LCCC ENGLISH
DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 12/07
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus
Christ according to Saint Matthew 17,14-20. When they came to the crowd a man
approached, knelt down before him, and said, "Lord, have pity on my son, for he
is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into
water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus said
in reply, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How
long will I endure you? Bring him here to me." Jesus rebuked him and the demon
came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples
approached Jesus in private and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" He
said to them, "Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have
faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here
to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Opinions
Why We Must
Label Al-Qaeda Terrorism "Jihad Martyrdom".By:
Robert Spencer.
August 11/07
Why The New York Times Can Legally Help The Enemy in The War on
Terror- By Jeffrey Imm.
August 11/07
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources
for August 11/07
US Declares Lebanese Group Terrorists.Washington
Post
Stench of corpses hampers Lebanon-France24
- Paris,France
Farmers in south Lebanon will get aid from UN food agency-Ya
Libnan
Hezbollah billboard angers Windsor
residents-Montreal Gazette, Canada
Bush: U.S. 'Cannot Live with' Iran's Support for
Hizbullah, Nuclear Program, Anti-Israel Warnings-Naharnet
Sfeir for Presidential Elections on Time, Rejects Two
Governments-Naharnet
March 14: No Compromises Over Presidential Elections-Naharnet
Berri Confident That Presidential Elections Would be Held
On Time-Naharnet
Is Fatah al-Islam's Alleged Leader Offering to Surrender?-Naharnet
Rafsanjani Reminds U.S. of Failures in Palestine and
Lebanon-Naharnet
Army Bombs Out Fatah al-Islam Bunkers-Naharnet
Geagea Warns Lahoud against Handing over Power to
Military, Suleiman May Run for Presidency-Naharnet
No let up in Lebanon unrest-The
Brunei Times
KFAED finances 12 projects in Lebanon-Kuwait
Times
Hezbollah showcases 'divine victory' over Israel-Daily
Times
Arab attacker killed in J'lem Old City-Jerusalem
Post
UN agrees to expanded role in rebuilding Iraq-Guardian
Unlimited
Hezbollah billboard
angers Windsor residents
DALSON CHEN, CanWest News Service
August 11/07: Members of the Jewish and Lebanese Christian communities are
outraged by a billboard that appears to promote Hezbollah.
"How can that billboard be up in Windsor when it represents a terrorist
organization which is banned under the laws of Canada?" asked Harvey Kessler,
executive director of the Windsor Jewish Community Centre.
The billboard doesn't mention Hezbollah by name, but depicts Hassan Nasrallah,
the leader of the controversial group.
****Printed in English are the words: "Lebanese and Arab communities in Windsor
city congratulate the Lebanese people for their steadfastness and endeavor to
establish peace in Windsor."
Kessler said Nasrallah represents "the opposite of peace."
Emile Nabbout, president of the Windsor branch of the Lebanese Christian
political group Kataeb, said the billboard creates a misconception of the views
of Windsor's Lebanese community. "We really are not in support or in favour of
that billboard and it should be removed ASAP," he said.
Mayor Eddie Francis said he has no idea who's responsible, but city police are
looking into whether the billboard violates any rules.
Lebanese-born Sam Ali, 39, said he supports the billboard's message, and
believes many of the city's Lebanese feel the same.
Ali, a Muslim, said Hezbollah has done good things, helping people with
hospitals and medicine. "When Nasrallah speaks in Lebanon, a million and a half
or 2 million people go into the street to listen."
Fellow Lebanese native and Muslim Ghina Maawie said the billboard proved freedom
of speech exists in Canada.
"For anyone to defend Lebanon, they call them terrorist," she said. "All we did
is defend our country."
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007
Hezbollah billboard angers
Windsor residents
DALSON CHEN, CanWest News Service
August 11/07: Members of the Jewish and Lebanese Christian communities are
outraged by a billboard that appears to promote Hezbollah.
"How can that billboard be up in Windsor when it represents a terrorist
organization which is banned under the laws of Canada?" asked Harvey Kessler,
executive director of the Windsor Jewish Community Centre.
The billboard doesn't mention Hezbollah by name, but depicts Hassan Nasrallah,
the leader of the controversial group.
****Printed in English are the words: "Lebanese and Arab communities in Windsor
city congratulate the Lebanese people for their steadfastness and endeavor to
establish peace in Windsor."
Kessler said Nasrallah represents "the opposite of peace."
Emile Nabbout, president of the Windsor branch of the Lebanese Christian
political group Kataeb, said the billboard creates a misconception of the views
of Windsor's Lebanese community. "We really are not in support or in favour of
that billboard and it should be removed ASAP," he said.
Mayor Eddie Francis said he has no idea who's responsible, but city police are
looking into whether the billboard violates any rules.
Lebanese-born Sam Ali, 39, said he supports the billboard's message, and
believes many of the city's Lebanese feel the same.
Ali, a Muslim, said Hezbollah has done good things, helping people with
hospitals and medicine. "When Nasrallah speaks in Lebanon, a million and a half
or 2 million people go into the street to listen."
Fellow Lebanese native and Muslim Ghina Maawie said the billboard proved freedom
of speech exists in Canada.
"For anyone to defend Lebanon, they call them terrorist," she said. "All we did
is defend our country."
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007
Billboard
causes outrage
Saturday, August 11, 2007
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=9e4885a7-c3ac-4280-881d-1f83d903b7be&k=45311&p=1
Members of the Jewish and Lebanese Christian communities in Windsor are outraged
by the appearance of a billboard that appears to promote Hezbollah -- an
organization the Canadian government considers terrorist.
"That organization is banned in Canada," said Harvey Kessler, executive director
of the Windsor Jewish Community Centre. "How can that billboard be up in Windsor
when it represents a terrorist organization which is banned under the laws of
Canada?"
Located at the southwest corner of Marion Avenue and Wyandotte Street East, the
billboard does not mention Hezbollah by name, but features a central image of
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the controversial political and military group
that represents Lebanese Shia Muslims and has clashed with Israeli troops for
more than 20 years.
OPPOSITE OF PEACE
Kessler said he feels Nasrallah represents "the opposite of peace."
"It should be offensive to all people living in Windsor. It should be offensive
not only to the Jewish community, but to any Canadian."
Emile Nabbout, president of the Windsor branch of the Lebanese Christian
political group Kataeb, said he also thinks Hezbollah is a terrorist
organization, and he feels the billboard creates a misconception of the views of
Windsor's Lebanese community.
"We really are not in support or in favour of that billboard and it should be
removed ASAP," Nabbout said.
The image of Nasrallah is flanked by four other Lebanese political figures. "All
those individuals in that picture... they are in opposition to the Lebanese
government right now," Nabbout said.
"By just analyzing the picture, there is no doubt in my mind this is a Hezbollah
activity," he added.
Printed in English on the left side of the billboard are the words: "Lebanese
and Arab communities in Windsor city congratulate the Lebanese people for their
steadfastness and endeavor to establish peace in Lebanon."
But Nabbout said that Arabic writing which appears on the right side of the
billboard does not match the English translation. According to Nabbout, the
Arabic writing makes a reference to fighting.
"What they mean by 'fight' is basically 'guerrilla' -- using arms and weapons,"
Nabbout said. "Basically, there is a very specific word... That is a definite
difference between the Arabic and the English."
Contacted on Friday night, Mayor Eddie Francis said he was made aware of the
billboard earlier in the day. Asked if he is concerned about its presence,
Francis said: "The politics of Lebanon belong in Lebanon, not on the streets of
Windsor."
Francis said he has no idea who was responsible for the billboard, but the city
is now looking into whether its content violates any rules.
Kessler said he has talked to Chief Glenn Stannard of Windsor police about the
billboard, as well as the mayor. He said he has made calls to councillors, the
city's race and ethnocultural relations committee, RCMP and CSIS.
"I understand that everyone is looking at strategies under the Canadian law to
get it down. Because it is not appropriate," Kessler said.
Nabbout said members of the Lebanese Christian community have made calls to
local MPs Joe Comartin and Brian Masse about the issue.
But Sam Ali, a 39-year-old Lebanese-born Windsor resident, said he supports the
billboard's message, and he believes many in the city's Lebanese population feel
the same way.
According to Ali, the accusations that Hezbollah is terrorist are untrue.
"Hezbollah is freedom fighting. Whoever calls them terrorist is a liar," he
said.
Ali, a Muslim, said Nasrallah has done good things, helping people with
hospitals and medicine. "When Nasrallah speaks in Lebanon, a million and a half
or two million people go into the street to listen."
Fellow Lebanese native and Muslim Ghina Maawie said she doesn't understand why
anyone would be offended by the billboard. "When I saw it, I felt so happy and
so proud of it," she said. "In Canada, we have freedom of speech."
Maawie also dismissed the criticisms of Hezbollah. "For anyone to defend
Lebanon, they call them terrorist. All we did is defend our country."
U.S. Declares
Lebanese Group Terrorists
By MATTHEW LEE
The Associated Press
Saturday, August 11, 2007; 3:11 PM
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has blacklisted as a "foreign terrorist
organization" a Lebanese Islamist group blamed for major fighting at a refugee
camp, the Associated Press has learned. The State Department is expected to
announce the designation against al-Qaida-inspired Fatah al-Islam, which is
suspected of having links with Syria, on Monday.
The designation imposes financial and travel restrictions on the group and its
members, officials said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the
designation is not yet public. The officials said Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice signed off on the decision to place the radical group on the international
terror list on Friday. The sanctions took effect with her signature. The U.S.
designation of Fatah al-Islam will bring to 43 the number of groups on the
blacklist, which already includes many of the world's most notorious terrorist
organizations. The designation freezes the assets of the group in U.S.
jurisdictions, bars its members from U.S. soil and makes it illegal for U.S.
citizens or those subject to U.S. laws to provide it with "material support or
resources."
The action against the Lebanese group comes as the Bush administration is
stepping up efforts to distance Lebanon from Syrian influence and sporadic
fighting between Lebanese troops and Fatah Islam militants.
It comes as Washington steps up efforts to free Lebanon from Syrian influence
and amid serious clashes between Lebanese troops and Fatah Islam militants at
the Nahr el-Bared camp that have killed at least 136 people since they erupted
in May.
There was no immediate comment from Lebanese officials. Fatah Islam militants,
who spoke to journalists by mobile phone from inside the Nahr el-Bared camp in
the early days of the fighting, can no longer be reached. The fighting is the
worst internal violence in Lebanon since its 1975-90 civil war and has dragged
on despite the Lebanese army besieging the camp to uproot the group.The army has
refused to halt its offensive until the militants completely surrender, but the
gunmen have vowed to fight to the death.
On Wednesday, Fatah Islam said in a statement posted to a Web site that its No.
2 commander, Abu Hureira, had been killed in the clashes and celebrated the
"martyrdom of a noble a noble brother," vowing to avenge his death. The
whereabouts Fatah Islam leader, Shaker Youssef Absi, are unknown.
Fuad Saniora, Lebanon's Western-backed prime minister, has said there are
connections between Syria and Fatah Islam, which was formed last year but grew
to prominence with the fighting. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied the
charge.
The United States has in recent months boosted its attempts to support Saniora
and his government as they face a continuing political crisis with pro-Syrian
elements, including Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, the head of state. On
Thursday, Rice held talks with Lebanon's most senior diplomat in Washington, a
Saniora appointee whom Lahoud has refused to accredit as the country's official
envoy to the United States. Rice's meeting at the State Department with Antoine
Chedid, whose formal title is Charge d'Affaires, effectively recognized him as
the country's ambassador and was intended as a diplomatic slight to Lahoud,
officials said.
Chedid's predecessor in Washington, a pro-Lahoud diplomat who carried the title
of ambassador, left the United States in late July after the State Department
waged a behind-the-scenes campaign to have him replaced. On August 1, President
Bush signed an executive order allowing the Treasury Department to block the
assets of anyone deemed to be destabilizing efforts to promote Lebanese security
and sovereignty, a move seen as targeting Lahoud and his supporters as well as
Syrian officials. ___
****State Department's Foreign Terrorist Organization designation list:
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm
Sfeir for Presidential Elections on
Time, Rejects Two Governments
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has warned that failing to hold the
forthcoming presidential elections on time would add to the nation's woes and
expressed concern over the formation of two governments. He stressed in an
interview with the Voice of Lebanon Radio broadcast Friday that convening a
parliamentary session to elect a new head of state to succeed President Emile
Lahoud, whose extended term expires on Nov. 24, is conditional to a two-third
quorum.
"The constitution states that two thirds (of Parliament members) should be
present. This is a must. This does not mean that all those (MPs) present should
choose the same person. They can abstain, but in session, and they can chose
someone else," the Patriarch said.
Sfeir stressed that convening a parliamentary session by simple majority to
elect a president would be a violation of the constitution "and that would
encourage others to violate the constitution."Would that lead to two presidents
and two governments?
Sfeir said: "Maybe."
Asked whether he would support choosing a president on a consensus basis, Sfeir
replied: "Yes. The nation's interest requires this."
The Patriarch left the door open for the Maronite Church to choose a president.
Addressing the Patriarch, the interviewer said: You usually do not take part in
naming a candidate, but if the situation required it, would u name one?
Sfeir replied: "When such an issue is proposed we'll see."
Asked to comment on whether Army Commander Gen Michel Suleiman and Central Bank
Governor Riad Salameh are fit for president, Sfeir replied: "All the people
deserve the presidency." Beirut, 11 Aug 07, 09:39
Berri Confident That Presidential Elections Would be Held On Time
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Saturday he is confident that presidential
elections would be held on a consensus base and according to constitutional
schedule, disclosing that convening a regional conference on Lebanon is being
considered.
Berri, in an interview broadcast live by the Voice of Lebanon Radio, said the
Lebanese "ought to reach consensus … I am not frightened at all."
Convening a regional conference on Lebanon "is being considered," Berri said,
clarifying that the idea has been brought up in meetings between French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Egyptian and Saudi counterparts, Ahmed Abul
Gheit and Prince Saud al-Faisal.
Berri stressed that he has relayed his approval of the proposal to Egypt's
ambassador to Lebanon, stressing that "I am ready to take part in any meeting,
anywhere, to save Lebanon."Addressing MP Saad Hariri, leader of the al-Moustaqbal
parliamentary bloc, Berri said: "Change all your plans, because after a while
you won't be in accord with (Premier Fouad) Saniora."Commenting on the outcome
of by-elections at the Beirut and Metn constituencies, Berri said that at the
first parliamentary session he would inform legislators on an interior ministry
memo announcing the results "if no objections were made, then things will be put
in course."
Commenting on the tense relations with Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime,
Berri said: "Syria is closer to us than being termed an enemy … Lebanon cannot
be ruled from Syria and cannot be against Syria."
Berri said he supports "distinguished and diplomatic relations" with Syria.
Beirut, 11 Aug 07, 13:22
Is Fatah al-Islam's Alleged Leader Offering to Surrender? The state-run National
News Agency has reported that the alleged terrorist leader at Nahr al-Bared, who
goes by the name of Chahine Chahine, has renewed an offer to surrender in return
for a pledge that he would not receive the capital punishment.
The terse report did not disclose further details. However, reliable sources
contacted by Naharnet doubted the report.
One source noted that "no authority in Lebanon can make such a pledge. No one
can guarantee ahead of a trial what the verdict would be. This is illegal. This
would be tantamount to interference in the judiciary." The source, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said the whole report appears to be "a propaganda leak."
"Who is the so-called Chahine Chahine? Is he a leader of the Fatah al-Islam
gang? Who is negotiating with him? And who is authorized to negotiate with the
terrorists on anything but non-conditional surrender?" the source asked.He said
the "whole report is baseless." Beirut, 11 Aug 07, 11:53
Rafsanjani Reminds U.S. of Failures in Palestine and Lebanon
Iran's influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has expressed
disappointment at the lack of progress in talks with the United States aimed at
restoring security in Iraq. "Some rather ineffective talks have started. We hope
realities are taken into account. So far the Americans have not sent good
signals, claiming in every meeting that we are interfering there," Rafsanjani
said in his Friday prayer sermon. He was referring to two rounds of talks with
arch-foe the United States, aimed at curbing the rampant insurgency in Iraq. The
meetings in Baghdad have been marked by disagreements over who is to blame for
the bloodshed.
Washington accuses Shiite-majority Iran of fomenting sectarian violence in Iraq
and providing militants with sophisticated roadside bombs. Tehran denies the
allegation, and blames the U.S.-led occupation for the insecurity in its western
neighbor."If we do not criticise the occupation of Iraq the talks will not bear
much fruit," said Rafsanjani, a pragmatist cleric who heads the country's top
arbitration body, the Expediency Council.
Iran's leaders on Thursday told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
that American troops must leave his country. The talks sparked unease in
Washington.
U.S. President George W. Bush issued a new warning over Tehran's alleged
meddling in Iraq and warned Maliki against too warm ties with Iran's Shiite
leaders.
Washington is also leading international efforts to stop Iran's controversial
nuclear program which the United States says is aimed at producing nuclear
weapons, a claim denied by Iran. Rafsanjani said on Friday the United States had
"extended a needy hand to Iran" in a bid to resolve the crisis in Iraq.
"If the United States does not correct itself it will not achieve its goals.
Wherever it goes it realizes that it should satisfy Iran. That is what has
happened in Palestine and in Lebanon," he said. "The same thing could happen in
other places in the future too if it continues with its arrogant and tyrannical
attitude."(AFP)
Beirut, 11 Aug 07, 11:07
Bush: U.S. 'Cannot Live with' Iran's Support for Hizbullah, Nuclear Program,
Anti-Israel Warnings
U.S. President George Bush warned that Iran would have "a price to pay" for its
ongoing effort to supply Iraqi militants with weapons to attack American forces
and said Washington "cannot live with" Tehran's support for Hizbullah, suspect
nuclear program and anti-Israel warnings.
Bush, holding a pre-vacation press conference on Thursday, said he was not
surprised at pictures showing cordial meetings between Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki and top Iranian leaders in Tehran but that he hoped the prime minister
was delivering a tough message.
"You don't want the picture to be kind of, you know, duking it out," when on a
diplomatic mission he said, putting up his fists like a boxer.
But "if the signal is that Iran is constructive, I will have to have a
heart-to-heart with my friend, the prime minister, because I don't believe they
are constructive," said Bush, who called Iran "a very troubling nation." Bush's
comments came days after he disagreed sharply with Afghan President Hamid Karzai
about Iran's influence after Karzai called Tehran a positive force in combating
extremists in his country.
And they came as top U.S. officials worried about the pace of political
reconciliation in Iraq, amid misgivings in Washington about whether Maliki, a
Shiite, truly wanted or was able to build bridges to minority Sunnis. Iran,
which the United States blames for fomenting much of the bloodshed in Iraq, had
earlier given visiting Maliki its full support for restoring security but told
him a pullout of U.S. forces was the only way to end the violence.
According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Maliki thanked Iran for its
"positive and constructive" work in "providing security and fighting terrorism
in Iraq."
Bush expressed skepticism and warned Iran: "There will be a price to pay" if its
agents are caught undermining U.S.-led efforts in Iraq.
"There will be consequences" for any Iranians shipping weapons, including
sophisticated roadside bombs, inside Iraq, said the U.S. president, who branded
Tehran "a destabilizing influence" in the Middle East. Bush cited Iran's support
for Lebanon's Hizbullah, Tehran's suspect nuclear program, and Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel warnings, which he said Washington "cannot
live with."
"That's something, obviously, we cannot live with. They have expressed their
desire to be able to enrich uranium, which we believe is a step toward having a
nuclear weapons program. That, in itself, coupled with their stated foreign
policy, is very dangerous for world stability," Bush said. "They are funders of
Hizbullah. Hizbullah is intent upon battling forces of moderation. It's a very
troubling nation right now. "
"Should I be concerned of a picture -- should the American people be concerned
about Iran? Yes, we ought to be very concerned about Iran. They're a
destabilizing influence. They are a government that has -- its declared policy
is very troubling, obviously, when they announce -- when Ahmadinejad has
announced that the destruction of Israel is part of its foreign policy," he
added.
"My message to the Iranian people is, 'You can do better than this current
government. You don't have to be isolated. You don't have to be in a position
where you can't realize your full economic potential,'" Bush said.
Asked whether he was confident that, in past talks, Maliki shared his view about
Iran, Bush replied: "Does he understand with some extremist groups there's
connections with Iran? And he does. And I'm confident."
Maliki's talks appeared to confirm the increasingly warm relations that have
emerged between majority Shiite Iraq and overwhelmingly Shiite Iran following
the fall of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.
In a highly symbolic move, Maliki met the families of seven Iranian officials
arrested in Iraq by U.S. forces on accusations of being members of an elite
Revolutionary Guards force on a mission to stir trouble.
Iran insists the men were diplomats and is livid that the United States has
shown no sign of releasing them.
"The Iraqi government will do all it can to release these people," Maliki said
in Tehran, expressing optimism that the officials would be freed and condemning
their arrest.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 10 Aug 07, 07:22
Army Bombs Out Fatah al-Islam Bunkers
Lebanese Army helicopter gunships pounded Fatah al-Islam bunkers in the northern
refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared for the second straight day Friday paving the way
for infantrymen to engage terrorists in face-to-face combat. Witnesses said two
gun ships dropped one bomb each at Fatah al-Islam bunkers as commando units
opened up with automatic rifles and began a cautious slow-but-steady advance
across the rubble to root out terrorists entrenched in underground bunkers since
May 20. They said smoke and dust billowed from the stricken targets and the
thuds of the powerful explosions echoed across the northern Akkar Province which
abuts the deserted campo. That brought to 14 the number of bombs dropped by
Lebanese Army choppers on the network of bunkers where Fatah al-Islam terrorists
are entrenched for a fight to the end. No casualties were reported in army
ranks.
Agence France Presse quoted an unnamed army spokesman as saying that for the
first time since the conflict erupted on May 20, the army used helicopters on
Thursday to drop several 250-kilogram (550-pound) bombs on underground bunkers
in Nahr al-Bared.
"They are not guided missiles, they are bombs developed by the army in order to
destroy the underground bunkers in the camp," he said.
On Thursday, an officer told AFP that the army had achieved a new breakthrough
in the last sector of Nahr al-Bared still held by the Islamist militants,
without giving more details on the operations. He said the army "destroyed some
buildings with explosives, uncovering the entrances to underground tunnels and
fortifications."
More than 200 people, including 136 soldiers, have been killed since the
conflict erupted on May 20, the worst internal violence since the end of
Lebanon's civil war in 1990.Most of the camp's 30,000 residents have fled since
the battles erupted, but about 60 women and children related to Fatah al-Islam
fighters remain inside.
The army has accused the Islamists of using them as human shields.(Naharnet-AFP)
Beirut, 10 Aug 07, 18
March 14: No Compromises Over Presidential Elections
The March 14 majority alliance on Thursday termed "decisive" the forthcoming
presidential election, rejecting any compromises on holding it.
The alliance, in a statement issued after a meeting of its follow-up committee,
also said the election of a new head of state is "not subject to compromises or
black mail."
Electing a head of state to succeed pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud is "a top
priority at the Christian and national levels and a land mark along the march
for independence."The statement rejected all proposals made by the Hizbullah-led
March 8 opposition that link electing a new president to the formation of a
so-called national unity government that gives Syria's allies veto powers. It
also rejected attempts by the Hizbullah-led opposition to "impose a certain
candidate" for president, in reference to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel
Aoun.Such attempts by the March 8 camp, according to the statement, reflect
efforts by Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime and its Local allies to hurl
Lebanon into "political vacuum" and push the Christians out of the nation's
political system.
Beirut, 10 Aug 07, 16:24
Iran, Saudi to cooperate on Lebanon
Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:19:39
Source: Press TV
Lebanese sources have said the cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia as one
of the solutions to the political crisis in the country.
The Lebanese daily Al Safir, suggested two solutions to resolve the on-going
political crisis in Lebanon.
One idea being the cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia to mediate in
bringing together the demands of the supporters of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
Western-backed administration and the opposition groups who are pushing for a
national unity government. The second solution could be an international
assembly on Lebanon attended by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the US, France, EU,
Russia, Egypt and the Arab League. The Lebanese daily Al Safir reports that
under the former, both sides could reach an agreement on a new Lebanese
presidential candidate and accordingly a new Prime Minister. The UNSC Resolution
1701 on the international court's rule on the assasination of the former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri would be taken into consideration. Al Safir
added that the Iran-Saudi Arabia plan for resolving the country's crisis was
disclosed by the Kingdom, noting that the return of Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to
Lebanon, Abd Al-'Aziz Khoja, could be well in line with the initiative proposed
by Iran late January.
Hezbollah showcases ‘divine victory’ over Israel
By Sylvie Groult
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Set in the southern suburbs of Beirut controlled by Hezbollah, the exhibition
showcases seized Israeli weapons, military apparel, pictures and video footage
highlighting the ‘crushing defeat’ inflicted on Israel in its 34-day war with
the militant Shiite group
ONE year after its devastating war with Israel, the Lebanese militant group
Hezbollah is celebrating its “divine victory” over the Jewish state with an
elaborate exhibition complete with sound and light show.
Set in the southern suburbs of Beirut controlled by Hezbollah, the exhibition
showcases seized Israeli weapons, military apparel, pictures and video footage
highlighting the “crushing defeat” inflicted on Israel in its 34-day war with
the militant Shiite group. Bunkers surrounded by sandbags, underground listening
posts and detailed maps also aim to recreate the living conditions of the
militants on the battlefield, as loudspeakers blare out the sound of bombs
exploding, machine gun fire and speeches by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Huge photos of US President George W Bush, his former defence secretary Donald
Rumsfeld and Israeli leaders meanwhile stand alongside an American flag with its
50 stars in the shape of bombs and a message that reads: “American democracy,
danger”.
Throughout the neighbourhood, banners proclaim “divine victory” along with the
messages “the era of defeat is over” or “the era of victory is here”.
“Our aim is to highlight the truth and show proof of our victory,” said Ali
Ahmed, a spokesman for the exhibition entitled “Spider’s Web”, which plays on a
popular phrase coined by Nasrallah in which he calls Israel “more feeble than a
spider’s web”.
“We want to set the record straight,” Ahmed added.
He said nearly 200,000 people had visited the free event since it opened at the
end of July and there are plans to make it permanent, perhaps somewhere in
southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong presence.
Israel’s war with Hezbollah resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Lebanese
civilians, a third of them children, as well as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
It destroyed more than 25,000 homes and 50,000 other buildings, notably in the
country’s south, before ending with the UN-brokered ceasefire on August 14.
Israel failed in both its stated aims for launching the war: to stop rocket fire
on northern Israel and to recover two soldiers captured by Hezbollah in a deadly
cross-border raid.
“For the first time in its history, Israel was defeated during that war,” said
Said Hassan Srour, 56, a butcher, as he toured the “Spider’s Web”. “Nasrallah is
like God to me. He is honest and he loves his people.” A guide accompanying a
group of men, women and children proudly tells his audience that the Israeli
weapons on display were but “one percent of the amount of weapons seized by
Hezbollah.”Nearby, a months-old baby girl begins to cry as her mother encourages
her to watch a light and sound show that consists of a six-minute video of war
footage. Below the screen, in a pit, is a smoking Israeli tank with a dummy of a
dead Israeli soldier.
“We have no assurance that Israel won’t start the war over again,” says Abu
Ahmad, who claims to be a Hezbollah fighter, as he points to other military
equipment on display.
“So we are ready, we have weapons,” he adds. “We are present all along the
border and in all villages.” afp
Hezbollah showcases 'divine victory' over Israel
Daily Times
Why The New York
Times Can Legally Help The Enemy in The War on Terror
By Jeffrey Imm- Counterterrorism
In July 2007, the Washington Post gave a Hezbollah supporter full coverage of an
online column on Jihadism, and in June 2007, both the New York Times and the
Washington Post printed editorials by a Hamas figure.
This week, the New York Times has provided online columns on August 8 and August
9 dedicated to brainstorming new ideas on how Jihadists can attack and kill
Americans. The New York Times author, Dr. Steven Levitt, a writer on economics,
used his online August 8 column "If You Were a Terrorist, How Would You Attack?"
to offer some new ideas to Jihadists on ways to murder Americans, and suggested
some specific tactics that Jihadists can take to improve both the level of
terror and effectiveness of such murders. Then Dr. Levitt invited the general
public to offer their own suggestions on how Jihadists might be able to kill
Americans, stating "I'm sure many readers have far better ideas. I would love to
hear them." And disturbingly, many hundreds of readers obliged Dr. Levitt by
offering horrific suggestions to help Jihadists. This was not yet enough for the
New York Times, and so on August 9, Dr. Levitt wrote a second online column
"Terrorism, Part II", where he defended his right to recommend murder ideas to
terrorists, by explaining that there are a "virtually infinite" number of
American vulnerabilities, and by claiming that the "terrorists are incompetent"
or the "terrorism threat just isn't that great".
Not once in either column does Dr. Levitt ever use the word... "Jihad" or "Jihadists".
In Dr. Levitt's view, the threat is only from incompetent criminals that he
calls "terrorists", and that view of terrorists as mere "criminals" was echoed
the same day by former NATO leader Wesley Clark in another New York Times column
"Why Terrorists Aren't Soldiers".
America's Propaganda Vulnerability
The New York Times' online column brainstorming for ideas to kill Americans does
point out a massive vulnerability for America -- the fact that during wartime,
such a column was editorially acceptable and legal for public distribution.
The real question that Americans should be asking is WHY it is legal and
editorially acceptable - not only for the Steven Levitt columns, but also for
the Hezbollah and Hamas editorials. This goes back to the fundamental unresolved
questions in the minds of a segment of the public as to: (a) is the USA at war
or not, (b) if so, who is the enemy, (c) what is our war strategy against the
enemy.
Wartime Responses to Aiding the Enemy
Nearly 6 years after the 9/11 attacks, the idea that we as a nation still have
large segments of the population that not only don't believe the nation is at
war, but also can't identify the enemy is truly disturbing. The imperative need
for clear and precise executive government communication on this war is
demonstrated by such New York Times and Washington Post columns. Yet there is no
public outrage by the government, no public anger by the government, and nothing
but silence on these columns.
Would it have been tolerable to President FDR during World War II or to
President Woodrow Wilson during World War I, if the major news media were
publishing editorials by the enemy, and publishing suggestions on how the enemy
could best attack the nation during war? Basic American history clearly answers
these questions: FDR had an Office of Censorship and Woodrow Wilson urged the
creation of the Sedition Act of 1918. These were wartime measures, because the
nation was at war. Moreover, the news media voluntarily complied with the WWII
Office of Censorship, and worked with the government towards the shared goal of
defeating the enemy.
By contrast, in today's war, the U.S. government has had to struggle to legally
have the right to monitor potential saboteurs and sympathizers, and has had to
struggle to retain laws to allow the FBI to effectively investigate such
enemies. And the news media publishes classified information on U.S. government
war strategies and on sensitive information on financial tracking of the enemy.
The Unresolved Questions That Allow Others to Define America's Position
The war against transnational Jihadists and their myriad organizations poses
unique challenges in effectively defining America's wartime positions. Unlike
WWI or WWII, the current war does not readily allow a nation state or nation
states with a publicly recognizable army that can be defined as the enemy to be
defeated. These unique challenges require greater clarity, greater precision,
and greater communication from the government to the nation than any time in
America's history -- regarding the state of war, the identity of the enemy, and
the war strategy.
The State of War
The enemy has been precise about its goals and its objectives. Osama Bin Laden's
Al Qaeda has declared written war on the United States not once, but twice, once
in 1996 and once in 1998. These Jihadist declarations of war have been rarely
discussed in the news media or in government discussions about the war. The
Washington Post published the 1998 war declaration on September 21, 2001 - 10
days after the 9/11 attacks.
Moreover, Al-Qaeda spokesman Suleiman Abu Gheith has also documented its goals
in the Jihadist war against the United States, as well as Al-Qaeda's stated goal
to kill at least 4 million Americans.
On the American side, the declaration of war was "The Authorization for Use of
Military Force" ("AUMF") (Public law 107-40) passed by Congress on September 18,
2001, authorizing the use of United States Armed Forces against those
responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001. The authorization granted the
President the authority to use all "necessary and appropriate force" against
those whom he determined "planned, authorized, committed, or aided" the
September 11th attacks, or who harbored said persons or groups.
The AUMF should have provided sufficient war-justification for both the American
public and the news media, should the enemy be sufficiently identified. However,
the AUMF never used either the word "Jihad" or "Jihadists" in defining the
enemy.
The Identification of the Enemy
The AUMF provided the rationale for the current war in Afghanistan, based on
American intelligence of the role of the Taliban Jihadist camps in training the
9/11 attackers, as it calls for the right to use military force against those
who "planned, authorized, committed, or aided" the 9/11 attacks.
However, like this week's New York Times columns by Dr. Steven Levitt, the AUMF
also did not use the word "Jihad" or "Jihadist". Moreover, the effort to fight
the Jihadists then became tagged with the general term the "War on Terror".
Furthermore, many of the government leadership speeches regarding the war have
referenced the enemy as "terrorists", as "evil", and as "extremists".
General references to fighting a war against "terrorism", "evil", and
"extremists" have enabled widely diverse interpretations by individuals as to
who exactly the enemy is, and has allowed virtually every different pundit and
commentator to come up with their own interpretation on the identity of the
enemy. From the perspective of international relations, this could provide
"strategic ambiguity" to allow for tactical realpolitik negotiations among
nations that tolerate or host Jihadists to aid in tactical battles in either
Afghanistan or Iraq. But it misses the holistic view that for the nation to
effectively fight a war - they must be united in identifying the enemy.
In the case of New York Times writer, Dr. Steven Levitt, the "terrorists" that
he was referring to are not a wartime "enemy", they are mere "criminals" who he
no doubt sees no connection to 9/11 or the AUMF at all. More troubling is that
former NATO leader Wesley Clark also views Jihadists as mere "criminals".
Furthermore, the New York Times and the Washington Post apparently views neither
Hamas or Hezbollah as "enemy" organizations, but apparently views their naming
on the State Department Foreign Terrorist Organization as "terrorists" as a
political viewpoint.
Al-Qaeda is a Jihadist Organization
The idea that Al-Qaeda is a Jihadist organization may seem to be obvious, but
not to all segments of the public and to organizations influencing the
government. This plays another part in the blurring of the enemy's
identification. As pointed out in numerous articles, there is a large segment of
intelligentsia that seeks to obfuscate the enemy's identification by arguing
that there is "good Jihad" and "bad Jihad". Dr. Walid Phares' recent column
"Preventing the West from Understanding Jihad" demonstrates how apologist
literature has even reached the National Defense University, and how apologists
argue that the proper term for "bad Jihad" is "Hiraba". Dr. Phare's column was
rebutted by Jim Guiard, who argued that America is not threatened by "Jihadist
martyrdom", but "Irhabi Murderdom".
As I have mentioned previously in other postings, the fundamental problem for
Americans in identifying the enemy, whether it is the vacillating term "War on
Terror", or the unwillingness to call the enemy "Jihadists" comes down a
conflict in Americans accepting that an enemy group could be affiliated in any
way with any religion. America was founded on freedom of religion; it is
inherent in our identity as a nation. But in dealing with the war of Jihadists
against America, it is a fact that in identifying the enemy, that the present
enemy is motivated by very specific religious beliefs.
Those who seek to obfuscate the identity of the enemy argue that if you call the
enemy "Jihadists", then you validate their view as being representative of all
of Islam. That is a red-herring that seeks to keep Americans in denial, not only
about the identity of the enemy, but also about their very real religious
motivations. And so... we are left with merely fighting a "War on Terror".
War Strategy Without Agreed-Upon Enemy Identity
Unlike WWI and WWII, where the enemy was clearly identified, the transnational
Jihadists are difficult for the American public to process as an enemy.
Moreover, while Al-Qaeda has formal declarations of war on the United States,
and other Jihadist groups declare war on the USA on a near-daily basis, the only
real war declaration that the USA has is the AUMF, that never once uses the word
"Jihad". Therefore, without an agreed-upon enemy identification, the U.S.
government and public are at major odds as to what, if any, war strategy there
should be, and not only just in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also in other parts of
the world.
Unlike WWII, where the Nazis were a clearly designated enemy, in 2006, the
Washington Post feels no wartime loyalty to preserve classified information
about secret CIA prisons holding Jihadists. And that small representative
example of the dysfunction in agreeing on enemy war strategy or even the
identity of the enemy, has now resulted in major media publishing Jihadist
editorials and now publicizing ideas to help the enemy attack and kill
Americans.
Enemy Aid is the Price of Ignorance
As I have previously posted, the American public is woefully uninformed as to
the scope and the magnitude of the daily World War by Jihadists across the
globe. There are easily 20 to 30 Jihadist news stories most days; if the
American public on average hears about 2 of those, it would be a miracle. The
Jihadist World War is simply not reported as a priority by the American news
media, and once again, the Jihadists have not been formally designated as the
"enemy". By and large, the American news media finds the Jihadist activities in
India, Israel, Somalia, Philippines, Thailand, Europe, UK, and around the world
as "isolated incidents" deserving as mention (if at all) on page 30 of foreign
news.
This leads to some segments of the population to view that such Jihadists have
legitimate "struggles" and are not really "terrorists" either, but are
"militants", whose cause deserves a voice in world affairs, as per the New York
Times' and Washington Post's editorials for Hamas and Hezbollah.
The more painful realization is that the historical monofocus of Americans on
their own affairs makes such world news and world threats to blur from any
possible attention spans, except for the occasional suicide bombing in Iraq
broadcast on cable news networks. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago, when
after writing a story on UK Jihadists threatening the United States, I watched a
television game show with my wife, where a premed college student not only
didn't know what the capital of the United Kingdom was, but wasn't even sure
that the UK was actually a country at all.
Knowing your public is an important part of any public mobilization - whether it
is for war - or for any other shared cause. And the New York Times and the
Washington Post publications increasingly illustrate how little, 6 years after
9/11, the American public understand about the Jihadist enemy that is at war
with the United States.
The price of such ignorance is to tolerate news media, public organizations, and
individuals that will promote enemy propaganda, enemy incitement, and will
provide information to the enemy on how to harm America, without the laws, the
restraint, and the good sense to realize that all of this is unacceptable during
war-time. And the price of such ignorance is a nation that is not prepared, not
mobilized, and not energized for the long fight against the enemy.
In this war against Jihad, America must decide if it can continue to tolerate
the price of ignorance, or if instead it is willing to make the investment in
strategic war planning, communication, clear identification of the enemy and its
threats, and unified purpose necessary to defeat its enemies.
Sources:
August 8, 2007 - The New York Times: "If
You Were a Terrorist, How Would You Attack?", by Steven D. Levitt
August 9, 2007 - The New York Times:
"Terrorism, Part II", by Steven D. Levitt
August 8, 2007 - The New York Times: "Why
Terrorists Aren't Soldiers", by Wesley K. Clark and Kal Raustiala
U.S. News Media and Terror Group Figure
Editorials -- CTB Posting, Jeffrey Imm
Washington Post: CIA Holds Terror Suspects
in Secret Prisons
Terrorist Finance Tracking Program:
Controversy regarding The New York Times' decision to publish
August 23, 1996 -- "Declaration of War
against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places" -- Osama Bin
Laden Declaration of War Against the United States of America
Febuary 23, 1998 -Jihad Against Jews and
Crusaders - World Islamic Front Statement -- Osama Bin Laden's Fatwah Urging
Jihad Against Americans (declaring war and plans to attack the United States) --
Published in Al-Quds al-'Arabi
June 12, 2002: 'Why We Fight America': Al-Qa'ida
Spokesman Explains September 11 and Declares Intentions to Kill 4 Million
Americans with Weapons of Mass Destruction
Authorization for Use of Military Force
(Enrolled Bill), September 18, 2001
September 18, 2001 - U.S. Authorization
for Use of Military Force
Preventing the West from Understanding
Jihad - Dr. Walid Phares
Is AQ-style Terrorism "Jihadi Martyrdom"
or "Irhabi Murderdom" ??? - Jim Guirard
Why We Must Label Al-Qaeda Terrorism "Jihad Martyrdom" - Robert
Spencer
2007: Strategic Thinking Needed in Fighting Global Jihad -- CTB
Posting, Jeffrey Imm
9/11, Religious Faith, and Ignorance --
CTB Posting, Jeffrey Imm
9/11 and News Reporting on Jihadist
Terrorism -- CTB Posting, Jeffrey Imm