LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 18/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint John 21,1-14. After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his
disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were
Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's
sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going
fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and
got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn,
Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was
Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you caught anything to eat?"
They answered him, "No." So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side
of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to
pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said
to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he
tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The
other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a
hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring
some of the fish you just caught." So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net
ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so
many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none
of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was
the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like
manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
What Piracy? This Is the
Same Old Jihad/The Somali pirates are simply acting on centuries-old doctrines
of Islamic warfare./By: Raymond Ibrahim/Pajamas Media 17.04.09
Wars traders enough/Future
News 17/04/09
Time for
real progress on a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict-
The Daily Star 17/04/09
Islamists of the World Unite; You
Have Nothing to Lose Except Any Pretext of Being Moderate/By
Barry Rubin 17.04.09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for April
17/09
Berri Denies He Requested to Meet Mubarak-Naharnet
Lahoud Pulls Out of Election Race-Naharnet
Saniora From Sidon: My Nomination is Not to Challenge Anyone-Naharnet
Hizbullah “double standards” in
dealing with West/Future News
International Tribunal Registrar
Robin Vincent Resigns-Naharnet
Ghobeiry citizens exasperated by
Hezbollah/Future News
2
Earthquakes Shake South Lebanon-Naharnet
Egypt, Hezbollah in talks to smooth recent tensions-Ha'aretz
US Pushes for UN Censure of Iran, Syria Over Arms Case-Wall
Street Journal
Obama plans concurrent Israeli talks with Palestinians and Syria-Ha'aretz
Another 'Israeli spy' nabbed in Lebanon-Jerusalem
Post
U.N.
Tribunal Denies Release of 4 Generals Next Week-Naharnet
Suleiman: Army is Closing
in on Bekaa Fugitives-Naharnet
Assad Acknowledges Making
Mistakes in Relation with Lebanon-Naharnet
Qassem: Hizbullah 'Now'
Ready for Talks with Jumblat-Naharnet
Kidnapped Man's Body Found
in Aley, Killer Arrested-Naharnet
Bullets in Gemayel Killing
Do Not Match Gun Confiscated from Tripoli Cell-Naharnet
Hariri Says Egypt-Hizbullah
Tension 'Delicate Matter'-Naharnet
Army Arrests 20 Fugitives
in Bekaa Crackdown-Naharnet
UNIFIL: Israel Has Not Set
Date for Ghajar Pullout, Talks Underway-Naharnet
Berri
urges Romania to help rein in Israel-Daily
Star
Siniora: Cautious policies helped stave off financial crisis-Daily
Star
Military dismantles motorbike bomb in Tyre-Daily
Star
Israel to withdraw from northern Ghajar - report-Daily
Star
Environment minister shuns call to go vegetarian-(AFP)
Cairo
mulls barring Hizbullah ministers from visiting Egypt-Daily
Star
Bellemare asked to decide whether to extend detention of security chiefs-Daily
Star
Authorities arrest third suspect on suspicion of spying for Israel-Daily
Star
LAF
arrests 3 members of Jaafar family over soldiers' killings-Daily
Star
Spain Asks US for Spanish Qaeda Leader-New
York Times
Abducted Lebanese found dead, killer arrested-Daily
Star
Ethiopian women in limbo in Tripoli jail-By
IRIN News.org
Palestinians outside camps don't have even hope to sustain them-Daily
Star
Hemopheliacs call on state to resume aid-Daily
Star
Mini-Bar that Doubles as Communication System with Israel Found in Retired
General's House-Naharnet
Netanyahu to U.S. Envoy: Palestinians Must Recognize Israel as Jewish State-Naharnet
Wars traders … enough
Future News/Relations between Egypt and Hizbullah have deteriorated rapidly in
recent months from various angles and dimensions. The broad ramification of this
mutual antagonism spread like wildfire after numerous countries interfered in
the crisis. Unquestionably the repercussions of this reality on the Lebanese
arena have been dramatically paramount, and go beyond the superficial scuffles
occurring.
The primary impact of the crisis is depicted by enlisting the party on a covet
Arab “terrorism list,” and banning any connection with this political
institution, which aspires to be integrated into the Lebanese political reality.
However, those who reject the consequences of this act shall review Egypt’s
memorandum calling “to squeeze” this particular party.
Despite the many uncountable questions surrounding this conflict, we duly
construe it has cast a shocking internal impact on two aspects:
The first, questions the sincerity and consequences of the political dialogue
between the major Lebanese forces. Basically all the Lebanese are aware of
Hizbullah regional influence, or in another world, how this
political-Military-Security institution is deeply-rooted on the regional level.
Nonetheless, the evidences shown today confirm that it has evolved from a
domestic party into a multi-dimensional international party, preventing the
country from preserving its immunity from long-term repercussions. Accordingly,
the proofs occurring on daily basis affirm that dialogue was tremendously
futile, and only meant to burn time awaiting imminent international changes.
However, this verity prompts us to interpret who exactly resorted to
international countries to stir up the internal situation against its partners,
and for its own benefits. The second aspect is strongly connected to
“Hizbullah-Aoun memorandum of understanding.” The paper justified Hizbullah arms
possession and its role in safeguarding Lebanon’s existence and security and
protecting its independence and sovereignty. Alas, this article was completely
refuted when Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah recently admitted his responsibility of the
recent security breaches in Cairo, and was accused of gaining a foothold in
Egypt.
For the record, Michel Aoun’ has adamantly insisted on convincing the Lebanese
of a faked accomplishment to Lebanonize Hizbullah, and to define its arm
possession.
The Hizbullah-Egypt conflict is a conspicuous indication of the party’s
violation to the ministerial statement that recognized Hizbullah's right to
retain its weapons for liberating Lebanese territory, in collaboration with the
Lebanese army and citizens.
Nothing cast more bitter sarcasm on the situation more than General Aoun, and
his audacious convictions of a delusioned ideology to Lebanonize Hizbullah, and
his continual attempts to justify its roles and war record accomplishments,
aimed at jeopardizing the country and dragging it toward the dreadful unknown.
Hizbullah “double standards” in dealing with West
Future News/Britain's announcement to open talks with Hizbullah did not come as
a surprise to the party, due to previous and long covert discussions between
Hizbullah and Britain’s top officials under various titles and pretexts. The
move came four years after Britain broke off that relationship and moved to
align with the United States in designating Hizbullah as a proscribed terrorist
group. Sources close to the party revealed that Nawaf al-Moussawi, who headed
Hezbollah's office of international relations for many years, and Dr Ali Fayyad,
member of the party’s Central Council and chairman of the Academic Center for
Documentation, both paved the way for the overture with Britain, and for
possible future engagement with other European countries. The sources affirm
that the tie-mending issue between Hizbullah and the West is no longer tabooed;
instead it has become an honorable and welcomed development that requires
outstanding admiration to any person, who contributed to this radical move. This
progress demands the party to reward its heroes and bolster their position in
the party similar to what happened with al-Moussawi and Fayyad. “If Hizbullah
was allowed to communicate with the West, why should they prevent others from
this sort of cooperation?” Why do they prevent the non-partisans highest echelon
of the Shiite community from establishing relations with Europeans, or the least
allow them express a moderate point of view?”, the sources argued. The sources
predict Hizbullah’s attempts to exploit its media outlet in the near future, to
fabricate theories to convince the public of the importance of this
overture.According to the same sources, any Shiite non-partisan intellect,
Author or journalist will be banned from expressing a moderate point of view
toward the West, especially if the party decided it contradicts its
orientations.
Ghobeiry citizens exasperated by Hezbollah
Future News/A Shiite source assured that tens of Ghobeiry families might vote
for the competing electoral list or might not vote at all in Baabda, as an
expression of disapproval for not choosing a local candidate for the caza, for
the second Shiite seat, alongside Hezbollah’s Ali Ammar.
The source asserted that Hezbollah takes lightly the competencies of Ghobeiry
citizens since the year 1992, leaving a bad impression, especially because the
party selects its candidates from Burj el-Barajneh for the caza. It affirmed
that a state of anger prevails among Salim, Kanj, al-Khalil, Kazma and Farhat
families which threatened to vote for their best interests, especially that the
electoral file of Ghobeiry is laden with disputes. One of the most important is
the 2006 July war compensations which only reached a few of the citizens there.
Whereas citizens in other regions received the largest share, without being
injured or their houses damaged. Towards this end, a Shiite source of the
southern suburb wondered if financing visits to Shiite holy shrines in Damascus,
Iraq and Iran by Ghobeiry municipality is part of standard municipal work. The
source reveals that the Ghobeiry municipality, headed by Hezbollah official
Mohammad Saeed el-Khansa has funded hundreds of campaigns using the municipal
fund, and thus violates the code for municipal work. It points that the
municipality which neglected a number of development projects, has intensified
its efforts to organize thousands of dollars value worth visits.
U.N. Tribunal Denies Release of 4 Generals Next Week
Naharnet/Special Tribunal for Lebanon official denied reports that the four
generals detained for alleged involvement in the 2005 assassination of former
Premier Rafk Hariri would be released next week.
"The report is baseless because the tribunal's prosecutor Daniel Bellemare did
not give an opinion regarding this issue," the official told BBC Arabic news.
The daily As Safir on Thursday quoted a defense attorney representing the four
generals as saying that his defendants are likely to be freed before Monday.
Lebanese judicial sources said the Beirut government has not yet received an
official letter from the court regarding the release of the four security and
intelligence generals who have been held without trial for years in connection
with Hariri's murder.
The STL official said Bellemare will issue a decision regarding the release or
continued detention of the four men in a period not later than April 27.
He said that during a visit to Roumieh prison on Thursday, he informed the
generals of their rights and told them that a lawyer would be appointed to
represent them. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar clarified that April
27 is deadline for the pre-trial judge to look into a request to determine the
fate of the four generals, and not ultimatum to release them. "Pre-trial
judge Daniel Fransen issued a ruling on Wednesday asking public prosecutor
(Daniel Bellemare) to either justify the need to keep the prisoners in Lebanon
in custody or to order their release by April 27," the STL said in a statement
Thursday.
The four generals are Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, Raymond Azar and Mustafa Hamdan
who respectively headed the General Security Department, the Internal Security
Forces, Military Intelligence and the Presidential Guards Brigade. Last week,
Lebanese investigating judge Saqr Saqr lifted arrest warrants against the four
men.
In a related development, Sayyed announced that the generals' defense attorneys
were considering suing Saqr and Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza in The Hague
court for "the crime of violating international standards, obstruction of
justice and deprivation of liberty for political motives." Beirut, 17 Apr 09,
09:02
2 Earthquakes Shake South Lebanon
Naharnet/Two earthquakes rocked southern Lebanon Friday, sparking panic among
the population, media reports said. The state-run National News Agency reported
that the quakes were felt in Tyre, Srifa and Nabatiyeh. Voice of Lebanon radio
said residents of Beirut and Western Bekaa also felt the tremors. The quakes
sparked panic among the population in southern Lebanon and several families
evacuated their homes in the village of Srifa, NNA's report added. Head of
Srifa's municipality Ali Eid said "the town's residents went out to the street
leaving their homes for fear of aftershocks." Beirut, 17 Apr 09, 14:45
International Tribunal Registrar Robin Vincent Resigns
Naharnet/In an unexpected move, Special Tribunal for Lebanon Registrar Robin
Vincent has resigned. The daily Asharq al-Awsat on Friday quoted a source close
to the court as saying Vincent tendered his resignation on Thursday, citing
personal reasons. It said Lebanon received the official news of Vincent's
resignation which the registrar submitted to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon. The source
did not say when the resignation was tendered. He said Vincent, a British judge,
accepted a request by Ban to continue his duties till June until a replacement
has been assigned. Vincent's resignation would not have a negative impact on the
tribunal, the source said, stressing that a replacement had been found and his
name would soon be announced. Beirut, 17 Apr 09, 07:54
Mini-Bar that Doubles as Communication System with Israel
Found in Retired General's House
Naharnet/Interrogation with three detainees on suspicion of spying for Israel
has led to the arrest of another Israel-linked spy network, the daily al-Akhbar
said Friday.
It said the second group was arrested by Hizbullah's security services. The
paper quoted a senior official with the General Directorate of the Internal
Security Forces as saying that interrogation with Adib al-Alam, a former ISF
general, his wife and nephew has also uncovered information on some elements of
a third cell allegedly working for Israel. It said ISF are putting the final
touches before dismantling this network, according to al-Akhbar. As Safir
Newspaper for its part said Lebanese army intelligence services have arrested a
suspect with alleged links to Adib. Press reports on Friday said interrogation
revealed that Adib began working for Israel in 1994 when he was still in active
service in the ISF, adding that he undertook four training sessions in Israel.
Adib, according to the reports, enjoys great experience in intelligence work and
photography. Pan-Arab Al Hayat daily said Adib felt the danger and the
possibility that he was being under surveillance, so he called the Israelis who
gave him assurances that he would not be caught. An ordinary mini-bar that
doubles as a monitoring system has been confiscated from Adib's house in
Dekwaneh, according to the press reports.They said the bar contains a high-tech
camera able to transmit photos via satellite. The daily An Nahar, meanwhile,
said a technically sophisticated communication system was found in the mini-bar
with a few bottles that Adib managed to keep cool since they were used to send a
code to the Israeli secret service, the Mossad. Photographs taken in Syria and
others taken in 2004 for bridges and international highways linking Beirut to
the Damascus, particularly the Mdairej overpass, were seized from Adib.
Interrogation showed that the Israelis had asked Adib to carry out
reconnaissance missions to determine Hizbullah sites across Lebanon. Beirut, 17
Apr 09, 10:38
Army Arrests 20 Fugitives in Bekaa Crackdown
Naharnet/The Lebanese army on Thursday pushed on with its crackdown on crime
rings in the lawless Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon arresting 20 more fugitives
and suspects. The latest arrests bring to 89 the number of people nabbed
this week as part of a major sweep launched following an ambush on an army
vehicle on Monday during which four soldiers were killed. The army said initial
evidence did not point to any of those arrested being directly involved in the
attack.
"Our raids are continuing," an army spokesman told AFP. "We know who was behind
the killing and we will continue to hunt them down."
The attack on the army was apparently in revenge for the death of Ali Abbas
Jaafar, a drug baron killed by the military last month after refusing to stop at
a checkpoint.
Jaafar was wanted on several charges, including drug trafficking and the
attempted murder of soldiers and civilians. Members of his family are suspected
of being behind the ambush in which the soldiers' vehicle was raked with bullets
and blasted with a grenade. The Bekaa Valley has a reputation as a fertile
drug-producing region ruled by clans who operate outside the rule of law.(AFP)
Beirut, 16 Apr 09, 19:39
Assad Acknowledges Making Mistakes in Relation with Lebanon
Naharnet/Syrian President Bashar al-Assad acknowledged making mistakes in
Syrian-Lebanese relations. He also acknowledged that the "level of investment as
well as economic and social relations between Lebanon and Syria was weak."
"Dealing with certain sects in the past made Syria deprived of part of the
Lebanese people due to sectarian interests," Assad told a group of thinkers and
researchers from Lebanon and Syria. He said that Syrian relations with Hizbullah,
however, are based on Damascus' support for the resistance. Assad called
on the Lebanese to change their sectarian system, adding that "those who have
the upper hand in the political game are sectarian." The Syrian president also
touched on the issue of border demarcation, saying that he had contacted U.N.
chief Ban Ki-moon and informed him that the "U.N. has nothing to do with the
issue. He (Ban) agreed." On the issue of Lebanese men in Syrian jails, Assad
said: "Out of the list of 800, we only have 15 detainees who have been arrested
on charges of collaborating with Israel." Beirut, 17 Apr 09, 12:03
Netanyahu to U.S. Envoy: Palestinians Must Recognize Israel
as Jewish State
Naharnet/Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday demanded the Palestinians
recognize Israel as a Jewish state during a meeting with U.S. special envoy
George Mitchell, the premier's office said. "Israel expects the Palestinians to
recognize the state of Israel as the state of the Jewish people," the prime
minister told Mitchell at their meeting in Tel Aviv. The Palestinian Authority
has rejected such a demand in the past, saying it recognizes Israel within the
country's borders of before the 1967 Middle East when the Israelis seized the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. Recognition of a Jewish state would amount for the
Palestinians to abandoning the right to return of Palestinian refugees.
Mitchell, who arrived on Wednesday, has been pressing a two-state solution to
skeptical officials in Israel, whose hawkish new prime minister opposes a
Palestinian state. "U.S. policy favors, with the respect to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a two-state solution," Mitchell told reporters
after holding talks in Jerusalem with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. In
response, Lieberman said that "the peace process has reached a dead end" and
that "the new (Israeli) government will have to formulate new ideas and
approaches," according to a statement from his office.
"The traditional approach has so far led to no solutions or results," Lieberman
said.
Lieberman's comments highlighted the risk Israel could be on a collision course
with its most important ally, as Washington insists on the principle of a
Palestinian state and Netanyahu refuses to endorse the plan. Underscoring the
divide with Washington, Interior Minister Eli Yishai told reporters that, "In
the present circumstances, one has to work not for two states for two people,
but for two economies for two people." "Mr. Mitchell knows that imposing the
region to a virtual dialogue can have inverse results," he said. Lieberman later
told his visiting Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos that the government
was still formulating its policies, which will be based on the principles of
halting rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, ending Iran's controversial nuclear
program and improving the Palestinian economy, his office said.
Netanyahu says that the economy in the occupied West Bank must improve before
any other steps are taken in the faltering Middle East peace process.
Mitchell was to travel to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Friday to meet
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has insisted that the new Israeli
cabinet commit itself to a two-state solution before the two sides can resume
talks.
***Mitchell, a former senator, played a key role in reaching the 1998 Good
Friday accords that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland.(AFP) Beirut,
16 Apr 09, 20:52
Report: Hizbullah helped bust Lebanese spies
Lebanese daily says two cells accused of spying for Israel captured so far – one
by Lebanon's internal security service, other by Hizbullah. Report says suspects
used special equipment given by Israeli intelligence to mark military, civilian
targets struck during Second Lebanon War
Roee Nahmias Published: 04.17.09, 13:23 / Israel News
Two espionage cells operated by Israeli intelligence services in Lebanon have
been arrested, Lebanese daily al-Akhbar reported on Friday.
According to the report, the arrests were carried out following strict and
precise coordination between Lebanon's internal security service and Hizbullah,
with each party responsible for the arrest of one cell.
The capture of the first cell, that was reported on Tuesday, was made by the
internal security service. Senior reserve officer Adib A., who headed the cell,
was arrested by the service along with his wife. Later on, the main suspect's
nephew was also arrested.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah arrested the second cell, that included three people.
The arrest was carried out after a meeting on Wednesday in which the
organization's liaison officer for internal security Wafiq Safa presented
information on the cell that allegedly kept surveillance over Hizbullah
operatives in Lebanon.
Coded radio signals
According to the report, A. was recruited in 1994, while visiting his hometown
of Rmeish near Bint Jbeil, that at the time was part of Israel's security zone
and controlled by the IDF.
During his visit, A. was approached by a resident of the village who he claimed
was working for Israel and proposed A. join him for a hefty payment. A. agreed
and was transferred to Israel to meet with his handler and undergo an espionage
training course.
According to the report, A. confessed to undergoing three additional courses
since the initial recruitment and being armed with three advanced communication
devices, a camera and objects that have secret compartments.
One of the devices he was given appeared to be a regular radio, but in reality
gave a signal whenever messages were transmitted from the Israeli handlers.
After receiving the signal, A. would connect the device to a hidden compartment
in a mini-bar given to him, and would receive a coded message.
It was also reported that the internal security service intelligence
investigators uncovered four messages that were concealed in the mini-bar.
One of the messages, that was sent by A. at the start of the year, said he felt
he was in danger of being exposed, and that he had destroyed some of his
equipment and documents. In their response, A.'s handlers allegedly tried to
calm him down and told him he was not in danger of exposure.
The report said A. also confessed to regularly traveling to Europe – especially
Italy, Belgium, Cyprus and Greece, to meet with his Israeli handlers and
received large sums of money in the amount of thousands of dollars from them.
Operating in Syria as well
Missions assigned to the spies included marking military and civilian targets in
Lebanon using a GPS mechanism, the report said. Some of the targets that were
marked were allegedly hit during the Second Lebanon War.
It was also reported that the investigators were surprised to learn that in
2004, A.'s missions were broadened to include undercover trips to Syria where he
did similar work.
A. maintained during his investigation that he did not give any information to
the Israelis pertaining to his prior position in the Lebanese general security
service from which he retired in 1998.
The newspaper said the most stubborn of the detainees was A.'s nephew, Joseph A.
who, according to the report was recruited separately by Israel's intelligence
services, and the connection between him and his uncle was only made by the
handlers later on.
A senior source in the Lebanese internal security service said the intelligence
branch was on the verge of capturing another cell working for the Israeli
intelligence.
What Piracy? This Is the Same Old Jihad
The Somali pirates are simply acting on centuries-old doctrines of Islamic
warfare.
April 17, 2009 -
By: y Raymond Ibrahim
Pajamas Media;
During the recent Somali pirate standoff with U.S. forces, when American sea
captain Richard Phillips was being held hostage, Fox News analyst Charles
Krauthammer confidently concluded that “the good news is that these [pirates]
are not jihadists. If it’s a jihadist holding a hostage, there is going to be a
lot of death. These guys are interested not in martyrdom but in money.”
In fact, the only good news is that Richard Phillips has been rescued. The bad
news is that what appears to have been a bunch of lawless, plunder-seeking
Somalis “yo-hoing” on the high seas is, in fact, a manifestation of the jihad —
as attested to by both Islamic history and doctrine.
Indeed, the first jihad a newborn U.S. encountered was of a pirate nature: the
Barbary Wars off the coast of North Africa (beginning 1801, exactly 200 years
before September 11, 2001). Writing in the Middle East Quarterly a year before
Somali piracy made headlines, U.S. sea captain Melvin E. Lee — who knows in
theory what Captain Phillips may have learned in practice — writes:
What Americans and Europeans saw as piracy, Barbary leaders justified as
legitimate jihad. [President Thomas] Jefferson related a conversation he had in
Paris with Ambassador Abdrahaman of Tripoli, who told him that all Christians
are sinners in the context of the Koran and that it was a Muslim’s “right and
duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to enslave as many
as they could take as prisoners.”
Lee goes on to reflect: “One of the greatest challenges facing strategic leaders
today is objectively examining the centuries-old roots of Islamic jihadism and
developing a strategy that will lead to a lasting solution to the Western
conflict with it. … This inability to grasp the root of Islamic jihadism is the
result of a moral relativism prominent in modern Western liberal thought.”
This last point is especially poignant. While U.S. leadership is capable of
mouthing history, so too is it in the habit of distorting history through such
“moral relativism.” Hillary Clinton, for example, in a press conference about
the Somali kidnapping crisis, put an interesting spin on the Barbary Wars when
she said — in between fits of hysterical and inexplicable laughter — that
America and Morocco worked “together to end piracy off the coast of Morocco all
those years ago, and, uh, we’re going to work together to end, uh, this kind of,
uh, criminal activity anywhere on the high seas.”
Historical anecdotes aside, it need be acknowledged that, doctrinally speaking,
the jihad has various manifestations; it is not limited to bearded, “Allah
Akbar”-screaming mujahidin fighting in Afghanistan and lurking in caves. Along
with jihad al-lissan and jihad al-qalam (jihad of the tongue and pen,
respectively, i.e., propaganda jihad), one of the most important forms of jihad
is known as jihad al-mal — or “money jihad.”
The money jihad is fulfilled whenever a Muslim financially supports the more
familiar violent jihad. The Koran itself declares: “Go forth, light-armed and
heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah!
That is best for you if you but knew” (9:41).
Several other verses (see 9:20, 9:60, 49:15, and 61:10-11) make the same
assertion and, more importantly, in the same order: striving with one’s wealth
almost always precedes striving with one’s life, thereby prioritizing the former
over the latter, at least according to a number of jurists and mufasirin.
Muhammad himself, according to a canonical hadith (collected by al-Tirmidhi),
said: “He who equips a raider [i.e., mujahid] so he can wage jihad in Allah’s
path … is himself a raider [i.e., achieves the same status of mujahid].”
Moreover, the seafaring jihadist — or, in Western parlance, the “pirate” — is
forgiven all sins upon setting foot in a boat to wage war upon infidels; he
receives double the reward of his terrestrial counterpart — which is saying much
considering the martyred mujahid is, of all Muslims, guaranteed the highest
celestial rewards (see Majid Khadduri’s magisterial War and Peace in the Law of
Islam, p. 113).
There’s more. Islamic law (Sharia), what mainland Somali Islamists have been
successfully waging a jihad to implement, has much to say about kidnapping,
ransom demands, and slavery. U.S. leadership should keep this in mind if and
when they consider the plight of the other 200 hostages in Somalia. According to
Sharia, there are only four ways to deal with infidel hostages: 1) execution, 2)
enslavement, 3) exchange for Muslim prisoners, or 4) exchange for ransom. Those
hostages who have not been executed are therefore currently living as slaves to
their Somali overlords.
This is clearly the case of Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout, for whom the
Somalis are demanding $2.5 million in ransom. Eight months ago, she was
abducted, raped, and impregnated by Somali Islamists and is currently “owned” by
them — or, in the words of the Koran (e.g., 4:3), she is ma malakat aymankum,
i.e., human “property” conquered and possessed by jihadi force:
The term spoil (ghanima) is applied specifically to property acquired by force
from non-Muslims. It includes, however, not only property (movable and
immovable) but also persons, whether in the capacity of asra (prisoners of war)
or sabi (women and children). … If the slave were a woman, the master was
permitted to have sexual connection with her as a concubine (Khadduri, p. 119,
131).
Finally, for those readers who refuse to interpret modern-day events in light of
“antiquated” history or religious doctrine, here’s an August 2008 Reuters report
revealing that what top news analysts are now dismissing as a bunch of random
pirates scouring the coast of Somalia are directly related to the mainland, if
not international, jihad:
An explosion of piracy this month off the coast of Somalia is funding a growing
insurgency onshore as the hijackers funnel hefty ransom payments to Islamist
rebels. … According to our information, the money they make from piracy and
ransoms goes to support al-Shabaab activities onshore.
Al-Shabaab (”the youth”), of course, are the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamists
currently taking over Somalia.
Thus, in the words of Krauthammer, whereas “these guys are interested not in
martyrdom but in money,” the facts remain: this money funds the greater jihad;
and those “pirates” slain by U.S. (”infidel”) firearms are indeed being
portrayed as martyrs, as having achieved the highest pinnacle of paradise.
Does this mean that all pirates who happen to be Muslim are funding the jihad
and fervently seeking after “martyrdom”? No. But it is a reminder that what may
appear to Americans as “um, criminal activities” (in the memorable hilarities of
Hillary) have a long pedigree and, within an Islamist context, have much method
to their madness.
**Raymond Ibrahim is the author of The Al Qaeda Reader, translations of
religious texts and propaganda.
UK-Hizballah: Dar al-Harb Isn't Arabic For House of Lords*
By: Barry Rubin
Note: You are welcome to reprint but ONLY if you include the link
to this site: http://www.gloria-center.org
In February, the British government announced it would begin contacts with the
non-military wing of Hizballah. Now this strategy has been further clarified.
The specific target—perhaps not the best choice of words since it is Hizballah
that really targets people—are Hizballah legislators.
The goal is to talk to Hizballah members of the Lebanese parliament to get them
to encourage their organization to abandon violence and play a constructive
political role in Lebanon.
This approach is based on the assumption, of course, that parliamentarians are
parliamentarians, friendly, outgoing chaps who know how to kiss babies and slap
backs in the local constituency. This, however, misreads what Hizballah is
about.
Yes, Hizballah is a political party but that’s where the similarity to the
Labour or Conservative parties ends. The name gives it way. At least
historically, the Labour party is supposed to represent workers; the
Conservative party those who are either better-off or favor the historical
status quo more. But Hizballah means, in Arabic, literally, the Party of God.
That’s who they represent, or think they do, and their purported constituent is
a bit harder to please than the trade unions and the local gentry or
greengrocers.
And the Hizballah parliamentary delegation is called the Loyalty to the
Resistance group. Resistance has become the codeword for the Iran-Syria-Hizballah-Hamas-Iraqi
insurgent (a nice word for terrorist) bloc which seeks to promote Islamist
revolution throughout the Middle East. What are they resisting? Peace and
moderation. Who are they resisting? America, Israel and the West. How are they
resisting? Assassinations, car-bombs, kidnappings, and suicide attacks are high
on the list of favored tactics.
Of course, Hizballah like other revolutionary Islamists has social welfare
programs. But the purpose of these is to build its mass base so it can seize
power, and then to do all the things it wants to do .
Having tea with Hizballah parliamentarians is sort of like breaking bread with
the elected members from Stalinist Communist parties or fascist parties of the
past. While you’re breaking bread, their doctrines are all for breaking heads.
Hizballah is led by clerics and gunmen (perhaps that’s what is meant by the
division into political and military wings). The Honourable Member from south
Sidon is not making the decisions or influencing party policy.
Even if Hizballah plays a political role within Lebanon it is hardly likely to
be a constructive one. Their goals include: turning Lebanon (or at least the
Shia parts of it) into an Islamist society; welcoming Iranian-Syrian hegemony
over the country; wiping out Israel violently; expelling Western influence;
spreading Islamic jihad elsewhere; and such things.
For Hizballah the word constructive means constructing a caliphate.
This is a naïve approach to say the least. And of course such actions are read
by Lebanese as Western support for Hizballah so the opposition might as well
give up and the faint-hearted jump on the Syrian-Iranian bandwagon. Arab states
look on such antics as crazy. Why help your worst enemy take power? No wonder
they believe in Western conspiracies. The alternative would be to believe in
that the West is insane.
* A sort of pun since Dear al-Harb means House of War, a traditional Islamic
designation for lands not ruled by Muslims. House of War/House of Lords, get it?
Source article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/28/news/ML-Lebanon-Hezbollah-Britain.php
***Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs
(GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA)
Journal. His latest books are The Israel-Arab Reader (seventh edition), with
Walter Laqueur (Viking-Penguin); the paperback edition of The Truth About Syria
(Palgrave-Macmillan); A Chronological History of Terrorism, with Judy Colp
Rubin, (Sharpe); and The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy
in the Middle East (Wiley). To read and subscribe to MERIA, GLORIA articles, or
to order books, go to http://www.gloria-center.org
http://www.gloria-center.org/blog/2009/04/UK-Hizballah.html