that watched the event on TV was not only about the first black American being sworn in as the president of the free world, but it was about hope that justice is around the corner.
" This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath." Obama said in his inaugural address
No one knows the importance of justice than the Lebanese people. With a sectarian system of government that limits our aspirations we know we cannot duplicate here what the Americans did. Every key position in this country is allocated to a specific sect ...for this reason a Druze can never dream of being a president a Christian protestant can never dream to be a prime minister, a Christian orthodox can never dream to be a house speaker and the list goes on and on and on. Our sectarian system is a cancer that should be eradicated sooner rather than later !
Having said the above I am still hopeful that at least justice will prevail when the International Tribunal starting March 2009 will be able to tell us who actually killed our leaders during the past 4 years and who was actually behind these killings...this will not bring us back these leaders but at least it will tell the whole world: " Don’t mess with Lebanon anymore , because Justice will get you".
The Lebanese should also be hopeful that the Arab reconciliation that took place in Kuwait last weekend should bring some stability to our country , since Lebanon has always been and continues to be the battleground for regional powers...Will we finally have a truce ?
Only if the Lebanese take their matters in their own hand and decide "Lebanon comes first"
Thursday
4:24 Egyptian FM Abu Gheith : We will not allow the Arabs to fall a prey to the Iranian interests
4:10 A Dutch court orders the trial of an MP for producing a film that is offensive to Islam3:58 Israeli PM Olmert briefed Obama on the situation in Gaza
3:57 Gaddafi declared that his country is considering nationalizing the oil companies
03:39 France will refuse to send more forces to Afghanistan
03:32 $2.25 billion are the estimated losses in Gaza from the 23 day war
3:12 Israel prevents Palestinian president Abbas from moving funds into Gaza to help the people after the Israeli war
2:56 The EU leaders are competing on who will be the first to meet Obama
2:44 The UN is calling on pursuing Bush and Rumsfeld over the treatment of prisoners
2:32 The US Senate confirms Hillary Clinton as the US Secretary of State
Wednesday
22:51 MP Antoine Zahra: The foreign alliance of some Lebanese is an obstacle in reaching an agreement on strategic defense . ( In reference to the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah and its Lebanese and Palestinian allies
22:38 MP George Adwan : The firing of rockets from south Lebanon on Israel and the attacks against president Suleiman are 2 clear violations aginst the Doha accord by the Hezbollah led opposition
21:21 Deputy Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem told Aoun's OTV: Israel did not achieve its objectives because it aimed to eliminate Hamas and it did not succeed.
We are prepared and ready for any Israeli surprise. The culture of resistance is a culture for life not death, as some parties claim.
20:30 Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal: "Hamas won in Gaza ... Israel lost . Hamas will provide help to the families of the victims and will rebuild Gaza. The West bank has to be victorious as we were victorious in Gaza. Time for the world community to deal with Gaza. " .
One observer told Ya Libnan:" Perhaps it is time for Hamas to tell the truth . Mishaal was very serious and not really joking about being victorious. Over 1300 Palestinians were killed and 5300 were wounded , while 13 Israelis were killed in the 22 day war . The damages in Gaza were estimated at minimum $2 billion. The question is what kind of logic is Mishaal using in declaring victory/ How long can he deceive his own people ? "
19:48 Pakistan arrests an alqaeda fugitive who is wanted in the London explosions
20: 22 Minister Arslan said after the meeting between :"This meeting was prearranged as a follow-up on work conducted since the May events.. I affirm that the May events will not be repeated. I agreed with MP Jumblatt that, at the Druze level, we should support the Resistance. I will meet with MP Raad privately."
20:20 Raad after meeting Jumblatt: Thanked Arslan for arranging the meetings and said "Every party is engaged in reflections and self-evaluation after the May 2008 events and the Doha Agreement. We hope an agreement concerning the defense strategy and other issues can be reached. We did not discuss any electoral issues."
20:00 Jumblat after meeting Raad : We affirmed that all parties have the right to adopt different political positions. Defense strategy issue should be restricted to the roundtable dialogue talks. We hope that the dream witnessed in the US will be achieved in the Arab World. Once again I say " a humble job in New York is better than leadership in Lebanon."
18:40 NNA : A Lebanese Army Patrol raided Baalbek's Shrawneh district in search of a citizen from the Jafaar family who had attacked the troops. In another operation , ISF officers arrested a man identified as Abdullah Aathab al-Aydi in the al-Tibbeh area of Baalbek, 45, who was wanted for crimes that included possession of illegal weapons.
16:50 The first leader US President Barack Obama called is his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas. He promised to work toward a "durable peace" in the Middle East, according to Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina.
14:45 The national dialogue session has been rescheduled from January 22 to Monday 26
13:42 Administration and Justice Commission decided to try ministers and presidents before the Higher Judicial Council if they fail to fulfill their duties rather than before the Higher Council for Impeaching Presidents and Ministers, as it has been previously suggested by MP Boutros Harb.
13:15 : President Michel Suleiman returns to Beirut from Kuwait.
12:56 Lebanese officials have cautioned the Israeli government and operator Noble Energy Inc. not to encroach on Lebanese territory in the wake of a large natural gas discovery made offshore Haifa.
12:22 : Head of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists Fadi Aboud following his meeting with head of Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun: Lebanon could create job opportunities and a service and tourist foundation.
12:15 : Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to a university student delegation: Lebanon remains a country of freedoms.
12:06 Syrian Presidential advisor Bouthaina Shaaban told OTV on Wednesday the Arab reconciliation is still incomplete and should be followed by further discussions and a follow-ups
11:41 LBC Abu Faour says Jumblatt-Raad meeting has been planned long before the Arab reconciliation that took place in Kuwait and therefore there is no relationship between the 2 events . He stressed that this may or may not lead to a meeting between Jumblatt and Nasrallah
11:25 : Internal Security Forces General Directorate called for the commemoration of the anniversary of major Wissam Eid’s assassination in Tripoli at 11:00 am Sunday.
11:15 : President Michel Suleiman and accompanying delegation left Kuwait heading back to Beirut.
11:05 Report: Israel is concerned that Hezbollah will launch a terror attack against an Israeli or Jewish target ahead of the first anniversary of Imad Mugniyah's assassination, an Israeli daily reported.
11:01 MP Ammar Houri : Lebanon’s interests lie in an Arab reconciliation rather than an Arab dispute, he urged the Lebanese to embrace the Arab reconciliation
10:37 Gasoline, kerosene and diesel remain unchanged, but gas prices increased by 900 LL ( $0.60 per 10 kg tank)
10:15 President Michel Suleiman told Lebanese community members in Kuwait that foreign countries should deal with Lebanon through official channels. This was a reference to Iran and Syria, which deal with Lebanon thru their allies
09:46 Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace...circled over Nabatiyeh, Iqlim al-Touffah, Marjayoun, Kferkila and al-Khiyam.
08:29 Israeli army says Gaza pullout completed. "The last soldier left the Gaza Strip this morning," A spokesman said. "However the army remains deployed all around the Gaza Strip to meet any eventuality," the spokesman added.
07:55 Former MP Fares Soaid says only national defense strategy is to respect legitimate international resolutions particularly Resolution 1701.
Tuesday
20:12 Khatemi criticizes Ahmadinejad and expresses his readiness to run again for the presidency of Iran
20:10 Hezbollah's chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told Damascus based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal that the Gaza war is the second defeat for Israel in two years
20:08 India tests a new Missile amidst its strained relations with Pakistan
19:45 Former president George Bush leaves Washington and heads back to Texas
19:07 President Barack Obama delivers inaugural speech: "This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath." Obama said in his inaugural address
19:01 US President-elect Barack Obama being sworn in as the President of the United States of America
19:00 Barack Obama just became president; the constitution states his term begins at noon.
18:54 Joe Biden being sworn in as Vice President by Justice John Paul Stevens.
18:52 Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin performs “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”
18:37 US President-elect Barack Obama arrives on the stage on the steps of the US Capitol to be sworn in as the first African-American US president before a crowd of well-wishers estimated at more than one million.
18:09 MP Walid Jumblatt to meet head of Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad tomorrow at Minister Talal Arslan's residence in Khaldeh.
18:01 US Intelligence investigates security threat during President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony.
17:46 US President-elect Barack Obama and US President George W. Bush head to the Capitol.
15:20 Ban calls for accountability over UN school bombings in Gaza: "It is an outrageous and totally unacceptable attack on the United Nations," Ban said of the attack against UNRWA building. "There must be a full investigation, a full explanation to make sure it never happens again.
