LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
September 04/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint
Luke 4,38-44. After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded
with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She
got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick
with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and
cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of
God." But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that
he was the Messiah. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The
crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent
him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must
proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have
been sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
The Way of Perfection, ch.24 (©Institute of Carmelite Studies)"Jesus left and
went to a deserted place"
How could we forget the Master who taught us this
prayer, and with so much love and desire that it benefit us?... You already know
that His Majesty teaches that it be recited in solitude. This is what He always
did when He prayed, and not out of any need of His own but for our instruction.
It has already been mentioned that one cannot speak simultaneously to God and to
the world; this would amount to nothing more than reciting the prayer while
listening to what is being said elsewhere or to letting the mind wander and
making no effort to control it. There can be exceptions at times, either because
of bad humors - especially if the person is melancholic - or because of faint
feelings in the head so that all efforts become useless. Or it can happen that
God will permit days of severe temptation in his servants for their greater
good. And though in their affliction they are striving to be quiet, they cannot
even be attentive to what they are saying, no matter how hard they try; nor will
the intellect settle down in anything, but by the disordered way it goes about,
it will seem to be in a frenzy. Whoever experiences the affliction these
distractions cause will see that they are not his fault... Like a sick person he
should strive to bring some relief to his soul; let him occupy himself in other
works of virtue. This advice now is for persons who are careful and who have
understood that they must not speak simultaneously to both God and the world.
What we ourselves can do is to strive to be alone; and please God it will
suffice, as I say, that we understand to whom we are speaking and the answer the
Lord makes to our petitions. Do you think He is silent? Even though we do not
hear Him, He speaks well to the heart when we beseech Him from the heart.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Syria: The Summit of Contradictions.By
Tariq Alhomayed 03/09/08
Jihadism is both Ideology and
Religion.By Walid Phares
03/09/08
High
stakes all around as Sarkozy brings his gambit to Damascus-
The Daily Star 03/09/08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for September
03/08
The Maronite Church on Wednesday called for
thorough national ...Naharnet
Maronite Bishops for Thorough
Reconciliation: Serving Foreign Interests is High Treason-Naharnet
France/Syria-Radio France
Internationale
French President Visits Syria-Voice
of America
Intelligence: Hezbollah still targeting Israelis abroad-Ha'aretz
Hezbollah's military man no longer a mystery (News Feature)-Monsters
and Critics.com
Hezbollah Becoming A Major Force In Iraq-Evening
Bulletin
Syria stands at economic crossroads-BBC
News
UN Deminer Killed in South Lebanon-Naharnet
Aoun: Sujud Attack should not Reflect on
Resistance-Naharnet
Hizbullah for Cooperation with
Army-Naharnet
Mouawad and the Impossible
Coexistence with Hizbullah Weapons-Naharnet
Fight over Parking Spot Ends in
Shooting, Beating Up Officer-Naharnet
Israel warplanes break sound barrier over Lebanon-AFP
Hassan
Shahhal For Tripoli Reconciliation-Naharnet
Suleiman Sets the Rule: Reconciliation-Dialogue-Naharnet
Tannourine Rejects Hizbullah Condolences-Naharnet
Suleiman for Saudi Arabia
in October-Naharnet
Hizbullah Invited to
Cairo!-Naharnet
Hariri Reiterates
Mustaqbal has One Strategy for Lebanon-Naharnet
Police Sapper with No Arms
Catches Woman Handbag Thief-Naharnet
Suleiman Concludes Doha
Visit with Urgent Call for Dialogue-Naharnet
Founder of Sunni Habashi
Group Dies-Naharnet
Egyptian Tycoon Paid $2
Million in Cash to Kill Suzanne Tamim-Naharnet
Geagea Warns against
Merging Issue of Lebanese in Syrian Jails with Missing in Lebanon War-Naharnet
Assad Says Israel Could
Attack Lebanon, Iran and Warns of 'Catastrophic Results'-Naharnet
Military Tribunal Tries
Suspects in Attacks Against UNIFIL-Naharnet
Israel Reportedly Thwarted
Five Hizbullah Kidnap Attempts-Naharnet
UNIFIL Seeking to
Facilitate Israel's Withdrawal From Ghajar-Naharnet
Soaid: A Hizbullah-Army
Committee Takes Us Back to Civil War Structures-Naharnet
Saniora's Six-Point Plan
for Tripoli-Naharnet
Qahwaji in his Order of
the Day: Eyes Focused on Occupied Land and Domestic Security-Naharnet
Sarkozy in Syria today-GulfNews
UNIFIL details role in effort to get Israelis out
of Ghajar-Daily Star
Lebanon accepts Ghajar proposal-The
National
Lebanese mourn and celebrate a Hezbollah leader-International
Herald Tribune
Path of Mideast peace passes through Syria,
France: Sarkozy-AFP
Syria to host four-way talks on peace process
with Israel-Daily Star
Syria warns of 'catastrophic' effect of any
Israeli strike on Iran-AFP
Sleiman brings unity message to Lebanese in Qatar-Daily
Star
Siniora pitches six-point plan to address Tripoli crisis-Daily
Star
UNIFIL details role in effort to get Israelis out of Ghajar-Daily
Star
Kahwaji urges army to safeguard stability, reclaim occupied land-Daily
Star
Egyptian
tycoon charged in Lebanese singer's death-AFP
Death
penalty sought in killing of two Ziads-Daily
Star
Part
of Sidon's trash mountain collapses into sea again-Daily
Star
Chouf
reserve organizes tour for 120 people-Daily
Star
Youth
come together to revitalize Baalbek garden-Daily
Star
Jihadism is both Ideology and Religion
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Spero News.
By Walid Phares
Jihadi terrorism is one of the largest threats Europe and the international
community are facing in this era. Hence studying Jihadi terrorism beyond the
formation and the dismantling of cells is highly relevant to Europeans because
of the impact of its actions on security, politics, and economy.
Jihadism is putting significant pressure on European foreign policy regarding
where and when Europe can intervene in an international crisis such as those in
Afghanistan, Lebanon and Darfur. It is also putting pressure on the European
economy through the choices made in foreign policies. But the inability to
explain these pressures is a major reason behind the strategic failure in
containing and reversing the threat which continues to expand and grow across
the continent.
As some members of the European Parliament have declared, the issue is about
"identification" of that threat. We need to "ID" it so that we can address it
properly. Western democracies have had a failure in perception of the threat;
for the countries that have been fighting this movement are still debating it
seven years after 9/11 and several years after Madrid and London attacks. World
War II took five years to win, and, in this confrontation, the identification of
the menace is still not completed properly after seven years.
Hence, we will offer a few suggestions of strategic guidelines to address this
issue.
First: The Identification Problem
1. Self Identification: The Jihadists talk about themselves, their agenda and
their views. Let's not ignore this literature, but let's analyze it and learn
from it. These movements certainly use theology in their discourse, but they
have developed an ideology. They do define themselves as Jihadis, Islamists,
Takfiris, and others, but the most accurate term to identify them is
"Jihadists."
2. European Debate: Today's debate in Europe about the origin and nature of the
Jihadist movement is still struggling with the so-called "root causes" of this
terror phenomenon. In my discussions across the continent, including my sessions
with many of the 27 counter-terrorism teams at the European Union level, one can
summarize the Euro-debate on this matter as follow. Four points and
counter-points are made:
a. Many in the EU claim that Jihadism is a response to European (and Western)
foreign policy. The counter-arguments are that Jihadism as an ideology and as a
movement has preceded all relevant European policies in modern times. The
Salafists rose in the 1920s long before the UN and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Foreign policy impacts these movements but does not create them.
b. Others have stated that economic disenfranchisement is at the root of these
movements. But there are many counter arguments: First, the Jihadi agenda does
not talk about economic justice. Second, there are multiple layers of social
classes among Jihadists from the lower social class, the middle class and the
upper class as well. In addition, the Jihadi ideology creates takfeer which is a
display of hatred between segments of societies. The Jihadists in Sudan, for
example, have clearly displayed racism in Darfur.
c. New theories are claiming that the root causes are socio-psychological
stresses such as racism. But the counter-argument is that racism is a phenomenon
linked to immigration and exists for all immigrants not just the Arab Muslim
communities.
d. From the other side of the debate, some intellectuals are charging that the
roots of terrorism are found in Islamic religious texts. But the
counter-argument is that texts alone cannot mobilize and organize movements.
There need to be ideological forces that create the movement while using
references to theological texts.
Thus in the final analysis Jihadism is an ideology not a theology.
Second: The Strategies of the Jihadists
If Europe and the West are facing an ideology, and thus a movement, one has to
learn about their war room, their policies and strategies. We need to understand
these so that governments and societies are able to confront them.
The Jihadists have had great debates about their strategies. Al Qaeda, the "hot
headed," wants to target the United States and Europe with terror so that they
can rise in the Arab and Muslim world. But you have the other "long-term"
Jihadists who are creating the pools of indoctrination. With their large, funded
mechanism they produce the young minds from among which al Qaeda recruits. I am
not only concerned about those who have already became Jihadists between ages 15
and 25, but more so about those who are between ages 8 and 13. What we need
today is strategic law enforcement in addition to the local one.
Why were we (governments and NGOs) not aware of this ideological warfare?
The answer is simply because the Jihadists are good in the war of ideas; good at
deceiving their foes by raising other issues, using our system against us. Hence
between 1945 and 1990, as the West was engaged in the cold war, they infiltrated
the Arab Muslim. They have produced four generations with the support of oil
production revenues. In a second war of ideas they put additional efforts inside
the West and Europe. They have seized the microphone inside the Muslim
communities and had an impact on a segment of these societies marginalizing the
democracy seekers.
Since 2001, in a third war of ideas, the Jihadis have put pressure on our
democracies in Europe to affect foreign policies that could help democracies in
the Middle East and oppose the radicals. The various violences in Europe are
aimed at changing foreign policies so that Europe (and the West), instead of
helping the weak as in Darfur and Lebanon, and instead of supporting women and
minorities, would abandon them.
Three: Strategic Advice
Some strategic advice to address the challenge:
1. A European priority should be to define the ideology. Advance work has been
done over the past years. The largest party at the European Parliament has
produced a document clearly identifying the Jihadi terrorists as being at the
root of the crisis. More has to be done at the level of other groups and the
European Union.
2. Another priority should be to educate the European public about the ideology,
movement and strategies of the Jihadists. The advantages of such massive public
information are numerous. One, it will give direction to national communities to
get to the root of the problem. It would reduce racism as it would separate
radical ideology from religious communities. It would also help Muslim
communities make that separation between the radical militants and the
mainstream in their societies.
3. Last, but not least, a European priority should be to support pro-democracy
forces inside the Muslim communities so that these communities are better
protected against racism and back-clashes on the one hand, and are freed from
control by the Jihadists on the other hand.
**Dr. Walid Phares writes for The Cutting Edge News and is Director of the
Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD)
in Washington, D.C., and a visiting scholar at the European Foundation for
Democracy in Brussels. He is the author of the recently released book, The
Confrontation: Winning the War against Future Jihad
Maronite Bishops for Thorough
Reconciliation: Serving Foreign Interests is High Treason
Naharnet/The Maronite Church on Wednesday called for thorough
national reconciliation, noting that serving foreign interests is tantamount to
"high treason."
The call was made by Maronite Bishops meeting under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at
the church's summer seat in northern Deman. The nation is at "a cross roads,"
the bishops said in their ninth appeal to the nation. "The events that broke out
in Beirut and Tripoli spark concern. Security is not stable in several areas and
recently gunmen downed an army helicopter and killed an officer," the statement
said. It said the Lebanese people "suffer from the sharp split … especially
between the March 8 and March 14 forces … It is more pressing if they come
closer so that the state can prevail."The Bishops expressed hope for the speedy
adoption of a "fair and just" election law.They also hoped for the holding of
the 2009 general elections in a secure atmosphere "so that citizens can chose
their representatives without pressures." Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 14:12
Maronite Bishops for Thorough Reconciliation: Serving
Foreign Interests is High Treason
Naharnet/The Maronite Church on Wednesday called for thorough
national reconciliation, noting that serving foreign interests is tantamount to
"high treason."
The call was made by Maronite Bishops meeting under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at
the church's summer seat in Diman. The nation is at "a crossroads," the bishops
said in their ninth appeal to the nation. "The events that broke out in Beirut
and Tripoli spark concern. Security is not stable in several areas and recently
gunmen downed an army helicopter and killed an officer," the statement said. It
said the Lebanese people "suffer from the sharp split … especially between the
March 8 and March 14 forces … It is more pressing if they come closer so that
the state can prevail." The Bishops expressed hope for the speedy adoption of a
"fair and just" election law. They also hoped for the holding of the 2009
general elections in a secure atmosphere "so that citizens can choose their
representatives without pressures." Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 14:12
Hizbullah for Cooperation with Army
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Wednesday said only "cooperation between
the army, the resistance and the judiciary would disclose the circumstances
surrounding the painful accident" that had led to the killing of Air Force
officer Samer Hanna. Hizbullah's parliamentary bloc outlined the stand in a
statement after its regular meeting.
The party also expressed its "deep regret for the helicopter accident and the
martyrdom of Captain Hanna," according to the statement. It welcomed any "honest
effort by brotherly or friendly forces … leading to stability and safeguarding
civil order."The statement also welcomed the naming of Gen. Jean Qahwaji army
commander. Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 16:30
Aoun: Sujud Attack should not Reflect on Resistance
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Wednesday said the Sujud
attack on the army helicopter should not reflect on the resistance and the
defense strategy. Aoun made the remark to reporters after the weekly meeting by
members of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc.
Aoun also called for sueing the French-Language newspaper L'Orient Le Jour for
its headline on the Sujud attack, which had said it was a premeditated action by
Hizbullah. He urged intelligence and security agencies to detect culprits in the
various attacks that remain non-resolved.
Aoun said the judiciary would resolve the Sujud helicopter case. He criticized
the government for refraining from carrying out reforms, claiming it lacks
funds.
He said he has plans to tour the Bekaa Valley and north Lebanon after he had
toured southern regions abutting by Israel. Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 16:55
Mouawad and the Impossible Coexistence with Hizbullah
Weapons
Naharnet/MP Nayla Mouawad said on Wednesday that coexistence is
"impossible" between the state of Lebanon and the "illegal weapons," in
reference to Hizbullah. Mouawad made the remark after receiving head of the U.S.
diplomatic mission to Lebanon Michele Sison. "It is obvious that we are facing
two options: Either the democratic state of Lebanon or the Hizbullah state," she
said. "We would not accept the placing of red lines beyond which the Lebanese
Army is not permitted, be they at the (Beirut) suburb, Nahr al-Bared, Sujud or
in any other location on Lebanese territory" she added. Mouawad also rejected a
proposal by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to form a joint committee grouping
the Lebanese Army and Hizbullah. "The only solution is to restrict the decision
to go to war to the state that should also be the only side that possesses
weapons and manages the defense policy," she concluded. The attack on a Lebanese
Army helicopter by Hizbullah operatives in the southern Sujud hills "stresses
that there should be no two armies … and two states in Lebanon," she concluded.
Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 16:14
U.N. Deminer Killed in South Lebanon
Naharnet/A Belgian sapper with the U.N. peacekeeping force in
Lebanon was killed on Wednesday while clearing unexploded ordnance from Israel's
2006 war with Hizbullah, U.N. and Belgian officials said. "A member of the
UNIFIL demining unit was killed by an explosion on Wednesday during an
inspection and demining operation in the village of Aitaroun in the Marjayoun
region," said Yasmina Bouziane, spokeswoman for the U.N. Interim Force in
Lebanon.
The Belgian defense ministry confirmed the death of the sapper, the fourth
Belgian peacekeeper to die in Lebanon since the contingent deployed in August
2006. Three were killed in a road accident last year. Belgium has 340 soldiers
in the 13,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, most of them engaged
in demining. South Lebanon is littered with unexploded munitions from the 2006
conflict, particularly bomblets from cluster munitions.
The U.N. estimates that around 40 percent of the one million cluster bomb sub
munitions dropped by Israel failed to explode.
U.N. deminers have now cleared 43 percent of the affected areas, but at least 30
Lebanese civilians have been killed by such ordnance left over from the war.(AFP)
Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 17:13
Tannourine Rejects Hizbullah Condolences
Naharnet/The citizens of Tannourine, hometown of Martyr Samer Hanna, have rejected a
reported approach by Hizbullah to send a delegation to pay condolences.
A statement, signed by citizens of Tannourine, called for "speedy and neutral
investigation with the group that carried out (the attack) and the sides that
gave the orders to kill so that culprits would be punished."
"Until this is achieved, a visit to our town by a Hizbullah delegation would not
be proper," the statement said.
Hizbullah has turned in to judiciary authorities one man as the person who had
opened fire at Hanna's military helicopter in the Sujud hills.(AP photo shows a
Lebanese woman throwing flowers over Hanna's coffin during his funeral last
week) Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 10:25
Fight over Parking Spot Ends in Shooting, Beating Up Officer
Naharnet/A Lebanese police officer was beaten up and his two brothers were shot after an
overnight argument over a parking space at an apartment complex in Beirut's
southern suburbs, security sources said.
They identified the officer as 1st lt. Khaled Wazzan.
The security sources said the clash broke out late Tuesday over a parking spot
at an apartment complex on Hadi Nasrallah highway in Dahiyeh, or the southern
suburbs.
They said the incident began when Wazzan and his two brothers, Tareq and Ahmad,
who were complying with a relative's invitation for an Iftar dinner, parked
their vehicle near the family member house.
Several local residents were involved in the fight, according to the sources,
and the two Wazzan brothers were shot in the feet.
When the officer tried to protect his brothers, he was attacked and beaten up.
The daily As Safir said Wednesday that soon after footage of the incident were
aired, supporters of MP Saad Hariri's Mustaqbal movement took to the streets of
Tariq Jedideh and burned tires in protest.
Lebanese army troops quickly stepped in and contained the protest.
Al Liwaa, however, quoted a security source as saying that the officer is the
bodyguard of a spiritual leader, adding that the person who opened fire is from
the Dimashk family and a relative of the head of the security squad in charge of
Speaker Nabih Berri's protection.
Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 08:32
Suleiman for Saudi Arabia in October
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman is to make an official visit to Saudi Arabia early in
October, the daily al-Bayrak reported on Wednesday.
The report said the forthcoming visit would be at the invitation of the Saudi
Monarch King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
The visit was apparently scheduled for October so that it follows the holy month
of Ramadan.
Suleiman made a two-day visit to Qatar and returned home late on Tuesday.The visits are part of a tour of Arab capitals planned by Suleiman with the aim
of marshalling aid to Lebanon.
Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 11:06
Suleiman Sets the Rule: Reconciliation-Dialogue
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday set the rule for national dialogue,
saying it should follow reconciliation.
Suleiman told visitors at the Baabda Palace "no dialogue without reconciliation
and no reconciliation without dialogue."
The rule set by Suleiman apparently aims at cornering both the March 14 majority
and the Hizbullah-led March 8 minority into accepting his two basic conditions:
Reconciliation and dialogue.
March 14 has been urging the president to re-launch the Conference on National
Dialogue in line with the Doha Accord.
March 8 insists on reconciliation with its foes, basically Saad Hariri's
Mustaqbal Movement, to patch up differences after the May attacks on West
Beirut.
"National unity is the base," Suleiman stressed, in an apparent indication that
national dialogue is not feasible if not preceded by reconciliation and
reconciliation would not be productive if not followed by national dialogue.
Suleiman, commenting on calls by Hizbullah and its allies to add more
participants to national dialogue sessions, said it is up to members of the
previous dialogue conference to agree on this topic.
The president said he would visit the United States in mid September for talks
with his U.S. counterpart George Bush.
Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 11:44
Hizbullah Invited to Cairo!
Naharnet/Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abulgeith has reportedly met secretly with
Hizbullah leaders in Beirut last week, the Israeli DEBKAfile website said.
Citing sources at the counter-terror office, DEBKAfile said Abulgeith has also
invited a Hizbullah delegation for an official visit to Cairo.
"This is a stab in the back of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense
Minister Ehud Barak and his political adviser, Amos Gilead," said the website.
It said the invitation was tendered without referring to Israel or even
informing Barak when he met President Hosni Mubarak last week in Alexandria.
Egypt, DEBKAfile said, "has therefore empowered Hizbullah with a role alongside
Hamas in Gaza Strip affairs and thrown its own weight behind the most radical
Palestinian camp versus Israel."
For Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the website added, "this is a
major strategic boost."
It said Egypt, the leading Arab nation, has recognized Hizbullah's leader as a
"legitimate force in and outside Lebanon," allowing him to continue violating
U.N. resolutions that call for the disarmament of his group. Beirut, 03 Sep 08,
13:02
Hassan Shahhal For Tripoli Reconciliation
Naharnet/A Salafi figure who had worked out an ill-fated understanding with Hizbullah
said on Tuesday he would work for reconciliation between Tripoli's feuding
districts of Baal Mohsen and Bab Tabbaneh.
Hassan Shahhal told a press conference that Premier Fouad Saniora assigned him
to the mission during a meeting on Tuesday.
Shahhal, who heads the "Belief, Justice and Charity" group said he would work on
achieving his mission in cooperation with Tripoli Mufti Sheikh Malek Shaar and
leaders of the city.
Shahhal was one of several Salafi leaders who formed a joint delegation to the
talks with Saniora on the situation in Tripoli.
Shahhal said he presented a memo to Saniora calling for general and final
reconciliation in Tripoli, the removal of armed manifestations and compensating
victims of recent clashes.
Shahhal had worked out a document of understanding with Hizbullah that was
abrogated 24 hours after it was announced in August.
Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 12:17
Hariri Reiterates Mustaqbal has One Strategy for Lebanon
Naharnet/MP Saad Hariri has reiterated that Mustaqbal Movement has one strategy for
Lebanon – strengthening the state.
"We will not allow anyone -- be it from within the Mustaqbal movement or outside
-- to force us (to adopt) any other strategy than the one" to bolster the state,
Hariri told supporters at an Iftar banquet at his mansion in Qoreitem on
Tuesday.
While terming "unforgettable and unforgivable" Hizbullah's takeover of Beirut in
May, Hariri stressed the need to "carry on with the march and the project of
Rafik Hariri for which he died."
"We want to live in this country – together Muslims and Christians --- with
dignity and with each side respecting the other and accepting the other," Hariri
added.
"We should not live in isolation from each other," he said."Confining oneself to one sect leads to Lebanon's destruction," he stressed.
"And this is what they want!"Hariri rejected attempts to "corner" him into becoming a Sunni chief, pledging
to remain a leader for "the entire Lebanese." Beirut, 03 Sep 08, 10:01
Two Christians Kidnapped and Killed in Iraq
9-3-2008
Assyrian International News Agency
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Mosul (AsiaNews) -- The Iraqi Christian community is again in the sights of
Islamic fundamentalists in Mosul: today news came of the death of a 65-year-old
doctor, Tariq Qattan, kidnapped recently by a terrorist group. AsiaNews sources
say that his family had paid a ransom of 20,000 U.S. dollars. But it was not
enough money to free Tariq Qattan, one of the many Christians kidnapped by
fundamentalists for extortion.
Also in Mosul, two days ago - although the news has just been released today -
another Christian, Nafi Haddad, was kidnapped and killed. It is not yet known
whether or not a ransom was paid. Despite the small signs of improvement that
seem to come from Iraq, the Christian community is still witnessing more
violence: Mosul has long been the theater of a genuine slaughter, forcing more
than two thirds of the faithful to flee elsewhere in search of safety.
The diocese has paid a large tribute in blood in recent years, beginning with
the tragic kidnapping of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, whose lifeless body was
found last March 13 in an abandoned area just outside of the city. During the
ambush that preceded the archbishop's captivity, the three men acting as his
bodyguard were massacred by the terrorists.
In 2007, the Iraqi Christian community suffered 47 deaths, 13 of them in Mosul:
these include Fr Ragheed Gani, murdered on June 3, and two other priests.
Between January 6 and 17 of this year, there was also a series of attacks on
Christian property. A wave of bombings struck the Chaldean church of the
Immaculate Virgin, the Chaldean Church of St Paul, which was almost destroyed,
the entrance to the orphanage run by the Chaldean sisters in al Nour, a
Nestorian church, and the convent of the Dominican sisters in Mosul Jadida.
The source for AsiaNews in Mosul hopes that the two latest homicides will be
"forcefully condemned" by the Muslim community, which has just celebrated the
beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. Atrocities carried out "in the name of
religion", and which violate the precepts of the Qur'an. "For centuries, the
Christian community has contributed in a fundamental way to the development of
Iraq. It is the duty of Muslims to respect and protect it, because we all
believe in one God, as is written in the holy book".
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Syria: The Summit of Contradictions
By Tariq Alhomayed-Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat
03/09/2008
In the wake of the quartet summit that is being held in Syria, numerous rumors
and political analyses began to overstate the summit. These rumors and analyses
fall into two categories: the first states that the summit is like a
presidential meeting of the Arab Summit, the European Union presidency and the
GCC presidency. The other states that the importance of this meeting lies in the
change to the map of key players in the region meaning that Damascus has shifted
from a Syrian-Saudi-Egyptian axis in favor of another axis.
Of course, both points are oversimplification rather than a realistic insight to
the course of events and are mere rumors on some websites and media affiliated
to the Syrians in an attempt to give off the impression that Damascus has been
successful in breaking the isolation imposed upon it as a result of its
erroneous policies.
Why? The answer follows: if everybody in attendance has a position then what is
the role of the Turkish Prime Minister, who will preside over the summit, other
than his part in the Syrian-Israeli negotiations?
If the Syrian president has turned away from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and Jordan
of course, in addition to other Gulf States, then the question is who is
representing the Arab Summit at the four-way summit in Damascus since the main
Arab countries boycotted the last Arab Summit in Syria, headed by President
Bashar al Assad? Who can guarantee that those in the Gulf agree with the issues
of Iran and Syria?
Another question: do all Europeans agree with Sarkozy’s rapprochement with
Syria, let alone accept the formation of an axis that includes France and Iran?
Of course not all Europeans agree with the French, who continue to repeat that
they are in the process of testing Damascus, especially that the Syrians are
supporting the Russian invasion of Georgia whilst Europe is uniting against
Moscow!
If Iran was part of this new axis it is likely that an invite would be extended
to the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend the Damascus Summit. But
the question here is will the Iranian president accept the invitation and attend
a summit that will include negotiations with Israel as part of its agenda? This
could be a great Iranian coup!
It is evident that the Damascus summit is nothing but a photo opportunity, as
they say in politics, and without doubt, it is a summit of contradictions as the
participants agree on much less than what they disagree upon.
The French cannot offer what the Americans want from Syria and Iran and Turkey
does not have what Israel wants from Syria. Above anything else, the guests of
Damascus do not have what Syria itself wants, which is to restore relations with
the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia…yes Riyadh and Cairo. Whoever has
visited Damascus recently would be aware of the level of tension there is as a
result of the lengthy severance of relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.