Feltman Expresses US Double Standard Policies, Lebanese Oil Waits New Years
The year is almost over, and yet it's still implanted in our heads for it has been a busy year, especially in the region. Waves of revolutions and protests invaded the region one step at a time, leaving behind a trace of US-greed and schemes to control the region via all means. The unwanted US tools have been overthrown, and now some others are being trained to neglect the Arab-resistance spirit upon which the whole concept of Arabism is based.
After it failed to breach the Lebanese and Iranian stability, the US is now targeting Syria, which represents a basic founder of anti-hegemonic resistance in the region. Because Syria is one of the pillars of the axis of resistance, the UN seeks its collapse, and therefore the service of its schemes together with the Zionist entity.
AL Observers Roam Syria
So far, the Arab League (AL) observer mission sent to Syria to investigate the happenings of the events has been into many hot stop scenes, where many said were crimes scenes. Apparently the AL mission is being somehow wise, without taking any sides what so ever. According to Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jihad al-Makdisi, Damascus is satisfied with the statements issued so far by head of the observer mission Mohammad Ahmad Moustafa al-Dabi.
It's worth mentioning that al-Dabi's position as leader of the mission was criticized by the US and so-called Syrian opposition; a step that raises question that why would they fear an honest fact-finding figure?
On its part, the mission is so far satisfied with the cooperation of the Syrian government, as-Safir newspaper reported. In this context, al-Dabi had previously indicated that during the mission's tour in Homs, it didn't see anything that relates to a severe security situation as is being said, although he iterated that the mission would need more time in order to purchase clearer images that would facilitate their task.
This comes on the sidelines of a meeting between Syrian spokesman al-Makdisi and a group from the observer mission. This meeting sought to "provide the logistic needs for the mission, and set a general image of the places it will be inspecting".
In the context of coordination, al-Makdisi stressed that Damascus will not interfere at all in the work of the mission, or in its course of its findings, but it will only coordinate with it, especially that the Syrian government is responsible for the safety of the mission's members.
Feltman... Keen on Syria
More on Syria, a US has to have an opinion on this, as it considers itself the world most powerful and dominating power.
On this level, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman believed in an interview with an-Nahar Lebanese daily, that the observer mission should take "some time" to investigate the "credibility" of the Syrian regime. Feltman directly contradicted his rhetoric, saying that "some time" shouldn't be so long, for this issue could be easily investigated and affirmed.
The US double standard policy is present anywhere a US trace is witnessed.
Although it was initially the US's demand to send an observer mission, it is criticizing without any further evidence, any future "negative" statements of the AL mission.
Feltman reiterated that it was not the US or the west that chose the mission and its members, confirming that the mission was an AL creation, and that they are focusing on its just performance in committing to its duty.
The observer mission's task is to find facts and confirm or reject all media campaigns that are not revealing the true image of the situation in Syria.
It is not the US's interest to sentence the Syrian regime to the court of justice and announce its innocence; through that, the US would lose power, and lose s thread on which it could rely to defeat all resistance movements in the region.
Through Syria, an additional domination on Palestine, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern countries would be inevitable, according to the US ages-long scheme.
Lebanon is anticipating the Syrian fate as well and meanwhile tackles its own domestic affairs.
Lebanon has always been the country of miracles, for always was able to tackle political, economic, social, and military affairs at the same time.
HDC Convenes over al-Qaida
The Lebanese Higher Defense Council convened on Thursday to tackle the recent security events that has occurred in Lebanon since its last meeting. The controversial step to avoid mentioning al-Qaida during the meeting was an intentional step due to many reasons afflicted with this very sensitive issue.
This issue was brought to the council's table after what Minister of Defense Fayez Ghoson had mentioned earlier regarding the access of al-Qaida members from Lebanon to Syria. According to as-Safir newspaper's sources, Minister Ghoson presented in details the information he has, further confirming his security sources on which he is relying in his information.
Furthermore, the sources added that no one at the meeting doubted the source of information, but rather preferred not to tackle the whole "al-Qaida" file, and preferred to refer it to other "close meetings", and have Lebanon's security as a priority in all cases".
Lebanon's Oil... Baby Steps Awaited to Grow Up
In addition, and by the end of 2011, Lebanon and its people are still waiting to see what the government would do to actually start implementing the oil drilling decree passed previously in the government and the parliament.
It is also related to Lebanon's security, and the sooner Lebanon tackles the issue, the sooner it becomes more independent from international powers and pressures. This comes amid claims that the oil field discovered in Lebanon waters are in the occupied Palestinian territorial waters, despite the maritime border maps that proved Lebanon's right to the aforementioned fields.
The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water is the main responsible side for this issue, and it has already prepared the needed and required for the pre-drilling phase. The anticipated step is the formation of a Petroleum commission in 2012, and the declaration of implementing decrees. After forming the said commission, the oil drilling companies will have a period of 6 months, during which they will present suggestions for drilling plans. Afterwards, those plans will be evaluated by the government, which on its part will choose the most suitable, and the work therefore should be launched.
Lebanon is expecting a bright beginning in the year 2012, for most governmental files were postponed till after the New Year, including the bid to raise the salaries; which is currently the first concern of the people.
