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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Suleiman Criticizes Monday's Syria Raids on Arsal
2013-10-09
[An Nahar] President Michel Suleiman
...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too...
on Tuesday criticized Syria for a cross-border raid that he said targeted an ambulance in the Bekaa town of Arsal, causing no injuries.

Local officials said the attack was carried out on Monday night by Syrian war planes that fired at an area in the Arsal region, which has regularly been targeted by cross-border strikes.

In a statement, Suleiman said "an ambulance was targeted by Syrian rockets" and called for humanitarian bodies to be protected from "conflict and hostilities".

Local officials confirmed the attack.

"Syrian war planes targeted an ambulance in the Wadi Hmayyed area in Arsal's barren mountain, but there were no injuries," an official told Agence La Belle France Presse on condition of anonymity.

A security source said war planes had fired five rockets in the attack.

The Arsal area is broadly supportive of the Sunni-dominated uprising against Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Horror of Homs...
The mountainous area has long been a smuggling haven, with multiple routes into Syria that have been used since the conflict began in March 2011 to transport weapons and fighters.
Posted by:Fred

#1  Rick Steves just called me up and dictated this. Kinda creeped me out, but it reflects my feelings about a certain expression used waaaay too often by an otherwise beloved ancestor of mine.

Stretching travel dinero in troublesome times?
Why not pay a visit to Levantine climes?
It's a land that will greet you with wide open arms
Where the silvery moon glitters over the palms
Are you looking to get off the old beaten path?
You're not squeamish about actuarial math?
If you're an odd fellow or my name is Rebekah,
You are certain to love this touristical Mecca!
Now, getting around isn't much of a fuss
You can travel by camel or moto or bus.
If you drive, they will think that your car is da bomb
So impress 'em -- burn rubber and holler "Salaam!"
You won't need to bother to ask for directions
'Cause things are split up into orderly sections.
Now once in a while you may get a rare treat
When you meet a parade of armed men in the street.
Please don't be self-conscious -- it's perfectly fine
To slap your own booty in a Leb second line.

Way out in the Bekaa, one stop short of Syria,
Stop and feast on falafel beneath the wisteria.
If you're lucky and happen to chat with a local,
You'll probably find him both friendly and vocal.
Have fun, but remember this word to the wise:
Here friendship is found in mysterious guise.
In this part of the East -- I am casting no blame --
Some folks aren't so great at the etiquette game.
If your waiter is muttering into his phone,
And he spits in your drink and then leaves you alone,
That's just his best effort at breaking the ice:
They hold hands over here, so do try it -- it's nice!
If he glares at you hawklike, eyes hot with desire
As if he could kiss you, then set you on fire...
If a curious cop takes a poke at your nuts...
If militia insist that you must feel their butts...
Don't be so standoffish, you old fuddy-duddy --
It's their way of showing you're their Arsal buddy!
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220   2013-10-09 21:32  

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