Iran polls dealt a blow to the credibility of the regime

Al-Hayat : “Iran’s supporters in the region were wagering before and during the elections that the Islamic state would teach the world a lesson in democracy and present a model of Islamist rule. “They have lost their wager, and certainly Islamists in Arab countries who aspire to participate in the political game and come to power have lost the most.” “The truth of the matter is that revolutionary movements that establish a new legitimacy from illegitimacy carry early on fertile seeds for its demise.”
Many Arabs, to be sure, never bought into the Iranian mystique, and their indifference or even hostility toward the regime in Tehran has only solidified since Ahmadinejad’s disputed landslide victory.

Ahmadinejad has been accused of causing trouble for the whole region, here in Lebanon with Hezbollah, and meddling with the Palestinians.

MP Qubaisi: Do they want to implement the Taef accord or not ?

Amal MP Hani Qubaisi told Future TV: Berri’s proposal to end political sectarianism was aimed at implementation of the Taef accord. He added : “Do they want to implement Taef accord or not ?”

Pharaon: Christian ministers support PM Hariri.

State Minister Michel Pharaon said following a meeting of Christian March 14 cabinet ministers at his residence that the” Ministerial Statement contains several positive points, but at the same time raised many questions for which we need answers”
“The Ministerial Statement should have confirmed that the Shebaa Farms is Lebanese territory,” he said adding that “international community considers this area a Syrian territory.”
The meeting was attended by Labor Minister Boutros Harb, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar, Information Minister Tarek Mitri, Social Affairs Minister Salim Sayegh, State Minister Jean Ogassapian and Culture Minister Salim Wardeh
Pharaon stressed the Christian ministers’ support for Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Five Britons are being held in Iran after yacht seizure

Five Britons are being held in Iran after its navy seized their yacht, which may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters in the Gulf en route from Bahrain to Dubai, the Foreign Office said Monday. Source: AFP

Lebanon to seek US military aid

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is expected to discuss military aid during his U.S. visit next week as lawmakers in Beirut debate the right to resist. Suleiman is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Dec. 12 to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and other top officials to discuss bilateral ties.
Many in Lebanon think that the US is not serious about arming the Lebanese army and for this reason the Obama administration has a unique opportunity to prove to the Lebanese people that it is interested in strengthening its state institutions and specially the Lebanese army to enable it to defend the country and spread its authority throughout the Lebanese territories . Source: UPI

LBC: The cabinet will adopt the ministerial policy statement as is

LBC sources: The cabinet will adopt the ministerial policy statement as presented by the ministerial committee without any amendments

US Embassy in Beirut denies that ambassador Sison will be sson replaced

Media office of the US embassy in Beirut :” The news about a visit before the end of this week by Assistant Secretary of State-Jeffrey D. Feltman to Lebanon and the replacement of ambassador Michele J. Sison are fabrications and completely unfounded “

Jumblatt calls for forming a Senate in Lebanon & for swapping key positions

Al Anbaa: PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt called for swapping of “the presidency, premiership and speakership between the sects,” adding that this would rid the country of “old traditions” that deprived sects.
According to Jumblatt, the sectarian situation in Lebanon has reached a dangerous level, which “prompts us to seriously and calmly” think of how to develop the political system.
He stressed the need for forming a Senate, saying ” it would allow for an even and balanced representation of all sects and a respect to their rights ”
Jumblatt also called for adopting an electoral law based on proportionality, arguing that this would allow for fair representation of all the political parties.
“The correlation between abolishing political sectarianism and adopting proportionality seems a necessary condition to achieve the objectives behind them,” he said.

Hezbollah tones down Islamist rhetoric in new manifesto

Hezbollah leader assured the Lebanese skeptics that Lebanon is the party’s homeland, the homeland ” of our fathers, ancestors, grandchildren, and the coming generations.”

Phalange party demands preservation of the principles of the Cedar revolution

The Phalange party demanded in a statement issued after its weekly office meeting “preservation of the principles of the Cedar revolution as they translate the feelings of the majority of the Lebanese ” in the Ministerial Policy Statement which will be discussed in shape and content on Wednesday.