Thursday, May 8, 2008
Al-Jazeera Video: Nasrallah address Lebanon - 08 May 08
"Hezbollah's leader has warned the government's moves to close the Shia group's private telephone network are tantamount to "a declaration of war".
Al Jazeera broadcast extracts of his speech. "
السيد نصرالله:لن نقبل أي تآمر على سلاحنا والمس بوجودنا
خاص قناة المنار - محمد عبد الله
"السيد نصرالله:لن نقبل أي تآمر على سلاحنا والمس بوجودنا
السيد نصر الله: اليوم يوم الوفاء للوعد بقطع اليد
السيد نصرالله: القرار هو بمثابة اعلان حرب
السيد نصر الله:فريق السلطة ادخل لبنان في مرحلة دقيقة
وهنا اهم ما جاء في المؤتمر الصحافي للأمين العام لـ"حزب الله" السيد حسن نصرالله:
السيد نصرالله: الموضع بالنسبة لنا تجاوز كل الخطوط الحمر ولن نتهاون مع أحد كائنا من كان ونحن نعرف أن موضوع السلكي هو البداية وإذا تساهلنا مع هذا الموضع في المستقبل سيبدأ الحديث عن السلاح
السيد نصرالله: بعد القرارات المظلمة للحكومة سندافع عن قراراتنا وشرعية مقاومتنا وقد أعذر من أنذر
السيد نصرالله: من يبدأ معنا حربا من حقنا أن نواجه بالدفاع عن نفسنا وعن سلاحنا وعن وجودنا وشبكة السلكي هي الجزء الأهم من سلاح المقاومة وفي بنت جبيل خطبت وكان جنبلاط حاضرا وقلت ان اليد التي ستمتد إلى سلاح المقاومة سنقطعها واليوم هو يوم الوفاء لهذا القرار
السيد نصرالله: يريدون عبر قرارهم دفع المقاومة لمواجهة مباشرة مع الجيش لنزع وتعطيل هذه الشراكة
السيد نصرالله: الهدف من القرار تجريد المقاومة من أهم عنصر لحماية قيادتها فهم شركاء في قتلنا
السيد نصرالله: بعد تقرير الخارجية الأميركية الذي بهدلهم لأنهم استخدموا تعابيره نفسها فهم موظفون يلتزمون بالنص. بعد 10 ساعات من الاتصال مع نفس الدولل والعواصم التي غطت حرب تموز أخذ القرار المسشؤوم الذي اعتبر شبكة اتصالات حزب الله اعتداء على الدولة وطلب من القضاء ملاحقة كل من يتبين تورطه بها
السيد نصرالله: ربما اسقدم جنبلاط النائب الفرنسي بشكل متعمد. لقد أوقف هذا النائب في زقاق منزلي انا وأقول اننا لن نتسامح في أمن أحد من كوادرنا. يقولون خطف واعتقال لا مشكلة لدينا
السيد نصرالله: كنا نظن اننا تجاوزنا هذا الموضوع فأعيد إثارة هذا الموضوع عبر رئيس الحكومة وليد جنبلاط لأن السنيورة موظف عند جنبلاط وهو بدوره موظف لدى رايس
السيد نصرالله: شبكة السلكي قرارها لدي اما خيم الاعتصام فيعني المعارضة ككل. انتهى الموضوع هنا وأبدينا الاستعداد ليتحققوا ان الشبكة ليست للاستخدام العام مع العلم ان هناك شبكات هاتفية لجهات سياسية بعضها مرخص وبعدها غير مرخص، لكن بمعزل عن هذا الجانب الموضوع له علاقة بالصراع مع اسرائيل
السيد نصرالله: هذه الشبكة محدودة بقيادات ومراكز المقاومة وليست للإستخدام العام لكي تضر خزينة الدولة وهذه الشبكة لا يمكن استعمالها في موضوع التخابر الدولي وذهب اللجنة ثم عادت وقالوا نغض الطرف عن شبكة السلكي إذا أزيل الإعتصام من وسط المدينة
السيد نصرالله: قلنا اننا نرفض استخدام شبكة اتصالاتنا للتخابر الدولي لأن موضوع التخابر الدولي خارج القانون وحرام
السيد نصرالله: قالوا اننا نريد مد شبكة في جبي وكسروان قلنا غير صحيح وهذا تبلغته اللجنة الوزارية. لسنا بحاجة الى شبكة سلكية في جبيل وكسروان لأن ليس فيها قياداتنا. كذلك ليس الأمر في الشمال. قالوا لنا ان خط الضاحية يخيفهم فتعهدنا اننا لن نعطي خط لحلفائنا
السيد نصرالله: الموضوع ان هناك مرحلة جديدة في المنطقة فرهانات فريق السلطة والرهانات على الحروب سقطت إذا المطلوب خوض المعركة بشكل مختلف في لبنان والعراق وفلسطين وأعيد فتح موضوع الشبكة فأتى ضباط وتواصلنا معهم لأننا دعاة تواصل
السيد نصرالله: في الأشهر الماضية كنا نتفاوض ووصلنا الى نتائج محددة. قبل أشهر أثير الموضوع في فريق السلطة وكلف أهم الفنيين في فريق السلطة بالاتصال معنا والتفاوض على هواجسنا فقلنا لا اشكال الا في موضوع كابل ممدود من الضاحية الى بيروت الغربية فتم قصفه قبل أيام من حرب تموز وقالوا لنا اننا سنقوم باصلاح هذا الكابل اذا تم قصفه فقلنا "من هالعين قبل هالعين"
السيد نصرالله: هذه الشبكة كانت قبل العام 2000 واستمرت وهي ليست جديدة وعندما تحالفوا معنا في التحالف الرباعي المشؤوم كانت الشبكة موجودة وعندما دخلينا إلى الحكومة لم تكت هذه الشبكة اعتداء على السيادة والقانون العام أما الآن والتحالف الرباعي قد أصبح أضغاث أحلام وبعد توصيات فينوغراد والدعوات لتدويل الأزمة وعدم نفع تقارير لارسون وبعد تقرير "البهدلة" للخارجية الأميركية لفريق السلطة بدأ الحديث عن هذه الشبكة
السيد نصرالله: اليوم عندما نأتي الى تقرير فينوغراد نجد ان اهم توصية فيه هي ضرورة القضاء على قدرة ومنظومة السيطرة في حزب الله والذي يشكل عامل الاتصال العنصر الاهم فيها
السيد نصرالله: في حرب تموز أهم عنصر قوة هو القيادة والسيطرة لأن الإتصال مؤمن بين القيادة ومواقع القتال أما لوزير الإعلام وهو صديق سابق فأقول انه قتل عدة قادة للمقاومة بسبب استعمال اللاسلكي
السيد نصرالله: أحسن وأفضل اسلوب لمواجهة التعقيد التكنولوجي هو التبسيط فكانت الشبكة السلكية التابعة للمقاومة عبارة عن سنترال ومجموعة خطوط موصولة على مجموعة منازل ومراكز تابعة للمقاومة، وهذه جزء من سلاح الاشارة للمقاومة في لبنان. هذا السلاح هو الأهم في أي معركة. قبل الـ2000 اهم اسباب نجاح المقاومة هو ان الاسرائيلي لم يكن يكتشف هجومات المقاومة الا لحظتها بسبب اعتمادنا على الاتصال السلكي
السيد نصرالله: هناك نوعين من الإتصالات السلكي واللاسلكي والنوع الثاني أسهل للإستعمال اما مرونة الأول فهي محدودة. لكن مشلكة اللاسلكي هو انه يمكن التنصت عليه او تشويشه وبالتالي ضرب منظومة القايدة كما يمكن استهداف هذا النواع من الإتصالات عبر ضرب شبكة اللاسلكي أما شبكة السلكي فيمكن تفادي ضربها إذا كانت سرية
السيد نصرالله: قرارات السلطة في تلك الليلة الظلماء جعتنا أمام مرحلة جديدة بالكامل. لبنان ما بعد تلك الجلسة المظلمة غير لبنان ما قبلها. على فريق السلطة ان يعلم انه ادخل لبنان اللاى وضع جديد تماما
السيد نصرالله: في كل جيوش العالم هناك سلاح الإشارة كان يعتمد الحمام وقد تطور هذا السلاح مع السلاح الناري وأي جيش أو مقاومة بحاجة لاتصالات للتواصل وهذه الأتصالات مهمة وهي من أهم عوامل أي انتصار
السيد نصرالله: السلطة أدخلت لبنان في مرحلة جديدة نظرا لخطورة قرارتها "
"السيد نصرالله:لن نقبل أي تآمر على سلاحنا والمس بوجودنا
السيد نصر الله: اليوم يوم الوفاء للوعد بقطع اليد
السيد نصرالله: القرار هو بمثابة اعلان حرب
السيد نصر الله:فريق السلطة ادخل لبنان في مرحلة دقيقة
وهنا اهم ما جاء في المؤتمر الصحافي للأمين العام لـ"حزب الله" السيد حسن نصرالله:
السيد نصرالله: الموضع بالنسبة لنا تجاوز كل الخطوط الحمر ولن نتهاون مع أحد كائنا من كان ونحن نعرف أن موضوع السلكي هو البداية وإذا تساهلنا مع هذا الموضع في المستقبل سيبدأ الحديث عن السلاح
السيد نصرالله: بعد القرارات المظلمة للحكومة سندافع عن قراراتنا وشرعية مقاومتنا وقد أعذر من أنذر
السيد نصرالله: من يبدأ معنا حربا من حقنا أن نواجه بالدفاع عن نفسنا وعن سلاحنا وعن وجودنا وشبكة السلكي هي الجزء الأهم من سلاح المقاومة وفي بنت جبيل خطبت وكان جنبلاط حاضرا وقلت ان اليد التي ستمتد إلى سلاح المقاومة سنقطعها واليوم هو يوم الوفاء لهذا القرار
السيد نصرالله: يريدون عبر قرارهم دفع المقاومة لمواجهة مباشرة مع الجيش لنزع وتعطيل هذه الشراكة
السيد نصرالله: الهدف من القرار تجريد المقاومة من أهم عنصر لحماية قيادتها فهم شركاء في قتلنا
السيد نصرالله: بعد تقرير الخارجية الأميركية الذي بهدلهم لأنهم استخدموا تعابيره نفسها فهم موظفون يلتزمون بالنص. بعد 10 ساعات من الاتصال مع نفس الدولل والعواصم التي غطت حرب تموز أخذ القرار المسشؤوم الذي اعتبر شبكة اتصالات حزب الله اعتداء على الدولة وطلب من القضاء ملاحقة كل من يتبين تورطه بها
السيد نصرالله: ربما اسقدم جنبلاط النائب الفرنسي بشكل متعمد. لقد أوقف هذا النائب في زقاق منزلي انا وأقول اننا لن نتسامح في أمن أحد من كوادرنا. يقولون خطف واعتقال لا مشكلة لدينا
السيد نصرالله: كنا نظن اننا تجاوزنا هذا الموضوع فأعيد إثارة هذا الموضوع عبر رئيس الحكومة وليد جنبلاط لأن السنيورة موظف عند جنبلاط وهو بدوره موظف لدى رايس
السيد نصرالله: شبكة السلكي قرارها لدي اما خيم الاعتصام فيعني المعارضة ككل. انتهى الموضوع هنا وأبدينا الاستعداد ليتحققوا ان الشبكة ليست للاستخدام العام مع العلم ان هناك شبكات هاتفية لجهات سياسية بعضها مرخص وبعدها غير مرخص، لكن بمعزل عن هذا الجانب الموضوع له علاقة بالصراع مع اسرائيل
السيد نصرالله: هذه الشبكة محدودة بقيادات ومراكز المقاومة وليست للإستخدام العام لكي تضر خزينة الدولة وهذه الشبكة لا يمكن استعمالها في موضوع التخابر الدولي وذهب اللجنة ثم عادت وقالوا نغض الطرف عن شبكة السلكي إذا أزيل الإعتصام من وسط المدينة
السيد نصرالله: قلنا اننا نرفض استخدام شبكة اتصالاتنا للتخابر الدولي لأن موضوع التخابر الدولي خارج القانون وحرام
السيد نصرالله: قالوا اننا نريد مد شبكة في جبي وكسروان قلنا غير صحيح وهذا تبلغته اللجنة الوزارية. لسنا بحاجة الى شبكة سلكية في جبيل وكسروان لأن ليس فيها قياداتنا. كذلك ليس الأمر في الشمال. قالوا لنا ان خط الضاحية يخيفهم فتعهدنا اننا لن نعطي خط لحلفائنا
السيد نصرالله: الموضوع ان هناك مرحلة جديدة في المنطقة فرهانات فريق السلطة والرهانات على الحروب سقطت إذا المطلوب خوض المعركة بشكل مختلف في لبنان والعراق وفلسطين وأعيد فتح موضوع الشبكة فأتى ضباط وتواصلنا معهم لأننا دعاة تواصل
السيد نصرالله: في الأشهر الماضية كنا نتفاوض ووصلنا الى نتائج محددة. قبل أشهر أثير الموضوع في فريق السلطة وكلف أهم الفنيين في فريق السلطة بالاتصال معنا والتفاوض على هواجسنا فقلنا لا اشكال الا في موضوع كابل ممدود من الضاحية الى بيروت الغربية فتم قصفه قبل أيام من حرب تموز وقالوا لنا اننا سنقوم باصلاح هذا الكابل اذا تم قصفه فقلنا "من هالعين قبل هالعين"
السيد نصرالله: هذه الشبكة كانت قبل العام 2000 واستمرت وهي ليست جديدة وعندما تحالفوا معنا في التحالف الرباعي المشؤوم كانت الشبكة موجودة وعندما دخلينا إلى الحكومة لم تكت هذه الشبكة اعتداء على السيادة والقانون العام أما الآن والتحالف الرباعي قد أصبح أضغاث أحلام وبعد توصيات فينوغراد والدعوات لتدويل الأزمة وعدم نفع تقارير لارسون وبعد تقرير "البهدلة" للخارجية الأميركية لفريق السلطة بدأ الحديث عن هذه الشبكة
السيد نصرالله: اليوم عندما نأتي الى تقرير فينوغراد نجد ان اهم توصية فيه هي ضرورة القضاء على قدرة ومنظومة السيطرة في حزب الله والذي يشكل عامل الاتصال العنصر الاهم فيها
السيد نصرالله: في حرب تموز أهم عنصر قوة هو القيادة والسيطرة لأن الإتصال مؤمن بين القيادة ومواقع القتال أما لوزير الإعلام وهو صديق سابق فأقول انه قتل عدة قادة للمقاومة بسبب استعمال اللاسلكي
السيد نصرالله: أحسن وأفضل اسلوب لمواجهة التعقيد التكنولوجي هو التبسيط فكانت الشبكة السلكية التابعة للمقاومة عبارة عن سنترال ومجموعة خطوط موصولة على مجموعة منازل ومراكز تابعة للمقاومة، وهذه جزء من سلاح الاشارة للمقاومة في لبنان. هذا السلاح هو الأهم في أي معركة. قبل الـ2000 اهم اسباب نجاح المقاومة هو ان الاسرائيلي لم يكن يكتشف هجومات المقاومة الا لحظتها بسبب اعتمادنا على الاتصال السلكي
السيد نصرالله: هناك نوعين من الإتصالات السلكي واللاسلكي والنوع الثاني أسهل للإستعمال اما مرونة الأول فهي محدودة. لكن مشلكة اللاسلكي هو انه يمكن التنصت عليه او تشويشه وبالتالي ضرب منظومة القايدة كما يمكن استهداف هذا النواع من الإتصالات عبر ضرب شبكة اللاسلكي أما شبكة السلكي فيمكن تفادي ضربها إذا كانت سرية
السيد نصرالله: قرارات السلطة في تلك الليلة الظلماء جعتنا أمام مرحلة جديدة بالكامل. لبنان ما بعد تلك الجلسة المظلمة غير لبنان ما قبلها. على فريق السلطة ان يعلم انه ادخل لبنان اللاى وضع جديد تماما
السيد نصرالله: في كل جيوش العالم هناك سلاح الإشارة كان يعتمد الحمام وقد تطور هذا السلاح مع السلاح الناري وأي جيش أو مقاومة بحاجة لاتصالات للتواصل وهذه الأتصالات مهمة وهي من أهم عوامل أي انتصار
السيد نصرالله: السلطة أدخلت لبنان في مرحلة جديدة نظرا لخطورة قرارتها "
السلطة تتّجه للتدويل الكامل... على خلفيّة معركة مذهبيّة
ابراهيم الأمين
"ليس أمام فريق السلطة بعد قراراتها الأخيرة، سوى الذهاب إلى جهات خارجية لتحويلها إلى مواد للبحث وللقرار التنفيذي. وبعد مواجهات أمس المتنقلة سياسياً وفي الشارع، تسارعت وتيرة التوتر لدى فريق السلطة حتى لامس المطالبة بالتوجه إلى مجلس الأمن الدولي والجامعة العربية لطلب الحماية الدولية. وهذا يفرض برأيهم إصدار مجموعة قرارات عربية ودولية من النوع الذي يعلن أن ما يجري الآن في لبنان ليس انقلاباً على الشرعية اللبنانية فحسب، بل على الشرعية الدولية، لتكون النتيجة النهائية أن يتبنى مجلس الأمن الدولي مذكرات حكومة الرئيس فؤاد السنيورة لناحية اعتبار المقاومة اعتداءً على السيادة الوطنية وطلب توفير أمن دولي للمرافق الأساسية في لبنان من مطار إلى مرفأ إلى مقارّ رسمية....
...."
"ليس أمام فريق السلطة بعد قراراتها الأخيرة، سوى الذهاب إلى جهات خارجية لتحويلها إلى مواد للبحث وللقرار التنفيذي. وبعد مواجهات أمس المتنقلة سياسياً وفي الشارع، تسارعت وتيرة التوتر لدى فريق السلطة حتى لامس المطالبة بالتوجه إلى مجلس الأمن الدولي والجامعة العربية لطلب الحماية الدولية. وهذا يفرض برأيهم إصدار مجموعة قرارات عربية ودولية من النوع الذي يعلن أن ما يجري الآن في لبنان ليس انقلاباً على الشرعية اللبنانية فحسب، بل على الشرعية الدولية، لتكون النتيجة النهائية أن يتبنى مجلس الأمن الدولي مذكرات حكومة الرئيس فؤاد السنيورة لناحية اعتبار المقاومة اعتداءً على السيادة الوطنية وطلب توفير أمن دولي للمرافق الأساسية في لبنان من مطار إلى مرفأ إلى مقارّ رسمية....
...."
Israel vs. South Africa: Reflecting on cultural boycott
Omar Barghouti, The Electronic Intifada, 8 May 2008
"In 1965, the American Committee on Africa, following the lead of prominent British arts associations, sponsored a historic declaration against South African apartheid, signed by more than 60 cultural personalities. It read: "We say no to apartheid. We take this pledge in solemn resolve to refuse any encouragement of, or indeed, any professional association with the present Republic of South Africa, this until the day when all its people shall equally enjoy the educational and cultural advantages of that rich and beautiful land."
If one were to replace "Republic of South Africa" with the "State of Israel," the rest should apply just as strongly. Israel today -- 60 years after its establishment through a deliberate and systemic process of ethnic cleansing of a large majority of the indigenous Palestinian population (for an authoritative historical account of the "birth" of Israel, refer to Ilan Pappe's The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine) -- still practices racial discrimination against its own "non-Jewish" citizens; it still maintains the longest military occupation in modern history; it still denies Palestinian refugees -- uprooted, dispossessed and expelled by Zionists over the last six decades -- their internationally-recognized right to return to their homes and properties; and it still commits war crimes and violates basic human rights and tenets of international humanitarian law with utter impunity......."
"In 1965, the American Committee on Africa, following the lead of prominent British arts associations, sponsored a historic declaration against South African apartheid, signed by more than 60 cultural personalities. It read: "We say no to apartheid. We take this pledge in solemn resolve to refuse any encouragement of, or indeed, any professional association with the present Republic of South Africa, this until the day when all its people shall equally enjoy the educational and cultural advantages of that rich and beautiful land."
If one were to replace "Republic of South Africa" with the "State of Israel," the rest should apply just as strongly. Israel today -- 60 years after its establishment through a deliberate and systemic process of ethnic cleansing of a large majority of the indigenous Palestinian population (for an authoritative historical account of the "birth" of Israel, refer to Ilan Pappe's The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine) -- still practices racial discrimination against its own "non-Jewish" citizens; it still maintains the longest military occupation in modern history; it still denies Palestinian refugees -- uprooted, dispossessed and expelled by Zionists over the last six decades -- their internationally-recognized right to return to their homes and properties; and it still commits war crimes and violates basic human rights and tenets of international humanitarian law with utter impunity......."
Al-Jazeera Video: Inside Story - Lebanon strike - 07 May 08
Part 1
Part 2
"With its crisis worsening, is Lebanon heading towards civil war? "
Part 2
"With its crisis worsening, is Lebanon heading towards civil war? "
Lebanon descends into chaos as rival leaders order general strike
By Robert Fisk
".......Lebanon seems to feed on crisis, need crisis, breathe crisis, like a wounded man needs blood. The man who should be the president is head of the army and the man who believes he leads the resistance – Sayed Hassan Nasrallah of the Hizbollah – accuses Mr Jumblatt of doing Israel's work while Mr Jumblatt claims the head of Beirut airport security, Colonel Wafic Chucair, works for the Hizbollah and should be fired.......
What is it about Lebanon that creates these crises? Maybe at heart, it is the same old problem: to be a modern state, Lebanon must abandon confessionalism – the system which provides a Maronite for the presidency, a Sunni for the prime minister's seat, a Shia for the speaker of parliament, and so on. But if Lebanon abandoned confessionalism, it would no longer be Lebanon, because sectarianism is its identity; a fate which its children do not deserve but whose country was created by French masters on the ruins of the Ottoman empire. Ironically, the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora now rules – or tries to rule – his nation from a building which was once the Beirut cavalry stables of the Ottoman army."
".......Lebanon seems to feed on crisis, need crisis, breathe crisis, like a wounded man needs blood. The man who should be the president is head of the army and the man who believes he leads the resistance – Sayed Hassan Nasrallah of the Hizbollah – accuses Mr Jumblatt of doing Israel's work while Mr Jumblatt claims the head of Beirut airport security, Colonel Wafic Chucair, works for the Hizbollah and should be fired.......
What is it about Lebanon that creates these crises? Maybe at heart, it is the same old problem: to be a modern state, Lebanon must abandon confessionalism – the system which provides a Maronite for the presidency, a Sunni for the prime minister's seat, a Shia for the speaker of parliament, and so on. But if Lebanon abandoned confessionalism, it would no longer be Lebanon, because sectarianism is its identity; a fate which its children do not deserve but whose country was created by French masters on the ruins of the Ottoman empire. Ironically, the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora now rules – or tries to rule – his nation from a building which was once the Beirut cavalry stables of the Ottoman army."
Real News Video: Clinton vows to continue campaign
"Eric Margolis: The Clinton's seem ready to destroy the Democratic Party in pursuit of nomination
Thursday May 8th, 2008
The Real News Network Senior Editor Paul Jay and political analyst Eric Margolis discuss Senator Clinton’s determination to continue the protracted battle of the race for the democratic nomination. Eric Margolis makes several notable points : Hillary Clinton’s determination to take the party down to the bitter end, Obama’s recent political battles strengthening him and preparing him for the Republican attack machine, and that the Clinton’s are reliable allies of the neo-con right."
Beating the Drums of a Broader Middle East War
Israel, Syria, and Lebanon Prepare the "Home Fronts"
A Very Good, Long Article
By Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
Global Research, May 7, 2008
"The Levant could be the starting point of a major international conflict with global ramifications and which could quickly spin out of control. Such a conflict could even involve the use of Israeli or American nuclear weapons against Iran and Syria. Syria has additionally declared that it is preparing for an inevitable war with Israel despite the fact that it believes that the chances of a war in 2008 are slim.
In the scenario of a war against Iran, the reaction of Syria will be pivotal. Damascus plays a central role and how it acts and reacts will have a definitive impact on Israeli military strategy in regards to Iran. It is in this context that Israel, the U.S. and the E.U., with the help of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, have been attempting to undermine and ultimately destroy the alliance between Syria and Iran. This is part of a geo-strategic stride to foreclose the possibility of a Mediterranean battle-front that might emerge in the Levant as a result of an attack on Iran.
The casus belli for an Israeli attack or a joint Israeli-U.S. attack, possibly involving NATO, against Syria or against both Syria and Iran could use the pretext of any form of retaliation by Hezbollah against Israel for the assassination in Damascus of one of its leaders, Imad Fayez Mughniyeh.
Hezbollah has joined Iranian officials in saying that the U.S. military is incapable of starting another war in the Middle East by launching attacks on Iran and Syria. [1] Israeli officials have also renewed calls for peace by openly mentioning that Tel Aviv is willing to return the Golan Heights back to the Syrians, while there have been strong political noises against the move in Israel. [2]
Tel Aviv is simultaneously part of a U.S. endeavour that claims Syria has a secret nuclear program aided by North Korea. [3] Strategic efforts, with strong links to war preparations, have also started with the aim of bringing temporary calm to the Palestinian Territories as part of the same track of events in the Levant......."
A Very Good, Long Article
By Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
Global Research, May 7, 2008
"The Levant could be the starting point of a major international conflict with global ramifications and which could quickly spin out of control. Such a conflict could even involve the use of Israeli or American nuclear weapons against Iran and Syria. Syria has additionally declared that it is preparing for an inevitable war with Israel despite the fact that it believes that the chances of a war in 2008 are slim.
In the scenario of a war against Iran, the reaction of Syria will be pivotal. Damascus plays a central role and how it acts and reacts will have a definitive impact on Israeli military strategy in regards to Iran. It is in this context that Israel, the U.S. and the E.U., with the help of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, have been attempting to undermine and ultimately destroy the alliance between Syria and Iran. This is part of a geo-strategic stride to foreclose the possibility of a Mediterranean battle-front that might emerge in the Levant as a result of an attack on Iran.
The casus belli for an Israeli attack or a joint Israeli-U.S. attack, possibly involving NATO, against Syria or against both Syria and Iran could use the pretext of any form of retaliation by Hezbollah against Israel for the assassination in Damascus of one of its leaders, Imad Fayez Mughniyeh.
Hezbollah has joined Iranian officials in saying that the U.S. military is incapable of starting another war in the Middle East by launching attacks on Iran and Syria. [1] Israeli officials have also renewed calls for peace by openly mentioning that Tel Aviv is willing to return the Golan Heights back to the Syrians, while there have been strong political noises against the move in Israel. [2]
Tel Aviv is simultaneously part of a U.S. endeavour that claims Syria has a secret nuclear program aided by North Korea. [3] Strategic efforts, with strong links to war preparations, have also started with the aim of bringing temporary calm to the Palestinian Territories as part of the same track of events in the Levant......."
Saniora Seeks Help From Bush; Meeting in 10 Days
Al-Manar
"08/05/2008 U.S. President Georges W. Bush and the head of Lebanon's US-backed unconstitutional government, Fouad Saniora will hold talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 18 in the framework of Bush's visit to the region, Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser has said.
"08/05/2008 U.S. President Georges W. Bush and the head of Lebanon's US-backed unconstitutional government, Fouad Saniora will hold talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 18 in the framework of Bush's visit to the region, Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser has said.
The announcement came just after Saniora requested help on Wednesday from US Undersecretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch in light of the popular protest movement against his government policies.
In another show of support, US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack renewed his administration's backing of Saniora's bloc and described the rightful demands of the Lebanese as mere 'disguise' for demonstrations.
"I know that these demonstrations have taken place under the guise of labor demonstrations, but I believe that Hezbollah has actually linked them back to some moves that the cabinet had made," McCormack claimed, saying that these kinds of actions serve only to hurt the interests of the Lebanese people.
"If you have access to the airport road cut off, that, of course, affects tourism, which is a real source of revenue for the Lebanese economy," he added. David Welch was, however, the first to damage the tourism season when he predicted hot summer in Lebanon.
ARMY REFUSES RULING BLOC PRESSURES TO DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY
Meanwhile, political sources revealed that the ruling bloc exerted pressure on Lebanese army commander General Michel Suleiman to declare a state of emergency. But the sources noted Suleiman has refused any attempt to push the army into street warfare.
According to the sources, Suleiman threatened to withdraw his troops from the streets to maintain the army's unity. The army commander refused to take the responsibility of decisions he didn't participate in taking, in a clear signal to the unconstitutional cabinet's decision with respect to airport security chief Brigadier General Wafiq Shqeir."
The lying old man
Comment by Khalid Amayreh
"Does Shimon Peres carry the genes of a pathological liar? The question may sound facetious to many, but Peres’s apparent inability to distinguish between truth and falsehood makes the question quite valid.
At 84, Peres continues to dish out a daily staple of lies, including obscene lies.
This week, the “hero” of the Qana-1 massacre, told foreign correspondents based in Israel that “Hamas was standing in the way of Palestinian statehood.”
Well, this is, of course, a blatant lie, to say the least, because every honest person under the sun, Jew or gentile, knows well that the main obstacle impeding the realization of peace in the Middle East has been the intensive colonization of Palestinian land and unending expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied territories that belong to another people........
During his stint as Prime Minister in 1996, following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Peres oversaw the Qana-1 massacre in Southern Lebanon when the Israeli Wehrmacht knowingly and deliberately murdered more than a hundred Lebanese civilians, including numerous children who had sought refuge at the UN peace-keeping forces’ headquarters at the village of Qana.
For those who have forgotten or don’t know, neither Peres nor Israel has had the moral courage to say “sorry.”
Obviously they both lack the moral caliber to do so. And their crimes are too colossal and too numerous to be atoned for."
"Does Shimon Peres carry the genes of a pathological liar? The question may sound facetious to many, but Peres’s apparent inability to distinguish between truth and falsehood makes the question quite valid.
At 84, Peres continues to dish out a daily staple of lies, including obscene lies.
This week, the “hero” of the Qana-1 massacre, told foreign correspondents based in Israel that “Hamas was standing in the way of Palestinian statehood.”
Well, this is, of course, a blatant lie, to say the least, because every honest person under the sun, Jew or gentile, knows well that the main obstacle impeding the realization of peace in the Middle East has been the intensive colonization of Palestinian land and unending expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied territories that belong to another people........
During his stint as Prime Minister in 1996, following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Peres oversaw the Qana-1 massacre in Southern Lebanon when the Israeli Wehrmacht knowingly and deliberately murdered more than a hundred Lebanese civilians, including numerous children who had sought refuge at the UN peace-keeping forces’ headquarters at the village of Qana.
For those who have forgotten or don’t know, neither Peres nor Israel has had the moral courage to say “sorry.”
Obviously they both lack the moral caliber to do so. And their crimes are too colossal and too numerous to be atoned for."
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A human rights crime in Gaza
President Jimmy Carter
"The world is witnessing a terrible human rights crime in Gaza, where a million and a half human beings are being imprisoned with almost no access to the outside world by sea, air, or land. An entire population is being brutally punished.
This gross mistreatment of the Palestinians in Gaza was escalated dramatically by Israel, with United States backing, after political candidates representing Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Authority parliament in 2006. The election was unanimously judged to be honest and fair by all international observers....."
Info-ops: "Iraqis could attack Israel" and Cole helps move the story along
From Missing Links
".....Cole advises dismissing the NYT story not because it isn't true, but because Hizbullah-training of the Mahdi Army or any other Iraqi militia would be insignificant in the larger scheme of things. To the extent that the bobbleheads who follow him (and presumably they are still a significant number) adopt the naturalness of Hizbullah doing a little training of Mahdi Army people, they are being set up for the next leg of the info-operation, already on the same day outlined in Azzaman, namely that Iraqi militia are getting the frightening capability for long-range rocket attacks on Israel.
The unfortunate appearance is that Cole is part of this operation, using his informed commentator status to encourage his readers to swallow the bait."
".....Cole advises dismissing the NYT story not because it isn't true, but because Hizbullah-training of the Mahdi Army or any other Iraqi militia would be insignificant in the larger scheme of things. To the extent that the bobbleheads who follow him (and presumably they are still a significant number) adopt the naturalness of Hizbullah doing a little training of Mahdi Army people, they are being set up for the next leg of the info-operation, already on the same day outlined in Azzaman, namely that Iraqi militia are getting the frightening capability for long-range rocket attacks on Israel.
The unfortunate appearance is that Cole is part of this operation, using his informed commentator status to encourage his readers to swallow the bait."
Gaza improvises under siege
Report, The Electronic Intifada, 7 May 2008
"JERUSALEM/GAZA, 6 May (IRIN) - Intense political divisions in the Gaza Strip have split people on most issues, except one: the situation has never been worse, nearly everyone agrees.
"I never remember Gaza being this bad," said one man in his early 40s. "Living here has become a game of survival." With fuel supplies nearly dry, many people no longer have cooking gas in their homes, leading some to search for alternative methods to make a meal.
"People now are starting to look through the garbage to find combustibles," a Gazan who works for a large international aid organization told IRIN.
"Even my colleagues have begun to search the garbage bins or the sides of the roads to find wood and plastics to burn so they can cook their food at night," he said, requesting anonymity so as to not embarrass his friends.
To add to the woes of the needy, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, has said it has been forced to stop food distribution today and is cutting back on other services it normally supplies, owing to the lack of fuel supplies. This is the second time in two weeks it has done this......"
"JERUSALEM/GAZA, 6 May (IRIN) - Intense political divisions in the Gaza Strip have split people on most issues, except one: the situation has never been worse, nearly everyone agrees.
"I never remember Gaza being this bad," said one man in his early 40s. "Living here has become a game of survival." With fuel supplies nearly dry, many people no longer have cooking gas in their homes, leading some to search for alternative methods to make a meal.
"People now are starting to look through the garbage to find combustibles," a Gazan who works for a large international aid organization told IRIN.
"Even my colleagues have begun to search the garbage bins or the sides of the roads to find wood and plastics to burn so they can cook their food at night," he said, requesting anonymity so as to not embarrass his friends.
To add to the woes of the needy, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, has said it has been forced to stop food distribution today and is cutting back on other services it normally supplies, owing to the lack of fuel supplies. This is the second time in two weeks it has done this......"
Media Disinformation: Iran's Link to Iraqi Insurgents
New York Times vs McClatchy
by Greg Mitchell
(Greg Mitchell's new book explores Gordon's and McClatchy's past reporting on Iraq and Iran. It is titled, "So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq.")
Global Research, May 6, 2008
"Michael Gordon, the military writer for The New York Times who contributed several false stories about Iraqi WMD in the runup to the U.S. attack on Iraq in 2002, has written several articles in the past year about Iran’s alleged training of Iraqi insurgents -- or supplying them with weapons to kill Americans. He produced another major report on this subject for today’s Times – based solely on unnamed sources -- which is at odds with an account from McClatchy’s Baghdad bureau.
Gordon asserts that “Militants from the Lebanese group Hezbollah have been training Iraqi militia fighters at a camp near Tehran…An American official said the account of Hezbollah’s role was provided by four Shiite militia members who were captured in Iraq late last year and questioned separately......
But McClatchy has a quite different take.
Leila Fadel, the bureau chief, and Shashank Bengali report: “The Iraqi Government seemed to distance itself from U.S. accusations towards Iran Sunday saying it would not be forced into conflict with its Shiite neighbor. And Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki ordered the formation of a committee to look into foreign intervention in Iraq.
“As the government appeared to back down from its hardening stance against Iran, four marines were killed in Anbar in the deadliest attack in the Sunni province in months......."
by Greg Mitchell
(Greg Mitchell's new book explores Gordon's and McClatchy's past reporting on Iraq and Iran. It is titled, "So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq.")
Global Research, May 6, 2008
"Michael Gordon, the military writer for The New York Times who contributed several false stories about Iraqi WMD in the runup to the U.S. attack on Iraq in 2002, has written several articles in the past year about Iran’s alleged training of Iraqi insurgents -- or supplying them with weapons to kill Americans. He produced another major report on this subject for today’s Times – based solely on unnamed sources -- which is at odds with an account from McClatchy’s Baghdad bureau.
Gordon asserts that “Militants from the Lebanese group Hezbollah have been training Iraqi militia fighters at a camp near Tehran…An American official said the account of Hezbollah’s role was provided by four Shiite militia members who were captured in Iraq late last year and questioned separately......
But McClatchy has a quite different take.
Leila Fadel, the bureau chief, and Shashank Bengali report: “The Iraqi Government seemed to distance itself from U.S. accusations towards Iran Sunday saying it would not be forced into conflict with its Shiite neighbor. And Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki ordered the formation of a committee to look into foreign intervention in Iraq.
“As the government appeared to back down from its hardening stance against Iran, four marines were killed in Anbar in the deadliest attack in the Sunni province in months......."
Battle of the Hawks
By Robert Scheer
"In the increasingly unlikely event of a McCain-Clinton election, folks who care about the peace issue would have serious reason to worry. Both of these candidates are inveterate hawks, and what we would be up against is a choice between the neoconservatives and the neoliberals as to who could be more adventurous in getting us into unjustifiable foreign wars......"
"In the increasingly unlikely event of a McCain-Clinton election, folks who care about the peace issue would have serious reason to worry. Both of these candidates are inveterate hawks, and what we would be up against is a choice between the neoconservatives and the neoliberals as to who could be more adventurous in getting us into unjustifiable foreign wars......"
High tension in Qabatiya after PA security kills child, wounds others
Dayton's Palestinian Dogs
"JENIN, (PIC)-- High tension still prevails throughout the Qabatiya town in Jenin district after PA security elements under the command of PA chief Mahmoud Abbas killed Tuesday a Palestinian child and seriously wounded a young man who is now in a state of clinical death.
Qabatiya citizens reported that the PA security campaign started in the morning with deliberate provocations against citizens at the entrances and alleys of the town.
According to the citizens, it seemed obvious that the PA security elements, through their arbitrary acts, wanted to humiliate and suppress the people of this town at any price.
The citizens elaborated that the PA security dealt brutally with Palestinian workers as they were going to their jobs and prevented students from going to their schools, which created friction and clashes between students and security elements that continued during daylight hours and ended with many injuries in the ranks of students and security elements.
A unit composed of 600 presidential guards was deployed in Jenin in order to carry out security campaigns in line with the security cooperation with the Israeli occupation and the other security apparatuses there were put under its command for three months. The members of this unit were trained in Jordan at the hands of American security experts under the supervision of general Keith Dayton.
The PA security apparatuses kidnapped eight Palestinian citizens in the Qalqilya town, northern West Bank, within a fierce compaign carried out against Hamas's cadres there and deprived their families from knowing where their sons were detained.
Palestinian medical sources reported that the PA security apparatuses transferred prisoner Adulhalim Mara'ba to hospital after his health deteriorated without knowing further details.
A newly-released detainee called Na'el Hammad reported that he was exposed to maltreatment for 20 days at the hands of PA intelligence officers in their jails, adding that he cannot believe what happened to him."
Qabatiya citizens reported that the PA security campaign started in the morning with deliberate provocations against citizens at the entrances and alleys of the town.
According to the citizens, it seemed obvious that the PA security elements, through their arbitrary acts, wanted to humiliate and suppress the people of this town at any price.
The citizens elaborated that the PA security dealt brutally with Palestinian workers as they were going to their jobs and prevented students from going to their schools, which created friction and clashes between students and security elements that continued during daylight hours and ended with many injuries in the ranks of students and security elements.
A unit composed of 600 presidential guards was deployed in Jenin in order to carry out security campaigns in line with the security cooperation with the Israeli occupation and the other security apparatuses there were put under its command for three months. The members of this unit were trained in Jordan at the hands of American security experts under the supervision of general Keith Dayton.
The PA security apparatuses kidnapped eight Palestinian citizens in the Qalqilya town, northern West Bank, within a fierce compaign carried out against Hamas's cadres there and deprived their families from knowing where their sons were detained.
Palestinian medical sources reported that the PA security apparatuses transferred prisoner Adulhalim Mara'ba to hospital after his health deteriorated without knowing further details.
A newly-released detainee called Na'el Hammad reported that he was exposed to maltreatment for 20 days at the hands of PA intelligence officers in their jails, adding that he cannot believe what happened to him."
In Lebanon, Criminals Honored, Suspects Condemned
Al-Manar
"07/05/2008 This is the rule of Fouad Saniora's US-backed unconstitutional government under which criminals are honored and promoted and suspects are condemned even before conviction.
Who can forget the notorious Marjeyoun 'Tea Party' that took place when the resistance fighters bravely confronting Israeli aggressors in the July 2006 war against Lebanon?
Back then, the ruling bloc that was claiming "adherence to Lebanon's security and sovereignty," was not provoked by the footage of the infamous party whose hero, brigadier general Adnan Dawood, was honored after the war and promoted from colonel to Brigadier General 'because he prevented a massacre in the Marjeyoun barrack. Hospitable Dawood conferred honor upon the Israeli unit that occupied his barrack and ordered one of his soldiers to serve tea to its members.
Then acting interior minister, Ahmad Fatfat, justified Dawood's promotion saying that the Lebanese judiciary has not yet decided on the matter, although the incident is recorded on camera.
In the eyes of Saniora's ruling bloc, Dawood deserves to be promoted but Brigadier General Wafiq Shqeir, in the same eyes, deserves to be removed from his post as the head of Beirut's international airport security body.
The ruling bloc acted against Shqeir based on information provided by MP Walid Jumblatt that Hezbollah was monitoring runway 17 with a camera on a container. Hours after Jumblatt's claims, Shqeir was removed from his post by an unconstitutional decision taking during a gathering of Saniora's ministerial bloc.
Between the infamous and documented tea incident of Dawood and the undocumented case of Shqeir one truth can be concluded: there are double standards by pro-ruling bloc authorities in dealing with internal security issues. "
Here is a video of the tea party, contributed by Lucia in Spain:
See Tea or Treason?, also courtesy of Lucia, for an English transcript of the video.
"07/05/2008 This is the rule of Fouad Saniora's US-backed unconstitutional government under which criminals are honored and promoted and suspects are condemned even before conviction.
Who can forget the notorious Marjeyoun 'Tea Party' that took place when the resistance fighters bravely confronting Israeli aggressors in the July 2006 war against Lebanon?
Back then, the ruling bloc that was claiming "adherence to Lebanon's security and sovereignty," was not provoked by the footage of the infamous party whose hero, brigadier general Adnan Dawood, was honored after the war and promoted from colonel to Brigadier General 'because he prevented a massacre in the Marjeyoun barrack. Hospitable Dawood conferred honor upon the Israeli unit that occupied his barrack and ordered one of his soldiers to serve tea to its members.
Then acting interior minister, Ahmad Fatfat, justified Dawood's promotion saying that the Lebanese judiciary has not yet decided on the matter, although the incident is recorded on camera.
In the eyes of Saniora's ruling bloc, Dawood deserves to be promoted but Brigadier General Wafiq Shqeir, in the same eyes, deserves to be removed from his post as the head of Beirut's international airport security body.
The ruling bloc acted against Shqeir based on information provided by MP Walid Jumblatt that Hezbollah was monitoring runway 17 with a camera on a container. Hours after Jumblatt's claims, Shqeir was removed from his post by an unconstitutional decision taking during a gathering of Saniora's ministerial bloc.
Between the infamous and documented tea incident of Dawood and the undocumented case of Shqeir one truth can be concluded: there are double standards by pro-ruling bloc authorities in dealing with internal security issues. "
Here is a video of the tea party, contributed by Lucia in Spain:
See Tea or Treason?, also courtesy of Lucia, for an English transcript of the video.
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