LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 19/2007Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15,1-3.11-32. The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"Free Opinions
Syria’s Critical Timing-Asharq Alawsat. Ahmed Al-Rabei March 19/07
Politicizing the Crime-By: Hassan Haydar-March 19/07
Lebanon: The Summit, the Sedition, and the Settlement-By: Abdullah Iskandar. March 19/07
Syria's Chances to Succeed in Combining Liberalism and State. By: Mohamed Ibrahim-March 19/07Latest News Reports From The Daily Star For March 20/07
Mubarak urges both camps in Lebanon to compromise
Sfeir decries 'drastic effects' of volatility
Skaff accuses Sabaa of 'blatant' corruption
Belgian foreign minister arrives today
Grenade causes scare in village near Aley
Journalist Saadeh succumbs to cancer
Siniora decrees holiday for Prophet's birthday
Beneath 'Lebanese' label, an array of allegiances
Unprotected credit card usage soars in Lebanon
Activists link Downtown squares with human chain
Armed rioters block opposition politicians' convoys near Tripoli
Army, Fatah al-Islam in standoff at Nahr al-Bared
US blames Al-Qaeda for chlorine attacks as Baghdad bombing kills 6Latest News Reports From miscellaneous sources For March 19/07
Ban to Lebanon after Cairo-Riyadh Visits-Naharnet
De Villepin Cites Israel-Hizbullah War as Example of U.S.-French Cooperation-Naharnet
Bush Discusses Lebanon with Mubarak, Saudi King-Naharnet
Fatah Islam Chief Challenges Lebanese Authorities to Prove Involvement in Bus Blasts-Naharnet
Dr. Michel Obeid of Lebanon discovers major cancer drug-Ya Libnan
Israel's Olmert rules out peace talks with Palestinians-AP
Force needed on Syrian border, UN tells Lebanon-Ha'aretz
Witness emerges to murder of two Irish soldiers in Lebanon in 1980-Sunday Business Post
Ahmadinejad: Iran, Syria Play Complementary Roles-Fars News Agency
Syria welcomes formation of Palestinian unity gov't-People's Daily Online
Syria urges lifting embargo on Palestinians-PRESS TV
Iran investment in Syria up 50%-PRESS TV
UN's Ban upset by Israel's non-compliance in Lebanon-Jerusalem NewswireNo Deal Yet on Lebanon Crisis
No deal has yet emerged from the nonstop talks between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and legislator Saad Hariri with the opposition standing determinedly by its demand for a veto power in a new cabinet, a request vehemently rejected by the pro-government camp.
The daily An Nahar on Sunday quoted government sources as saying the opposition demand based on 11 ministers in a 30-member cabinet takes the crisis back to the beginning. Whereas the 19+9+2 or the 19+10+1 formulas previously proposed by Prime Minister Fouad Saniora give concessions by the ruling majority through relinquishing its two-third power without allowing the opposition to control more than one-third of the seats that would enable it to topple the government. Legislator Walid Eido, a member in Hariri's parliamentary Future Bloc, also stressed that no settlement to the ongoing political impasse has been reached. "Things are still at the very beginning, and there is no deal on any issue," Eido said in remarks published by the daily Al Mustaqbal on Sunday. Meanwhile, Hizbullah legislator Hassan Fadlallah reiterated that there cannot be a settlement without the 19-11 formula which gives the opposition veto power. An Nahar on Saturday quoted Berri as telling visitors after a fifth round of talks with Hariri that the Lebanese are hopefully going "to hear good things in the next couple of days.""This should be done before the Arab summit," he said. The Arab League summit is scheduled to be held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on March 28-29. Berri and Hariri said in a joint statement issued at the end of their fifth meeting in Ain el-Tineh that dialogue was "ongoing with the best intentions and positive atmosphere to reach a solution as soon as possible." Beirut, 18 Mar 07, 08:18
Syria’s Critical Timing
18/03/2007-Ahmed Al-Rabei
Those who wish the best for Syria and want to see Damascus and its people in a better situation assume a difficult task and realize that their tears are of no avail! As for those who hate Syria, well, their situation is much easier; as to gloat, insult and curse the Syrian policy is not difficult at all. A similar case applies to those who advocate the official Syrian media. But those who love Syria and commit to reason and logic are in a difficult situation; perhaps the author of these lines belongs to this category. Today, Syria faces a predicament and those who tell Damascus otherwise are lying. At present, Syria needs to acknowledge the fact that the solution to the Syrian dilemma will not be found in Washington or London or even in Tehran but rather in Damascus itself. This is an issue that requires a respectable share of direct self-criticism of the Syrian policy, as well as the reemployment of mind and logic in dealing with regional and international issues.
It must be clear that the Syria of today is not the same Syria of Hafez al Assad; the late president succeeded in building solid bridges with all Arab capitals and succeeded at maintaining these bridges in an orderly and timely manner. The era in which Hafez al Assad had governed Syria differs greatly to the contemporary period; his era was one that enjoyed a bi-polar global system and was years before the 9/11 attacks and its subsequent events. When Assad clashed with the former Iraqi regime, he knew that Iraq was still Syria's neighbor regardless of who governed it. Today, Syria is a neighbor to the United States which governs Iraq and will fight to make its project in Iraq succeed. When Assad was maintaining a good relationship with Tehran, it was never for the sake of allying with Tehran against Arab brotherly states. When he realized, at a rare moment, that he had to meet with his mortal enemies, Assad did not hesitate in doing so and did so with America’s blessing.
Today, Syria is startled and panicked. Its relationship with the majority of Arab countries varies at different levels, all of which are bad. At present, Syria has linked itself in a suicidal manner to the Iranian crisis; a crisis that is much more complicated than the Syrian case. Besides, Syria has become a party in the Lebanese conflict after it had committed the sin of imposing a president upon the Lebanese republic in spite of the Lebanese people.
Syria must realize that time will not solve its problems but rather brave political initiative and movement will. Syria must realize that alliance with Ahmadinejad in Tehran or Chavez in Venezuela, are foolish actions that have nothing to do with the basics of political realism. Syria must also realize that rectifying its relationship with its Arab brothers and withdrawal from the game of incitement and provocation in Lebanon and Iraq are a paramount necessity for political success. Currently, Syria has no allies in the Palestinian arena as it once did; besides it has no distinct relationships with major Arab capitals as it once did. There are considerable doubts and questions in the international community towards Syria. These questions need clarification and serious political action. Is it too late? We hope not. Have any of those who wish the best for Syria listened to what we have said? We hope so…however, unfortunately, history does not shape itself according to hopes and wishes.
Politicizing the Crime
Hassan Haydar Al-Hayat - 18/03/07//
After he had closely reviewed the last fifteen months of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's life and the political atmosphere that surrounded him, head of UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) Serge Brammertz indicated in his latest report that political motives were behind the assassination. This means that he drew the same conclusion reached by former UNIIIC chief Mehlis, but without mentioning certain names. This conclusion is that those who ordered the assassination did so either to demolish the results of Hariri's political stances or forestall fresh ones, regardless of whether their conclusions or the link between these circumstances and his positions were right or not.
It is well-known that there were two main mottos for the phase that preceded the assassination. The first was the Security Council Resolution 1559, which the called on Syria to abide by the Taif Agreement, pull out its troops from Lebanon, and conducting fair presidential elections. The second was the legislative elections, in which Hariri was expected to make a landslide victory. So, the report concludes, pushes one to conclude, that those who ordered and implemented the assassination were those affected by those two points.
It may seem axiomatic that the assassination of Hariri has had political motives, because of the man's position, role and relations, but when this was said at the beginning of the UNIIIC mission, many in Lebanon and neighboring countries were opposed to the politicization, arguing positively that those who were accusing Syria wanted to retaliate against, and settle scores with, Damascus without evidence. The Lebanese opposition, along with political leadership in Syria, is still raising the slogan 'no to the politicization of the tribunal and trial' and rejects a particular clause stipulating the ruler's relationship with the masses. This in itself is a jump to conclusions in a way that turns the Hariri's assassination into a pure 'criminal' case that indicts an intelligence officer or a low-ranking politician, although those parties suppose a role by another regional power in the assassination.
In his report, Brammertz says Hariri took steps in the few weeks that preceded his assassination to ease the tension that broke out between him and the other political parties in Lebanon and Syria. He added that Hariri had made many initiatives in that respect. But in parallel to these steps, some were plotting against Hariri, in an obvious indication that the assassination decision was associated with the presence of the man himself, and his role and ability to provide even limited protection to Lebanon that could keep it as far as possible from the 'policy of axes', and the decisions to affiliate him to this camp or that. The Belgian prosecutor managed to avoid any suspicion of politicizing the trial by not making any statements that reflect the atmosphere of investigation. But his professionalism arrived at logical deductions to the effect that the one who was concerned with removing Hariri was the party that was concerned with the details of politics in Lebanon, holding its security and personal clues, and adhering to his dominant role undisputedly.
The slogan 'no to the politicization of the trial' is like defending a wolf that has just preyed on a lamp after accusing it of troubling the waters of a brook that does not even flow in the wolf's direction. Hariri was held responsible for resolution 1559, something which reflects ignorance of internal political trends and the desire of the US and Europe to cancel the regional roles played by the "rogue countries" and put an end to their negative interference in the affairs of their neighbors. This trend is still active, despite the assassination.
Lebanon: The Summit, the Sedition, and the Settlement
Abdullah Iskandar Al-Hayat - 18/03/07//
Judging by the remaining days before the Arab Summit in Riyadh is held, it has become clear that the internal dialogue in Lebanon has entered into a race with time. This is because participating in the summit as a unified delegation under the current government would represent recognition of the government by the opposition and that efforts exerted by President Lahoud, Hezbollah and its allies to strip the government of its legitimacy were unsuccessful.
This an eventuality the opposition concedes to, and it is not expected to agree to end its street protest, which will be without purpose in the future.
Attempting to dispatch two delegates to attend the summit; the first headed by the President of the Republic and his advisors, and the second headed by the head of the government along with cabinet ministers, would imply that the domestic rift is about to enter a new phase of confrontations that will set in after the Arab meeting is concluded. A third option remains, namely: the abstention of Lahoud from attending, in a show of solidarity with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's possible boycotting of the summit in objection to the inability - due to a number of reasons, including the Syrian intransigence in Lebanon - to reach a formula that joins the Syrian stance with the Arab consensus.
Should this be the case, the Lebanese delegation will be headed by the head of government, who, despite, and maybe even as a result of, the success he is set to achieve at the summit, is expected to face a showdown with the opposition upon his return to Beirut, which could bring the situation closer to the brink of more serious consequences, which all sides claim to be seeking to avoid.
The series of meetings that took place between Speaker Nabih Berry, and head of the Future Bloc, MP Saad al-Hariri, seem to suggest that both sides have not yet been able to settle this deadlock in favor of any of these options. However, their joint statements, stressing the desire of both parties to spread a sense of cautious optimism, fail to conceal the deepening Lebanese predicament that stems from the need to achieve a convergence between the formation of a national unity government and this government's sanctioning of the International Tribunal.
One of the manifestations of this predicament could be seen in the withdrawal of Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, from the government to strip it from its chartered legitimacy, which was precisely orchestrated to avoid the basic charter of the Tribunal. This makes it hard to imagine that the opposition, and particularly these two Shiite allies, would ever sanction the establishment of the Tribunal, especially in light of the progress of the international investigation as outlined by Judge Serge Brammertz in his seventh report to the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council.
It would also be hard to imagine that the opposition, specifically Hezbollah, would ever sanction the current government's handling of the conclusion of the UN Secretary General's report on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, particularly concerning the smuggling of arms from Syria to Lebanon.
In turn, it would be hard to imagine that any future Lebanese government - especially since it would by necessity include a representation of the current majority - would be able to ignore the international resolutions, from Resolution 1959 and the International Tribunal, to Resolution 1701. These resolutions have been sanctioned on the Arab level and may be included in a special clause in the final declaration of the summit.
Much has been said on how difficult it is to find a way out of this predicament, despite the many proclamations of good will.
However, the degree of optimism has risen with the recent Saudi-Iranian summit, the most prominent conclusions of which was to work on quelling the Sunni-Shiite sedition, which, according to leaked reports on the preparations underway for the Arab summit, is expected to be among the Arabs' priorities. Therefore, a special sort of responsibility rests on the Shiite duo in Lebanon, since Lebanon is seen as among the most simmering confrontation lines in the equation of any given conflict. The translation of this responsibility does not solely lie in declarations of goodwill, but also in facilitating the recuperation of Lebanon by addressing the concerns of all its people, the most essential of which is meeting the objectives of the International Tribunal, and preventing the return of Lebanon to becoming a regional line of confrontation by upholding the implementation of the relevant international resolution.
This is what is meant by joining efforts to bury the sedation that was once instigated by the opposition's assault in Lebanon against a stance backed by a new majority in it, and which aimed at demolishing the resolutions resulting from international and Arab concession backing this stance.
Syria's Chances to Succeed in Combining Liberalism and State-Controlled Economy
Mohamed Ibrahim - Al-Hayat - 18/03/07//
Many people might not know that strong and direct intervention in the economic life has been a characteristic of Syria since its independence from France in 1946. However, this intervention went through periods of ebb and flow, the most extensive and comprehensive of which was the 1960s. This period witnessed the nationalization of industry, banks, foreign trade and small enterprises.
It is difficult, in light of this intervention, to enforce liberal economic reforms, as demanded by many Arab and Western economists, in a country where the government, until the early 1990s, was in control of the major industrial institutions and services in terms of production, distribution and number of workers. What increase the difficulty of accomplishing these reforms are the unfavorable regional and international conditions, which have imposed a kind of political and economic isolation on Syria from the West. This has deprived Syria, unlike its allied countries of the former socialist camp, of Western economic assistance that would have constituted a pillar for restructuring its state-controlled economy.
In light of these circumstances, as well as other internal political factors, the successive governments in Syria embarked on slow reform and dubbed it a drive for deliberate reform. This drive depends, above all, on homegrown elements; and its objective has been defined as the transformation into a market economy of a social nature, or the social market economy.
In the case of Syria, this means enforcing financial and administrative reform in the public sector's institutions rather than selling or privatizing them in order to avoid laying off hundreds of thousands of employees. It also means allowing the private sector, in parallel with the public sector, to have access to the various sectors that used to be monopolized by the State.
To ease the Western-imposed political and economic isolation, Syria has started to move eastward, especially toward China, Malaysia, Iran, Russia and Korea. It managed to obtain a significant part of the alternative technology necessary to modernize its sectors in areas of textiles, foodstuffs, means of transportation, telecommunications, energy and information technology.
A look at the reality of the Syrian economy these days shows that the slow, or deliberate, paces of reform have achieved tangible success on more than one level. For example, the budget deficit fell to 5% of the GDP thanks to the government's austerity policy. The economic growth has maintained a rate of 4% to 5% for more than four years. The volume of investments jumped from $1.5 to $8.5 billion over the past three years.
On the monetary level, the Syrian pound has maintained stability in light of the abundance of reserves of hard currencies valued at $18 to $20 billion. Foreign trade was liberalized, and the banking system was restructured through the establishment of 10 private banks so far in addition to the government's specialized banks. However, these successes have not managed to curb the wide-scale unemployment, even among academics, in addition to the hidden unemployment in state-run institutions and the public sector, which is estimated at 30%.
These institutions still suffer from the low level of productivity, efficiency and competitiveness, and dampened spirits of creativity and widespread corruption, in spite of the tangible success of the efforts to eliminate these phenomena from the government's agencies. The same thing applies to most sectors of the Syrian economy, including private organizations and companies.
Despite the good indicators given by the Syrian economy these days, the drive for its reform and restructuring is still long and has not yet reached the decisive point. The turn would occur when some conditions are met. The most important of these conditions is the successful restructuring of the public sector institutions and their transformation into profitable agencies, instead of receiving generous government subsidies that eat away at the government's budget and limit the state's ability to modernize the infrastructure that represents the foundation for the public sector's growth and prosperity.
This turn is also embodied by the successful promotion of the spirit of individual initiative through devising new policies, in the forefront of which is the process of building a practical and professional educational system independent from partisan ideologies.
At any rate, the experience of economic reform that tries to combine liberalism and state control in a developing country like Syria is worth our attention, especially that there have been many increasing voices complaining from globalization, even in the most liberal countries.
*Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim is a Media and Economic ExpertLebanon crises: Reactions to rumors on Hariri – Berri talks
Saturday, 17 March, 2007 @ 8:15 PM
Beirut- There are many rumors floating in Beirut about the meetings between parliament majority leader Saad Hariri and parliament speaker Nabih Berri.
One rumor claims that there is infighting amongst members of the March 14 alliance
Another rumor accuses Hariri of negotiating for the Sunni’s only and disregarding the interests of the Christians and Druze .
A third rumor says Saudi Arabia has asked Hariri to sidestep Walid Jumblatt and Samir Geagea. A fourth rumor claims that Hariri has accepted the 19 11 formula for the unity government. But judging from the reactions of March 14 leaders , the rumors were made up by the opposition to put pressure on Berri and Hariri . Minister of information Ghazi Aridi denied that there is any pressure on Hariri to sidestep Walid Jumblatt and Samir Geagea in his negotiations with Berri. Aridi assured everyone that Hariri is keeping Jumblatt and Geagea informed about his talks with Berri .
Aridi also denied there is any truth to the rumor about acceptance of 19-11 formula, stressing that the government welcomes the idea of expanding the cabinet to include members of the opposition, but not hijacking it. The 19-11 formula will allow the opposition to have 11 members in the cabinet ( versus 19 for the parliament majority) which means that they can veto any decision that does not suite their allies Iran and Syria.
Similarly Minister of communications Marwan Hemade( L) denied any agreement on the 19 -11 formula, saying that under no circumstances such a formula will be acceptable to the March 14 alliance . Hemade described this formula as a “killer “ saying it will kill whatever form of government we will have , since such a cabinet will never be able to govern the country.
Hemade said the real solution to Lebanon crises will only take place after president Lahoud ‘s extended term expires.
Samir Geagea ( L) , Leader of the Lebanese Forces launched an attack against president Lahoud saying that Hariri is much more sincere in safeguarding the interests of the Christians than the Christian president himself. Geagea said that Hariri in his negotiations with Berri is not only representing the Sunni Muslims but also the Christians, Druze and the Shiites ( opposed to Hezbollah and Amal) . Geagea assured the Christian community that he is following up on the negotiations and that there is complete understanding between all members of March 14 alliance. Geagea called on Lahoud to leave Baabda palace ( seat of the presidency) as soon as his illegally extended term expires cautioning him that “ staying one day longer in Baabda will mean occupation of the office , for which you will be prosecuted according to the laws of the country. Geagea was asked by the reporters about Aoun’s statement that the “March 14th people are bastards “ Geagea said Aoun was obviously joking and couldn’t have been serious , because he couldn’t call 55 to 60% of the Lebanese people Bastards.Sources: LBC ( Arabic), Ya Libnan
Sulejman Talovic's Salt Lake City Murder Spree Was An Act Of Jihad
By Beila Rabinowitz and William A. Mayer
March 16, 2007 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - Facts have emerged in this case which prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Bosnian Muslim immigrant's rampage at a Utah shopping mall, killing five people is a textbook study of a jihadist attack.
Just a day before the murders Talovic told his 17 year old Bosnian girlfriend Monika, with whom he had discussed marriage plans that he was involved in a dark plot. "Something is going to happen tomorrow that you'll never be able to forgive me about" Talovic's girlfriend told the Salt Lake Times adding that "It was supposed be the happiest day of his life and that it could only happen once in a lifetime." [source Trolley Shooting: Even to the girl he loved, Talovic a mystery to the end, http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5431036] Monica also revealed a "vision" that Talovic had while in Bosnia:
"One evening, "as the sun was falling," Talovic heard a horse outside of his family's home in Bare, where they lived after they left Talovici. He walked out and, standing before him was a white horse "with two beautiful eyes," he told Monika. 'And he said, 'Look,' and his aunt [who was also outside] couldn't see it there,'' Monika said. It was at that moment she knew he was a "good-souled" person.
''He thought of it as only 'good-souled people' could see happiness and goodness,'' she said."
Two of these points are extremely significant in understanding Talovic's motivation; his statement that the mall attack would be his "happiest day" and the invocation of the "white horse" motif, as both are tied to Islamic thinking regarding jihad.
According to the The West Point Combatting Terrorism Center's section on Islamic imagery, the meaning of the white horse symbol is directly related to jihad: "The white horse is inextricably tied to conceptions of the prophet, martyrdom, and paradise (heaven). It is most often associated with the Prophet Muhammad's miraj or night journey to heaven, when the Prophet ascended to heaven on the back of a white horse. In this regard, the white horse most specifically evokes notions of the afterlife and the heavenly paradise awaiting pious Muslims (or jihadi martyrs) upon their death. White horses are also important in the Shiite tradition, in regards to their association with the aforementioned traditions and in regards to the Imam Husayn and his martyrdom at Karbala in the 7th century (where he is said to have ridden a white horse). Thus, in both Sunni and Shiite traditions, the white horse is strongly associated with martyrdom and the expectation of heavenly paradise. In the images selected, the white horses are associated with images of individual jihadi martyrs. Used in this manner, the white horse evokes the righteousness of these individuals' martyrdom, and reminds the audience that these men have been granted the martyr's promised reward of ascension to heavenly paradise. [source http://www.ctc.usma.edu/imagery_nature.asp#whitehorse]
Talovic's expression to his girlfriend that his killing spree would be the happiest day of his life is consistent with an understanding of the central function of jihad in Islam. It stands to reason that an incipient jihadist would regard the day of his "exploits" with great anticipation:
"There is perhaps no greater inspiration for jihadi activists than the belief that they will be rewarded for their sacrifice by being granted entrance into the garden (janna) of heavenly paradise. Symbols and images may allude to paradise indirectly or directly. The word used to indicate heaven, janna, also means "garden" and indicates the garden of paradise that awaits those Muslims who have lived particularly just, obedient, and pious lives. Janna is an important and well-developed notion in Islamic discourse. It is mentioned in the Koran and is often used to describe the rewards awaiting those Muslims who have died (or will die) as martyrs." [source http://www.ctc.usma.edu/imagery_warfare.asp]
Contrary to claims made by Talovic's family, his girlfriend stated that he had a contact at the local mosque, which is located immediately adjacent to the scene of Sulejman's carnage.
"I don't know if he was his friend, but he liked to talk to him" she said. They only saw each other at services in the mosque. They only saw each other like three or four times."
Sulejman's father's continued insistence that someone put his son up to the killings [while denying his son's had any friends at the mosque] seem to be an effort to shield the Al Noor Masjid from law enforcement scrutiny.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Talovic's family has been less than forthcoming about his level of Islamic observance and other details of his life, to the point of Sulejman's family even denying that their son owned any guns. [source http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2732]
Such a contention flies in the face of the fact that two of Talovics cousins told the Salt Lake City Tribune that they had seen the shotgun and revolver in the basement of the family home, together with the backpack and ammunition used on the rampage and that they had even handled the weapons fully six weeks before the attack. [source http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5439745]
The reason for this obfuscation seems clear at this point, the shootings at the Trolley Square Mall were the result of Muslim terrorism, a premeditated act of jihad by Sulejman Talovic.
Additionally, it appears that the Talovic family is not unfamiliar with acts of domestic jihad. A March 5, 2002 article in the New York Times details how the cousin of Sulejman's Amir Omerovic has admitted to participating in threats to spread anthrax.
"A man pleaded guilty yesterday to mailing letters falsely threatening to infect their recipients with anthrax. The defendant, Amir Omerovic, a 28-year-old naturalized citizen from Bosnia now living in Derby, admitted in Federal District Court that in late October he sent such letters to the offices of Gov. John G. Rowland, the United States Coast Guard and Marines in Connecticut, and the Judicial Review Council in Hartford. [source http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E4D61730F936A35750C0A9649C8B63]
Based on these facts law enforcement must quit denying what is now obvious and start re-investigating this matter for what it is, an example of domestic terrorism. Talovic's family and the surrounding Salt Lake City Bosnian/Muslim community have engaged in a campaign of disinformation indicating that they may be witholding vital information from law enforcement. The public must demand a full inquiry, including a full investigation into the Al Noor Mosque. The family's obviously still strong ties to Bosnia also warrant a thorough probing, as do the jihadi websites which have been reported as having received considerable traffic from Utah based Muslims. If Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and Police Chief Chris Burbank are really concerned about serving the public interest they should cease the multicultural farce in which they are currently engaged[displaying dhimmi levels of "solidarity" with the local Bosnian Muslim communities along the way] and spend more time trying to ascertain if there are more Sulejman Talovics among them, since it is now evident that his murderous rage was entirely consistent with an act of jihad. ©1999-2007 Beila Rabinowitz, William A. Mayer, PipeLineNews.org LLC, all rights reserved. DeleteReplyForwardSpamMove...