Introduction to the evening news 27-12-2011

Given that the truth in Lebanon has different aspects, just like its confessions, parties and movements, the information provided by the Defense Minister on the existence of al-Qaeda members in Lebanon and their infiltration from the town of Arsal into Syria turned into different conflicting truths, surprisingly, within one government.         

Fayez Ghosn’s statement will almost be obliterated by the Minister of Interior who told LBCI today that there are no Qaeda militants in Lebanon, only sympathizers. This controversial issue filled the political void between two years and two scenes in Syria. In the absence of former PM Saad Hariri and the lack of a clear work program, the March 14 coalition grabbed the governmental paradox under the title of “Arsal’s case”.

In fact, a source revealed that a delegation from the March 14 General Secretariat and March 14-affiliated figures might visit Arsal in the next few hours, after a delegation from Arsal visited the prime minister today and is expected to visit the Army Commander Thursday right before a solidarity meeting on Friday to express refusal of the Defense Minister’s statement.          

In any case, the issue will be on the table of tomorrow’s cabinet session that will also tackle the oil exploration issue, thrown by Speaker Nabih Berri today like a political bomb in the face of the cabinet. This prompted PM Mikati to pay a quick visit to Berri and call the Energy Minister, at a time when Aoun was assuring that the decrees are at the Cabinet’s presidency.             

On another note, the cabinet will not go back to the wage adjustment issue tomorrow as it awaits the Shura Council’s response, knowing that the economic bodies and the GLC will most probably overrun the cabinet’s decision and the Labor Minister’s project and implement the agreement signed by the President at Baabda Palace, on the sidelines of the cabinet session last Wednesday.         

In parallel to the local interest in the Lebanese details, the Syrian concern remains at the news forefront. Arab monitors ran their first day of inspection today in the flashpoint city of Homs while the Iranian issue is moving once again towards the frontline as the Iranian Vice-President threatened of closing the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions were imposed on Iran’s oil exports. Meanwhile, Iran’s naval units continued their maneuvers around the strategic strait through which 40% of the world’s oil transported by sea flows.