Free Republic

DEARBORN, Mich. -- A neon American flag flashes red, white and blue above La Shish East restaurant on Michigan Avenue. But what happened with some of the hefty profits from the Lebanese fare is anything but patriotic, federal prosecutors allege. Using a double set of books, the owner of La Shish chain of 15 restaurants evaded taxes while funneling some $20 million to the Lebanese militant force Hezbollah in recent years, according to an indictment returned in May. The restaurateur, Talal Chahine, has fled to Lebanon but denies wrongdoing. The case is one of several across the U.S. that link...

San Francisco -- Dozens of protesters carrying banners and Lebanese flags rallied at City Hall on Saturday, condemning Israel's attacks on targets in Lebanon as barbaric and illegal. "We're trying to raise some awareness with the American public about what's going on," said Mohamad Charafeddine, a Stanford University doctoral student who organized the protest. "It's unacceptable." About 50 people, mostly members of the Bay Area's Lebanese community, took part in the demonstration. The protest came as Israel intensified its air assault on Lebanon, striking Hezbollah strongholds and bombing central Beirut for the first time.

Security sources report abrupt withdrawal of all Syrian commands in Lebanon including key military intelligence chief General Ghazaleh.Lebanese secret service chief General Raymond Azar flees to Paris. Internal Security Forces head General Ali al-Hajj about to quit.New response scenarios may be cooked up by opposition leader Jumblatt, Assistant Secretary of State Satterfield and US Congressman of Lebanese decent Darrel Issa (R-Vista, San Diego County)Assad secretly deploys joint Iranian-Syrain units.

Elmhurst church members pray that Syrian forces will leave their homeland. For years, worshipers at Our Lady of Lebanon Catholic Church have prayed for change in a Middle Eastern homeland occupied by Syrian troops and divided among religious factions. Now many parishioners, like other Lebanese throughout the Chicago area, hope they are seeing an answer to those prayers as Christians and Muslims in Beirut unite to protest Syria's 29-year presence in the Mediterranean country. Organizers from the church--which has been meeting in another Catholic sanctuary in Elmhurst while constructing its own building--are planning to join other community groups in a...

Elias Rhalil (R) from Lebanon protests during a rally against the Syrian government outside the Syrian Embassy in Washington, February 18, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas Photos of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri (L) are held during a rally by Lebanese American groups protesting against the Syrian government outside the Syrian Embassy in Washington, February 18, 2005. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Tony Haddad, President of Lebanese American Council for Democracy, Available for Interview; Solid Proof of Al-Jazeera's Anti-American Propaganda 5/19/2004 9:41:00 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: National Desk Contact: Ronn Torossian, 212-999-5585 WASHINGTON, May 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- American reporters and commentators, as well as American government officials, have frequently been critical of the Al-Jazeera news network. Their primary complaint against the biggest and most-watched Arab media network is that its coverage is biased against America and in favor of America's enemies. Recent experiences of Lebanese- Americans show these complaints against Al-Jazeera to be valid, and show that Al-Jazeera twists facts and...