I am sorry to say that Layla Khalid did not tell the truth about Rafiq Hariri in her last interview on NBN-TV. Rafiq Hariri did not drive her to her "mission" in 1968 when she hijacked the plane. It was Abu Ghalyum, who still lives in Sidon. Why did Layla Khalid tell the untrue story? I wish I have to the time to explain, but will do so when I return to US. Former comrades of Khalid told me the whole story the other day in Sidon before I gave my talk. It was a weird event: due to a mishap, we started the event with Q & A and then I proceeded with my talk. A cab driver in Beirut who picked me up from the GYM told me that I resemble that "Arab professor in US, As`ad AbuKhalil." I said that it was me. He said: "No, you are not; but you resemble him." I said: "You may be right." He may be right. UK (and Madrid before that) did not lash out at the world, or at the Muslim/Arab minority in their midst the way the US lashed out after Sep. 11. Not a single Muslim/Arab has been arrested in the UK because the police there does not presumably believe in punishing innocent Muslims/Arabs. Clerics around the Muslim world are denouncing the culprits of the hineous crimes in London. But more needs to be done. Senior Sunni clerics in the Arab world are tied to Saudi financial interests, and have been aligned with kooky fanatical trends. Some fear alienating some segment of public opinion although you do not encounter people sympathetic to Bin Ladenite type although they exist. Shi`ite clerics may be hesitant in coming out strongly against the culprits--although, like Sunni clerics, they make their opposition to Bin Laden/Zarqawi terrorism clear--because all are very worried about the state of Sunni-Shi`ite relations. UK will unlikely follow the US lead in declaring wars and overthrowing governments and "liberating" countries and bombing poor people in remote villages. UK will unlikely to follow US lead in adopting a Patriot Act, although a version was adopted a few years ago. One worries that Al-Qa'idah may have given birth to new fanatical groups that we do not even know. One thing is clear: Bush's wars on "terrorism" will increase terrorism on the long run. How much damage to world peace has Bush (and Bin Laden) caused. Al-Arabiyya started a new morning "news segment" modeled after American morning "news" shows. I declare the version I saw this morning a great success. It was indeed successful in imitating the very silly, annoying, unfunny, contrived, and boring format and content of US morning "news" shows. Some young people in Lebanon like Che without knowing anything about him. I will recommend to the Lebanese Communist Party a conference along the lines of "The Return to Marx." A US Department of state official is visiting Lebanon. She met with the families of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prison. Their cause is just, for sure, and many Lebanese and Palestinians disappeared in Syrian jails over the years for a variety of "reasons." But will the US official meet with the families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli jails? The hyporisy here angers me. The statement of the new Lebanese cabinet (not yet formed) will include a strong statement in support of "the weapons of the resistance." Chirac and Bush will not be pleased. Not much time to report more. Have taken hundreds of picture, only tens of them are worth posting on my site. None are personal. I can't take personal pictures for some reason. But I did take good pictures of the polluted Bardawni river yesterday in Zahlah.