Oh, I see the French text needs a rendering into English:

In interviews granted to the daily newspapers, L’Orient-Le Jour, Annahar and Assafir, Nicholas Sarkozy affirmed that, “today a new page is about to be written between France and Syria. For too long, the impasse and crisis in Lebanon have prevented the gradual resumption of dialog” but with the election of a new Lebanese president following the Doha Agreement, “things are perhaps slated for change. In any case, this is what I hope to see”, he continued.

“I said […] that I would resume contacts with Syria only after positive and concrete developments in Lebanon toward exiting the crisis”, said President Sarkozy. According to Mr. Sarkozy, “We have to recognize that the Doha Agreement, the election of President Suleiman and the reconfirmation of Fuad Seniora as Prime Minister constitute such developments”. “I took note of the outcome and I telephoned President Assad to tell him of my desire to see the process of implementing the Agreement continue, he said. “I also told him that the indirect negotiations between his country and Israel sponsored by Turkey would start things in the right direction and that I encouraged this path”, he added. But “our insistence on truth and justice regarding the political assassinations carried out in Lebanon is unchanged…”

Why does Sami call جعجع “Gagegea” ?

🙂

The guy has enough g’s in his name! No need for an extra one.

Here’s one for the ages (waving yalla bye to Sarko):

I recommend taking a look at David Kaiser’s blog, History Unfolding, for what Bush said in his speech to the Knesset last month…

http://historyunfolding.blogspot.com/

QN,

I don’t know about you, but I feel quite embarrassed when I see such images of our “leaders” and politicians. I just feel like they have no dignity or integrity.

Nour,

I feel entertained.

🙂

QN,

Right, but why do you feel entertained? Obviously those people are not intending to provide us with entertainment. The entertaining aspect of it is that they’re a farce.

Well at least that’s my interpretation. What’s your take on it?

This was from Assafir and I thought it was interesting:

سلاحهـا الصواريـخ وجيشـها لحـرب العصابـات

رؤيـة إسرائيليـة للحـرب المقبلـة: سوريـا حققـت توازنـاً استراتيجيـاً

حلمي موسى

تحت عنواني «الذراع الطويلة تقصر» و«جربوه»، عرض معلقان عسكريان في صحيفتي «يديعوت أحرنوت» و«معاريف» امس رؤية إسرائيل العسكرية للمواجهة المقبلة مع الجيش السوري.
وركزت المقالة الأولى بشكل أساسي على سلاح الجو الإسرائيلي، من خلال تجربته في التعامل مع الذراع الصاروخي لحزب الله في حرب لبنان الثانية، وأثر ذلك على التعامل مع الذراع الصاروخي السوري في ظل دفاع جوي فاعل. وتعاطت المقالة الثانية مع القوة البرية السورية التي تحولت في الأعوام الأخيرة إلى جيش من طراز جديد.
وأشار رون بن يشاي في «يديعوت» إلى أنه برغم ان سلاح الجو الإسرائيلي في ذروة تفوقه، فإنه قد يفقد هذه الميزة قريبا لأن «تسلح سوريا وإيران بمنظومات روسية متطورة، قد يجعل الحرب المقبلة تظهر سلاح الجو كما في الأيام الأولى لحرب يوم الغفران». وشدد على أن الطيران الإسرائيلي يشكل عنصر الردع الأساسي، إلا أن قادة السلاح يعتقدون أن هذا الهامش سيتقلص. والسبب هو منظومات الدفاع الجوي المتقدمة التي تشتريها إيران وسوريا. وينقل بن يشاي عن خبراء السلاح في العالم أن روسيا سدت في هذا الميدان الفجوة التكنولوجية بينها وبين الغرب في التسعينات، بل إنها سجلت تقدما على نظيراتها الأميركية.
وقال بن يشاي إن ما يقض مضجع قادة الأمن في إسرائيل على وجه الخصوص، هي منظومة «أس ? 300»، المؤهلة لاعتراض الطائرات والصواريخ حتى مسافة 140 كيلومترا وعلى ارتفاعات تتراوح بين مئات الأمتار وثلاثين كيلومترا. وأكدت روسيا أنها تجري مفاوضات مع إيران لتزويدها بهذه المنظومة، وأن سوريا تحاول الحصول عليها أيضا. ولكن روسيا زودت رسميا كلا من إيران وسوريا بمنظومات ناجعة، وإن كانت أقل مدى مثل «منظومة تور» (SA-15). ومن المقرر أن تحصل سوريا هذا العام على منظومة «بانتسير» (SA-22). وتتسم هذه المنظومات بشموليتها في الاستقلال والاكتشاف والرد وقدرتها الحركية العالية.
وعلاوة على ذلك، هناك صواريخ الكتف المضادة للطائرات التي اشترتها سوريا وإيران من روسيا، وهي من طرازي SA-16 وSA-18.
ولكن إضافة للصواريخ المضادة للطائرات، هناك منظومات صواريخ أرض أرض السورية التي تعتبر في ايران، مع منظومة حزب الله، وفق بن يشاي، «ذراعها الطويلة التي يمكن بها الرد على أي هجوم أميركي أو إسرائيلي عليها». ولكن بن يشاي يلحظ عنصرا آخر يقيد حرية العمل الجوي الإسرائيلي، وهو وسائل وأساليب التمويه التي يطورها الإيرانيون ويشركون بها السوريين وحزب الله.
وهنا يأتي دور المراسل العسكري لـ«معاريف» عمير ربابورت، الذي كتب عن التغيير الجوهري الذي طرأ على بنية الجيش السوري في السنوات الأخيرة. وأشار إلى أن المناورات الأخيرة التي أجراها الجيش الإسرائيلي، أخذت بالحسبان التغيير الدراماتيكي الذي مر به الجيش السوري في السنوات الاخيرة. ونقل عن جهات عسكرية قولها «بينما كنا في غفوة، استطاع (الرئيس السوري بشار) الاسد الوصول الى توازن استراتيجي مع اسرائيل».
وأوضح ربابورات أن «الاحترام الذي ابداه الجيش الاسرائيلي للجيش السوري في المناورات الاخيرة، مغاير تماما للاستخفاف الذي اعتادوا التعامل فيه معه طوال سنوات كثيرة». وأضاف أن الاسد بالتحديد هو الذي غيّر وضع الجيش السوري كليا. وتحديداً في فترة القائد الذي اعتبرته اسرائيل «غريب الاطوار» ومجهولا، بدأت عملية اعادة بناء الجيش السوري اثر اتفاقيات عقدت بين سوريا وروسيا. الكتلة الاساسية من الوسائل القتالية الاساسية بدأت تتدفق من خلال خط موسكو دمشق الجوي منذ العام .2005
ونقل عن مسؤول أمني أن «القرار الاهم الذي اتخذه السوريون كان اعادة بناء جيشهم، بصورة مغايرة تماما وفي الواقع بصورة لا تذكر بأي جيش آخر في العالم. لقد قرروا عدم صرف الاموال على الدبابات والطائرات، مفترضين انها لا تمتلك فرصة كبيرة للنجاح في مواجهة سلاحي الجو والمدرعات الإسرائيليين. في المقابل، قرروا صرف اموال كثيرة على ثلاثة اسلحة: الصواريخ المضادة للدبابات، والصواريخ الحديثة ضد الطائرات، وطبعاً الاستثمارات الهائلة في الصواريخ الموجهة للعمق الإسرائيلي».
واعتبر أن المشتريات الجديدة جعلت الجيش السوري، الوحيد في العالم الذي يتحرك من خلال استراتيجية حرب العصابات. وتطلق جهات في الجيش الاسرائيلي على الاستراتيجية السورية الجديدة اسم «نهج التفاضل»، ويستخدمه حزب الله منذ سنوات كما تبنته حركة حماس في غزة. تجسيد هذا النهج يتم من خلال الحصول على صواريخ متطورة مضادة للدبابات من طراز «كورنيت» و«ماتيس»، وهي من افضل الصواريخ في العالم. ويتفاوض السوريون مع روسيا الآن حول صواريخ «كريزن تاما» التي تعتبر متطورة وأكثر خطورة من «كورنيت» و«ماتيس».
في مجال صواريخ ارض ارض، حرص السوريون على اقامة منظومات صواريخ «سكود» وصواريخ قصيرة المدى من قطر 220 ميلليمترا وصواريخ 302 ميلليمتر، يبلغ مداها 150 كيلومترا، كما يسعون الى امتلاك صواريخ روسية من طراز «اسكندر».
وغيّر الجيش السوري بنيته بصورة دراماتيكة، بحيث ازدادت وحدات الكوماندوس فيما تقلصت وحدات المدرعات. والجيش السوري صغير بصورة عامة، ولكنه ازداد صغراً. ففيما كانت النسبة في السابق لواء مدرعات في مقابل كل لواءين من المشاة، اصبحت هناك ثلاثة ألوية مشاة في مقابل كل لواء مدرعات.
وتساءل المراسل عما إذا كان الجيش الاسرائيلي قد غفا فعلا خلال نوبة الحراسة، ولم يستعد في الوقت الملائم للتغير الدراماتيكي الذي بدأ في الجيش السوري. وترى جهات أمنية إسرائيلية كثيرة ان هذا ما حدث، وفي سياق ذلك تذكر ان عدداً من المشاريع الاستثمارية في جهاز الدفاع مخصصة لساحات قتالية من نوع آخر تماما، وليس بمواجهة التهديد السوري في صورته الجديدة. وتعتقد بعض الأطراف الأخرى ان سلوك الجيش الاسرائيلي صحيحٌ على المدى البعيد، حيث يتوجب عليه ان يستعد لاي مجابهة مع سوريا ومع دول اخرى مثل إيران، الأمر الذي يمكن ان يحدث في اي وقت.

Nour,
They ARE trying “to provide us with entertainment”…!! What other pretense do they have for making a living on our account…??! 😉

QN,
I just watched this Al Jazeera “Hewar Maftouh” program with a young Palestinian poet by the name of Tamim Barghouti (what is it about these Barghouties??!)… WOW… With tears streaming down my cheeks, I tell you these IGs and Shaisters just don’t have a chance…!!! They better “get with it”…!

http://tamimbarghouti.net/Tamimweb/English/index.htm
I don’t have a link for the Al Jazeera program, but I thought you’d enjoy it, on purely aesthetic grounds if nothing else…!

Asef said he is not alawi, ,he said he is from Tartoos, I believe him.

Seeking The truth,

I do believe that the NYT is wrong and that Asef is not alawi but Sunni.

“That has been vetoed mainly by the Tripoli bloc loyal to former Prime Minister Omar Karameh, which is opposed to March 14 and pro-Syrian. ”
(I think that this is the first time Mr. Safadi has learned of this:-))

This is not the first time that Mr. Mobayed creates his own facts in order to fit whatever he is advocating at a particular point in time.

Naji,

Thanks, I’ll check it out.

Nour,

I understand your feelings. Politicians are an unsavory bunch, with the rare exception.

There are only a handful of politicians in Lebanon that I admire, but even with these few, there are always caveats.

Maybe it bears repeating that the 2009 elections represent a big opportunity for the emergence of new voices. Hello, future Lebanese leaders… this is your chance, ya jama3a.

There is a new generation coming up through the ranks, and I’m continually impressed by it. The Aounist blogs are full of very smart young guys, extremely well-informed, and open minded. Same goes for lots of people on the myriad M14 blogs. Don’t worry, ya Nour: the future is bright, as long as we don’t kill each other.

After opening up to Turkey, Bashar will continue to open the Arab countries to Asia! It is time Arab countries stop relying exclusively on their unhealthy relations with colonial powers whose only interests as Aoun was saying: “ISRAEL and OIL”
Without mentionning that these colonial powers are the ones who created most of the region’s problem: Artficial creation of Iraq, splitting Kurds into 4 countries, creating Israel by throwing out palestinians, separating Lebanon from Syria etc..
The arab countries badly needs Asia: India is a success story in IT development and I hope to see Bashar opening up to Russia and China.
Are Lebanese universities offering Chinese language classes, Damascus is?

#
Syrie: Lafarge remporte deux contrats de 1,2 md USD pour deux cimenteries
08/06/2008-[16:57] – AFP

DAMAS, 8 juin 2008 (AFP) – La Syrie a signé avec le géant français Lafarge deux contrats de près de 1,2 milliard de dollars pour la construction de deux cimenteries en Syrie, a indiqué dimanche le quotidien officiel As-Saoura.

“La Syrie a signé deux importants contrats avec le géant français Lafarge pour la construction de deux cimenteries à Damas et à Alep (nord-ouest) d’un coût atteignant près de 1,2 md de dollars”, a affirmé le journal citant un responsable du gouvernement français. Ces deux usines, dont la construction doit commencer en 2008, “sont parmi les investissements étrangers les plus importants en Syrie”, selon le journal. En 2007, les exportations de la Syrie vers la France se sont élevées à 700 millions de dollars, alors que les exportations de la France vers la Syrie ont atteint 500 millions de dollars, selon as-Saoura. As-Saoura évoque aussi un projet français pour “agrandir et exploiter le port de Lattaquié”, dans le nord-ouest de la Syrie, ainsi que des projets du groupe de distribution français Carrefour pour ouvrir ses premiers supermarchés en Syrie. Une usine de fromage Bel-Syrie, construite par le groupe français Bel et inaugurée en septembre 2005, avait constitué le premier investissement français direct en Syrie, hors domaine pétrolier.

Assad, Ahmadinejad and Mofaz
By Zvi Bar’el
Tags: Israel

Kadima has nothing to worry about. It has no political platform for elections, but it has two winning candidates. One of them is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the other is Bashar Assad, and they already have the kind of backing that no other candidate has yet to receive: Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. One may be leading Iran into trouble and the other – how did Mofaz put it? – “is not ready,” but when they fall in line with Mofaz, then there’s a winning political mix.

Now that transportation problems are behind us, and traffic accidents have become a minor issue; all the problematic roads have been upgraded and the light rail and intercity railroads to Jerusalem, Sderot and Afula are running smoothly, Mofaz has found time to look into the situation on the Golan Heights. There, it seems, the problem is double. Mofaz believes the Syrian president is still not ready for a peace process and is involved, up to his neck, in terrorism. Therefore, if Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights, this would allow Iran to set up a large armed presence there.

It is impressive how Mofaz has managed to turn the threat of Iran and Syria into his, and Kadima’s, domestic policy. An attack on Iran, rejecting Assad, and delaying the tahadiyeh (truce) with Hamas are the pillars of this policy, and this way Mofaz feels he does not need to offer any real solutions. “Just say no” used to be the slogan for countering drug use in the United States. Mofaz, it appears, has adopted this slogan with fervor. Take away Ahmadinejad and Assad from Mofaz, and he has nothing. “What has Livni done? She spoke with a few foreign ministers,” said Mofaz; after all, every one knows that “most of the work here is defense-related.”

He is casting his shadow like that of a defense minister. And when confronted with major threats, not only is Livni not suitable, but Ehud Olmert, Avi Dichter and Meir Sheetrit are also not relevant. What is necessary is a general who knows how to say “no.” But is this not the same general who came to understand – albeit slowly – following a long and painful lesson, that there is no point in staying in Lebanon? That war against the Palestinians is not exactly a walk in the park? That the second intifada, in which he was chief of staff and also defense minister, did not show his methods to be particularly impressive?

It is not the military record of Mofaz that is at issue here, even though this is the background he has on offer. Whoever is willing to take Mofaz seriously cannot make do with a policy that is entirely a listing of threats, or a stance that ridicules diplomacy. How, for example, does Mofaz intend to overcome the Syrian threat, the ties between Syria and Hezbollah, the Iranian threat and the attacks from the Gaza Strip?

No, not with those empty slogans of “we need to wait” and “we need to drive out” and “we need to target.” We want details, please! Details and explanations of the type that he would offer, for example, to a committee of inquiry that would want to know why he failed to allow a peace process between Israel and Syria to advance. Why did he think that Assad is not ready for negotiations when the Syrian president has managed so successfully a maneuver that put him in remote control of Lebanese politics? What were Mofaz’ sources of information, when he failed to recognize that Assad is now carrying out a reconciliation with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which is enjoying French support, and even the United States understands it was mistaken when it sought to veto Syrian-Israeli talks?

That same committee will ask him about the practical alternatives that he is offering in place of a tahadiyeh, and the number of casualties that he anticipated as a result of his alternative. How did he think that his proposal, as transportation minister, would succeed after all the actions he undertook in the territories as chief of staff and defense minister failed?

But for Mofaz, voicing the threat, emphasizing it and presenting it in eye-catching colors, is policy. He does not need to meet with “a few foreign ministers,” and this does not stem from his belief that there can be only a military solution. The threat also has political solutions, even versus Iran. But on the narrow path to the post of prime minister, there are two generals, one from Kadima and one from Labor, and when the right is right behind them, it is not diplomatic solutions that are required, but threats. It is not understanding or political savvy that is needed, but someone who knows how to shout “booooooo.” Someone who knows how to turn even the chances for peace into a genuine threat. It is a real pleasure to see how Mofaz, Assad and Ahmadinejad go so well together. When one of them threatens, the other benefits – and Mofaz’s Kadima has a political platform.

Alex,

Fantastic! I’m glad you put it on – I read it in Hebrew, and was going to post it here in English… Mofaz is such, how should I put it politely, an idiot!? Can’t keep his mouth shut, coming up with statements he’ll later regret, like he did not too long ago, yelling to all the radio and TV people that he’s a Likudnik, and will always stay in the Likud, while at the same time arranging for his new leather seat within Kadima… Now he’s moving his house to the Golan, and suggesting Israel will have to attack Iran alone… What a “leader”…

SHai

I automatically post anything that Zvi writes. : )

He is one of the best analysts you have in Israel.. Not a hawk, not an “extreme left” type.

And I have been exchanging emails with him for the past 4 years I think.

When I read it, I was smiling from ear to ear. It’s time someone put this trigger-happy ex-COGS ex-Defense Minister, in his place. I too can probably win a seat with Likud’s next government, if I shout loud enough “I’m a Likudnik, I’ll never leave you, I’m moving to the Golan, and… let’s bomb Iran… alone!” For that matter, so can you, Alex! That is… if you’re interested… 😉

Lebanon has moved back to the old age method of back room dealings and petty positioning.

Sarkozy comes to visit as if he is the emir of Doha; well he is not and he has to go and pay his respects to Damascus which came out the winner in this round

Iran is in the cross hairs: if it derails the Status of Forces agreement in Iraq, plays the spoiler of Syria-Israel peace dealings, and continue to support Hamas and HA it will be hit. The uranium project is now in full swing; and therefore, Israel will provoke, Iran will respond, and the US will finish the kill.

The neo cons with Mr. Friedman in the first row are starting to prepare the US public opinion for the coming attack.

The next few weeks are going to look very interesting indeed.

Not me, but … perhaps AIG?

Observer,
If the U.S. is going to attack Iran, god help us all. Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination (and it’s well known aftermath) will seem like a romantic canal ride, compared with the hell that will be unleashed in our region.

AIG is already getting spot #7. But you can have #8… Should I talk to Bibi? According to recent polls, not only will he win the next election, his party Likud will get around 34 seats(!), up 22 from their current 12…

Shai,

OK, we’ll ask Naji then.

By the way .. who will Bibi ask to join him for his new coalition government?

Alex, it’s quite clear – Lieberman, Shas, the usual… And they’ll have quite a majority. But, let’s not set the date for new elections just yet. I have a funny suspicion that most MK’s in the current coalition would rather receive orders from (even) Tzipi Livni, than give up their nice leather seats, their volvos, their free-stamps, etc. And be left with… nothing. So it is very likely that a Kadima member will become our next PM. God help us all if it is to be Mofaz! I’d rather have Lieberman…

Alex, I heard that…! 😛
I’ll run for office only in United Syria… 😉

Naji, who’s talking about “running for office”?!!! Spot #8 is not good enough for you? What, suddenly your innate hunches tell you it’s got to be #1? 😉 But hey, maybe Mofaz, who was born in Iran, and is now moving to the Golan, will let you be his Defense Minister, and will even call it United Syria, just for you… 😉

Naji,

If we have United Syria, you should not run … whoever was there when United Syria happened deserves your support : )

Shai,

I nominate you or Zvi Bar’el.

But I’ll bet on Livni for now.

Actually .. I won’t even bet. What do I know!

Well, it may well be Tzipi Livni. But she won’t do much. She’s simply too inexperienced, won’t have the guts to go far, without first sensing the support of all those around her, which… won’t give it. Unfortunately in Israel, the louder you yell, the more votes you get. So perhaps even Mofaz can outdo her in upcoming Kadima primaries. Who knows… it’s all speculation, but none of it looks great.

swerv21 said:
asef is alawi. not sure why that matters.

Isn’t it obvious? Because many don’t believe that the Syrian regime would entrust such a sensitive security position like head of military intelligence to other than an Alawite; and thereby, they underscore the sectarian nature of the state, and argue against the claim of secularism.

June 8, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
People vs. Dinosaurs
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Tefen Industrial Park, Israel

Question: What do America’s premier investor, Warren Buffett, and Iran’s toxic president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have in common? Answer: They’ve both made a bet about Israel’s future.

Ahmadinejad declared on Monday that Israel “has reached its final phase and will soon be wiped out from the geographic scene.”

By coincidence, I heard the Iranian leader’s statement on Israel Radio just as I was leaving the headquarters of Iscar, Israel’s famous precision tool company, headquartered in the Western Galilee, near the Lebanon border. Iscar is known for many things, most of all for being the first enterprise that Buffett bought overseas for his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway.

Buffett paid $4 billion for 80 percent of Iscar and the deal just happened to close a few days before Hezbollah, a key part of Iran’s holding company, attacked Israel in July 2006, triggering a monthlong war. I asked Iscar’s chairman, Eitan Wertheimer, what was Buffett’s reaction when he found out that he had just paid $4 billion for an Israeli company and a few days later Hezbollah rockets were landing outside its parking lot.

Buffett just brushed it off with a wave, recalled Wertheimer: “He said, ‘I’m not interested in the next quarter. I’m interested in the next 20 years.’ ” Wertheimer repaid that confidence by telling half his employees to stay home during the war and using the other half to keep the factory from not missing a day of work and setting a production record for the month. It helps when many of your “employees” are robots that move around the buildings, beeping humans out of the way.

So who would you put your money on? Buffett or Ahmadinejad? I’d short Ahmadinejad and go long Warren Buffett.

Why? From outside, Israel looks as if it’s in turmoil, largely because the entire political leadership seems to be under investigation. But Israel is a weak state with a strong civil society. The economy is exploding from the bottom up. Israel’s currency, the shekel, has appreciated nearly 30 percent against the dollar since the start of 2007.

The reason? Israel is a country that is hard-wired to compete in a flat world. It has a population drawn from 100 different countries, speaking 100 different languages, with a business culture that strongly encourages individual imagination and adaptation and where being a nonconformist is the norm. While you were sleeping, Israel has gone from oranges to software, or as they say around here, from Jaffa to Java.

The day I visited the Iscar campus, one of its theaters was filled with industrialists from the Czech Republic, who were getting a lecture — in Czech — from Iscar experts. The Czechs came all the way to the Israel-Lebanon border region to learn about the latest innovations in precision tool-making. Wertheimer is famous for staying close to his customers and the latest technologies. “If you sleep on the floor,” he likes to say, “you never have to worry about falling out of bed.”

That kind of hunger explains why, in the first quarter of 2008, the top four economies after America in attracting venture capital for start-ups were: Europe $1.53 billion, China $719 million, Israel $572 million and India $99 million, according to Dow Jones VentureSource. Israel, with 7 million people, attracted almost as much as China, with 1.3 billion.

Boaz Golany, who heads engineering at the Technion, Israel’s M.I.T., told me: “In the last eight months, we have had delegations from I.B.M., General Motors, Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart visiting our campus. They are all looking to develop R & D centers in Israel.”

Ahmadinejad professes not to care about such things. He was — to put it in American baseball terms — born on third base and thinks he hit a triple. Because oil prices have gone up to nearly $140 a barrel, he feels relaxed predicting that Israel will disappear, while Iran maintains a welfare state — with more than 10 percent unemployment.

Iran has invented nothing of importance since the Islamic Revolution, which is a shame. Historically, Iranians have been a dynamic and inventive people — one only need look at the richness of Persian civilization to see that. But the Islamic regime there today does not trust its people and will not empower them as individuals.

Of course, oil wealth can buy all the software and nuclear technology you want, or can’t develop yourself. This is not an argument that we shouldn’t worry about Iran. Ahmadinejad should, though.

Iran’s economic and military clout today is largely dependent on extracting oil from the ground. Israel’s economic and military power today is entirely dependent on extracting intelligence from its people. Israel’s economic power is endlessly renewable. Iran’s is a dwindling resource based on fossil fuels made from dead dinosaurs.

So who will be here in 20 years? I’m with Buffett: I’ll bet on the people who bet on their people — not the people who bet on dead dinosaurs.

Speaking of Livni, where’s my friend Ausamaa?

Ausamaa, habibi, we’re famous!

Kuwait’s KIA in talks to invest in Syria – mediaReuters, Sunday

June 8 2008 KUWAIT, June 8 (Reuters) – Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund, the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), is considering investing in Syria, state-owned Kuwait News Agency said.
KIA officials are holding talks in Syria to discuss “prospects for joint investment cooperation”, the news agency said, citing the KIA’s Khaled al-Hassoun, leader of the talks.
The report comes after a state visit to the Arab Gulf by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who, according to local media reports, proposed a joint venture with the KIA.
Gulf Arab investors, awash with record oil revenue, are looking overseas for business, including in Syria where the state-dominated economy is opening more to foreign private investment.
KIA had at least $213 billion of assets under management as of March 31 last year. Business

Ironic, isn’t it, that Bush now enjoys the status of former President Lahoud…still in office but ignored.

Karim’s post says the French (Lafarge Cement) have poked their finger in Bush’s eye by signing a big cement deal with Syria for a plant in Damascus and another in Aleppo. The amount of trade between Syria and France is rising in dollar amounts; the French will also enlarge and extend the Port of Latakia. Moreover, the French supermarket chain, Carrefour, is about to open several stores. The French cheeesemaker BONBEL (Vache Qui Rit) has a plant in Syria.

Qifa Nabki

I am here! It is just that I have nothing to say…while watching all the suspense about the Lebanese Cabinet-in-the-making drama. What is it? Bush and the Saudies and Mini Hariri have decided that the Feb 14 defeat is too much to swallow? Or the usual Lebanese “Ghanaj”?

As to being famous, that Commentator is jumping too fast into conclusions. They had Golda Meir before, but SHE was not well regarded here at all while Rabin was sort of OK.

“I also suspect that PM Livni will be well regarded in the Arab/Muslim worlds if these observations from one of the commenters on “Syria Comment” is indicative:..”

I don’t know how “indicative” our comments were, I hope mine is more so than yours.

BTW, dont you think that Olmert’s “mannerisem” is similar to that of Siniora and even Abbas? They all calim to act as democratically ellected leaders, but they just love that chair. Even if Abbas and Siniora have their ropes pulled by someone else, Olmert, at least, has more lattitude but he is still hanging in there. The Israeli politicians seem to have finally fully adapted to the normal Arab leadership environment.

Qifa Nabki

I am here! It is just that I have nothing to say…while watching all the suspense about the Lebanese Cabinet-in-the-making drama. What? Have Bush, the Saudies and Mini Hariri have decided that the Feb 14 defeat is too much to swallow? Or just your usual “Ghanaj”?

As to being famous, that Commentator is jumping too fast into conclusions. They had Golda Meir before, but SHE was not well regarded here at all while Rabin was sort of OK.

“I also suspect that PM Livni will be well regarded in the Arab/Muslim worlds if these observations from one of the commenters on “Syria Comment” is indicative:..”

I don’t know how “indicative” our comments were, I hope mine is more so than yours.

BTW, dont you think that Olmert’s “mannerisem” is similar to that of Siniora and even Abbas? They all calim to act as democratically ellected leaders, but they just love that chair. Even if Abbas and Siniora have their ropes pulled by someone else, Olmert, at least, has more lattitude but he is still hanging in there. The Israeli politicians seem to have finally fully adapted to the normal Arab leadership environment.

Ausamaa

Actually I don’t think Saniora likes it very much. He always has a pained expression on his face. I think he is doing it ghasbin 3anno.

In other news, this is actually hilarious:

Sidelights: Lebanon Football Team Welcomed by Syrian National Anthem

Arab News

RIYADH, 9 June 2008 — The Saudi Vs. Lebanon match held at the King Fahd International Stadium here on Saturday had an unusual start after officials mistakenly played the wrong national anthem. Fans were left shocked and Lebanese players were visibly angry when the Syrian national anthem began blaring from the stadium’s speakers, the Arriyadiyah sports daily reported yesterday. Officials quickly realized their mistake, and eventually played the correct national anthem. However, the error, which was committed by the organizing officials of the tournament, prompted the President of the Saudi Football Federation, Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, to order an official investigation into the incident. Saudi Arabia went on to win the World Cup qualifying match 2-1.

(PS: The only thing more ironic would have been if they also played the American anthem instead of the Saudi one…)

Together Forever..!!

QN

I think the KSA is giving Syria a hint about the fate of Lebanon , Don’t you think ?.

Norman

Absolutely. It seems a “deal” has been struck, for the price of Saudi-Syrian rapprochement.

Next thing you know, they’ll change the name of the airport to Bashar al-Asad International Airport.

😉

QN,

That would be great :-P.

Nour,

Don’t get too excited. 😉

Why not change the name to something uncontroversial?

Fairouz International Airport?

Haifa Wehbe International Airport?

Nancy Ajram International Airport?

…

or better still:

Abu l-Abd International Airport

Name the airport in Lebanon after one one the people who died in 1916 for the liberation of Lebanon and Syria ,

The Syrian airport should be called , ( The Omayad International Airport ).

Our current state is no longer viable:
we must remain true to our past and to the sacrifies of our martyrs who have battled and lost their lives in defense of freedom and peace in Lebanon.
The pluralism of our society is a gift, and history proved to us that no dominant culture can impose its orientations on the others…
In order to live in peace and prosperity, we have to build a State that protects its various cultural entities, organizing harmonious relation between them:
The solution is in a new constitution formula, that combines the divergent interests of each lebanese culture, in one unique, united and powerful state!
“7allna ntawwir el nizam”…samy gemayel we are all proud of you,lebanese kataeb party will reborn again, you are the new leader of the christians in Lebanon. The real lebanese State will be established correctly…we are counting on you!!!
check http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=MBHd7fZ1XUA