Introduction to the evening news 13-10-2011

Due dates hasten the truth in Lebanon and the region. The muscle flexing between Iran and Saudi Arabia, heightened by U.S. involvement, comes only two months before the, rather unclear, U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and amid the ongoing conflict in Syria- an important strategic bridge for Tehran. All of these issues require immediate negotiations.    

Lebanon suffered from the aftershocks of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the encirclement of Syria began from Lebanese soil in 2004, now, with the supposed U.S. withdrawal the conflict is reignited between Washington and Tehran, who now enjoys an amiable Iraqi government and is attempting to play its hand well in Damascus to keep the current regime in power. This turn of events raises fears that Lebanon may once again become the battleground for external players: the U.S., the Gulf states and Turkey versus Iran, Syria and their Lebanese allies.      

At the top of the Lebanese due dates that will impose new governmental and political realities in the next few weeks: The STL funding issue, which brings back the old equation of “the STL or the government”.  In attempt to delay the bitter choice, the subtle tactics of postponement continue in order to avoid an explosion: studying the 2012 budget at the cabinet level has been avoided, as the STL item is included in the proposal; ministers are also delaying review of the budget in order to thwart the 8.9 billion LBP draft law requested by the finance minister.    

Sources told LBCI that during his long-winded meeting with PM Mikati last Saturday, Speaker Berri advised the head of the cabinet to delay review of the budget in order to gain time for more talks, to which Mikati responded positively. Meanwhile, recent hubbub remained focused on the wage raise issue. The economic bodies position remains unchanged and the public sector raise requires a law and fresh funding to the tune of $400 million.

Also, sources close to Mikati confirmed to LBCI that there will no amendments to the wage increase decision as put forward by the cabinet on Wednesday, meaning that those who make more than 1.8 million LBP will not benefit as Ghasan Ghosn alluded to at the Grand Serail.    

Finally, the wage adjustment decision will be enforced starting from the date the decree is issued and not on the first of October 2010.