A comprehensive fight against terrorism

One of al Qa'eda's top leaders in Yemen, listed among the top ten wanted international terrorists, Fahd al Qasaa summarised the causes for the existence and proliferation of al Qa'eda in Yemen in simple words, observed Tare Homayed, editor-in-chief of the pan-Arab daily Asharq al Awsat.

The newswpaper published a one-on-one interview with Mr al Qasaa conducted in his hiding place in a mountainous region in southeast Yemen only days after intelligence sources said he was killed in Pakistan. When asked about that, Mr al Qasaa expressed surprise at the news of his presence in Pakistan adding, "On the contrary, it is best for me to be in Yemen in light of the crisis situation with the Yemeni government."

"This is the point: al Qa'eda cannot settle in a politically stable country. If the situation in Lebanon were to escalate, God forbid, al Qa'eda would promptly have a stronghold in it."

In fact, al Qa'eda wouldn't have been able to exist and operate anywhere if it weren't for the availability of a fertile ground for training under tribal or sectarian protection, which was available in Afghanistan, Iraq and now in Yemen.

This proves that the fight against terrorism requires not only weapons, but also political and religious reforms and strong support for stability.

"Al Qa'eda is a vice that spreads uniquely in a crisis environment."

Country recognitions of Palestine are useful

What are the Palestinians to do to realise their dream of independence if negotiations can't lead to a state? asked the columnist Mazen Hammad in an article in the Qatari daily Al Watan. And what if, as Israel claims, resorting to the Security Council and the UN and individual recognition of the Palestinian state impedes peace efforts?

The question follows the recent Bolivian recognition of the Palestinian state by Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, while a number of other South American states announced their intentions to the same.

No pressure seems to be useful with Israel while the US Congress decided to oppose any individual steps towards the recognition of an independent Palestine and insisted on a solution through negotiations.

In the meantime, Israel has been systematically sabotaging every US attempt at resuming meaningful talks.

The US and European positions are still far from recognising a Palestinian state, although Latin American recognitions could pave the way for a transition to Asia and Africa where countries are gearing to recognise the state.

"Individual recognitions might be a weak weapon at the present stage, but their multiplication heralds the end of the project that Israel is trying to implement in the occupied West Bank."

Assange experiences western traditions

The British court ruling in the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was bold and unjust at the same time, observed the columnist Satea Noureddine in the Lebanese daily Assafir.

The ruling to release Mr Assange on bail was equivalent to another decision to place him under house arrest - a measure usually reserved for criminals. But it defies the United States from where most confidential documents were leaked as much as it undermines Sweden which seeks to remain neutral and to protect women's sexual rights.

Mr Assange's bail was set at $380,000 and was paid through immediate donations from high profile celebrities who hail the defendant's actions as chivalrous and a political obligation.

The conditions of bail seem to portray the WikiLeaks founder as a war criminal who perpetrated crimes against humanity rather than a man accused of sexual misconduct with two women in Sweden.

However, the release decision was courageous and proves that the British justice system is capable of maintaining a balance between the strict upholding of the law and its impartiality towards the political ambience that put the WikiLeaks founder on the list of most wanted international criminals. The British legal system was able to protect the integrity of the judicial system and to safeguard freedom of expression.

Bullying others is the Lebanese way

The three-day ultimatum issued by the head of the Hizbollah bloc in parliament a week ago wasn't a baseless threat. The party had plans to mobilise 3,000 people to execute a civil mutiny, take over downtown Beirut and disable public institutions, but regional interference succeeded in preventing the implementation of this scenario, wrote Daoud al Sharyan in an article for the London-based daily Al Hayat.

The "interfering powers" didn't reveal the price for Hizbollah's recantation on their threats, which indicates that the events of the last week were temporary sedatives rather than a permanent solution. The party still maintains its position against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's decisions. Hizbollah has sought escalation to create complicating circumstances that serve in buying them more time. Their opponents, the March 14 coalition, took a firm position to make way for the tribunal's indictments to be issued in a calm political ambience, while holding on to wishful thinking by dismissing the possibility of a successful coup by the opposition forces.

Hizbollah found in the crisis an opportunity to circumvent national dialogue while the other side is using the indictments to force Hizbollah to submit to the requirements of the national dialogue.

* Digest compiled by Racha Makarem