LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 09/09
Christian Persecution in
Egypt, Pakistan & Afghanistan
Release: American Coptic Union:
Inciting Hatred and Violence in the Rise against Egypt’s Christian as False Fear
of H1N1 Intensifies 08/05/09
Release: International Christian
Concern:Taliban Extorts Protection "Tax" from Christians in Swat Valley 08/05/09
Release by the
International Christian Concern:US Military Yields to Al Jazeera, Destroys Afghan Bibles
08/05/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14,1-6. Do not let your
hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's
house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you
that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also
may be. Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do
not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am
the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
Au revoir justice.By:
Omayma Abdel-Latif/Al-Ahram Weekly 08/05/09
ِAoun,
General of Defeats/Future
News 08/05/09
Will the flurry of activity on Middle East peace lead to tangible results?
The Daily Star
08/05/09
We can bring Lebanon's doctors home.By Kamal
F. Badr and Elie A. Akl 08/05/09
The Three Types of
Jihadists.By
Ryan Mauro /Pyjama Media 08/05/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for May
08/09-Naharnet
Cassesse Eyes Judicial
Cooperation Deal with Mideast Countries, Including Syria, Israel-Naharnet
Hizbullah Names Farhat for Second Shiite Seat in Baabda-Naharnet
Khoury
Denies Announcing Date for Syrian Counterpart to Assume Duties-Naharnet
Lebanon
Arrests 5 More Suspects in Espionage Network-Naharnet
Matar: Generals Can Still
Face Trial-Naharnet
US official reaffirms
commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty-Xinhua
US renews sanctions against Syria-Financial
Times
Cairo seeks Iranian link to terror
cell/Jerusalem Post
U.N. Concerned About Hizbullah
Activities Outside Lebanon, Says Group's Arsenal is Threat to Regional Stability-Naharnet
Tribunal to Focus on Damascus as Mehlis Says Arrest of Generals Not Only Based
on Siddiq Testimony-Naharnet
Return of U.S. Ambassador to Syria Depends on Lebanese Polls-Naharnet
MoU with Tribunal
Torpedoed this Week's Cabinet Session-Naharnet
Hale in Beirut to Inform
Officials About Feltman's Damascus Talks-Naharnet
Jumblatt: Nasrallah better accept
tribunal’s decision-Future
News
Syria naturalize Aoun in Jezzine-Future
News
Aoun’s
notorious candidates in Jizzine-Future
News
Aoun, Berri to Hold
'Honest Competition' in Jezzine-Naharnet
Hizbullah Torn Between
Maintaining Neutrality and Managing Dispute in Jezzine-Naharnet
Albright: Lebanese
Elections Pose Challenges in Wake of Presence of Arms-Naharnet
Aoun: Parliamentary
Majority is Needed to Implement Our Reform Program-Naharnet
Hariri: Lebanese Made the
Accusation against Syria at Time of My Father's Crime-Naharnet
U.N. Tells Israel its
Ideas For Securing Divided Village-Naharnet
Election Supervision
Committee's First Report Shows 293 Violations-Naharnet
Amnesty: Lebanon Vote
Chance to Improve Rights Record-Naharnet
Muallem:Tribunal is
Lebanese Issue, Syria has Nothing to do With It-Naharnet
Lebanese Ambassador
Presents Credentials to Assad-Naharnet
Saniora on 1st Anniversary
of May7 Events Renews Rejection of Violence-Naharnet
Parliament Session
Postponed, No Further Sessions Before Polls-Naharnet
Gemayel Discharged from
Hospital-Naharnet
Lebanon arrests two more Israel 'spies'-AFP
Obama envoys seek to repair Syria
ties-Daily Star
HRW: Lebanon not acting on civilian deaths-United
Press International
Study Warns Hezbollah Aims To Take Over Lebanese Government-Philadelphia
Bulletin
UN chief slams Hezbollah for activities in Egypt-Ha'aretz
Armed groups, weapons still threatening Lebanon's stability ...UN
News Centre
Lebanon vote a chance to 'improve rights record'-AFP
US defense chief appeases Egypt over olive branch to Iran-Xinhua
Cairo rejects Hezbollah court claims-United
Press International
Interior Ministry committee reports 293 violations of electoral law-Daily
Star
Hariri vows Future Movement 'will follow path of peace-Daily
Star
Syria backtracks on decision to hand over suspects in troops' killing - report-Daily
Star
Israel discussing withdrawal from Lebanese village of Ghajar-Daily
Star
Lebanon's ambassador to Damascus presents credentials to Assad-Daily
Star
Moallem insists Syria will not impede Special Tribunal-Daily
Star
Siniora rejects violence on anniversary of May 7 clashes-Daily
Star
Tabourian sees severe electricity rationing during summer-Daily
Star
US renews
sanctions against Syria
By Anna Fifield in Beirut /Financial
Times
May 8 2009
The Obama administration has renewed its sanctions against Syria for another
year, citing a continuing “national emergency” facing the US from Syria’s
support for terrorist organisations and weapons trade.
The sanctions were extended after Jeffrey Feltman, a senior state department
official, held “constructive” talks on Thursday during his second visit to Syria
in as many months, as part of a drive to improve relations with Damascus.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
US supports Syria-Israel pact - May-08Syria takes cold comfort from crisis -
May-06Syria suffers as economy dries up - Mar-16Saudis bring Syria back into the
fold - Mar-11Private sector fills Syria’s learning gap - Mar-04Clinton to send
two diplomats to Syria - Mar-03The sanctions, which were introduced by the Bush
administration in 2004, will remain in place for another year, a state
department official told the Financial Times.
The order mainly affects weapons trade, Syrian Air, and the property of people
with links to anti-Israeli groups including Hamas, Hizbollah and Palestinian
Islamic Jihad.
It was introduced to crack down on Syria’s suspected support for terrorism and
terrorist leaders, and alleged support for insurgent groups in Iraq.
“The national emergency with respect to Syria remains in effect because Syria
continued to not meet its international obligations. We continue to have serious
concerns about Syria’s actions,” the US official said.
Amid tentative steps towards détente with Syria, some members of Congress had
been lobbying President Barack Obama to renew the order.
“Unfortunately, it remains Syrian policy to continue a destabilising agenda in
the region,” representatives Mark Kirk (Republican-Illinois) and Eliot Engel
(Democrat-New York) wrote in a letter to the president.
“Weakening sanctions now, just before the Lebanese parliamentary election in
June, would embolden Syria’s attitude toward Lebanon and potentially cause
certain factions to question the new administration’s resolve regarding
Lebanon’s independence,” they said.
However, Washington stressed that the extension of the order should not impinge
on the two countries’ recent efforts to improve relations.
“The president has noted we will continue to use dialogue with Syria to clearly
communicate our differences, advance US interests and fund ways to make progress
on a number of issues,” the official said. “Going forward, we will be looking
for Syria to play a constructive role through actions that demonstrate its
commitment to regional stability and security.”
But Joshua Landis, a Syria expert at Oklahoma university, said that renewing the
sanctions sent the wrong signal.
“It was promulgated by the Bush White House, which believed that it could break
Syria through a combination of economic, judicial, military and diplomatic
pressure. Intimidation did not work,” Mr Landis wrote in a posting on his Syria
Comment blog.
“Obama has promised that he will change the nature of US relations in the
region. If he renews the Bush sanctions it will be a step in the wrong
direction. What impression will it leave in Damascus or the Arab street?
Certainly not a good one,” he wrote.
Mr Feltman met Walid Moallem, the Syrian foreign minister, in Damascus on
Thursday and said they had “constructive” talks. Mr Moallem, however, stressed
it was still early days. “This is a time when US intentions towards Syria will
be put to the test,” he said.
The Obama administration’s efforts to improve ties with Syria are still at a
“fact finding” stage, diplomats say, but are picking up speed.
Underscoring Washington’s difficult relationship with Syria, Mahmoud
Ahmadi-Nejad, the Iranian president, was feted during a visit to Damascus on
Tuesday. Iran is Syria’s closest ally in the region and the two have been
working on a number of industrial projects, many of which appear to amount to
little but are an attempt to present a united front to the west.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009
Matar: Generals Can Still Face Trial
Naharnet/Four Lebanese generals recently released can still face trial in
connection to the assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri, the prosecuting
attorney in the case said Friday.
On April 29, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued a ruling ordering the
officials' release after nearly four years in detention on grounds there was
insufficient evidence to indict them for Hariri's 2005 murder. "The (STL's)
decision does not prevent the generals from being tried and is not a verdict of
innocence," Mohammed Matar said at a press conference.
The arrest warrants against the four followed "the rules of criminal procedure
in terrorism-related crimes, conspiracy and in cases where the public
prosecution has strong suspicions against the accused," he added. Matar said the
tape of an interview with former minister Michel Samaha should be "referred" to
the STL. In the interview aired last week on al-Manar television Samaha said he
possessed information vital to the Hariri case. Beirut, 08 May 09, 17:13
Au revoir justice
Al-Ahram Weekly
By: Omayma Abdel-Latif
Electoral showdown over the judiciary and the Special Tribunal has begun but
elections are still on, writes Omayma Abdel-Latif from Beirut
Since its inception, the Special Tribunal for the Lebanon Court has been a
dividing force among the Lebanese. The court ruling issued last Wednesday by
Judge Daniel Bellemare, the tribunal's prosecutor, to release four generals held
by the Lebanese authorities since August 2005 without trial has increasingly
exacerbated political polarisation in the country one month away from
parliamentary elections.
It was hoped that the ruling would have calmed the waters, erasing doubts about
the politicisation of the Special Tribunal, but it seems to have added fuel to
the political fire. The forces of March 14 insisted that the ruling was stunning
evidence of the de-politicisation of the Special Tribunal, crushing the
opposition's allegations against the international Court. The March 8 forces are
not so easily deterred, arguing that the ruling is not so much evidence of the
court's objectivity, as it is the result of a lack of sufficient evidence to
indict the generals, a conclusion which, they say, the Lebanese judiciary system
should have reached long ago, but precisely because of the influence of
politics, it failed to do, instead waiting for it to come from an international
court. The ruling raises pressing questions regarding the fate of the four-year
investigation led by the International Investigation Committee.
The four generals -- former head of the presidential guard Mustafa Hamdan,
Security Services Director Jamil Sayed, Domestic Security chief Ali Hajj and
Military Intelligence Chief Raymond Azar -- were detained at the orders of
Detlev Mehlis, the first prosecutor of the UN International Independent
Investigation Committee (IIIC) investigating the killing of former prime
minister Rafik Al-Hariri after testimonies by a former Syrian officer Mohamed
Zuhair Al-Sadiq and Hossam Hossam.
The release of the four generals fuelled doubts over the fate of the four-year
investigation carried out by the IIIC and the Lebanese courts. Also in light of
crucial challenges such as the lack of suspects or detainees, the fate of the
Special Tribunal investigation remains in question. The investigation has been
dogged right from the beginning with a bad reputation.
During the era of the first IIIC presided over by Judge Detlev Mehlis, the
investigation was accused of being politicised and even following the orders of
the Bush administration which wanted to use the international court as a tool to
pressure Syria. Mehlis himself made press leaks which suggested that the
investigation was moving to conclude that Syria played an active role in the
assassination. It was during this stage when witnesses such as Al-Sidiq and
Hossam came into the limelight. Later both turned out to have provided the
investigation with false testimonies. While Hossam went back to Syria and
retracted his statements, Al-Sidiq, protected by French intelligence for the
past four years, was arrested a month ago in the United Arab Emirates, and Syria
is seeking to extradite him.
The second stage of the investigation took place when Belgian Judge Serge
Brammertz was installed as the new investigation commissioner in January 2006.
The investigation began to look more professional. And the third phase began
with the launch of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
The opposition based its argument on the fact that the false witnesses upon
whose testimonies the investigation was based for four years should be brought
for trial before the Lebanese court. The opposition argues that unless the two
judges responsible for the officers' detention without charge -- Said Mirza and
Saqr Saqr -- take responsibility and unless those false witnesses are brought to
justice, there could be no guarantee that the investigation will not rely on
false witnesses yet again.
In his speech, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said the ruling
"ended a dark period" although he said he would not pre-judge the next stage of
the investigation. He remains sceptical. Nasrallah set three conditions he
believed will put the investigation on the right track. First the false
witnesses who misled the investigation and undermined it should be brought to
justice in a Lebanese court. Secondly, all possibilities in the investigation
should be opened, including the possibility of Israel being behind the
assassination in order to invoke a civil strife in the country. The third and
most important condition is the building up of a national consensus over the
investigation. Such a national consensus existed in the early days of the
assassination but Lebanese were split over who should carry out the
investigation.
It is very hard to conceive how such a national consensus could be restored in
light of the extreme level of political polarisation in the country. The
opposition's call for the resignation of Mirza and Saqr was portrayed by the
majority as an attempt to undermine one of the state's institutions. But
high-level opposition sources said that the opposition's battle is not with the
judiciary as the majority claims, but is rather with these two particular
judges. It was the majority which chose to refer the investigation of
Al-Hariri's assassination to an international court because it had little or no
faith in the Lebanese judiciary.
The opposition's call to take to the street in protest against Mirza and Saqr
raised questions about the fate of the forthcoming parliamentary elections only
a month from now. A consensus inside the opposition over street activity failed
to materialise. Both General Michel Aoun, the key Christian ally in the
opposition coalition, as well as Hizbullah's ally, parliament speaker Nabih
Berry, refused to participate in such activity.
The Higher Judicial Council convened on Tuesday to address the consequences on
the four generals' release. But the opposition's campaign against the council to
force it to reform by purging the two judges is unlikely to yield the intended
consequences. The council itself will terminate in five weeks. Only the chairman
of the council Judge Ghaleb Ghanem will remain in his place, and following the
elections a new council will have to be selected. According to the Taif
Agreement only two out of the 10 judges comprising the council are selected by
judges and the other eight are selected by the government, which leaves the
highest judicial body under the influence of politics. The new government will
then appoint a new district attorney. (see p.11)
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
Lebanon Arrests 5 More Suspects in Espionage Network
Naharnet/Lebanese authorities arrested five people, including two brothers, on
suspicion of spying for Israel on Friday, bringing the number of those detained
for spying in 2009 to 19, a security official said. The two brothers "are being
questioned and their houses are being searched," the official told Agence France
Presse (AFP) on condition of anonymity, adding that they were taken into custody
in the town of Ghaziye, near the south Lebanon port of Sidon. A third suspect
was arrested on charges of espionage in south Lebanon later on Friday, he added
without giving details. Hizbullah's al-Manar TV said that an individual it
identified as H. Abbas and another individual from the Bazzi clan were arrested
in the southern town of Qana for suspicion of spying. It provided no further
details. "They are being questioned and their houses are being searched," the
official told Agence France Presse regarding the two brothers, adding that the
pair were taken into custody in the town of Ghaziyeh, near the southern port
city of Sidon. Arrest warrants were issued for a number of alleged spies
detained since 2008, he added without giving details.
On Sunday, Lebanese policeman Haytham Sahmarani and his wife were taken into
custody in Beirut's southern suburbs. Three suspects were also arrested on
Sunday in the southern village of Habboush. Two Lebanese men and a Palestinian
were arrested on April 25 on suspicion of spying for Israel and were linked by
the authorities to a retired general security officer arrested for spying
earlier that month. Former brigadier general Adib al-Alam was arrested along
with his wife Hayat Saloumi and nephew Joseph al-Alam in April on suspicion of
espionage -- a charge punishable by life imprisonment or death in Lebanon. The
three are accused of informing Israel about Lebanese and Syrian military and
civilian sites "with the aim of facilitating Israeli attacks," a judicial
official said last month. Al-Alam was arrested at his office near Beirut on
April 14 along with his wife. He ran a housekeeping service which he allegedly
used as a front to spy for Israel. Marwan Faqih was arrested in south Lebanon in
February.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 08 May 09, 11:20
Cassesse Eyes Judicial Cooperation Deal with Mideast Countries, Including Syria,
Israel
Naharnet/The head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Friday he wanted a
deal with countries in the region, including Syria, to simplify the surrender of
suspects.
"I have already prepared a draft agreement on judicial cooperation which should
be offered to all the countries of the region: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iran,
Turkey, Israel," Antonio Cassese told AFP. The STL was created to try those
responsible for the 2005 car bombing that killed former Lebanese prime minister
Rafik Hariri and 22 other people.
Damascus, implicated by a United Nations probe, has denied involvement. The
tribunal currently has no suspects in custody since ordering the release last
week of four generals held by Lebanon for nearly four years without charge. The
accord envisaged by Cassese would allow prosecutors to interview witnesses in
third countries, to have suspects summoned to The Hague for questioning, and
facilitate the transfer of accused persons. It aims to find a way round the fact
that the national laws of some countries prevent them from surrendering suspects
without an extradition treaty. It would also be submitted to countries like
France, the United States and Argentina that have large Lebanese communities,
Cassese said.
"That does not mean that we expect there is a suspect or witness or fugitive
(there)," said the judge, at the seat of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon at
Leidschendam near The Hague.
He added that "probably, many countries will never accept" the agreement, and
may prefer to work with the tribunal on a case-by-case basis which would be
"less quick, but not impossible." He hoped to hand drafts of the deal to
ambassadors in The Hague in the next few weeks and to finalize its negotiation
and ratification by December.
Cassese said he would visit Beirut in June or July, after the Lebanese
parliamentary elections, for a courtesy call on the new government and talks
with lawyers and judges about the tribunal's rules and procedures. He had no
plans to visit Syria.(AFP) Beirut, 08 May 09, 18:06
Khoury Denies Announcing Date for Syrian Counterpart to Assume Duties
Naharnet/Lebanese Ambassador to Damascus Michel Khoury denied Friday reports he
had disclosed the date for Syrian counterpart Ali Abdul Karim is to assume his
post in Beirut.
Following an earlier meeting with Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Khoury was
reported as telling journalists Abdul Karim was expected to "assume diplomatic
responsibilities in Beirut after May 17."Khoury later denied giving "any kind of
statement" to the media. "This is (a decision) to be made exclusively by the
Syrian authorities," Khoury said in a statement in reference to Abdul Karim's
arrival in Beirut to assume his duties as ambassador. "Therefore, media reports
quoting me after meeting with Salloukh are baseless," he added.
Khoury had allegedly told reporters that Abdul Karim currently remains in Kuwait
pending a farewell ceremony.Khoury briefed Salloukh over his Thursday meeting
with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who accepted his diplomatic credentials.
Formal discussions focused on "distinguished and historic" Lebanese-Syrian
relations based upon the foundations established by the presidents of both
countries, Khoury said. Last October 15 both Lebanon
and Syria agreed to hold diplomatic relations for the first time since their
independence from France over 60 years ago.Bilateral relations witnessed
tensions following the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's ex-premier Rafik Hariri.
Beirut, 08 May 09, 14:20
Lebanon
arrests two Israel 'spy' brothers
BEIRUT (AFP) — Lebanese authorities arrested two brothers on suspicion of spying
for Israel on Friday, bringing the number of those in detention for spying since
January to 15, a security official said. "They are being questioned and their
houses are being searched," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity,
adding that the pair were taken into custody in the town of Ghaziye, near the
south Lebanon port of Sidon. The authorities arrested 18 people on suspicion of
spying for Israel since January but the official said that three of them had
been released, apparently for lack of evidence, leaving 15 suspects behind bars.
A retired general security officer is among those being detained by the
authorities.
Former brigadier general Adib al-Aalam was arrested along with his wife Hayat
Saloumi and nephew Joseph Al-Aalam in April on suspicion of espionage -- a
charge punishable by life imprisonment or death in Lebanon, which remains
technically in a state of war with Israel. The three are accused of informing
Israel about Lebanese and Syrian military and civilian sites "with the aim of
facilitating Israeli attacks," a judicial official said last month. Aalam was
arrested at his office near Beirut on April 14 along with his wife. He ran a
housekeeping service which he allegedly used as a front to spy for Israel.
Lebanese policeman Haytham Sahmarani was arrested with his wife on Sunday in
Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah
which fought a devastating 2006 war with Israel.
Cairo seeks Iranian link to terror cell
By BRENDA GAZZAR, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT, CAIRO /Egypt has yet to
establish a direct connection between Iran and the alleged Hizbullah terror cell
recently discovered on it soil, an Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said this
week. "We need to establish a link first," spokesman Hossam Zaki told The
Jerusalem Post when asked about Teheran's involvement with the cell. "The link
has been established with Hizbullah, which in our view has its Iranian links,
which is an indirect link." Teheran has supported Hizbullah financially and
militarily but it is unclear to what extent the Islamic republic was involved in
the cell. Much of the Egyptian media has taken a very harsh stance toward what
it believes to be Iran's involvement in the affair. Meanwhile, the Egyptian
government is trying to determine the sources of "money transfers from abroad"
sent to members of the 49-member cell, a member of the cell's defense team told
the Post. Twenty-two of the suspects are in detention while the rest are
apparently at large. Some have been in custody for about six months. Egypt
accuses the cell of planning attacks against Israeli targets and Egyptian
installations throughout the country. Lebanon-based Hizbullah chief Hassan
Nasrallah admitted that one of the men - known as Sami Shehab - was a member of
Hizbullah, but he said that he and some 10 others had been helping to smuggle
arms into Gaza, and denied any intention to carry out attacks in Egypt. In an
apparent message to Iran, President Hosni Mubarak warned "regional forces" last
month against interfering with Egypt. "We are aware of your plans... We will
expose your plot and catch you," he promised." Stop exploiting the Palestinian
issue and "be warned of Egypt's fury."
General of Defeats
Date: May 8th, 2009
Future News
Within the severe domestic political division, the Lebanese need some humor;
fortunately, Michel Aoun is there to ease things down and facilitate the
Lebanese political life.
Probably it is useless to discuss the perception and the statements of Aoun, the
General of political and military defeated wars, as it is now pretty hard to try
to rescue him from the Syrian tide, after he confirmed his affiliation with it.
Moreover the ‘common ground’ is no longer available with Aoun to conduct a
mutual political assessment.
Aoun’s credibility is no longer an important issue in the country, thus it is
not worth of mention. Aoun is now pursuing a career in “political contracting”
for the benefit of the Syrian Regime, and his last activity in this regard was
his attacks against the international tribunal and martyr Prime Minister Rafic
Hariri.
Aoun exploits the “existential anxiety” from which some communities suffer, and
endorses it through instigating sects against each other.
The General pauses, perplexed, before significant questions: what will he do to
get back the riffle Hizbullah’s Chief has offered to Rustom Ghazali, the
prominent Syrian official accused of most of Syria’s malicious practices in
Lebanon? Where are the Lebanese detainees in Syrian jails? Why the Syrian Regime
would not demarcate the borders with Lebanon for it to retrieve the Shebaa
farms?
The observer can also question the General of defeated wars about what he said
in Washington in 2003, about “the terrorism of the Syrian Regime and its
liability for demining Lebanon and its political, constitutional, and civil
facilities”, when he was invited by the ‘Institution for Defending Democracy’.
Back then, Aoun did not spare the Syrian regime accusing it of assassinating
politicians, imposing censorship on press, blowing up embassies and murdering
clerics, and turning Lebanon into a field for growing drugs and a refuge for
terrorist groups and hostage kidnappers.
Yet, the most interesting part of his famous lecture was when he accused Syria’s
Assad Regime of making Shebaa farms (which Aoun now refuses to retrieve through
diplomacy, stressing the urge to liberate it) a pretext to protect the arms of
Lebanese pro-Syrian parties through keeping the front of Southern Lebanon on
alert. Furthermore, Aoun stressed that the world will either conquer terrorism
led by the United States, or it would enter a dark age. Amusingly, that same
General now repeats after the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran
Ali Khamenei his insistence to defy Washington from Beirut based on his
“alleged” public support of 70% of Lebanon’s Christians.
In fact, Aoun topped all the followers of the Syrian Regime. The previous
questions might be a little tough for the general’s intellect, which has never
succeeded in estimating the results of all his defeated battles. Thus, and based
on all of the mentioned facts, General Aoun would have earned the title “General
of defeated wars”.
A civil campaign to protect Ahmad Al-Assaad
Date: May 8th, 2009 Future News
The supporters of Ahmad Al-Assaad, the candidate for the Shiite seat in the
Marjayoun district declared Thursday in south Lebanon their undisputed support
amid the aggravating attacks launched at their candidate by the rivalry
Hizbullah party. Assaad’s supporters encircled his house in the southern village
Odayseh in order to protect him from the assaults that were recently unleashed
at him. The event marked a surprise for Hizbullah, which was bidding that the
supporters of al-Assaad -the leader of the Lebanese Belonging Gathering- would
not be able to stand the organized terrorism and intimidation, thus confusing
their electoral presence. The idea of organizing a civilian campaign to support
Al-Asaad and protect him was way beyond the democratic right to run for the
parliamentary elections facing the Hizbullah party, which has a different point
of view than the Gathering of Assaad. The campaign was a flare that the struggle
began in the south to prove its right for political diversity, an unprecedented
move to reject the extended suppressing policy of Hizbullah. The move was
preceded by an aggravating campaign of repression organized to prevent Assaad
from staying at his hometown village. The people’s reaction to this fierce
campaign at Assaad intended to attract the attention of the security apparatus,
and push them to take necessary measures to protect the hopeful candidate.
Aoun’s notorious candidates in Jizzine
Date: May 8th, 2009 Future News
The list of the candidates of the Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun
in the Jizzine district have tarnished and notorious records of fiscal crimes,
bribery and thefts, according to well informed sources in the region. FPM
Candidate Issam Sawaya and Michel Helou, a former lawyer at The Bank al-Madina
of Beirut. The Bank al-Madina of Beirut, which—from the mid-1990s until 2003—was
the center of a multi-billion dollar money-laundering scheme. Bank documents,
court filings, and interviews with investigators and other sources show that
some of the officials were deeply involved from the late 1990s until early 2003
in a kickback scheme that supplied them with cash, real estate, cars, and
jewelry in exchange for protecting and facilitating a multibillion-dollar money
laundering operation at Lebanon's Bank al-Madina that allowed terrorist
organizations, peddlers of West African and Russian gangsters to hide income and
convert hot money into legitimate bank accounts around the world.
U.N. Concerned About Hizbullah Activities Outside Lebanon, Says Group's Arsenal
is Threat to Regional Stability
Naharnet/U.N. Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen said that over the last few weeks
there has been growing concern about Hizbullah activities beyond Lebanese
territory, adding that the party's arsenal is a threat to regional stability.
He told the Security Council on Thursday that U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has been
informed by the Egyptian government that a cell led by a Lebanese member of
Hizbullah was uncovered in Egypt. The Egyptian government informed the U.N. that
the issue is now in the hands of the judiciary.
"In a televised speech on 29 April, the Secretary-General of Hizbullah, Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah, rejected the Egyptian authorities' accusations. The
secretary-general had expressed concern over the Hizbullah leaders' statements
and had condemned such unwarranted interference in the domestic affairs of a
member state," Roed-Larsen said in his briefing.
"Equally alarming was the fact that Hizbullah had publicly admitted to providing
support to Gaza-based militants from Egyptian territory," he added.
Ban's special envoy for the implementation of resolution 1559 said he remained
concerned by occasional security incidents in recent months, some of which have
led to casualties.
"These occurrences highlight the proliferation of weapons and armed groups that
continue to operate in Lebanon and whose existence is an ongoing violation of
resolution 1559," he stated. "These are direct threats to the stability of the
country and the region as a whole."
Resolution 1559 was adopted in 2004. It calls for free and fair elections, an
end to foreign interference and the disbanding of all militias.
He stressed in particular that the disbanding and disarming of Lebanese and
non-Lebanese militias is a necessary element to the complete consolidation of
Lebanon as a sovereign and democratic state.
"The most significant remaining Lebanese militia is the armed component of
Hizbullah," Ban's special envoy noted, adding that the group continues to
maintain a significant paramilitary capacity and infrastructure separate from
the state, in violation of resolution 1559. "This arsenal is a direct challenge
to the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and a threat to regional stability."
Also, over the last few weeks, Lebanese authorities have arrested a series of
individuals on suspicion of spying for Israel, Roed-Larsen told the council,
adding that if these allegations prove true, they would constitute a serious
violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.
The special envoy also said that the June 7 parliamentary elections will
constitute a "new milestone" in Lebanon's momentous transition, and said it is
heartening that Lebanese leaders have committed themselves to a free and fair
election devoid of violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
Terje Roed-Larsen told the council that the situation in Lebanon has improved
"markedly" since last May, when an accord reached in Doha helped end the
country's political crisis by paving the way for the election of a new president
and the establishment of a national unity cabinet.
"The general improvement of the situation in the country combined with
reconciliation efforts in the region has created a favorable environment to
strengthen Lebanon's sovereignty, political independence and government control
throughout the country," said Roed-Larsen.
He noted that since the adoption of resolution 1559, several of its provisions
have now been implemented. Presidential elections took place in May 2008; Syria
withdrew its troops from Lebanon in April 2005; and the two neighbors have
established diplomatic relations and engaged in high-level talks on relevant
matters. Beirut, 08 May 09, 08:12
MoU with Tribunal Torpedoed this Week's Cabinet Session
Naharnet/This week's cabinet session was postponed after minority ministers
threatened to use veto power on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon, a well-informed source told al-Liwaa newspaper. The source
said the memorandum with the tribunal's prosecutor office was a source of
disagreement among majority and minority ministers who threatened to put it for
voting and use veto power if the majority insisted on having the MoU on the
cabinet agenda. Al-Liwaa said the opposition still rejects the MoU although its
ministers haven't made any comments or proposed any amendments to its text. The
memorandum, proposed by the justice ministry, seeks to regulate relations
between the Lebanese judiciary and the tribunal's general prosecutor. Beirut, 08
May 09, 09:40
Hale in Beirut to Inform Officials About Feltman's Damascus
Talks
Naharnet/U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David
Hale arrived in Beirut on Friday to hold talks with Lebanese officials. His
visit comes a day after Jeffrey Feltman, the State Department's top Middle East
envoy, held talks with Syrian officials in Damascus. An Nahar daily said Hale is
expected to inform Lebanese officials about the results of Feltman's meetings.
He will also reiterate U.S. support for Lebanon. Feltman was accompanied by
White House official Daniel Shapiro. Their trip was part of the Obama
administration's outreach to nations shunned by former President George Bush.
Beirut, 08 May 09, 09:21
Return of U.S. Ambassador to Syria Depends on Lebanese
Polls
Naharnet/A decision by the Obama administration to appoint an ambassador to
Damascus depends on Syria's role in the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary
elections, a State Department official told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat. "A
decision hasn't been made yet about" the return of the U.S. ambassador to Syria,
the official told the newspaper in remarks published Friday, adding that
Washington was awaiting the results of the June 7 polls and improvement in
Syrian-Lebanese ties before appointing an ambassador.
The U.S. withdrew its ambassador to Syria in 2005 to protest Syrian actions in
Lebanon. Washington has also criticized Syria and Iran for supporting militant
groups such as the Palestinian Hamas in Gaza and Lebanon's Hizbullah. The
official's comment to the newspaper came as the State Department's top Middle
East envoy Jeffrey Feltman visited Syria to try to repair strained relations. He
assured the government in Damascus Thursday that the U.S. is committed to
pursuing a comprehensive Middle East peace that would include the Syria-Israel
track.
"We came here today as part of President Obama's commitment to use diplomacy, to
use dialogue in order to try to see where we can move forward, where our
interests overlap, and to see where we can try to work together to bridge the
differences that remain in some of our policies," Feltman said. He was
accompanied by White House official Daniel Shapiro, both visiting Damascus for
the second time since March. Their trip is part of the Obama administration's
outreach to nations shunned by former President George Bush, including Syria's
close ally Iran.(Naharnet-AP) Beirut, 08 May 09, 09:03
Albright: Lebanese Elections Pose Challenges in Wake of Presence of Arms
Naharnet/Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Thursday that
the team assessing preparations for the June 7 parliamentary elections was
concerned about the presence of weapons. Albright, who is co-leading a
high-profile team to assess preparations for the polls on behalf of the National
Democratic Institute, said NDI evaluation of the Lebanese electoral system "pose
challenges in the wake of the presence of arms in the possession of (political)
parties." She said the presence of arms "also pose challenges in the face of the
international monitor delegation."Albright said that while the Lebanese army
would keep peace during elections, "one opposing party possessed military and
armed strength which is not under state control," a reference to Hizbullah's
arsenal. "Let's not forget at the same time that other parties, in turn, possess
weapons of different sizes," she told a news conference at the Phoenicia Hotel
in downtown Beirut . Albright said the delegation expressed concern over the
non-completion of the formation of the constitutional council, which is the only
body that has the power to look into complaints related to election fraud and
challenging results. Lebanese Parliament has elected five members for the
constitutional council, setting the stage for the establishment of the 10-seat
highest constitutional court. The dispute, however, over naming the other five
members to the council, allowing it to be operational prior to the forthcoming
elections, remained unsolved. Beirut, 07 May 09, 20:20
Tribunal to Focus on Damascus as Mehlis Says Arrest of
Generals Not Only Based on Siddiq Testimony
Naharnet/The Special Tribunal for Lebanon will turn its eye on Damascus
following the release of the four generals, European sources said, as former
chief U.N. investigator Detlev Mehlis said his recommendation to arrest the
former security chiefs was based on the testimony of king witness Zuhair Siddiq
as well as others.
Mehlis said the U.N. commission investigating ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's murder
had recommended the arrest of the four generals and it would have retracted its
order had it been mistaken.
Mehlis told al-Mustaqbal daily that when he quit as head of the commission, the
provisional arrest of the generals was legal under Lebanese, German and French
law.
He stressed that at that time he thought the probe would need only one more
year. He told al-Mustaqbal that he would have sent the file to the court if he
had enough evidence and if not, he would have announced that finding the truth
is impossible. "Had the investigation been on the right track, it would have
been over long time ago," the former head of the U.N. panel said.
He told the newspaper that his recommendation to arrest the four generals wasn't
only based on the testimony of witness Mohammed Zuhair Siddiq.
Mehlis said he recommended the arrests after hearing the testimonies of several
witnesses including Gen. H. and another person to whom one of the released
officers, Gen. Mustafa Hamdan, had said there is an intention to send Hariri on
a "trip."
Mehlis said that the commission had asked Syria for information on a possible
Israeli involvement in Hariri's assassination but Damascus did not cooperate on
the matter.
The panel, according to Mehlis, also ruled out the involvement of
fundamentalists in the former premier's murder.
Sources involved in the investigation into Hariri's assassination informed
official Western and European parties that the court will continue its work
because the commission investigating the former premier's killing has enough
evidence and information to find the truth. The sources stressed that the
tribunal's judges are committed to the Lebanese and the international community
to hold accountable and punish the culprits. An Nahar quoted the Western and
European officials as saying the release of the generals will support
international efforts to push Syrian President Bashar Assad to cooperate with
the tribunal and comply with its demands, including the interrogation of Syrian
witnesses or accused persons when needed.
Well-informed diplomatic sources in Paris said "the next strike by the court
after the release of the generals will be in Damascus because the Hariri case is
of significance to Syria more than any other country outside Lebanon."
Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities informed pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen that
they are implementing his decision to protect the generals, including taking
security measures and putting guards to protect them and their property. Beirut,
08 May 09, 11:43
Aoun, Berri to Hold 'Honest Competition' in Jezzine
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri both agreed that the district of Jizzine would represent an honest
competition between them on June 7."Competition [with Berri] is limited to the
Jezzine district and would not affect any electoral relationship at other
districts were [we] both have common influence," The daily An-Nahar reported
Aoun saying on Friday. Speaker Berri told his visitors on Thursday, "yes, let it
be an honest battle in Jizzine. I agree with Aoun's statement regarding the
spirit of competition in this district." "My priority has always been the unity
of opposition forces. As for me, I stress the unity of electoral lists; there
are no tensions among the ranks of the opposition. However, let me assert the
competition in Jezzine is within the spirit of sportsmanship," Berri was quoted
saying by the daily An-Nahar on Friday.
The parliament speaker is scheduled to hold a press conference in Musaileh on
Sunday in which he will announce his parliamentary bloc's electoral program.
An-Nahar reported that Berri received a telephone call on Thursday from al-Mustaqbal
Movement leader MP Saad Hariri, [prior to launching his own electoral
celebration] in which he reaffirmed his commitment to the Doha agreement
concerning the Beirut 2 district. The daily As-Safir reported on Friday that
Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, decided to maintain his
neutrality between his allies Aoun and Berri. Parliamentary sources told the
pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Aoun refused to include Berri's candidate in
Jezzine Samir Azar "due to personal reasons Aoun wanted to send a message to
Christian voters in the district that he is capable of embarrassing his
political allies and would not back-off or shy away from voters demands."
Sources told the paper that the "personal tiff" between Aoun and Azar is due to
the general's chagrin against Azar supporters that claim that Aoun's family
members are leading his electoral campaign and second because Azar failed to
mobilize his supporters in greeting Aoun when he visited Jezzine, in addition to
the fact that he failed to publicly come out in support of Aoun's political
stances. Beirut, 08 May 09, 10:21
Hizbullah Torn Between Maintaining Neutrality and Managing
Dispute in Jezzine
Naharnet/Observers are waiting to see how Hizbullah would react to the division
among the opposition in Jezzine, following the announcement made by Free
Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun that he would be "competing" with his ally
Parliament Speaker nabih Berri in the district. The daily As-Safir on Friday
said that Hizbullah's calculations seemed cautious adding that other electoral
districts such as Jbeil could witness Shiites voting for a centrist list.
Observers told the daily that Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah
has decided to remain neutral on the issue. The daily pan-Arab al-Hayat quoted
informed sources of efforts for managing the dispute between Aoun and Berri to
ensure that the matter would not have negative repercussions on voting day for
the opposition at any district. Aoun and Berri differed over forming a united
list in the southern district of Jezzine. Aoun refufed to accept Berri's,
nominee Samir Azar. He later decided to run in 'honest competition' against
Berri in the district. Beirut, 08 May 09, 12:50
Aoun: Parliamentary Majority is Needed to Implement Our
Reform Program
Naharnet/Reform and Change leader MP Michel Aoun said that he needs a
parliamentary majority in order to implement his party's reform platform. During
a grand rally in which he announced the electoral platform of his Free Patriotic
Movement Party for the June 2009 parliamentary elections on Thursday, Aoun said:
"we would remember all attempts made for hindering our ability to choose.
Particularly when all of our human resources were expensed." He told his
audience of supporters that they are in front of a historic moment to enrich
parliament with new thinking, to provide a new course for the journey of reform.
"You don't have to take anybody's opinion. The opinion is yours and so is the
answer." "Those carrying the slogans of sovereignty, freedom and independence
are the ones that destroyed state institutions and replaced them with their
companies," Aoun said. He called on his supporters to "make the change, rather
than renewing the [parliamentary] mandate for those that placed the country in
debt." "Ask your current members of parliament about the legislation they
hindered and ask journalists how free is your pen?" Aoun said. The FPM leader
warned that Lebanon is at a crossroads "so don't let anyone tell you that those
that ruled Lebanon for 17 years are capable of change when they could have done
that a long time ago." "Lebanese, know that the elections are ahead of you. This
is an opportunity for your salvation. Grab it by changing," Aoun ended. Beirut,
07 May 09, 20:37
Hariri: Lebanese Made the Accusation against Syria at Time
of My Father's Crime
Naharnet/Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri on Thursday responded to
charges made by his political opponents that his movement had accused Syria of
the assassination of his father ex-premier Rafik Hariri, saying: "The people of
Lebanon made the accusation when the crime took place." "I am the son of Rafik
Hariri and I say the accusation made against the Syrian regime is political,"
Hariri told a huge electoral rally in the area where MP Walid Eido and his son
were assassinated in a car bomb in 2007. Addressing the crowd, Hariri said: "You
were the first to know that the accusation did not come from nowhere. You also
know that Rafik Hariri, prior to his assassination, was threatened by well-known
people at the top of the pyramid of the previous regime under (Syrian)
tutelage." Hariri reiterated his political stance regarding the 2005
assassination crime that killed his father saying: "If Israel was the one that
assassinated my father, then why the attempts to hinder the Special Tribunal?
Israel assassinated Palestine, gentlemen it assassinated Palestine." "We shall
never fall into the trap of arms, sedition and civil war. We shall maintain our
path -- that of the legitimate state, justice, moderation and education," Hariri
said. He was referring to events last year on the same day when Beirut was
overrun with violence. "Today is the first anniversary when madness believed it
could overrun Beirut, but the city overran madness with its patriotism," he
said. Hariri added, "The only weapon my father provided for young people is the
weapon of education and progress. When Lebanon was under tutelage, when all
Lebanese were desperate to have a state and an army, Rafik Hariri drafted the
plan for state institutions," Hariri said. He accused his political opponents of
attempting to carry the country outside the Taef accords. "The Special Tribunal
for Lebanon is established and justice is coming. Criminals won't escape
justice," Hariri charged. He announced Al-Mustaqbal Beirut 3 district list which
includes Tamam Salam, Imad al-Hout, Ghazi Aridi, Atef Majdalani, Ammar Houry,
Nabil de Freij, Ghazi Youssef, Bassem al-Shab and Mohammed Qabbani. Earlier,
Jamaa Islamia parliamentary candidate Imad al-Hout said: "We don't want any
sectarian clashes. We shall proof that May 7 events are behind us." Beirut 3
parliamentary candidate Culture Minister Tamam Salam added: "I am honored to be
with Hariri on a single list. We want a strong Arab Lebanon far removed from any
axis." Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi addressed rally
supporters saying: "Beirut knows how to overcome hardships. This is the capital
that has vanquished every injustice." Beirut, 07 May 09, 19:59
U.N. Tells Israel its Ideas For Securing Divided Village
A U.N. envoy on Thursday presented Israel with proposals for ensuring the
security of residents of divided Ghajar village on the Israeli-Lebanese border
in the event of an Israeli pullback.
Alain Le Roy, U.N. under secretary-general for peacekeeping affairs, spelled out
the ideas to deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon, a ministry spokeswoman said.
No details of the proposals were revealed but Ayalon said he expects the Israeli
cabinet to discuss them. Last year the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
submitted plans to facilitate Israel's withdrawal from the northern part of
Ghajar. Removing Israeli troops from the Lebanese half of the village is a
requirement of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which brought an end to
the 2006 war in Lebanon. But the resolution also calls for the disarmament of
the Lebanese Hizbullah faction and Israel has claimed that a lack of progress in
collecting weapons makes a withdrawal impossible. Israeli media has reported
that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon announce plans to evacuate
troops from northern Ghajar, but Ayalon was careful to point out that
disarmament remains Israel's top priority. "We expect greater decisive action to
disarm Hizbullah and to prevent it from rearming and collecting weapons," he
said.(AFP)
For Immediate Release/American Coptic Union
5/7/2009
Egypt’s Health Minister Determined to Call the Army to Kill
Pigs, and Livelihood of Christian Copts
Inciting Hatred and Violence in the Rise against Egypt’s Christian as False Fear
of H1N1 Intensifies
If this is Not Islamic Terrorism what would it be called?
The Health Minister, Hatem Al-Gabaly, threats to call for Egypt’s Arm forces to
compel Christian farmers to give in their pigs voluntarily for killing. So far
not one single case confirmed of H1N1 Flu. On the last week all Media outlets
kept spread fears among Muslims of Swine (Pigs) Flu, despite there is no reports
of infected cases. According to 'Arab Jerusalem' a Newspaper based on London,
“on the past few days the regime has already used the Army against Christians,
the Newspaper reported. But the armed forces did not MOBILIZES all energies yet.
In an interview with some Satellite Channels, the Health Minister, announced
that two Egyptians suspected who came from Germany, got sick, and are quarantine
for medical examination. Up to this point, no official word of any infections.
Nevertheless, the government’s Media, and Newspaper keep feed in Muslims with
fear and hatred from the Pigs, and Christian Coptic owners, to intimidate and
incite violence against them.
The terror call of Mr. Gabaly using the Arm Forces against defenseless and
peaceful Christian must considered a real terrorism.
Instead of fighting the endemic deadly Liver diseases of Hepatitis “C” in Egypt,
that kills thousands of Egyptians every year. The Health Minister wants the Army
to kill Pigs, and livelihood of Copts. According to, Medical Writers’ Circle, on
August 2006, the estimated adjusted national prevalence rate of severe hepatitis
C infection is 7.8% of Egypt’s population, or 5.3 million people in
2004(American Journal of Gastroenterology 2006). Currently this number may be as
high as 7 million people in Egypt.
These facts clearly show the evil intent of Mubarak regime represented in his
Health Minister Terror statements.
More came out from Al-Azhar, inciting for violence and hatred against Christian
Copts. Same Arabic Newspaper reported,” there is an agreement between Al-Azhar’s
Grand Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi and the Mufti Ali Gomaa, to cancel the
collective prayers and worship fearing the Swine Flu. The Declaration to abolish
the collective prayers will be in effect, as soon as the World Health
Organization, WHO, declares level six of the H1N1 threat.
Exaggeration and enlargement of fear of H1N1 Flu used to cover up, the failure
of the regime stopping Hezbullah, and Iran infiltration, and influence. Such
influence is spreading expanding quickly among Muslims, whom they look at
Mubarak as traitor, especially after Gaza war, as well as a form of attack on
Christians.
Obviously Mubarak regime unqualified help making peace in the Middle East, While
his terror regime involved in committed all kinds of crimes against humanity. It
is clear the regime lives on making trouble not peace to survive.
Unfortunately, the silence of the White House and US government interpreted by
Mubarak regime as a green light to press ahead on its persecution campaign
against the indigent Christians of Egypt.
American Coptic Union won’t stop calling on President Obama to halt Mubarak’s
campaign of genocide to uproot Copts from their own homeland, and hold him
personally responsible for these crimes.
Now it is the responsibility of the President of United States of America,
Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and US Congress to prevent
Mubarak from using the Army in such barbaric mission. Recently, the US has
approved $1.3 Billion as military aides to Egypt. These military aides should
suspend immediately.
Fax: 201-798-1451- Contact: E-mail: americancu@hotmail.com
Release: International Christian Concern
Taliban Extorts Protection "Tax" from Christians in Swat Valley
News of Pakistan Army Assault on Swat Valley May End Taliban's Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has
learned that hundreds of religious minorities, including Sikhs and Christians,
fled Swat Valley because the Taliban had imposed the "jizya tax" required by
Islamic law on religious minorities.
The jizya tax is imposed by fundamentalist Muslims on members of other religions
who refuse to convert to Islam and has been used by Muslim governments for
centuries. The aim of the jizya tax and other similar restrictions is punishment
and slow strangulation. It aims to humiliate non-Muslims and impoverish them so
that they are forced to convert to Islam.
Christian and Sikh families living in an area similar to the Swat Valley, the
Orakzai Agency, left their homes after the Taliban demanded 50 million rupees
[$622,200]. The Taliban announced that they would provide protection for
religious minorities if they paid the amount, but the tax is so financially
debilitating that minorities had to flee.
Religious minorities living in another tribal area have already paid 20 million
rupees [$248,860] as 'tax' to the Taliban after militants forcibly occupied some
of their homes and kidnapped a Sikh leader last month.
News of a planned assault on the Taliban in Swat Valley by the Pakistani Army is
a welcome breakthrough in the face of this extreme violation of the rights of
religious minorities.
Jeremy Sewall, ICC's Advocacy Director, said, "We urge the Pakistani Army to
completely root the Taliban out of Swat Valley. Only the total defeat of the
Taliban can ensure protection of the fundamental right to religious freedom that
the Christians and Sikhs of the Swat Valley deserve."
# # #
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for
an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
Release by the
International Christian Concern
US Military Yields to Al Jazeera, Destroys Afghan Bibles
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 7, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has
learned that the U.S. military leadership in Afghanistan has confiscated and
destroyed several Bibles in Afghan languages which had been sent to an American
soldier serving in Afghanistan. The military confiscated the Bibles after the
Arab media outlet Al Jazeera released a story earlier this week with videos of
American soldiers discussing how to distribute the Bibles.
U.S. Central Command's General Order Number 1 prohibits American soldiers from
proselytizing. Al Jazeera's report wrongly indicates that there are no
Christians in Afghanistan, and so the only purpose of the Bibles could be for
proselytism.
However, Al Jazeera's report is wrong on two counts. ICC has received reliable
reports that there are at least 10,000 Afghan Christians living in Afghanistan.
The case of Abdul Rahman in 2006, who was forced to flee the country for
converting to Christianity, however, shows that these Christians must operate in
absolute secrecy for fear of their lives. In addition, the Christian Bible is
considered a holy book for Muslims as well as Christians.
While Al Jazeera's alarmist reporting claims that the American soldiers with
these Bibles had no other plans than to force Christianity on an unwilling
Muslim population, the video they posted clearly reveals the opposite. In the
video on Al Jazeera's website, the soldiers agree that Bibles can only be given
to those who ask for them. Why would good Muslims not be interested in obtaining
a book considered holy by their own religion?
The Pentagon press office did not respond to calls for a comment.
***Jeremy Sewall, ICC's Advocacy Director, said, "This is a clear case of
radical Muslim propaganda on Al Jazeera's part, and it shows an unwillingness to
deal with the fundamental right of religious freedom. In kowtowing to Muslim
criticism, the US military is violating the very mission that brings them to
Afghanistan - to promote democracy. The US military is not going to promote
democracy by limiting the freedom of conscience of the people who are supposed
to adopt a democratic form of government, but they are doing just that by
destroying Bibles that Afghan people have every reason and right to obtain."
# # #
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for
an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
Response of the Secretary General of The National Council
For The Cedars Revolution to the latest speech of Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary
General of Hizbullah
Press release
May 08/09
1. Nasrallah stated that Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of The United
Nations (in his recent report), has positioned the international community for
an open confrontation with the Hizbullah. This claim is completely groundless.
In stark contrast to what Nasrallah stated, the report of Mr. Moon, describes
and classifies the seriousness of the threats posed by Hizbullah, demonstrating
concern from the international community in line with the views of many in
Lebanon. The international community’s conflict with Hizbullah is not their
fault, but the sole fault of Hizbullah. Only Hizbullah’s actions have put the
group in confrontation with all the other factions in Lebanon, the Arab world
and the broader international community. Disenchantment with Hizbullah started
with the group unilaterally appointing itself, by force of arms, as the sole
representative of the Shiite community in Lebanon. Today, Hizbullah is trying to
force itself to be all of Lebanon’s face. We thank Mr Ki-Moon for his
objectivity in his latest report and ask of him to form an international group
which will oversee the carry out and the execution of all international
resolutions pertaining to Lebanon. These resolutions specifically include, 1559,
1680 and 1701. We hope that this can be executed in an effective manner.
2. Recently, four suspected Lebanese generals were released from prison due to a
lack of evidence connecting them to the Hariri murder. Nevertheless, the main
reason surrounding their release was a deliberate campaign of disinformation
sewn by Damascus and Hizbullah. Incredibly, Hizbullah is still supporting the
first person ever accused of false testimony in the Hariri case. This highlights
a question, what happened to all the witnesses who misled the investigation
and/or retracted their statements? All ended up in Syria asking for protection
after the investigating committee uncovered their perjury. Hosam Hosam serves
the best proof of these aforementioned occurrences after he held his infamous
press conference in Damascus. The testimony of these people, who were sent by
Syria and her allies to sabotage the investigation, have led to a serious
disruption in finding justice. We hope to see all those who manipulated the
investigation behind bars soon. We must also stress that the implementation of
the decisions of the international tribunal is the responsibility of the
Lebanese state, in addition to its institutions. We strongly advise Nasrallah
and others who hopelessly aspire to appoint themselves as supervisors of the
tribunal, to not to impose their views through intimidation regarding the
decisions of the court. This will be considered an international injustice and
they should be punished by international justice. The wheels of international
justice must be allowed to turn, free from any internal or external coercion.
3. We are further agitated by the brutal campaign waged by Hizbullah and their
allies against specific judges and the legal system. Hizbullah has demonstrated
nothing more than contempt for the justice system. Through all of his baseless
bluster, Nasrallah forgot that he prevented the judiciary from questioning
Qablan Qablan when he was summoned to be investigated for the violations in the
House of Representatives. Hassan Nasrallah also completely forgot that the
judiciary in Lebanon is in general, actually paralyzed (like many other
institutions in Lebanon) because of the domination of Hizbullah’s weaponry
including their allies’ illegal arsenals. The Lebanese judicial system was
forced by Hizbullah to court martial and punish all the army officers who
carried out their national duty when they courageously defended the civilians
that were attacked during the Mar Mikhael event(s). Nasrallah offered no
criticism then. In a further injustice, the judicial system was denied by
Hizbullah’s arms any right to prosecute any members of the Hizbullah militia
that ravaged the West of Beirut on the May 7, 2008. That very action killed more
than 60 innocent Lebanese citizens and injured more than 200 and ended up
displacing thousands of citizens. Therefore, it is understood that the Lebanese
judiciary must be liberated from Hizbullah’s grip. If not, Lebanon will remain
mired in injustice and backwardness.
4.It is clear from the words and actions of Mr. Nasrallah and his party's
leadership, that they do not realize, nor care, that they put themselves in open
confrontation with not just a vast majority of Lebanese, but, with the
international community. They have not realized that the proverbial halo they
tried hard to draw around their heads has fallen. The Lebanese and the
international embrace to their so-called “resistance” has definitively ended.
Lebanese Shiites that support Hizbullah must tell the group that they are
operating in stark opposition to Lebanon’s pluralistic history. Hizbullah is
walking a tight line, if their actions continue it could engender strife or even
violence.
Toni Nissi.
NCCR Secretary General.
The Three Types of Jihadists
Al-Qaeda may be the least of our worries.
May 6, 2009 -
By Ryan Mauro /Pyjama Media
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-three-types-of-jihadists/
Perhaps the greatest mistake the West makes is equating the war on terror with
the war on al-Qaeda, as if someone trying to help Sharia law replace democratic
freedom must follow the standard set by bin Laden in order to be defined as an
“extremist.” When extremists condemn bin Laden and 9/11, there will always be
some voice in the West eager to embrace them as the moderate counter to Islamic
extremism, whether that be the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Courts Union of
Somalia, or governments like Saudi Arabia and Iran.
A recent analysis by the Middle East Media Research Institute of the harsh
criticism of Ayman al-Zawahiri by Dr. al-Fadl, his former spiritual mentor,
shows that there are three types of jihadists, differing on strategy and
details, but sharing the same end goal. The failure of the West to see these
distinctions will lead to erred policy and strategy, forcing our grandchildren
to fight a war that should be won on our watch.
I call the first group the “total jihadists.” These are the terrorists that pose
the most imminent threat, which it seems our strategy focuses solely on. Their
mindset is to attack now and attack everywhere, striking Muslims, Arab regimes,
or civilians in Europe and the U.S. without any clear methodology to achieve
their objectives besides instilling fear. Their actions are aimed at striking
fear into the U.S., causing a withdrawal of support for overseas allies,
allowing Arab regimes to fall and the beginnings of a puritan Islam that will
eventually overtake the entire world.
Al-Qaeda is the shining example of this type of jihadist. Without a clear,
comprehensive, long-range strategy to achieve this, they are reckless by nature,
inadvertently shooting themselves in the foot by causing Muslim populations to
turn against their brutality. They manage to grab the headlines with their
beheadings and spark up a sweat with their suicide bombings, but al-Qaeda and
the rest of the “total jihadists” are the smallest piece of the terrorist pie,
and over the long term probably the least threatening.
The second group is the “near enemy jihadists.” This group acts like a parasite,
infiltrating and attaching themselves to regional conflicts, enlisting them in
the global radical Islamic offensive. Posing as forces fighting occupation or
oppression, this enables them to parade as nationalists in an attempt to gain
some level of legitimacy, not only on the battleground but in the West as well.
Michael Moore’s praise of the Iraqi insurgents as “freedom fighters” liberating
Arab land from foreign occupiers serves as a textbook example of this
manipulation.
Their goal is to first remove Western military might from Muslim lands and then
begin the process of cleansing these lands of Western influence. Their strategy
is a long-term one, seeking to first establish a foothold in the Islamic world
that can be expanded until a superpower can be created. Hamas, the Taliban,
Hezbollah, and the other groups that mostly focus on their own theaters (while
building infrastructure in other places) are examples of these types of
jihadists. This does not mean they don’t have larger, more long-term objectives,
but rather they are the grand prize to be pursued at the end.
This group disagrees with the first in that they believe jihad should be focused
on fighting the enemies overseas, closer to their homes, rather than fighting a
worldwide conflict in every spot all at once. Their goal is to defeat Western
military forces in Muslim lands and their more local enemies like Israel and
India. “Near enemy jihadists” share the same goals, but are probably the least
monolithic of all the types of jihadists.
While they are united in opposition to the non-Muslim “oppressors” in their
lands and to the regimes that are friendly with the U.S., there is a
disagreement among members over tactics, targets, and strategy. Some believe
that attacks on Muslim civilians and governments that don’t meet their puritan
standards are justified and others favor only attacking military targets,
especially those of non-Muslim infidels. Some also profess to condemn the
attacks of September 11, 2001, and may genuinely believe that mass murdering
civilians anywhere is unacceptable, unless it’s in Israel, where they view such
civilians as occupiers.
The third group is what I call the “practical jihadists,” which the previously
mentioned Dr. al-Fadl belongs to. They recognize that attacking the West now is
impractical and therefore support ending violent jihad in any circumstance where
they are too weak to take on their enemy. This type of jihadist favors cultural
jihad, infiltrating and hijacking institutions, and bringing about Sharia law
and Islamization from the bottom up and inside out. In some cases, such as
Israel, some members of this group may say violence is permissible, but it is
always done with a cost-benefit ratio in mind.
The Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S., probably the most successful and crafty
Islamist organization, is an example of the perfection of this strategy,
although Jamaat ul-Fuqra deserves a mention as well as they are surely not
acting to the fullest of their capabilities. These jihadists intelligently embed
themselves in their targeted countries, building a vast infrastructure for
financing and waging political warfare. In the case of the Muslim Brotherhood,
the Western networks are sometimes used to support overseas “near enemy
jihadists” like Hamas, highlighting the overlap among the three types of
jihadists outlined here. It is here that these masters of political and media
manipulation prosper, carefully presenting themselves as moderates and as the
widely supported legitimate voices of the Muslim community.
Simply condemning the attacks of 9/11, however, does not make one a moderate. If
they condemn 9/11 but don’t condemn Hamas or Hezbollah, or they condemn
“terrorism” but don’t condemn suicide bombings of Israeli civilians, or if they
declare they love freedom and democracy but advocate Sharia law, then we cannot
embrace them as moderates. The tendency of the West to look for any sign of
rationality, open-mindedness, or humanity in radicals results in a remarkably
low standard for which one can be designated a “moderate.”
The effect of such psychology, which often emanates from an outlook influenced
by moral relativism, will be to embrace extremists at the expense of true
moderates, resulting in a longer, and far more costly, war against radical
Islam. The price to pay to become labeled a moderate by the West — namely, to be
marginally less reckless and extreme in tactics than al-Qaeda — is quite the
bargain, as such a strategy is more beneficial to their jihad in the long run
anyway.
Identifying the three groups of jihadists is a task that should have been done
long ago. Without so doing, the West mistakes extremists who may seem reasonable
compared to “total jihadists” as the voices we need to work with, strengthening
the hand of the smarter and ultimately more threatening jihadists. One day
al-Qaeda will wither and die and the other jihadi groups will rise up. The West
will cheer, having downgraded al-Qaeda and the “total jihadists” to a nuisance,
rather than a strategic threat capable of spectacular attacks, only to later
find that another branch of the jihadi octopus remains virtually intact,
embedded in societies throughout the world. While the U.S. takes joy in the
defeat of the most obvious group of jihadists, the hidden ones will lie in the
shadows waiting to pounce.