#3
the latest moonbat theory I've heard comes via my beloved parents from their gated retirement community in S.C. - "Kenneth Lay of Enron faked his own death" - I LMAO - YJCMTSU.
ABU DHABI A top Sudanese government official has reiterated that his country will not hand over any citizen to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial in connection with the Darfur violence. Well not hand over any Sudanese citizen to the ICC because Sudan is not a member of this court (ICC). The Security Council cannot refer Sudanese nationals to be tried at the ICC, said Dr Mustafa Othman Ismail, adviser to Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir.
Hmmmm. We have the same rule in the U.S. But for different reasons.
On May 3, the ICC had issued arrest warrants against two suspects wanted in connection with the violence in Sudans Darfur region. The warrants issued against Ahmed Muhammed Haroon, former minister of state for interior of the government of Sudan and currently minister of state for humanitarian affairs, and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammed Abdul Rahman, who were accused of targeting civilians in attacks on four villages in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004.
Both of whom are very bad boys, and both of whom should be 'taken for a drive into the desert', as opposed to being jugged at The Hague.
Speaking to the media in the capital yesterday, Dr Ismail, who is currently on an official visit to the UAE, stressed that the Sudanese government would not succumb to international pressure, especially on decisions that might affect the national security of the country.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Janjaweed
#1
The ICC is a European way of feeling more pedantic and nanny like since they can't defend themselves or act with any military conviction. So, in order to feel more superior they instituted this charade of deciding who is a war criminal and who isn't. Actually, we should indict France, Germanhy, Spain and Italy for acting like cowards and appeasers in a war on western civilization.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/23/2007 9:14 Comments ||
Top||
Several Quran teaching schools known as Zawaya (religious brotherhoods), known to teach moderate Islam, called for launching security investigations on students files to preserve these Zawaya from extremist ideas and jihad tendencies that could be spread mostly by more than 18 years old students.
Sources well informed about the issue said that several Quran schools Imams in Bordj Bouareridj underscored that investigations should make sure about financial sources of theses religious institutions, as extremism could be spread through different ways among which imposing specific programmes with the help of money. The available information recalls that The Ministry of Religious Affairs would get rid of hundreds religious schools that are not matching contract clauses, as well as to the law to be issued soon.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa
The US House of Representatives approved a foreign aid bill late Thursday with $2.4 billion in military aid to Israel but withholding $200 million in military funds for Egypt until the US Secretary of State certifies that Cairo is working to stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
The 2008 $34.2 billion foreign aid bill passed by a vote of 241-178. The Senate will be debating the language of the bill in the near future, though it is likely the White House will veto whatever version the Senate approves because of slated family planning aid.
The House legislation also restricts funding to the Palestinians, in keeping with US law, that could reach terror organizations and conditions aid on the Palestinian pursuit of peace.
It provides $50 million in democracy promotion in Iran and directs the Secretary of State to restrict the supply of refined gas to Iran in order to prevent Teheran from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to an AIPAC report on the bill.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to prohibit any aid to Saudi Arabia as lawmakers accused the close ally of religious intolerance and bankrolling terrorist organizations.
The prohibition, reflecting persistent tensions with the kingdom after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, was attached to a foreign aid funding bill for next year that has not yet been debated by the Senate. It also faces a veto threat from the White House because of an unrelated provision.
A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment on the legislation.
In the past three years, Congress has passed bills to stop the relatively small amount of U.S. aid to Saudi Arabia, only to see the Bush administration circumvent the prohibitions. Now, lawmakers are trying to close loopholes so that no more U.S. aid can be sent to the world's leading petroleum exporter.
"By cutting off aid and closing the loophole we send a clear message to the Saudi Arabian government that they must be a true ally in advancing peace in the Middle East," said Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat.
According to supporters of the legislation, the United States provided $2.5 million to Riyadh in 2005 and 2006. The money has been used to train Saudis in counter-terrorism.
Posted by: ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
#1
That's progress. Small, but still a slap to the chops.
#3
It is good to see, but 2.5 million is chickenfeed to the Saudis. The Saudis can buy govt, ex govt officials and congressmen any time.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/23/2007 4:08 Comments ||
Top||
#4
I do not understand why we're giving financial aid to the richest of the OPEC nations. Surely they must be mortified to receive charity... unless they think of it as jizya, the dhimmi poll tax, in which case they should be embarrassed that's all they could get out of us.
#6
I suspect this is "military aid" which is actually a bookkeeping mechanism to payback the American companies or government bureaucracies for authorized material or access. I'm sure the Sauds can buy anything they want in an open market, but some things are not open and require such mechanisms to operate.
#7
IIRC since we aren't in a formal alliance like NATO with the Saudis, the only way to do things like counterterrorism with them is through an 'aid' package.
I imagine we want to train them in counterterrorism because it's a way to exchange useful info.
But I could well be wrong on either or both points.
(KCNA) -- Round-table talks, lecture, reading session, film show and photo exhibition were held in the Czech Republic, South Africa and Ethiopia from June 7 to 13 on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 7th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.
Displayed in the venues of the functions were famous works of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and photos showing their undying feats and single-minded unity of Songun Korea. Jiri Jarka, honorary chairman of the Paektusan Czech-Korean Friendship Association, in the round-table talks highly praised the immortal exploits performed by Kim Jong Il while working at the Central Committee of the WPK.
Bonakele Majuba, secretary of the Mfumalanga Provincial Committee of the South African Communist Party who is chairman of the South African Association of Friendship and Solidarity with Korean People, said in his lecture that the adoption of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration serves as a historic event that brought fresh hope for national reunification to the Korean nation split by foreign forces.
Tatek Kassa, chairperson of the Addis Ababa Youth Association of Ethiopia, at the reading session stressed that Korea's reunification is sure to be accomplished in the future thanks to the Songun policy of Kim Jong Il. The participants of the film show watched Korean film "Brilliant History of Great Leadership."
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
...watched Korean film "Brilliant History of Great Leadership.
Good God. It's amazing what bu!!$h!t people will swallow when they are starving.
Former French President Jacques Chirac has been summoned to answer questions about bogus jobs allegedly given to members of his party during his time as Paris mayor, the daily Le Parisien reported on Saturday.
The paper said Chirac, who lost his presidential immunity a week ago, had not been summoned in writing but over the phone and procedures applied to his questioning would be kept secret.
Chirac, 74, said in a late-night statement on Friday that he was ready to answer questions about cases linked to events before his election as head of state in 1995.
Investigators want to quiz Chirac over a case launched in December 2002 which focuses on the fraudulent payment of members of Chirac's conservative Rally for the Republic (RPR) by the City of Paris.
The dossier concerns about 40 bogus jobs allegedly given to members of the RPR party or their relations in the mayor's private office when Chirac (1977-1995) and his successor Jean Tiberi (1995-2001) ran the French capital.
Chirac has denied any wrongdoing. No-one at the office of the former president was immediately available for comment on Saturday.
Some Chirac associates have been convicted of embezzlement, corruption or electoral fraud and been given suspended jail terms and fines. However, Le Parisien noted Chirac was "not risking much" in being questioned over the fake jobs affair.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Since it is an Arab publications, no mention of Israel. Code word for Israel is Palestinians. Relationship for France is purely commercial. Even Sarkozy will continue to perpetuate the France, Inc. label across the world.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/23/2007 9:21 Comments ||
Top||
#1
The problem is that they don't teach 'history' anymore. It's all guilt propaganda. 'History' for most Americans starts when they reached the age of cognizance. Modern historical creationism.
#3
While the United States was not without its own fits and starts during the early years, the culture of this nation's founders and their political traditions evolved by way of far more advanced legal canons deriving largely from the Magna Charta.
The democratic election of Hamas by the Palestinians is a clear demonstration that representative government requires the fertile soil of liberty and freedom in order to flourish into benevolent leadership. These qualities are markedly lacking in the MME's (Muslim Middle East's) sere and shari'a dominated environment.
While it certainly would be splendid if democracy took root and bore fruit in Iraq, I do not have very great expectations of that happening anytime soon. Iraq will more likely remain the typical Islamic cesspit of inter-tribal rivalries and religious conflict for some time to come. Due to this, either an extremely long term military presence will be required or we must anticipate a strong likelihood of having to return for some "rinse and repeat" handiwork.
#4
"Due to this, either an extremely long term military presence will be required or we must anticipate a strong likelihood of having to return for some "rinse and repeat" handiwork."
-unfortunately I agree. It's sad but likely future generations of Americans will be cleaning up the mess this generation did not have the balls to fix the first time. We were too soft in many cases. Hopefully our children will learn from our mistakes and understand the Arab/Muslim tribal mentality better than our leaders do in this juncture.
Worth reading the whole thing at In From the Cold. An excerpt:
Admiral Cotton's remarks represent the "inconvenient truth" of military recruiting; demographic and qualification issues that will persist long after our forces leave the Middle East. Simply stated, a generation raised on junk food, medicated with psychotropic drugs, prone to criminal behavior, unaccustomed to physical activity and with marginal academic skills--is simply a poor fit for the U.S. military.
And remember: the statistics cited by Admiral Cotton and his fellow panel members refer to basic entrance requirements. If you want to teach recruits to maintain a state-of-the-art military system, or give them a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, they must meet even higher standards. Finding young men and women who meet those criteria will be even more difficult in the years ahead, if present trends continue (and there's no reason to believe they won't).
This isn't a military problem, it's a societal problem, with daunting consequences for our national security and America's future.
#1
Dunno. Professional soldiers actually like the heightened perceptions that the fear of battle elicits. Enough crave it to sustain the US army. However, there has to be an alternative to patrols through IED country. They have the exact opposite effect of the Vietnam War's Search and Destroy variety. Urban warfare can be a morale killer. Hitler had almost nothing after Stalingrad.
#6
Simply stated, a generation raised on junk food, medicated with psychotropic drugs, prone to criminal behavior, unaccustomed to physical activity and with marginal academic skills--is simply a poor fit for the U.S. military.
Betcha if you imposed this map over a similar map showing recruitment by proportion of county population you'd find more of those 'unfit' in the blue counties. And you'll probably find a higher level of recruitment of those 'fit' occurring in the red counties. Don't sweat it. There a birth rate relationship biased in favor of the red counties as well. Why do you think the reps from the blue counties are desperate to get 12 million new voters on the rolls?
#8
Procopius2k, you're right of course. But it is a worry for the future of the country, and (from the stats I'm seeing right now) also for military recruiting.
One thing Cotton doesn't mention is hearing loss among potential recruits. Headphones / earbuds w/ iPods daily, not just at concerts. Crank up the volume and there's more damage than some might think. Add in kids interested in shooting, but who blow off good ear protection in their teens.
But the biggie is lack of discipline and ambition. We have far too many kids even in red states who have never been really challenged academically, socially or culturally ... kids who are physically, morally and mentally flabby.
#9
However, there has to be an alternative to patrols through IED country.
There is. Astride technological advances, ground penetrating radar is becoming far more economical. There is no reason why such detection systems can't be lofted on drones to prowl roads used by our troops in hostile territory. With UAV technology undergoing a similar cost-performance decline, 24/7 surveillance should cease to be a challenge as well. DARPA's competition to devise wholely automated driverless surface vehicles could yield unmanned minesweeping "decoys" to draw IED attacks as well.
They have the exact opposite effect of the Vietnam War's Search and Destroy variety. Urban warfare can be a morale killer.
Iraq has provided an important test-bed for new strategies and advanced military technology. However, I'm still obliged to speculate that certain levels of urban conflict will continue to rely upon the time-tested method of saturation bombardment. There is every reason to believe that the entire MME (Muslim Middle East) will need to be subdued by force. A house-to-house and one-bullet-at-a-time strategy will not be viable in such circumstances. The military remains constrained by political limitations upon how and in what degree the enemy may be prosecuted. If we are ever to have any hope of defeating Islamic terrorism, wholesale revision of these crippling politically correct guidelines must happen.
#10
Like marriage/divorce, the population is splitting on exercise and self-discipline. The bright, ambitious children (Rantburg offspring being the perfect example) are also the ones in multiple sports from kindergarten on, disciplined in their lives and their academics, not lounging on the couch drinking soda and eating junk food -- who's got time for that? -- and all the other things that make for ideal recruiting. The rest are... otherwise. Which makes the average statistics look dreadful, just as the divorce statistics look dreadful until one realizes how very many people are still happily in their first marriage, which means that the others maintain their optimism despite actual experience.
#12
Amazing someone without a spine or testicles could reproduce. What can't science do?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/23/2007 12:57 Comments ||
Top||
#13
8872, few dream of sending their kids to war.
But some of us believe our way of life, and the lives of our loved ones and neighbors, are worth fighting to defend. And we are proud when our sons and daughters chose to put set aside easy routines, comfortable surroundings and higher salaries to risk their own lives on behalf of others.
You strike me, from the tone of your comments, as being younger than I. Perhaps you haven't yet come up against the reality that there is always death and loss to encounter, sooner or later. The death of parents, spouses, friends. A child diagnosed with an incurable illness. Or other losses.
War is a horrible thing. But it is not the only, or even the most, horrible thing. A lack of integrity is worse. So too is having nothing and no one who is loved so much that defending them is worth more than ease or life itself.
#15
It has nothing to do with politicians, 8872. My info on the situation comes from having been in the middle east in years past, plus current info from those there now.
But it also comes from looking a wider history and from knowing what I think is worth defending.
I'm sorry for you, that you don't have something equally priceless. It's obvious that's so, for you cannot bring yourself to do anything more than gloatingly make snide digs that you hope will bring pain.
Perhaps at some point in your life you will rise up to love and and to earn being loved deeply. If so, at that point you'll understand. Until then, I'm afraid that you are deaf and blind to these matters. You see only the surface - which is real enough, but by no means the whole truth or even the most important part of it.
#16
Your smug attitude, pride and narrowmindedness astound me. But it ceased to be surprising anymore.
You know, I am so damn proud of our Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who said recently:
"I don't want to send people on a mission if the opposition is going to, at home, undercut the dangerous work they're doing in the field."
Here's a leader who doesn't take the lives of our soldiers for granted. If he meant those words sincerely, then he has my support to extend the mission however long he wants. See the difference? I doubt it.
#17
8872, you haven't a clue, perhaps, that you are speaking to the wife of a retired career military man.
Or what each of us is doing personally in the current struggle. Or who our friends and colleagues are, or those we love who are younger and in theater right now.
Those I love and care about and know personally who are or have been in combat over the last few years is, I suspect, much higher than those you've even met who serve.
#18
Disproportionate retaliation against guerrillas worked in the Malay campaign against Communists. Once Malay harborers of terrorists became aware that their village could be burned in retaliation, they began reporting the presence of the enemy. In Iraq, we have been impeded by the belief that use of heavy bombs against sniper nests, might lead to civilian recruitment to al-Qaeda in Iraq. The reverse is true. "Liveleak" and other sites post numerous examples where videos of successful sniper attacks on US troops, have been used in recruitment videos. Also, we are allowing those videos to be sold openly throughout Iraq. That indulgence drives steel into the backs of the enemy.
#19
#16 "I don't want to send people on a mission if the opposition is going to, at home, undercut the dangerous work they're doing in the field."
I agree with that, 8872, unfortunately, our 'opposition' leaves us with little choice. To them, winning elections is more improtant then winning wars. My youngest son was in Iraq and proud he was there for their first free elections in a long time.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/23/2007 15:04 Comments ||
Top||
#20
8872 doesn't have anything priceless. He's Canadian, lives in Vancouver, and has forgotten what his grandfathers learned at hard cost in WWII, and his great-grandfathers learned in WWI.
He prob'ly thinks the sales of poppies on Remembrance Day is a right-wing scam.
Some things in life are worth defending. Some things are worth protecting. You put your life on the line for some things.
You may not consider liberating 50 million people from tyranny and genocide to be worth it, 8872.
But we do.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/23/2007 15:16 Comments ||
Top||
#21
You may not consider liberating 50 million people from tyranny and genocide to be worth it, 8872. But we do.
You lost me. Are you talking about Iraq? Where'd you get the 50 million from? You can't be talking about WW2 because yesterday you didn't deem it worthy to be concerned about roughly 3 million people.
#22
This screed has been echoed for decades if not centuries.
As long as we don't abort the next Patton, etc. there should not be a problem. Junk food started when? Criminal behavior started when?
What I'm hearing is that we have the most valiant, intelligent military ever, so what gives?
Besides, the force multipliers are conducted by joy stick.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/23/2007 17:19 Comments ||
Top||
#23
What I'm hearing is that we have the most valiant, intelligent military ever, so what gives?
We do - but recruiters and trainers are noting patterns that concern them and which they have to overcome to get there. And the requirements have gone up a lot too - the days of the simple grunt are way past.
the force multipliers are conducted by joy stick.
Yup. And that helps. Although the teleoperated UAVs depend more than one might think on cockpit skills learned in the air. Or so I've been told.
Of course, the guy telling me that was a Harrier pilot so ..... ;-)
#24
8872, if you read that quote you posted with any degree of intellectual honesty, its obvious he is saying that he doesn't want to send troops on a mission because of the political heat back home.
Basically, he's giving into the political opposition so he doesn't have to fight them.
And that's the difference, his statement is one of preemptive surrender. For the purpose of politics.
If that behavior makes you proud, you sir, lack spine.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
06/23/2007 18:27 Comments ||
Top||
#25
8872, we liberated 50 million people -- the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now it might be that they won't stay liberated. Human nature, culture, religion are powerful things, such that the people there may throw away what they have today.
That doesn't change the fact that we helped free these people from two terrible tyrannies, the Taliban and the Ba'ath.
And yesterday, I was pointing out that allowing the Poles to go back in time to settle old scores was the precise way in which mankind would get stuck in tit-for-tat forevermore. It wasn't three million, it was 60 million (give or take a few million) who died in that damned war so that you and I and others could sit around coomputers and debate eachh other. However unhappy the Poles are today with voting arrangements in the EU, it's wrong to go back in time and demand retribution like that.
That was the point, though perhaps you're sarcasm-impaired and missed it.
Our kids will go out there and defend others. They've done it many times already and they'll do it again. Yours will to, if Mr. Harper can bring your country to be true to its founding principles.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/23/2007 18:39 Comments ||
Top||
#26
#16 Your smug attitude... and narrowmindedness astound me.
What astounds me is your unimpended ability to project, 8872. It is possible that you are not even aware of it, although I doubt that. More likely you are into scoring rhetorical points, hoping that your strawmen and projections would have such a chutzpa that they would stick.
#28
Back to the problem for a sec.
I think one simple change would start the reverse of the trend.
That is, separate the boys from the girls in school up to grade 11. Boys will compete both physically and acedemically with passion. To make things even more serious, awards could be dangled for superior achievement in both fields, like varsity wrestler who makes high honor role, etc.
I agree with the comment about hearing loss. Parents have to be informed and take action.
I was always a coach for my kids teams and I noticed that many kids are just dropped off and picked up later. Without the urging and approval from the parents these kids went through the motions but never became outstanding, except kids who are new to the area and have something to prove. So, mixing the kids in new environments is also a quick fix for this growing complacency.
#29
So as a coach you preferred the parents to stay and get involved at practices, or do you mean to cheer at the games, wxjames? I used to volunteer to be the conditioning/stretching coach for the trailing daughters' soccer teams, but I sometimes worried that I wasn't giving them enough independence. They appear to be doing all right, and as a result none of the girls on their teams was ever seriously injured, but one still worries.
An Army officer with a key role in the U.S. military hearings at Guantanamo Bay says they relied on vague and incomplete intelligence and were pressured to declare detainees "enemy combatants," often without any specific evidence.
His affidavit, released Friday, is the first criticism by a member of the military panels that determine whether detainees will continue to be held.
Lt. Col. Stephen Abraham, a 26-year veteran of military intelligence who is an Army reserve officer and a California lawyer, said military prosecutors were provided with only "generic" material that didn't hold up to the most basic legal challenges.
Despite repeated requests, intelligence agencies arbitrarily refused to provide specific information that could have helped either side in the tribunals, according to Abraham, who said he served as a main liaison between the Combat Status Review Tribunals and those intelligence agencies.
"What were purported to be specific statements of fact lacked even the most fundamental earmarks of objectively credible evidence," Abraham said in the affidavit, filed in a Washington appeals court on behalf of a Kuwaiti detainee, Fawzi al-Odah, who is challenging his classification as an "enemy combatant."
The Pentagon had no immediate comment, but a spokesman said Defense Department officials were preparing a response to the affidavit.
An attorney for al-Odah, David Cynamon, said Abraham "bravely" agreed to provide the affidavit when defense lawyers contacted him.
"It proves what we all suspected, which is that the CSRTs were a complete sham," Cynamon said.
Matthew J. MacLean, another al-Odah lawyer, said Abraham is the first member of a Combat Status Review Tribunal panel who has been identified, let alone been willing to criticize the tribunals in the public record.
"It wouldn't be quite right to say this is the most important piece of evidence that has come out of the CSRT process, because this is the only piece of evidence ever to come out of the CSRT process," MacLean said. "It's our only view into the CSRT."
Abraham said he first raised his concerns when he was on active duty with the Defense Department agency in charge of the tribunal process from September 2004 to March 2005 and felt the issues were not adequately addressed. He said he decided his only recourse was to submit the affidavit.
"I pointed out nothing less than facts, facts that can and should be fixed," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from his office in Newport Beach, Calif.
The 46-year-old lawyer, who remains in the reserves, said he believe he had a responsibility to point out that officers "did not have the proper tools" to determine whether a detainee was in fact an enemy combatant.
"I take very seriously my responsibility, my duties as a citizen," he said.
Cynamon said he fears the officer's military future could be in jeopardy. "For him to do this was a courageous thing but it's probably an assurance of career suicide," he said.
Career suicide? He's a reservist who has 26 yrs in and is eligible for his reserve pension when he's old enough.
#1
Lt. Col. Stephen Abraham, a 26-year veteran of military intelligence who is an Army reserve officer and a California lawyer,...
nuff said.
"I take very seriously my responsibility, my duties as a citizen," he said.
Then you'd read the legislation passed by Congress and the findings of the federal courts on the issue which while demanding process, did not extend rights or privileges of an American citizen in total to POWs, no matter what you personally desire.
In fact if you were an honest individual, you'd acknowledge that by the letter of the Geneva Convention most of these detainees would not receive a fraction of the concern by any other party outside a few Western countries and would have been executed by now.
#2
First of all he is a lawyer. He was educated to make everything equal. Second he is a Army reservist, not active duty. He is G2, not a warrior. Third and proably worst of all, he is from California. We are in a tough spot here. We have all the evidence but can't release it fully without giving up our sources. This is another argument for killing these guys after we have bled them dry of the G2.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/23/2007 9:27 Comments ||
Top||
#3
"for killing these guys after we have bled them dry of the G2."
A Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader on Friday threatened the British High Commission in Islamabad with a suicide attack if the British government did not withdraw the knighthood title awarded to Salman Rushdie.
Like other Muslims, I am a true lover of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I warn the British government that if it does not withdraw its decision to award the knighthood to the blasphemer, I will carry out a suicide attack on the British High Commission in Islamabad, said local PAT leader Umer Riaz Abbasi on Friday at a rally in G-9 Markaz.
Amid loud sloganeering against the British government and Rushdie at the rally, PAT Islamabad president Syed Sadaqat Banori supported suicide attacks on Rushdie and those who support him. We cannot allow anyone to blaspheme against our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). For His honour, we can sacrifice our lives, he said. The rally resounded with loud ayes and participants raised their hands when Banori asked them if they were ready to lay down their lives for the honour of the Prophet.
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) also protested the knighthood to Rushdie in a demonstration in G-9. National Assembly opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman told protestors that by knighting a blasphemer the British government had hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims throughout the world. Rehman also slammed Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairwoman Benazir Bhutto for opposing suicide attacks on blasphemers. He said Benazir had sided with Rushdie supporters. MMA national assembly minister from Islamabad Mian Muhammad Aslam and local leader Maulana Nazir Farooqi slammed the west, especially Britain, for encouraging and honouring enemies of Islam.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
The position of the British government remained unchanged over the knighting of Salman Rushdie despite countrywide protests and the National Assembly passing the second resolution here on Friday, seeking withdrawal of the title awarded to the controversial writer. Our position is the same as expressed through a statement on Monday (June 18), said Aidan Liddle, British High Commissions head of press and public affairs. I have nothing to add to the first statement and we stand by whatever was said in the first statement, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
On June 19, Army Spc Eleon Eli Israel put himself at great personal risk by making the courageous decision to refuse further participation in the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The 26-year-old from Arlington, Virginia told his command that he will no longer be a combatant in this illegal, unjustified war.
Eli believes that the U.S. government used the attacks of September 11, 2001 as a pretense to invade Iraq and that "we are now violating the people of this country (Iraq) in ways that we would never accept on our own soil." Eli is stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad with JVB Bravo Company, 1-149 Infantry of the Kentucky Army National Guard and intends to seek a discharge as a conscientious objector. If he so much as suggests to another soldier that they join him, it will be Mutiny. As it is right now, it is just failure to obey a lawful order and maybe peripheral charges.
#1
Eli is obviously a f*ck-stick & a coward. All he need do is read the 1991 cease fire agreement that Hussein signed to realize we are fully justified in occupying Iraq.
#2
No, he didn't put himself at "great personal risk", he put his comrades at risk. If he didn't suggest to another soldier to join him, then it shows he was never that serious about his "beliefs", just someone else who wants their 5 minutes.
Go ahead, Eli, go for the mutiny, then you'll get 15 minutes, CHICKENSH*T
#3
If you read his journal you will discover that his decision is POLITCAL and not a spiritual one. I hope they build a big set of gallows and hang this traitor from them.
#4
Now we need a trial so Eli's defense can produce proof that Eli is correct OR, that Eli was misled by a treasonous media and subsequent trials for media participants. Words are cheap, where's the proof that this war is illegal, and unjustified ?
#8
Eli is stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad with JVB Bravo Company, 1-149 Infantry of the Kentucky Army National Guard
"I have been in Iraq for over a year. I have served in combat. I have been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, for my actions in Combat. I have been recommended for other medals, that I will now probably never see (nor do I want)....
"It would have been a lot "easier" for me to simply keep doing combat missions for a couple more weeks, and be done with things. Moral convictions are not based on timing or convenience, and I thank all of you for your being here for me now."
Very queer. After over a year in combat in Iraq, a few weeks short of rotating home, now he suddenly decides this won't do? I wonder if he suddenly got a Dear John letter or something...
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. may be able to reduce combat forces in Iraq by next spring if Iraq's own security forces continue to grow and improve, a senior American commander said Friday. He denied reports the U.S. is arming Sunni insurgent groups to help in the fight against al-Qaida.
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top day-to-day commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, did not predict any reductions in U.S. forces but said such redeployments may be feasible by spring. There are currently 156,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon from his headquarters outside Baghdad, Odierno gave an update on the U.S. offensives under way in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad and in areas south and west of the capital. He said U.S. and Iraqi troops have made important progress.
``I think if everything goes the way it's going now, there's a potential that by the spring we will be able to reduce forces, and Iraq security forces could take over,'' Odierno said. ``It could happen sooner than that. I don't know.''
He also cautioned that, because the insurgents in Iraq have proven so resilient and adaptive, making any prediction is risky. ``There's so many things that could happen between now and then,'' he said, referring to next spring. Odierno also said it's too early to say how long the recent addition of almost 30,000 U.S. troops should be maintained. The overall U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, is due to report to Washington in September on what the troop buildup is accomplishing, and he has said he intends also to recommend a way forward.
Odierno said the massive week-old series of operations in and around Baghdad would continue through the summer. ``We have already begun attacking the enemy from multiple directions in a way that I believe he will not be able to resist,'' he said of the new offensive aimed at defeating al-Qaida insurgents and extremists, cleaning out their safe havens.
Not arming Sunni insurgents
Odierno also said that while coalition forces are cooperating with some Sunni militants, they are not arming them - something observers caution could come back to haunt U.S. troops later. ``I want to make one thing very clear: We are not arming these groups,'' Odierno said. ``We just took a hard look at this and the best I can tell, we armed 10 security detachment personnel for a mayor in one town because he was being threatened.
``We did give him 10 AK-47s; beyond that, we have not given weapons to any insurgent groups,'' he said. ``They have plenty of weapons.''
Odierno had announced in a Pentagon press conference last month that commanders were reaching out and trying to negotiate cease-fires and other agreements with tribal groups and others who might be fed up with al-Qaida in their country. Since then, there have been reports that the move included arming and training Sunni militants in the fight against al-Qaida. ``We had a group that used to be part of the 1920 Revolutionary Brigade, which has helped us in Baqouba. We did not supply them with weapons,'' he said. ``They showed us in one area, in one day, 16 deep-buried (bombs), which protected our forces. And what did they want? They wanted us to help them to defeat al-Qaida in their neighborhoods.''
Commanders also reached out to Sunnis in Radwaniyah, south of Baghdad. ``We are now working with them. We have not given them weapons,'' Odierno said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
...or may not. So far it appears that Petraeus has been given the authority to make the call on troop requirements till January 2009. There's also the little issue of Iran....
Representatives of the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers will meet Tuesday in Jerusalem, a Russian envoy said Friday, according to the Interfax news agency.
Sergei Yakovlev, a Russian Foreign Ministry envoy for Middle East peacemaking, said the envoys "will discuss the situation in the region, the talks for the Quartet and plans of action for the future," Interfax reported.
A higher-level meeting of officials from the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations - will have taken place Monday in Egypt. That meeting was delayed to allow Quartet officials time to assess changes in the region after Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip. The meeting will be of lower-level envoys, spokeswoman Miri Eisin said. It is to take place a day after Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian get together in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Friday authorized the government to review all private organizations, a step that might enable him to shut down dozens of Hamas-allied groups in the West Bank. Abbas' decree asked the interior minister to review the legal status of all non-governmental organizations, or NGOs. It also gave these groups a week to re-register.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Hamas
A senior Hamas official said Friday evening that Fatah-affiliated security services gathered and passed on information about members in the Palestinian Authority to the US and Israel.
Khalil al-Haya told Israel Radio that Fatah operatives were also involved in the assassination of Hamas members.
In late May of this year Palestinians claimed that an IAF missile had struck al-Haya's home and that six of the eight people killed in the resulting blast were his family members.
The IDF rejected the Palestinian claims and said that the strike was on a terror cell and had killed five cell members alongside three bystanders. One of those killed was Samah Faranwa, a known Hamas operative involved in the recent Kassam rocket fire on Sderot as well as the Independence Day kidnapping attempt.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas authorized the government to review all private organizations, a step that might enable him to shut down dozens of Hamas-allied groups in the West Bank.
Abbas' decree asked the interior minister to review the legal status of all non-governmental organizations, or NGOs. It also gave these groups a week to re-register.
Also Friday, A top Fatah security commander resigned over his failure to prevent Hamas' takeover of Gaza, Palestinian officials said.
Abbas accepted the resignation of Rashid Abu Shbak, who headed the Fatah-linked Internal Security organization in Gaza and the West Bank, officials in Abbas' office announced Friday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Long hated by members of Hamas for his role in crackdowns against the Islamic group, Abu Shbak became the target of criticism from his own men after Fatah's forces collapsed in Gaza last week, allowing Hamas to seize full control of the coastal territory.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Hamas
#1
Fatah are traitors to Islamic/Palestinian cause and should all be killed.
Hamas are traitors to Palestinian national cause and should all be killed.
A key body of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) urged President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday to call early national elections, a move that would deepen his split with Hamas Islamists.
Abbas, who dissolved the Hamas-led government after the Islamist group took over Gaza last week, convened the PLOs key Palestine Central Council on Wednesday to rally support for a new emergency cabinet that has been welcomed in the West. The 115-strong body said in a final statement that it agreed in closed-door session that Abbas, who heads the PLO, should secure appropriate conditions to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in the nearest possible time.
Palestinians vote separately for president - who can rule by decree - and the 133-seat Palestinian Legislative Council. The next elections are scheduled for 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under: Fatah
KAUAI, Hawaii, June 22, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY -- A Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-produced Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) successfully engaged a ballistic missile target outside the earth's atmosphere during a flight test over the Pacific Ocean.
Launched from the USS DECATUR (DDG 73), the SM-3 Block IA destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile target that had been launched from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii. This flight test marked the first time that a SM-3 was fired from an Aegis destroyer. In previous tests, the missile was launched from Aegis cruisers. It was the third intercept of a medium-range target with a separating re-entry warhead and the ninth successful intercept for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program. Two successful BMD tests in one day. Sen. Levin (D, North Korea) will be annoyed.
The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency shot down a dummy target missile over the southern Pacific Ocean during a test of the U.S. missile defense shield early Saturday, according to an agency spokeswoman.
First, a dummy ballistic missile was fired from a U.S. mobile launch platform in the Pacific Ocean in a simulated attack. Moments later, an interceptor missile was fired from the agency's missile range facility on Hawaii's Kauai Island and struck the dummy warhead over the Pacific Ocean, military footage showed.
The mobile, ground-based system is designed to protect the United States from short to intermediate-range high altitude ballistic missile attacks in the North American region, agency spokeswoman Pam Rogers said. The system "intercepts missiles that are shorter range and at the end of their flight trajectory. It is part of the ballistic missile defense system, a layered system that is designed to intercept all types of missiles in all phases of flights," Rogers said.
This particular short to intermediate-range interceptor system has been tested four times a year since 2005. "This was our first test since we moved equipment in October from the White Sands missile range in New Mexico ... everything went exceedingly well," Rogers said.
In September, the agency successfully tested its long-range ballistic missile interceptor system, which it said was the most realistic test since the tests started in 2001. That interceptor system was designed to knock out missiles that could, for instance, be launched in a surprise strike from nations as far away as North Korea.
Ali Larijani, the chairman of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, denied in an interview with Newsweek that Iran was providing arms to the Hamas. He admitted, however, that his country was funneling finances to the Islamic group, as well as to Hizbullah. "We do support Hizbullah and Hamas, that is right," Larijani said. "But these two are not terrorist groups. These are the two groups that are defending their own land."
In the interview Larijani also responded to American allegations that Iran was engaging the United States military via proxies such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, and made the claim that "some NATO members are supplying the Taliban behind the scenes in Afghanistan."
In response to a question regarding Sen. Joseph Lieberman's recent statement that Iran was training Iraqi fighters on Iraqi soil, Larijani replied vehemently that the US should provide proof that Iran was conducting such activities. "Where are these camps located? Please ask Mr. Lieberman to give the address of these camps," Larijani said. "If these camps are supposed to be along our borders, then there would be insecurity along our borders It seems that the Americans are somehow trapped in a hole and they are digging themselves further in. They should come out of the hole."
Larijani, who is also Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, was asked what his country's response would be were further sanctions to be placed upon it. "Let's assume they would be willing to pursue this course," the nuclear attaché said. "They can pass another resolution, and we would make another, longer stride. Therefore they cannot solve the Iranian nuclear program."
Larijani declined to divulge what such a "stride" in Iran's nuclear program would entail. "There is a Persian proverb that says if you can open up a knot with your fingers, why should you open it with your teeth?" he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11 views]
Top|| File under: Hamas
#1
Larijani replied vehemently that the US should provide proof that Iran was conducting such activities. "Where are these camps located? Please ask Mr. Lieberman to give the address of these camps,"
I suspect Mr. Larijani will find out the coordinates when he's handed the butcher's bill in the coming months...
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Friday his country was ready to compromise on its contentious atomic program, but offered no specifics as he entered a meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Expectations were low from the talks between Iran's Ali Larijani and the IAEA's Mohamed ElBaradei. On Saturday, Larijani is due to meet with Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief.
Diplomats familiar with the issue suggested Iran may be looking for no more than a platform to show it was serious about negotiating differences over its nuclear activities, even while refusing to give on the key international demand, a stop to uranium enrichment. "We are unaware that he is bringing anything new to the table," said one of the diplomats, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue with the media.
Larijani was low key going into the Vienna meeting, telling reporters, "Our logic is the logic of talking and compromising."
Still, looking ahead to Saturday's talks between Larijani and Solana, a western official said there were no indications that Iran was ready to budge on enrichment, despite two sets of UN Security Council sanctions, and the possibility of a third, for its refusal to freeze the activity. Instead, that meeting, in Lisbon, Portugal, would likely skirt the issue and focus on Tehran's professed willingness to end its stonewalling of the IAEA on past suspicious activities.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Larijani: Teheran ready to compromise
"We'll settle for killing only 99.99999% of the Jews."
#2
For some reason the mental image that comes to mind is that of someone on live TV who has been told to stretch things because one of the perfomers isn't quite ready yet . . . .
#3
gorb, in television production it's called, "pulling taffy". Picture someone grasping an imaginary object with both hands which they then move apart outwards. Repeat slowly or rapidly to convey urgency and length of time needed to fill.
The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa held a press conference after concluding the meetings of the Arab delegation with the Lebanese leaders. Moussa said the most important issues we discussed were the formation of a government of national unity, creating presidential election climate, national security and ending current tense situation in the country .
Governments of national unity are usually deadlocked from the moment of their inception. Jerry hasn't noticed this in all the years he's been diplomatting.
Governments of national unity serve better chow on account no one gets offended and starts shootin'...
'creating presidential election climate' - man, everyone's trying to get in on the climate change gig.
It'll get very hot, then it'll get very cold.
Moussa has stressed that the Lebanese have agreed on these issues, and this task has opened a number of perspectives, and a national consensus on resuming the dialogue.
That sentence is the semantic equivalent of Diet Coke.
Diet Coke has more integrity.
The Lebanese people want to resolve these issues on their own and without any foreign intervention. There is a desire amongst the Lebanese to get out from the dark tunnel. There was progress in the methodical discussions that we had and there were agreements in principal on some issues and almost reached agreements on pother issues . What is happening in Lebanon concerns the Arab world we at the Arab league feel it is our responsibility to get Lebanon out of the dark tunnel.
Can somebody open a window?
We would have liked to finish this agreement today, in order to end the protests and the political bickering . But our delegation will have to leave today , but will remain ready to return . we feel encouraged even though the mission did not conclude an agreement .
As far as I know, Amr hasn't actually accomplished anything of substance since he split with Dean Martin.
In response to some questions, Moussa said :
There is a written agreement, but requires additional time
Continuing this same framework for an agreement requires some waiting and requires also the removal of some obstacles
.There were many efforts, and the Arab delegation makes policy decisions , but we do not interfere in nor involve ourselves in the details
During our discussions with Speaker Berri he raised some issues , and will continue to communicate with him to reach a solution for these issues.
During our discussions with Sheikh Saad al-Hariri we found him extremely understanding and did not have any preconditions to restart the national dialogue.
There exists an opportunity for a serious dialogue as matters stand today . The Lebanese should start the dialogue soon on the 3 issues we mentioned earlier : The government, the presidency & national security.
Will be visiting Syria soon.
We will come back when everybody is ready to work without obstacles.
We hope and urge that everyone to refrain from escalation of the current tension.
I hope that circumstances will allow us to return to Lebanon and everybody will be ready to end the current conflict.
Moussa met last night with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, afterwards he visited with parliament majority leader Saad Hariri . Political sources are saying that while the anti-Syrian majority is not setting any preconditions for the national dialogue, the pro-Syrian Hezbollah led opposition is insisting on forming a government of national unity as a precondition to any dialogue.
"Do as we say first. Then we can talk."
The parliament majority has reported that the position of the opposition has stiffened yesterday on orders received from Syria. Social Affairs Minister Nayla Moawad accused the opposition of thwarting Arab league mediation effort by demanding a national unity government before talks aimed at ending the crisis. "Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who speaks for the opposition, made a complete about face on Thursday evening," she said. "While he accepted Amr Mussa's proposal for a resumption of dialogue, he made it conditional on the formation of a national unity government. This hardening of the opposition's position is because of last-minute orders from Syria. Under such conditions the chances of the Arab mediation mission succeeding are diminished and impasse looms."
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Hezbollah
#1
I must confess - I clicked on this article just to see the photo. I wasn't disappointed. That guy has a great face for comedy (or is that farce?).
Aid groups are preparing to return Palestinians to the ravaged Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon, now that the fighting between the army and Sunni militant group Fatah al-Islam has ended and Lebanon declared victory. Fatah al-Islam declared unilateral ceasefire following the declaration of victory by Lebanon's Defense minister Elias Murr, but some sporadic fire continued
Tough challenges remain, aid agencies warn. Unexploded ordnance and rubble imperil the refugees' way home. Many houses are ruined and further dangers and diseases lurk in the damaged water and sewage networks, they said.
A group of Palestinian religious leaders were mediating between the army and Fatah al-Islam to end the month-long fighting, which has killed at least 164 people, including 75 soldiers, at least 59 militants and 30 civilians.
And two Red Cross workers who were escorting the mediators
Osama Hamdan, Palestinian party Hamas's representative in Lebanon, said the army was insisting on the surrender of Fatah al-Islam leaders and there was still "no solid news of a solution".
"I can't say that there is anything evident yet, but I hope the mediators can make progress in Nahr al-Bared," he told IRIN. Hamdan is not part of the mediation team, but Hamas, one of the political movements among Lebanon's 400,000-strong Palestinian population, is working with the mediators, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/23/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam
#1
Send them to Syria, and buldoze the remainder of the camp...
Posted by: Abu do you love ||
06/23/2007 14:54 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Absolutely correct, Abu. Show them the true cost of harboring, aiding and abetting terrorists and make them an object lesson for the rest of the refugee camps.
Posted by: Mac ||
06/23/2007 18:13 Comments ||
Top||
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Several Quran teaching schools known as Zawaya (religious brotherhoods), known to teach moderate Islam, called for launching security investigations on students files to preserve these Zawaya from extremist ideas and jihad tendencies that could be spread mostly by more than 18 years old students.
The US House of Representatives approved a foreign aid bill late Thursday with $2.4 billion in military aid to Israel but withholding $200 million in military funds for Egypt until the US Secretary of State certifies that Cairo is working to stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. 
(KCNA) -- Round-table talks, lecture, reading session, film show and photo exhibition were held in the Czech Republic, South Africa and Ethiopia from June 7 to 13 on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of Kim Jong Il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 7th anniversary of the publication of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration. 
An Army officer with a key role in the U.S. military hearings at Guantanamo Bay says they relied on vague and incomplete intelligence and were pressured to declare detainees "enemy combatants," often without any specific evidence. 
A Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader on Friday threatened the British High Commission in Islamabad with a suicide attack if the British government did not withdraw the knighthood title awarded to Salman Rushdie.
The position of the British government remained unchanged over the knighting of Salman Rushdie despite countrywide protests and the National Assembly passing the second resolution here on Friday, seeking withdrawal of the title awarded to the controversial writer. Our position is the same as expressed through a statement on Monday (June 18), said Aidan Liddle, British High Commissions head of press and public affairs. I have nothing to add to the first statement and we stand by whatever was said in the first statement, he said.
Representatives of the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers will meet Tuesday in Jerusalem, a Russian envoy said Friday, according to the Interfax news agency. 
The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency shot down a dummy target missile over the southern Pacific Ocean during a test of the U.S. missile defense shield early Saturday, according to an agency spokeswoman. 
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Friday his country was ready to compromise on its contentious atomic program, but offered no specifics as he entered a meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. 
The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa held a press conference after concluding the meetings of the Arab delegation with the Lebanese leaders. Moussa said the most important issues we discussed were the formation of a government of national unity, creating presidential election climate, national security and ending current tense situation in the country .
The Lebanese people want to resolve these issues on their own and without any foreign intervention. There is a desire amongst the Lebanese to get out from the dark tunnel. There was progress in the methodical discussions that we had and there were agreements in principal on some issues and almost reached agreements on pother issues . What is happening in Lebanon concerns the Arab world we at the Arab league feel it is our responsibility to get Lebanon out of the dark tunnel.
