LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
February 17/09
Bible Reading of the
day.
Luke 12/1-12/A Warning against Hypocrisy
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of
people, in so much that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his
disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither
hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever you have spoken in
darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear
in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my
friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more
that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him,
which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you,
Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of
them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of
man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denies me before
men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a
word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that
blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they
bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take you no
thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy
Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
Jehad against Love: Valentine's enflame the Middle East.Dr.
Walid Phares 16/02/09
Hezbollah Gets Away with Murder.By:.Maj.
W. Thomas Smith Jr. 16/02/09
Saudi
Arabia continues a slow but steady process of reform-The
Daily Star 16/02/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for February 16/09
Israel used fighting to perfect anti-rocket system-International
Herald Tribune
Abu Jamra: Sfeir's Comments about March 8 Undemocratic…Murr
...Naharnet
Aoun for Two-day Elections-Naharnet
Israel: Iran No.1 threat to our
existence-Future News-Yediot Ahronot
Jumblat at Zeineddine Funeral: Army
Did its Duty and We Await Justice-Naharnet
Jumblatt stresses on restraint:
arresting the perpetrators helped calming the anger-Future News
Manhunt
Continues for 50 Suspects in Hariri Rally Attacks-Naharnet
Hizbullah Brigades Palestine Fire Rockets into Israel to Honor Mugnieh-Naharnet
March
14 Adopts March 8 Tactics-Naharnet
Army Denies Sader Handed
Over to Intelligence-Naharnet
Tension in Upper Metn,
Central Bekaa Following Death of Rally Participant-Naharnet
Parliament Session Next
Month to Lower Voting Age to 18-Naharnet
Berri Admits to Using
'Legal Tricks' during Previous Government-Naharnet
Lebanese Army Arrests Spy
in Southern Town-Naharnet
Jumblat Calls for
Restraint after Slaying of PSP Member-Naharnet
Lebanese Among Victims of
New York Plane Crash-Naharnet
Army Arrests Suspects in
Hariri Rally Clashes-Naharnet
Berri: Election is Not to
Build Nation, But to Make Domestic Reforms-Naharnet
Aoun Urges Lebanese
Expatriates to Withstand Bribery-Naharnet
Orascom Telecom Denies
Operating Cell Network in Israel-Naharnet
Sfeir Criticizes Hariri
Rally Violence that Left 1 Dead, 30 Injured-Naharnet
Amal: Upcoming Elections
Decisive, Not Fateful-Naharnet
Hand Grenade Tossed at LF
Center in Sin el-Fil-Naharnet
Senator John Kerry says US eager to talk to Syria-International
Herald Tribune
Family of abducted MEA man appeals to leaders.Daily Star
Saudi King Makes Overtures To Syria-CBS
News
Hundreds of thousands gather to remember Hariri-Daily
Star
Visit
by 30 members of Hariri probe 'proves Syrian cooperation-Daily
Star
Detroit mayor urged to help Lebanese-Americans-Daily
Star
Alleged collaborator seized in southern Lebanon-Ma'an
News Agency
Jumblatt urges restraint after killing of PSP man-Daily
Star
LF
laments grenade attack on media office-Daily
Star
Family of abducted MEA man appeals to leaders-Daily
Star
Couple marks Valentine's day with civil wedding in Beirut-(AFP)
Community center reopens in battered Nahr al-Bared-Daily
Star
US senator lauds Egypt's efforts on Gaza truce-Xinhua
Family of abducted MEA man appeals to leaders
Daily Star staff
Monday, February 16, 2009
BEIRUT: The family of a kidnapped Middle East Airlines (MEA) employee visited
President Michel Sleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday to press for a
thorough investigation into his whereabouts. Youssef Sader, 50, who works in
MEA's IT department, was kidnapped Thursday morning near Beirut's Rafik Hariri
International Airport by three unidentified assailants who bundled him into a
sport utility vehicle before speeding away. MP Michel Moussa accompanied Sader's
family as they visited Sleiman and Berri. The kidnapping was an crime "against
humanity," Sleiman told them, adding he was hopeful that Sader would be freed
and his kidnappers prosecuted. The website of the Lebanese Forces reported on
Saturday that Sader had been handed over to the Lebanese Army, but a security
official told The Daily Star that he was still missing. "ISF and other national
security services are still working to figure out what happened to him," the
source said on Sunday, adding that no new information had emerged. - The Daily
Star
Army Denies Sader Handed Over
to Intelligence
Naharnet/The Lebanese army denied in a communiqué on Monday that kidnapped
Middle East Airlines employee Joseph Sader had been handed over to the
intelligence overnight. The daily An Nahar on Monday quoted high-ranking sources
as saying that a "certain influential party" handed over Sader to the Lebanese
army intelligence Sunday evening. The sources said the army will eventually hand
Sader over to his family after having given the complete account of his
abduction.
Sader, 50, an official of MEA's IT department, was kidnapped Thursday morning
near Beirut Airport by three unidentified assailants who sped away in a Sports
Utility Vehicle. The Syndicate representing MEA employees on Friday pledged to
adopt "escalatory steps" if Sader was not set free.
The syndicate, in a statement, described Sader's abduction as "an unjustified
attack on MEA." It pledged a "major response against whoever thinks of attacking
any employee with MEA, the company that has served the nation in dark times."
Beirut, 16 Feb 09, 08:21
Jumblat at Zeineddine Funeral: Army Did its Duty and We Await Justice
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said Monday that the
Lebanese army has fulfilled its duty and arrested the culprits in a knife attack
on PSP member Lutfi Zeineddine. "The Lebanese army did its duty and we await
justice to take its course," Jumblat said during the funeral of Zeineddine in
his hometown of Shbaniyeh in Upper Metn. Jumblat played down the incident,
stressing it was not politically-motivated. The Druze leader said he has
contacted Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji "who promised to take appropriate
measures against violators." "Bkirki as well as other national figures and
entire Lebanon be it March 8 or 14 take part today in the funderal of Zeineddine,"
Jumblat told mourners at the funeral. Turning to the Zeineddine family, Jumblat
vowed that the "march for Lebanon and for coexistence shall continue." "Only the
government, the army, the police and justice can protect us," Jumblat concluded.
Beirut, 16 Feb 09, 13:16
Jumblatt stresses on restraint:
arresting the perpetrators helped calming the anger
Date: February 16th, 2009 Source: Assafir
Leader of the Democratic movement, MP Walid Jumblatt ascertained Monday that the
popular and security atmosphere were restrained amid tensions that gripped
several regions following last Saturday’s violence that resulted in the death of
one of his Party’s members. “The enabling of the army and security services to
apprehend the culprits have toned down the angered souls,” Jumblatt, leader of
the Druze Socialist Party said in an interview to the As-Safir daily. He was
commenting on the attacks that were perpetrated by opposition followers against
sympathizers of March 14 after their participation in the 4th commemoration of
the death of former PM Rafic Hariri last Saturday. One of his partisans,
identified as Lutfi Zeineddine, was stabbed to death and several other citizens
were wounded as they returned home Saturday afternoon. “The ensuing incidents in
the aftermath of the rally came on personal basis and had no political
insinuation,” he said calling on the media to adopt the language of wisdom and
calm. Jumblatt added to the daily that one of his top aides, MP Akram Chehayeb,
had been in contact with representatives of Amal and Hezbollah, the two main
groups to which the aggressors are accused to belong, to contain the situation.
Tension in Upper Metn, Central Bekaa Following Death of Rally Participant
Naharnet/Tension was reported in Upper Metn and Central Bekaa following the
death on Sunday of Lutfi Zeineddine from injuries he suffered during a knife
attack as he headed home from a weekend rally by March 14 Forces. Zeineddine,
50, was a member of Walid Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party. News reports
said Jumblat stepped in to prevent blockage of the main Damascus highway after
angry crowds climbed the road on Sunday toward Bhamdoun in an effort to close
it. An Nahar said Jumblat personally helped remove road barricades. A similar
attempt to close the Jlala-Taalbaya road in response to the bid to block the
Damascus highway was also thwarted after security forces rushed troops to keep
the situation under control. Meanwhile, the daily Al Mustaqbal said assailants
on motorbikes attacked two Lebanese citizens on the Khalde highway south of
Beirut late Sunday. It said Roy Aql, who was driving his bike with a friend
sitting behind, was intercepted by a group of men on 10 motorcycles as the two
headed from south Lebanon to Beirut. The assailants beat up Aql and his
companion and snatched their cell phones and cash, according to the daily.
Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, meanwhile, said the weekend violence and tension
warn of an "alarming phenomenon." "Whatever the reason, there is no
justification for stabbing or shooting," Baroud said in remarks published by the
daily As Safir on Monday. This was a reference to Lutfi Zeineddine of injuries
sustained in clashes with supporters of March 8 Forces during the Feb. 14
rally.(Photo courtesy of As Safir) Beirut, 16 Feb 09, 10:25
Aoun for Two-day Elections
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Monday said members of
his parliamentary bloc would propose holding the forthcoming elections along two
days, instead on one day as scheduled for June 7. Aoun made the pledge in
remarks to reporters after the weekly meeting by members of his Change and
reform parliamentary bloc at his residence in Rabiyeh, north of Beirut. "My
experience tells me the elections cannot be held in one day. Our MPs and
ministers should ask the interior and defense ministers to guarantee that," Aoun
said. "It is possible to amend the election law, even for one time only…We've
seen what happened on Saturday," he added. Aoun was referring to the death of
one person and the wounding of 30 others in serial attacks by March 8 partisans
against unarmed civilians who took part in the Martyrs Square mass rally marking
the fourth anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination. "Those who
join caravans should be polite and should refrain from provoking citizens in
residential districts," Aoun added. He said the persisting arrest of the four
generals is aimed at "settling political accounts with them." "Why the ministers
who were in charge of them are not held accountable?" Aoun asked. Beirut, 16 Feb
09, 18:36
Manhunt Continues for 50 Suspects in Hariri Rally Attacks
Naharnet/A massive army manhunt is underway for some 50 suspects in connection
with attacks during the Feb. 14 rally to mark the fourth anniversary of
ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination in which one man was killed and 30 other
people were wounded. The daily An Nahar on Monday said Lebanese troops were
still looking for some 50 suspects after attackers, armed with sticks, knives
and stones, killed Lutfi Zeineddine as he headed home from the rally by March 14
Forces. Seven suspects have so far been arrested. Lutfi was a member of Walid
Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party. Thirty other rally participants were
wounded. Security and political sources told An Nahar that leaders from both
March 8 and March 14 Forces have informed the Lebanese army command of lifting
their political cover for troublemakers. Meanwhile, senior military sources told
the daily As Safir that the army has a list of suspects involved in Saturday's
violence and that troops are determined to catch them regardless of their
political affiliations. As Safir said Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri telephoned
Jumblat overnight and offered him condolences for the rally victims. Army Chief
of Staff Maj. Gen. Shawqi Masri also stepped in to try to keep the situation as
calm as possible. As Safir said Masri called Zeineddine's family, stressing that
security forces had arrested several suspects and were pursuing others. Beirut,
16 Feb 09, 09:06
Hizbullah Brigades Palestine Fire Rockets into Israel to
Honor Mugnieh
Naharnet/A group known as Hizbullah Brigades Palestine fired two rockets from
Gaza into Israel on Monday in honor of slain Hizbullah leader Imad Mugnieh.
The rockets, fired by the little known faction, exploded in southern Israel
without causing any casualties, an Israeli army spokesman said. One of the
short-range rockets hit an empty field while the other fell on a farm causing
slight damage. Hours later, an Israeli aircraft struck smuggling tunnels on
Gaza's border with Egypt on Monday, witnesses said.(AFP) Beirut, 16 Feb 09,
12:42
March 14 Adopts March 8 Tactics
Naharnet/Political bickering between March 14 and March 8 forces took a new turn
last week when members of the parliamentary majority attempted to discredit
Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil, after he recommended Orascom to
manage mobile phone operator Alfa. The dispute is centered on reports that
Orascom Group, a major Arab telecommunications company, also has investments in
Israel due to links to the Hong-Kong based global conglomerate, Hutchison
Telecommunications. But these reports were vehemently denied by Orascom. Last
month, Orascom won a tender to operate Alfa, one of Lebanon's two mobile phone
operators. The runner up was France Telecom, the owner of Orange, a mobile
operator in France. The tender was awarded to Orascom after Fal Dete, a
Saudi-German joint venture that had been managing Alfa since 2004, declined to
renew its contract. Orascom, founded in 1998, is accused by some March 14
politicians of owning a 20% interest in Hutchison Telecommunications, which in
turn owns a major interest in Orange-Israel. The Hutchison shareholding was
acquired by Orascom in 2005 as part of an expansion strategy targeting countries
like Italy, Pakistan, Greece in order to exceed the 100-million subscriber base.
The Hutchison stake was sold by Orascom two years ago at a profit exceeding $1
billion. Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris is also a major shareholder in both
Orascom Group and Mobinil, the biggest mobile operator in Egypt. The Sawiris
family is also a major investor in the contracting and hotel management sectors.
The accusations against Orascom plead the following arguments: Considering that
France Telecom and Orange are both international companies, shouldn't they have
been disqualified for the same reason? A decision to disqualify all
multi-billion conglomerates with the slightest links to business that might have
investments in Israel would have left Alfa without viable management until an
appropriate manager emerges. Beirut, 16 Feb 09, 12:21
Lebanese Army Arrests Spy in Southern Town
Naharnet/The Lebanese army, in cooperation with Hizbullah, has arrested an
informant working for the Israeli intelligence in the southern town of Nabatiyeh,
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday. The daily said the spy identified only
as Marwan F. was arrested ten days ago following months of surveillance by the
army.
Marwan confessed to being employed by the Israeli intelligence services in the
mid 1990s when he was living in France. He was assigned to "gather information
on the resistance, including the movement of its members, their headquarters and
military bases. He also gathered information on the Lebanese army,"
well-informed sources told Al-Akhbar. It was still not clear whether Marwan had
any part in Israeli-planned explosions or whether he had any accomplices, the
sources said. Senior security officials also refuted rumors that a number of
Marwan accomplices were arrested. The paper said that some Nabatiyeh residents
named a number of people who had left the country at the time of Marwan's
arrest.
Marwan, who is in his 40s, told interrogators he used to communicate with the
Israelis via the internet using advanced software to prevent detection by the
Lebanese security services. It was not clear whether the Israelis had also
provided Marwan with high-tech cameras or telephones, the paper quoted the
sources as saying.
Marwan traveled to Paris frequently to receive instructions and money from the
Israelis, the paper reported. He also traveled four times to the "Occupied
Palestinian Territories, where he received training on ways to communicate" with
the Israelis. According to Al-Akhbar, Marwan received a small amount of
money for his services compared to what the Israelis paid to three other spies –
Mahmoud Rafie and brothers Ali and Youssef al-Jarrah – who were arrested in 2006
and 2008 respectively.
Marwan owns a petrol station in the town of Nabatiyeh and had repeatedly tried
to approach Hizbullah members and leaders. During the July 2006 war, he handed
over the keys of the station over to Hizbullah permitting the group to use it as
needed. He also said that the 2006 war led him "to cut his links with the
Israelis," the paper reported. Beirut, 16 Feb 09, 12:35
Syria and Hezbollah try to reunite “SSNP” through “Al Binaa”
Date: February 16th, 2009 Source: Future News
Syria and Hezbollah are joining efforts to bridge gaps reportedly fueling among
the rank-and-file of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party by re- launching a
newspaper that would eventually reunite them together, private reliable sources
said. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the project of
reprinting “Al-Binaa” newspaper, that started last year but was discontinued for
unknown reasons, is on the move again in light of the upcoming parliamentary
elections and the heated feuds among the Syrian-backed SSNP. They added that
both Syria and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have contributed recently to putting
Al-Binaa on the newsstands on daily basis. This step comes after several members
in the North and Beirut reportedly left the party amid complaints that the SSNP
has turned into a subservient to the Syrian regime and was implicated in
sectarian sedition schemes in Lebanon, the sources added. Al-Binaa newspaper is
run by Assad Hardan, the current SSNP leader, who faces a strong opposition
within the party for his “practices of dictatorship”, as one recently
distributed leaflet described him. The sources added, the party received nearly
5 million dollars of which half was granted to Hardan by Chief of Intelligence
in Damascus and its rural areas General Rustom Ghazaleh in three different
payments in the last three months. The current leadership of the party expects
Hardan to exploit the newspaper for intensifying his media electoral campaign
and to give an impression of power within the Party’s ranks. The source points
out that SSNP receives up to 700 thousand dollars on monthly basis from
Hezbollah and Syria. Moreover the party had received one million dollars as a
reward for its May 7 involvement in the aggression on the capital as an
incentive to continue with its role and ensure the protection of the Syrian
embassy located in Hamra. he sources concluded, Syria and Hezbollah allocated a
special budget to enable SSNP to contact its expatriates in order to urge them
to vote for the opposition in the upcoming elections due June 7th. The party
presented to Ghazaleh lists of people they intend to contact to receive money
accordingly.
Israel: Iran No.1 threat to our existence
Date: February 16th, 2009 Source: Yediot Ahronot
IDF chief presents defense minister with military's work plan for 2009, says
Tehran near-nuclear capabilities, existing ballistic aptitude and terror
contacts pose 'existential threat' to Israel
The Israeli Defense Forces' annual work plan for 2009 officially defines Iran as
"a threat to Israel's existence," with all that implies from it - training,
equipment and preparation-wise. In the outline of the plan, presented to Defense
Minister Ehud Barak, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi
defines the Iranian peril as "the No.1 threat the IDF is now preparing for."The
threat, which consists of Tehran's nearly-obtained nuclear capabilities,
existing ballistic aptitude and proven emissary-fighting, in the form of funding
Hamas, Hizbullah and other terror groups, clouds all of the military's other
plans for the work year.
Faced with a credible threat, the IDF stands to focus on investing funds in its
strategic aerial capabilities, especially developing remote-piloted vehicle and
unmanned aerial vehicle, as well as infrastructural investments in intelligence
and communications systems. The IDF also stands to increase ground forces'
training, both in the regular army and for reserve forces.
Lebanese Among Victims of New York Plane Crash
Naharnet/Georges Saeed Abu Karam from the southern Qolayaa village sought refuge
in Israel in 2000. Nine years later he decided to start a new life in the U.S.
However, the 29 year-old's dream did not come true as he became a victim of an
air crash in Buffalo, New York. The Continental Connection flight disappeared
from radar late Thursday, plunging into a house and killing 50 people. By
Sunday, authorities had recovered the remains of 15 people from the wreckage of
Dash 8 Q400 plane operated by Colgan Air as crews raced to finish their work
before a storm expected later in the week. Recovery crews could need as much as
four days to remove the remains from the site. Beirut, 16 Feb 09, 11:34
Aoun Urges Lebanese Expatriates to Withstand Bribery
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun on Sunday called on
Lebanese expatriates to vote on Election Day.
"We hope you would make an effort and come to Lebanon, because the current
opportunity might not be repeated," Aoun said in a message to the expatriates.
He criticized MP Saad Hariri for "bribing" Lebanese immigrants into voting for
him. Aoun pointed that Mustaqbal Movement "and despite bribery methods has
realized it is going to lose the elections and consequently will not have power
over decisions." For this reason, Aoun said, Mustaqbal Movement turned to the
Lebanese expatriates urging them to vote for him. He described the bribes as a
"crime against the nation," and urged expatriates against accepting them.
Beirut, 15 Feb 09, 19:21
HIZBALLAH GETS AWAY WITH MURDER, AGAIN .
Maj. W. Thomas Smith Jr.
15 Feb 2009
Hizballah’s thugs are at it again – as they so-often are despite scant-if-any
media coverage of their ongoing activities aimed at achieving complete political
and military dominance over Lebanon, which is why their operations are so often
successful in that country. And it is why their strategic/political leverage
continues to strengthen unabated.
Saturday, members of the Shia terrorist organization and their allies reportedly
attacked members of the pro-democracy March 14 movement whom – representing a
majority in that country – were marching and speaking out against Hizballah’s
leaders following a Beirut rally commemorating the 4th anniversary of the
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Several March 14 members
were injured; and one man, Lutfi Zein Eddine, was killed (reportedly stabbed
multiple times as he attempted to shield his son, who was wounded in the
attack).
According to sources, “Police watched from a distance and did not intervene.”
Naturally, Hizballah denies having any responsibility in the man’s death. They
often do deny such things, and they get away with it. In fact they always get
away with murder, and are even rewarded on those rare occasions that they do
accept responsibility. Remember May 2008.
Some Lebanese media – to include some international correspondents – try to
paint Hizballah as a somewhat misunderstood religious-based political party
(with, ahem, military grade weapons). But Hizballah is clearly one of the most
dangerous, expanding terrorist organizations on Earth. And nobody is permitted
to speak out against Hizballah. Nor is any reporter to attempt to accurately
report the strength and activities of Hizballah until Hizballah is ready – if
ever – for those activities to be disclosed.
As we have exhaustively reported, Hizballah – the so-called “party of God,”
which rules a Shia kingdom inside the sovereign state of Lebanon, and which
gained enormous strategic/political leverage when they turned their so-called
weapons of resistance against the Lebanese government and citizenry in May 2008
– is in the words of former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin S. Indyk, ”a
premier terrorist organization. Beyond that, it has built up an independent
military capability that is greater than the military capabilities of the
Lebanese armed forces.”
Let’s recap what I have been reporting since 2007:
Hizballah is trained, equipped, and heavily financed (an estimated one-billion
dollars annually) by Iran, and the organization is operationally supported by
both Iran and Syria.
Hizballah is expanding its base, and the organization is increasing its global
reach.
Hizballah has “conducted very large, spectacular” terrorist operations
worldwide.
Hizballah has defiantly refused to surrender its arms in Lebanon as called for
under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701.
Hizballah has demonstrated time-and-again since May 2008 that it has no qualms
about overtly killing Lebanese civilians as a means of furthering the
organization’s aims.
Hizballah has heavily infiltrated the Lebanese Army.
Hizballah, since May, has wormed its way into position as an official component
of the overall Lebanese Defense apparatus.
Yesterday Hizballah’s attacks against those who would speak the truth resulted
in Zein Eddine’s death. His son, Shadi, was treated in a hospital and released.
Our sources also tell us, members of the pro-democracy movement traveling toward
northern Lebanon were attacked by Hizballah’s allies, the Syrian Social
Nationalist Party and others.
“The pro-democracy majority turned out in enormous numbers,” says Tom Harb,
secretary general of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution. “They want 1559
implemented. They want justice for the killing of Hariri. But Hizballah and
their allies keep trying to undermine democratic progress.”
Harb adds, “The current U.S. administration must understand the dangers of
Hizballah and the Iranian-Syrian-Hizballah axis. To rush into dialogue would be
a huge mistake, because the terrorists and terrorist supporters will perceive
themselves as having been granted greater leverage.”
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com
Jihad against Love: Valentine's enflame the Middle East
Dr. Walid Phares
14 Feb 2009
On Valentine's Day, it's important to note the emergence of an eternally
verified reality: Love is the strongest human force fighting against terrorism
and jihad.
"Al Gharam mamn’uh, al Gharam kufr," screamed the self-declared cleric in al-Ansar’s
chat room this Friday. “Love is forbidden, love is infidel” -- said the online
fatwa about the “legitimacy of loving and being in love.”
A weekend before Valentine's Day, jihadist souls were not questioning the
“commercialization” of romance, but inquiring about the ban on “being in love.”
The “scholars” said human love is evil. The simple feeling of being attracted to
or in love with someone is a terrifying sin if it is committed outside of their
religious dogma -- and it warrants serious punishment.
“Al Hub” (basic love) -- said one of the scholars online -- “is not permissible
outside commitment to Jihad.” The subject of romantic love was new and
overwhelming to the al-Qaeda sympathizers, who were busy dodging the “decadent
feeling.” But it was too close chronologically, too well publicized, and too
difficult to escape on the web. Suddenly, a marquee rolled an ad for Valentine's
Day in the room. The room shouted its objections, but the ideologue could not
ignore reality. “Sometimes we’ll have to absorb our reaction and control
ourselves. This Valentine Day is a dark day, it is poison, but by the will of
Allah when the Caliphate will be established, Valentine will be smashed.”
But there was a concern: Valentines is “ravaging” the region, including under
the most restrictive regimes. They are right to worry: the battle for love is as
wide as the call for jihad.
In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, girls were severely punished for not being
escorted by male relatives, or for not wearing burqas. Chatting with someone
from the other gender was a crime. Movies, mixed-schools, radios, music, and
poetry were banned. Valentine's Day in Kabul was equated to Satan.
Wahabi oppression against Valentine
In Saudi Arabia, women still can’t drive or vote, much less date. Valentine's
Day is illegal. In Iran, high school girls cannot hold hands with their
boyfriends. Imitations exist in Iraq’s Salafi and Sadrist enclaves and in
Beirut’s Hezbollah suburb.
Valentine Guerilla against Khomeinism in Iran..
But the revolution is rising. The "love guerrillas" are spreading on the street
and on the internet. In liberated Afghanistan, transistor radios air love songs.
In Iran, boys and girls have waged the revolt of “kissing in public.” Tracked by
the militia, the teenagers perform the kiss-and-run tactic.
In Kuwait, tactics are evolving. In this oil-rich state, young Arabs buy two
cell phones, and as they see the beloved driving by, they throw one of the
mobiles in her car; then the telephonic romance can begin.
In West Jerusalem, young Palestinians who want to stroll freely with their
girlfriends, walk up the Yehuda street speaking Hebrew. In Egypt, soap operas
compete with their Mexican counterparts. Love warfare has become the boldest
threat that can roll back jihad.
On the internet, Arab, Persian, Kurdish, Aramaic, and other love and music chat
rooms attract ten times the al-Ansar-crowded rooms. There, you read and hear
discussions of love; they seek, not decadence, but the early stages of a
romantic revolution.
Lebanon’s TV has taken the freedom for love to sophisticated artistic
expressions. With shows seen by millions, the LBCI has been shaking off the
fundamentalist quarters of the region. On al Jazeera, clerics are horrified by
the scenes. Their deepest nightmare is to see young Saudi men singing the beauty
of human love, while their jihadist counterparts are assassinating young Iraqi
women for not wearing the hijab.
This region has a massive and underreported potential to become a culture of
romantic passion. We must remember that Adonis and Ashtarut, antiquity’s gods of
love, were Phoenician legends. Cleopatra was an Egyptian Queen. The lovers of
pre-Islamic Arabia, Antar and Ablah, were the precursors of Romeo and Juliet.
And that the Sherazade of the one thousand and one nights and Omar the hopeless
romantic were Persians.
From the twentieth century, let’s remember that Um Kalthum, the voice from
Egypt, Said Akl, the poet from Lebanon, and Khalid, the rock singer from
Algeria, have sculpted love in the hearts and minds of hundreds of millions of
these people.
The B-52s may have been successful in Tora Bora, but Music Channels and internet
are triggering deeper instincts.
The followers of love have no weapon except human nature; it is the only one
they need. Valentine's Day may be infidel in the eyes of the jihadists, but it
has many more faithful followers among the peoples of this unlucky region. The
terrorists are not intimidated by death, but they are terrorized by love.
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PS: This article was published originally on February 14, 2005 by various
outlets. It is still valid today. Since then "al-Hubb revolution" is expanding
against the Jihadists.