles.

Q: Some countries have expressed their immediate desire to arm the military institution but it is evident that the Lebanese Army is hesitant with regard to accepting this aid. What is the reason? Do you think that any side is trying to hamper the objective of turning the Lebanese Army into a military strike force?

A: There are many efforts but most of them require huge funding which is currently unavailable to the Lebanese Army due to the difficult economic situation in the country. As for the offers proposed by a number of countries to effectively equip the Lebanese Army with weapons through donations we can say that until this day these offers have yet to be put into actions ... in this context we find it worthy to mention that the Israeli enemy has repeatedly exerted tremendous efforts so that cutting-edge weapons do not reach the Lebanese Army in order to prevent it from establishing a balance of deterrence.

Q: Who is threatening the Lebanese Army more than the other? Is it Israel or radical movements? What is the Army’s plan to confront these threats?

A: This generalization cannot be applied to radical movements since many of them have legitimate principles and doctrines and they endeavor to achieve their objectives by democratic and peaceful means and do not adopt the culture of violence and terrorism.

The Lebanese Army considers the Israeli enemy and terrorism as equal in terms of the threat that they constitute due to the clear contradiction between their characteristics and the nature and make-up of Lebanese society. ... Israel always had historic designs on our land and is still occupying parts of Lebanese territories in the farms of Shebaa, the hills of Kfar Shouba and Ghajar village and refuses the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland in addition to the daily breaches and violations of Lebanese sovereignty. The second enemy namely terrorism, has constantly endeavored to deal a blow to Lebanese national unity, coexistence as well as our social, economic and security stability.
...

Q: What are the lessons which General Jean Kahwagi drew from the experiences of former Armed Forces Commanders especially General Emile Lahoud and General Michel Sleiman?

A: Every Armed Forces Commander has his own leadership experiences and expertise which distinguish him from any other Commander, despite the fact that they share many common characteristics.

Leadership is an ongoing performance and each commander relies on the achievements of his predecessor and strives to develop these achievements and make his own new achievements to further promote the military institution. If we compare the current situation of the military institution with its situation in 1990 we can clearly notice that a huge development was achieved on all the levels and this is attributed to the tremendous efforts exerted by His Excellency and the former President of the Republic, General Emile Lahoud, and His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Sleiman, who have consolidated the Army’s unity and built it on inclusive national foundations. Furthermore, both Presidents have always strived to equip the army with weapons, increase its personnel and create new regiments, and build additional facilities in addition to stressing professional training on all the levels and for that I am deeply thankful.

Images from Illegal Construction Confrontations

Top: Lebanese soldiers deploy to disperse residents at a street in Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 21, 2011. Two civilians were killed during clashes between residents and security forces over the illegal constructions on public lands in Tyre, southern Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported (source).  Second: A police car is set on fire by residents in Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 21, 2011. ...(source).  Third: Residents seize a police car in Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 21, 2011. ... (source).  Fourth: A man stands at the entrance of a shop in the building of an illegal construction site in Beirut's southern suburb of Ouzai, Lebanon, Thursday, April 21, 2011. Security officials say a dispute over a building permit in southern Lebanon has descended into a gunbattle that killed two people. Illegal construction is common in Lebanon, where many poor who cannot afford to buy land or apartments end up building on state-owned property (source). Bottom: A set of replica rockets which have been set up by Hezbollah in front of a picture of disappeared imam Moussa al-Sadr and a site where laborers are working at an illegal construction site in Abu Aswad near the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, April 21, 2011. ... (source).

National Security Team Receives Update on OBL Operation

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza - original here)

Jordanian Peacekeeper in Cote D'Ivoire

A UN peacekeeper from Jordan Battalion reloads his weapon as he returns fire on troops supporting Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo during a patrol in the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast on April 3rd, 2011. (AP Photo/Jane Hahn via The Atlantic: In Focus)

Presidential Announcement on Killing of Osama bin Laden

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