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Arabia
Al-Haramain official calls for dialogue
2005-02-08
The Saudi treasurer of a US-based charity who has been accused of funding terrorism, has written a letter to the US Congress calling for a dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Washington. A director of the Al-Haramain Foundation, Soliman al-Buthi was placed on the UN list of terrorism financiers and accused of having links to al-Qaida and Usama bin Ladin.

In his letter, al-Buthi warned against the perception in the US that Saudi charities were being used to fund terrorism. "The common United States practice of freezing charities and charitable organisation officials' bank accounts based upon 'secret evidence' only serves to reinforce the image the United States simply wants to end faith-based giving rather than truly rooting out the evils of terror finance," he said in the letter dated 2 February. Giving money to charity, known in Arabic as Zakat, is a tenet of Islam.
Without zakat, the holy men would be in penury...
Al-Haramain Foundation is one of six Islamic charities in the US that have been closed by authorities since the 11 September 2001 attacks. No charge has ever been brought against Buthi in a court of law. Senator George Allen responded to al-Buthi by saying that US policy in Saudi Arabia had so far been successful. "These conjoined efforts have proven to be successful. As you know, with the aid of US officials. Saudi law-enforcement agents have apprehended and/or killed a number of terrorists," Allen wrote in a letter. But Allen did not address any of the unproven and unpublicised accusations against the Saudi or his charitable work.
Dear Sir,

Thank you for your letter of the 16th inst.

Sincerely,
George Allen
Al-Buthi said that he was pleased his letter had been read by senator. "I think it's good," he said referring to Allen's response. "For me I was happy for a member of congress just to read it." Describing himself as one of the "big critics" of groups such as al-Qaida, al-Buthi said he hoped the letter would be the start of a new exchange between the two countries. "The relations between the US and Saudi Arabia have been twisted in another direction," he said. "We would like to open a dialogue. We don't want to open a clash." Al-Buthi also questioned the rationale of the US government's pressure on Islamic charities, and argued that Washington would be in a better position to cut down on security concerns if there was coordination between the directors of such charities and US officials.
Washington would be in an even better position if al-Qaeda surrendered. That's not going to happen, either.
Posted by:Fred

#12  Guests entered her home with large gift bags, containing all the items Jenna had requested - pet food, kitty litter, animal toys and cleaning supplies.
While this may not sound like a 9-year-old's typical birthday wish list, it was exactly what Jenna wanted.
Taken from http://www.newszap.com/articles/2005/01/02/dm/sussex_county/dsn04.txt
For information on special dog gift for dog lovers or gift for your dog, you may go to this website.
Posted by: special dog gift   2005-02-08 3:26:33 AM  

#11  Oh, yea? I've got a goose that thinks one of my dogs is it's mate. Freaks the dog out. Go over to meatismurder and read about it.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2005-02-08 12:15:09 PM  

#10  Just wait 'til Mucky gets here! *lip quivers*
Posted by: Spot   2005-02-08 8:34:52 AM  

#9  I take a day off and this place goes to the dogs....
Posted by: Steve   2005-02-08 8:19:31 AM  

#8  BF skinner may have known sh** about bringing up kids but conditioning works terrifically with Goannas. My Goannas go into a sexual frenzy if they just smell a dog within a 1000 meters. The dogs aren't crazy about it but an un-nammed cable channel is interested in buying the video. So bring it on.
Posted by: phil_b   2005-02-08 7:57:42 AM  

#7  Golly, .com, that English degree really comes in handy at times like this. ;-)

Him and Garrison Keillor.

Phil_b, you leave dogs alone or I'm sending my pack out to find you. They have great noses, they don't give up easily and they are chillingly singleminded when it comes to food.

Plus, they demand to be let up on the sofa, they bark like fiends at the neighbors, they shed, they bring mud in the house and they are cute as the dickens. A few even have some fancy titles they picked up along the way.

Watch out! (heh)
Posted by: true nuff   2005-02-08 7:46:50 AM  

#6  I think we a discussion on the eating characteristics of dog. I've tried it and frankly don't like it. Too 'heaty' as the Chinese say. Now Goanna (Iguana) is a different matter. Yes, it really is like chicken but with a nice chewy texture. All we have to do is cross dogs with Goannas and I think we could be on to something big in the Asian market.
Posted by: phil_b   2005-02-08 7:39:08 AM  

#5  LOL! Sounds just like circa '70s NatLamp.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-02-08 7:37:04 AM  

#4  :) Just couldn't resist, heh. Be gentle with me, lol!
Posted by: .com   2005-02-08 7:13:49 AM  

#3  Golly, .com, that English degree really comes in handy at times like this. ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-02-08 7:09:51 AM  

#2  *sniff*

That was beautiful, TROLL special dog gift, but you failed to tell the whole story...

It was a dark night, as nights go. Stormy, too, as there was a storm which had suddenly sprung up... at least where they were - it had been doing the storming thingy for quite awhile, but since it was moving, well, you get the idea. So, with the storm and all, Jenna invited her two new friends inside - they had already completed the original reason for the visit, comparing their dogs, um, anatomy, and had been happily chatting away for several minutes. But the storm thing, well now, that changed everything as it got Bill and Susan invited inside Jenna's lovely home - inside her defenses. The chill from the air conditioning didn't fully explain the chill Jenna felt as she closed the door behind them, but she shrugged it off as silly. Inviting them into the den, she asked them if they would like a drink, but both said "no, thanks." in voices that further chilled Jenna. Then Bill said, "Jenna, you're quite lovely... don't you agree, Susan?" Susan just smiled her special enigmatic smile - the one that told Bill all he needed to know - Jenna made Susan hot. So Bill began smiling, too - his looked more like a shark, however, and Jenna began to wonder if inviting these two total strangers into her house, having just met them at the Obedience Class that evening, had been such a good idea. Her fears were confirmed when Bill stepped up close to her, too close, and in the most evil voice sweet Jenna had ever heard said, "Strip - and take a four-point stance!" Terrified, Jenna quickly complied, blood racing. Then, confirming her worst fears, Bill growled, "Now bark, bitch! Susan, get the flea collar and Beggin' Strips, we're gonna see what Jenna learned in class!" In a rush, a hot flash, Jenna cried, "Yes! I was getting damned tired of being chilled, let's get this show on the road!"

And they lived happily ever after.

Gets ya right here, y'know? *wipes tear*
Posted by: .com   2005-02-08 4:55:30 AM  

#1  [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]
Posted by: special dog gift TROLL   2005-02-08 3:26:33 AM  

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