Hezbollah International [Archive] - It's Happening Forums

Casey

02-19-2005, 06:52 PM

continued from previous

Ibrahim Ajwa,48 a Jordanian resident, heads the Abu Mousa Fatah terror network in Amman.

The Abu Mousa faction broke away from the Fatah mainstream organisation
in 1983, its leader, a former Fatah colonel resides in Damascus and maintains close ties with Hezbollah.

The recent arrest of three Nablus-based Fatah activists-all brothers-, led to links of extensive financial assistance rendered to the Palestinian Intifada by the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Channeling funds through Hezbollah operatives in Jordan, huge sums were transferred to secret Ramallah based bank accounts, some of which were seized by the controversial IDF/ISA operation last February.

On July 2003, Fadi Nazmi Hamdi Abuda, a key Fatah Tanzim operative was arrested in an IDF raid. Fadi served as general secretary of the Fatah student's movement, the "Shabibah" at Al-Najah university Nablus, one of the key centers of Palestinian terrorist activities in the West Bank. Under interrogation, Fadi revealed his contacts with Fouad Balbisi, a Fatah activist operating from Amman, Jordan. Balbisi acts as coordinator of links between Fatah and Iran, funneling funds via Hezbollah bank accounts in Beirut.
Another contact of Fadi was Ali Hussein Saleh, a key operative with the Lebanon based IRGC. Israeli intelligence suspected Saleh to act as liaison between Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist cells in the West Bank. Last August, Hussein Saleh was killed by a mysterious explosion travelling in his car. The ISA report mentioned Saleh being the Lebanese contact to Kamel Taha Ahmad Ghanem, heading the Fatah Tanzim cell in Yassir Arafat's Muqata compound.

In December 2003 the ISA achieved a major coup, which could have lasting effect on Hezbollah activities in the West Bank. In a night raid on Hamas cells in Ramallah, last December, ISA arrested Haldun Ruhi Asfour Bargouti, of Syrian origin. Haldun told his interrogators that Hezbollah was attempting to infiltrate cell phones with inbuilt advanced GPS to Hamas. This new device, which can be operated from a car cigarette lighter socket, is highly accurate and experts believe that it could be used to range mortars or rockets onto high profile targets.

But Hezbollah activities in establishing its undercover cells in the Palestinian West Bank are not its only effort. For years, especially after Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon, Hezbollah has been trying to build its independent infrastructure among the Israeli Arab community focusing foremost on the Galilee.

Two Israeli Arabs from Reine, near Nazareth gave evidence of their contacts with Hezbollah agents. Ghassan Athamlah was recruited to Hezbollah by a Jordanian representative of the Abu Mousa faction. Athamlah then sent his younger brother, Sirhan to a Hezbollah training camp in Lebanon, where he was taught the 'art' of sabotage, using high-grade C-4 explosives and weapons training. Sirhan was directed to perpetrate terrorist acts against Israeli targets, but was arrested on his return to Israel.

Hezbollah also recuited several Druse residents from villages in the north of Israel and the Golan Heights. The Alawite border village of Ghajar, which is divided between between Israel and Lebanon has become the key center of trans-border drug and arms smuggling operations.

In July 2002 a gang of drug dealers from Nazareth and Ghajar was arrested. Suspected of illegally selling computer software, maps and military equipment into Lebanon, and in return smuggled explosives, including Claymore mines from Hezbollah depots into the West Bank, they revealed their activities to their interrogators.

Their information led to the arrest of an IDF officer named Omar al-Hayb from the village of Beit-Zarzir, who had maintained long-time relations with Lebanese drug baron Kamil Nahara.

Israeli and Lebanese drug dealers often act as couriers between Hezbollah and their Israel based clandestine cells. One of these links was uncovered recently, when two detainees revealed smuggling Israeli mobile phones into Lebanon, with which Israeli cell-phone networks could be monitored. One of these was found on the body of a slain terrorist killed in an attack on northern Israel.

Last, but not least, Hezbollah has been involved in at least three major arms smuggling attempts by sea. The first of these was carried out on the MS Santorini, which was sized on on its third trip to Gaza on 6 May 2001.
Some interesting information was revealed since by a recent declassified ISA report, on this incident.

One of the Santorini crew, Dib Muhammad Rashid Awita told his interrogators that the original boat was registered in Syria under the name of MS Abd al-Hadi, based at Tartus port. Bought by Hezbollah agents and registered in Lebanon under its new name the Santorini evaded the Israeli navy blockade several times until finally caught on May 6, 2001.

The Santorini's last voyage was carefully prepared under a strict military operation, due to its valuable load. No less than 25 Hezbollah operatives secured the beach head, all nearby access roads were sealed off and the boat sailed escorted by Hezbollah Zodiacs until reaching high sea. In overall charge of the operation was Hezbollah commander Hajj Bassam.

A year later the IDF intercepted the largest yet Iranian-Hezbollah sponsored shipment of arms by seizing the Karine A in the Red Sea.

In May 2003 Israel captured an Egyptian fishing boat off Gaza, the Abu Hassan. On bord was Masalem Mussa Abu Amra a known Hezbollah explosive expert sent to Hamas in Gaza to instruct advanced IED technology. In his possession were found no less than 35 CD disks displaying instructions on explosive charge construction.

Hamas and Hezbollah Alliance in Gaza
Hezbollah's aims to infiltrate Hamas have for years been high on their strategic list. However, as long as Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was alive, its role was limited mainly to provide technical support to the Hamas military activities.

Yassin was not merely the principal founder of Hamas, but its prime spiritual leader, dominating its disciples by his charisma and reputation. Yassin strived to maintain Hamas independence throughout his leadership tenure, even when incarcerated in Israeli jails. He strongly opposed attempts by Iran and Hezbollah to directly intervene into Hamas activities, although he willingly accepted their technical and to some extent, after the closure of Saddam Hussein's lifeline, limited Iranian financial support.

All this changed rapidly after his demise. His immediate successor, Dr Abdelaziz Rantisi, quickly invited Hezbollah to play a guiding role in the Hamas Gaza branch, which was denied to them by Sheikh Yassin. The prospects of a dangerous 'unholy alliance' between Hezbollah and Hamas, was probably the decisive factor behind Israel's decision to eliminate Rantisi only shortly after his taking over the Hamas leadership in April.

But Rantisi's demise did not halt the Hezbollah gaining more and more influence in the Gaza Strip. Its image among the Gaza masses skyrocketed following Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's monumental achievement to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in the dubious January exchange, something that the PNA had never managed to attain during all its negotiations with Israel.

Hezbollah's absorption of Hamas in Gaza, which is rapidly gaining momentum, will have enormous implications, as Sharon's disengagment plan is shaping into a timetable. While the Israelis are discussing pulling their troops out of the Gaza Strip and struggling with the settlers, whom they will have to evacuate, the Hezbollah is solidifying its hold. Their success in gaining a strong foothold before the Israelis leave, will render them to become the de facto power in Gaza, regardless of wether Hamas or the PNA will be in nominal control.

Having the experience from 18 years guerilla war against the IDF, the financial backing from Tehran and its ever growing links to Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, it hardly needs lots of imagination to estimate the new threat, which Israel will face, once Hezbollah deploys its rockets along the 80km border fence in Gaza.

Sofar, Hamas has been unable to extend the range of their Qassam rockets to reach Ashkelon, although a year ago first attempts to launch a 9km rocket did reach its southern outskirts. Hamas rocket experts, aided by Hezbollah instructors have managed to develop a +17km (?) Qassam- 3 rocket, which was test fired last August into the Mediterranean. This rocket could hit Ashkelon's center, in which over a hundred thousand Israelis live.

On June 18 Israel radio reported an advanced type of Qassam rocket hitting Sderot east of the Gaza Strip. Police officials mentioned this to be the first Nasser-3 rocket, carrying a heavier explosive payload, but maintaining its predecessors's limited range. The Nasser-3 could indicate that more developments in rocketry could be expected, as new technologies supplied by Hezbollah experts become available.

But a major threat of strategic proportions will become reality, once Hezbollah manages to enter its Katyusha type rockets into the Strip.
Israeli intelligence has already detected hidden depots of BM-21 rockets in northern Sinai, ready to be smuggled into the Gaza Strip. With their deployment, vital strategic targets, such as the power station at Ashkelon as well as Israel's major port of Ashdod will come within rocket fire range.
Should this trend not be eliminated in time, Israel will face a situation, which could threaten their north from Hezbollah in Lebanon, their center from Hezbolla-Fatah cells in the West Bank and Hezbollah-Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

No nation wishing to survive can tolerate such a mortal threat, without reacting drastically.

Casey

02-19-2005, 06:53 PM

continued from previous

Although a little known terrorist group calling itself "Jund Ash Sham" claimed responsibility for the killing, Hezbollah immediately accused Mossad.
__________________________________________________ ___________________

Jund As Sham is a Sunni splinter group of Osbat al-Nour, which is considered more radical than Hamas and PIJ. Active from the Palestinian refugee camp Ayn al Hilwah on the Lebanese coast, under the 'wings' of Colonel Mounir Maqdah, the camp's strongman. Some of its members include remnants of the disbanded Takfir wal Hijra group, which were involved in the 2000 clashes with Lebanese security forces at Dinnieh, north of Tripoli. Unconfirmed reports indicate relations with an Iraqi active terrorist cell named Jund ash-Islam, which is linked to Osama Bin Laden's AlQaeda.__________________________________________ ___________________________
After the death of Awali who had been a Hezbollah activist directing Palestinian terrorist squads in the PA-administered territories, an enraged Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah publicly announced, for the first time, that his organization was providing support for the insurgents in "occupied Palestine."
In the eulogy he delivered at Awali's funeral, Nasrallah said: "Today we declare Ghaleb Awali a shaheed [martyr for the sake of Allah] of Lebanon. He is also a shaheed of Palestine. That is because Ghaleb Awali was, like Ali Hussein Salah (killed by a similar blast in August 2003) , one of those who devoted the last years of their lives to helping our brothers in occupied Palestine. We do not wish to hide the truth. We state it openly and proudly. Today Ghaleb Awali died for Palestine. He died for Jerusalem. He died for Al-Aqsa. He died confronting the Zionist enterprise…" (Al-Manar Hezbollah TV, Lebanon, July 19, 2004).

Nasrallah's speech drew harsh criticism from within Lebanon . An editorial in the popular Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar ( Al-Nahar Internet site, July 21, 2004) attacked the speech and the negative influence Hezbollah's aid to Palestinian terrorism was likely to have on Syria and Lebanon. Al-Nahar commentator Sarkis Naoum wrote,

"Worse than what Nasrallah said about [Ghaleb] Awali's death was that he revealed his role in the organization and exposed his part in coordinating between the Islamic resistance in Lebanon and the Palestinian resistance in occupied Palestine. The gravity of the revelation, which was like a kind of admission, is that it confirmed the long-standing Israeli and American accusations that the organization [Hezbollah] 'is involved' in the Palestinian issue and in the Palestinian resistance, arms it, trains it, funds it, and recruits members…"

Hezbollah's Infiltration into the Westbank and Gaza Strip
Although Hezbollah efforts to infiltrate Israel are not new, the current trend of its growing involvement in actively supporting the Intifada is causing the Israeli security community considerable concern.

In a recently declassified document, the Israel Security Agency ( ISA-formerly GSS), renders a rare glimpse into the makings of Hezbollah's activities in the West Bank and Gaza.

In a large scale seek and grab operation in the Nablus Qasbah, Saturday June 24, the IDF oncovered a secret hide-out in a concrete underground bunker. In it were hiding the three top leaders of the local Al Aqsa Brigades, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. All were killed after a short firefight by handgrenades lobbed into the cache.Naef Abu Sharh, the head of the Al Aqsa brigade in Nablus and a key link to Hezbollah in the West Bank, was the prime target of the raid. According to ISA reports, Abu Sharh maintained close relations with Nafez A'araj, a former Palestinian Islamic Jihad activists and currently Hezbollah link in Gaza, who manages the Hezbollah sponsored Al Ansar Charity Association which is funding families of suicide bombers and Palestinian prisoners. Al Ansar personal accounts found in Nablus banks were under the name of Yamam Faraj, a senior fugitive, head of the PFLP military infrastructure in Nablus, as well as Naef Abu Sharh were recently uncovered in a raid.

On 15 December 2003, the ISA had uncovered a dangerous terrorist cell in the Gaza Strip which was directly operated by Hezbollah agents. The leader of this cell, Shadi Abu Alhatzin, a 22-year old Khan Yunis resident, was arrested while preparing a remote controlled unmanned aerial platform packed with explosives to attack an Israeli position. His personal details are of interest, as they indicate a dangerous trend which is developing in the territories.

Alhatzin, married and father of two children was born in Yemen in 1981 to a Palestinian father and lebanese mother. He came with his family to Gaza in 1991 settling in Khan Yunis studying pharmacology at the Khan Yunis technical college. Joining the Fatah-affiliated " Shabiba" youth movement, he received his first military training, in Hamas summer camps.

Under ISA interrogation Alhatzin admitted that he first became exposed to Hezbollah activities by watching Al Manar TV broadcasts, which listed an e-mail address for interested candidates whishing to join the organisation.
In 2000 Shadi made contact with Hezbollah via a Lebanese relative, Hassan Dukmak, who willingly sent him funds to finance his activities in Gaza.
A local Hezbollah agent then took over jointly establishing the Khan Yunis cell, which perpetrated several rocket, mortar and shooting attacks in the Gaza Strip against Israeli settlements and IDF positions. Alhatzin's links with his Hezbollah contacts in Lebanon were carried out via e-mail, which instructed him to expand the Khan Yunis cell, enhancing its capabilities.
In 2002 Shadi received instructions to build an explosive-laden model airplane in order to fly this into an Israeli position ( see JTIC 24 February 2003 Exploding Toy Planes). Several thousand dollars were transferred to secret accounts in Gaza banks to purchase machine tools and cover production costs.

During that time, Alhatzin tried twice to dispatch personal emissaries to Lebanon for special sabotage training. Bassam Abu Nimr, 38 from Khan Yunis and Ismail Garabeli, 30 from Rafah-were arrested by the ISA on their return from Egypt.

Garabeli admitted to his interrogators, that he met with a Hezbollah agent in Cairo, who gave him $700 and a flight ticket to Turkey, where he would be ferried to a Hezbollah training camp in the Lebanese Beqa'a Valley.
For several years Hezbollah has been instructing Palestinian activists in its IRGC- run training camps. Hamas recruits underwent basic military and sabotage courses at the Iranian Revolutionary Guards training facility at Jenata Camp in the Beqa'a, coordinated by Brigadier General Ali Reza Tamizi, who was the officer in charge of the IRGC in Lebanon. Included in the instruction program was the operation of SA-7 Strela, short range Katyusha rockets and shoulder launched RPG. A key figure in this Iranian sponsored activity, was the charismatic Fatah commander in Lebanon, Colonel Munir Al-Makdah, the actual go-between Hamas and Hezbollah.

The lethal results of this advanced training had already surfaced in 2002, when Hamas managed to blow up two IDF Merkava Mk3 tanks by ultra-heavy IEDs culminating last May, by the fearful destruction of the two IDF explosive laden M113 APCs through RPG in Zaytoun and Rafah.

The February 2004 bulletin issued by the Center for Special Studies (CSS), which is the official organ of the Israeli intelligence community, reveals the growing level of Hezbollah's involvement in a special study.
According to CSS, Jordan has become a significant platform for launching Hezbollah intelligence activities in the West Bank.

continued...

Casey

02-19-2005, 06:53 PM

http://www.defense-update.com/2005_01_16_defense-update_archive.html
Monday, January 17, 2005
Hamas-Hezbollah: An Unholy Alliance

One of the most dangerous developments is currently emerging, following Israel's elimination of the Gaza Hamas leadership, earlier this year.
Having created a power vaccum in the traditional Islamic fundamentalist organisations, it paved the way for the Iranian sponsored Hezbollah to enter the Palestinian Intifada as an active player.

This trend, which has been monitored by Israeli intelligence since 2001, has grown into dangerous proportions after the removal of Saddam Hussein, who had maintained, for many years, the dominant funding source fueling the Palestinian campaign.

Now, with Saddam's regime gone, the Tehran Ayathollahs have moved into this void, becoming the major source, through their Lebanese Hezbollah proxies, providing financial, technical and moral support for the Palestinian factions fighting Israel.

Behind this move, the Ayathollas aim to achieve, their sofar unattained strategic goal, to gain a strong foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, propagating their political influence in this region. The so-called "Hezbollahland" in South Lebanon, which is under full Shi'ite control since May 2000, when the IDF withdrew from its 'Security Zone', is already a firmly established Iranian outpost, with Hezbollah threatening Israel's northern region through its huge arsenal of short, medium and long range rockets, supplied by Iran.

Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan for the Gaza Strip is actually providing Tehran's leadership with the second stage of their strategic plan, to confront Israel in a two-, if not three-frontal strategic threat, a perfect scene for a shrewd political blackmailing campaign, which could place the Ayathollahs as dominant actors in the future Mid-East powerplay.
Hamas fits neatly into the Iranian plans, playing a dominant role in Middle Eastern politics. By filling the power vacuum created in Hamas by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's assassination, Hezbollah was given the unique opportunity to consolidate its position in the Gaza Strip.

A repeat performance of the UN sponsored 'Blue Line' fiasco along the Lebanese-Israeli international border could easily follow under the chaotic turmoil, which will certainly emerge after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The Lebanese authorities, unable, or refusing to take control of South Lebanon in May 2000, created Hezbollaland shaping soon, with Iranian help and Syrian acquiesce, into a dangerous strategic threat to Israel.
In the Gaza strip there is not even a central authority available. The 'streets' are controlled by armed militias, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the the Popular Resistance Committees, all currently funded by Hezbollah. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA), although still maintaining a strong security apparatus,

is actually a 'Paper Tiger', unable, or unwilling to exercise its power against the powerful local Islamic fundamentalist warlords.

The coffers of the Palestinian Authority are virtually empty. The corrupt Fatah-Tunis leadership has wasted most of the huge financial assistance to fill its own pockets.

Thus, with the PNA virtually bankrupt, Iran, Syria using their proxy Hezbollah, are now more and more dominating the local scene in all aspects of life in the occupied territories. The once central leadership in Ramallah, has lost its control to local warlords and in the West Bank cities, total chaos rules the streets.

Such a situation can only forebode more dangerous escalation in the endless circle of violence, enhancing the suffering of the two people involved, but would ideally serve the vicious goals in Tehran.

Hezbollah publicly admits supporting Palestinian terrorists
Until recently, Hezbollah was careful to play down the aid it gave Palestinian terrorists and certainly never boasted of it in public.

Then, on the morning of July 19, a bomb killed Ghaleb Awali, 40, outside his home in the Muadad quarter, right in the so-called Shi'ite inner sanctum stronghold of Beirut. According to intelligence sources, Ghaleb Awali ( his nome de guerre "Hajj") headed the highly secret Hezbollah "Special group" working under guidance of the notorious Imad Mughniyeh. Awali was in direct contact with senior Fatah-Tanzim officials in the West Bank and Hamas leaders in the Gaza strip.

continued...

Petronas

02-20-2005, 02:06 PM

Leader of Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrullah, Tells Lebanese to Cool Anti-Syria Line
Sat Feb 19, 2005 02:50 PM ET

Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrullah warned Saturday that popular agitation against the Syrian presence in Lebanon after the killing of former Prime Minister Rafia al-Hariri could plunge the country back into civil war. Opposition leaders are urging Lebanese to join a peaceful "independence uprising" to free their country from Syria's military and political dominance, intensifying a war of words after Hariri's assassination in a huge bomb blast Monday.

"God forbid, if the roof collapses, it collapses on all of us," Nasrullah told at least 100,000 Shi'i Muslims gathered for Ashoura, the most solemn event in their calendar. "Today we are responsible for a nation that came out of the civil war ... but we face acute problems, especially this year and in the past few months," the black-turbaned cleric said. "As Lebanese, we have no choice for remedying our crises and problems except to discuss and meet, even if we are angry and tense," he said. "We must not repeat the mistakes of the past."

Hizbullah, backed by Syria and Iran, is now a formidable Lebanese political party as well as an anti-Israel guerrilla force that still controls much of south Lebanon since it put an end to a 22-year of Israeli occupation when it forced Israeli forces to withdraw from South Lebanon, in May 2000.

The death of Hariri, a wealthy Sunni Muslim businessman, sparked an outpouring of public grief mixed with anger against Syria, instinctively held responsible by many Lebanese. The anti-Syrian sentiments now uniting many of Lebanon's Christians, Druze and Sunnis have not been voiced by Shi'i leaders counted among the most loyal allies of Damascus. Shi'is form the country's biggest religious community.

Damascus, which denies involvement in Hariri's killing, echoed Nasrullah's warning. Its allies have often justified Syria's troop presence as a barrier against renewed civil war. "We agree on how critical the situation is in Lebanon and that it must not be used to stir civil strife," Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara said in Damascus. Hizbullah, the only militia to retain its guns openly since the civil war ended, could come under intense pressure to disarm, in line with Israeli-prompted US and UN demands, if Syria left. Nasrullah, who visited Hariri's family Friday night to give condolences, called for a speedy investigation into his killing but rejected international involvement in Lebanon. ...

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2005%20News%20archives/February/19%20n/Leader%20of%20Hizbullah,%20Hassan%20Nasrullah,%20T ells%20Lebanese%20to%20Cool%20Anti-Syria%20Line.htm

The 801

02-22-2005, 11:19 PM

Lebanon is convulsing politically. I think we are about to see political inertia at an attempt at a democratic revolution. Truly the greatness of Hariri and his message and spirit has lead to this. Pretty impressive stuff to see happen anymore. But this is weird. Or the Turkish press is making stuff up.

Lebanese opposition urges Hezbollah to join up
AFP: 2/22/2005
BEIRUT, Feb 22 (AFP) - A leading member of Lebanon's opposition called on Tuesday on Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shiite fundamentalist group Hezbollah to join forces.

"Nasrallah, a great Lebanese who freed Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation, should join the caravan of those who want liberty and independence," Druze leader and MP Walid Jumblatt told journalists.

Nasrallah had called on the opposition Saturday to engage in dialogue to resolve the political crisis following the February 14 assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri.

The opposition has stepped up its campaign to oust Syrian forces from Lebanon, blaming Damascus and the pro-Syrian government in Beirut of having a hand in the murder of Hariri

"Lebanon is no longer sovereign because all of its institutions are appendixes of the intelligence services in Anjar," he said, in reference to the headquarters in eastern Lebanon of Syria's military intelligence.

Hezbollah, a political and military movement, is backed by both Syria and Iran. Its militia spearheaded the guerilla campaign that led to Israel withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon in 2000 after two decades of occupation.

02/22/2005 14:44 GMT - AFP
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=37628

The 801

02-24-2005, 02:50 PM

hezbollah is in a bad position over what is happening. They can't take a position with out getting between there sponcers syria and iran, and their outreach to the public. The chickens have come to roost...

Hizbullah won't take sides in rift
Qassem says issue of disarming resistance not up for discussion

BEIRUT: Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday his party would not take sides between the opposition and the loyalists, denying that the Ain al-Tineh pro-Syrian gathering replaces the anti-government Bristol gathering.

Speaking on the Arabic News Broadcast (ANB) to a group of students representing different political affiliations from the loyalists and the opposition, Qassem added that the issue of disarming the resistance group was not a subject of discussion between any groups because the arms are not confronting any other Lebanese armed force.

"Why does Hizbullah reject the opposition's call to join the 'forces of change and democracy?' The answer is that we do not believe in such definition to describe the rift between the different Lebanese parties; in this respect, we are not talking about volume and strength," Qassem said.

"If we join one side it means we cancel out the other side; both represent factions of the Lebanese people from all sects and religions," he added.

Qassem said that Hizbullah did not extend President Emile Lahoud's mandate in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 1559.

"The resolution was prepared earlier in June by France and stipulated only the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon. When they needed the U.S. to pass the resolution, they added the issue of disarming the resistance," Qassem added.

Asked if Hizbullah would submit to the will of a new majority choosing to disarm all militias including his party, Qassem said that the question was wrong.

"The question should never be whether to disarm Hizbullah or not but rather which political stance should the Lebanese people and their political parties take to safeguard the country against any Israeli threats or invasion," he added.

"It is a political question whereby each party expresses its views. Some would advocate a diplomatic approach, others would suggest a military deterrence," Qassem said. "We believe the threat is imminent and we must keep our arms to defend ourselves."

As to Monday's vote of confidence session in Parliament, Qassem would not reveal Hizbullah stance. "We should keep our cards covered; why expose one stance or the other before the vote of confidence is laid out on the table," he said.

In all cases, according to him, Hizbullah would not vote out the government on the grounds of holding it responsible for assassinating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"We consider the government responsible for a thorough and effective investigation into the murder. If they fail to do so, then we hold them responsible for this failure," he said.

"So far we believe the government is doing what is within its capacity and capabilities, hoping to use the expertise and cooperation from other countries and international agencies," he said.

http://www.lebanonwire.com/0502/05022404DS.asp

The 801

02-28-2005, 12:43 PM

Ugg, A world net Daily report....

Sources: Hezbollah paid
up to $100,000 for attack
Palestinians finger Lebanese terror group in Tel Aviv bombing

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Posted: February 26, 2005
11:49 a.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

TEL AVIV – The suicide bombing here last night that killed four Israelis and wounded over 50 was funded and directed by Hezbollah forces, which may have paid up to $100,000 for the attack, security sources told WorldNetDaily.

A suicide bomber detonated a powerful explosive, reportedly about 66 pounds, around 11:30 p.m. last night among patrons waiting outside the seaside nightclub Stage in the packed Herbert Samuel promenade popular with young Israelis.

The three main terror groups – Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades – denied involvement, and none hung the customary posters of congratulations at the bomber's home. An Islamic Jihad cell had earlier taken credit for the blast, but the faction's leadership in the Gaza Strip denied any knowledge, considered an unusual response if indeed the group was responsible.

The bomber was identified as Abdullah Badran, 21, a university student from the village of Deir al-Ghusun near the West Bank town of Tulkarem. Earlier today, Israeli forces arrested two of Badran's brothers and four neighbors, including a local mosque preacher. It was not immediately clear whether all were suspects, or if the brothers were taken to provide DNA samples for identification of the bomber.

Israeli security sources, working in part with Palestinian preventative security, say a group of terrorists, mostly from Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and some from Islamic Jihad, working for Hezbollah, was responsible for the blast. They say Hezbollah has created a terror apparatus of Palestinian militants in the West Bank receiving full-time salaries from the Lebanese group.

Palestinian security the past few weeks has intercepted a series of communications, including phone calls and e-mails, between Hezbollah and West Bank terrorists indicating Hezbollah had been trying to recruit suicide bombers to carry out attacks that would sabotage a truce reached by Israel and the Palestinian Authority earlier this month, sources say.

One official said intercepted bank transactions suggested Hezbollah had raised its cash offers to Palestinian terrorists and is now willing to pay $100,000 for a suicide bombing operation. In the past, information indicated Hezbollah would pay $20,000 for such attacks.

Sources say Hezbollah maintains hundreds of West Bank gunmen on its payroll. One militant who said he was retired recently claimed to reporters a Hezbollah recruiter had called him several weeks ago and offered a generous payment for returning to violence. He said a squad of five or six men from Palestinian terror groups typically receives $5,000 to $8,000 a month for expenses, including bullets, weapons, cell phone calling cards and spending money.

Hezbollah declined to comment on the allegations. "As far as we are concerned, there is no need to respond to such lies," a Hezbollah official said in Beirut.

The bombing last night did not surprise Israeli officials. There had been a series of failed attempts all week. Israeli forces Monday foiled a terror attack, capturing terror cell members on their way to carry out a bombing. On Wednesday, Jerusalem police arrested two Palestinian terrorists and an accomplice after chasing them down a major highway that wraps around Jerusalem. And early Thursday, a would-be suicide killer armed with a bomb belt, rifle and grenades was captured outside Jerusalem after a night-long hunt.

"I knew this was coming," an Israeli police officer in Tel Aviv told WND early this morning. "We've been on high alert all week. I was just counting the days until an attack would get through."

Israel and the United States demanded Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas act quickly and forcefully – despite his reluctance thus far to take military action against terrorist groups – if he wants to rescue the truce declared with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Egypt Feb. 8.

Abbas reportedly met with cabinet ministers and security chiefs today to discuss a possible response. He condemned the attack as "sabotage" and said he was exchanging information with Israel, the United States and Europe.

But Gideon Meir of Israel's Foreign Ministry said, "Words are not enough. We must see action. We must see arrests, collecting illegal weapons from those terrorist organizations ... The only language they understand is force."

Sharon met with cabinet members last night to discuss an initial response. An aide to Sharon told WND Israel has no plans at this time for any large incursions into the West Bank. He said Israel will restrict travel around the territories and said plans to turn certain sections of the West Bank over to Palestinian Authority control next month have been called off.

Last night's bombing was the first suicide attack since the death of PLO leader Yasser Arafat on Nov. 11. It was similar to a June 1, 2001, attack that killed 21 and wounded more than 120 outside the Dolphinarium nightclub, a few blocks away from yesterday's bombing. The last suicide bombing in Israel killed three people in a Tel Aviv market on Nov. 1.

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Aaron Klein is WorldNetDaily's Jerusalem bureau chief, whose past interview subjects have included Yasser Arafat, Ehud Barak, Shlomo Ben Ami and leaders of the Taliban.

http://www.lebanonwire.com/0502/05022801WND.asp

The 801

02-28-2005, 12:46 PM

Syria's bloody plans
for Lebanon 'retreat'
Damascus political shakeup signals
Hezbollah terror to be turned loose

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Posted: February 28, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Editor's note: Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is an online, subscription intelligence news service from the creator of WorldNetDaily.com – a journalist who has been developing sources around the world for almost 30 years.

By Yoram East

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© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

While Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is telling the world his military forces will leave Lebanon, a political shakeup in Damascus signals his army won't be leaving without a fight, Middle East intelligence sources tell Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

With increasing international diplomatic pressure to withdraw troops, as well as a mounting popular uprising in Lebanon, Assad has appointed a family member to the No. 1 intelligence post and given him sweeping new powers meant to maintain the Assad dynasty at any cost.

It was the threat of a Lebanon crisis, sparked by the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, that prompted Assad's sister, Bushara Chawkat to approach her brother with a plan of ascension for her husband. She requested him to grant more authority to her husband, Assaf Chawkat, so that they would be able to avoid an end to their family dynasty begun with the rise to power of their father, Hafez al-Assad, in 1969.

Like others close to the president, Bushara Chawkat, a powerful background player in Syrian politics, is worried that a retreat from Lebanon will signal the end of the Assad regime.

They are feeling the pressure of eroding U.S.-Syria relations over the death of Hariri, for which Damascus is widely believed responsible, as well as allegations Syria is holding sensitive Iraqi weapon systems sent there by Saddam Hussein prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In addition, Syria is believed to be supporting terrorists in Iraq.

The 54-year-old Gen. Assaf Chawkat has long been responsible for maintaining close ties with Hezbollah, monitoring and controlling its activities and connections with Iran. He has also entrusted with the highly secretive Assad financial issues. According to various intelligence agencies, G2 Bulletin reports, the family has accumulated over the years close to $4 billion stashed in a web of bank accounts in almost every continent.

Chawkat immediately took steps to assure Iran regarding the future of Hezbollah should Syria be forced to move out of Lebanon. General Chawkat is a firm believer in the use of force and in using the Hezbollah as a tool to settle certain Syrian political or military scores. He also gave the Iranians verbal assurances Damascus would not restrain Hezbollah should the U.S. or Israel attack Iran’s nuclear assets.

This calculated variant to use Hezbollah in a direct anti-U.S. campaign fully correlates with tactical theories developed by Chawkat. He plans, according to G2 Bulletin sources, to permit Hezbollah to confront the U.S. and Israel as an Iranian sub-contracted military tool – giving Syria plausible deniability for such attacks. Against the backdrop of growing tension in Beirut, Chawkat is leading the so-called “Lebanon lobby,” a group of active or retired Syrian intelligence generals and Baath Party extremists who are contemplating using Hezbollah to stir up a new Lebanese civil war.

Long-time observers of the Lebanese political scene point out that Syria entered Lebanon 29 years ago under the pretext of a civil war.

In his new position, the president’s brother-in-law is now also in charge of the Iraq desk, which includes control over Syria’s share in the Iraqi guerrilla and terror scene. Therefore, Syria’s alliance with Iran places Chawkat in an important position to influence the Shiite-Iraqi scene through Tehran. An early intelligence report on Chawkat’s Iraq tactics suggests he instigated the allocation of a special multimillion dollar budget to finance anti-coalition terrorist activity in Iraq. He is also willing and able to take the campaign outside of the Middle East – through the sponsorship of foreign terrorist attacks.

Chawkat, according to international intelligence sources who have watched him for years, believes in the use of brute force and terror as political tools. To facilitate his policies, he has already transferred some of the staff in Syrian embassies, consulates and legations. Intelligence officers officially described as drivers or low-level consular clerks were ordered back home for "vacations," actually direct briefings or, in some cases, replacement by Chawkat loyalists.

Other signs include a stream of Hezbollah officials summoned to Damascus individually or in small groups. Israeli intelligence agents working on the Lebanon desk are convinced Hezbollah was told by Chawkat to prepare for operations. According to G2 Bulletin sources, Chawkat did not shy away from hinting their future would depend on compliance with Syrian demands.

As Chawkat continues to establish his new power base as sole controller of intelligence and security, Egypt and other Arab countries have begun to whisper their concerns. Alarmed by rapid developments in Syria and with the prospect of a deteriorating situation in Lebanon, President Hosni Mubarak is worried over the possibility Syria will get in the way of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He sent to Damascus his own intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, who met Chawkat privately, apparently to warn him of any hasty moves that might disrupt the peace process.

At this stage General Chawkat is emerging together, along with his wife, as the strongest link in the iron Syrian dictatorship fist, reports G2 Bulletin.

For years, Chawkat has been regarded as both door keeper and security officer of the ruling family. He is described by those who know him well as highly intelligent, cunning and ruthless to the point of utter cruelty. In the past, Chawkat survived attempts on his life and at least twice survived what were ironically described as "traffic incidents."

Chawkat is not exactly a professional soldier. He was elevated to the rank of general by his late father-in-law, who saw in him a talent to be developed and gave him the assignment of creating an inner intelligence and security apparatus in charge of Assad’s court and entourage.

The Assad family fortune, overseen by Chawkat, was built through ad hoc deals such as warehousing of sensitive Iraqi equipment, brokering delicate scientific and material purchases for Iran, receiving commissions from governments such as North Korea for arranging weapon deals with a number of Arab countries and lucrative ties with financial sources in the international illicit drug market.

A senior Israeli intelligence official described General Chawkat as “the one Syrian interested more than any other in defending the Assad family.” Another expert, also following General Chawkat’s career, remarked: “In today’s situation Bushara and Assaf as a political team are the only immediately available options to replace President Bashar Assad.”

Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is a premium, online intelligence newsletter published by the founder of WorldNetDaily.com.

http://www.lebanonwire.com/0502/05022801WND.asp

Casey

03-01-2005, 03:02 PM

Hezbollah International Archive
http://www.afghanistanwar.com/showthread.php?t=6266

The 801

03-02-2005, 08:04 AM

Mullahs of Iran Terrorist Activities Enter New Phase
Feb 26, 2005, 16:04

Iran responsible for Tel Aviv attack

Palestinian security forces on Saturday arrested two suspected militants in connection with a suicide bombing that killed four Israelis at a Tel Aviv nightclub, acting on orders from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to track down and punish those responsible.

Palestinian sources say an operative from the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, which they say has been trying to disrupt an informal Mideast truce, financed the Tel Aviv attack and recruited the suicide bomber, reports CBS News Correspondent Robert Berger.

Abbas hinted at Hezbollah involvement, holding a "third party" responsible for the bombing.

Hezbollah, which is funded by Iran's mullahs, has hundreds of West Bank gunmen from various Palestinian militant groups on its payroll.

© Iranian.ws

http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_5879.shtml

The 801

03-02-2005, 09:12 AM

Man pleads guilty in US court to supporting Hezbollah

WASHINGTON, March 1 (AFP) - A 33-year-old man, Mahmoud Youssef Kourani, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to provide support to Hezbollah, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by Washington, the Justice Department said.

The department said in a statement that Kourani entered the plea in a federal court in Detroit, Michigan, before District Judge Robert Cleland.

Government prosecutors said Kourani organized and hosted meetings at his Dearborn, Michigan, residence during Ramadan of 2002.

During the meetings, a guest speaker from Lebanon solicited the participants to make donations to Hezbollah, according to the government.

"The money solicited by Kourani's conspiracy was intended to support Hezbollah's 'orphans of martyrs' program to benefit the families of those killed in Hezbollah terrorist operations or by Hezbollah's enemies," the department said in a statement.

"Combating terrorism is the number one priority of the Department of Justice, and this prosecution underscores our commitment to disrupt the funding of terrorist organizations," said United States Attorney Craig Morford.

Kourani is due to be sentenced on June 14. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a 250,000-dollar fine, to be followed by deportation to Lebanon.

The Lebanese Shiite movement categorically denied Saturday that it had anything do do with an overnight suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that killed four Israelis and wounded 53 people. The bombing has cast a cloud over the Middle East peace process.

http://www.lebanonwire.com/0503/05030201AFP.asp

The 801

03-03-2005, 03:35 PM

Hezbollah United States

Testimony of Robert S. Mueller, III Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate

"Lebanese Hizballah retains the capability to strike in the U.S., although we have no credible information to indicate that US-based Hizballah members have plans to attack American interests within the U.S. or abroad. In 2004, we had some success in uncovering individuals providing material support to Hizballah.

In Detroit, Mahmoud Youssef Kourani was indicted in the Eastern District of Michigan on one count of Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Hizballah. Kourani was already in custody for entering the country illegally through Mexico and was involved in fundraising activities on behalf of Hizballah.

Also in Detroit, Fawzi Assi was arrested in May of 2004 and was charged under the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act for providing material support to Hizballah. Assi was initially arrested in 1998 after an outbound US Customs search at the Detroit Metro Airport discovered night vision goggles, one thermal imaging scope and two Boeing Global Positioning System devices. Assi later fled the country after being released by the court on bail but was later turned over to us in Lebanon to face US criminal charges."

http://nyjtimes.com/cover/02-21-05/CIA-FBICategorizeTerrorThreats.htm

Petronas

03-03-2005, 08:59 PM

Hezbollah: We'll be 'destroyed' if added to terror list
Posted: March 3, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern

If the European Union follows Israeli recommendations this week and places Hezbollah on a list of official terror organizations, the economic consequences of sanctions would "destroy" the Lebanese terror group, Hezbollah's leader told Arabic language television. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom Monday called on the European Union to add Hezbollah to its list of terrorist groups – a step Europe so far has been reluctant to take. The request follows a suicide bombing Friday in Tel Aviv that Israel says was directed by Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad with funding and assistance from Syria. Shalom said he reiterated the long-standing Israeli request regarding Hezbollah during a meeting this week with his Belgian counterpart, Karel De Gucht, and will express the Jewish state's concerns to other EU members. Shalom told reporters Hezbollah operates dozens of terror cells, directs a group of Palestinian terrorists and offers millions of dollars in assistance to West Bank militants. "We see they make every effort to sabotage progress in the peace process," Shalom said. The United States also has attempted to persuade the EU to list Hezbollah as a terrorist group.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said European blacklisting would "destroy" his group. Designating Hezbollah a terror group in Europe will mean "the sources of [our] funding will dry up and the sources of moral, political and material support will be destroyed," Nasrallah told Al Manar, Hezbollah's satellite television station. "The political option [used by the Israelis], which is more important and dangerous, is manifested by the Israeli-Zionist unceasing efforts to lay siege to [Hezbollah] in Lebanon and in the future in Palestine and globally, internationally, regionally and even locally in Lebanon. That is the most dangerous challenge we have had to face during the past few years, and we stand firm today and will stand firm in the future," said Nasrallah.

France has already responded to Israel's Hezbollah request, with French President Jacques Chirac claiming the timing was not right for such a move. Israeli officials told reporters the French are aware of the information linking Hezbollah to terrorism, but they are now allegedly focusing their efforts on the civil uprising in Lebanon and say they don't want to risk harming relations with the group. France's objections are considered the main obstacle to the EU approving the move to add Hezbollah to the terror list.

Israel this week also launched a major diplomatic offensive lobbying for increased international isolation of Syria. Military intelligence chiefs in Jerusalem met several foreign ambassadors, mostly from European countries, to present information linking Syria to the Tel Aviv bombing. Presentations are also scheduled for Washington, London and Paris. "What we are doing is trying in every capital of the world ... to show them the direct links from Syria to Islamic Jihad, which has a direct connection to what we saw on Friday evening in Tel Aviv," said Ron Prosor, a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43129

Petronas

03-10-2005, 01:32 PM

U.N. must accept Hezbollah, Annan says
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 · Last updated 7:40 p.m. PT

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations must recognize Hezbollah as a force to be reckoned with in implementing the U.N. resolution calling for the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon and the disarmament of the country's militias, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday. He was responding to a question about the disarmament of Hezbollah, which showed its strength Tuesday at a huge pro-Syrian rally in Beirut attended by hundreds of thousands of people who chanted anti-U.S. slogans. Two huge banners read in English: "Thank you Syria" and "No to foreign interference."

Annan said the world needs to accept that in every society different groups may hold different views. "Of course, we need to be careful of the forces at work in Lebanese society as we move forward," he said. "But even the Hezbollah - if I read the message on the placards they are using - they are talking about non-interference by outsiders ... which is not entirely at odds with the Security Council resolution, that there should be withdrawal of Syrian troops," Annan told reporters. "But that having been said, we need to recognize that they are a force in society that one will have to factor in as we implement the resolution," he said.

The rally by the Hezbollah vastly outnumbered anti-Syrian rallies of the past weeks. The Syrian-backed Lebanese guerrilla group, which is funded by Iran, is the best armed and best organized faction in Lebanon and enjoys strong support among Lebanon's Shiite Muslim community.

Many of the signs at the rally in Riad Solh square denounced U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for Syrian troops and intelligence agents to leave Lebanon immediately and demands the disarming of militias, referring to Hezbollah. Syrian soldiers entered Lebanon in 1976 to try to quell a civil war that began the previous year. They remained through 14 years of fighting that ended in 1990, and some 14,000 are still there, though they began redeploying from central Lebanon toward the border began late Tuesday.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=UN%20Lebanon%20Syria

Petronas

03-16-2005, 01:41 AM

Sharon Pressures European Prime Ministers to Blacklist Hizbullah
Beirut, Updated 15 Mar 05, 17:43

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stepped up pressure Tuesday on the European Union to blacklist Hizbullah as a terrorist group, during talks with European premiers. "It is important that the EU acts with determination to include Hizbullah on the terrorist organization list and that it makes no distinction between its military and political wing," Sharon told visiting Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. "Hizbullah is the chief threat to Abu Mazen's stability," he added in comments published by his office, referring to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. "Hizbullah fosters terrorist operations and endangers the ceasefire that he is trying to negotiate," Sharon added. The Israeli premier made exactly the same appeal in earlier talks with visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, his office said.

Last Thursday, the EU parliament backed unspecified measures against Hizbullah in a resolution referring to "clear evidence of (its) terrorist activities." But it did not put Hizbullah on a European list of terrorist organizations, which already includes radical Palestinian faction Hamas.

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&0A34487519A36C88C2256FC50055F6FE

Atlas

03-18-2005, 09:15 PM

(So much for Sheikh "we're just a political movement" Nasrallah)

March 19, 2005
Beirut Car Bomb Wounds 7
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EIRUT, Lebanon, Saturday, March 19 - A car bomb destroyed part of a building and wounded at least seven people Saturday in a mostly Christian neighborhood in northern Beirut, the police said.

The target of the attack was not immediately clear. But it came amid turmoil after the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the beginning of a withdrawal of Syrian troops toward the border.

Petronas

03-19-2005, 12:55 AM

How the World Health Organization Makes Terrorism Respectable
By Avi Jorisch Published 03/15/2005

While many associate the World Health Organization (WHO) with projects to improve healthcare in developing countries, the millions who watch Arabic television can now link the WHO to terrorism. In a development that went almost unreported in the English-language media, a WHO-organized panel in Lebanon awarded prizes in December 2004 to television and radio stations controlled by the Hezbollah terrorist group, which has killed hundreds of Americans, including more than 250 U.S. soldiers and diplomats in the 1983 bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon. The awards came just days after France took Hezbollah's al-Manar off the air for a brazenly anti-Semitic broadcast and the U.S. State Department designated the station as a terrorist organization.

The WHO is mandated to achieve "the highest possible level of health" for all people. To achieve this goal, it has an $880 million annual budget, of which up to a fifth comes from the United States. The WHO uses local media outlets to educate people in developing countries about the dangers of tobacco and to encourage healthier diets. To back these goals, the WHO hands out accolades to local media with the best health education programs.

In Lebanon, these health education Oscars went to terrorist media that encourage suicide bombing. A Lebanese media panel supervised by the WHO decided that the best anti-smoking educational program was "Shadows and Visions," which is aimed at juveniles but which was broadcast by Hezbollah's television channel, al-Manar (The Beacon). Also feted by the WHO-supervised panel was the Hezbollah radio station, Al-Nur (The Light) for its nutritional show "Your food is your medicine."

The prizes may appear trivial, but that's the point. By giving health promotion awards to terrorist media, the WHO trivializes their evil output. The WHO, and its local Lebanese partners, a committee of local media representatives, have sent the message that terrorist media are respectable.

Anyone who has watched al-Manar knows that respectable is the last word that can be applied to a channel that promotes terrorism with the same vigor that American television promotes the Superbowl. Set up in 1991 by Hezbollah using Iranian funds, al-Manar soon established a reputation as a mouthpiece for murder. Potential recruits are told that "the path to becoming a priest in Islam is through jihad" and mothers are encouraged to give up their sons, to prepare them "for battle knowing that their blood will mix with the soil."

In many ways, Hezbollah is a media innovator, but not the kind that WHO should be awarding. By founding al-Manar, Hezbollah was the first terrorist group to go into the television business, the first terrorists to realize that the media could be used as an effective operational weapon. Indeed, Hezbollah now has its own media empire, including Al-Nur, a newspaper, a radio station, and various websites, all of which promote its radical, hate-filled Islamist ideology and incite violence.

So while al-Manar makes the odd health information commercial that please the WHO, its output is mostly Hezbollah incitement to violence. The channel, which is under Hezbollah editorial control, mixes staple broadcasting to attract viewers -- including news, dramas, sports programs, children's programming and soap operas -- with a clear call to terrorism. Speaking on al-Manar the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah declared recently, "those who love death defeated those who fear death . . .The weapon of loving martyrdom, sacrifices, and readiness for death is one that nobody can take away." On al-Manar, the message is homicide, not health.

Those who dismiss al-Manar, and its parent Hezbollah, as Lebanese patriots who only oppose Israel will find little support from al-Manar's output. Al-Manar viewers are instructed that "the main source of terrorism in this world…is the United States of America…America is a beast in all meanings of the word. A beast that is hungry for power and hungry for blood."

One of the most potent weapons in the battle of ideas against terrorism is the fact that in most societies terrorism is spurned and despised. If we want to defeat terrorism, then we have to delegitimize terrorists and their apologists. The mouthpiece of Hezbollah, al-Manar, is into death, not health. Neither deserves the respectability and legitimacy that they so clearly crave. Yet thanks to WHO, and by extension its UN superiors, terrorist media have been given an international seal of approval. The message: smoking may be bad for your health, but suicide bombing is good for your soul.

Avi Jorisch is the executive director of the Coalition Against Terrorist Media (www.stopterroristmedia.org), a project of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, where he is a senior fellow. He is the author of Beacon of Hatred, Inside Hizballah's Al-Manar Television.

http://www.techcentralstation.com/031505B.html

Petronas

03-19-2005, 01:12 AM

Coalition Against Terrorist Media Praises Netherlands for Banning Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV
Washington, Mar 17

The Netherlands today banned Hezbollah's al-Manar television from New Skies Satellite following an agreement by the European national audiovisual authorities to oppose broadcasts inciting hatred and violence. The move follows a month of meetings and briefings with European officials by the Coalition Against Terrorist Media and its executive director, Avi Jorsich. "This move by the audiovisual authorities is a tremendous blow to al-Manar and opens the door to even further action,” said Jorisch. “The Netherlands should be praised for recognizing that al-Manar is a deadly weapon in the hands of known terrorists who use it to incite violence and sow hatred.”

The Coalition Against Terrorist Media , which was organized by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, has been in Brussels this week meeting with the audiovisual authorities, members of the EU parliament, and other officials concerned with al-Manar. Prior to today's meeting, the coalition provided each of the national audiovisual authorities with a copy of Jorisch's book on al-Manar, Beacon of Hatred, (published by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy), a CD-ROM of video clips, and background information highlighting al-Manar's history, operations, and support for terror. Jorisch had met with many European officials during an earlier visit in February arranged with the support of one coalition member, the American Jewish Committee.

The Coalition Against Terrorist Media includes American Muslim, Christian, Jewish and secular organizations urging action against terrorist owned and operated media outlets, in particular Hezbollah's al-Manar television station. Since beginning its work last year, the Coalition has briefed more than 100 government officials in the U.S. and Europe and appeared in major international media numerous times to educate the public about the danger posed by al-Manar. Its U.S. efforts were rewarded when, on Dec. 17, 2004, the U.S. State Department added al-Manar to its Terrorism Exclusion List, which resulted in satellite providers ending broadcasts of al-Manar to North America.

"While there have been some significant victories against al-Manar, much more remains to be done to end its threat,” said Jorisch, including:

* Pressuring Saudi-owned Arabsat, Egyptian-owned Nilesat, Spain-based Hispasat and France-based GlobeCast to remove al-Manar.
* Having al-Manar named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity by the U.S. Treasury Department, which would allow the U.S. government to freeze financial assets tied to the station and to sanction foreign banks that provide services to the station, affecting its ability to broadcast.
* Having the European Union name Hezbollah to its official terrorist list; and,
*Ending advertising by global companies on al-Manar.

Hezbollah uses al-Manar to recruit terrorists and incite violence through direct calls for killing and through programming – including music videos – preaching hatred. According to one al-Manar official, the station is meant to “help people on the way to committing what you call in the West a suicide mission.”

http://www.stopterroristmedia.org/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=1569

Alli

03-25-2005, 09:22 AM

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese authorities, put on the defensive by a damning U.N. report on security failings, indicated Friday they would accept an international inquiry into the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A U.N. fact-finding team said in a report released on Thursday that Lebanon's own inquiry into Hariri's death on Feb. 14 was seriously flawed and called for an international investigation, a demand long made by the Lebanese opposition.

Opposition figures said the U.N. findings strengthened their calls for such an inquiry and for resignations in the Lebanese security, who they say had a role in Hariri's death.

Hariri's assassination has plunged Lebanon into a political crisis that prompted the resignation of the government, led to mass protests by the opposition and loyalists and piled pressure on Syria to withdraw all its forces from its tiny neighbor.

Asked about the U.N. report's call for an international investigation at a news conference, caretaker Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said: "We welcome all means that lead us to the truth... We have nothing to hide."

Hammoud said authorities would wait for the U.N. Security Council to issue a resolution on an investigation.

He also criticized the findings for blaming Lebanon for not protecting Hariri, saying: "This conclusion is alien to reality... There is no absolute security in any country in the world... No one can stop security crimes."

The United States and France, which co-sponsored a resolution calling for Syrian forces to leave, were expected to introduce a resolution in the Security Council calling for an international inquiry, council diplomats said Thursday.

Analysts said the U.N. report put pressure on the pro-Syrian authorities but was unlikely to alter the power balance in the deeply divided country.

"It will have some limited use in the polemics but I don't think it will fundamentally change the internal balance of power," said political scientist Sami Baroudi.

The fact-finding mission said Syrian military intelligence bore primary responsibility for a lack of security, protection and law and order and that and Lebanese security forces showed "systematic negligence."

"The report confirms that reaching the truth is not possible with the presence of the security heads, so they must be removed to make way for restructuring and training the Lebanese security," Christian opposition MP Nassib Lahoud told Reuters.

Lebanese authorities had until now rejected opposition calls for an international investigation saying it would infringe Lebanese sovereignty, but Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud indicated a shift after the U.N. report's release.

complete article (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050325/wl_nm/lebanon_dc)

The 801

03-31-2005, 03:36 PM

Defiant Nasrallah Invites America to “Disarm” Hezbollah
21:07 Mar 31, '05 / 20 Adar 5765

(IsraelNN.com) Taking a cue, perhaps, from Bush’s “bring ‘em on” speech defying terrorists in Iraq, Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah has challenged the United States to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon.

``What is left for them is that the Americans come themselves to disarm the resistance and the [Palestinian refugee] camps in Lebanon. I wish they would come, I wish they would come,'' he said to applauding followers at a Beirut rally.

``We tell America and all those who want to disarm the resistance in Lebanon and the resistance in Palestine to safeguard Israel...This is forbidden. It is not possible,'' Nasrallah insisted.

http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=79401

The 801

04-05-2005, 07:23 AM

Brigade's leader: Hezbollah funds terror

LONDON, England, Apr. 4 (UPI) -- The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades have received money from Hezbollah to fund terrorist attacks, according to the Brigades leader Allah Sanakra.

In an interview, published in the London Sunday Times, Sanakra said he no longer receives money from Hezbollah, but the Islamic Jihad does and he believed the money is coming from Iran, the Ha'aretz news agency reported Monday.

Israel has said Hezbollah has been trying to sabotage the calm on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by supporting terrorist organizations there.

Sanakra told the Times members of Hezbollah had telephoned him and other militants in the West Bank from Beirut. The largest sum that had been transferred was $9,000, but that Hezbollah generally sent the Brigades payments of $4,000, according to Sanakra and other brigades

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050404-114120-7874r.htm

Oh my! How long has this been going on? How about....forever.
The 801

Petronas

04-05-2005, 07:00 PM

Editor of Kuwaiti Daily: "Nasrallah Has Lost His Mind"
April 1, 2005

Editor-in-Chief of the Kuwaiti Daily Al-Siyassah and Arab Times, Ahmed Al-Jarallah [1] recently wrote an article critical of Hezbollah and its leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. The following are excerpts from the article: [2]

"…If the [Syrian] regime is subjected to a military attack, as in the case of Saddam Hussein, what will happen to its allies in Lebanon, such as Hizbullah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah? This question has come to the fore after the speech of U.S. President George Bush, who promised to dismantle all dictatorial regimes in the Middle East.

"Hassan Nasrallah, who has a sharp brain, is aware of the oncoming dangers and has built a network of connections through southern Beirut, Damascus, and Tehran. In his wisdom, Nasrallah has vowed to inflict a disgracing defeat on the U.S. troops if they approach Lebanon. This man has chosen to adopt an arrogant attitude, similar to that of Saddam Hussein, knowing fully well how Saddam's power and authority came to an end.

"Nasrallah is speaking the language of the Fifties and Sixties. He is acting in line with the slogans of Syrian students, who in those days used to chant 'half of the Americans died in Vietnam and we will kill the other half.' It is unfortunate some wise people are delivering such speeches to the Syrians and Lebanese.

"Such speeches may jeopardize the lives of the people in Syria and Lebanon because neither Syria, nor Hizbullah, can fill the huge gap in the balance of power with their adversaries. It appears Hassan Nasrallah has lost his mind because he has abandoned his political wisdom and angered the only superpower in the world instead of calming his people. The Lebanese are aware of the capabilities of the United States. They, and all Arabs, know the real size of this man and his threats."

"Nasrallah is threatening the opposition in Lebanon, echoing the voice of the Syrian regime. The whole world - including the Secretary General of Hizbullah - knows the battle is … between the international community and the Syrian regime. Nasrallah knows his speech won't delay the Syrian withdrawal or end the international pressure on Syria to comply with UN Resolution 1559.

"We hope the Syrian regime, which is struggling under international pressures, won't dance the tune of Hizbullah. This cornered regime should seriously think about accelerating its withdrawal from Lebanon and give in to international demands, Gaddafi style.

"The Syrian regime has to make a wise choice to save its people…"

"[Syria and Hizbullah] should show their patriotism by wanting to see Lebanon free and independent. They should know Syria won't remain in their country for long but there will be mutual ties between two equal countries. Threatening and taunting the U.S. troops won't help Hizbullah, Lebanon, Syria, or Iran. Hassan Nasrallah won't be able to face them if the U.S. forces come to Lebanon. We remember how Saddam boasted he would chop the heads of Americans if they dared to come near Baghdad. In the end it was his head which was chopped off."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] For more on Ahmed Al-Jarallah, see: Special Dispatch No. 826, "Editor of Kuwaiti Daily: 'Arab Regimes Must Understand the U.S. Administration Supports The Freedom and Rights of the Arabs,'" December 10, 2004, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP82604;

Special Dispatch No. 775, " Editor of Kuwaiti Daily: 'We are with President Bush,'" September 1, 2004, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP77504;

Special Dispatch No. 701, "Editor of Kuwaiti Dailies Ahmad Al-Jarallah's Recent Editorials on the Middle East," April 26, 2004, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP70104;

Special Dispatch Series No. 626, " Editor of Kuwaiti Daily: 'The U.S. is not Going to Quit… It will Convert Poles of Jihadi Flags into Arrows to Pierce the Hearts of Terrorists,'" December 10, 2003 http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP62603;

Special Dispatch Series No. 620, " Editor of Kuwaiti Daily: Syria's Secret Service is Behind the 'Iraqi Resistance'" December 5, 2003 http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP62003;

Special Dispatch No. 606, "Editor of the Kuwaiti Daily Al-Siyassa: The New Iraq Will Be 'the Beacon of Freedom, Democracy, and Respect to Human Rights in the Middle East,'" November 10, 2003 http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP60603;

Special Dispatch No. 495, "Kuwaiti Paper Criticizes Syria: Assad's Regime More Criminal than Saddam's Regime," April 22, 2003 http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP49503.

[2] Al-Siyassah (Kuwait), " Do a Gaddafi," March 9, 2005, http://www.alseyassah.com/arabtimes/opinion/view.asp?msgID=695

http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD88705

The 801

04-06-2005, 07:56 AM

Hezbollah probe confirmed
FBI sees no proof of cell in Boston
By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff | April 6, 2005

The FBI has confirmed assertions in a new book that agents have been targeting Boston-area supporters of the Islamic militant group Hezbollah for a decade and that in 1996 the agency urged officials at Logan International Airport to fire a baggage handler with suspected links to the group.

Hezbollah is believed to have sympathizers and fund-raisers in Boston and other major US cities, but investigators have not uncovered any evidence that a terrorist cell is operating in the city, according to top agents in the FBI's Boston office.

''There's no evidence of a Hezbollah cell here, but Hezbollah has always been a grave concern to us," said Thomas Powers, an assistant special agent in charge who oversees the FBI's counterterrorism efforts in New England. ''We have conducted investigations of people we think are affiliated with or sympathetic to Hezbollah."

During an interview last week, Powers and Kenneth Kaiser, special agent in charge of the Boston office, confirmed the accounts in the book ''Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists on American Soil," by Tom Diaz and Barbara Newman, about people thought to have ties to the organization who have been investigated over the past decade.

The baggage handler was in the country legally, and there were no grounds to arrest him, according to Powers. But FBI agents warned airport security officials in 1996 because ''we thought he posed a threat." The incident had not been made public before.

Hezbollah, Arabic for ''Party of God," represents Lebanon's Shi'ites and has members in parliament. But the group, formed in 1992 by Muslim clerics with the financial backing of Iran, was placed on the US State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2001.

Hezbollah was responsible for the 1983 bombing that killed 241 Marines in their Beirut barracks, the 1983 US Embassy bombing in Beirut that killed 63, and the 1985 hijacking of a TWA flight during which a US Navy diver was killed.

Joseph Lawless, former director of public safety for the Massachusetts Port Authority, said FBI agents alerted him in February 1996 that a man who had been hired as a baggage handler by one of the airlines a few weeks earlier could have ties to Hezbollah.

''My reaction was, let's get this guy out of here; we don't want him in an area where he has access to bags being loaded onto the belly of an aircraft," said Lawless, who notified a top security official at the airline. Lawless said the airline either fired the baggage handler or pressured him to resign.

Lawless, now Massport's director of maritime and bridge security, said the baggage handler had undergone a criminal background check before he was hired and didn't show up on any state or federal databases that airport officials had access to at the time. Those databases, as well as information-sharing among agencies, has improved over the past four years, he said.

FBI officials said there was ''absolutely no connection" between the baggage handler and the terrorists who hijacked two planes from Logan on Sept. 11, 2001.

The new book also contends that Hezbollah had a large and active cell in Boston before the 2001 attacks, and describes how members showed up in federal court and tried to intimidate a prosecutor after a member had been arrested on criminal charges.

Powers confirmed that a suspected Hezbollah member was arrested in Boston in the late 1990s on federal charges not related to terrorism and that a member showed up to support him. But, he said, investigators never uncovered evidence of a cell, a group of people actively involved in planning terrorism, operating in the city.

Diaz said in an interview that he and Newman gathered information from at least several senior law enforcement officials that there were ongoing investigations of suspected Hezbollah activity in 14 US cities, including Boston, New York, and Newark.

The book focuses mostly on a cell that operated in Charlotte, N.C., which was broken up by the FBI in 2000 for running a cigarette smuggling ring.

''There are very few actual recorded criminal cases that involve Hezbollah," Diaz said, adding that members around the country have been commonly charged with fraud relating to credit cards, personal information, and marriages.

Kaiser and Powers said they have investigated a number of cases over the past decade involving suspected Hezbollah members, but because the criminal or immigration charges have not been connected overtly to terrorism, the suspected Hezbollah links were never made public.

In 1999, for example, Boston's Joint Terrorism Task Force had a suspected Hezbollah member deported before he could get a green card, Powers said.

But Powers said there have not been any suspected Hezbollah members prosecuted in Boston since the Sept. 11 attacks.

''The bureau has moved more from prosecution to prevention and disruption," Kaiser said. ''We do more to run out these leads, prevent things from happening, and disrupt organizations."

US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said there is no evidence to suggest that Hezbollah cells exist in New England, but ''we are on constant alert to the risk that some Hezbollah sympathizers or supporters may attempt to create an active cell in this region."

He added that federal prosecutors share the FBI's national strategy of launching a ''preemptive strike" against those suspected of terrorist ties -- by charging them with crimes such as document fraud or immigration violations.

''Certainly, it's made clear to all the US attorneys across the country that we should use all the tools that are available to us to disrupt and dismantle possible terrorist threats," Sullivan said.

Shelley Murphy can be reached at shmurphy@globe.com.

© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/04/06/hezbollah_probe_confirmed/

The 801

04-06-2005, 08:15 AM

Hizbullah Cell Found Operating in Shechem
19:00 Apr 05, '05 / 25 Adar 5765

(IsraelNN.com)IDF troops operating with Shin Bet agents on February 25th arrested members of a Hizbullah cell learned to be operating in Shomron, in PA-controlled Shechem. The terrorists in custody have been identified as Wassam Badoui Salah Nasser, 21, a student at An-Najah University; Mouad Rateb Haj-Muhammad Aslim, 21, employed as an upholsterer and barber; and Raad Aouni Hasni Bader, 21, a student at An-Najah University.

From the investigation of Wassam Nasser, it was learned that during a family visit to Lebanon, he was recruited into Hizbullah, with the aid of local relatives. He underwent military training that included small arms fire and various methods of espionage. He was trained how to collect information ahead of an attack on a senior VIP. Among his missions were the photographing of military checkpoints and bases, and settlements. He took a great many photographs, which he sent – via the Internet – to his handlers in Lebanon. He was equipped with a GPS (global positioning satellite) device, hidden in a tape player on the dashboard of his car. He was requested to pinpoint the location of military bases and checkpoints in the Shechem area; he also sent this information via the Internet to his handlers in Lebanon.

Mouad Aslim admitted that after Wassam Nasser revealed to him he had been recruited into Hezbollah, they had transferred the cell members’ details to Hizbullah handlers in Lebanon, and those handlers began to financially assist the cell’s activities. Mouad admitted that he was in on bomb attacks in the Shechem area even before affiliating with Hizbullah.

Raad Bader admitted that Wassam Nasser had revealed to him that he had been recruited into Hezbollah and that he had asked him to aid in the collection of intelligence information. He was aware of Wassam’s GPS device, the financial assistance from Hizbullah and the aforementioned Internet connection.

The cell’s activities continued during the recent period of calm. The phenomenon of recruiting PA residents into Hizbullah while they are on family visits to Lebanon in order to establish local cells to perpetrate terrorist attacks Israeli civilian and military targets in both Judea and Samaria, and inside pre-1967 Green Line Israel, is becoming increasingly widespread, authorities report.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=79655

The 801

04-13-2005, 10:45 PM

Hezbollah Signals It's Open to Talks With United States

BY ELI LAKE - Staff Reporter of the Sun
April 11, 2005

WASHINGTON - A Hezbollah political leader told a delegation of former European and American officials last month that the Bush administration approached the organization for talks following September 11, 2001, and that the group would be open to new discussions.

According to a former CIA station chief in Islamabad who attended the meetings in Beirut, Milton Bearden, the representatives of Hezbollah, which has long been implicated in terrorist attacks, said the Bush administration approached them shortly after the Twin Towers were destroyed.

The White House denies having made an approach.

Mr. Bearden recalled that the leader of the Hezbollah delegation said: "The Americans came to us after 9/11 wanting to open a dialogue, at a political level. ... 'It came through the Israeli gate,' meaning the Israelis brokered it." Mr. Bearden added that the representative said his organization would "be open to a direct approach from the Americans."

Another former CIA operations officer who was there, Graham Fuller, told The New York Sun the message was delivered by Hezbollah's chief of international relations and top political adviser, Nawaf Mousawi.

"I would view Mousawi's presence as important," Mr. Fuller said. "I would assume this would go directly to Sheik Nasrallah. "The sheik is the spiritual leader of Hezbollah, and Mr. Fuller said Mr. Mousawi is "his chief political adviser."

A spokesman for the National Security Council, Frederick Jones, said: "There was no envoy or outreach to Hezbollah following September 11."

The catastrophe in New York and northern Virginia did spur the White House to open new channels with Hezbollah's two chief state sponsors, Iran and Syria, and other states and entities it had previously shunned for ties to terrorism. For example, the CIA began a liaison relationship with Syria's intelligence service focused narrowly on apprehending Al Qaeda operatives.

The Israelis, too, have worked with foreign governments in the past to help negotiate with Hezbollah. For several years, Israel has worked with German intelligence to arrange exchanges of hostages and dead bodies with Hezbollah. Messrs. Bearden and Fuller are said to have been the only two former CIA officers, acting as private citizens, in a 12-person delegation that met with Hezbollah and other groups March 21-22. The delegation included the head of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Robert Muller, as well as academics and former European spies and government officials. They met with leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, Pakistan's Jemaat Islamiya, and the Muslim Brotherhood. The first three groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the State Department, while the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt was once led by Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The meetings were arranged by a former British MI-6 officer, Alastair Crooke, who served as the European Union's liaison with Hamas between 2001 and 2003, before he was recalled to London.

Mr. Fuller, who did not serve under President Bush, said he believed it was plausible that Mr. Mousawi was telling the truth about the American approach, though he had no direct knowledge.

"After 9/11 there was a great deal of panic and a willingness to reach out to anyone and everyone who might be allies," he said. "My personal hunch is that, as the fear in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 subsided, the war on terror grew in its breadth and the Bush administration began to include more and more organizations under the umbrella of terrorism."

And while it may appear to Mr. Fuller that the Bush administration has widened the circle of American enemies, in recent weeks the president has sent a message of possible reconciliation with Hezbollah, the group responsible in 1983 for the truck bombings of the American Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut.

On March 16, five days before the parley between the ex-spies and current terrorist leaders, Mr. Bush told reporters he viewed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, but he left open the possibility it could shed the designation. "I would hope that Hezbollah would prove that they're not, by laying down arms and not threatening peace," he said.

Following those remarks, the European Union and the United Nations began publicly encouraging political talks among Lebanon's various parties, including Hezbollah. Last week, the U.N. envoy to the Middle East, Terje Roed-Larsen, said disarming Hezbollah was "not on the action agenda," indicating that the world body would be willing to let the group keeps its arms until after the Lebanon elections scheduled for next month.

"With Hezbollah and Hamas, whatever one may think of the organizations and their tactics, the fact is it is analytically absurd to lump them into the same category as Osama bin Laden, taking on the United States," Mr. Fuller said. "These organizations are fighting highly discreet local wars and are not targeting the world or the West."

Mr. Crooke, who arranged the meetings, generally agrees with that analysis. An opinion piece he wrote last December 10 in the Guardian newspaper of England put quotation marks around the word terrorist and recommended negotiations with the groups.

The former British M16 man is no stranger to meeting with what he called "violent political actors." Before Mr. Bush's June 24, 2002, speech that washed America's hands of Yasser Arafat, Mr. Crooke had met with Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, spiritual leader and founder of Hamas, who was killed in an Israeli air strike March 22, 2004.

At the time, Israel argued that the organizations of Arafat and Yasin were coordinating their activities, and documents captured by the Israel Defense Force appear to prove that. Last week, a think tank associated with Israeli intelligence, the Center for Special Studies, published an English translation of a June 24, 2002, communique from the head of external relations for the Gaza Preventive Security service, Suheil Jabr, to the deputy of the group, Rashid abu Shbak. The document, which the center says IDF troops captured from the Palestinian Preventive Security compound in Gaza, includes an account of the conversation Mr. Crooke had with Yasin and other Hamas leaders.

Mr. Crooke said the document's account of his conversation with Yasin, which portrayed the British spy as sympathetic to Hamas's gripes with the Israeli presence, was inaccurate. Mr. Crooke said that his job as liaison to Hamas was largely to negotiate a ceasefire.

In an interview, he said he stressed to Yasin, "There were some actions that were unacceptable to anyone in Europe and America. Nobody believed that blowing up children eating pizzas, that these children were responsible for the plight of Palestinians." But he added that he drew a distinction between "terrorism" and "resistance," offering that his family had been involved in fighting the Nazi occupation in France in World War II.

A former adviser on Palestinian affairs for the ministry of defense who was familiar with Mr. Crooke's diplomacy, Reservist Brigadier General Shalom Harari, said the former MI-6 officer had "become addicted to Hamas."

"I'm not saying he is not very knowledgeable, because he is," Gen. Harari said. "What happened to Crooke is what happened to many researchers who make research on biology. He fell in love with the microbes he was researching."

The meeting last month that Mr. Crooke arranged through the Conflict Forum was publicized in the British and Arabic press. Al Jazeera and the BBC covered the talks, along with the Beirut Daily Star. The London Sunday Times bluntly said Mr. Crooke was opening the door for American negotiations with Hamas and Hezbollah. Mr. Crooke disagreed with the account in the Sunday Times.

In an interview Friday, he said the purpose of the talks was to hear out the two organizations, which long had been categorized as foreign terrorist organizations by America and more recently the European Union.

"We did not touch on the policy issues, we were not there to resolve particular issues," he said. "Hezbollah gave us a clear vision of a party that was acting in a Lebanese context as a Lebanese party. They were dealing with an extremely complex and complicated situation and dealing with it in a way that will bring about a resolution."

Hezbollah has a dozen members of parliament, and it wields a great deal of influence in government. In January 2002, Lebanese police confiscated 600 DVDs from the Virgin Megastore in Beirut after a Hezbollah senior cleric, Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, gave an interview criticizing some Western films. Nonetheless, Hezbollah's terrorist wing has been responsible for a number of attacks on Americans, Israelis, and Jews. After the 1983 truck bombings, Hezbollah kidnapped a string of American diplomats, spies, journalists, and military officers, only to release them after America and Israel sold arms to Iran.

The September 11 commission concluded last year that some Al Qaeda operatives had trained in a Hezbollah compound in the Bekaa Valley. A staff report released by the commission in June speculates that Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, along with Iran, may have collaborated on the 1996 bombing of an American Air Force barracks in Saudi Arabia known as Khobar Towers. A former FBI director, Louis Freeh, in sworn court testimony last year, implicated former senior Iranian government officials in the attack. Hezbollah's attacks against America through the years led a former deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, to say the organization owed America a "blood debt," promising that its "time will come" in a press conference on September 5, 2002, in Brussels.

That blood debt in particular is owed by Imad Mugniyah, who is regarded as the chief architect of the 1983 truck bombings and is one of the FBI's most wanted men. Mr. Bearden said he pressed the leader of the Hezbollah delegation about Mr. Mugniyah.

"I hit him pretty hard on the Mugniyah business. His first reaction was the 1982-to-1985 period was difficult and undisciplined. He was trying to walk away from it that way," Mr. Bearden said. "He paused and said that blood is not on Hezbollah's hands. The thought to me is he has some formulation in his mind that allows him to say that with a straight face. My sense was that he was saying Mugniyah was never our guy, but Mugniyah was Iran's guy."

Mr. Fuller said any potential for improved ties between America and Hezbollah would depend on addressing the issue of Mr. Mugniyah.

Some former CIA officers with experience in the Middle East said the initiative will not work.

The founder of the CIA's counterterrorism center, Duane Clarridge, said: "To have a modicum of success, the agendas of both parties have to be beginning to intersect. I'm not so sure that Hezbollah and Hamas are ready for that."

Similarly, a protege of Mr. Clarridge who worked for years at the CIA to find Mr. Mugniyah, Robert Baer, said: "America and Hezbollah are too far apart on the issue of Jerusalem right now."

Mr. Baer also said, however, that it was significant that Hezbollah would be meeting with former CIA officers and would say it was open to talks with America.

"Hezbollah is convinced the CIA set off a car bomb that almost killed Fadlallah. I don't think they did. I know the Lebanese who did this, but this is the kind of suspicion Hezbollah has to overcome."

The vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Malcolm Hoenlein, said last week that he was concerned the outreach could be a "stalking horse for the European Union."

"Does this give them a legitimate way to deal with Hezbollah before they have taken any steps to reduce terrorist activities?" he said. "It gives the appearance that this is more than an unofficial study group - the nature of the participants gives it the appearance that it is much more official."

Mr. Crooke insisted that the initiative was strictly a private matter and that there had been no formal government coordination for last month's talks.

General Harari, however, said the meetings indicate a new desperation for the terrorist groups involved.

"The American army is still in Iraq. Syria is under big pressure as a sponsor in Lebanon. They see European state after state putting Hamas and Hezbollah on the blacklist," he said. "They see how the Russians understand the terror better after the terrible events in Beslan. They see what happens in Saudi Arabia - the main source of money will dry up. They see in Jordan the regime is strengthening its hold on the Islamic movement. The overall view is that they are going to have a very tough process between two and three years from now. This is a way for these groups to whiten their image and say they are not terrorists."

Mr. Fuller said that Hezbollah leaders were open to future meetings with the delegation of Americans and Europeans, and that future meetings were being considered.

http://www.nysun.com/article/11974

Petronas

05-08-2005, 04:03 PM

I'll believe it when I see it...

Lebanese PM says Hizbollah not a ‘militia’ but will disarm
Monday, May 09, 2005

UNITED NATIONS: A UN Security Council resolution demanding the disarmament of Lebanese militias does not apply to the Hizbollah guerrilla group but the group will be disarmed, Lebanon’s new prime minister, Najib Mikati, said on Friday. The disarming of Hizbollah, however, “would have to be in the context of a Lebanese framework,” Mikati told Arab-language reporters after meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. “They will. I said it,” he said in Arabic when asked if the group would be disarmed. But “in our terminology, Hizbollah is not a militia. It is a resistance (group), and we believe that there is a difference between a resistance and a militia,” Mikati told Reuters in English. “To a certain extent,” he said, without elaboration, when asked if that meant the resolution did not apply to Hizbollah.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_8-5-2005_pg4_10

The 801

05-27-2005, 04:44 PM

Life after death
By Roula Khalaf
Published: May 27 2005 15:47 | Last updated: May 27 2005 15:47

The Arab world has had few heroes in the modern world that it can call its own. A dashing Gamal Abdel Nasser inspired a generation in the 1950s and 1960s with dreams of pan-Arab pride and dignity. But today the leading candidate for Arab hero is probably a plump religious scholar. This is not because of his religion, however. It is because he leads the only group in the Arab world that can claim a military victory against its historic enemy, Israel. Since the guerrillas of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s Hizbollah (”Party of God”) pushed Israel to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon in May 2000, it has become an inspiration across the Middle East. Nasrallah’s picture appeared alongside that of Moqtada al-Sadr, the renegade Shia cleric who rebelled against US forces in Iraq last year. And Palestinian militants have adopted the suicide tactics that Hizbollah used against Israeli military targets (though the Palestinian suicide attacks have struck Israeli civilians, which Hizbollah’s did not).

The headquarters of Hizbollah in the Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik are in an inconspicuous building in a side street protected by two sets of gates. Past a metal detector at the entrance, I am escorted to a meeting room decorated with crystal chandeliers and patterned blue-and-yellow sofas. I sit down and wait as told, straightening the black scarf I have chosen to wear in deference to the man of religion. Only a few minutes later, he enters alone. With a heavy black beard, his eyes hidden behind thick glasses and his hair tucked behind a black turban, Nasrallah might look to some like the terrorist the Americans say he is. But he’s also charismatic in some respects, though he has a habit of fiddling with his turban as he talks. He speaks with a lisp and occasionally injects a touch of humour into his discourse, but he comes across more as politician than preacher.

Nasrallah embodies the two faces of Hizbollah: he terrifies and he fascinates. Despite his youth - he was only 32 when he took over the leadership of Hizbollah - he led the group through a war of attrition with Israel, at the same time deepening its political roots in Lebanon. And, along the way, he managed to carve out a measure of independence from his two main backers, Syria and Iran.

My visit took place before the most recent bout of the country’s interminable troubles began in February. I was there to talk about Nasrallah’s past, but above all about the party’s future. Tomorrow, the Lebanese will start voting in the first parliamentary elections free of meddling by Beirut’s bigger neighbour, Syria. This tiny Mediterranean country, associated with incomprehensible sectarian and religious divisions - almost the spiritual home of civil war, car bombings and hostage-taking - is being watched now by the rest of the world with more than a morbid curiosity. The massive protests for freedom from Syria’s grip that swept the streets of Beirut after the murder of the former prime minister Rafiq Hariri in February captured the interest of George W. Bush. His administration would like to hold up the elections (staggered over four Sundays) as an example of the success of its drive to democratise the Middle East.

The elections are supposed to be the start of a more hopeful future for Lebanon, one in which the US and Europe are looking for Hizbollah to put down its arms and promote itself as a political party, the other demand of a UN resolution sponsored by Washington and Paris that called first for Syria’s withdrawal. (Hizbollah has said it will remain armed until its conflict with Israel ends, and that includes resolving a dispute over a piece of land it claims Israel did not leave when it pulled out its troops in 2000. Its critics say this is a hollow pretext to hang on to its guns.)

Hizbollah is already the most organised party in the country. But Lebanon’s democracy has its limits: seats in parliament are divided among various sects, and Shia parties - Hizbollah is one of two main Shia groupings - are allocated only 27 seats in the 128-member parliament. Participating in the elections, on its own, can provide a measure of legitimacy to an organisation seen in Washington as terrorist. It shows that men who once carried guns and strapped explosives to their bodies can turn themselves into members of parliament. But these elections are also a new and more uncertain beginning because their sponsor and protector, Syria, has been sidelined. If indeed, after the election, the parties that have opposed Syria’s strangle-hold have a majority in parliament, Hizbollah will be forced to make the choice it has been avoiding: between peaceful political action and confrontation with a new, independent Lebanese government.

Could Hizbollah survive without its guerrillas? This is one of the main questions I put to Nasrallah. He looks at me and smiles. “We’re not people sitting around looking for a job. If you’re a doctor, you have to go to a hospital for a job, not to an architectural firm. But Hizbollah is not a job, it doesn’t lose its raison d’etre,” he says. “It’s a movement with a message and with objectives. So long as this requires sacrifices and giving from this group, then Hizbollah will continue.”

The existence of Hizbollah, which emerged with Iranian backing from radical Shia ranks to resist Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, is not based on the conflict with the enemy, he says. “Hizbollah is also a political party, which has its programme and its responsibility in the country. So it represents a popular movement. Outside the conflict with Israel, we have a big following and a presence in syndicates, media and student unions. And we’re concerned with everything that happens in the country.”

You would not know this if you relied only on what you saw. But this is Lebanon. The Beirut suburb of Haret Hreik, for instance, looks like any other lively Muslim neighbourhood, an odd mix of traditionalist culture and western influence. Its heaving streets are lined with toy stores, boutiques and electronic goods shops. Women hide behind long dresses, some shrouded from head to toe in black robes, but a few girls wear tight jeans, their hair flowing down their backs. It is in the side streets, such as the one I was visiting, that things look different. They are blocked off and manned by armed guards in military uniform. Beyond them, the noises fade and the bustle disappears.

This was once a mostly Christian neighbourhood. You can still find the old church a few blocks away from a new mosque. But over the past decade, it has metamorphosed into Hizbollah-land. Hizbollah militants - the only group permitted to carry weapons since the end of the civil war, on the grounds that they are fighting Israel, not the Lebanese - protect the political hierarchy and a vast empire that includes charities, a television station, hospitals and schools. Construction Jihad, a Hizbollah company, was created to rebuild houses destroyed by Israeli bombardments. There is also a Hizbollah-funded marriage service that helps newlyweds pay for weddings and buy furniture for their first apartments.

For nearly two decades, Hizbollah has thrived in this state within a state, controlling its own security and that of perhaps half a million people living in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Further south, near the border with Israel, it has an arsenal of missiles that can reach deep into Israeli territory. Its infrastructure and its policies have been protected by successive Lebanese governments, which have answered to their masters in Syria. It has received a steady flow of arms and money from Iran (they pass through Syria), seeking to export its radical Shia revolution.

The early days of Hizbollah are at the core of the party’s conflict with the US, which still holds it responsible for blowing up the US marine barracks in Beirut in 1983, and later the US embassy, as well as the spate of brutal kidnappings of foreigners. More than 300 Americans died in those attacks, the first suicide bombings against US targets. This is why, long before September 11, Hizbollah topped the American terrorism list. Richard Armitage, a former deputy secretary of state, famously declared three years ago that Hizbollah may well be the A-team of international terrorism while al-Qaeda was actually the B-team.

Nasrallah says that, since the party had not been officially formed until 1985, it could not carry the blame for earlier violence. “That doesn’t mean that some Islamic groups or jihadi groups or young men who are religious did not do these acts - I don’t deny it. But it wasn’t part of Hizbollah’s group. They were independents. In fact, Hizbollah later knew some of these groups and played a very positive role with Iran and Syria to release the hostages and close this file. If there is any link to Hizbollah it is this. The US should have rewarded it.” The Americans believe the mastermind of the Lebanon attacks at the time - Imad Mughniyah - has remained a top Hizbollah operative, later put in charge of the so-called external terrorist arm of the movement. No one knows his whereabouts and no reliable photograph of him exists. But US intelligence suspects he was involved in the 1992 attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the bombing of a Jewish community centre there two years later (European diplomats are less certain).

To Nasrallah, this is all a figment of America’s imagination. While his speeches are peppered with excessive anti-American rhetoric - before the Iraq war, he warned that the US would be greeted with “rifles, blood, arms, martyrdom and martyrdom operations” - Hizbollah has not been involved in an attack against Americans since the early 1980s. “Not everyone whose policies we object to we must fight. But if someone attacks militarily or occupies us, of course we will fight and we will defend ourselves and our country, whether they’re Americans or others.”

That Nasrallah was willing to sacrifice his eldest son, Hadi, to military operations against Israeli troops lifted him to a near-sacred status within the party and encouraged young Shias to join Hizbollah’s ranks. Hadi died in September 1997 under Israeli mortar fire after his group ambushed a patrol in the occupied zone. The next day, Nasrallah surprised his own aides by going ahead with a planned speech, and said he considered the death of his son a worthy martyrdom. I ask him if he cried on that day. “We were in battle at the time, part of it is military, part of it is psychological, part of it is mediative. So you had to be strong. I did not want to shed a tear in front of my enemy. But when you’re alone with yourself or with your family, where the enemy does not see you, then you can give your emotions freedom. Otherwise you wouldn’t be human. This is what happened with me.”

Lebanon’s opposition has always treated Hizbollah with a mixture of apprehension and respect. Although many opposition leaders, particularly among the Christian community, can hardly wait to strip Hizbollah of its weapons, everyone’s emphasis today is on preventing a rekindling of sectarian conflict. So, at least in public, most of the opposition has been holding a rather friendly, reassuring discourse with Hizbollah. First, it called on Nasrallah to join them in their “intifada for independence”, telling his supporters that the fight against Syria was a new phase of the war of liberation that Hizbollah had started. More recently, it has been reassuring Nasrallah that the fate of his group was an internal affair, whatever the UN resolution might say.

Ghattas Khouri, a medical doctor and an MP in the Hariri bloc, says that once the land dispute with Israel is resolved, “the rest of the Lebanese population won’t accept a continuation of the resistance. Hizbollah had a successful resistance because all the Lebanese population supported them, including the Maronite [Christian] patriarch. If they deviate from the national consensus, they’ll be on their own.”

Hizbollah has remained ideologically tied to Tehran and its followers pay religious allegiance to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader. But the movement has not blindly followed orders from Iran and Syria. It no longer has to. The vast majority of its estimated $1bn budget is said to be generated in Lebanon, partly through Hizbollah’s own business but, through an agreement with leading politicians, it has also been receiving a regular portion of the state telephone company’s revenues, possibly between $150m and $250m a year. An Islamic state remains, in theory, a Hizbollah goal (Nasrallah studied for three years in the Shia holy city of Najaf, in Iraq). But the ambition is rarely raised by Hizbollah officials in a country with large liberal and westernised sections of society and a sizeable Christian minority. MPs do not advocate that Lebanese women wear the veil, for example, knowing that it would be a lost cause. One Hizbollah official once suggested to me that its military actions tended to drop in the summer season so as not to disrupt the tourism from which other communities benefit.

Some politicians in Lebanon doubt that Hizbollah would be satisfied with only a political role in a country where parliamentary seats and government posts are divvied up according to a sectarian quota. One of the nagging questions that politicians have is whether an eventual Hizbollah disarmament would also mean the end of its support for Palestinian militants. No Hizbollah official would confirm that the Lebanese organisation is a vital backer to Palestinian groups such as Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Brigades. Nasrallah is adamant that Hizbollah’s fight does not extend beyond Lebanon. “We offered a model, a good model of resistance that respects its people and works with the government of its country... It’s possible Palestinians are using this model and so Americans come and say Hizbollah should take responsibility. But those fighting in Palestine are Palestinians and if there’s resistance in Iraq, it’s Iraqis.” Yet, when explosives ripped through a car carrying Hizbollah official Ghaleb Awali on a street in Haret Hreik more than a year ago, Nasrallah acknowledged, curiously, that Awali’s job was to assist the Palestinians. And, when I mention to Sheikh Naim Qassim, Hizbollah’s deputy head, that Israel says 74 per cent of operations are organised by Hizbollah, he tells me that Palestinians have enormous will and all they need is a bit of training and logistical support.

Nizar Hamza is a professor of political science who has has just published In the Path of Hizbollah. In his cluttered office at the American University of Beirut, he tells me the assumption that Hizbollah could not survive only as a political party with a purely Lebanese agenda is nonsense. “This party is so big with an institutional infrastructure, investments in the country. It has become self-sufficient and it wouldn’t collapse even if Iran collapsed.”

The more pertinent question, he says, is whether Hizbollah, as a party, would be acceptable to others, given the demographic trends in the country. It can only expand its constituency among Shia in Lebanon but they are already the largest minority, making up more than 30 per cent of the population. An average Shia household has eight to nine children, compared with four to five in Sunni Muslim families, and two to three in Christian families. What Hizbollah wants in return for disarmament is a guarantee that it can campaign peacefully for what will remain radical ideas, including opposition to normalisation with Israel.

The transformation of Hizbollah, in Hamza’s view, is a complex affair that drags in Iran, which would have to agree to an end to the resistance, and the US, which would have to turn the page on the past. But it is not only the Lebanese who have an incentive in a successful Hizbollah transition, Hamza says. It is also America. “The US is in need of co-opting the Shia in Lebanon as they did with the Shia in Iraq.” The more potent threat, after all, comes from the Sunni jihadis of al-Qaeda.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4307a21c-cda3-11d9-9a8a-00000e2511c8.html

Roula Khalaf is the FT’s Middle East editor.

Casey

06-07-2005, 12:55 AM

Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Washington insists Hizbullah is still a terrorist group
By Mayssam Zaaroura
Daily Star staff

BEIRUT: Washington insisted that Lebanese resistance group Hizbullah must disarm, despite its strong showing in Lebanon's elections on Sunday. In America's first reaction to Hizbullah's sweeping victory at the polls, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said: "In terms of Hizbullah, I think our views are well known and they remain unchanged. You have a Security Council resolution that calls for the disarming of groups like Hizbullah and that remains our view. Hizbullah, as you are well aware, is a terrorist organization."

But newly elected Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad said: "The South has democratically expressed its national choice to back the resistance. And it did so without any instructions from anyone on how to practice democracy."

He added: "If democracy is the measure used to rule on all sides, then Hizbullah has been democratically backed by all the Lebanese people especially in the South."

He said: "The U.S. needs to stop using democracy as a slogan to back Israel's terrorism and occupation in the region. The resistance abides by UN rules and the UN deems Hizbullah a legitimate resistance force."

But when asked if Hizbullah would comply with 1559 he said: "Resolution 1559 does not say Hizbullah should disarm. It says all 'Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias must disarm.' Hizbullah is not a militia."

Hizbullah and its pro-Syrian ally, the Amal Movement, swept South Lebanon's parliamentary elections by a landslide, clinching 23 seats in the country's 128 seat Parliament.

The resistance group's slogan for the polls had been a rejection of Resolution 1559 and U.S. interference in Lebanon's politics.

Hizbullah insists its massive win in the South, which increased its parliamentary showing by two seats, was a show of public support for the group in the face of international pressure to hand over its weapons. The U.S. demand comes as UN investigators kicked off their work yesterday, inspecting the site of the explosion that killed former Premier Rafik Hariri four months ago, in Beirut. The UN-mandated investigators began their work on the scene two weeks after arriving in Lebanon. The team is headed by Detlev Mehlis, the senior public prosecutor in Berlin's attorney general's office. - With Agencies

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=15716#

Casey

06-07-2005, 12:56 AM

Hizbullah claims win is message to U.S.
Resistance says their victory in polls is a sign Lebanese are united in support of party's right to bear weaponsBy Samer Wehbe and Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star correspondent

SOUTH LEBANON: Hizbullah and its allies have won all 23 seats in South Lebanon; a landslide victory the Islamic resistance group is touting as a direct message to the international community that the Lebanese are united in their support of the party's weapons.

But in the first American reactions to Lebanon's second round of parliamentary elections, a White House spokesman said the U.S.'s primary concern was to make sure the polls are free and fair and with no outside intimidation or interference. He said: "Hizbullah, as you are aware, is a terrorist organization."

He added that the United States is still concerned about outside interference in Lebanon, mentioning that the killing last week of anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir "kind of underscores the environment created by Syria's long presence in that country."

"His assassination is something that needs to be fully investigated. We continue to call on Syria to make sure that all intelligence operations are out of Lebanon," he said.

Kassir, a 45 year-old columnist for the newspaper An-Nahar, had long demanded the removal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and an end to its influence there.

Israel also expressed concern over the resistance group's electoral victory.

According to a Foreign Ministry spokesman, "Hizbullah is unfortunately a heavily armed terrorist organization. The solution to Lebanon's problems will begin with the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which calls for disarming Hizbullah."

Hizbullah has rejected the resolution and vowed to fight "to the death" any attempts to forcibly disarm its military wing.

The party has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with other Lebanese groups over its fate, but stressed it will keep its weapons for as long as Israel "continues to threaten Lebanon."

In comments Sunday night, Hizbullah's second in command Naim Qassem said: "The aim is to defend Lebanon not the weapons of the resistance. But to defend Lebanon we must defend the weapons."

He continued: "Today, southerners said this and the international community must listen."

Reporting the official results of Sunday's polls, Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa said the alliance of Hizbullah and the Amal Movement had won, convincingly, all 17 contested parliamentary seats. Their list had already been declared uncontested winner of the region's six other seats.

Official tallies showed the alliance receiving more than 80 percent of votes cast. Turnout among the 675,000 eligible voters was given at 45 percent.

The interior minister also said clashes in Rmeish, Sawfar and Bsharri had been contained and the perpetrators arrested. Clashes had broken out between supporters of key opposition leader Walid Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party and pro-Syrian candidate Talal Arslan's Democratic Party over the weekend, with three people reported to have been wounded.

Sabaa said additional security personnel would be mobilized for the two remaining rounds of elections to avoid such incidents.

Asked how those displaced during the country's 1975-1990 Civil War would vote, Sabaa said measures have been taken to satisfy all parties, explaining that offices have been set up on the border of Kfar Matta and Abey to allow the displaced to vote freely.

He added security forces will protect voters closely in those areas to avoid any frictions.

Elsewhere, Amal head, Speaker Nabih Berri said in a news conference held in Mosseileh: "The South has declared clearly and before international observers its backing for the resistance as a path for the past, present and future." He continued: "Even the rival candidates are resist-ance fighters."

Berri said the elected MPs in the South will be responsible for resisting any attempt to disarm Hizbullah, holding the new government accountable, preparing projects to enhance sustainable development and additional social services for the region's impoverished people.

He further said the new Parliament must also undertake the issuing of a new and modern electoral law in line with the Taif Accord and the drafting of a law to regulate political parties.

According to the speaker, the level of voter turnout in Sidon (43.8 percent) had come as a pleasant surprise. A low turnout had been expected in the southern port town due to the uncontested victory of Sidon MPs Bahia Hariri and Osama Saad.

Berri thanked Hariri's campaigners for their "strong commitment to the South, its history, present and future, and to campaigners of other MPs."

One Hizbullah official described Hariri as a "bulldozer" for being able - within a mere three hours - to increase turnout from a meager 13 percent in the morning to 43.8 percent when polling stations closed, through her calls for voters to participate in the electoral process.

The head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, said the overwhelming victory of the joint Amal-Hizbullah list "was southerners' decisive expression of their refusal of Resolution 1559 and attempts to interfere in Lebanese internal affairs."

He added: "It is an expression of your strict commitment to protecting the resistance."

During celebrations at the end of the news conference, newly elected MP Mohammad Fneish said laughingly: "I hope somebody would tell us what has happened to the U.S. ambassador after the results were announced."

"I think he has sustained a big shock," added Fneish, who received the highest number of votes. He said each vote he had received had been addressed directly against the Americans and Resolution 1559 for attacking the resistance. Newly elected MP Hassan Fadlallah said the high voter turnout revealed the people's will to protect the resistance, adding: "The Americans should read this message." - With agencies

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=15708#

Ono

06-07-2005, 01:13 AM

Yet another open and unfettered election.

Casey

06-13-2005, 06:36 AM

Hizbullah appeals to UK over ban
Don't bow to US pressure, urges leading member

Vikram Dodd
Monday June 13, 2005
Guardian

A leading member of the militant Lebanese group Hizbullah has urged Britain not to bow to US and Israeli pressure by continuing to outlaw the organisation.

Rima Fakhry, the only woman member of Hizbullah's leadership, spoke to the Guardian during a trip to London that ends today.

The British government has outlawed Hizbullah's military wing, which it calls its "external security organisation", because it regards it as a terrorist operation. A UK review of whether to ban the group's political wing is expected to report soon, the Guardian has learned.

Mrs Fakhry urged Britain and Europe to resist US and Israeli pressure to decide Hizbullah is a terrorist group: "There is no reason for that and Europe knows it is not true Hizbullah is a terrorist group."

She insisted the group's military actions were targeted only against Israelis inside Lebanon: "When someone comes and kills our people we have to kill him, and we have many ways to defend our people."

Hizbullah was prominent in Lebanese armed resistance to Israel's invasion and occupation. In 2000, when Israeli forces pulled out, Hizbullah claimed a small area of the country, Shebaa Farms, which borders Lebanon and Syria. The Israelis continue to occupy the farms, although the official view of Syria, the current Lebanese government and Hizbullah is that the area belongs to Lebanon, which is why Hizbullah engages with the Israelis there.

Mrs Fakhry, appointed to Hizbullah's political council six months ago, said the group would ignore a UN resolution demanding militias in Lebanon disarm: "We keep our weapons because Israel occupies Shebaa Farms, we still have captives in Israeli jails and Israel is still practising violations against us."

Israel accuses Hizbullah of aiding violent Palestinian resistance to Israeli rule and terrorism attacks against citizens of the Jewish state.

Mrs Fakhry said: "We have no involvement in Palestine. We have strong feelings towards Palestine, if we can, we can help a lot.

"We will send weapons if they need, but there are borders, it is difficult to get the weapons to them.

"We are working for the liberation of Lebanese land. Inside Palestine is the role of Palestinians."

She said she could not see a time when Lebanon and Israel could coexist peacefully: "Do you imagine one day the wolf and the sheep will live in peace? This is only in Walt Disney [films] maybe."

Mrs Fakhry said her group believes in the destruction of Israel and expulsion of tens of thousands of Jews: "This is a hope, a long-term strategy.

"Israelis don't have a right to stay in Palestine, the state of Israel is an illegal state.

"One day the Palestinians will destroy Israel and return to their land."

Hizbullah wins kudos among the Lebanese for its fighting prowess against the Israeli invaders, but is also making more moderate noises.

She says the September 11 al-Qaida attacks on the US were wrong because they targeted civilians: "The US people is not our enemy, the US leadership is against us and agitate the US people against Hizbullah."

The US brands Hizbullah as a terrorist organisation because it believes the group was involved in the kidnapping and murder of its former CIA chief in Beirut and in the 1983 bombing of a US marine barracks in Beirut which killed 240 Americans.

Mrs Fakhry said the attack, which followed US warships pounding targets on Lebanese land, was self-defence, words that will anger Washington: "It's a result of what the US did to the Lebanese but we had nothing to do with it.

"It is the right of someone whose family and children were killed because of the US bombardment ... It was a state of war.

"It was an act of self-defence, it got a result and the US went out."

Today sees the third round of elections in Lebanon. Hizbullah did well in the second round and is expected to do well today.

Yesterday Mrs Fakhry spoke at a London conference about Palestine.

A Home Office spokeswoman said Hizbullah's political wing was not banned in Britain because the government believed "there was a prospect of engaging the military wing of Hizbullah in the Middle East peace process", while a Foreign Office spokesman said the UK used "low level" contacts with the group to "encourage them to renounce violence and focus instead on politics". The Foreign Office added: "We keep their status under constant review."

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1505123,00.html

Casey

06-13-2005, 06:37 AM

Monday, June 13, 2005
Baalbek-Hermel backs Hizbullah
By Morshed al-Ali
Daily Star correspondent

Bekaa

BAALBEK-HERMEL: Hizbullah's electoral list took the majority of votes in Baalbek-Hermel, which saw a total voter turnout of 50 percent. Three electoral lists competed in the Bekaa first district with a sweeping victory for Hizbullah and its allies, including the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the Baath Party, the Amal movement and the Phalange Party.

Several irregularities were reported to the concerned authorities regarding access to electoral cards and the absence of names on polling registration lists.

A Lebanese Forces (LF) presence was felt for the first time in the Maronite town of Deir al-Ahmar, which saw loud demonstrations of flags and pictures of LF's jailed leader Samir Geagea and his wife Strida.

Lebanese Forces supporters also joined a demonstration held in Qaa by the families of those missing or detained in Syrian prisons.

Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement hit the streets with its only candidate Brigadier Salim Kallas.

The town of Arsal, having a majority of Sunnis, had two main candidates from the Future Movement.

Candidates from the electoral list of Yehia Shamas threw accusations at Hizbullah candidates concerning the issuing of fake electoral cards in the border town of al-Qasr, and sources said a supporter of Shamas was attacked in the town of al-Boustane.

In other developments, some 3,200 Lebanese living in Syria, as well as naturalized residents, entered the Lebanon to cast their votes in the nine polling stations provided especially for them in the town of al-Qasr.

There were complaints of a lack of EU observers visiting the polling stations, particularly in the town of Hermel.

During his visit to the polling stations, Baalbek-Hermel MP Ghazi Zeaiter said: "The Lebanese people were capable of facing the Israeli enemy and will be capable of defending their national unity."

He added that this year's parliamentary elections differed from previous elections as "they determined the fate of the country."

For his part, Baalbek-Hermel MP Ibrahim Bayan urged the citizens to vote for Hizbullah in order to protect the resistance and preserve its arms.

Duraid Yaghi, Vice President of the Progressive Socialist Party and candidate in the Baalbek-Hermel Development electoral list, said that the candidates were competing in a democratic way and that the elections there were transparent. For his part, member of Hizbullah's Shura Council Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek said: "The elections in Baalbek-Hermel display the loyalty of its citizens to the martyrs who fought against Israel and for the Lebanese resistance."

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=15871#

Casey

06-15-2005, 05:22 AM

Hezbollah appeals to Britain over ban

By Vikram Dodd
LONDON: A leading member of the Shia Lebanese group Hezbollah has urged Britain not to bow to US and Israeli pressure by continuing to outlaw the organization. Rima Fakhry, the only woman member of Hezbollah’s leadership, spoke to the Guardian during a trip to London. The British government has outlawed Hezbollah’s military wing, which it calls its “external security organization”, because it regards it as a “terrorist operation.” A UK review of whether to ban the group’s political wing is expected to report soon, the Guardian has learned.

Mrs Fakhry urged Britain and Europe to resist US and Israeli pressure to decide Hezbollah is a terrorist group: “There is no reason for that and Europe knows it is not true Hezbollah is a terrorist group.” She said the group’s military actions were targeted only against Israelis inside Lebanon: “When someone comes and kills our people we have to kill him, and we have many ways to defend our people.”

Hezbollah was prominent in Lebanese armed resistance to Israel’s invasion and occupation. In 2000, when Israeli forces pulled out, Hezbollah claimed a small area of the country, Shebaa Farms, which borders Lebanon and Syria. The Israelis continue to occupy the farms, although the official view of Syria, the current Lebanese government and Hezbollah is that the area belongs to Lebanon, which is why Hezbollah engages with the Israelis there.

Mrs Fakhry, appointed to Hezbollah’s political council six months ago, said the group would ignore a UN resolution demanding militias in Lebanon disarm: “We keep our weapons because Israel occupies Shebaa Farms, we still have captives in Israeli jails and Israel is still practising violations against us.”

Israel accuses Hezbollah of aiding Palestinian resistance to Israeli rule and “terrorism” attacks against citizens of the Jewish state. Mrs Fakhry said: “We have no involvement in Palestine. We have strong feelings towards Palestine, if we can, we can help a lot. “We will send weapons if they need, but there are borders, it is difficult to get the weapons to them. “We are working for the liberation of Lebanese land. Inside Palestine is the role of Palestinians.”

She said she could not see a time when Lebanon and Israel could coexist peacefully: “Do you imagine one day the wolf and the sheep will live in peace? This is only in Walt Disney [films] maybe.” Mrs Fakhry said her group believes in the destruction of Israel and expulsion of tens of thousands of Jews: “This is a hope, a long-term strategy.

“Israelis don’t have a right to stay in Palestine, the state of Israel is an illegal state. “One day the Palestinians will destroy Israel and return to their land.”

She says the September 11 Al Qaida attacks on the US were wrong because they targeted civilians: “The US people are not our enemy, the US leadership is against us and it agitate the US people against Hezbollah.” The US brands Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation because it believes the group was involved in the kidnapping and murder of its former CIA chief in Beirut and in the 1983 bombing of a US marine barracks, carried out by a female member of Hezbollah, in Beirut which killed 240 Americans.

Mrs Fakhry said the attack, which followed US warships pounding targets on Lebanese land, was self-defence, words that will anger Washington: “It’s a result of what the US did to the Lebanese but we had nothing to do with it. “It is the right of someone whose family and children were killed because of the US bombardment. It was an act of self-defence, it got a result and the US went out.”—Dawn/The Guardian News Service
http://www.dawn.com/2005/06/15/int14.htm

The 801

06-22-2005, 07:41 AM

'Hezbollah drugs ring' broken up

Police in Ecuador say they have broken up an international drugs ring which was raising money for the Islamic militant group, Hezbollah.
The authorities have declined to give details of the gang's alleged links with the group, but say it was sending Hezbollah up to 70% of its profits.

Ecuadorean officials say the drugs network was run by a Lebanese restaurant owner in the capital, Quito.

Officials are hailing it as a success in both the war on drugs and on terror.

Arrests abroad

Along with the restaurant owner, identified as Rady Zaiter, who was arrested in Colombia last week, six other suspects were also detained in Ecuador.

They are said to originate from Algeria, Ecuador, Lebanon, Nigeria and Turkey.

The police investigation, codenamed Operation Damascus, led to the arrests of a further 19 people Brazil and the United States.

Police say that the gang were obtaining cocaine from neighbouring Colombia and trafficking it to Europe, the Middle East and the rest of South America.

The drugs were either hidden in suitcases with false bottoms or in the stomachs of couriers.

The BBC's Elliot Gotkine says airport officials are said to have been bribed to turn a blind eye.

Ecuadorean police say that each drugs shipment was worth $1m and that up to 70% of the profits went to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah - or Party of God - emerged in Lebanon in the early 1980s and became the region's leading radical Islamic movement, determined to drive Israeli troops from Lebanon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4117960.stm

Casey

11-10-2005, 01:13 PM

Winner on Gaza sidelines (http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051026-095053-8089r.htm)

By Aaron Mannes
Published October 27, 2005

While the headlines focus on the power struggle between Hamas and Fatah for control of Gaza, the real winner is Iran, which, with its proxy Hezbollah, has been infiltrating all of the Palestinian terrorist groups for over a decade. The general disorder will leave Iran with a free hand to use Gaza as a platform for terror, not just against Israel, but worldwide. Along with Tehran's quest for nuclear weapons and subversion in Iraq, the Iranian effort to subsume the Palestinian terrorist groups is a central component of Iran's bid to become the dominant Middle Eastern power.

Iranian influence extends deeply into every Palestinian faction, guaranteeing Tehran's sway whatever power structure emerges in Gaza. Palestinian Islamic Jihad is entirely dependent on Iranian funding and has been Iran's proxy in the West Bank and Gaza for nearly a decade. Fatah and Hamas, the leading Palestinian factions, are also being taken over by Iran. Working with Hezbollah, Iran has generously supported every Palestinian faction, providing cash, training equipment, medical treatment, and even how-to bomb making videos. Hezbollah provided assistance in launching many of the al-Aqsa Intifada's bloodiest attacks, including the March 2002 Passover Massacre. This generosity, combined with the vacuum created by Israel's strategy of eliminating terrorist leaders, has enabled Hezbollah to recruit Palestinians and establish their own network in the West Bank, Gaza and among Israeli Arabs. Israeli intelligence reports that Hezbollah now directs most Palestinian terror operations.

Some leaders from both Hamas and Fatah have complained about Hezbollah's infiltration. Weeks before he died, Yasser Arafat complained, " Khamenei is working against us. He is giving money to all these fanatical groups. Khamenei is a troublemaker."
But Hezbollah and Iran are also recruiting Hamas and Fatah leaders. Hamas' Gaza leaders had tried to maintain the organization's independence. But with Israel's spring 2004 assassination of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin, control of Hamas passed to the Damascus-based leadership who are aligned with Iran and Syria. They quickly invited Hezbollah to play a more active role in the al-Aqsa Intifada.

A Fatah victory over Hamas for control of Gaza will not contain Iranian influence. Farouq Qaddumi, Arafat's successor as Fatah leader, is relocating to Gaza to better compete with Mahmoud Abbas for control of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Mr. Qaddumi, who has close links to Iran and Syria and opposed the peace process, has founded his own militia and has actively aided Hezbollah infiltration of the PA and Fatah. Many of the thousands of Lebanon-based Fatah members relocating to Gaza are also linked to Hezbollah and Iran. Fatah's leader in Lebanon, Munir Maqdah, head of the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp, helped Hezbollah funnel money to West Bank terror cells.

Israel will continue to be the primary target of Gaza's terrorists. Israeli officials now view Gaza as a secure rear echelon for emboldened West Bank terrorism. But there are regional and international implications beyond Iran's ability to strike Israel and disrupt Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
Within the Middle East, Persian and Shia Iran's efforts to export its Islamist revolution were hampered by its ethnic and sectarian isolation from the Sunni Arab mainstream. While Hezbollah has been an effective Arab proxy, it was still isolated from the Sunni mainstream by its Shi'ism. The Palestinians of Gaza are Arab Sunni Muslims and Hamas, which grew from the Muslim Brotherhood, may prove a particularly effective intermediary to the broader Arab world. Gaza based-radicalism threatens both Egypt, which has its own violent Islamist movements, and Jordan, where Hamas is closely aligned with the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's leading opposition party.

The Palestinian terrorist groups will augment Hezbollah's international reach. Hamas has a global logistics network that could support operations. Both Hamas and Fatah have international reputations that could attract recruits for terror attacks around the globe. The attack on Mike's Place by two British citizens of Pakistani descent who were recruited in Britain by Hamas could be a harbinger of this trend.

From Beirut to Buenos Aires and throughout Europe and the Middle East, Iran has used terrorism to achieve its ends. Influence over the Palestinian terrorist networks extends Iran's ability to intimidate and murder its enemies and is an integral part of Tehran's efforts to dominate the Middle East.

[I]Aaron Mannes, author of the TerrorBlog (www.profilesinterror.com) and "Profiles in Terror: The Guide to Middle East Terrorist Organizations" (Rowman & Littlefield-JINSA Press), researches terrorism at the Maryland Information and Network Dynamics Laboratory (profilesinterror.mindswap.org) at the University of Maryland. Opinions expressed here are his own.

http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051026-095053-8089r.htm

Petronas

12-15-2005, 11:23 AM

Lebanon's Largest Government University Hosts Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV Symposium Calling to Wipe Israel Off The Map: "Just Like Hitler Fought The Jews…We Too Should Fight The Jews and Burn Them"
December 15, 2005

The following are excerpts from a symposium of students at Universite Libanaise, hosted by Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV and broadcast on November 29, 2005. The symposium marked the anniversary of November 29, 1947, the day the U.N. General Assembly passed the Partition Plan, which is marked annually in the Arab world with ceremonies of solidarity with the Palestinians. Al-Manar's TV symposium was devoted to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and participants included Shafiq Al-Hut, a former PLO representative in Lebanon, and Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian students.

It should be noted that Universite Libanaise [1] is Lebanon's only government-run university, and the country's largest. [2]

TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=962 .

Mediator: "The Arab regimes have all accepted the establishing of a Palestinian state on the territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In other words, the 1967 borders only. They believe that the reality and the balance of power do not allow more than that at this stage. Do you support this 'realism,' or do you adhere to what has come to be known as the historical, original Palestine? Let us... Let us... Go ahead."

Student 1: "My name is Hisham Sham'as, and I study political science. I just want to say everyone is talking about..."

Mediator: "Please address the question."

Hisham Sham'as: "The state shouldn't be only within the 1976 borders... Or rather, 1967... Israel must be wiped out."

Mediator: "You mean, reviving the motto of erasing Israel from the map."

Hisham Sham'as: "Israel should be completely wiped out, so the Palestinians will have a country to return to."

Mediator: "If someone tells you this motto is unrealistic, how would you respond?"

Hisham Sham'as: "There is no such thing as unrealistic. Just as Israel... Just like Hitler fought the Jews - We are a great Islamic nation of Jihad, and we too should fight the Jews and burn them."

[...]

Student 2: "Avian flu hit the entire world, and they are trying to find a cure for it now. As for Israel - the only cure for it is to wipe it off the map."

[...]

Mediator: "What's your name?"

Student 3: "Mahmoud Fakhri. I hope what I have to say is not too inciting."

Mediator: "Go ahead and incite. This is what we're looking for. We want some action."

Mahmoud Fakhri: "In all honesty, the Arab people should overturn the disappointing regimes."

Mediator: "Now you are really inciting..."

Fakhri: "In all honesty, any disappointing government that wants to normalize relations with the Zionist enemy and to sell out the Arab cause, and especially Jerusalem - the people must topple this regime and have its say."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The University was created in 1953 by the Lebanese State. According to its website, it is "morally independent and enjoys administrative, academic and financial autonomy." The rector is Dr. Ibrahim Kobeissi. The site is both in French and Arabic, but the home page is in French http://www.ul.edu.lb/index.htm . The University Rector - Ibrahim Kobeissi, wrote the following in his personal message on the site: "The Universite Libanaise is a moral entity enjoying administrative, academic and financial autonomy. Its mission mainly focuses on the following three points: teaching, research and the spreading of culture [...] The philosophy of the university is founded on freedom of thought, independent judgment and reject of authoritarianism." http://www.ul.edu.lb/francais/presiden.htm

[2] According to the University's website, in the academic year 2000/2001 there were 68,510 students. 85.7% of the foreign students (6,165 in 2000/2001) came from Arab countries.

http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD104905

Vancouver

12-15-2005, 01:12 PM

Hizbollah is Shiite (Lebanon/Syria/Iran), and it shows in this "university symposium" staged by Hizbollah.

Mediator: "What's your name?"
Student 3: "Mahmoud Fakhri. I hope what I have to say is not too inciting."
Mediator: "Go ahead and incite. This is what we're looking for. We want some action."
Mahmoud Fakhri: "In all honesty, the Arab people should overturn the disappointing regimes."He must be referring to Sunni regimes and maybe the PA. I don't know anything about that Lebanese university, but it's common for a totally biased organization to try to hold its "debates" at a university, in the hope of stealing some caché of education and impartiality. I say again, watch the manipulation of students by Ahmadinejad in Tehran.

Hamas is different. Sunni. Based in Gaza. Endorsed by Sunni dictators and Sunni terrorist revolutionaries alike. But a lot of Israelis have Hizbollah on the brain and they see it everywhere.

But with Israel's spring 2004 assassination of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin, control of Hamas passed to the Damascus-based leadership who are aligned with Iran and Syria.
...
But Hezbollah and Iran are also recruiting Hamas and Fatah leaders.
That's not in line with what I've been seeing: increasing Salafism and general Sunni religiosity on the part of Hamas. I'll get back to Hamas and Gaza.

Vancouver

12-16-2005, 02:40 AM

About the Shiite Axis of Iran/Syria/PartOfLebanon, it would be nice to know more about the smuggling of Iranian-made weapons, which, of course, are for sale to Sunnis too.

Petronas

12-19-2005, 04:52 PM

Terror group cloned cellphones of Rogers execs
Sun. Dec. 18 2005 8:54 AM ET

A group linked to terrorist organization Hezbollah has cloned the cellphones of Rogers Communications executives, including that of CEO Ted Rogers, The Globe and Mail reported Saturday. Cloning involves duplicating a cellphone's number and encrypted security code.

The story came to light after law professor Susan Drummond returned from a month-long trip abroad, only to find her Rogers cellphone bill was more than $12,000, The Globe reported. The Rogers Wireless bill listed more than 300 calls made in the month of August, some to foreign countries, including Pakistan, Libya, Syria, India and Russia. When Drummond called about the bill, she was told she would have to pay it -- and that prompted her and her partner, Harry Gefen, to begin researching the cellphone giant.

In September, Gefen attended the Toronto Fraud Forum -- an annual conference for security experts -- where he spoke to Cindy Hopper, a manager in Rogers security department. She told him that terror groups had repeatedly cloned cellphones of Rogers executives to make thousands of calls overseas, The Globe reported. Hopper also said terror groups had identified Rogers executives as perfect targets because the company would be reluctant to shut off their phones due to inconvenience to busy executives.

Gefen, who is a technology journalist, tape recorded his conversation with Hopper, who did not know he was an aggrieved customer, according to The Globe. Based on that interview, Drummond is considering legal action against Rogers. She claims that Rogers can spot a fraud-in-progress, and yet does not shut down the phones. Rogers has automated security systems alerting them to radical changes in calling patterns, Hopper reportedly told Geffen.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051217/rogers_cellphones_cloning_051217/20051217?hub=TopStories

Petronas

12-21-2005, 07:58 PM

Hezbollah highly skilled at infiltrating technology, experts say
Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Security experts say it's no surprise that a group linked to Hezbollah cloned the cellphones of Ted Rogers and other high-level Rogers executives. The Iranian-backed radical Shia group based in Lebanon -- regarded by many as even more sophisticated than al-Qaeda -- has sharpened its counterintelligence expertise over the years by keeping a step ahead of Mossad, Israel's secret service. Hezbollah, whose name means Party of God, has become ever more adept at intercepting electronic surveillance, penetrating cellphone networks and recruiting computer science technicians. "Hezbollah has a long history of underworld wrestling, matching wits with Israeli intelligence agents," said Wesley Wark, an intelligence expert at the University of Toronto. "Hezbollah has become technologically more sophisticated to avoid detection. It's an ironic spinoff of having Western agencies monitor their communications."

Cindy Hopper, a manager at Rogers security department, told a Toronto fraud conference in September, 2005, that a group linked to Hezbollah not only cloned Mr. Rogers' cellphone, but search warrants revealed the group was also making phony passports, credit cards and other false documents. She discovered the individuals were taking their scanners to Rogers' north building, where the senior executives worked, knowing that nobody would want to cut off the cellphones of Mr. Rogers or those directly reporting to him. The impostors would call Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait and Syria on the cloned phones.

Martin Rudner, head of the Canadian Centre of Intelligence and Security Studies at Carleton University, said Hezbollah's terrorist arm raises funds in Canada, and has also been involved in the stealing of cars that are shipped to southern Lebanon. "Hezbollah successfully recruits computer scientists and is very effective in telecommunications and in encrypting their messages in order to defeat national security agents in Canada and the U.S.," he said.

In December, 2002, Hezbollah, whose goal is to establish a radical Shia theocracy in Lebanon and to destroy Israel, was declared a terrorist organization in Canada.

A recent high-profile case involving cigarette smugglers based in North Carolina revealed a Hezbollah cell had penetrated Vancouver three years earlier. In their book, Lightning out of Lebanon, authors Tom Diaz and Barbara Newman describe the 1999 case. They note that CSIS began tracking a group of Hezbollah agents in Vancouver. They were buying high-tech equipment, using money sent to them from Hezbollah in Lebanon and from a cigarette-smuggling ring in North Carolina.

Mr. Diaz and Ms. Newman note that Hezbollah in Canada is also known to recruit operatives.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051220/HEZBOLLAH20/TPNational/Canada

Petronas

12-21-2005, 08:16 PM

I am concerned that, if there is a an attack in the near future on the Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States, or Israel with U.S. support, Hezbollah, with its strong Iranian sponsorship, may break with past precedent and carry out attacks against the United States. I believe that their infrastructure in North America, so far used only for recruiting and fund raising, may well equal or exceed that of Al Qaeda.

Casey

12-22-2005, 12:32 PM

Terror group cloned cellphones of Rogers execs
Sun. Dec. 18 2005 8:54 AM ET

A group linked to terrorist organization Hezbollah has cloned the cellphones of Rogers Communications executives, including that of CEO Ted Rogers, The Globe and Mail reported Saturday. Cloning involves duplicating a cellphone's number and encrypted security code.

Follow-up

Rogers Responds to Globe and Mail Story

TORONTO, Dec. 19 /CNW/ - Rogers today responded to a story that
originally appeared in the Globe and Mail on Saturday, December 17th. The
Globe's story described an incident in 1998 which involved the "cloning" of
analogue cell phones of senior Rogers' executives. The facts are as follows:

The cloning incident referred to occurred seven years ago on a single
Rogers' executive phone. At that time, cloning was an industry-wide problem
which has been removed as a result of the industry move to digital technology.

In fact, the vast majority of Rogers' customers today are on GSM digital
phones, the world standard upon which more than a billion phones are in
operation worldwide, and cloning of these phones is virtually impossible.

Ms. Susan Drummond's situation had to do with a lost or stolen phone and
had nothing to do with cloning. The phone charges have now been eliminated and
costs will be reimbursed. Ted Rogers was personally involved and apologized on
behalf of the company.

Rogers Wireless Inc. is Canada's largest wireless voice and data
communications services provider with offices in Canadian cities across the
country, more than 6.0 million customers, and two powerful brands: Rogers
Wireless and Fido. Rogers Wireless, which operates Canada's largest integrated
wireless voice and data network, providing advanced voice and wireless data
solutions to customers from coast to coast, is Canada's only carrier operating
on the GSM/GPRS technology platform, the world standard for wireless
communications technology. Rogers Wireless is a subsidiary of Rogers
Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RG), a diversified Canadian
communications and media company. For further information, please visit
www.rogers.com
%SEDAR: 00006019EF

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2005/19/c1991.html

Casey

12-22-2005, 12:39 PM

An interesting forum Lebanese Forces Political Forum

http://www.lebanese-forces.org/vbullet/forumdisplay.php?f=18

Casey

12-28-2005, 04:05 PM

Hizbullah is Lebanon's bulwark against Al-Qaeda
'We do not have any relations with that group'

By Clancy Chassay
Special to The Daily Star
Saturday, December 24, 2005

Hizbullah is Lebanon's bulwark against Al-Qaeda

ANALYSIS

Since the events of September 11, 2001, there have been numerous attempts to link Hizbullah to Al-Qaeda - some more plausible than others. Investigation, however, reveals considerable animosity between the two groups, and two leading academics on the subject suggest Hizbullah may be Lebanon's best protection against an Al-Qaeda presence in the country.

On October 28, the Kuwaiti newspaper As-Siyassa reported Hizbullah was training Arab fighters for Al-Qaeda in Iran. In August the same paper ran a story with the headline: "Most of [Al-Qaeda's commander in Iraq Abu Musab] Zarqawi's men are Palestinians trained by Hizbullah."

Then last week, the Shiite weekly Ash-Shiira claimed Al-Qaeda had set up a major base of operations in Lebanon and that alleged Hizbullah associate Imad Moughniye was now representing Al-Qaeda in talks with potentially sympathetic Palestinian groups in the country.

Hizbullah's director of media relations Mohammad Afif Naboulsi firmly denies the alleged links to the militant jihadi network, "We do not have any relation with that group, not in the present nor in the past. They are working toward tearing the Islamic Nation apart, dividing Muslims into numerous sects and mutilating the face of Islam in the world."

Amal Ghorayeb of the Lebanese American University believes any operational cooperation between the two groups is out of the question. "Hizbullah would in no way share Al-Qaeda's goals. The Americans have to understand Al-Qaeda is a threat to American security, Hizbullah is simply a threat to American interests," says Ghorayeb.

An expert and writer on Hizbullah, Ghorayeb says: "Al-Qaeda would never work with Hizbullah; their greatest enemies are the Shiites. There is a very strong cultural and religious animosity on the side of Al-Qaeda."

Last week a Shiite cleric in Lebanon received a death threat from an Al-Qaeda-type Salafi jihadist group confirming this hostility.

And on July 27, Al-Mustaqbal reported that a group calling itself the "Al-Qaeda Organization in the Levant, Umar Brigade - Lebanon Province" had announced plans to assassinate senior members of Hizbullah along with the country's most senior Shiite clerics and politicians.

The statement accuses senior Hizbullah officials of "treason with the US, British and Israeli enemies of Islam against the victorious resistance and its great leaders ... our master Imam Osama bin Laden and the mujahid Sheikh Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi."

Afif dismisses the statement as "fabricated locally" but says: "These groups have issued threats before and they find it very easy to kill so we must take them seriously."

According to Dr. Redwan Sayyed, considered Lebanon's foremost expert on Al-Qaeda and a professor of Islamic history at the Lebanese university, Salafi Jihadi ideologues, described as the intellectual voices of Al-Qaeda, view Hizbullah with deep disdain and are threatened by the Shiite group's popularity on the Sunni Arab street.

Contributors to pro Al-Qaeda Web sites such as Global Islamic Media regularly refer to Hizbullah as Hizb al-Shaytan or "party of the devil" and in 2004, a leading scholar of jihadists in Saudi Arabia Abed al-Munim Mustafa Halimah published an article "the Lebanese Hizbullah rejectionist school" condemning Hizbullah for being nationalist, serving local interests and for their relationship with apostate Shiite Iran and the secular Assad regime in Syria.

Halimah, known as Abu Basir, accuses Hizbullah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of exploiting the January 2004 prisoner exchange with Israel solely for his organization's goal of exporting "Shiite Islam" to the Muslim world.

Sayyed says Hizbullah regards Al-Qaeda with similar contempt and has been preventing the network from gaining a foothold in the country.

"Al-Qaeda could not maintain a base in Lebanon because Hizbullah is against Al-Qaeda and has always worked to hinder Syria's accommodation of Al-Qaeda in Lebanon. One of the reasons Al-Qaeda has not been allowed by Syria to operate in Lebanon under the Sunnis is because of Hizbullah objection."

Sayyed believes "Hizbullah is not only a big military power, it is also a very big intelligence power and is using its intelligence network to keep Al- Qaeda out of Lebanon."

Ghorayeb agrees with this assessment, saying Hizbullah has been using its extensive intelligence network to counter Al-Qaeda growth in the country. "Nasrallah, drawing from Hizbullah intelligence, warned Al-Qaeda was trying to infiltrate Lebanon."

Sayyed says: "Hizbullah has a policy of taking action against Lebanese Sunni individuals who even claim to have links with Al-Qaeda, either by warning the individuals or telling the Syrians that if they didn't stop them 'then we will.'"

Hizbullah says they would act to prevent an Al-Qaeda attack but, apparently cautious of being drawn into an intra-Muslim sectarian conflict, the group says the organization needs to be defeated on an intellectual level.

Afif claims the party has been approached by mediators from the CIA "who asked us to collaborate by supplying them with information about Islamic groups."

He adds: "We will not be taken into a sectarian war between Muslims, but we believe it is the responsibility of the Islamic theologians, the Sunnis, as well as social figures and media to play a role in raising awareness about the dangers of these ideas."

Ghorayeb says Hizbullah is playing a delicate balancing game between Lebanon's Sunni and Shiite communities.

"There are many instances of this Sunni-Shiite tension in Lebanon now, Hizbullah is really trying to safeguard the relations between the two groups. Now, I can tell you, the tension is a lot more palpable than it was," says Ghorayeb.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=21003#

The 801

12-28-2005, 04:44 PM

Casey

12-28-2005, 04:47 PM

Does anyone feel that this could be disinformation? The daily Star is usually a good source, but this contradicts some other items they have printed and goes against some of my personal beliefs here. Others opinions would be appreciated.

The "shakey" 801
I was thinking along those lines.

For an analysis it is confusing.

Interesting about the Hizbullah leaders being targetted by al Qaeda.

I can't say I've seen that statement...??

Vancouver

12-29-2005, 02:57 AM

In August the same paper [As-Siyassa, Kuwait] ran a story with the headline: "Most of Zarqawi's men are Palestinians trained by Hizbullah."That is definitely false -- just Kuwaiti state propaganda for local consumption.
Amal Ghorayeb of the Lebanese American University believes any operational cooperation between the two groups is out of the question.I agree. Osama was never personally very anti-Shiite, but Zarqawi is, and so are Zarqawi's backers and recruiters in Arabia. Zawahiri nowadays is secondary to Zarqawi, and indulges the latter with anti-Shiite spew, encouraging him to expand the jihad to Syria, in particular. Obviously that is not what Hizbollah wants to hear.

The 801

12-29-2005, 07:44 AM

German says Zarqawi behind her abduction
Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:27 PM ET

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German woman held hostage in Iraq for three weeks believes a group allied to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, abducted her and yet also set her free.

"I was quite clearly told about whom it concerned, namely a grouping of the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi group," Susanne Osthoff said in an interview conducted by German public television station ZDF on Tuesday and broadcast on Wednesday.

Zarqawi, who has a $25 million reward offered for his capture, is blamed for a relentless series of attacks, suicide bombings and beheadings in Iraq. His supporters have killed many, if not most, of the people they are known to have abducted.

Groups not allied to him have also kidnapped Westerners and have been more ready to free them in return for ransoms.

Osthoff, speaking from Doha and dressed in a yashmak or black veil covering all but her eyes, did not say why she believed she had been released.

The archaeologist, who converted to Islam and lived in Iraq, was seized heading north from Baghdad on November 25 by gunmen who threatened in a videotape to kill her and her driver unless Germany ended all support for the Iraqi government.

She was freed by December 18 after the intervention of the German government, which has declined to comment on any conditions for her release.

Osthoff, 43, has made it clear she is not rushing back to Germany, but there have been conflicting reports about whether she plans to return to Iraq.

She gave her first interview since her ordeal to Al Jazeera, telling the Arabic station her kidnappers had promised not to hurt her because she was a Muslim. Some German media wrongly referred to her saying she planned to return to Iraq.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other leading government figures have strongly urged Osthoff not to go back to Iraq.

Asked by ZDF if it was indeed her intention to head for Iraq, Osthoff replied:

"That's a lie, I have the cassette here ... I have never said that, I wouldn't do so to such a dumb question and it has never been asked by the Arabs."

ZDF broadcast excerpts from the interview, in which Osthoff gives few direct answers and digresses at length.

She ended by thanking former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who made a televised appeal for her release, but pointedly declined to thank her sister who did the same.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-12-28T212701Z_01_KNE877174_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-HOSTAGE-GERMAN.xml&archived=False

OK, now this contradicts the Clancy Chassay assertion. Why would Hezbollah get a guy back from someone captured by AQ. I still see Mugniyeh's hand, or at least his philosophy in action here.

Second, I googled that Chassay guy, and he appears to have mainly published humanitarian type stories in the Palestinian press. And very few. That article that Casey posted looks like it was originally from last July or august. I think this Chassay is a red herring, and primary publishes with others.

I am assured that Hezbollah and AQ are in league with each other, and that Mugniyeh maintains that cooperation in the name of Islamic/Iranian hegemony.

The "more sure than ever, but thanks Casey" 801

Casey

12-29-2005, 12:17 PM

I am assured that Hezbollah and AQ are in league with each other, and that Mugniyeh maintains that cooperation in the name of Islamic/Iranian hegemony.

The "more sure than ever, but thanks Casey" 801
Thank you, 801.

The 801

01-08-2006, 08:24 AM

See seperate analyisis under Mugniyeh thread.

Lebanese Hezbollah's dignity result of jihad: Reyshahri

MECCA (IRNA) -- The Supreme Leader's representative for Hajj affairs, Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri, said here on Friday that the prestige achieved by the Lebanese Hezbollah has come as a result of jihad, resistance and obedience to Imam Khomeini's calling and that of his rightful successor.

Reyshahri made the remark at a meeting with the head of the Lebanese Hezbollah's representative office in Mecca, Sheikh Mohammad Yazbok.

He expressed the hope Hezbollah fighters, under the able guidance of their chief, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, would continue the path of resistance until they achieve complete victory against the Zionist occupiers.

Enemies of Lebanon and Islam are aware of Hezbollah's role, he said, adding that their efforts to defeat Hezbollah are doomed to fail.

Representatives of Hezbollah at the meeting praised the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the anti-Zionist resistance in Lebanon, and said Hezbollah fighters would never yield to pressure from the enemies and will not end their fight until the occupiers are defeated.

Meanwhile, Reyshahri, during a meeting with head of the Iraqi high delegation to the Hajj, Khalid al-Atiyah, said the Iraqi nation would be wise to walk in the path of religious jurisprudence.

He said a bright future awaits the Iraqi nation if it manages to establish a broad-based government in the country.

The enemies are continually hatching conspiracies in Iraq to serve their interests, he said, and urged the Iraqi ulema and nation to remain united and vigilant to neutralize their plots.

The Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports a government in Iraq that reflects the people's choice and is ready to expand bilateral cooperation with that country in all political, cultural and social fields, Reyshahri said.

Al-Atiyah, for his part, said terrorist acts do not diminish the Iraqi people's unity because they believe these are all orchestrated by foreign elements and regimes.

He said he was praying for peace and friendship to reign among Muslims all over the world in obedience to Islamic teaching.

Reyshahri urges Iranians to disseminate true Islam

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is considered the only state whose constitution is based on the Holy Quran and which is run by officials, led by the Supreme leader, who are committed to removing the people's weaknesses and capitalizing on their strengths," he told a gathering of Iranian pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He then urged Iranians to defend the Islamic system in this country in view of the fact that "arrogant powers, headed by the U.S. and the Zionist occupying regime, have mobilized to bring defeat to Islamic Iran."

Elsewhere in his talks, he hailed the Hajj pilgrimage as the most perfect mission ever mandated by God upon human beings through which they can clean their own impurities and those of societies in which they live.

He urged the Iranian pilgrims to follow the practices recommended by the Prophet Mohammad, his successor Imam Ali, and his infallible daughter Hazrat-e Fatemeh (PBUH).

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=1/8/2006&Cat=2&Num=006

Whew, sound like they are picking a fight, and getting the troops in line. I believe this is not just for domestic consumption, but a warning of a warning, if that makes sense. - The 801

Petronas

01-08-2006, 10:55 AM

HIZBULLAH ACQUIRES ADVANCED RUSSIAN WEAPONS
01/05/2006 11:55:52

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Hizbullah has acquired advanced Russian-origin weapons from Syria. Israeli military sources said Hizbullah has deployed advanced rocket-propelled grenades procured from Syria. The sources said the RPGs, which arrived in April 2005, were used in the massive Hizbullah barrage on northern Israel in December. "Hizbullah is using rocket-propelled grenades that were bought by Syria from Russia," Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, told the Israeli Yediot Aharonot daily on Dec. 29. Later military sources identified the RPG acquired by Hizbullah as the RPG-29N. They said the rocket used in the launcher was the PG-29V.

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2006/january/01_06_2.html

The 801

01-17-2006, 03:03 PM

Iran's Hezbollah Connection
January 16, 2006 21 19 GMT

Summary

Iran's calculus in pursuing its ambitious nuclear agenda undoubtedly involves its key asset based in Lebanon: Hezbollah. Although Hezbollah has proven a useful tool for Tehran in the past, the Iranian regime might not be able to rely fully on its militant Shiite allies in the Levant to offset the Israeli threat.

Analysis

As evidenced by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's bellicose statements involving the relocation of Israel, Tehran's nuclear ambitions are underscored with a great deal of confidence. Iran derives much of this confidence from its reliance on its militant creation in Lebanon: Hezbollah.

Part of Iran's strategy in pushing its nuclear agenda involves tactically using Hezbollah to deliver timely reminders to Israel that the militant group's large cache of Katyusha rockets can effectively counter any threats of military action against Tehran; though it cannot be confirmed, Hezbollah is believed to have missiles that can reach Haifa in northern Israel.

Rumors are circulating in Beirut that Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani made an unofficial visit to Lebanon prior to Jan. 9, the date on which Iran decided to remove U.N. seals and resume uranium enrichment research; the rumored visit and Iran's decision could well be linked. Iran has persistently signaled to Israel that it can hit close to home, and whenever Israel's border with Lebanon flares up with rocket fire Tehran uses the opportunity to up the ante on the nuclear controversy. This is similar to Iran's tactic of using its links with Iraq's Shiite militias -- and Iraq's Shiite community as a whole -- to remind the West that Tehran can incite attacks and mass uprisings if its geopolitical interests are not met.

Hezbollah -- created by Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards in 1982 to export the Islamic revolution to the Arab world -- receives financial, ideological and armed support from Iran and from the Islamic republic's Alawite allies in Syria, who share Tehran's interest in pressuring Israel. The organization was particularly useful in the days of the civil war when Lebanon was overrun with warring militias and crawling with U.S., Israeli and French security forces along with Palestinian Liberation Organization fighters. However, the assassination in 2005 of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri considerably altered the political landscape in Lebanon. A number of resulting complications have affected Hezbollah's ability -- and willingness -- to serve as an effective Iranian satellite.

Iran is apparently displeased with Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's failure to demonstrate complete loyalty to the regime. Complaints are circulating in Iran's regime that Nasrallah receives more directives from Damascus than from Tehran. Nasrallah might be acting under increased pressure to demonstrate that Hezbollah is an Arab-Lebanese entity, but whatever the reason for his behavior, Iran allegedly is now aiming to replace Nasrallah and merge the pro-Syrian Shiite Amal movement with a revamped Hezbollah. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Iran is grooming Hezbollah's Hashim Safieddine to replace Nasrallah -- a move that could erupt into a major rift within the organization.

Iran's concerns over Nasrallah coincide with its diminishing confidence in Syrian President Bashar al Assad, whose regime has been humiliated relentlessly by the ongoing U.N. investigation into the al-Hariri killing and former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam's public display of defection. With Syria wrapped up in its own political tangle, Iran is setting out to secure a strong Shiite Lebanese bloc for itself -- beginning with its plan to consolidate support within Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has struggled to redefine itself as a Lebanese nationalist movement since the al-Hariri assassination. The group wants to avoid the touchy issue of disarmament and maintain its legitimacy as a resistance movement against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon's Shebaa Farms, rather than be branded a "militia" and forced to disarm. To this end, Hezbollah has been using its political capital to negotiate with Saad al-Hariri -- Lebanon's leading Sunni political figure and son of the former prime minister -- to alter the government's stance toward fully implementing U.N. Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of all Lebanese militias. Hezbollah and the Amal movement recently prompted a major Cabinet crisis and returned Lebanon to its usual political chaos when the government's Shiite ministers decided to boycott the Cabinet and gridlock the political system until the organization's demands are met. The Shiite ministers have refused to resign, and the prime minister cannot dismiss them -- which gives the Shiite bloc an effective bargaining tool to diminish international attempts to intervene in Lebanon, pressure the Syrian regime and force Hezbollah to disarm.

Adding to Hezbollah's difficulties is the growing presence of al Qaeda-linked militants attempting to set up a jihadist base in Lebanon. Lebanese security forces arrested 13 suspected al Qaeda members Jan. 13 and charged them with plotting terrorist attacks, forging documents and possessing weapons. It comes as no surprise that al Qaeda is attempting to build a presence in Lebanon. On Jan. 10, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq said in an Internet statement that it has waged "a new attack" against Israel by launching 10 Katyusha rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel "at the instructions of Osama bin Laden." As al Qaeda's Iraq node is threatened, the group faces more pressure to team up with dissident Palestinian militants in order to target Israel, penetrate al-Zarqawi's hometown in Jordan and develop an al Qaeda cell in Lebanon. Fledgling cells have already taken root in certain Palestinian refugee camps, such as Ain al-Hilweh in southern Lebanon.

Al Qaeda's major obstacle to setting up shop in Lebanon's mostly Shiite south is none other than Hezbollah, which views al Qaeda militants as encroaching on its territory. Hezbollah has serious ideological differences with al Qaeda and especially with al-Zarqawi, whose fighters have killed thousands of Shia in Iraq and reportedly have threatened to kill senior Shia Lebanese political and religious leaders. Al Qaeda's entry into the picture also complicates Hezbollah's relatively quiet resistance against Israel and its efforts to bolster its legitimacy as a political and military force working in Lebanon's interests.

Hezbollah's nature has changed significantly since the Lebanese civil war. Since then, the militant group has grown less useful to Iran as a counter to Israeli moves against Tehran. Though Iran highly values Hezbollah's physical threat to Israel, Tehran's big question as it charges forward with its nuclear campaign is whether Tel Aviv will consider Hezbollah a serious factor when it comes time for Israel to decide between rocket attacks from Lebanon and the larger threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=260881

The 801

04-27-2006, 07:51 PM

Hezbollah acknowledges Funding Militant Palestinians
Thursday, 27 April, 2006 @ 3:57 PM

Beirut- Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged giving militant Palestinian factions financial and political support but denied arming them, in an interview published Thursday in a Lebnaese newspaper.

katayusha rockets 2.jpg Nasrallah did not name the groups in an extensive interview with As-Safir newspaper, but Hezbollah is known to have close ties to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

"They (the Palestinians) have fighters and expertise. They can produce a missile by logging on to the Internet," Nasrallah said.

"What they need is financial, political and media support. And we do not deny that we help them on those fronts," he said.

It was the first time that the Hezbollah leader, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, publicly acknowledged funding Palestinian militant groups -- an accusation made by Israeli officials.

Nasrallah said his group used to channel weapons to Palestinian militants but stopped in December 2001 after Jordanian authorities arrested three Hezbollah members carrying Katyusha rockets from Syria, bound for the West Bank.

"After the Jordan incident and arrest of a number of our brothers, the Palestinians told us, 'This is costing you politically and is a burden for the fighters. Send us the money and we will take care of it ourselves,"' Nasrallah said, adding that the Palestinian militants got their weapons from "the mafia and Israeli officers."

Nasrallah has repeatedly called on various Palestinian factions to step up their armed uprising against Israel as the only way to liberate their country from Israeli occupation. But he has denied past Israeli accusations that the Iran-backed Hezbollah was directing suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis, or that it was a key sponsor of Palestinian violence.

His latest remarks take on added significance with the emergence last month of a Hamas-led Palestinian government. The United States and the European Union cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority because of Hamas' refusal to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Nasrallah said Hamas should not have to recognize Israel.
"The people gave (Hamas) their confidence based on their commitment not to recognize Israel," he said.

Hamas and Hezbollah are both on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations, but are regarded in much of the Arab world as legitimate resistance movements against Israel. Hezbollah fought the Israeli occupation of south Lebanon until troops withdrew in May 2000, but still launches occasional attacks on Israeli forces in the Shebaa Farms area where the borders of Lebanon, Syria and Israel meet.

Iran & Hezbollah

The US appears to be extremely worried about Iran's involvement in the region. Yesterday U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the United States wants a new U.N. Security Council resolution on continued Syrian interference in Lebanon and Iran's financial backing of guerrillas there.

Iran vowed on Wednesday to strike at U.S. interests worldwide if it is attacked by the United States, which is keeping military options open in case diplomacy fails to curb Tehran's nuclear program .

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the threat two days before the U.N. nuclear watchdog reports on whether Iran is meeting Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment.

The US intelligence experts believe Iran will use Hezbollah teams to carry out terrorist attacks worldwide ,in the event of a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Source: Naharnet, AP, Ya Libnan

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2006/04/hezbollah_ackno.php

Hound

05-08-2006, 07:49 PM

posted elsewhere, but a must read for anyone following this thread, so, in case you missed it...

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=22249

The 801

05-22-2006, 08:27 AM

N.Y. HEZBOLLAH HUNT

FEDS FEAR STRIKE AMID NUKE SHOWDOWN

By NILES LATHEM Post Correspondent

May 22, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - The Hezbollah terror group - one of the most dangerous in the world - may be planning to activate sleeper cells in New York and other big cities to stage an attack as the nuclear showdown with Iran heats up, sources told The Post.
The FBI and Justice Department have launched urgent new probes in New York and other cities targeting members of the Lebanese terror group.

Law-enforcement and intelligence officials told The Post that about a dozen hard-core supporters of Hezbollah have been identified in recent weeks as operating in the New York area.

Sources said the activities of these New York-based operatives are being monitored by FBI counterterrorism agents as part of a nationwide effort to prevent a possible terror strike if the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program spins out of control.

Additional law-enforcement attention is being centered on the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, where there have already been three episodes in the last four years in which diplomats and security guards have been expelled for casing and photographing New York City subways and other potential targets.

The nationwide effort to neutralize Hezbollah sleepers in the United States, being spearheaded by the FBI and Justice Department's counterterrorism divisions, was triggered in January in response to alarming reports that Iran's fanatical president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, met with leaders of Hezbollah and other terror groups during a visit to Syria.

Among those attending the meetings, according to reliable reports, was Hezbollah's chief operational planner, Imad Mugniyah - considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world - who is responsible for the bombings of the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut and who, more recently, provided Iraqi guerrillas with sophisticated explosive devices.

U.S. officials stressed there is no intelligence information pointing to an imminent attack by Hezbollah.

But officials said they have detected increased activity by Hezbollah operatives - including more heated rhetoric by its leaders and in Internet chat rooms as the U.S.-Iran diplomatic showdown heats up.

"Hezbollah is a group that the U.S. has to be concerned about in the current climate. Hezbollah is already coming under heavy pressure by the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon, and Ahmadinejad is under pressure on the nuclear issue," said Walid Phares, an outside terror expert who has briefed law-enforcement officials on Hezbollah in recent weeks.

"They are well funded, very well organized, and we assume that their penetration of the U.S. is deeper than al Qaeda's. It is only rational for the U.S. to think in pre-emptive ways. An attack here is clearly in the realm of the possible," Phares added.

A U.S. counterterrorism official called the latest effort a "major undertaking," with separate probes also under way in Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit.

Hezbollah has so far limited its activities in the United States to fund-raising and criminal enterprises. The FBI has already taken down two major rings, one in Charlotte, N.C., and one in Detroit, in which members were smuggling cigarettes, Viagra and baby formula, and kicking profits back to Hezbollah.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/64107.htm

Casey

06-24-2006, 07:41 PM

Hezbollah and al-Qaeda mirror growing tensions between Sunnis and Shiites

By Donna Abu-Nasr
ASSOCIATED PRESS

8:51 a.m. June 24, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon – To the outside world, the two groups appear to have much in common: Devoutly Muslim, fiercely hostile to Israel and the U.S., and high on Washington's list of terrorist groups.

Yet al-Qaeda in Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah are waging a worsening verbal dispute that threatens to burst into confrontation.

First came a fiery diatribe from al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi – just a week before he was killed by a U.S. airstrike – accusing Hezbollah of acting as a protective buffer for Israel.

Hezbollah, generally reserved in its comments on internal Islamic issues, began to react: One of its main political figures told The Associated Press it wasn't his group at all but al-Zarqawi that was the “tool” of United States and Israel.

The accusations on their face could be seen as little but competing propaganda. But the animosity runs far deeper than these two radical groups. There is a growing divide in the Middle East between Sunni Muslim extremists, including al-Zarqawi's group, and Shiite Muslim militants personified by Hezbollah.

Many see the emerging tensions as a dangerous trend that could lead to violent Shiite-Sunni conflict not just in Iraq but around the Persian Gulf.

What's unknown yet is whether al-Zarqawi's death could help ease the tensions. But the omens are grim: The man who al-Qaeda says is al-Zarqawi's successor has already vowed to complete what his predecessor began, including a brutal campaign against Shiites aimed at sparking a civil war in Iraq.

Shiite and Sunni tensions have existed in the Middle East for centuries.

The two branches of Islam live uneasily side by side in some countries, such as Lebanon, or in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Other countries have a strong majority of one or the other that dominates, such as strongly Sunni Saudi Arabia whose Shiite minority is mostly politically repressed.

Al-Zarqawi brought all of that to a boil, because of “his personal hatred of Iraq's Shiite population,” said Richard Evans, terrorism editor at Jane's Information Group in London.

His goal was to create a Sunni Muslim religious-based government in Iraq, and he believed “that could only be achieved with the defeat of any Shiite-led Iraqi government,” Evans said. Thus, he tried to kill Shiites in Iraq, which is now ruled by a Shiite-led government.

Al-Zarqawi also may have worried that Hezbollah was too popular among Arab Sunnis – that it was his rival for Sunnis' affections across the region – because of its fight against Israel.

Hezbollah has wide political support among Arabs because it spearheaded the guerrilla warfare against Israel's 18-year occupation of a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which ended with an Israeli withdrawal in 2000.

In his last audiotape, al-Zarqawi accused Hezbollah of having “serious ties” with the Jewish state.

“The party has raised false banners regarding the liberation of Palestine, while in fact it stands guard against Sunnis who want to cross the border” into Israel to launch attacks, he said.

Hezbollah publicly has remained quiet on the issue, apparently so as not to inflame feelings. But its officials, when reached by AP, were quick to react.

Hezbollah's political bureau member in charge of international relations, Nawaf al-Mussawi, accused al-Zarqawi of being a U.S.-Israeli tool against Arab resistance groups.

“His criminal acts are aimed at igniting civil wars and inciting sectarian fighting,” al-Mussawi said. “We will not permit the United States, Israel or its tools to kindle any kind of conflict in Lebanon – between Christians and Muslims or between Shiites and Sunnis.”

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden himself has never attacked Hezbollah and has always presented himself as trying to eliminate strife among Muslims, Evans said.

Indeed, al-Zarqawi's attacks on Shiite civilians in Iraq have been a point of conflict between his group and bin Laden.

Bin Laden has refrained from attacking Shiites despite the fact that his fundamentalist Sunni strain, called Wahhabi or sometimes called Salafist – like al-Zarqawi's – also considers Shiites as heretics.

“He (bin Laden) may, as an austere Salafist, have no particular love for Shiites or Hezbollah. But I'm not aware that he's ever singled them out for specific criticism,” Evans said.

With al-Zarqawi himself gone and despite the vow to carry on his work, Ibrahim Bayram, a Lebanese journalist who follows Hezbollah, said he did not expect the dispute to escalate.

“Hezbollah is very sensitive about getting involved in a sectarian quarrel,” said Bayram, who writes for the Lebanese An-Nahar daily. “It's very keen on keeping its image pure where the Sunnis are concerned because of its relations with Sunni groups, like the Palestinian ones.”

Hezbollah has close ties to several other Sunni militant groups, including the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which it has provided with financial support and, allegedly, military training.

Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060624-0851-militantsplit.html

The 801

06-25-2006, 09:21 PM

Thanks Blood Hound,
While I always believed that anti US terrorism was a pressure relief for domestic problems that were covered over by repressive govenments, it seems that the real problems are being brought to the fore by the competition of the branches of islam. You cannot have an educated population and repression at the same time. One is has got to go.

This whole issue of a Caliphate and the hidden iman are just waiting to explode. If it wasn't for oil we could just step back and let them go at it.

Bad news all around.

An old essay....

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict and the War on terrorism
The Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism has made it clear that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances. We also said that the real cause of terrorism is an ideology called Political Islam.

We now need to focus on actions to defeat terrorism. With this in mind the Coalition believes that nothing can do more to win the war on terror than solving the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. No other issue has been more frequently used to justify global terrorism than the alleged support for the Palestinian cause.

The issue of Palestine and the suffering of the Palestinians is the single most important issue that unites the entire Muslim and Arab world. No issue evokes the passion of Muslims and Arabs as much as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is so important to Arabs and Muslims that every terrorist group from Morocco to Indonesia that seeks legitimacy and a following, places the "liberation" of Palestine at the forefront of their agenda. For example, Saddam Hussein responded to the world's request that he leave Kuwait by insisting that Israel first evacuate the West Bank and Gaza. Osama Bin Laden also invoked the Palestinian issue to justify 9-11. Iran has made the Palestinian issue its most important foreign policy priority since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Radical Shia cleric Muqtadar Al-Sadr tried to enhance his credibility by equating Iraqi suffering with Palestinian suffering.

In reference to this trend, Ibrahim Bayram, an analyst with Lebanon's An-Nahar Daily news paper, recently stated, "Whether in Lebanon or in Palestine, Hezbollah considers resisting the Israeli occupation to be part of its own struggle, if the Palestinian uprising ends, the justification for Hezbollah's own military existence ends too."
The strategic adoption of the Palestinian cause by terrorist organizations has made it difficult for peaceful Muslims and Arabs to attack these organizations whose sole basis for legitimacy comes from their adoption of the Palestinian cause and their publicized goal of ending the suffering of the Palestinians.

While the Coalition rejects the hijacking of the Palestinian issue as an excuse to use terror, we believe that the United States must be fully engaged in bringing peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. President Bush needs to place the full weight of the United States behind solving this issue. After the First Gulf War, President Bush Sr. understood the power of the Palestinian issue and did all he can to bring the parties together. President Clinton also understood the power of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and was unrelenting in bringing the parties together. George W. Bush must continue down that path that was begun by George Bush Sr. and continue to do everything possible to bring peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

We understand why President Bush does not want to work with Yasser Arafat. However, President Bush's refusal to work with Arafat does not mean we should do nothing. The United States can work with the Palestinian Prime Minister instead. If Arafat fires the Prime Minister, the United States should work with the prime minister that replaces him. This approach will keep the United States fully engaged in the search for peace while at the same time strengthens the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister. As the prime Minister's office becomes stronger, the ability of a Prime Minister to negotiate an end to hostilities will improve. This suggested approach is by no means the only available approach to bringing the Palestinians and Israelis closer together. However, no matter what approach the United States takes, it must continue being engaged and doing everything possible to solve the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

Hundreds of innocent Palestinians and Israelis have been killed. The Killing of innocent civilians must stop. At the end of the day, the Palestinians and Israelis want freedom and peace. The Palestinians and Israelis want normal lives, want to be employed, want their children to become engineers, doctors and lawyers and we should do everything we can to help them achieve this goals.

Whether we like it or not, the suffering of the Palestinians is shared by more than a billion Arabs and Muslims. This fact has been manipulated by terrorist organizations and countries to gain recruits for their evil causes. By working to solve the Palestinian/Israeli conflict the United States can neutralize the most powerful recruiting tool available to terrorists.

There are only four million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The world has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the war on terror. Spending a fraction of that money on improving the lives of the Palestinians and on bringing peace to Palestine and Israel will go a long way to winning the global war on terror.

By Kamal Nawash

http://www.freemuslims.org/document.php?id=32

Casey

07-12-2006, 08:53 PM

Sheikh Sobhi parasite accuses Iran is the most dangerous sectarianism in the world

Sobhi parasite former Secretary-General of "Hezbollah" speaking newspaper Middle East : Iran threat to sectarianism in the world and the American spearhead the project and the resistance in Lebanon "hijacked" and become Israel's Border Guard

Sheikh parasite in the first modern press since Tuarih : I am willing to let the Ministers responsible for Justice, the Judiciary will hold accountable those who public money.

The Middle East wrote :

We watched "Sheikh", and shorten his supporters talk about. In what he described as a "saloon", which is similar to the room and area of about ten square meters. Mentala Khava bag over his head and a big "Rafiq path," Ayatollah Khomeini, and to part - Kalashnikov machine gun.

When : What made disappear from the scene and why the decision to return now? What is the legal Zak? He replied : "If it is necessary to honor the one in Lebanon, it is myself. Founded resistance that has derailed the Israeli enemy from our land occupied, I stood along with the people's issues and I remain. " We have started movements designated as "hungry revolution" of 1997, after I saw that the economic situation threatens the greatest dangers, people are no longer able to prospect. I have tried to move to compel the State to consider the issues Bakaeiin and the Lebanese in general, I called on everyone to Mouazerti or at least neutrality, But I was surprised Borthe Khomeni (Hezbollah) stand alongside those who public money and the wealth of expert state and the people aggressors against our people and mothers of the martyrs and the poor. Under the pretext that supporting the resistance does not make them capable of engaging in economic subjects and life. This absurd logic, and that Alaskhv not resist. Where supporting the weak and powder? The irony that some Iranian officials - in the face of enemy movements - and that their projects will be implemented within six months and will change the situation in the region considerably, But years have passed and these projects did not materialize foresight.

Q : When is that the resistance is over?

Is it under discussion? We have begun the end of the resistance since entered command deals Ktefahm July (July 1994), understanding of April (April 1996), which afforded protection to the Israeli settlements, with the consent of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran.

But this understanding was considered a victory for Lebanon because a single Lebanese civilian also recognized the legitimacy of resistance. Although the resistance operations in the Shabaa Farms receive occasional understanding that the primary objective of neutralizing resistance into agreements with the Israelis. The operations Folkloric receive occasional useless because the Israeli satisfied. Is there a difference between Israel in the Shabaa Farms and Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories? This recognition by the occupying I think that the tents (Lebanese border town) is such as Acre and Haifa. What saddens me when that resistance Ahdeni young people to die for the liberation of the occupied Arab territories. now standing guard the borders of Israeli settlements, It is trying to carry out any action against the Israelis who are arrested and are weary of the types of torture in prisons.

Q : What prisons?

There have been more than one case, and who has acknowledged trying to Lebanese authorities to investigate the subject classification.

Q : It was a moment of transformation in the attitude of Iranian Hika, and whether Iran had a role in Abaadk resolution on the status of the party?

Despite everything that happened to me, I was keen to put the personal dimensions and on the overall situation, It did not touch on Iran, the leadership in spite of all the characters past events and personal situation. I was careful not to introduce any issue in the general framework of the positive person. But after the transformation that has occurred in the attitude of resistance and the transformation of Iran to the American coordinator in the region revealed that the Wright Samati.

* Returning to the moment of transformation in regard to the project which you represent in the "Hizbullah", which carries several titles including the failure of appeasement and attitudes sharp, In addition to the name associated with the party in that period Files serious as kidnapping hostages, and others.

Talk about the Western hostages and timely. We affirm that there is no connection to us. As for the matter of transformation is talking about can be summed up two things, first that there is a policy in Iran began to emerge after the departure of Imam Khomeini, It was clear that this policy is the understanding of Islam itself. The second matter that there are people who normally do not like fawning.

Q : You mean?

Iranians repeatedly said that when running with the same conviction Saglb last, and will never be clients Iran policy. I am your brother, no more, no less. But in the whole world, the powerful do not want partners, but would prefer the weak who condemn them blind loyalty. I do not like to Lathrk stepped on the foot in any direction. Is it between Muslim scholars say may insist support injustice to the poor and the Muslims? That is when it can not comply with the order eventually to Abadtk force and the means available.

Q : But the party discriminated Badek tone Lebanese.

In Lebanon, says that Iran does not interfere false. The resolution is not in Beirut, but in Tehran.

* Even during your term of office?

Yes, even during the mandates of the (leadership) central location in Iran in the resolution. But then there is harmony in attitudes and decisions. We did not consider that the decisions dictate, but convictions. When an order comes from the Imam Khomeini or others appointed by the Israel fought tell us, we do not consider it to be but one of the convictions.

* Was the departure Khomeni early separation with Iran?

Transport : the beginning of the disparity.

Q : Does the inconsistency in what it speaks of collusion between the Iranian and American pressures exerted on Iran and the West?

So as not to delude ourselves, I would say there is no doubt that there is a dialogue initiated by the Iranian American invasion of Iraq. The delegation from the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in favour of Iran visited Washington this end. The Iranian currents in Iraq is part of the structure established by the United States in Iraq. Even if a senior preachers in the Iranian capital Friday said in a Friday sermon that Iran would not Lgerqet America in the solution of Afghanistan. Iranians directly Americans enter Afghanistan and facilitate their survival. The saying about the arrest of a former ambassador here and talk about nuclear weapons is entering a section of the American quest to improve the conditions of Iranian cooperation. Sectarianism is now being used in Iran to support the American project in Afghanistan. From here I tell all the Shiites in the world that the name is nothing to do with them. These acts of the injured, most of Islam and sectarianism.

* Atakul that there is a danger to him from Iran?

Yes, it could be that some forces want to prove jurisdiction. I am sure that the day will come when the American defeated, then there will be anger on both Sar project. It may be revenge and liquidations which are victimizing minority Shiite Iran powerful state can protect itself. We sow what we truly declare openly and clearly that we reject any policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other support infidel invasion of our country. We consider this an act of aggression on our nation. It may not be that good of the people who came Balamam Khomeni to tie prevented from carrying out his duties. I would like to all Muslims in the world to say to them that any discord serves your enemy.

الشيخ صبحي الطفيلي يتهم إيران انها الاخطر على التشيع في العالم

صبحي الطفيلي الأمين العام الأسبق لـ"حزب الله" تحدث لصحيفة الشرق الاوسط : إيران خطر على التشيع في العالم ورأس حربة المشروع الأميركي والمقاومة في لبنان "خطفت" وأصبحت حرس حدود لإسرائيل
الشيخ الطفيلي في أول حديث صحافي منذ تواريه: أنا مستعد لأكون وزيرا للعدل أو مسؤولا عن القضاء الذي سيتولى محاسبة سارقي المال العام .
فقد كتبت الشرق الاوسط :
استقبلنا "الشيخ"، كما يختصر انصاره حديثهم عنه، في ما وصفه بـ"الصالون" وهو يشبه الغرفة ومساحته تقارب العشرة امتار مربعة، منتعلاً خفاً بلاستيكياً وفوق رأسه صورة كبيرة لـ"رفيق دربه"، آية الله الخميني، والى جانبه رشاش من طراز كلاشنيكوف.
سألناه: ما الذي جعلك تختفي عن الساحة ولماذا قرار العودة الآن؟ وما هو وضعك القانوني؟ فأجاب: "اذا كان لا بد من تكريم احد في لبنان، فهو انا. فقد اسست المقاومة التي اخرجت العدو الاسرائيلي من ارضنا المحتلة، ووقفت الى جانب قضايا الناس وما زلت". لقد بدأت حركتي التي سميت "ثورة الجياع" عام 1997 بعدما رأيت ان الوضع الاقتصادي ينذر بأكبر الاخطار والناس لم تعد قادرة على الاحتمال. وقد حاولت القيام بتحرك لاجبار الدولة على النظر الى قضايا البقاعيين واللبنانيين عموماً، ودعوت الجميع الى مؤازرتي او على الاقل الحياد، لكني فوجئت بورثة الخميني (حزب الله) يقفون الى جانب سارقي المال العام وناهبي ثروات الدولة والمعتدين على الشعب ضد شعبنا وامهات الشهداء والفقراء. وذلك بذريعة ان دعم المقاومة لا يجعلهم قادرين على الخوض في المواضيع الاقتصادية والحياتية. وهذا منطق سخيف، والاسخف منه ان لا مقاومة الآن. فأين نصرة الضعيف والمسحوق؟ وللمفارقة ان بعض المسؤولين الايرانيين - في مواجهة حركتي - وعدوا بأن لديهم مشاريع ستنفذ خلال ستة اشهر وستغير اوضاع المنطقة بشكل كبير، لكن السنوات مرت وهذه المشاريع لم تبصر النور.
* اذاً، تعتبر ان المقاومة انتهت؟
ـ وهل ذلك موضع نقاش؟ لقد بدأت نهاية هذه المقاومة مذ دخلت قيادتها في صفقات كتفاهم يوليو (تموز) 1994 وتفاهم ابريل (نيسان) 1996الذي اسبغ حماية على المستوطنات الاسرائيلية وذلك بموافقة وزير خارجية ايران.
لكن هذا التفاهم اعتبر انتصاراً للبنان لأنه حيد المدنيين اللبنانيين ايضاً واعترف بشرعية المقاومة، مع ان عمليات للمقاومة تحصل في مزارع شبعا بين الحين والآخر هذا التفاهم الهدف الاساسي منه تحييد المقاومة وادخالها في اتفاقات مع الاسرائيليين، كما ان العمليات الفولكلورية التي تحصل بين حين وآخر لا جدوى منها لأن الاسرائيلي مرتاح، وهل هناك فرق بين الاسرائيلي في مزارع شبعا والاسرائيلي في الاراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة؟ هذا اعتراف بالاحتلال، انا ارى ان الخيام (بلدة حدودية لبنانية) هي مثل عكا وحيفا. وما يؤلمني ان المقاومة التي عاهدني شبابها على الموت في سبيل تحرير الاراضي العربية المحتلة، تقف الآن حارس حدود للمستوطنات الاسرائيلية، ومن يحاول القيام بأي عمل ضد الاسرائيليين يلقون القبض عليه ويسام انواع التعذيب في السجون.
* اي سجون؟
ـ لقد حدثت اكثر من حالة، وقد سلم الذين قاموا بمحاولاتهم الى السلطات اللبنانية التي اخضعتهم للتحقيق والتصنيف.
* متى كانت لحظة التحول في الموقف الايراني حيالك، وهل كان لايران دور في ابعادك عن مركز القرار في الحزب؟
ـ رغم كل ما حصل معي، كنت حريصاً على ابعاد وضعي الشخصي عن الوضع العام، كما لم اتناول ايران وشخصياتها القيادية رغم كل الاحداث الماضية والحالة الشخصية. كنت حريصاً على ان لا ادخل اي قضية عامة في اطار وضعي الشخصي. لكن بعد التحول الذي حصل في الموقف من المقاومة وتحول ايران الى منسق للشؤون الاميركية في المنطقة رأيت ان اخرج عن صمتي.
* نعود الى لحظة التحول في ما يتعلق بالمشروع الذي كنتم تمثلونه في "حزب الله" والذي يحمل عناوين عدة منها عدم المهادنة والمواقف الحادة، بالاضافة الى ارتباط اسم الحزب في تلك الفترة بملفات خطيرة مثل خطف الرهائن وغيرها.
ـ الحديث عن ملف الرهائن الغربيين له وقته. ونحن نؤكد ان لا علاقة لنا به. اما في شأن التحول الذي تتحدث عنه فهو يتلخص بأمرين، الاول ان هناك سياسة في ايران بدأت تبرز بعد رحيل الامام الخميني، وكان واضحاً ان هذه السياسة ستصطدم بفهمنا للاسلام. والامر الثاني ان هناك اشخاصاً بطبيعتهم لا يحبون التزلف.
* تقصد انت؟
ـ قلت مراراً للايرانيين انه عندما تصطدم مصلحتهم مع قناعتي سأغلب الاخيرة، ولن اكون ابداً عميلاً لايران ولسياستها، انا اخوكم وشريككم لا اكثر ولا اقل. لكن في كل العالم، الاقوياء لا يرغبون بالشركاء، بل يفضلون الضعفاء الذين يدينون لهم بالولاء الاعمى. انا لا احب ان يداس على قدمي لاتحرك في اي اتجاه. وهل من بين فقهاء المسلمين من يقول بجواز نصر وتأييد الظلم على الفقراء والمسلمين؟ ولهذا عندما لا تستطيع ان تتماشى مع النظام يصار الى ابادتك بالقوة وبالوسائل المتاحة.
* لكن الحزب تميز بعدك بنغمة لبنانية.
ـ من يقول في لبنان ان ايران لا تتدخل كاذب. القرار ليس في بيروت وانما في طهران.
* حتى خلال ولايتك؟
ـ نعم، حتى خلال ولايتي كان لـ(القيادة) المركزية في ايران موقعها في القرار. لكن حينها كان هناك انسجام في المواقف والقرارات. ولم نكن نعتبر ان القرارات تملى علينا، بل هي قناعاتنا. وحين يأتي امر من الامام الخميني او غيره ممن يعينهم يقول لنا قاتلوا اسرائيل، فنحن لا نعتبره امراً بل هو من قناعاتنا.
* هل كان رحيل الخميني بداية الفراق مع ايران؟
ـ لنقل: بداية التباين.
* الا ترى تعارضاً في ما تتحدث به عن التواطؤ الايراني وبين الضغوط التي تمارس اميركياً وغربيا على ايران؟
ـ حتى لا نخدع انفسنا، اقول لا شك في ان هناك حواراً اميركياً ـ ايرانياً بدأ قبل غزو العراق. وان وفداً من المجلس الاعلى للثورة الاسلامية المؤيد لايران زار واشنطن لهذه الغاية. والتيارات الايرانية في العراق هي جزء من التركيبة التي تضعها الولايات المتحدة في العراق. حتى ان احد كبار خطباء الجمعة في العاصمة الايرانية قال في خطبة صلاة الجمعة انه لولا ايران لغرقت اميركا في وحل افغانستان. فالايرانيون سهلوا للاميركيين دخول افغانستان ويسهلون بقاءهم الآن. اما القول عن اعتقال سفير سابق هنا او حديث عن سلاح نووي هناك فهو يدخل من باب السعي الاميركي لتحسين شروط التعاون الايراني. التشيع يستخدم الآن في ايران لدعم المشروع الاميركي في افغانستان. ومن هنا اقول لكل الشيعة في العالم ان ما يجري باسمهم لا علاقة له بهم. وهذه اعمال المتضرر الاكبر منها الاسلام والتشيع.
* اتقول ان هناك خطراً على التشيع من ايران؟
ـ نعم، لأنه يمكن ان بعض القوى تريد ان تثبت سلطانها. وانا مطمئن الى انه سيأتي اليوم الذي يهزم فيه الاميركي، وعندها سيكون هناك غضب على كل من سار في مشروعه. وقد تجري انتقامات وتصفيات يذهب ضحيتها شيعة الاقليات لأن ايران دولة قوية تستطيع ان تحمي نفسها. نحن بما نمثل من تشيع حقيقي نعلن صراحة وبوضوح اننا نرفض اي سياسة من ايران وغيرها بدعم الغزو الكافر لبلادنا. ونعتبر هذا الفعل عملاً عدوانياً على امتنا. ولا يجوز لهذا الشعب الطيب الذي اتى بالامام الخميني ان يكبل ويمنع من القيام بواجباته. واتوجه الى كل المسلمين في العالم لأقول لهم ان اي عمل يدفعكم للتناحر يخدم العدو.

http://www.ebaa.net/khaber/2003/09/25/khaber011.htm

Casey

07-12-2006, 08:57 PM

"Hezbollah" defeat of the Palestinian resistance from the south Nazareth Quds Al-Arabi :

5 - 4-2004 m

Said Brigadier Sultan Abul-Enein secretary of the Fatah movement in Lebanon to the Lebanese Hezbollah frustrated in the last week of four of the Palestinian resistance has planned to implement them against Israel from southern Lebanon on the northern border with the Jewish state. Abul-Enein added that Hizbullah had arrested the Palestinian resistance and bring them to trial.

In reply to a question whether it is now appropriate to the circumstance that the Palestinian factions to respond to the Israeli crimes, or conduct that is meant to relieve the pressure on the Palestinian people in occupied territories in the light of some of the operations carried out by Hizbullah on the northern borders. Abul-Enein said Brigadier Let us be frank we support the Palestinian people as we have heard earlier this way is never, all Palestinian borders for Arab and protections are closed to any Palestinian resistance.

Support of Hezbollah is not only from the Shabaa Farms, and is thus the Palestinian brother Palestinian is through the gate of Palestine, Hezbollah said we will be at your side when adversity, But three years ago we adversity and we no longer accept slogans false one.

Abul-Enein added in a statement published in the newspaper of all Arabs, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah does not give the Palestinian factions distance to the resistance in southern Lebanon. He wondered why it should be the struggle of the Lebanese Front, where the only remaining Arab fronts. They are closed, including within the Lebanese security arrangements unstated, In the last week foiled four attempts Palestinian on the Israeli-Lebanese border. The Palestinian elements to the court by Hezbollah.

The Brigadier Abul-Enein, that the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May were among the security arrangements and security agreement that there is no single bullet fired into northern Palestine from the south of Lebanon, This Agreement shall apply since the Israeli withdrawal, Any resistance was unable to penetrate the northern border have been more than an attempt by all the Palestinian factions, all of Hizbollah seized and submitted to the court. In reply to another question that Hezbollah wants to limit resistance in the occupied Shabaa Farms Brigadier Abul Enein said that Hezbollah wants resistance as exclusive and exclusively in the Shabaa Farms, No one from Hizbollah shelling of the northern Palestine rocket and I am a witness to what is happening. He pointed out that the control of Hezbollah, the Lebanese resistance in the south stems from the conventions and security arrangements. any agreements with Israel, through a third party, said : on the Palestinian people not to rely not only on Hezbollah and not on party Satan, but the dependency on the same only because Hizbullah's priorities and political positions, He wants to fight the latest Palestinian us on the ground in Palestine, and we want Hezbollah position explicit and clear about the PLO and its leadership legitimacy Although we are not waiting for the recognition of President Arafat from the one it derives its legitimacy from the Palestinian people including children, elderly and women. We do not need lessons and across one.

As for the prisoner exchange deal, which came into effect in late January (January) between the Jewish state and Hezbollah. Brigadier General Abul-Enein said that Hizbullah wanted exchange of POWs sponsor political Lebanese to ensure political results in Lebanon Lihossdha politically in the parliamentary elections.

No Source

"حزب الله" يحبط عمليات المقاومة الفلسطينية من الجنوب

الناصرة ـ القدس العربي :
5-4-2004م

قال العميد سلطان أبو العينين أمين سر حركة فتح في لبنان أن حزب الله اللبناني أحبط في الأسبوع الأخير أربع عمليات كانت المقاومة الفلسطينية قد خططت لتنفيذها ضد إسرائيل من الجنوب اللبناني انطلاقا إلى الحدود الشمالية مع الدولة العبرية. وأضاف أبو العينين أن عناصر حزب الله قامت باعتقال المقاومين الفلسطينيين وتقديمهم للمحاكمة.

وفي معرض رده علي سؤال فيما إذا كان الظرف الآن مناسبا لقيام الفصائل الفلسطينية بالرد علي الجرائم الإسرائيلية، أو القيام بعمليات يراد منها تخفيف الضغط علي الشعب الفلسطيني في الأراضي المحتلة علي ضوء بعض العمليات التي قام بها حزب الله علي الحدود الشمالية، قال العميد أبو العينين دعنا نكون صريحين الدعم للشعب الفلسطيني كما سمعنا سابقا لا يكون بهذه الطريقة أبدا، كافة الحدود الفلسطينية عليها حمايات عربية ومغلقة أمام أي مقاوم فلسطيني.

تقديم الدعم من حزب الله لا يتم فقط من مزارع شبعا، ولا يكون بالتالي الفلسطيني علي أخيه الفلسطيني، إنما يكون من خلال البوابة الفلسطينية، حزب الله قال سنكون إلى جانبكم عند المحن، ولكننا منذ ثلاثة أعوام نعيش الشدائد ولم نعد نقبل شعارات مزيفة من احد .

وأضاف أبو العينين في تصريحات نشرت في صحيفة كل العرب أن الحكومة اللبنانية وحزب الله لا تعطيان الفصائل الفلسطينية المسافة اللازمة للمقاومة من جنوب لبنان. وتساءل لماذا يجب أن يكون النضال من الجبهة اللبنانية فقط وأين الجبهات العربية الباقية، فهي مغلقة بما فيها اللبنانية ضمن ترتيبات أمنية غير معلنة، ففي الأسبوع الأخير أحبطت أربع محاولات فلسطينية علي الحدود الإسرائيلية ـ اللبنانية، وقدمت العناصر الفلسطينية إلى المحكمة من قبل حزب الله .

وأكد العميد أبو العينين أن الانسحاب الإسرائيلي من الجنوب اللبناني في أيار تم ضمن ترتيبات أمنية واتفاق امني بأن لا تطلق طلقة واحدة علي شمال فلسطين من جنوب لبنان، وهذا الاتفاق يطبق منذ الانسحاب الإسرائيلي، فلم يتمكن أي مقاوم من اختراق الحدود الشمالية وجرت أكثر من محاولة من جميع الفصائل الفلسطينية وجميعها ضبطت من حزب الله وقدمت إلى المحكمة . وفي رده علي سؤال آخر أن حزب الله يريد حصر المقاومة في مزارع شبعا المحتلة قال العميد أبو العينين أن حزب الله يريد المقاومة كوكالة حصرية له وحصرا في مزارع شبعا، ولا ينتظر أحدا من حزب الله أن يقوم بقصف شمال فلسطين بالصواريخ وأنا شاهد علي ما يجري. وأشار إلى أن سيطرة حزب الله علي المقاومة من الجنوب اللبناني نابعة من اتفاقيات وترتيبات أمنية، أي اتفاقيات مع إسرائيل بواسطة طرف ثالث، وقال: علي الشعب الفلسطيني أن لا يعول لا علي حزب الله ولا علي حزب الشيطان، بل عليه الاتكال علي نفسه فقط لان لحزب الله أولوياته ومواقفه السياسية، وهو يريد أن يقاتل بآخر فلسطيني منا علي ارض فلسطين ونحن نريد من حزب الله موقفا صريحا وواضحا حول منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية وقيادتها الشرعية مع أننا لسنا بانتظار اعتراف بالرئيس عرفات من احد فهو يستمد شرعيته من الشعب الفلسطيني بأطفاله وشيوخه ونسائه، ونحن لسنا بحاجة إلى دروس وعبر من احد.

أما بالنسبة لصفقة تبادل الأسري التي خرجت إلى حيز التنفيذ في أواخر كانون الثاني (يناير) بين الدولة العبرية وحزب الله، قال العميد أبو العينين أن حزب الله أراد من صفقة تبادل الأسري تقديم ورقة سياسية للبنانيين لكي يضمن نتائج سياسية في لبنان ليحصدها سياسيا في الانتخابات البرلمانية.

Casey

07-12-2006, 09:48 PM

The previous 2 posts are older articles.

What I am getting is, Hezbollah offered their services as gate keeper for Palestine quite awhile ago.

Still reading them.

The 801

07-15-2006, 09:32 AM

Israel Official: Iran Helping Hezbollah
By Associated Press

July 15, 2006, 7:28 AM EDT

JERUSALEM -- A missile fired by Hezbollah, not an unmanned drone laden with explosives, damaged an Israeli warship off Lebanon, the army said Saturday. Iranian troops helped fire the missile, a senior intelligence official said.

One sailor was killed and three were missing.

The intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information, said about 100 Iranian soldiers are in Lebanon and helped fire the Iranian-made, radar-guided C-102 at the ship late Friday.

The attack alarmed Israel because initial information indicated the guerrillas had used a drone for the first time to attack Israeli forces.

But the army's investigation showed that Hezbollah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.

"We can confirm that it was hit by an Iranian-made missile launched by Hezbollah. We see this as very profound fingerprint of Iranian involvement in Hezbollah," Nehushtan said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Another Hezbollah missile also hit and sank a nearby merchant ship at around the same time, Nehushtan said. He said that ship apparently was Egyptian, but had no other information.

Nehushtan said the body of one of the four Israeli soldiers missing in the attack was found aboard the damaged warship. Other Israeli military officials said two bodies had been found.

Israel launched an offensive after Hezbollah guerrillas crossed the Israel-Lebanon border on Wednesday and captured two Israeli soldiers. Israel has bombarded Lebanon's airport and main roads in the most intensive offensive against the country in 24 years, while Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rockets into Israel.

The intense fighting has sent shock waves through a region already traumatized by Israel's battle against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. With Israeli officials pointing fingers at Hezbollah's close allies, Syria and Iran, the crisis could soon spread.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-attacked-ship,0,2787533.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

Petronas

07-15-2006, 03:58 PM

It seems the reference to a "C-102 missile" is a misprint. It probably should be the Chinese C-802 anti-ship cruise missile, which is part of Iran's inventory.

but it became clear that Hezbollah had used an Iranian-made C-802 missile to strike the vessel late Fridayhttp://times-news.com/feeds/apcontent/apstories/apstorysection/D8ISJLE03.xml.txt/resources_apstoryview

C-802

Ying Ji-82 (C-802)
Basic data
Function: anti-ship missile
Manufacturer: China Hai-Ying Electromechanical Technology Academy (CHETA)
Entered service:

General characteristics
Engine: turbojet engine
Launch mass: 715 kg
Length: 6.392 m
Diameter: 36 cm
Wingspan: 1.22 m (unfolded); 0.72 m (folded)
Speed: Mach 0.9
Range: 120 km
Flying altitude: 20-30 m (flight); 5-7 m (attacking)
Warhead: 165 kg time-delayed semi-armour-piercing high-explosive
Guidance: Inertial and terminal active radar
Launch platform: ground-based vehicles, naval ships, fixed-wing aircraft

The Ying Ji-82 (NATO reporting name CSS-N-8 Saccade) is a Chinese anti-ship missile developed by the China Hai-Ying Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy (CHETA), also known as the CASIC 3rd Academy. Its export name is the C-802.

Design
The Ying Ji-82 (C-802) anti-ship missile was derived from the YJ-8 (C-801) with extended range. The YJ-82 is externally similar to the YJ-8, and has the same solid-propellant rocket booster and guidance system as the YJ-8. The most distinctive difference on the YJ-82 is that it employs a turbojet with paraffin-based fuel to replace the original solid rocket engine. This caused the fuselage to be extended to accommodate the extra fuel. The max range of the missile has also been extended from the original 40 km (or 80 km for YJ-81/C-801A) to 120 km.

YJ-82 fired from land-based launcher
The YJ-82 missile is carried by the latest Chinese-made surface combatants including the Type 051B (Luhai class) destroyer and Type 053H3 (Jiangwei class) frigate. Some ships built in earlier years have also been upgraded to carry YJ-82 missiles. Because of its extended range, the YJ-82 missile sometimes has to rely on airborne radar systems carried by helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft to provide target information. Iran reportedly bought about 60 land-launched variant YJ-82 missiles following the 1991 Gulf War.

The air launched variant of the YJ-82 is designated YJ-82K (C-802K). A JH-7 fighter-bomber can carry four missiles. Some unconfirmed reports indicated that there is a 400 km-range land-attack cruise missile (LACM) variant of the YJ-82 fitted with GPS/TERCOM guidance. Although this has never been confirmed, it is certain that the YJ-82 missile does have the potential of being modified into LACM without too much difficulty.

China has also developed the YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missile based on the YJ-82 design. Also powered by a turbojet engine, the YJ-83 is said to be supersonic and have an operational range of 250 km. A datalink antenna is fitted on the missile to receive midcourse target information from naval surveillance aircraft and helicopters.

Launch platforms:
Land-based semi-mobile/mobile launcher
Type 051B (Luhai class) DDG, Type 053H3 (Jiangwei-II class) FFG
JH-7 fighter-bomber

Variants
YJ-82 (C-802): Basic variant
YJ-82K (C-802K): Air launched variant
YJ-83 (C-803): Extended range supersonic variant
[edit]
YJ-83 anti-ship missile mockup

Design features
The YJ-82 is almost identical to the Yj-8 in appearance apart from a slightly longer fuselage and an air inlet for the turbojet engine. The missile has a slim body and ovoid nose. There are four front delta wings, four smaller control surfaces, and four large tail stablising wings. The tail wings are mounted on the rocket booster and will be lost when the booster detaches from the missile body. The air inlet is located between the main fins under the missile body. The front and tail wings are folded when the missile is in the launcher.

Flight profile
When the missile is launched, the solid rocket propellant booster accelerate the speed of the missile from 0 to 0.9 Mach in few seconds. After the booster burns out, it detaches from the missile body and the missile's turbojet engine starts working. Controlled by the inertial autopilot system and radio altimeter, the missile flies at a cruising speed of 0.9 Mach and a flight altitude of 20-30 metres.

When entering the terminal phase of flight, the missile switches on its terminal guidance radar to search for the target. Once locking on the target, the missile reduces its flight altitude to 5-7 metres at a distance of few kilometres away from the target. The missile may also maneuver during the terminal phase to make it a more difficult target for shipborne air defense systems. When approaching the target, the missile dives to hit the waterline of the ship to inflict maximum damage.

Guidance
As well as its terminal guidance radar, the YJ-8 missile is also equipped with a radio altimeter for use with its autopilot during cruise. The missile's terminal guidance radar with monopulse system possesses high anti-jamming capabilities. The high precision radio altimeter allows the missile to have minimum-altitude flight above the sea, which is normally 20-30 m.

Warhead
The missile uses a 165 kg semi-armor-piercing anti-personnel blast warhead which relies on the missile's kinetic energy to pierce the deck of a ship, penetrate into and explode in the ship's interior. In addition, the YJ-82 might have a higher single hit probability than the YJ-8/YJ-81.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-802

Atlas

07-15-2006, 04:31 PM

Hezbollah is to Iran as the Foreign Legion is to France

The 801

07-16-2006, 06:00 PM

For those who have joined us while the show is in progress.

Who is Hezbollah?[/B]
By John Walcott
McClatchy Newspapers

Iran began trying to export its brand of Islamic rule to Lebanon soon after its own Islamic Revolution in 1979. Its early efforts failed, however, and Hezbollah, the Party of God, was formed by Shiite Muslim clerics only after Israel invaded the country in 1982 to root out Palestinian terrorists. Although it's now a political party that's represented in the Lebanese cabinet, Hezbollah has ignored demands to defuse its military wing, the Islamic Resistance, which has become the most potent military force in Lebanon.

Its goals include destroying Israel, promoting Islamic law and advancing the cause of Lebanon's traditionally disenfranchised and impoverished Shiites, who are the largest religious community in a country long dominated by a Christian and Sunni elite.

Backed by Syria and Iran, Hezbollah's initial aim was to drive the Israelis out of Lebanon. But after American, British, French and Italian troops were sent to Beirut in 1982 to help restore order after Israel's Christian Lebanese allies massacred hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of Palestinians in two Beirut refugee camps, Hezbollah began attacking them, as well.

In 1983, suicide bombers destroyed the American Embassy in Beirut and the U.S. Marine headquarters at Beirut airport; the latter attack killed 241 Americans. Hezbollah terrorists also hijacked TWA Flight 847 and took Americans hostage. Imad Mugniyah, who masterminded the hijacking and many of the kidnappings, remains one of the FBI's most wanted terrorists.

Some Hezbollah members, though, run social welfare programs while their radical colleagues are mounting terrorist operations and attacks on the Israeli military. Funded largely from Iran, Hezbollah has built schools, medical clinics and other facilities in Lebanon's Shiite south, as well as its own television station, al Manar, which the Israelis bombed this month after the group fired rockets into Israel.

Its social programs and its campaign to force the Israelis to withdraw their troops from Lebanon, which they did in 2000, helped make Hezbollah a political force as well as a military and terrorist one. But some Lebanese think the group may now have overplayed its hand by plunging Lebanon into another war.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/15047532.htm

The 801

07-21-2006, 10:43 AM

BARING FIENDS' BURIED SECRETS

Sorry, bias not 801's

July 21, 2006 -- INSIDE ISRAEL JERUSALEM - What the Israeli military has learned since the Lebanese border war began nine days ago is that Hezbollah managed to secretly build a network of underground tunnels and bunkers to house a vast artillery arsenal.

In the six years since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon, it has learned that Hezbollah was collecting a huge number of Katyusha rockets and Iranian-made missiles shipped from Syria.

But the drone planes and electronic intelligence didn't reveal what was going on underground.

To go after those fortified bunkers, Israel has begun sending special teams.

One team paid the price yesterday when it ended up in a firefight with Hezbollah in the Lebanese town of Marun a-Ras. Four Israelis were reported killed.

From the air, Israel has hit some 1,500 targets, mainly artillery arsenals and launchers.

"We are operating around-the-clock to interrupt the launching of rockets," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Benny Gantz.

He noted that only 60 Katyushas were launched at Israel yesterday, compared with 140 on Wednesday and 136 on Tuesday.

But to know where to shoot, his gunners need good information.

Former armed forces Chief of Staff Dan Shomron, who commanded the celebrated 1976 raid on Entebbe, said yesterday, "Without using ground operations to pinpoint targets and Hezbollah commanders, we will not be able to accomplish our mission in Lebanon."

http://www.nypost.com/commentary/baring_fiends_buried_secrets_commentary_uri_dan.ht m

The 801

07-21-2006, 11:19 AM

The 801

07-21-2006, 11:28 AM

Hezbollah Cartoons for the young kids.

" A Palestinian Cartoon aired on 3.5.2002 on Hezbollah's Al Manar TV Station."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM-XeaIn06g&search=hezbollah

And an Iranian cartoon, for the older kids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llIfT1kgqv4&NR

Mike

07-27-2006, 03:56 PM

Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel with 24-hour bombing Tel Aviv

Since Hassan Nasrallah fought battle Islamic nation must forget Israel 24 hours to leave the Gaza Strip and the final stop killing Palestinians, but Siqsaf Tel Aviv missiles earthquake and the dawn
Maraikm?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think this means they gave Israel 24 hours to get out of the Gaza Strip and if they don't, Hezbollah will bomb Tel-Aviv

Original:
حسن نصر الله يهدد اسرائيل 24 ساعة ويقصف تل أبيب

بما أن حسن نصر الله يحارب معركة الأمة الإسلامية فيجب أن يمهل اسرائيل 24 ساعة لمغادرة قطاع غزة نهائيا والتوقف عن قتل الفلسطينيين وإلا سيقصف تل أبيب بصواريخ زلزال وفجر
مارأيكم ؟؟

Mike

07-27-2006, 04:27 PM

al-Canine

07-28-2006, 04:02 PM

Hezbollah leader said to be hiding in Iranian Embassy

By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published July 28, 2006

Intelligence reports indicate the leader of Hezbollah is hiding in a foreign mission in Beirut, possibly the Iranian Embassy, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

Israeli military and intelligence forces are continuing to hunt for Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary-general, who fled his headquarters in Beirut shortly before Israeli jets bombed the building last week.

"We think he is in an embassy," said one U.S. official with access to the intelligence reports, while Israeli intelligence speculates Sheik Nasrallah is hiding in the Iranian Embassy.

If confirmed, the reports could lead to an Israeli air strike on the embassy, possibly leading to a widening of the conflict, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Foreign embassies are sovereign territory and an attack on an embassy could be considered an act of war.

But other reports from the region indicate Sheik Nasrallah may be in Damascus. A Kuwaiti newspaper, Al-Seyassah, reported from the Syrian capital yesterday that Sheik Nasrallah was seen moving through the city with Syrian guards in an intelligence agency car, Associated Press reported. He was dressed in civilian clothes, not his normal clerical robe.

The newspaper quoted Syrian government sources as saying Iranian national security council official Ali Larijani was in Damascus and was to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Sheik Nasrallah.

Hezbollah officials in Beirut said they did not know whether Sheik Nasrallah had gone to Damascus.

Asked about the reports of Sheik Nasrallah in Syria, a U.S. official said they are unconfirmed, but noted that because of the proximity, it is easy to travel between Lebanon and Damascus.

U.S. officials confirmed the existence of intelligence reports about Sheik Nasrallah hiding in a Beirut embassy after Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper reported Wednesday that the Hezbollah leader was thought to be in the Iranian Embassy. The newspaper, quoting intelligence officials, said Sheik Nasrallah has set up an operations center in an embassy basement that is coordinating Hezbollah attacks.

However, the U.S. officials said the intelligence reports have not confirmed Sheik Nasrallah's precise location.

Iran's embassy in Beirut is located in the Shi'ite stronghold known as the Bir Hasan section, in the western part of the city.

The embassy also is a major base for Iranian intelligence and is used by large numbers of Ministry of Intelligence and Security agents, as well as by senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's shock troops that are linked to international terrorist activities.

President Bush said yesterday that Iran is linked to the problems in Lebanon. "Hezbollah attacked Israel. I know Hezbollah is connected to Iran," Mr. Bush told reporters after meeting Romanian President Traian Basescu. "Now is the time for the world to confront this danger." Mr. Bush said the root cause of the violence is "terrorist groups trying to stop the advance of democracies."

Israel has dispatched both military special operations units and intelligence personnel in an effort to kill the Hezbollah leader, who has continued to issue statements since the two-week-old war began, said the U.S. officials. In a Wednesday television broadcast, Sheik Nasrallah threatened more attacks throughout Israel.

On July 14, Israeli jets bombed the Hezbollah headquarters, also located in Bir Hasan, starting a campaign of "decapitation" strikes designed to eliminate the group's leaders, weaken the organization and limit its military effectiveness.

Iran's government has called for a cease-fire.

A Middle East diplomat confirmed that Israel is seeking out Sheik Nasrallah and that the Iranian Embassy appears mostly evacuated. However, the diplomat stated: "Wherever he is, he is a legitimate target," similar to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. "He's responsible for organizing attacks and killing Israelis," the diplomat said.

In Tehran, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman denied that the embassy in Beirut was sheltering Sheik Nasrallah and dismissed reports of his presence there as Israeli government "disinformation."

Hezbollah forces in the past were known for specializing in coordinated suicide bombings. The group, however, has shown a different military effectiveness in the recent fighting with Israel through its coordinated attacks with small bands of guerrillas.

The Shi'ite terrorist group was behind the 1983 suicide truck bombings that killed 241 U.S. troops and 58 French paratroopers who were deployed to Lebanon as peacekeepers.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060728-123022-5852r.htm

Chaos

07-28-2006, 05:24 PM

For those of you who are longtime readers here on itshappening, at one time we had a discussion going about the Hezbollah Video Game, "Special forces".

A clip has turned up on Youtube that shows this game, and I have included it for referance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvmj7wj1UOw&mode=related&search=hezbollah

This is not a Hezbollah video game. These are in-game captures from a game called "Battlefield II" by EA Games. The map is called "Karkland," and is one of the most popular. They've done some minor editing to place the Star of David on a tank, but otherwise it is nothing more than captures from that game.

More here: http://www.bf2.org/

The 801

07-28-2006, 10:08 PM

Thanks Chaos. Just as I would suspect, a re-skined ripoff. No surprise there.

Petronas

07-29-2006, 12:33 AM

God's army has plans to run the whole Middle East
July 23, 2006

You are the sun of Islam, shining on the universe!” This is how Muhammad Khatami, the mullah who was president of Iran until last year, described Hezbollah last week. It would be no exaggeration to describe Hezbollah — the Lebanese Shi’ite militia — as Tehran’s regional trump card. Each time Tehran has played it, it has won. As war rages between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Tehran policymakers think that this time, too, they can win.

“I invite the faithful to wait for good news,” Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last Tuesday. “We shall soon witness the elimination of the Zionist stain of shame.”

What are the links between Hezbollah and Iran? In 1982 Iran had almost no influence in Lebanon. The Lebanese Shi’ite bourgeoisie that had had close ties with Iran when it was ruled by the Shah was horrified by the advent of the clerics who created an Islamic republic.

Seeking a bridgehead in Lebanon, Iran asked its ambassador to Damascus, Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, a radical mullah, to create one. Mohtashamipour decided to open a branch in Lebanon of the Iranian Hezbollah (the party of God).

After many meetings in Lebanon Mohtashamipour succeeded: in its founding statement it committed itself to the “creation of an Islamic republic in Lebanon”. To this end hundreds of Iranian mullahs, political “educators” and Islamic Revolutionary Guards were dispatched to Beirut.

Within two years several radical Shi’ite groups in Lebanon, including some with Marxist backgrounds, had united under the Hezbollah name and became the main force resisting the Israeli occupation of Lebanon after the expulsion of Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 1983.

Terror has been its principal weapon. Throughout the 1980s Hezbollah kidnapped more than 200 foreign nationals in Lebanon, most of them Americans or western Europeans (including Terry Waite, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s envoy). It organised the hijacking of civilian aircraft and more or less pioneered the idea of suicide bombings against American and French targets, killing almost 1,000 people, including 241 US marines in Beirut and 58 French paratroopers.

The campaign produced results. After Hezbollah’s attacks, France reduced its support for Saddam Hussein. America went further by supplying Iran with TOW anti-tank missiles, shipped via Israel, which helped to tip the Iran-Iraq war in favour of Iran. In exchange Iran ordered Hezbollah to release French and American hostages.

Once the Iran-Iraq war was over, Tehran found other uses for its Lebanese asset. It purged and then reshaped Hezbollah to influence the broader course of regional politics while using it to wage a low-intensity war against Israel.

In 2000, when the Israelis evacuated the strip they controlled in southern Lebanon, Tehran presented the event as the “first victory of Islam over the Zionist crusader camp” and Hezbollah was lauded across the Arab world. Hezbollah taunted the Israelis with billboards on the border reading, “If you return, we return”.

To prop up that myth, Tehran invested in a propaganda campaign that included television “documentaries”, feature films and books and magazine articles. The message was simple: while secular ideologies — from pan-Arabism to Arab socialism — had failed to liberate an inch of Arab territory, Islamism, in its Iranian Khomeinist version working through Hezbollah, had achieved “total victory” over Israel in Lebanon.

Since 1984 Iran has created branches of Hezbollah in more than 20 countries. None has equalled the success of the Lebanese branch, which until recently enjoyed something akin to cult status among Arabs, including non-Muslims, because of the way it stood up to Israel.

It has not even cost Iran very much. Hezbollah was launched with just £13m. After that, according to best estimates, Iran spent £32m to £54m a year on its Lebanese assets. Even if we add the cost of training Hezbollah fighters and equipping them with hardware, Hezbollah (the strongest fighting force in the Middle East after Iran and Israel) has not cost Iran more than £1.3 billion over two decades.

According to Naim Kassem, Hezbollah’s number two, the party has an annual budget of £279m, much of which comes from businesses set up by the movement. These include a bank, a mortgage co-operative, an insurance company, a travel agency specialising in pilgrimages to Muslim holy places, several hotels, a chain of supermarkets and a number of urban bus and taxi companies.

In its power base in southern Lebanon, particularly south Beirut and the Bekaa valley, it is possible for a visitor to spend a whole week without stepping outside a Hezbollah business unit: the hotel he checks into, the restaurant he eats in, the taxi that takes him around, the guide who shows him the sights and the shop where he buys souvenirs all belong to the party.

Hezbollah is a state within the Lebanese state. It controls some 25% of the national territory. Almost 400,000 of Lebanon’s estimated 4m inhabitants live under its control. It collects its own taxes with a 20% levy, known as “khoms”, on all incomes. It runs its own schools, where a syllabus produced in Iran is taught at all levels. It also runs clinics, hospitals, social welfare networks and centres for orphans and widows.

The party controls the elected municipal councils and appoints local officials, who in theory should be selected by the central government in Beirut. To complete its status as a virtual state, the party maintains a number of unofficial “embassies”: the one in Tehran is bigger and has a larger number of staff than that of Lebanon itself.

Hezbollah also has its own media including a satellite television channel, Al-Manar (the lighthouse), which is watched all over the Arab world, four radio stations, newspapers and magazines plus a book publishing venture. The party has its own system of justice based on sharia and operates its own police force, courts and prisons. Hezbollah runs youth clubs, several football teams and a number of matrimonial agencies.

Its relationship with the rest of Lebanon is complex; it occupies 14 seats in the 128-seat national assembly and holds two portfolios in the council of ministers. But it still describes itself as “a people-based movement fighting on behalf of the Muslim world”.

The backbone of all that is Hezbollah’s militia, a fighting force of about 8,000 men, trained and armed with the latest weapons by Iran and Syria. Of these about 2,000 men represent an elite force under the direct command of the party’s secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, a former pupil of the late Ayatollah Khomeini, the man who founded Iran’s Islamic republic. But the party also claims more than 30,000 reservists.

Arab and western experts concur that Hezbollah’s militia is a stronger fighting force than the Lebanese army that is supposed to disarm it under United Nations resolution 1559. Also, most soldiers in the official Lebanese army are Shi’ites who would balk at fighting their own.

Accounts concerning Hezbollah’s arsenal of weapons vary. The militia is said to be armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and an Iranian rapid-fire gun initially modelled on the Israeli Uzi. The party’s crown jewels, however, are an estimated 14,000 rockets and missiles shipped in from Iran over the past six years. Most of these are modified versions of the Soviet-designed Katyusha. The party also has some Chinese-made Silkworm missiles for special use in naval warfare.

“The Israelis would be foolish to think they are dealing with nothing but a bunch of mad fanatics,” says a former Iranian diplomat now in exile. “Hezbollah in Lebanon is a state in all but name: it has its territory, army, civil service and economic and educational systems.”

A few minutes’ drive south from central Beirut takes you into what appears to be a different country. Beirut itself has European-style architecture, shops, hotels and cafes with men and women mostly wearing western clothes.

Once you enter Hezbollah land, the scene changes. You feel as if you are in Qom, the Iranian holy city, with men sporting bushy beards and women covered by mandatory hijab, milling around in noisy narrow streets fronted by nondescript shops. Billboards that advertise global bands in Beirut are used in Hezbollah land for pasting giant portraits of Khomeini and the Iranian “supreme guide” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Not surprisingly Hezbollah describes its territory as “Dar al-Iman” (House of Faith).

When it took over southern Lebanon, Hezbollah found a territory devastated by years of domination by the Palestinian al-Fatah (the area had once been called Fatahland) and the Israeli invasion of 1982. There were almost no schools, no hospitals, few jobs and certainly no security.

Hezbollah provided all that. At the same time the movement imposed a strict religious code that gave the poor Shi’ites a sense of moral superiority over other Lebanese who aspired after western lifestyles. A generation of Shi’ites in southern Lebanon has grown up in a world shaped by Hezbollah’s radical ideology.

Over the years the Lebanese branch has been woven into Iran’s body politic. Many Hezbollah militants and officials have married into Iranian religious families, often connected to influential ayatollahs. Dozens of Lebanese Shi’ites have worked and continue to work in the Iranian administration, especially in the ministries of security, information and culture. Since the mid-1980s, most of the Lebanese Shi’ite clerics have undertaken training in Iran.

In exchange, thousands of Iranian security officers and members of the Revolutionary Guards have lived and worked in Lebanon. As Ali Yunesi, Iran’s former intelligence minister, said: “Iran is Hezbollah and Hezbollah is Iran.”

Support for Hezbollah cuts across the political divides within the Iranian ruling establishment. Whether “reformist” or “hardliner”, Iran’s ruling mullahs and their political associates look to Hezbollah as a reflection of their own revolutionary youth. Last week parliamentary members of the Islamic Majlis in Tehran set aside their disputes to unite in their demand to go and fight alongside Hezbollah in Lebanon if Sheikh Nasrallah called them.

Why has Tehran decided to play its Lebanese card now? Part of the answer lies in Washington’s decision last May to reverse its policy towards Iran by offering large concessions on its nuclear programme. Tehran interpreted that as a sign of weakness. Ahmadinejad believes that his strategy to drive the “infidel” out of the Islamic heartland cannot succeed unless Arabs accept Iran’s leadership.

The problem is that since the Iranian regime is Shi’ite it would not be easy to sell it to most Arabs, who are Sunni. To overcome that hurdle, it is necessary to persuade the Arabs that only Iran is sincere in its desire and capacity to wipe Israel off the map. Once that claim is sold to the Arabs, so Ahmadinejad hopes, they would rally behind his vision of the Middle East instead of the “American vision”.

That strategy pushed Israel to the top of Tehran’s agenda. This is why, in May, Tehran became the first country to grant the Hamas government in the occupied territories an emergency grant of £27m to cope with a freeze imposed by European Union aid and other international donations. As moderate Arab countries have distanced themselves from Hamas, Iran along with Syria has stepped in.

The pincer war launched by Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel is also related to domestic politics. In the occupied territories, Hamas needs to marginalise Mahmoud Abbas’s PLO and establish itself as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In Lebanon, Hezbollah wants to prevent the consolidation of power in the hands of a new pro-American coalition government led by Fouad Siniora, the prime minister, and Walid Jumblatt, the Druze leader.

(Shi’ites make up about 40% of the population, Christians 39% and Sunnis, Druze and others the remainder.) If the pincer war against Israel is won, Iran would be able to expand its zone of influence, already taking shape in Iraq and assured in Syria, to take in Lebanon and Gaza. This would be the first time since the 7th century that Persian power has extended so far to the west.

The strategy is high risk. If the Israelis manage to crush Hamas and destroy Hezbollah’s military machine, Iran’s influence will diminish massively. Defeat could revive an internal Hezbollah debate between those who continue to support a total and exclusive alliance with Iran until the infidel, led by America, is driven out of the Middle East and those who want Hezbollah to distance itself from Tehran and emphasise its Lebanese identity. One reason why Hezbollah has found such little support among Arabs in Egypt and Saudi Arabia this time is the perception that it is fighting Israel on behalf of Iran, a Persian Shi’ite power that has been regarded by the majority of Arab Sunnis as an ancestral enemy.

In Lebanon, for the first time in two generations, a consensus is emerging among the country’s different ethnic and religious communities that the only way they can live together in peace is by developing a sense of Lebaneseness.

This means that Arab Sunnis must abandon their pan-Arab aspirations while Christians must stop looking to France as their “original motherland”. In that context Hezbollah’s Iranian ideology cannot but antagonise the Sunnis, the Druze and the Christians, many of whom are angry at the destruction of their country that Hezbollah has brought about by once again antagonising Israel.

The mini war that is taking place between Israel and Hezbollah is, in fact, a proxy war in which Iran’s vision for the Middle East clashes with the administration in Washington. What is at stake is not the exchange of kidnapped Israeli soldiers with Arab prisoners in Israel. Such exchanges have happened routinely over five decades. The real issue is who will set the agenda for the Middle East: Iran or America?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2281184_1,00.html

Casey

08-01-2006, 07:01 AM

Iran calls on Muslim nations to arm Hezbollah Tue. 01 Aug 2006 Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Aug. 01 – A senior Iranian cleric called on Muslim nations on Tuesday to provide arms to the Lebanese militia Hezbollah which has been in intense battle with Israel for the past three weeks.

“At present, it is expected of Muslim states to not hold back any support, in particular military, medical, and food aid, to Hezbollah and the Lebanese people”, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the powerful Guardians Council, told the state-run news agency ISNA.

Jannati said that it was the religious duty of all Muslims to give political and financial aid to Hezbollah and spread the group’s cause.

“Hassan Nasrollah has currently become the man of the century”, Jannati said of the Lebanese militia’s leader.

The United States accuses Iran and Syria of providing money and arms to Hezbollah.

http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8117

rectar

08-02-2006, 12:42 AM

Rectification is at hand !http://www.albawaba.com/img/site/corner_l_t.1.gifPosted: 30-07-2006 , 14:04 GMThttp://www.albawaba.com/img/site/corner_l_b.1.gifhttp://manager.albawaba.com/img/new_sys/mediabank/21724_mb_file_93a35.jpgThe decision by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to respond to Western demands to a new proposal (http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/201361#) regarding the cessation of Iran’s nuclear efforts on August 22, a seemingly arbitrary date, rather than the earlier date set by the West raises some interesting questions.

Western demands for a response by mid-July have gone unheeded thus far, while August 22, which falls at the end of the corresponding Iranian month of Mordad, will likely be when Iran will voice its opinion (http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/201361#) of the controversial proposal, according to the Free Republic.

An explanation as to why Ahmadinejad chose such a date may lie in the heart of Islamic (http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/201361#) tradition, while at the same time highlight the West’s inability to understand the extent of the clash of civilizations at hand between the age-old Judeo-Christian (http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/201361#) tradition and that of their successor, Islam.

According to the Shiite Muslim (http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/201361#) tradition, of which Ahmadinejad is a strong follower, the 12th imam, or the so-called “hidden” Imam Mahdi, has miraculously been kept alive since his disappearance in 874 AD.

The revered Imam is set to return at a time of great global chaos, war and bloodshed, after which an era of Islamic justice will be ushered in.

Some believe that Imam Mahdi will be returning some time this August, also the time some military (http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/201361#) experts predict that Iran will be ready to construct its first nuclear weapon.

Also important to note is that fact that August 22 of the current year also corresponds with the Islamic date of Rajab 28. This day is the same day on which the great Saladin conquered and entered Jerusalem, further evidence of Ahmadinejad’s belief in the regional importance of the date chosen by him to report to the West.

Apparently, Ahmadinejad sees himself as an instrument to pave the way for the arrival of Imam Mahdi as well as an important successor to Saladin in terms of the liberation of Jerusalem. He has reportedly used public appearances on a number of occasions to make clear his confidence that he and other true believers can affect the apocalyptic timetable, urging Iranians to prepare to back him in the momentous endeavor at hand.

Though many maintain that such connections many be coincidental at best, time will tell whether or not Ahmadinejad is in fact attempting to influence the coming of Imam Mahdi and a return of worldwide Islamic justice, Jerusalem included.

rectar

08-02-2006, 12:52 AM

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20photo%20negatives/2006%20News%20Photo%20Originals/July/chaveznejad31jl6ann.jpg
:add18: Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, awarding an Iranian medal to the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. The two countries have become closer after realizing that they're going to be next on the agenda of the Zionist Empire ruler for invasion, as they possess large reserves of oil. (Annahar, 7/31/06).

rectar

08-02-2006, 01:16 AM

http://www.albawaba.com/img/site/corner_l_t.1.gif:add18: Posted: 01-08-2006 , 12:45 GMThttp://www.albawaba.com/img/site/corner_l_b.1.gifhttp://manager.albawaba.com/img/new_sys/mediabank/22465_mb_file_48c27.jpgA senior Iranian cleric has called on Islamic (http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Iran/201431#) nations to provide weapons to Hizbullah to fight Israel, an Iranian news agency reported Tuesday.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the powerful Guardian Council, was quoted by the semiofficial Iranian Students News Agency as saying that Islamic states should arm Hizbullah in fighting Israel in Lebanon (http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Iran/201431#). "Now, it is expected that Muslim states not spare any assistance to Hizbullah and the Lebanese people, especially providing weapons, medicine and food," Jannati told ISNA.

Meanwhile, Iran's Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel Tuesday called on parliament speakers of Islamic states to hold an emergency following a call from Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to study Israeli air and ground aggressions on Lebanon.

"Some 10 states have given a positive response to the request so far but based on the procedural requirement, at least 24 countries should agree with the session," Haddad-Adel told ambassadors (http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Iran/201431#) of Islamic states based in Tehran.

The 801

08-02-2006, 08:08 AM

A new face to Hezbollah's resistance
By Syed Saleem Shahzad

SOUTH LEBANON - The US ruling political elite failed to understand (or deliberately ignored) the real pulse of the post-September 11, 2001, situation when they decided to invade Iraq in 2003, despite repeated opposition from top Pentagon and intelligence officials.

The ongoing chaos in Iraq is evidence enough of the dire consequences of this miscalculation.

Now, Asia Times Online has learned from contacts both in Lebanon and in the region that Israel, too, has embarked on a military adventure in defiance of warnings from within its establishment of the need for caution.

As with Iraq, the consequences could be dire.

An alliance of hawkish Israeli politicians and military top brass is
determined to eradicate Hezbollah once and for all from Lebanon, despite warnings from Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, Asia Times Online is told.

Those arguing for restraint say that the Iraqi war has changed the dynamics and mood in the Middle East. The region is no longer the same as when Israel could flex its muscles with impunity: there is now a groundswell of anti-Israeli and anti-US sentiment.

And Israeli intelligence admitted to the ruling establishment before the war began that it had failed to penetrate the tightly knit folds of the ideologically and religiously motivated cadre and leadership of Hezbollah. Therefore, they opposed the war until their proxy network could gather more information on Hezbollah's military strength, manpower, logistics and positions.

Israeli intelligence dispatches warned that Hezbollah, with Iranian backing, had grown way beyond a small resistance group like Hamas in Palestine and would fight with much more than small weapons and suicide attacks.

The dispatches cautioned that before going into any large-scale war, it was essential to measure the full extent of Hezbollah's war machine, otherwise it could turn into a military catastrophe.

On Tuesday, Israel sent 10,000 troops in armored personnel carriers and backed by tanks into south Lebanon, Israeli defense officials said. Thousands more were gathering at staging areas on the Israeli side of the border. Israel called up 30,000 reservists over the weekend.

At least 539 Lebanese have been killed in three weeks of air and missile attacks, including 468 civilians and 25 Lebanese soldiers and at least 46 Hezbollah guerrillas, although Israel claims that Hezbollah casualties are much higher.

A total of 51 Israelis have been killed since the start of the military campaign, 33 of them soldiers, according to Israeli figures. Hezbollah claims to have killed more soldiers than stated.

Given the Israeli escalation, and Hezbollah's fierce resistance, it is clear that the massive aerial bombing (about 30 raids a day) has not inflicted too serious a loss on Hezbollah. Israel targeted the traditional strongholds of Hezbollah, such as offices and mosques administered by them in south Lebanon.

Mossad, according to Asia Times Online contacts, warned of an extensive network of underground tunnels and bunkers that Hezbollah could use to stockpile arms in preparation for a long guerrilla war. The problem was that it was not able to identify their whereabouts accurately.

A boiling anger
During this correspondent's travels in south Lebanon over the past few days, the indications have been that dozens of Fallujahs could be in the making, as in the Iraqi town that put up strong resistance to US-led forces.

After Israel bombed the border town of Qana on Sunday, causing more than 50 civilian deaths, a mass evacuation to the north has been under way. Many of the empty houses in any number of villages have now been occupied by young men.

They are not Hezbollah, but they definitely are sympathizers. They wear different-colored shirts, but all have similar green trousers. They call themselves "volunteers" and avoid any long conversations.

In Sarafan, a small town between Tyre and Sidon, Asia Times Online spoke to a shopkeeper, Ahmad Basbishi.

"Almost 60% of the population has left the area," he said. "We are here for two reasons. We do not have relatives out of this town and so do not want to be roaming around like beggars with our families in other cities. And second, we do not want to give the Israelis easy access to our land. Whatever strength we have and whatever firepower we have, we will put it in place and resist Israel if they try to occupy south Lebanon again."

A group of Palestinian refugees in Tyre put it in even stronger terms.

"Let the Israeli forces come on the ground and you will see how we sacrifice our lives and butcher them. They have snatched everything from us, and now they do not even want us to stay alive," said Shadi Ibrahim, one of the refugees.

"This is not a question of Hamas, Islamic Jihad or Hezbollah. Neither is it a question of [Hamas leader] Khaled Mishal or Sheikh Osama [bin Laden] or [Hezbollah leader] Hassan Nasrallah. This is a question of do or die. And whoever leads the battle, we will be with them."

Dr Jawad Mahmood Najam, who runs a hospital near Tyre and Qana, gave another perspective.

"During the mid-1990s civil war and Israeli raids, all of our doctors ran away. Nobody was ready to handle the casualties. But this time things surprisingly turned out differently. Not only have doctors and nurses refused to go to safe places, they are also working around the clock, even without monetary compensation. I think this is because everybody is now measuring the situation from a new angle and understand that this is a serious battle."

In Iraq, after the US-led invasion, people decided at the neighborhood level to form bands of resistance. These turned into Islamic groups, which in turn melted into the broader resistance.

The Lebanese street, certainly in the south, appears much the same. But a trustworthy organization - Hezbollah - is already on the ground and people only need to join forces with this broad resistance.

The next step, therefore, is for this resistance of Lebanon to become a part of the international anti-US Islamic movement. The Israelis were warned.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH03Ak02.html

Casey

08-02-2006, 07:30 PM

Ruling Mullahs, Al-Qaeda And Hezbollah

http://wincoast.com/forum/showthread.php?p=761252#post761252

Casey

08-02-2006, 11:31 PM

2/8/2006

"Brothers Lebanon" reveal fight alongside Hizbollah in the south

Ibrahim Al-Masri, Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Group in Lebanon (Muslim Brotherhood) that fighters follow the fighting alongside Hizbollah in the villages and areas of southern Lebanon, pointing out that his stand with Hezbollah in the military dates back to the 1980s.

This coincided with the announcement of Islamic groups in Lebanon to the formation of a Sunni Islamic Front flying banner of jihad and stresses that it explicitly aimed at the formation of a unified reference for the year in Lebanon as one of its leaders revealed Arabic. Net.

Alliance Brotherhood and Hezbollah.

In modern "Arab. Net "Egyptian families Ibrahim, the Islamic Group in Lebanon, information on the battle group as well as Hezbollah, saying : "We in the villages south of a group of brothers who are committed to defending their villages in coordination with Hezbollah. and the size of this coordination rises and falls according to the circumstances and participation at the frontiers of these villages. "

While "there is a series of Sunni Muslim villages in the border strip from the west coast and the villages of Al Bustan, and Yarin, The Sunni Muslim group of villages in the central sector, such as Sheba and Kfar Shuba and their neighborhoods. The Islamic Community in a lawsuit, we have institutions and the extension of the lead forensic and national defense of these areas. "

He stressed that the Egyptian Community fighters "have no problem with arming and where there are old accounts with stores of food and weapons for defence, and perform their role well, "before they bring the" armed partially any defensive weapon, rather than those they launched rockets Hizbullah. "

He pointed to the existence of coordination with Hizbullah and holding meetings with constant leaders in the "framework of the Islamic Resistance", but the "group move decision motivated by self-preservation of the Islamic presence in those areas."

The "Dawn forces," the military wing of the Islamic Group in Lebanon. participated in 1982 when it began the Israeli invasion "of the resistance against the occupation with Hizbullah before the formation of the party and announced the formation of joint Islamic resistance forces continued on behalf of Dawn" It also says Egypt.

The Islamic group in Lebanon to provide humanitarian assistance through several associations receive relief and medical assistance, provided by the people, as well as conducting a number of mobile clinics to assist the displaced, displaced persons and groups are highlighted in the south in Sidon and its surroundings, where the density of the process of displacement.

Refused foment sedition

Ibrahim criticized the Egyptian talk about "spreading Shia in Lebanon and the region," saying that "lead to sectarian strife, we feel that this proposal is not suspicious in the interests of Muslims is one year and not Shiites We stand with Hezbollah in the face of this speech which is sedition."

In the same vein, he says that most Egyptian Muslims in Lebanon hold the view that talking about his group of Hezbollah, He noted the past week, which "include all Sunni Islamic currents occur and everyone did not hear a voice asking one, but we need to hear the desires of the Declaration of Jihad, We who gathered represent 90% of the year in Lebanon. "

A new front "jihad" in Lebanon

In addition, it was announced in Lebanon for the formation of the "Islamic Action Front" Islamic currents and organizations from different regions of Lebanon.

He said Fathi Yakan "Arabic. Net, "is the most prominent founders of the Front, It consists of the Islamic Tnzemyat Lebanese from all governorates in the north and south and the Bekaa, Beirut : both unification movement led by the leader, Sheikh Said Shaaban Sami Hashim, Muslims sans Frontieres (Bekaa), led by Ramsey Bishom. In Beirut, Sheikh Abdel Nasser forced head the Islamic and other Islamic factions have armed resistance acts in the past. And religion scholars from Beirut and Sidon as well as former deputy.

Recalling that the emergence of this front was beginning in the north and in conjunction with the protest marches against abusive fees Prophet, Sheikh not say that the main point behind the formation of this front is to "establish Marjean Sunni sect."

He explained : Greenfield did not come primarily because of the support of Hizbullah, but may meet later in the support or work Jihad, Although jihad with the pulse and consider ourselves in the same trench with Hezbollah. But ours is to reflect the position of front reference Sunni openly in Lebanon. In Lebanon, there are many references either Sunni reference that was almost absent in the recent events in the terms of reference of each of the other communities, This is not an attack or conflict with, but in order to retain its resolution independent from others and to cooperate with other leaders in the best country.

He described the reference Mufti Sheikh Rashid Qabbani, "an official reference," while referring to the front, "popular movement, and no one cancels the other of us."

He said : We are ready for Jihad and Shaaaratna mean, our strategy and meet with Hezbollah if landing sea or land, for example, but not the front of it, There is no trusteeship of the system or what part of the jihad duty and can not stand idly by.

He continued : "We support the position of Hezbollah, but what we are doing work struggler Sunni Islamist general, It does not end the role of the front end of military jihad is a part of jihad. "

2/8/2006

"إخوان لبنان" يكشفون عن قتالهم إلى جانب حزب الله في الجنوب

قال ابراهيم المصري، نائب الأمين العام للجماعة الاسلامية في لبنان ( الإخوان المسلمون) إن مقاتلين يتبعون للجماعة يقاتلون إلى جانب حزب الله في قرى ومناطق جنوب لبنان مشيرا إلى أن وقوف جماعته مع حزب الله في العمل العسكري يعود إلى الثمانينيات.

وتزامن ذلك مع إعلان مجموعات اسلامية في لبنان عن تشكيل جبهة اسلامية سنية ترفع شعار الجهاد وتؤكد صراحة أنها تهدف إلى تشكيل مرجعية موحدة للسنة في لبنان كما كشف أحد قادتها للعربية.نت.

تحالف الإخوان وحزب الله ..

وفي حديثه لـ"العربية.نت" أسر ابراهيم المصري، من الجماعة الاسلامية في لبنان، بمعلومات حول قتال جماعته إلى جانب حزب الله، قائلا:" لنا في القرى الجنوبية مجموعة من الاخوة الملتزمين بالدفاع عن قراهم بالتنسيق مع حزب الله، و حجم هذا التنسيق يرتفع وينخفض وفق الظروف وهناك مشاركة في تخوم هذه القرى".

واستطرد " هناك سلسلة قرى اسلامية سنية في الشريط الحدودي بدءا من منطقة الغرب على الساحل وقرى مروحين والبستان ويارين ، ومجموعة قرى اسلامية سنية في منطقة القطاع الأوسط مثل شبعا وكفر شوبا وجوارها ، وللجماعة الاسلامية فيهما وجود دعوي ولنا فيها مؤسسات وامتداد يؤدي دوره الشرعي والوطني في الدفاع عن هذه المناطق".

وشدد المصري على أن مقاتلي الجماعة "ليس لديهم مشكلة في التسليح وحساباتهم قديمة حيث توجد لديهم مخازن مواد غذائية واسلحة للدفاع، ويؤدون دورهم بشكل جيد"، قبل أن يلفت إلى أنهم " مسلحون جزئيا أي بسلاح دفاعي وليس عندهم صواريخ كالتي يطلقها حزب الله".

وأشار إلى وجود تنسيق مع حزب الله وعقد لقاءات مستمرة مع قادته في "إطار المقاومة الاسلامية" لكن " الجماعة تتحرك بقرار ذاتي بدافع الحفاظ على الوجود الاسلامي في تلك المناطق".

وكانت "قوات الفجر" ، الجناح العسكري للجماعة الاسلامية في لبنان، شاركت عام 1982 عندما بدأ الغزو الاسرائيلي "بعمليات مقاومة ضد الاحتلال مع عناصر حزب الله قبل تكوين هذا الحزب وأعلنوا سويا تكوين المقاومة الاسلامية واستمروا باسم قوات الفجر "، كما يقول المصري.

وتقوم الجماعة الاسلامية في لبنان بتقديم مساعدات إنسانية من خلال عدة جمعيات إغاثية وطبية تتلقى المساعدات وتقدمها للناس ، فضلا عن تسيير عدة مستوصفات نقالة من أجل مساعدة المهجرين والنازحين وأبرز المجموعات موجودة في الجنوب في صيدا وجوارها حيث توجد الكثافة من عملية النزوح.

رفض إثارة الفتنة

وانتقد ابراهيم المصري الكلام عن " امتداد شيعي في لبنان والمنطقة" ، قائلا إنه " يؤدي إلى فتنة مذهبية ونرى أن هذا الطرح مشبوه لا يخدم مصالح المسلمين لا سنة ولا شيعة ونحن نقف مع حزب الله في وجه هذا الكلام الذي يثير الفتنة ".

وفي السياق ذاته، يقول المصري إن معظم المسلمين في لبنان يحملون الرأي الذي تتحدث عنه جماعته حول حزب الله ، لافتا إلى مؤتمر الأسبوع الماضي الذي "ضم كل التيارات الاسلامية السنية وتحدث الجميع ولم نسمع صوتا نشازا واحدا بل كنا نسمع الرغبات بضرورة إعلان الجهاد، ونحن الذين اجتمعنا نمثل 90 % من السنة في لبنان".

جبهة جديدة "للجهاد" في لبنان

إلى ذلك، أعلن في لبنان عن تشكيل "جبهة العمل الاسلامي" من تيارات وتنظيمات اسلامية من مختلف المناطق اللبنانية.

وقال فتحي يكن لـ"العربية.نت"، وهو أبرز المؤسسين لهذه الجبهة، إنها تتألف من تنظميات اسلامية من كل المحافظات اللبنانية في الشمال والجنوب والبقاع وبيروت: حركة التوحيد بشقيها بقيادة كل من بلال سعيد شعبان والشيخ هاشم منقارة ، مسلمون بلا حدود ( البقاع) بقيادة رمزي بيشوم ، في بيروت الشيخ عبد الناصر جبري رئيس كلية الدعوة الاسلامية وفصائل أخرى اسلامية كان لها أعمال مقاومة مسلحة في الماضي. وعلماء دين من بيروت وصيدا إضافة إلى نواب سابقين.

وإذ يشير إلى أن نشأة هذه الجبهة كانت بداية في الشمال وبالتزامن مع فترة المسيرات الاحتجاجية ضد الرسوم المسيئة للرسول، يقول الشيخ يكن إن الهدف الرئيسي من وراء تشكيل هذه الجبهة هو " إقامة مرجيعة للطائفة السنية".

وأوضح : لم يأت التأسيس لسبب رئيسي هو مؤازرة حزب الله ولكن قد نلتقي فيما بعد في المؤازرة أو العمل الجهادي، رغم أننا مع النبض الجهادي ونعتبر أنفسنا في خندق واحد مع حزب الله. ولكن نحن نشكل جبهة لنعبر عن موقف المرجعية السنية بكل صراحة في لبنان . و في لبنان توجد مرجعيات عديدة وأما المرجعية السنية كانت شبه غائبة في الأحداث الأخيرة في وجه مرجعيات كل الطوائف الأخرى، وهذا ليس تعديا عليها أو صراعا معها ولكن لكي تحتفظ لنفسها بقرارها المستقل عن الآخرين والتعاون مع المرجعيات الأخرى بما فيه خير البلد.

ووصف مرجعية المفتي الشيخ رشيد قباني انها " مرجعية رسمية" ، فيما إشار إلى الجبهة أنها "شعبية وحركية ولا أحد منا يلغي الآخر".

وقال : نحن جاهزون للجهاد وشعاراتنا تعني ذلك، لنا استراتيجية خاصة ونلتقي مع حزب الله إذا حصل إنزال بحري أو بري ما مثلا ولكن الجبهة غير تابعة له، ولا توجد وصاية عليها من جهة ما أو نظام ما والجهاد جزء من واجبها و لايمكن أن نقف مكتوفي الأيدي.

وتابع "نحن نؤيد موقف حزب الله ولكن ما نقوم به عمل سني جهادي اسلامي عام ، ولا ينتهي دور الجبهة بانتهاء الجهاد العسكري الذي هو جزء من الجهاد العام".

rectar

08-03-2006, 10:18 AM

:add18: ....http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20photo%20negatives/2006%20News%20Photo%20Originals/July/waleedayyoub2au6ap.jpg Hassan Nassrullah enters history as one of the main Arab heros: Palestinian artist Waleed Ayyoub draws a picture of Hizbullah leader Shaikh Hassan Nasrullah, in the West Bank city of Ramallah Wednesday Aug. 2, 2006. Other portraits seen in the picture are of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, top right, late Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser, bottom left, and Jesus Christ, top left. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi, 8/2/06).

Mike

08-03-2006, 01:09 PM

Arab arena : Squares The political arena Urgent : Trkoboa speech Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, shortly

As stated by the media :
Anticipated speech of Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, Al-Manar channel island

O God, Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, and the party and paid thrown, and a thousand hearts among Muslims

Mike

08-03-2006, 01:13 PM

Network Palestine Dialogue > Axes > Political axis
Aaaaajl ... Address by Mr. Hassan Nasrallah

Al-Manar Television

God's victory speech televised shortly

Mike

08-03-2006, 01:52 PM

The Secretary General of Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrallah speech via television channel Al-Manar

Who spoke of the everyday realities of war land said to be taking a new form two days ago.

He said that what is a sort of miracle in attacking the resistance groups in more than one location that they are fighting and taking hold, and causing Alkhsar enemy. It miracle.

The second element is the capacity available Resistance to the destruction of the enemy with the knowledge that the tanks of the latest military tanks However Valmujahidon destroy the Israeli army relies on the mechanisms and when the mechanisms pays its soldiers on the ground to search for places where there are no resistance Ftlahakhm and kill.

Nasrallah stressed that the number of casualties suffered by the Israeli army but the big media blackout reduced those losses.

He stressed that Israel depends on the policy of targeted land lies open as part of the psychological warfare waged by the enemy. It portrays through statements that entered and occupied the control of large areas of southern Lebanon, many of them part of the psychological warfare incorrect tries to triumph.

The 24th Nasrallah some of the statements by the Israeli military claimed control over some of the sites army said that violent battles, even though they have not been as well.

He added : "The fight is not systematic killing of an army and seek Alial_hagh Khosar human Israeli army and this is now being achieved on the battlefield. to go into a guerilla war

With regard to the sea : Nasrallah said, quoting a statement Resistance bombing frigate at sea, the Israelis denied despite the news blackout.

Nasrallah and dismissive statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister, which he described Balgbi and Chief of Staff "senility" on the destruction of the infrastructure of Hizbullah, stressing that the missile force still unchanged.

Ono

08-03-2006, 10:35 PM

An Essay Deriding Claims that Hassan Nasrallah is the Head of the Muslim Nation, by Dr. Hani Sibai, Director of al-Maqreze Centre for Historical Studies
By SITE Institute
August 1, 2006
http://www.siteinstitute.org/images/hr.gif

An essay written by Dr. Hani Sibai, Director of al-Maqreze Centre for Historical Studies, recently published to the center’s website (http://www.almaqreze.com/articles/artcl049.html) and then posted to a password-protected jihadist forum, derides the perception of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, as the “head of the Ummah”. Dr. Sibai’s presentation looks at the situation of the Muslims in Kashmir, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine, describing their depravity and actions by Mujahideen, and questions that if there is one, solitary Muslim Nation, then how could Nasrallah possibly be its head when Hezbollah and the Shi’ites either are absent from affairs within these states and territories or are harming the Sunnis within them.

He further questions: “For whose benefit do Nassrallah and his party monopolize the resistance, and deprive its sons from practicing it? Who caused an imbalance of population in southern Lebanon? Who weakened the Sunni people in Lebanon until they became prey?”

The discussion also draws the appearance of different faces when confronting Hezbollah, which is referred to as both Khomeini’s Party and Nasrallah’s Party, including a duplicitous Iran, giving the false impression of challenging America, “the big devil,” and supporting the Palestinians, and a means to relieve pressure on Syria and Iran by keeping the Lebanese people pre-occupied with the war with Israel.

Dr. Hani Sibai then argues that Iran seeks an “international military confederacy” to eliminate the Sunni Muslims in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, and the establishment of a unified Shi’a nation consisting of Iran and Iraq. Also, via “Nasrallah’s war” with Israel, Dr. Sibai believes that the “defeated” American leadership is made to look better as the purported massacres against Muslims and attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq are not given as much attention. He states: “The Anglo-American project is failing in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Nasrallah’s party is saving that barbaric project.”

Believing that some may become angry if Mullah Omar, Usama bin Laden, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri or Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are hailed as the “master of the Ummah” or its “crowned knight,” Dr. Sibai concludes by stating that if Hassan Nasrallah is the head of the Ummah, then “Allah would never have blessed it”.

http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications200406&Category=publications&Subcategory=0

Vancouver

08-04-2006, 02:53 AM

Here's what I wrote about Hani al-Siba'i al-Londinistani in a blog a year ago.
----------------------
هاني محمد يوسف السباعي
Hani Mohammed Yusuf al-Siba'i

هاني السيد السباعي يوسف
Hani al-Said al-Siba'i Yusuf

Siba'i lives in the UK with the status of a political refugee from Egypt. He usually goes by Hani al-Siba'i
هاني السباعي
or "Sheikh Doctor" Hani al-Siba'i on the strength of sham degrees including a doctorate in "quranic law". He asks the press to introduce him as the director of a crank academic body called the Almaqreze Centre for Historical Studies:
مركز المقريزي للدراسات التاريخية
http://www.almaqreze.com
There you can find, among other things, his authoritative explanation of why southern Spain is the rightful property of contemporary Muslim Arabs.

Siba'i is endorsed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's fan club run by Maqdisi:
http://www.tawhed.ws/a?i=173 [tawhed is now as dead as Zarqawi himself]
http://www.tawhed.ws/c?i=196
They give his full name as Hani al-Said al-Siba'i Yusuf, as does he himself.

He is on the UN "1267 list":
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/1267/tablelist.htm
His name was one of seven added to the list at the request of the Egyptians (out of the twenty whom they had nominated). All seven are Egyptian.

Siba'i was a regular contributor at Sa'ad al-Faqih's forums islam-minbar, qal3ah, and islah, before Kufr pulled the plug on those outfits.

pixikill

08-04-2006, 03:27 AM

to the tune of "the happy wanderer."

i love to go
a terrorising
along the dusty track
and as i go,
i always have
a bomb belt on my back

hezbolleeeee
hezbollah!
hezbolleee!
hezbolah-ha ha ha ha ha

hezboleee!
hezbollah!
a bomb belt on my back

Petronas

08-04-2006, 11:43 PM

Iran supplies Hizballah with a battery of upgraded Zelzal missiles that can reach Israel’s nuclear reactor in Dimona
August 4, 2006, 11:09 PM (GMT+02:00)

This disclosure by DEBKA-Net-Weekly 264 was confirmed Friday, August 4, by Ali-Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, former Iranian ambassador to Damascus and Tehran’s senior liaison with Hizballah. The acquisition of an improved Zelzal through Syria with a range of 350-400 km was behind Hassan Nasrallah’s threat to bomb Tel Aviv if Beirut came under another Israel air attack. Tel Aviv is 150 km north of Dimona and therefore well within range of the improved Zelzal missile.

The battery consists of 16 missiles which, fired from northern or central Lebanon, can hit the Negev town of Beersheba which is some 34 km west of the nuclear center. Iran knows that a missile attack on the Dimona reactor, even if it is a direct hit, will not do much harm because the nuclear installations are buried deep underground and guarded by anti-missile defenses. But both Tehran and Hizballah are after the psychological impact on Islamic and world opinion of aiming the first Muslim missile against Israel’s atomic center.

http://www.debka.com/

Petronas

08-05-2006, 12:12 AM

U.N. boss: Hezbollah deserves U.S. respect
Global group's deputy secretary-general would give terrorists conference-table seat
August 3, 2006

A top United Nations official says to quiet the "demons" across the "wider Islamic world" the United States and the international community must respect Hezbollah as a political party, not a terrorist organization.

"Everybody would want a solution here which takes away the recruiting power of Hezbollah in the broader Arab world," said Mark Malloch Brown, the U.N.'s deputy secretary general. That would be one, he said, that "allows Hezbollah a political as against a militia future inside an independent Lebanon." ...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51372

Ono

08-05-2006, 12:59 AM

Petronas

08-08-2006, 09:46 PM

Nasrallah's Men Inside America
Aug. 14, 2006 issue

It began, as the Feds tell the tale, with a run-of-the-mill tax-fraud scheme. Imad Hammoud and his ring of Lebanese Americans from the Detroit area would buy boxes of cigarettes in North Carolina, where the state tax on smokes is among the lowest in the country, allegedly truck the goods back to Michigan and sell them at a profit of more than $10 a carton. Hammoud, an immigrant with ties to Hizbullah, according to an indictment filed with a U.S. district court in Michigan earlier this year, would then wire a portion of the earnings to a member of the group in Lebanon. By 2002, Hammoud and some of his colleagues were believed to be running $500,000 worth of cigarettes a week across state lines and expanding into stolen contraband and counterfeit goods, including Viagra tablets. During a three-month period that year, authorities allege, more than 90,000 Viagra knockoffs were purchased, with a plan to sell them as the real thing. "They're small, they're high in demand and they're easily transportable," says Bob Clifford, a senior FBI agent. "They're the perfect medium."

The Hammoud case is among a handful of money scams uncovered across the country in recent years bearing Hizbullah's fingerprints. Though the revenues are not huge, the cases together underscore a daunting reality: one of the most proficient terrorist groups in the world has at least a small web of operatives in America who, prosecutors believe, are loyal to Hassan Nasrallah. Hizbullah has not targeted Americans since the 1980s, when attacks on a Marine barracks in Lebanon and on the U.S. Embassy there killed more than 300 people. Sometime later, the group apparently made a strategic decision not to tweak the world's only superpower. Law enforcers say there's been no sign the fighting between Israel and Hizbullah, with all the Arab anger it stirs against America, will goad the group into action against the United States. Still, security officials worry that if Hizbullah does one day decide to strike, it can exploit an already-existing network in this country. "You often see in these groups that people who deal in finances also have military backgrounds," says Chris Hamilton, who was the FBI's unit chief for Palestinian investigations until last year. "The fact is, they have the ability [to attack] in the United States."

The FBI has made Hizbullah a central target of its counterterrorism efforts, setting up a unit dedicated to tracking the group and assigning agents to develop sources in Lebanese and other Middle Eastern communities across the country. Clifford, who once headed the unit on Hizbullah and Iran, made his biggest Hizbullah bust six years ago, cracking a North Carolina ring that forged credit cards and laundered money, using some of the profits to buy gear for Hizbullah. The ringleader, Mohammed Hammoud (no relation to Imad), was convicted of providing "material support" for terrorism and sentenced to 155 years in prison. Although he and his followers were not linked to actual terror attacks, the FBI found evidence they did engage in "tactical" arms training and would have been ready to strike if told to do so. "If they were given an order to conduct an operation in the United States, they would have found a way to do it," Clifford says.

What might prompt Hizbullah to issue such an order? American screw-tightening on Iran over its nuclear program, for one. Iran is Hizbullah's main political and financial backer. Some analysts believe the group's deadliest terrorist attacks, including bombings at Israel's Argentine Embassy in 1992 and at a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1994, were ordered up by Iranian handlers. "It would be enough for the Iranian leadership to say the word for Hizbullah to launch an attack," says Congressman Ed Royce, a Republican from California who chairs the House subcommittee on international terrorism and nonproliferation.

But Hamilton, who is now a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, says Hizbullah would be more likely to attack Americans abroad. "They would go for soft targets in places where they have lots of resources," such as South America or Turkey. Other experts believe Hizbullah would have too much to lose from an attack on American soil. "Their fund-raising activities have been very fruitful in the United States," says Dennis Lormel, who was the FBI's section chief for terrorist financing until 2003. "With Israel clamping down on their other sources of revenue, it wouldn't make sense for them to wreck their own ability to continue making money here."

Support for Nasrallah runs high in Lebanese communities across the country, and it spikes when Israel's war with Hizbullah or with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza heats up. When Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Lt. John Stedman searched the home of a Lebanese immigrant in Los Angeles two years ago, he found Hizbullah flags decorating the walls, along with pictures of Nasrallah and audiotapes of his speeches. "We love him," Stedman quotes a resident of the home as saying, "because he protects us from the Jews." In a case against a Lebanese immigrant in Dearborn, Mich., who is suspected of tax fraud, prosecutors have showcased pictures of the suspect seated alongside Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, Hizbullah's spiritual leader, at a 2002 fund-raiser in Lebanon.

But Arab-American leaders complain law enforcers are too quick to equate the pride some ex-patriates take in Hizbullah's stand against Israel—or even just the sympathy they feel for the Lebanese people—with support for terrorism. "Any time somebody sends money to somebody in Lebanon, they [prosecutors] say it's for Hizbullah," says Maurice Herskovic, who initially represented one of the defendants in the Detroit case. Last month two of the defendants reached a plea bargain with prosecutors, admitting to several fraud charges that carry a penalty of up to 30 months in prison, but they were not charged with terrorism. Hammoud was not among them. Though three of his brothers entered not-guilty pleas in the case, prosecutors say Hammoud slipped out of the United States and is probably back in Lebanon, where Hizbullah gunmen are waging bloody street battles with Israeli troops. "This is a new organization [compared with what it was years ago]," says Bob Baer, a retired CIA agent who spent years in the Middle East. "It's fighting a conventional war." Yet it also has the capacity to carry out devastating terrorist attacks. In Europe and South America, and possibly in the United States as well, that's a threat law enforcers must take seriously.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14208386/

Petronas

08-21-2006, 03:59 PM

Since I don't have the link, I'm posting the entire article, despite its length. While much in it we have seen alsewhere, it contains a number of interesting details I had not seen before.

Vol. 6, Issue 265, August 11, 2006

Hizballah’s Superior Tools of Terror - I
Surprisingly Sophisticated Anti-Tank Missiles, Fortified
Bunkers and Iranian Electronics

It was said in the dark days of the 1973 Yom Kippur
War that the anti-tank rocket could bend the wings
of an Israeli warplane. They were referring to the
heavy losses the Israeli Air force sustained from the
Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles used by the
Egyptian and Syrian armies battling Israel.
Of the 380 warplanes on active service, 102 were
downed - a few in dogfights, but most shot down by
anti-aircraft fire. Not counting helicopters, the Israeli
Air Force lost in that war more than a quarter of its
air fleet.
Although Israel also lost many tanks, the blow to its aerial might, the proud
jewel of its armed forces, left the most painful impact.
In the Lebanon War, 33 years on, the soldiers have a similar saying: the
rocket is bending the Israeli tank. They have been shocked by the loss of life
and damage inflicted by Hizballah’s anti-tank rocket and its ability to pierce
the armor of the Merkava (Chariot), which Israeli arms manufacturers hold
up as the best protected tank in the world.
In 30 days of the war which erupted on July 12, the three types of missiles
wielded by Hizballah guerrillas have seriously hampered the advance of
Israeli tanks columns through the mountains, wadis and valleys of south
Lebanon, and prevented them from breaching the fortified villages used as
Hizballah strongholds.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s military sources report that the Sagger AT-3A
missile, the Metis-M 9K115-2 and the Kornet ATGM have been hitting an
average of 1.8-2 tanks a day, which adds up to 55-60 tanks knocked out, the
equivalent of a tank brigade, in 30 days of combat.
Some of the tanks were also hit by missiles and huge roadside bombs
containing 50-150 kilos of explosives each.

Three Kinds of Missiles to Fell a Tank

This is how Hizballah functions. An estimated 500
to 600 members of their roughly 4,000-strong
fighting strength in South Lebanon are divided into
groups of 5 or 6, each armed with 5-8 anti-tank
missiles, with a further supply in their small wellfortified
camouflaged bunkers, built to withstand
Israeli air attacks.
The bunkers Israeli troops captured in fierce fighting were found to contain a
supply of ordnance and 4-6 anti-tank rockets.
The Hizballah guerrillas take care to fire them at Israeli tanks by night from a
distance of 2-3 km. After a hit, the Israeli tank crew calls up reinforcements –
one part of which tows the tank back behind the Israeli border while second
dashes forward to engage the Hizballah assault group.
Hizballah then reacts in two ways. The assault team advances towards the
Page 1 of 13
Israeli force under cover of a heavy shelling by 120 mm and 220 mm mortars,
Syrian and Iranian short range 107mm and 122 mm rockets and 230 mm
Katyushas. This tactic gives the Hizballah team the chance of striking another
tank or armored vehicle in 38 percent of the instances.
Another Hizballah team may also lie in wait for a tank unit in the bunkers
strewn among the fortified dwellings after sowing the area with anti-tank
mines and huge roadside bombs. The guerrillas in the bunkers wait quietly for
the tanks to pass by and then shoot them in the rear from their bunkers while
also activating the roadside bombs.
This is the shape of the deadly battles fought Wednesday August 9, near the
Ayt a-Chaab village in the Western Sector of South Lebanon near the border
with Israel and at the village of Debel in the Central Sector, in which Israel
lost 15 men and several tanks.
That was the largest number of Israeli losses in a single battle since the war
erupted.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s Washington and Moscow sources disclose that the
rate of Israeli tank losses so horrified US officials that Monday, Aug. 7, the
White House sent Russian president Vladimir Putin a secret request for
clarifications regarding the arms deals he signed with Damascus.
They cover a Russian commitment to sell Syria the Metis-M 9K115-2 antitank
missile which by virtue of its sophisticated features gives Hizballah a
deadly edge against Israel troops.
All versions of this weapon, which weighs 5-20 kgs., are man-portable over
long distances. Its guidance elevation has a 15 degree span. The small
module’s elevation and field view are easily adjustable to target ground
targets or hovering helicopters. The Russian 1PN86V/Mulat-115 thermal
sight can be attached to the launcher for a detection range of 3,200 meters and
recognition beyond the missile’s 1,500-meter range. Its field of view is 4.6
degrees.
On Feb. 24, 2005, the United States and Russia signed an Arrangement on
Cooperation in Enhancing Control of Man-portable Air Defense Systems
(MANPADs),” usable by terrorists to endanger civil aviation. It was agreed at
the Bratislava, Slovakia summit between Presidents George W. Bush and
Putin.
The Russian president ducked any suggestion of extending this arrangement
to man-portable anti-tank missile systems.
The Lebanon War and the abundance of these missiles in Hizballah’s hands
dramatically illustrate the destructive power of man-portable anti-tank
weapons and the danger they pose to national armies in the hands of
terrorists.

The Drive for Peace that Dulled Vigilence

The White House asked the Kremlin if the sale contract
with Syria contained a non-transfer clause to a third party
and, if so, what guarantees Syria offered for abiding by this
clause.
The message from Washington referred Putin to the
assurances he gave the US president and secretary of state
Condoleezza Rice in private conversations that he had
made sure of personal guarantees from Syrian president Bashar Assad to
refrain from transferring weapons bought from Russia to guerilla fighters in
Iraq and Hizballah in Lebanon.
The White House demanded to know what steps Putin was planning to take to
have those contractual clauses upheld.
Our sources report that, so far, no reply has reached Washington from the
Kremlin.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s Moscow sources suggest cynically that it is more
Page 2 of 13
likely that the Russian government and arms industry are patting themselves
on the back over the exceptional performance of their product. The fact that
their missile is capable of piercing Israel tank armor is a feather in their cap
and a prestige booster for their arms exports.
As to the Israeli tank, our military experts point to some of its vulnerabilities.
1. There is no such thing as tank armor which is absolutely impregnable to
attack.
2. Some of the tanks may have been from the first series that came off the
Israeli production line without the protective devices affixed to the later Mark
3 and Mark 4 series.
3. Up until the shock of the July 12 Hizballah attack, Israel’s policy-makers -
and therefore the army - were ruled overwhelmingly by a conviction that
Israel faced no major war threat in the next five years, except for the daily
grind against Palestinian terrorists. Therefore, they enacted some economies
in defense spending, including cutting out the installation of Rafael’s Trophy
active protection system for all the IDF’s tanks.
Trophy creates a hemispheric protected zone around a vehicle such as a tank
which intercepts and destroys incoming threats. It has three elements: The
Threat Detection and Warning subsystem, which consists of several sensors,
including flat-panel radar placed at strategic spots around the vehicle to
provide full hemispherical coverage.
Once an incoming threat is detected, identified and verified, the
Countermeasure Assembly is opened and the countermeasure device
positioned so as to intercept the threat. It is then launched automatically into a
ballistic trajectory to intercept the incoming threat at a distance.
Trophy is marketed by General Dynamics, which plans to install the system
on every new and existing combat vehicle it produces, including Stryker, M-
1A2 and FCS. It has completed hundreds of live tests with Israeli Defense
Forces and demonstrated its effectiveness in neutralizing anti-tank rockets
and guided missiles. The system is in full-scale engineering for inclusion on
the Merkava Mark 4 and the light armored vehicle (Stryker).
While Israel saw no need for this protective device until too late, DEBKANet-
Weekly’s military sources report that the US army, seeing the steep
strategic price Israel paid for this omission, has decided to purchase the
Trophy for its tanks and armored vehicles.

Hizballah’s Superior Tools of Terror - II
Iran’s Unknown Systems Neutralize Israel’s Electronic Warfare
Gadgets

Until the watershed date of July 12, 2006, when the
Hizballah triggered the Lebanon War, Israel was
accounted an important world power in the
development of electronic warfare systems – so much
so that a symbiotic relationship evolved for the
research and development of many US and Israeli
electronic warfare systems, in which a combination of
complementary American and Israeli devices and
methods was invested.
The collaboration covers almost every military
branch – ground units, air and navy, special
operations forces and the devices that track terrorists
worldwide.
Israel’s electronic warfare units belong to its Signal Corps, and its early
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warning systems units are part of the Military Intelligence Corps-AMAN.
In combat against Hizballah (whose makeup and methods of operation will
be outlined in a separate article in this issue), both were not only found
wanting, but had been actively neutralized, so that none performed the
functions for which they were designed.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s military sources reveal how this happened:
1. The intelligence and electronic warfare units of Iran’s Revolutionary
Guards Corps provided Hizballah with an electronic warfare arm.
2. Iran developed special systems capable of blocking a large section of
Israel’s electronic warfare network.
3. Thirty days into the Lebanon war, American and Israeli officials have
concluded that Iran decided to use the Lebanon conflict as the testing ground
for its military, intelligence and electronic capabilities in preparation for a
potential clash with the United States and Israel in other theaters of war.
The first indication of something amiss on the Israeli side showed up on day
three of the Lebanon War
On July 14, shortly before 20:00 local time, two Iranian-made C-802
Silkworm shore-to-sea missiles fired from a Hizballah base in Beirut port
seriously damaged an Israeli Saar-5 corvette, the “Hanit”.

The mysterious beam that blocked the Barak anti-missile device

The first was shot in a high arc to drop amidships on
the vessel from above; it missed and exploded in the
water. The second was fired at a difference angle to
skim the water’s surface in the manner of a cruise
missile. It homed in and struck the helicopter pad,
setting the pad, the deck and the crew’s living quarters on fire. The captain’s
fast reflexes and the crew’s bravery in jumping into the flames to extinguish
the fire saved the Hanit from exploding and sinking.
The C-802 missile is based on the Chinese Ying-Ji 802 land attack and antiship
cruise missile (designated in the West as SACCADE).
Fitted with a small turbojet engine with paraffin-based fuel, the missile has a
165 kilo warhead and a range of 120 km. Most significantly, this missile has
small radar reflectivity, attacks the target only a few meters above the sea
surface and its guidance equipment has a strong anti-jamming capability. It is
therefore exceptionally difficult to intercept and boasts a 98 percent hit
probability.
The Ying-Ji-802 can be launched from airplanes, ships, submarines and
motor vehicles and rivals the American Harpoon as among the best anti-ship
weapons on the market.
The Israeli warship was taken completely by surprise because Israeli
intelligence had had no idea that the Hizballah had acquired this missile.
The experts tried to find out why the stricken vessel’s advanced Barak shipborne
anti-missile defense system and its anti-air/anti-surface gunnery system
had not been activated to thwart the attack.
The Barak missile is a vertically launched, supersonic, lightweight missile
with a very large and powerful warhead designed for Israeli Navy missile
boats to counter anti-ship missile and airborne attack by aircraft. It uses
advanced radar techniques for target acquisition and target tracking. Using an
autonomous capability to gain a tactical picture and evaluate threat, the Barak
can interface with various sensors, guns and weapons.
The system operates successfully on the ships of various foreign navies.
So why didn’t this marvel of electronic engineering do its job for the Israeli
corvette?
DEBKA-Net-Weekly reveals here that, 12 hours before the Israeli ship was
crippled, Hizballah fighters seized control of Beirut’s naval radar station,
throwing out its Lebanese operators. Two minivans then drew up and a team
Page 4 of 13
of Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval intelligence officers and radar
technicians jumped out carrying a load of unfamiliar equipment which they
installed.
A subsequent probe revealed that they must have used this gear to beam a
mysterious electronic wave to disarm the Barak system.

A state of the art communications room in (almost) every bunker

Hours after the Hanit was attacked, the Israeli air
force destroyed Lebanese coastal radar facilities. An
Israeli officer who works with electronic warfare
systems told DEBKA-Net-Weekly that no one
knows to this day what gear the Iranians installed, or
where and when the next electronic ambush will be
coming from.
Since the attack, therefore, Israeli missile ships blockading the Lebanese
coast are wary of coming in too close to the shore. That is why the Israeli
naval commandoes who raided the hideout of a Hizballah rocket crew in Tyre
last week were flown in and evacuated by helicopter, not by sea.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s military sources report that, in the course of the
Lebanon War, Hizballah – or rather Iran - had more than one surprise in store
In the first three days of the war, Israel was certain it had cast an electronic
blanket over South Lebanon and jammed military communications and
telephone networks, including mobile phones. The IDF general staff were
under the illusion that they had knocked out the communication links
between Hassan Nasrallah and his local commanders.
They were wrong.
It took a while to discover that Iranian electronic warfare operators had
chalked up another major success in the Lebanon War. They had prevented
Israeli electronic devices from jamming Hizballah’s communications
networks in the battle zones of South Lebanon and blanking out the signal
systems connecting Hizballah command and control posts across the country
and linking them to Syria. This explains why, despite repeatedly bomb strikes
of Hizballah’s Al Manar TV and Nour Radio studios in S. Beirut, the station
has been able to broadcast almost without interruption.
The Iranian electronic engineers’ success was such that, on Wednesday, Aug.
9, Day 29 of the war, Hizballah’s communications networks were still
operating at points only 500 meters from the Israeli border.
They were also functioning at the toughest strongholds holding out against
Israel attacks: Ayt a-Chaab in the west and Al Khaim in the east.
However, after a fierce battle at Qantara just south of the Litani River, the
bodies were found of three Iranian intelligence officers with documents of
identification and gear that showed them to have been operators of local
networks for jamming Israeli radar and communications.
Israeli forces searching through the bunkers they cleaned out in South
Lebanon were amazed to discover that many contained subterranean state of
the art communications rooms fitted out with advanced instruments with
Iranian encoding.
Not every part of the Hizballah militia is armed with standard military
communications equipment, it is important to note. They also use SMS,
runners and ordinary telephones to transmit messages.

The terrorist war room in the Iranian embassy

So concerned were some members of the Bush
administration by Iranian electronic successes in the
Lebanon War that, according to DEBKA-Net-
Weekly’s military sources, they sent over last week
Page 5 of 13
a large team of electronic warfare experts to work with the Israelis on
cracking the dual problem of Iranian interference and the protective measures
guarding Hizballah.
Both sides came to the conclusion that neither Israel nor the United States
took enough notice of the naval exercise Iran staged in the Persian Gulf last
April, its largest in recent years. Both the Americans and Israelis dismissed
most of the weapons systems as old-fashioned. Some were clearly
functioning badly.
But among them were the C-802 cruise missile and several electronic warfare
systems, both of which turned up in the Lebanon war with deadly effect.
American and Israeli military experts have since decided they may have
missed the most important feature of the Iranian exercise, their electronic
prowess. Now, the Lebanon War is giving them a second chance to catch up
with the Iranian accomplishments they missed last April.
They are particularly troubled by Iran’s success in making its Beirut embassy
totally impregnable to any electronic or hi-tech ears or penetration.
It means that the war room the Hizballah high command has set up in the
embassy can function free of oversight. Our sources report that Hassan
Nasrallah, Hizballah’s “chief of staff” Ibrahim Akil and chief of special
operations the arch terrorist Imad Mughniyeh, fled Beirut to a northern
underground command post in the Hermel region in the early part of the war.
But at some point, they slipped back and made it to the Iranian embassy.
Israeli and American intelligence tried dismissing their presence in the
embassy as a wild rumor. However Monday, August 7, Turkish military
intelligence tipped Washington that a very reliable source had placed
Nasrallah and his high command in the Iranian embassy. The source did not
know how long he had been holed up there. But US intelligence watchers
noted that when the Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki visited
Beirut Wednesday, August 9, he gave the embassy a wide berth. Aware of the
suspicions that Nasrallah was in the building, the minister decided not to
draw attention to the embassy or create the impression he had come to hold
talks with the Hizballah leader.

Hizballah’s Superior Tools of Terror - III
Islamic Terror Groups Agog: Rockets Are the Stuff of Victory

Word is whizzing around the Islamic fundamentalist
terrorist movement in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq
and the Palestinian territories: There is a better way
to vanquish the Jews and Christians than suicide
bombings, hostage-taking and massacres, it says:
The era of the mighty rocket and missile is at hand
Thousands of videotapes, leaflets and the Internet
sites used by radical Muslim groups are full of
reports about the miracles performed for Hizballah
by short-range surface and medium-range rockets,
anti-tank missiles and electronic warfare systems
used against Israel.
Hassan Nasrallah has found the ultimate weapon to confound Israel and all
Western unbelievers, they say.
He is being glorified on several counts.
By keeping up a rocket blitz against northern Israel of up to 200 rockets a day
for 30 days in defiance of Israel’s air, ground and naval power, he is said to
have outshone Osama bin Laden’s 9/11attacks on New York and
Page 6 of 13
Washington.
Muslim military analysts have counted the rocket total and calculated that he
shot more rockets at the Jews than Nazi Germany dropped bombs over
Britain in World War II. His admirers have searched high and low and found
no parallel of this feat in modern history. Even the Serbian barrage against
Sarajevo in the mid-1990s is said to pale by comparison.
Muslim war experts are drawn particularly to four Lebanon war
developments.
1. The inability of Israel’s armed forces to halt or even reduce the tempo of
rocket attacks. This leads them to conclude that no modern Western army is
capable of saving medium-sized towns from devastation by rockets and
missiles.
2. The fact that Hizballah’s rockets ravaged and practically depopulated two
thriving northern Israeli towns, the popular Mediterranean holiday resort of
Nahariya whose 60,000 population was reduced to 12,000, and Kiryat
Shemona of Upper Galilee, which is left with no more than one-tenth of its
30,000 inhabitants.
Dozens of smaller communities, including Arab villages, likewise suffered
cruel damage, loss of life and destroyed livelihoods. More than 6,000
apartment buildings were leveled and rendered uninhabitable, most of the
public buildings and infrastructure, including schools, factories, hotels and
roads, are in ruins.
All this destruction is hailed by radical Islamic commentators as a heroic
achievement by Nasrallah.
3. The displacement of more than three-quarters of a million Israelis of the
northern communities by his rockets and their flight south is held up as one of
the greatest Muslim triumphs in modern times. For the first time, an Israeli
government is being forced to set up tent cities for tens of thousands of
homeless refugee families in the parks of North Tel Aviv and in Petach
Tikva, along the Yarkon River.
4. The invincibility of Hizballah’s anti-tank rockets against Israeli tanks and
armor.
All this published material shows how deeply impressed the Islamic
fundamentalist movement is by the unlimited flow of rockets reaching
Hizballah and the fact that no one in the western world, except the Israeli air
force, lifted a finger to stem the flow from Syria and Iran.
The fundamentalists infer from this that the Hizballah model is well worth
emulating in other places and against other armies. The fact that the
predominantly Sunni Muslim Syria and the Shiite Iran are able to work
together as Hizballah’s sponsors and logistical backers inspires radical
Muslim commentators to hope that the Muslim world is capable of healing
itself the violent sectarian conflict besetting Iraq.
They urge a separation of universal Islam from the troubles in Iraq. They
must be treated as an internal Iraqi malaise, say the commentators, which
cannot be allowed to infect the entire Muslim nation.
For radical Islamists of both Sunni and Shiite sects and their terrorist
movements, Iran is emerging as the key to a global Islamist revival. The
Islamic Republic is poised to recover the acknowledged leadership role in the
Muslim world, which it enjoyed in the first four years after Khomeini’s 1979
revolution established a radical Islamic theocracy in Iran.

Structure of the Hizballah Army
Rigid Regimentation and Iron Discipline
Page 7 of 13
The Lebanese Shiite Hizballah terror group is usually
described as a radical Islamic militia. According to
DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s military experts, Hizballah is
in fact a unique manifestation in modern military
history and a standout on the terrorist scene.
It is in fact a rigidly regimented regular army in very
sense which, together with its reserve units, numbers 20-25,000 trained men.
They are organized in brigades, each capable of autonomous operation and all
under a single central command.
The Hizballah army belongs to no state but to a religious organization. It is the
most disciplined force in the Middle East, whose troops are also rated high for
bravery and willingness to fight to the last bullet. An Israeli officer who faced
Hizballah in hand-to-hand combat told DEBKA-Net-Weekly’s military
sources this week that, in his view, Hizballah has produced a new breed of
Muslim-Arab fighter in the Middle East. “They fight like lions,” he said, “And
their structure and methods of warfare contribute to their extreme discipline
and fighting prowess.
The Hizballah organization brings every Shiite village and urban
neighborhood into its fold under the governance of the local “security
committee.” This is a form of local command office that keeps the regular
army of 6,000 men strictly in line. The heads of these local committees train
as officers for six months at officers schools of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards,
followed by specialist courses of three to four months in such military
disciplines as intelligence, rockets and commando techniques.
Upon returning home, they are kept in close touch with the RGs – either
through the Iranian officers posted at the Iranian embassy in Beirut or visiting
RG officers who come through Damascus to keep an eye on their Hizballah
subordinates and help them solve logistical or even personal problems, such
as medical difficulties or lack of a living income.
These Revolutionary Guards supervisors also hunt for talented Hizballah
officer or NCO trainees to be sent for advanced tuition. After basic training at
the Baalbek or Lebanese Beqaa training facilities, they qualify for three
months of expert instruction in Iran as anti-tank rocket operators,
communications experts, mortar-men, saboteurs, or paramedics.
Every Hizballah fighting man is made conscious that he is the link in a dual
chain of command made up of his immediate commander who defers to
Hassan Nasrallah and a supreme command level, which consists of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guards and has the supreme ruler of Iran, Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, at its apex.
This duality came into play during the Lebanon war, when Imad Mughniyeh,
deputy secretary general of Hizballah, was appointed to lead the war effort in
the south. (See HOT POINTS)

The Hizballah combatant’s dual loyalties to Nasrallah and Tehran

Every Hizballah combatant was fully aware that, while
Mughniyeh ranks formally as Nasrallah’s lieutenant, he
is in fact so high up in Iran’s ruling hierarchy that his
orders come straight from Khamenei in person. His
appointment therefore signified to Hizballah’s rank and
file that Tehran had not forgotten their dedication in
confronting the Israeli army and would look after them
and their families as a reward.
Each local “security committee” is aided by two additional bodies – taabiya
(recruitment office), which is charge of army reservists. These men are taken
away three days a month for refresher training. They also keep their personal
firearms at home, even if they are heavy machine guns or mortars, so that
when summoned for duty by their “security committee” they are ready to
Page 8 of 13
report at a moment’s notice.
The taabiya corps is estimated to be 7,000 to 10,000 strong.
The other body attached to the “security committee” is the mutfaririn
(paramilitaries), a loose force of 10,000 to 15,000 irregulars who are called
up as needed for home front duties such as manning roadblocks, guarding
arms stores and Hizballah office premises, or securing mass meetings of
Hizballah followers.
No one knows exactly how many of these irregulars actually fight on the
front against Israel.
Hizballah also maintains a special operations force of five companies of 150
to 250 men each. They are trained at the RG marine bases in Iran and
instructed in commando techniques by Iranian intelligence.
In times of calm, they serve as bodyguards for Hizballah chiefs. They also
undertake hit operations against their enemies. In wartime, they operate
behind enemy lines.
These commandoes carried out two missions in the current Lebanon war and
were commended for their performance.
One company crossed into Israel on July 10 or 11, spent 24 or 48 hours on
the Israeli side of the border undetected and, on July 12, attacked an Israel
patrol, killed 8 of its members and abducted two men, so sparking the current
war.
A second company confronted Israeli troops in Bin Jubeil in southern
Lebanon. In the first week of the war, an Israeli unit captured a large part of
the village and cleared it out of Hizballah fighters. Nasrallah then sent this
commando company to raid the village and force an Israeli withdrawal with
heavy losses. Three weeks later, the fighting there is not over and still
exacting a heavy toll.
Hizballah also maintains three rocket brigades, the militia’s artillery arm.
It is composed of the Nassar Brigade which is armed with Iranian and Syrian
107 mm and 220 mm Katyusha rockets; the Khaibar-1 Brigade (named for
the Muhammed’s battle against the Jews of Medina), which uses an array of
medium range missiles – from the Iranian-made Naziyat, the Syrian 302 mm
Katyusha with a range of 110 km, the Fajer-5 with a similar range, and the
Zelzal-1 surface missile which can reach a target at a distance of 120 km.
The third brigade has an arsenal of long-range Zelzal-2 missiles whose range
of 250 km. Two weeks ago, Iran sent Hizballah a supply of improved Zelzal
missiles capable of hitting targets 450 km away (including Israel’s nuclear
reactor in Dimona.)

HOT POINTS
A Digest of DEBKAfile Round-the-Clock Exclusives in Week
Ending August 10, 2006

Hizballah long-range rockets come within 45 km of Tel Aviv

4 August: Two or three land for the first time in the Hadera and Pardess
Hannah areas 50 km south of Haifa, deepest yet. Hizballah claimed to have
hit Hadera with its Khaibar-1 long range rocket. Residents of Binyamina and
Caesarea ordered to shelters for the first time. DEBKAfile: Another longrange
rocket fired at Jezreel Valley southeast of Haifa was aimed at the
Ramat David air force base.

Iran supplies Hizballah with a battery of upgraded Zelzal missiles that
can reach Israel’s nuclear reactor in Dimona

Page 9 of 13
4 August: This disclosure by DEBKA-Net-Weekly 264 was confirmed
Friday, August 4, by Ali-Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, former Iranian
ambassador to Damascus and Tehran’s senior liaison with Hizballah. The
acquisition of an improved Zelzal through Syria with a range of 350-400 km
was behind Hassan Nasrallah’s threat to bomb Tel Aviv if Beirut came under
another Israel air attack.
Tel Aviv is 150 km north of Dimona and therefore well within range of the
improved Zelzal missile.

Four Israel women killed in Hizballah barrage of 175 rockets Saturday

5 August: Three of the victims on Day 25 of the war were a mother and her
two daughters in the W. Galilee village of Arb al-Aramshe. In an earlier
barrage in the Haifa region, Frieda Kellner, 87 died of heart failure when an
11-rocket volley landed outside her home. Six people were injured in Haifa’s
Kiryat Motzkin, Kiryat Haim and Kiryat Yam, which suffered major damage
to homes and cars, as did Kiryat Shemona in the afternoon.
A mortar shell seriously injured a soldier at his border post.

Israel prepares to target Sidon region, from which long-range missiles
fired against Hadera Friday night

5 August: Rocket stores as well as launch sites are located in and around
Sidon, a town of 200,000 inhabitants south of Beirut and in the outlying
villages between the town and the Zahrani River.

Tehran Sends Legendary Mughniyeh to Rescue Hizballah

5 August: In the middle of the fourth week of the Lebanon War, the tide
began to turn in Israel’s favor.
The setbacks of the first three weeks were partly due to tactical incompetence
and laggard decision-making on the part of prime minister Ehud Olmert and
defense minister Peretz. Israeli troops therefore spent too long in abrading
combat against stubborn Hizballah resistance in such places as Maroun er Ras
and Bint Jubeil. But as soon as Israeli ground forces shifted to the massive,
long-distance firing mode which it knows best, the impact on the warfront
was immediate.
Hizballah soon showed signs of distress. Lacking the weapons and resources
to stand up to IDF’s precise-shooting juggernaut, their commanders quickly
pulled their men out most combat sectors of South Lebanon and ordered them
to regroup in five places.
These pockets became the main launching-pads for rockets fired into Israel.
With the right Israeli manpower level, Hizballah’s abilty to fire rockets can
be dented, notwithstanding claims by Israel officials and generals. However,
Olmert is still keeping the army short.
Still, by Thursday, August 3, Hizballah was showing signs of being in
trouble.
Local Hizballah village commanders signaled repeated appeals for more
manpower and ammunition and, most significantly, Hizballah’s shadowy
special operations chief, the long-wanted Imad Mughniyeh, was hurriedly
appointed commander of the southern front as a last resort to save South
Lebanon.
DEBKAfile’s military and counter-terror sources maintain that this
appointment raises the conflict to a new and dangerous level. Mughniyeh is
important enough to take orders from no-one but Iran’s supreme ruler,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Therefore, placing Mughniyeh at the head of
Hizballah forces in South Lebanon brings prime minister Olmert
Page 10 of 13
uncomfortably close to facing Iran’s supreme leader.

In two deadly attacks Sunday, Hizballah rockets killed 15 Israelis

7 August: Twelve Israeli army reservists died, 13 were injured, as they
unloaded trucks outside Kibbutz Kfar Gileadi near Kiryat Shemona. Most of
the 260 rockets fired Sunday were directed against the Kiryat Shemona
region of the Galilee panhandle in the east.
Eight hours later, 3 Israelis were killed, 189 were wounded, in a second
heavy Hizballah rocket attack which focused on Haifa in the west. Six
residential blocks were hit in different parts of Israel’s third largest city as
well as the port area. Seven rockets started fires in Nahariya in the west.

Hizballah’s rocket offensive against Israel is orchestrated from a rear
command located in the Syrian town of Anjar

7 August: While Israeli officials insist that Syria must be kept out of the
conflict, the Assad regime is already in it up to their ears.
The command which coordinates the pace of those attacks is located at the
Anjar base of the Syrian Army’s 10th Division opposite the Lebanese town of
Az Zabdani. It is manned by Iranian and Hizballah officers, who take their
orders from a Syrian military intelligence center in Damascus to which
Iranian Revolutionary Guards intelligence officers are attached. It is headed
by a general from one of Syria’s surface missile brigades. This joint
command is provided with the most up-to-date intelligence and electronic
data available to Syria on targets in Israel and IDF movements. The timing
and tempo of Hizballah rocket strikes are set according to that information.
They keep Hizballah supplied with rockets through smuggling rings using
mules and donkeys to slip across the mountain frontier.
A senior Israeli officer told DEBKAfile: We can go on bombing Lebanon for
many weeks, but that will not stop the rockets.

Lebanon Hostilities Are Nowhere Near a UN-initiated Cessation

8 August: Tuesday night, Aug. 8, the UN Security Council was to begin
discussing a resolution drafted by the US and France calling for a full
cessation of hostilities based on the immediate halt of all Hizballah’s attacks
and immediate end of all Israeli offensive military operations.
A second resolution, the second half of the US-French effort to resolve the
Middle East crisis by diplomacy, would set out a mandate for an international
force to be sent out to Lebanon.
An Arab League delegation arrived at the UN in time to overshadow the
deliberations with a strong representation of the Lebanese position, which
insists on an Israel’s withdrawal after a ceasefire starts.
France pushed for two changes in the original text to address the Arab-
Lebanese demands.
If the French-Arab-Lebanese initiative is allowed to proceed according to
plan, DEBKAfile’s analysts foresee a serious erosion of the original draft
which named Hizballah as the cause of the crisis.
The emerging text would deploy a token Lebanese force backed by an
expanded UNIFIL contingent and French troops in southern Lebanon after
Israel withdraws.
Hizballah will face a corresponding demand to pull its forces out of South
Lebanon. But it will be understood in private exchanges that they will leave
only after Israel cedes to international control the disputed Shebaa Farms. In
the interim, Hizballah fighters will stay put with the status of “civilian
residents.”
If this plan goes through, the Olmert government will come out of a painful
Page 11 of 13
and devastating war without achieving any of its objectives. Hizballah will
have suffered a beating without being broken or bowed. The IDF will not
have repaired its deterrent strength, and Hizballah, rather than Israel, will be
seen - at least by Arab opinion - as having come out on top. A ransom in the
coin of a prisoner exchange will be paid for the Israeli hostages. It is hard to
see any force capable or willing to make Nasrallah pull his troops out of
South Lebanon or disarm after the Israeli army failed.
Financial assistance will flood into Lebanon to repair the damage caused by
Israeli bombardments; Israel will have to foot its own bill for the destruction
wrought by Hizballah to one third of the country and the ruin of its economy.
Of course, Israel is still free to accept or reject these terms.

Israel’s security ministers approve widening of military ground
operation in Lebanon up to the Litani River and beyond

9 August: The decision Wednesday by 9 votes, none against and 3
abstentions, limits the expanded operation in time to 14 days and includes
areas as far north of the border as the Nabatea plateau and Arnoun past the
Litani River.
The objective of the extension is to reach rocket-launch centers. It deepens
Israel`s thrust to some 45 km from the border and calls for a further large
influx of army reserves.
DEBKAfile’s military sources add the extended operation does not promise
the total stoppage of all rocket fire against Israel, but could potentially bring
about a sizeable reduction from up to 200 a day to some 30 or 50.
The ministers who abstained were Dep. PM Shimon Peres, Labor’s Ofer
Pines and Shas leader Eli Yishai.
Wednesday Israeli forces sustained high casualties from major Hizballah
onslaught of anti-tank missiles in heavy clashes at Ayta a-Chaab and Debel.
Israeli special forces are already fighting in the Qantara region east of the
Litani. Despite massive Israeli aerial strikes and ground operations in the
Tyre region in the west, Hizballah fired a series of long-range Khaibar-1
missiles from there which reached Haifa, Beit Shean, Afula, Zichron Yaacov
and Jenin.

Lebanese PM rejects multinational force for South Lebanon in latest
setback for diplomatic effort

9 August: Fouad Siniora told visiting US state department official David
Welch Wednesday that only a Lebanese force backed by UNIFIL would be
acceptable.
French president Jacques Chirac stressed in a broadcast statement that any
ceasefire formula must embody two essential principles: full Lebanese
sovereignty over all its territory and Israel’s right to security.

Hassan Nasrallah says he forbade Lebanese PM Siniora to give an inch
on a multinational force

9 August: In a recorded TV statement, Wednesday night, the Hizballah
leader said he is ready to fight Israel on the Litani River.

Israel lost 15 soldiers dead, 34 injured Wednesday in four clashes with
Hizballah in S. Lebanon. Nine belonged to special operations units

9 August: This was the highest number of Israeli war losses in one day in
thirty days of combat against Hizballah.

Eight Palestinian kidnap plots and 20 suicide bombing attempts against

Page 12 of 13

Israel foiled in month-long Lebanon war

9 August: Their main destinations were Tel Aviv, Rehovoth and Bnei Berak.
DEBKAfile: Violent Palestinian groups were instructed to step up their
terrorist action to support the Hizballah war against Israel.
9 August: DEBKAfile: Violent Palestinian groups were instructed to step up
their terrorist action to support the Hizballah war against Israel. Their main
destinations were Tel Aviv, Rehovoth and Bnei Berak.

Israeli forces face heavy resistance Thursday at al Khiam and Marjayun
on the east bank of the Litani River

10 August: DEBKAfile’s military sources report: While officially the
expanded Israeli ground offensive up to the Litani River and beyond was put
on hold for 48 hours Thursday to allow diplomacy to kick in, the massive
influx of men and tanks were already on the move Wednesday. Their
missions are as defined by the security cabinet Wednesday are to seek out and
destroy rocket sites, take out the estimated 2,500-3,000 Hizballah fighting
men in the south and seize control of the Nabatea and Arnoun plains north of
the Litani.
The Israeli force is advancing in four columns, spearheaded by special forces
units and covered by exceptionally heavy artillery fire. Aerial bombardments
are striking Hizballah positions in their path.
DEBKAfile further reveals that the supreme commander of this widened
offensive is Maj.-General Benny Gantz, commander of the IDF’s land forces.
The ground offensive is pushing forward so that if diplomacy takes hold and
a ceasefire is declared, Israel will have attained a good portion of its war
objectives.

Page 13 of 13

Casey

08-24-2006, 08:36 AM

Aug 25, 2006

Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah look to make up
By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - Hezbollah has emerged as the new champion of the jihadist world, eclipsing even al-Qaeda as it battled the might of the US-backed-and-supplied Israel Defense Forces.

Shi'ite Hezbollah's newfound international popularity is likely in turn to encourage closer ties between it and Salafi-dominated al-Qaeda, which had fallen in Hezbollah's esteem for its targeting of

Shi'ites in Iraq.

An Iranian intelligence official explained to Asia Times Online, "There have been some contacts between Hezbollah and al-Qaeda in the past, but those contacts were at the individual level. The two organizations never spoke to each other officially. Neither did they exchange any official delegations.

"However, nobody can deny that individuals of both organizations carried out operations jointly. And as the situation is emerging, there are chances that any time soon the two organizations will be compelled to interact officially."

This is confirmed by a Pakistani intelligence source who is part of an international intelligence cartel investigating regional arms markets.

He told Asia Times Online, "There are so many common interests between the two organizations that it is impossible that bitterness about Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's role against Shi'ites [in Iraq] will continue to be an irritant between Hezbollah and al-Qaeda.

"There is a big arms black market in Central Asia, and Iraqi Kurdistan is the main route [through which] goods are smuggled into Afghanistan and into Syria and then Lebanon. Both Hezbollah and al-Qaeda have been dealing in the same markets, and many times with the same dealers.

"However, this is not the only thing. The channels of money transfers are the same. International financial investigators have tracked al-Qaeda's financial arteries from South Africa through diamond traders. All these diamond traders come from Nabatiyeh [southern Lebanon] - they are Shi'ites and indirectly linked with Hezbollah," the intelligence officer said.

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has in the past made extensive capital out of the plight of south Lebanon, pinning much of his anti-American rhetoric on US-backed Israeli actions there.

A Hezbollah fighter who called himself Nidal told this correspondent recently in the Baalbek region of south Lebanon, "Osama always referred to the Israeli bombing of a UN building in Qana in the mid-1990s. He called the incident his inspiration for his hatred against the US, as the Americans backed the Israeli attack. So we were surprised when Osama was tight-lipped when the Taliban killed Shi'ites [of the Hazara sect] in Afghanistan, and then Abu Musab al-Zarqawi declared war on Shi'ites in Iraq."

Nidal was referring to the Qana incident of 1996 in which Lebanese women and children were killed and bin Laden used the incident to justify calls to take revenge against the "Zionist-American alliance".

British journalist Robert Fisk recalled in an article in 2002, "When I last saw bin Laden, he was still obsessed with the Israeli massacre of 107 Lebanese refugees sheltering at the UN camp at Qana in April 1996. Israel claimed it was a 'mistake', the UN conceded otherwise and president Clinton called it only a 'tragedy' - as if it was a natural disaster. 'It was,' said bin Laden, an act of 'international terrorism'. 'There must be justice,' he said, and 'trials for the Israeli perpetrators.'"

While the perception on the streets of Lebanon and Syria might be that al-Qaeda, the flag-bearer of anti-Americanism, is anti-Shi'ite, this has never been the case.

[B]Al-Qaeda has always wanted to cooperate with organizations such as Hezbollah, but its efforts at extending its international reach were curtailed after it lost its sanctuary in Afghanistan in 2001 and its leaders, including bin Laden and his deputy, Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri, were forced to lie low in the border areas with Pakistan. In effect, they were cut off from the rest of the world, as well as from their organization.

Then came the Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas of South and North Waziristan from 2003 to 2005 to root out al-Qaeda fugitives. This gave rise to the takfiri faction in al-Qaeda, which took advantage of the leadership and ideological vacuum to make its mark.

Sheikh Essa is an example. He is an Egyptian and longtime takfiri (one of those who believe all non-practicing Muslims are infidels). Though he is respected for his convictions and his knowledge on religion, he had had nothing to do with al-Qaeda's tactical affairs.

He seized the initiative, and along with Mustafa Seth Marium al-Suri began to to propagate his takfiri ideas against Shi'ites. They found a soulmate in Zarqawi, who like them had never been a part of the al-Qaeda command. Zarqawi took charge of affairs in Iraq and began to foment civil war by attacking Shi'ites.

Once the military operations in Waziristan eased and bin Laden and Zawahiri were able to reconnect with their men throughout the world, they moved quickly to rein in Zarqawi and try to re-establish harmony among Shi'ites and Sunnis in Iraq to fight against the Americans. Zarqawi's killing at the hands of US forces in June was therefore a blessing in disguise for bin Laden, although sectarian strife might already have reached the point of no return.

With regard to Hezbollah, though, it is certainly not too late for al-Qaeda to mend fences and improve ties, given their similar illicit arms and financial needs, as well as the perfect public relations that US-backed efforts in south Lebanon give bin Laden and the al-Qaeda propaganda machine.

Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He can be reached at saleem_shahzad2002@yahoo.com.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH25Ak01.html

Petronas

08-28-2006, 04:51 PM

The Man in Nasrallah's Shadow: A Profile of Sheikh Naim Qasim
08/22/2006
By Sami Moubayed (from Terrorism Focus, August 22)

Sheikh Naim Qasim, the deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, is one of the most interesting politicians in Lebanon. He is also one of the most under-covered by the Western media because he remains overshadowed by the towering influence of his boss, the charismatic 46-year-old Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. Yet the life and career of the number two man in Hezbollah is important since he is the leader who would likely lead the controversial party if Nasrallah were to step down or get killed by Israel. Sheikh Naim Qasim was born in the Basta district of Beirut, a predominantly Sunni neighborhood, in 1953. He was originally from the village of Kafar Vila in South Lebanon. His father had come to Beirut as a young boy, searching for a better life like so many Shiites of his generation, working at his uncle's bakery in the Lebanese capital. The Shiites at the time were overwhelmingly poor, underrepresented in the Lebanese parliament and their areas were greatly underdeveloped.

When Qasim was born, his father was working as a taxi driver in Beirut. Qasim recalled that his father would start his work day at 6 am and remain behind the wheel until 8 pm, struggling to earn a living for the young Qasim, his three brothers and one sister. Honest and reliable, the father transported money and goods to customers around Lebanon, earning enough money to buy a house in the Msaytbeh neighborhood, which the family moved to when Qasim was 14. Qasim's father was illiterate but insisted that his son receive a proper education to compensate for the lack of schooling in his own childhood. At school he excelled in French and chemistry. The young Qasim then studied at the Department of Education at the state-run Lebanese University (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005).

While still in school, Qasim became interested in religion and Islamic studies. No member of his immediate family was a cleric. At a young age, Qasim went to the local mosque during Ramadan where he was influenced by the clerics of the Shiite community. He began doing his own research into scholarly Islam and journeyed to different parts of Lebanon to attend lectures and read about Shiite history. By 1983, Qasim had decided to wear the turban of Shiite Islam. He was 30 years old. This decision, he recalled many years later, was a "revolution" in his life. He added, "many things changed [after I became a cleric], such as the way of life, the nature of relationships and the degree of social interaction. There are many restraints that come with the turban" (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005). When asked what he would do if all the restrictions that came with his political and religious office were suddenly lifted, he immediately replied: "I would walk in the streets," claiming that since 1992 this is something he has been deprived of doing at will due to the security restrictions of his job in Hezbollah (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005).

When the Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, Qasim joined the Amal movement of the Iranian-born cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr. He became active in student politics while studying at Lebanese University and rose among party ranks, becoming "deputy officer" of ideology and culture in Amal (http://www.naimkassem.org). He parted from Amal after the "disappearance" of the party founder Musa al-Sadr in 1978 and devoted his time to research and deeper understanding of Islam. When former members of Amal founded Hezbollah in the early 1980s, Qasim joined their ranks but did not become an active member until 1989. Under the first secretary-general of Hezbollah, Sheikh Subhi al-Tufayli, Qasim became deputy president of the Executive Council. When Abbas al-Musawi became secretary-general, Qasim was chosen as his number two man. Six months later, however, al-Musawi was assassinated by the Israelis and Hassan Nasrallah (only 32 years old at the time) replaced him as secretary-general. The decision to bypass Qasim and choose Nasrallah, who was seven-years his junior and less experienced in political affairs, remains a topic of controversy until the present. It is believed that this was the doing of the Grand Ayatollah Ali Akbar Khamenei due to Nasrallah's connections to Tehran. Qasim, on the other hand, is not as well connected to Iran, although he is allied to the Islamic regime there.

Currently, in addition to his political office, Qasim is the media man for Hezbollah. He is also dubbed the "Hezbollah intellectual" for the numerous books and articles that he has authored, in addition to the interviews and seminars that he gives (al-Arabiya, August 4, 2004). Qasim says that he did not start writing until 2001. Before that he had lectured extensively but never had the time to devote himself to composition (al-Arabiya, August 4, 2004). His first book was a collection of 10 lectures he had given on Imam Ali, the fourth grand caliph of Islam. Recently, he wrote a book about Hezbollah in Arabic, and in 2004 it was translated into English and published by Saki Books in London. He then wrote a book about the holy Shiite ceremony of Ashura, following it with a book on good manners, and is currently writing a book on "how to strengthen one's will power" (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005). He confesses that he reads a lot of books on education and psychology, but prefers to read politics from newspapers and other media outlets, unlike Nasrallah, who repeatedly said that he spends his free time reading political books authored by the Israelis, mainly the biographies and autobiographies of the political and military leaders of Israel (Ya Lesarat Ol-Hoseyn, August 10).

With regard to his personal life, Qasim says that all of his children are religious but none are considering a religious career, except his youngest son, who is 15 years old. He adds that he will not influence his son's choice of lifestyle or career, saying that his son must navigate his life on his own (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005). At the signing ceremony of one of his books, Qasim thanked his wife for her support, something that raised eyebrows within religious establishments as uncommon for a turbaned cleric. Qasim commented on the matter saying that "I support the rights of women" claiming that women's rights are a must in proper Islam. He adds, "She is not a slave. She is not only there for delivering children. She is a human being in every sense of the word. She has full rights" (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005). In his own words, his wife is "educated and intellectual," proudly saying that she used to lecture on various matters and was very active in public life but had to limit her public activities in order to raise their children. When asked about friends he commented: "Nobody lives without friends" (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005). He lamented not having time to see his friends regularly or to spend quality time with them, due to the amount of time his work consumes, pointing out that even when he wants to see his mother, he has to fix an appointment with her in advance.

Looking back at his career, Qasim says: "I feel that I can no longer differentiate between myself and the party. The crossovers are very strong. I cannot imagine myself without Hezbollah" (al-Rajul, March 1, 2005).

[I]Dr. Sami Moubayed is a Syrian writer and political analyst. He is the author of many books on Syria including Steel & Silk: Men and Women Who Shaped Syria 1900-2000 (Cune Press 2005).

http://jamestown.org/news_details.php?news_id=196

The 801

08-29-2006, 05:48 PM

First wave of arrests inside Hizballah of suspected informers to Israeli intelligence

No commissions of inquiry for Hassan Nasrallah. Our exclusive sources learn that Hizballah’ special security service has begun rounding up suspects in the northern Beqaa Valley, Baalbek and South Lebanon of members and others suspected of tipping off Israel intelligence on the location of the storehouse holding the heavy Zelzal missiles.

Those missiles, no more than three or four, were held in reserve as Hizballah’s most devastating strategic weapon against Israel, capable of hitting Tel Aviv.

Monday, Aug. 28, prime minister Ehud Olmert revealed for the first time that the Israeli air force destroyed those missiles in the first 34 minutes of the Lebanon war on July 12. Nasrallah needs urgently to find the leak through which the missiles’ place of storage and very existence, one of Hizballah’s most tightly kept secrets known only to very few top leaders of the organization, reached Israel.

The first arrests were made among people living in the vicinity of the missile cache.

More arrests have been carried out in the Shiite communities who live near or are connected with the Hizballah intelligence and secret command centers in Baalbek, which were targeted by Israeli air strikes and commando forays.

DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources reveal that Hizballah’s special security apparatus is focusing on two lines of inquiry:

1. Israel’s Aug. 1 commando raid on the Deir al Hikhma hospital in Baalbek.

2. The series of Israeli incursions in the course of the war in the hills northwest of Baalbek, where Hizballah’s main command center, including its intelligence headquarters, are hidden underground in well fortified quarters – and are still in place.

Debka

Petronas

09-01-2006, 03:05 PM

Hizbullah: We're arming for second round
08.30.06, 18:31

Hizbullah representative in Iran Muhammad Abdullah Sif al-Din, said Wednesday that Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah has a new strategic plan to rearm ahead of the "next round against Israel ." In an interview with the Iranian news agency Fars, al-Din said: "No one can promise us that Israel won't attack again. Whoever lives as a neighbor to the Zionist regime is in danger and must not save any effort to obtain all of the means to defend himself. We are convinced that there still danger and the situation has not yet been solved. We must, all the time, prepare ourselves for self-defense and to plan for the next stage."

During an interview, al-Din was asked about Hizbullah's military situation after the war. "Our situation is very good, the Israelis didn't manage to strike Hizbullah's military command and our ability to launch missiles. In the first days we launched 100 missiles and in recent days we fired 350 missiles a day. So we have no problem from a military perspective," he replied.

Unlike Nasrallah, the Hizbullah representative in Iran expressed no regret for kidnapping soldier, the operation which caused the outbreak of the war. "In retrospect, if Israel would have attacked again and we had to defend ourselves, we could have done it again and with great vigor," he said.

Regarding UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701, calling for, among others, the disarmament of Hizbullah, Sif Al-Din said that his organization had no intention of disarming, as the issue was an internal Lebanese one. ...

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3297797,00.html

Petronas

09-03-2006, 09:09 PM

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7050/620/1600/hezbollah%20venezuela3.png

Chávez joins the terrorists: his path to martyrdom
By Gustavo Coronel
September 2, 2006

On the Venezuelan side of the Guajira Peninsula, a territory shared with Colombia, the members of the tribe of the Wayuu walk across political boundaries without restrain. They were there before Venezuela and Colombia existed and they think of themselves as a nation. Recently a disturbing group has appeared, as alien visitors, in their desert landscape: Hezbollah. The Islamic fanatics of Hezbollah are rapidly infiltrating the tribe of the Wayuu. They are indoctrinating the members of this tribe, to convert them into Islamic fanatics in charge of disseminating the terrorist message that has already created chaos, death and misery in the Middle East. The Hezbollah group invading Venezuela is doing its work openly in the Venezuelan side of the Guajira Peninsula. They are disseminating, via Internet, a strategy "to change Venezuela," including:

Total destruction "of the sex industry" (whatever that means),
Attacking the upper classes, "who are the most corrupt," all white-collar criminals and continuing the cleaning downwards,
Attacking corruption in government (not such a bad idea) and in the masses, both civilians and military,
Attacking false idols and satanic cults, as defined by them.

The logo adorning the main page and document is an AK-47 rifle. The propaganda appearing on the Web presence of the Venezuelan subsidiary of Hezbollah talks about installing the kingdom of God in Venezuela by imposing a military-theocratic type of government, an explosive mixture similar to what already exists in Iran. It claims: "The brief enjoyment of life on earth is selfish. The other life is better for those who follow Allah." Where have we heard this before? In the leaflets that encourage the suicide missions of children and teenagers in Palestine.

Is the Venezuelan Hezbollah for real or is just the product of pranksters with a macabre sense of humor? Available photographs suggest they are for real. This ghoulish presence in Venezuelan territory certainly deserves an immediate investigation and decisive action, if true, to eradicate such a horrible pest from our country. The problem is that Chávez is supporting Hezbollah in the Middle East and will most probably support their criminal work in Venezuela. Would the U.N. or the OAS take note? ...

http://venezuelatoday.net/gustavo-coronel/hezbollah+venezuela_hugo-chavez_syria-iran_wmd+terrorism.html

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2006/09/hezbollah-is-working-openly-in.html

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7050/620/1600/hezbollah%20venezuela2.1.jpg

Petronas

09-11-2006, 09:20 AM

Hezbollah: We could have up to 70,000 rockets left in arsenal
10/09/2006

Hezbollah could have tens of thousands of rockets still left in its arsenal, the group's deputy leader Naim Qassam said in an interview published Sunday in a London-based Arabic-language newspaper. Qassam said that the reconstruction of Hezbollah's military wing was not a top priority as the group still had a plentiful supply of weapons.

"We had the option to confront Israel for many months," he said. "The 8,000 missiles that we fired at Israel could be a quarter or even just 10 percent of the rockets we have." The group is now contemplating how best to move ahead following the deployment of Lebanese soldiers and United Nations troops in the south of the country, Qassam said. He said that Hezbollah has yet to decide on its policy toward Israel if it does not pull out of the Shaba Farms, but indicated the group would not give up its "right to resistance."

He stressed that Hezbollah has no plans to strike American targets and said that the resistance to Israel would be carried out only on Lebanese soil, not "all around the world."

Qassam also repeated the previous declarations by Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, that the group had scored an historic victory against Israel. "After the war, there was great destruction in Lebanon, but the decision to go to war was an Israeli-American one, with the declared aim of breaking Hezbollah. This aim was not ultimately achieved and in that we see an historic victory," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/760878.html

Petronas

09-14-2006, 12:40 AM

Amnesty International report: Hezbollah guilty of war crimes
14/09/2006

Amnesty International has accused Hezbollah of "serious violations of international humanitarian law, amounting to war crimes" during the recent Lebanese war. In a report published in London Thursday, the human rights group condemned the "deliberate targeting" of Israeli civilians by Hezbollah. The report states that 43 civilians, including seven children, were killed in these Hezbollah attacks.

In meetings with Amnesty International, Hezbollah had argued that its rocket attacks on northern Israel were a reprisal for Israeli attacks on civilians in Lebanon and were aimed at stopping such attacks. In its report Amnesty rejects the Hezbollah claim by pointing out that international law forbids the targeting of civilians and reprisals.

During the month-long conflict, Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets into northern Israel, killing 43 civilians, seriously injuring 33 others and forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to take refuge in shelters or flee, the report said. Approximately a quarter of all rockets were fired directly into urban areas, including rockets packed with thousands of metal ball bearings.

"The scale of Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli cities, towns and villages, the indiscriminate nature of the weapons used, and statements from the leadership confirming their intent to target civilians make it all too clear that Hezbollah violated the laws of war," Amnesty International's Secretary General Irene Khan said in a comment on the report. "The fact that Israel has also committed serious violations in no way justifies violations by Hezbollah. Civilians must not be made to pay the price for unlawful conduct on either side." ...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/762447.html

Petronas

09-23-2006, 11:54 PM

Hizbollah still has 20,000 rockets, Nasrallah tells 300,000 at rally
23/09/2006

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbollah's leader, made his first public appearance since the war with Israel yesterday, and threatened to break Lebanon's political system. More than 300,000 supporters filled a square in Beirut's southern suburbs to hear Mr Nasrallah claim that the group had survived intense Israeli bombardment and retained an arsenal of rockets.

"The resistance today — pay attention — has more than 20,000 rockets," he declared. "[It] has recovered all its organisational and military capabilities. It is stronger than it was before July 12 [the start of the conflict]." ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=N511SIZOFJHLRQFIQMGCFF4AVCBQ UIV0?xml=/news/2006/09/23/wleb23.xml

Petronas

09-28-2006, 10:59 AM

Hizbullah moving rockets to Palestinian camps
09.26.06, 07:49

Hizbullah has been transporting rockets and heavy weaponry to Palestinian camps in south Lebanon just a few miles from the Israeli border, according to Lebanese officials.

The officials told WND the office of Lebanese Prime Minister Faud Sinora sent a letter last week to Abbas Zakir, the Palestinian Authority's most senior representative in Lebanon, outlining the alleged Hizbullah weapons transfers into Palestinian camps. The letter noted "unusual activity" in and near the Palestinian camps, including the coming and going of trucks suspected of carrying weapons.

Palestinian groups, including Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, maintain armed bases in Lebanon, mostly in the al-Naemeh province just south of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley, near Lebanon's border with Syria and Israel. Fatah is the party of PA President Mahmoud Abbas. The reports follow a WND article last month quoting Lebanese officials claiming Hizbullah, with the help of Iran, started building underground war bunkers in Lebanon's Palestinian camps.

During its 34-day confrontation with Hizbullah in Lebanon that began July 12, Israel destroyed scores of complex Hizbullah bunkers that snaked along the Lebanese side of the Israel-Lebanon border. Military officials said they were surprised by the scale of the Hizbullah bunkers, in which Israeli troops reportedly found war rooms with advanced eavesdropping and surveillance equipment they noted were made by Iran.

A senior Lebanese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told WND Hizbullah started building a new set of bunker systems, this time in Palestinian refugee camps. "The Lebanese Army doesn't have the authority to patrol inside the camps," said the official. "Hizbullah knows it is safe there to rebuild their war bunkers, and they began doing so with Iranian help."

A second Lebanese official confirmed the information, which came one day after Israel's Army Radio reported Hizbullah was seen by the Israeli army dismantling 14 outposts near the border with Israel, removing rockets and equipment for transport.

According to Army Radio, Hizbullah members blocked entry to their outposts using bulldozers. Trucks then removed weapons and other munitions from the area. Vehicles also reportedly cleared furniture and equipment from the outposts.

The Lebanese Army and a contingent of several thousand international troops have deployed in South Lebanon. None of the forces are authorized to enter Palestinian refugee camps. The Lebanese government has stated its army will not confront Hizbullah or work to disarm the group. An agreement reached with Hizbullah last month allows the Lebanese militia to retain its weapons as long as it doesn't display the arms in public.

The agreement is in violation of the UN ceasefire resolution that ended confrontations initiated when Hizbullah ambushed an Israeli patrol unit, kidnapping two soldiers and killing eight others. The resolution calls for the eventual disarming of Hizbullah.

During a Hizbullah "victory" parade in south Beirut last Friday, the group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, declared Hizbullah possesses more than 20,0000 rockets aimed at Israel and pledged his group will quickly reestablish militant bases in Lebanon. Making his first public appearance since the war started, Nasrallah drew loud applause from the crowd when he vowed: "We will rehabilitate the force and bases within a short period of time. The resistance today is stronger than it was on July 12," Nasrallah said. "He who wants to weaken us is miscalculating."

Israeli security officials did not deny Nasrallah's claims of continuing to maintain a large rocket arsenal. An official pointed to a volley of 240 rockets fired by Hizbullah one day before last month's cease-fire was imposed, the largest number the group had launched in a 24-hour period. One Israeli civilian was killed in the attacks; 26 others were injured. "The message sent is that Hizbullah absolutely maintains the capability of firing hundreds of rockets per day into Israel," commented the official. "Wasn't one of the (Israeli) military campaign's main goals to eliminate the rocket threat?"

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3308105,00.html

Casey

10-27-2006, 05:20 PM

More in the Saudi Arabia thread:
http://wincoast.com/forum/showthread.php?p=854942#post854942

"Hezbollah" support the Shiite uprising in Bahrain
الوطن العربي ـ 27/9/2006Arab World September 27, 2006

منذ الاشتباك الذي جرى بين حزب الله وإسرائيل بين 12 يوليو "تموز" و 14 أغسطس "آب" 2006 والحديث لا ينقطع عن الصعود الشيعي، واحتمالات الفتنة بين السنة والشيعة في المنطقة بتحريض من الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية بهدف السيطرة بعد التمكن!، وفي البحرين على سبيل المثال لم يتوقف أمر الشيعة فيها على تأييد حزب الله أو الدعوة لمقاتلة إسرائيل، بل تجاوز الأمر ذلك إلى مظاهر استعراض القوة وتحسين نتائج الدخول في مواجهة مع السلطة السُنية الحاكمة، والمثير في الأمر أن حزب الله اللبناني أراد أن يرد جميل شيعة البحرين نظير مساندتهم له فأرسل يشد أزرهم ويدعم انتفاضتهم في وجهة النظام محددا لهم المنهج الذي ينبغي أن يسيروا عليه تحقيقاً لهدف الاستقواء واستحواذ مواقع قيادية ومؤثرة في المجتمع.

Since the clash, which took place between Hezbollah and Israel, between July 12, "July", August 14, "August" in 2006, she did not talk to ascend the Shiite and the prospects for sedition between Sunnis and Shiites in the region instigation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to be able to control yet! In Bahrain, for example, is not dependent on the support of the Shiite Hezbollah or call to fight Israel but beyond the matter to the manifestation of force and improve the results of entering into a confrontation with the Sunni ruling, The exciting thing is that the Lebanese Hezbollah wants to Bahrain is a beautiful Shiites have sent their support for tightening the morale and support the Intifada against Israeli occupation forces in a system specific to the curriculum, which should be tread upon realizing the goal of owning strength and leadership positions and influence in society.

من المؤكد أن النجاح في نقطة يغري بالانتقال إلى أخرى لتحقيق المزيد، هذه قاعدة عامة تصدق على الشأن الشخصي كما تطبق في المنحى السياسي العام، وهذا ما فعلته إيران ومن يوالونها في المنطقة، فمنذ العام 2001 واللعبة ناجحة تغري بمزيد من التكرار لحصد الكثير من المغانم، فقد تدخلت إيران في أفغانستان ثم العراق وتعاونت مع الولايات المتحدة في حربها ضد هذين البلدين مستعملة الشيعة الأفغان والشيعة العراقيين، وكسب الملالي من ذلك التعاون وتخلصوا من نظامي طالبان وصدام المعاديين لهم وللشيعة، وحاليا فإن الشيعة بأفغانستان يقيمون دويلة شبه مستقلة في الوسط، وكذلك شيعة العراق الذين تسلموا السلطة في البلاد!، والآن تحاول إيران عن طريق شيعة لبنان تكرار النموذج ليصبح الثالث للتدخل الإيراني من خلال المجموعات الشيعية في المنطقة لتحقيق مشروعها الاستراتيجي الذي هو حتى الآن مشروع سياسي تستخدم في سبيل تحقيقه كل الأوراق المتاحة حتى ولو كانوا من السنة أيضا مثل حركة حماس الفلسطينية.

Sure enough, the success at the point of temptation to move to the other to achieve more, this general rule ratify the personal regard as applied in the general political trend, This is what Iran did Iwalonha in the region, Since 2001, and the game successful entice more repetition to reap much of the spoils. Iran has intervened in Afghanistan and then Iraq and cooperated with the United States in its war against these countries used Afghan Shiites and Iraqi Shiites, and winning the mullahs of cooperation and disposed of both the Taliban and Saddam antagonists themselves and the Shiites, Currently, the Shiites residing in Afghanistan semi-independent state in the middle, , as well as Iraqi Shiites who have assumed power in the country! and now trying to Iran through the Shiites of Lebanon repetition of the model to third for interference through Iranian Shiite groups in the region to achieve its strategic, which is so far a political project used to achieve all the cards available, even if they were part of the year as well, such as the Palestinian Hamas movement.

البحرين ..Bahrain. الرابعةFour
وفي إطار السعي الإيراني الدؤوب لتطبيق نموذجها يتوقع المراقبون أن تكون البحرين الدولة التالية لتزكية التحرك الشيعي داخلها فهي دولة خليجية صغيرة في مساحتها، كبيرة في أحداثها ويلعب الوجود الشيعي فيها دوراً خطيراً في رسم الأحداث التي تدور في هذه الجزيرة، فقد لعبت قضية "الأكثرية" الشيعية دوراً في أعمال العنف التي بلغت حد المطالبة بإلغاء النظام الملكي واقتفاء النموذج الإيراني، كل ذلك تم بفعل انتشار مقولة "الأكثرية" وتروجيها لأغراض سياسية واضحة، حيث دأب الشيعة على رفع نسبتهم في جميع البلدان التي يقيمون فيها لأسباب سياسية لا تخفى على أحد، ومن تلك الدول البحرين التي بالغ البعض بالقول بأن الشيعة العرب منهم ذوو الأصول الإيرانية يشكلون 60 إلى 65% من إجمالي عدد السكان!.

In seeking Iranian hard for the application model observers expect that the State of Bahrain following the endorsement of the Shiite moves inside is a small Gulf state in the area, significant events in the Shiite presence and play a role in drawing serious events that have taken place in this island, they have played the "majority" Shiite role in the violence that the extent of calling for the abolition of the monarchy, tracing the Iranian model, all of this has been due to the proliferation argument of the "majority" and Trujiha for obvious political purposes, as has been to raise the proportion of Shiites in all countries in which they reside for political reasons that are no secret to anyone. Among these countries is Bahrain, which is extremely some saying that the Shiites are Arabs with the Iranian assets constitute 60 to 65% of the total population!.

وقد جاء في تقرير مركز ابن خلدون المصري حول الأقليات لسنة 1993 أن سكان البحرين ينقسمون إلى ثلاث مجموعات، العرب الشيعة ونسبتهم 45% من مجموع السكان، والعرب السنة ونسبتهم كذلك 45% أما الإيرانيون فنسبتهم 8%، وثلثهم من السنة والثلثان من الشيعة، وبذلك يصل الشيعة العرب والإيرانيون إلى حوالي 52%، أما السنة العرب والإيرانيون البلوش فنسبتهم 48%، إلا أن تقرير ابن خلدون ذاته الصادر سنة 1999 فقد رفع نسبة الشيعة في البحرين إلى حوالي 70% وهي نسبة غير واقعية ومنافية للواقع السكاني في البحرين، ولم يذكر التقرير الأسس التي استند عليها لرفع نسبة الشيعة من 52% إلى 70% خلال 6 سنوات، على الرغم من أنه لم يحصل ما يدعو إلى ارتفاع النسبة بهذا الشكل وخلال هذه الفترة القصيرة، سوى ما عزاه التقرير إلى أن الشيعة معظمهم ريفيون يكثر عندهم الإنجاب وتعدد الزوجات، وبالرغم من صحة هذا الأمر الذي يتم بدعم وتشجيع القيادات الطائفية مع التكفل بالمصاريف اللازمة وذلك من أموال الخمس!، وقد نقل د.

The report of the Ibn Khaldoun Center for the Egyptian on minorities in 1993 that the population of Bahrain divided into three groups. Arabs and Shiites represent 45% of the total population, The Sunni Arabs and also accounted for 45% either Iranians their proportion of 8%. one third of the year, and two thirds of the Shiites, Thus, the Shiite Arabs and Iranians to about 52% The Sunni Arabs and Iranians Baluch their proportion of 48%. However, the report of the Ibn Khaldoun of the same in 1999 has increased the Shiites in Bahrain to about 70%, and is unrealistic and contrary to the reality of the population in Bahrain, The report did not mention the foundations on which to raise the proportion of Shiites from 52% to 70% during the six years, although he did not receive the calls to the high percentage of this figure, in such a short period, only attributed to the report, the Shiites mostly rural frequently have a baby, polygamy, Although the authenticity of this, which is to support and promote sectarian leaders with the necessary expense and ensure that funds five! The transfer d.

خالد العزى في كتابه: "الخليج العربي في ماضيه وحاضره" نداءً إلى شعوب وحكومات الدول العربية بغرض اتخاذ كافة السبل لردع خطر التسلل الإيراني في الأرض العربية حتى لا يشكلوا طابورا خامساً ووصف خطر التسلل الإيراني بأنه لا يقل خطورة عن التسلل الصهيوني الذي يعتبر أحد أسباب ضياع فلسطين واغتصابها إذ لا يخفى أن زيادة عدد ا لشيعة في الخليج عامة والبحرين خاصة كان بسبب الهجرة الإيرانية المتزايدة إلى بلدان الخليج أثناء الحكم البريطاني، في ظل غفلة أهلها وتساهل شيوخ الخليج، بل إن بعض الذين زاروا البحرين أو كتبوا عنها في بدايات هذا القرن يذكرون صراحة أن الوجود الشيعي هو وجود أجنبي حيث يقول أمين الريحاني في كتابه "ملوك العرب": إن الجعفريين مثل الهنود يعدون من الأجانب لأنهم إيرانيون أو إيرانيو التبعية.

Khalid Azi in his book : "Arab Gulf in the past and present" appeal to the peoples and governments of Arab States to take all means to deter the threat of Iranian infiltration in the Arab lands they do not pose a fifth column and described Iran as a threat to infiltrate no less dangerous than the Zionist infiltration, which is one of the reasons for the loss of Palestine and rape as no secret that the increase in the number of a for Shiites in the Gulf in general and Bahrain in particular was due to the growing Iranian migration to the Gulf countries during the British rule. in light of the absence of its complacency and Gulf sheiks, but some of those who visited Bahrain or writing about them in the beginning of this century remember explicitly that the Shiite presence is the presence of foreign Alerihani Secretary says in his book "Arab kings" : that Aljafariin such as Indians are foreigners or because they IRANIANS Airanio dependency.

وقد جاءت نتائج الانتخابات البلدية والنيابية سنة 2002، وحصول الشيعة في الأولى على 23 مقعداً من 50 وعلى 13 مقعداً من أصل 40 مقعداً في الثانية، لتعطي صورة تقريبية عن حجم الشيعة في البحرين، فإذا كان حصولهم على أقل من ثلث مقاعد المجلس النيابي بسبب مقاطعة بعض تنظيماتهم للانتخابات يبدو مفهوماً بعض الشيء، فإن حصولهم على أقل من نصف مقاعد البلديات في الانتخابات التي شارك فيها جميع قطاعاتهم تبطل نظرية الأغلبية الكاسحة أو المطلقة، وعند الحديث عن علاقات البحرين بإيران وأثرها على شيعة البحرين نقف عند حقيقتين هامتين هما:

The results of the parliamentary and municipal elections in 2002, and that the Shiites in the first 23 of the 50 seats and 13 seats out of 40 seats in the second, to give a rough picture of the size of the Shiites in Bahrain, If they have less than one third of seats in the parliament due to their organizations boycotting some of the elections seemed somewhat understandable, the access to less than half the seats in municipal elections, in which all segments negate the theory of the overwhelming majority or absolute, When talking about Bahrain's ties with Iran and its impact on the Shiites in Bahrain stand at two important are :

ـ أن إيران بعد ثورة الخميني سنة 1979 أصبحت قبلة الشيعة في العالم، ووضعت نفسها وصية على الطوائف الشيعية في كل مكان، وكذلك الطوائف الشيعية جعلت من إيران نموذجها وقدوتها، وهذا لا يمنع وجود تيارات وهيئات شيعية تعادي إيران أو لا تعترف بولايتها لأسباب ترجع للتنافس على الزعامة مع الخميني بالدرجة الأولى، وهذا هو أيضا سبب انشقاق مجاهدي خلق على الثورة الخمينية وغيرها من التيارات والشخصيات الشيعية، ولم تكن المشاعر الشيعية تجاه إيران محصورة بدولة الخميني، إنما كانت الدولة الصفوية التي حكمت إيران بدءاً من سنة 906هـ (1500م) تمارس الدور ذاته.

Iran after Khomeini revolution in 1979 before becoming the Shiites in the world. A itself the guardian of the Shiite communities everywhere. as well as the Shiite communities of Iran made the model and their positive, This does not preclude the presence of streams and bodies of Shiite antagonize Iran or does not recognize the mandate, due to compete for the leadership with Khomeini first place, This is also the reason for the breakup of MKO on the Khomeini revolution and other trends and the Shiite personalities, There were feelings toward Shiite Iran confined State Khomeini, but the State Safawi movement, which ruled Iran starting in the year 906 e (1500) exercise the same round.
أطماع إيرانيةIranian ambitions

ولقد كانت العلاقات الإيرانية ـ البحرينية مثالاً للتوتر والشكوك في معظم فتراتها، بسبب أطماع إيران في هذه الجزيرة واعتبارها جزءاً من أراضيها، وعدم الاعتراف بجوازات السفر التي كانت تصدرها البحرين، واعتبارها إحدى المحافظات الإيرانية بل واحتسابها من إرث مملكة فارس التي ورثتها إيران اليوم، ومع قدوم الخميني سنة 1979، تبنت إيران مبدأ تصدير الثورة، وهو أن تنشر مذهبها وفكرها بالقوة، واصطدمت بالعراق ودخلت معه في حرب مدمرة استمرت 8 سنوات، وأما دول الخليج العربية فقد نالها من الأذى والتخريب الإيراني الشيء الكثير، وكان الخميني يقول: إن العرب حكموا المسلمين وكذلك الأتراك وحتى الأكراد، فلماذا لا يحكم الفرس وهم أعمق تاريخاً وحضارة من كل هؤلاء؟!، وقد حاول الخميني؛ خلافا لجهود الشاه في ضم البحرين؛ أن ينتفض الشيعة للقضاء على آل خليفة، وكانت الأداة الرئيسة "الجبهة الإسلامية لتحرير البحرين"، وكان من قادتها هادي المدرسي الذي أبعدته السلطات البحرينية، وبعد إبعاده اشتغل ببث التطرف وسط شيعة البحرين وكان له دور في محاولة انقلاب سنة 1981 والذي حدث بعدما أثارت الثورة الإيرانية الشجون في نفوس شيعة البحرين على وجه الخصوص وأثارت فيهم الرغبة بالتبعية للوطن الذي صار قبلة لشيعة العالم، وتجسد ذلك في أعمال العنف والتخريب التي مارسها شيعة الخليج طيلة سنوات الثمانينيات وجزءاً من عقد التسعينيات، حيث باتت أعلام إيران وصور الخميني وخامنئي وأعلام حزب الله اللبناني التابع لإيران مشهداً مألوفاً في أنشطة وتظاهرات شيعة البحرين وتشكلت أولى حركات المعارضة الشيعية في البحرين "الجبهة الإسلامية لتحرير البحرين" في سبتمبر (أيلول) من العام نفسه، ثم تشكلت بعدها كل من "حركة أحرار البحرين الإسلامية" التي تتخذ من لندن مقراً لها، و "حزب الله ـ البحرين" الذي كانت السلطات البحرينية تنظر إليه بوصفه تنظيماً سياسياً شيعياً تابعاً لسلسلة تنظيمات أنصار الثورة الإيرانية في الخارج، وبعد الأحداث الدامية التي اندلعت في سنوات التسعينيات، وكان أشدها سنة 1994 بين الشيعة والسلطات البحرينية، هدأت الأمور سنة 1999 مع استلام الشيخ حمد بن عيسى مقاليد السلطة، ودخلت البحرين مرحلة جديدة فتم تحسين الأوضاع الداخلية والعفو عن المعتقلين السياسيين وإطلاق الحريات، وأخذ الشيعة يستفيدون من الوضع الجديد، ومن ذلك تأسيسهم للجمعيات التي تمارس العمل السياسي، حيث لا يسمح في البحرين بتشكيل الأحزاب وتلعب من خلال هذا الدور ما يسمح بتعظيم وجودها في المجتمع تحينا لساعة الوثوب على السلطة بعد تعبيد الطريق إليها.

Our relations with Iran Bahraini example of the tension and uncertainty in most of its periods, because of Iran's ambitions on the island as part of its territory, not recognizing passports that were issued by Bahrain, and as one of the Iranian provinces and even computed from the legacy of the Kingdom of Fars, which inherited the Iran of today, With the advent of Khomeini in 1979, Iran adopted the principle of exporting revolution. It is to publish its denomination and its thought force, Iraq and collided with him and entered into a devastating war lasted eight years. The Arab Gulf States were awarded from harm and sabotage Iranian much, The Khomeini says : Arabs ruled that the Muslims as well as the Turks and Kurds so, Why not ruled Persians are deeper history and civilization from all of these?, He has tried to Khomeini; Contrary to the efforts of the Shah in the annexation of Bahrain; Shiites to rise up to eliminate Al-Khalifa, The principal vehicle "Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain." One of the leaders Hadi school subsequently the Bahraini authorities, After expelling worked broadcast extremism amid the Shiites of Bahrain and had a role in a coup attempt in 1981 and what happened after the Iranian revolution, raised concerns in the minds of the Shiites of Bahrain, in particular, raised including the desire subservience to the nation, which has become a focus of Shiites around the world, reflected in the acts of violence and sabotage exerted by the Shiites Gulf for years part of the 1980s and the 1990s, where are flags and pictures of Khomeini Iran, Khamenei and Lebanese Hizbollah flags of the Iran scene familiar in the activities and demonstrations Bahrain, the Shiites formed the first movements of the Shiite opposition in Bahrain, "the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain" in September (September) of the same year, then formed after each of the "free movement of Bahrain Islamic" taken from the London-based, , "Hezbollah Bahrain," the Bahraini authorities, who consider him as a Shiite political group organized a series of organizations, the supporters of the Iranian revolution abroad. After the bloody events that erupted in the 1990s, The most 1994 between the Shiites and the Bahraini authorities, things calmed down in 1999 with the receipt of Sheikh Hamad bin Issa power, Bahrain entered a new stage had been improved domestic conditions and amnesty for political prisoners and launching liberties, Shiites and taking advantage of the new situation. For having founded the Red exercising political action. where does not allow the formation of political parties in Bahrain and play through this role is to maximize its presence in the community Thina hours to leapfrog over power after paving the way to it.
دعم حزب اللهSupporting Hezbollah

ويعتقد المراقبون السياسيون أن شيعة البحرين قد استغلوا الانتصارات التي حققها حزب الله اللبناني في مواجهته الأخيرة مع إسرائيل، ثم اصطفاف غالبية البحرينيين وراء تأييده، وحاولوا تجييش الشار لتأييد مشروعهم الاستراتيجي في التمدد والتوسع، وفي المقابل أعطى حزب الله نصائحه إلى قادة الأحزاب الشيعية وبين لهم خريطة الطريق للتحرك وسط الجماهير وكسب تأييدها وضرورة أن يكون خطابها ناعما يجذب إليه حتى هؤلاء المخالفين عقائديا، وفي اجتماع عقد في العاصمة السورية دمشق على مستوى قيادي بين ممثلي حزب الله ومن بينهم الشيخ عكرم بركات وسبع جمعيات بحرينية هي الوفاق ووعد وأمل والوسط العربي الإسلامي والتجمع القومي والمنبر التقدمي وجمعية مقاومة التطبيع مع الكيان الصهيوني تمت مناقشة خطة التحرك المقبل وأسلوب التصعيد السياس ي وأدواته وكيفية استغلال الموقف الوطني والعربي لأهل البحرين وتفاعلهم مع الشعب اللبناني ومقاومته الوطنية بهدف دعم استراتيجية التمدد الشيعية.Political observers believe that the Shiites of Bahrain has taken advantage of the victories achieved by the Lebanese Hezbollah in its confrontation with Israel last, then the majority of Bahrainis, lining up behind him, Shar militarization and tried to support their strategic expansion and expansion, On the other hand, Hezbollah gave advice to the leaders of the Shiite parties and between them the road map for moving amidst masses and gain support and the need to have a message behind it attracts even those offenders ideological, At a meeting held in the Syrian capital of Damascus at the level of leadership among the representatives of Hezbollah, including Sheikh Akram Barakat and seven associations are Bahraini reconciliation and the promise and hope of compromise and Arab and Islamic grouping, the National Progressive Forum and the Association of resisting normalization with the Zionist plan was discussed next move and the way politicians escalation j gear, and how to exploit the national and the Arab people of Bahrain and their interaction with the Lebanese people and the national resistance in order to support expansion strategy Shiite.

وخلال الاجتماع نقل الشيخ بركات إلى ممثلي الجمعيات البحرينية السبع رسالة من السيد حسن نصر الله أعرب فيها عن دعم الحزب لمسيرات القوى الشيعية في البحرين وتمنى استمرار تنظيمها بمستوى مكثف جدا وأكد وقوف الحزب مع الشعب البحريني في نضاله المشروع للحصول على حقوق المواطنة مشيرا إلى أن هذا يقع ضمن ال واجب الذي تمليه علينا ضمائرنا والتزاماتنا الإسلامية!، وبعد هذا الاجتماع واصل وفد الجمعيات البحرينية السبع رحلته إلى العاصمة بيروت حيث عقد لقاءات واجتماعات مع بعض قيادات حزب الله واستمع خلالها لمزيد من النصائح والتوجيهات بشأن ما يجب فعله خلال المرحلة المقبلة، وعلمت "الوطن العربي" أن من بين التوجيهات التي أطلقها قادة حزب الله لممثلي الجمعيات البحرينية بعض النصائح بخصوص تعميق المشاركة في العملية السياسية وذلك عن طريق:

During the meeting, Sheikh Barakat, to the representatives of the seven associations Bahraini letter from Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, in which he expressed support for the party marches Shiite forces in Bahrain and wished the continuation of a very intensive level of organization and the parking Party with the Bahraini people in their legitimate struggle for the rights of citizenship, pointing out that this falls within the the duty that is required of us by our consciences and our Islamic! After this meeting, the delegation of seven Bahraini associations trip to the capital of Beirut, where he held meetings with some of the leaders of Hezbollah, which it heard for further advice and guidance on what must be done in the coming phase, Al "the Arab nation" that one of the directives made by the leaders of Hezbollah representatives of associations Bahraini some advice for deepening participation in the political process, by :

· التعاون مع أعضاء البرلمان الذين يسعون لحل المأزق الدستوري والسياسي الحالي.·

cooperation with the members of Parliament who seek to resolve the constitutional impasse and the current political.

· توسيع العلاقة مع مسئولي النظام كديوان ولي العهد الذي يبدون التزاما بتخفيف وطأة الضغوط الاجتماعية والاقتصادية الواقعة على الشيعة.·

Expansion of the relationship with the officials of the Crown reserves, which show a commitment by alleviating the social and economic pressures on the Shiites.

· تشجيع الشيعة العاطلين عن العمل للانخراط في برامج التدريب الحكومية.·

Shiites encourage the unemployed to engage in government training programs.

· القبول بالمشاركة في انتخابات عام 2006 شريطة أن تعيد الحكومة رسم المناطق الانتخابية.·

Agreed to participate in the elections of 2006 provided that the government re-drawing of electoral districts.

الفتنة قادمةComing sedition
وفي ظل هذا التصعيد من جانب الشيعة يتخوف البعض من البحرينيين من اشتعال فتنة طائفية بسبب الاحتقان الحاصل بين الطرفين في بعض المواقف ومن هؤلاء شيخ السلفيين عادل المعاودة نائب رئيس البرلمان البحريني الذي يؤكد أن الفتنة موجودة في كل مكان وكن كلما زاد تحقيق العدل بين المواطنين قلت هذه النعرات الط ائفية، وقد سئل العالم الشيعي البحريني السيد ضياء موسوي عما إذا كان قد أصاب البحرين شيء من الطائفية الموجودة في العراق حاليا فقال: إن شيعة البحرين ليسوا بمعزولين عن العالم وهم يتأثرون بكل المؤثرات الإقليمية أو العالمية خصوصا في العولمة الموجودة وما يحصل في العراق طبعا له مرشحات هنا وهناك وإن كانت البحرين أقل مكان تأثرا بالوضع الإقليمي لأن لهم تاريخاً طويلاً من التواصل الوطني المندمج ما بين السنة والشيعة كما أن في البح رين مجلساً أعلى موجود فيه كبار علماء السنة والشيعة وهؤلاء لهم شرعيتهم التاريخية ومصداقيتهم في المجتمع.

In light of the escalation by the Shiites fears some of the Bahrainis worsen sectarian strife because of the current tension between the two parties in some situations these Salafi Sheikh Adel recidivism Bahraini Deputy Speaker of Parliament, which confirms that the rift exists everywhere, but it more justice between citizens said these prejudices Alt Waevih, the world has asked the Bahraini Shiite Mr. Zia Moussaoui whether he had hit something in Bahrain sectarianism in Iraq, said : The Shiites of Bahrain are not Bmazulin the world are affected each psychotropic regional or global particularly in the globalization of existing What is happening in Iraq is of course candidates here and there, and that Bahrain had the least affected by the situation in the region because they have a long history of the national integrated communication between Sunnis and Shiites and the Alph Rain is the highest a senior scholars, Sunnis and Shiites, and they have historical legitimacy and credibility in the community.

لكن رأي موسوي الدبلوماسي لا ينفي حقيقة الوضع القائم وهذا ما دفع بالمفكر البحريني عبد الرحمن النعيمي إلى إطلاق دعوته بضرورة الحوار بين الطائفتين ويقول إنه بالرغم من الدعوات المتكررة من قبل رجال الدين من الطائفتين بضرورة الحوار والتقارب بين المذاهب، إلا أن الحياة تؤكد عجز الطرفين عن الوصول إلى تفاهم، بل إلى البعض يتوهم أن الحلول الأميركية في العراق حيث أقامت الولايات المتحدة ديمقراطية الطوائف قد تكون مفيدة في بلادنا العربية، ومن هنا تبرز أهمية الدور الذي يمكن للتيارات الديمقراطية القومية واليسارية والليبرالية أن تقوم به، ليس رداً على مشاريع الضحك على الذقون التي تروجها السلطة في منطقتنا العربية تحت شعار الإصلاح من الداخل، وإنما عبر استلهام الواقع الشعبي والمطالب السياسية والاقتصادية وتبني هذه المطالب بالتأكيد على أن الإصلاح السياسي الدستوري هو حجر الزاوية في الإصلاح السياسي المطلوب في الوقت الحاضر، والتحدي الكبير الذي يراه البعض يكمن في قدرة القوى السياسية الديمقراطية على تجاوز صراعاتها الصغيرة وأن تقدم المثل للآخرين بأنها قادرة على توحيد صفوفها والتفتيش عن القواسم المشتركة بينها من أجل الوطن والشعب والتأكيد على قدرتها على الحوار والتقارب أكثر بكثير من الحوار بين المعارضة والسلط ة، وتفوقها على التيارات الإسلامية المتناحرة في التاريخ والتي لا يمكن تقريبها طالما بقيت أسيرة صراعات التاريخ وتمترست وراء عقلية التكفير السائدة في صفوف غلاة دعاتها.

But the view of Moussaoui does not negate the fact the diplomatic status quo and this is what made Balmvker Bahraini Abdul Rahman Naimi call for the release of the need for dialogue between the two communities, and says that in spite of repeated calls by religious leaders from the need for dialogue and rapprochement between creeds, However, the life confirms the failure of the parties to reach an understanding, but to imagine that some American solutions in Iraq where the United States had established democratic communities might be useful in our Arab, Hence the importance of the role that the Democratic national trends, leftist and liberal play, not in response to fool الذقون projects promoted by the authority in the Arab world under the slogan of reform from the inside, but inspired by the popular reality and the demands of political, economic and adopt these demands stressing that the constitutional political reform is the cornerstone of the required political reform at the present time, The great challenge that some see lies in the ability of democratic political forces to overcome the conflicts of small and provide an example for others to be able to unify their ranks and to search for common denominators between them for the nation and the people and to emphasize the ability to dialogue and rapprochement much more dialogue between the opposition and authorities. e, The superiority of the rival Islamic currents in history, which can not be rounded as long as they remained captive conflicts and violence and the history behind the mentality prevailing in the ranks of penance fanatic proponents.

وما يدلل على أن النار باتت تحت الرماد أن البحرين بصدد تطوير مناهج التربية الإسلامية في مدارسها بغرض استبعاد أي قضايا خلافية بين الطائفتين السنية والجعفرية، كما ستتم إضافة إشارات ومواضيع تتعلق بأداء الطائفة الجعفرية لبعض العبادات، وهي المرة الأولى التي يذكر فيها المذهب الجعفري صراحة في المناهج التربية البحرينية، وقد انتهت وزارة التربية والتعليم من إعداد مسودة تطوير مناهج التربية الإسلامية ويقوم المجلس الإسلامي الأعلى بالبحرين (أعلى سلطة دينية تجمع الطائفتين السنية والجعفرية)، بدراسة التعديلات الجديدة بالتنسيق مع وزارة الشؤون الإسلامية، ويتوقع أن يبت المجلس الإسلامي الأعلى قريبا في هذه التعديلات، ولكن هل معنى ذلك أن الحكومة باتت تستجيب للضغوط الشيعية أم تلك محاولة رسمية لإغلاق باب الفتنة التي باتت تهدد استقرار الوضع في البحرين؟، هذا ما نجيب عنه في الحلقة المقبلة.

What proves that the fire was under ash that Bahrain on the development of Islamic education curricula in schools in order to exclude any controversial issues between the two communities, Sunni Ja'fari, The signals will be added and topics relating to the performance of some community Ja'fari Worship, This is the first time that Jaafari doctrine stating explicitly in the curriculum of Education Bahraini, Having concluded and the Ministry of Education to prepare a draft development of the Islamic education curricula, the Supreme Islamic Council in Bahrain (highest religious authority combining the two Sunni Ja'fari), studying the new amendments in coordination with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, It is expected that the decision of the Supreme Islamic Council soon in these amendments, But does that mean the government is responsive to pressure the Shiite official, or those attempting to close the door of sedition that is now threatening the stability of the situation in Bahrain? This Najib him in the future.

Vancouver

11-01-2006, 01:55 AM

Looks like UNIFIL is obstructing Hizbullah after all. From a Pakistani paper:

BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah accused the Lebanese leadership of seeking the occupation of the country by the UN force policing a ceasefire between his group and Israel.

In an interview on Hezbollah's television, Nasrallah said the "party in power is seeking to make UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) occupy Lebanon and disarm the resistance," as Hezbollah is commonly known in Lebanon.

"This plan is dangerous and of the sort that could transform Lebanon into another Iraq and another Afghanistan," he said.

"This plan was already hoped for by the leadership before the Israeli aggression. It is an American-Israeli demand."

Petronas

11-02-2006, 04:52 PM

UNIFIL Patrol Takes Nights Off, UN Admits Hizbullah Arming
15:53 Nov 02, '06 / 11 Cheshvan 5767

Despite the 20,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon, the United Nations admits that weapons smuggling from Syria continues unhindered. A German report finds UNIFIL does not patrol after dark. Hizbullah terrorists are free to roam at night without fear of being identified by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), according to a report by the German paper Der Spiegel.

Spanish UNIFIL official Richard Ortax admitted to the paper that no patrols are carried out at night “because of the danger involved.” UNIFIL commanders said their function is to "observe changes in the behavior of the local population." One junior officer told Der Spiegel he was glad that his battalion had only left its camp once. "It's absurd," he said. "We landed here and set up our tent city, but since then we've only left the camp to drive around and to make sure that we're seen."

The report cites a long tradition of UNIFIL inaction, which it says allowed time for a Finnish contingent to construct a giant sauna and an Indian contingent to decorate its base with traditional Indian artwork. The UNIFIL troops and the 14,000 Lebanese soldiers stationed in the region add up to a total of around 20,000 troops in the 18-by 31-mile region of southern Lebanon. Another 6,000 troops are still expected to arrive.

The United Nations itself has admitted that Syria was still successfully smuggling arms to the Hizbullah, which neither UNIFIL nor the Lebanese army plan to stop.

Israel has maintained overflights in the region in order to monitor and discourage the smuggling, yet UNIFIL officials condemn the continued Israeli maneuvers. The Lebanese army even attempted to shoot down Israeli fighter jets on Tuesday. France and the European Union have been accusing Israel of violating Resolution 1701 with its flights over Lebanon. The current state of affairs has led Israeli officials to speak about “rethinking the implementation of Israel’s commitments” made in the context of the UN-brokered cease-fire.

The UN Security Council “noted with regret [that] non-Lebanese militias” in the country had not been disbanded or disarmed, an allusion to the Iranian and Syrian-backed Hizbullah. The statement on Tuesday was termed a “presidential statement,” which is the weakest of all available Security Council actions.

Following the meeting, UN envoy to the region Terje Roed-Larsen explicitly admitted that Syria was actively smuggling weapons into Lebanon. He said that Lebanese government officials "have stated publicly and also in conversations with us that there have been arms coming across the border into Lebanon."

Roed-Larsen added that Syria itself does not deny the flow of weapons, claiming only that the arms are not being dispatched by the Syrian government. "The consistent position of the government of Syria has been that, 'Yes, there might be arms smuggling over the border, but this is arms smuggling and the border is porous and very difficult to control,'" Roed-Larsen told reporters. Roed-Larsen ducked UN responsibility for the smuggling, saying UN troops had not been asked by the Lebanese army to monitor the border.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=114650

The 801

11-21-2006, 10:10 AM

Lebanon’s industry minister Pierre Gemayel is murdered near Beirut

November 21, 2006, 4:46 PM (GMT+02:00)
The Christian minister’s convoy was attacked driving through the Christian Sin el-Fil district as Lebanon faces a Hizballah threat to the anti-Syrian Fouad Siniora government unless it has veto powers. Gemayel died on the way to hospital. The prime minister said his government was legitimate despite the resignation of six pro-Syrian ministers, including Hizballah’s, ten days ago. It is feared the murder could tip the country over into civil war. Last week the Siniora government approved a proposed UN tribunal for the killers of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri last year, despite their resignation.

Sunday, Hizballah’s Hassan Nasrallah threatened to call a million Shiites to the streets to topple the anti-Syrian Siniora government.

This challenge was a decisive step in the proxy standoff over domination of Beirut involving Hizballah’s backers Iran and Syria, on the one hand, and the United States and Israel, on the other.

http://www.debka.com/

At the same time this happens:

Security Council poised to pass Hariri tribunal

By Leila Hatoum
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

BEIRUT: A meeting of the UN Security Council to create an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri adjourned without reaching a resolution on Monday, but the secretary general's office said that the council "obviously" appears ready to unanimously pass a measure to form the judicial body on Friday.

In a telephone interview Monday, Yves Sorokobi, a spokesman for Kofi Annan, said the council's "silence procedure" provides that "if none of the council's members show strong objections to the draft by Tuesday, then it will be considered as unanimously approved."

Annan forwarded a draft proposal on the tribunal to the council on Friday "along with a letter in which he told them that if the council didn't reach a decision, and he didn't hear any strong disagreement, then the draft is considered as approved," Sorokobi said.

"According to the ambassadors at the council, and what they said after Monday's consultation session, there were no strong objections and the draft is obviously expected to unanimously pass tomorrow," he said.

During a Friday briefing at UN headquarters in New York, Annan spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the matter of the tribunal "is in the hands of the Security Council."

Once they have given the green light for a tribunal the matter would go back to the Lebanese authorities for them to reach an agreement, in accordance with their constitutional procedures," Dujarric said.

The Lebanese Cabinet expects to discuss the UN proposal and transform it into a draft law for a subsequent Parliament vote.

The March 14 Forces, the anti-Syrian coalition that controls a majority in Lebanon's Parliament, is expected to easily pass the draft once it reaches the legislature.

However, the Cabinet is still missing six ministers, after five with ties to Hizbullah and the Amal Party resigned on November 11 and another resigned on November 13. The ministers accused the anti-Syrian coalition of monopolizing the government's decision-making process.

The resigned Shiite ministers now claim that the government is illegitimate as it lacks representation of one of Lebanon's main sects.

The March 14 Forces accuse Hizbullah and its allies of resigning from the Cabinet in an attempt to hamper the tribunal's formation. - With agencies

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=77058

And the same time that his happens:

Syrian-Iraq relations to resume after 24 years

THOMAS WAGNER

Associated Press

Baghdad —

After nearly a quarter-century of severed ties, Iraq on Tuesday resumed diplomatic relations with neighbouring Syria — a move seen as a possible step toward stemming some of the unrelenting violence, which claimed another 100 lives.

The Iraqi and Syrian presidents also received invitations from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a weekend summit in Tehran to tackle the chaos in Iraq, Iraqi lawmakers said. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's spokesman said his boss would attend but that Syrian President Bashar Assad would not. The invitation was thought to be an attempt by Iran to counter U.S. influence in the region.

The announcement of restored Iraqi-Syrian ties came during a groundbreaking visit to Baghdad by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who was challenged over Damascus' role in supporting the Sunni insurgency.

"The latest talks between the Syrian and Iraqi side have been crowned by declaring a new era with the participation of the Syrian brothers in working on the security and stability with Iraq and restoring full diplomatic relations," said Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

Syria broke diplomatic ties with Iraq in 1982, accusing Iraq of inciting riots by the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Syria. Damascus also sided with Iran in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. Trade ties were restored in 1997.

More recently, Syria is widely believed to have done little to stop foreign fighters and al-Qaeda recruits from crossing its border to join Sunni insurgents in Iraq. It also has provided refuge for many top members of Saddam's former leadership and political corps, which is thought to have organized arms and funding for the insurgents. The Sunni insurgency, since it sprang to life in the late summer of 2003, has been responsible for the vast majority of U.S. deaths in Iraq.

On Monday, Mr. Moallem was challenged over Damascus' role in supporting the Sunni insurgency.

"We object to any neighbouring country that allows itself to be a base or a transit point for the terrorist groups that harm Iraq," Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said after meeting with the Syrian envoy.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061121.w2iraqsyria1121/BNStory/International/home

Thank god that Islam is a religion of peace. Imagine what would be happening if it wasn't?

801

Vancouver

11-30-2006, 11:43 PM

Two MSN groups, with overlapping membership, claim to be Hizbullah of Argentina:
http://groups.msn.com/hezbollahlatinoamericabaseargentina
http://groups.msn.com/autonomiaislamicawayuu
Something very wrong about these two. When I tried to join each group, using a Microsoft .NET ID, the software prompted me to install a "map network drive" package, which of course I did not.
This "Hezbollah Argentina" outfit is purportedly founded by a Sheidy Teodoro Darnott, who recently made a weird claim:
http://www.haganah.org.il/haganah/internet.html

edit: photo (according to the first site above) of Darnott is attached

Petronas

12-07-2006, 07:26 PM

Hezbollah Vows End to Lebanon Government
December 07, 2006 5:03 PM EST

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah promised thousands of supporters Thursday that they would eventually bring down Lebanon's Western-backed government, but the prime minister vowed to stand firm against protesters. It was the seventh day of street demonstrations by Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian parties aimed at pressuring Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to quit in a deepening political crisis threatening to tear the country apart.

In a rousing speech delivered on huge screens in two central Beirut squares, Nasrallah accused Saniora of conniving with Israel during its monthlong war with Hezbollah last summer. He claimed Saniora ordered the Lebanese army to confiscate Hezbollah's supplies of weapons - his sharpest attack on the prime minister since the August cease-fire that ended the fighting. "Didn't the prime minister of Lebanon work to cut off the supply lines?" Nasrallah said. He added that government officials had asked American envoys to persuade Israel to destroy Hezbollah. "Those are the ones responsible for the war, not the resistance," Nasrallah said. ...

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/int?guid=20061207/45779fd0_3ca6_15526200612071099526376

rectar

12-08-2006, 09:45 PM

http://groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nHQAAANoGUlKpn3hBCBNZWynDFw90Cyn6TXf4j*ykR 0mgKHQ8MuiYxHIKslog2aTX

(In the Name of Allah, the Compasivo, the Merciful one)

Editorial
Nor habra the new Venezuela, if the revolution does not take dimensions towards the divine thing, towards the moral. The problem of this country is not fundamentally economic and social like this approaching itself, he is but complex and he is deeply moral and spiritual. The Venezuelans, like the rest of Latin the Americans, idolize sex, money and vice. The industry, the commerce, the capital of sex and the vice, destroys the bases of the Venezuelan society, sinking it in the marsh of the immorality, the corruption and the violence social decomposition, breakage of the social weave. Enaltecimiento of the anti-values. The political movements and parties, cannot give answer all to this problematic national, because they themselves do not escape to suffer these evils. The new generations are formed by a corrupted system.

In Venezuela it is necessary to extirpate the rotten sore of the corruption Social, moral, political and spiritual. This single it can do an Islamic military-political organization like Hezbo Allah We if we can remove to Venezuela from that marsh, How we do this? We will make in a fight to blood and fire against badly as this writing sight that I order that you suppress to you badly and you establish the good (Sacred Coran) impelling the kingdom of God in Venezuela (Government of God) this is a military-political project of Theocratic government for one authenticates new Venezuela."La moral, right Venezuela", fraterna, afraid humanist and of God.
That it is necessary so that this project is a reality, first commitment converses of those who loves this pais and wants to change its present reality, to impel the revolutionary process towards the divine thing and towards the moral supporting strongly in all you order the proposal political-military man Hezbo Allah;

(http://wincoast.com/forum/)
http://www.elcuara.com/spaw/images/lib3/bombilloflasheando.gif

You have not seen those those who it was said: "You lay down the arms! You do azalá and you give azaque "? When the combat is prescribed to them, some of them are as much scared of the men as they must have of Allah, or still more, and say: "Sir! Why you have ordered to us to fight? If you later left it for a little... " I gave: "the brief benefit of the life of is stingy here. The other life is better for that fears to allah. One will not treat to you unjustly in minimum ".
Recitacion Coranhttp://www.islamoriente.com/images_new/default/play.gif (http://wincoast.com/forum/)[/URL][URL="http://wincoast.com/forum/"] (http://wincoast.com/forum/) (Sura The 4 Women Aleya 77)

Petronas

12-24-2006, 11:50 AM

IDF: Hizbullah almost at full strength
Dec. 21, 2006

Predicting that it is "just a matter of time" before Hizbullah attacks Israel, a high-ranking officer from the Northern Command revealed to The Jerusalem Post Wednesday that the Lebanese guerrilla group had nearly returned to full strength and was almost at the level it was before this summer's Lebanon war. Syria, the officer said, had used the past four months since the end of the war to transfer - sometimes on a daily basis - truckloads of advanced rockets and weaponry to Hizbullah in Lebanon. The weapon transfers, he said, were not even executed covertly, but were conducted "out in the open" for the entire world to see. "Hizbullah needs to legitimize its existence, and therefore will continue to fight," said the officer, adding that if and when Hizbullah attacked, it would be up to the country's diplomatic echelon to determine Israel's response.

The IDF, the officer said, was busy training brigades and battalions in urban warfare centers in the North and the South in preparation for the possibility that a new round of violence would erupt. The officer said that while there was no clear intelligence indicating that war was on the horizon, the possibility of one was the "working assumption" for the Northern Command. "We have a wide arsenal of potential responses," said the officer. "From another Operation Change of Direction [name of the IDF operation during the Lebanon war] to limiting a response to shooting the guerrilla who attacks." The Navy has also been training for another war and on Tuesday night conducted a number of simulations during a visit by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz to one of its missile ships.

The officer said that while it was possible that Hizbullah would attack Israel in the near future, it was also possible that Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government would succeed in enforcing both order in Lebanon and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. "If the Lebanese government does not implement the resolution then we are most probably on our way to another round with Hizbullah," he said.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881939862&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Casey

01-21-2007, 12:54 PM

I seem to have stumbled on to the Hezbollah Lebanon forum.

As posted today (Jan. 21, 2007) it would appear there will be a general strike on Tuesday to measure the support for the Lebanese opposition.

The posts go on to say it is not a mandatory strike but they will be looking to the numbers to see what level of support they can expect and are looking for a high level of media coverage.

Casey

02-22-2007, 05:49 PM

There are some items in the news forum that may be useful here.

Iran in Iraq
http://wincoast.com/forum/showthread.php?p=987025#post987025

Petronas

03-09-2007, 07:54 PM

“Hezbollah” prepares for abductions of Israelis on 40 resorts of the world
9 March, 2007

National Security Council has published the list of 40 countries of the world where there is a high probability of terrorist actions against citizens of Israel. The prevention has followed on the eve of Pesach holiday, a holiday, when thousand Israelis are having a rest abroad.
According to the preliminary data, the greatest threat for tourists is represented with foreign cells of “Hezbollah” radical grouping, which prepares for abductions of Israelis on popular resorts.
The National Security Council has divided the countries with the raised terrorist activity into five categories: from the most dangerous up to the least dangerous countries. Thus it is emphasized, that threat is kept everywhere, and therefore citizens ask or to refrain at all from visiting the named resorts, or to show special vigilance during stay there.
Here is the list of the most dangerous countries; these are Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, Somalia, and Yemen.
It is not also recommended to visit Sinai, Turkey, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Planning rest, it is better to refrain from trips to Kashmir, southern islands of the Philippine archipelago.
There is a high threat at excursions on a southeast of Turkey - along border with Iran and Iraq.
The certain danger is also represented with the European countries, especially areas with high percent of the Muslim population. Here Israelis are recommended not to enter contacts to strangers, “not sink down” on free-of-charge parties and other “freebies” with which local residents will tempt them.

http://www.lifeistravel.com/content/57

Petronas

03-11-2007, 11:22 AM

From the 2007 Intelligence Summit:
Hezbollah has been successful in infiltrating agents over the US-Mexican border. One such human smuggling operation was uncovered in March 2006.

Chavez allows Hezbollah to train on Margarita Island in Venezuela and provides its members with fake IDs.

Petronas

03-14-2007, 11:17 PM

15,000 Hizbullah members arrested in 7 years
08.03.2007

Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said that 15,000 suspects had been arrested over the last seven years on grounds of affiliation with Hizbullah. Aksu said some 15,000 Hizbullah members, including its leaders had been arrested during raids carried out particularly in southeastern Anatolian city of Diyarbakır. "Security officials have never used any outlawed organization or group to counter another terrorist organization," stated Aksu.

A number of large-scale operations were carried out after the İstanbul Kavacık Operation in which Hezbollah leader Hüseyin Velioğlu was killed in 2000, Aksu said, adding: "In Diyarbakır alone 2,845 Hizbullah members were brought to justice. Hizbullah, an extreme terrorist organization centered mainly in southeastern Turkey, was claimed to have been used by the state against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for many years and was associated with dead bodies buried in basements in the late '90s.

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=104807

The 801

04-24-2007, 07:57 AM

Hizballah Admits Iran's Role in Terrorism

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - A senior Hizballah official has admitted publicly that all the suicide bombings and terrorist attacks against Israel must first be approved by Iran. The Lebanese-based Hizballah has been careful for years not to implicate Iran in its actions until now, Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website. In an interview last week with the the Iranian television station al Qawthar, Hizballah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Kassem said Teheran gives prior approval for suicide bombings, terror attack and artillery barrages against Israeli civilians. "The religious doctrine which dictates Hizballah's actions in general and those relating to the jihad in particular, is based on the rulings of the spiritual leader in Tehran. The spiritual leader has the power to permit our actions, and the spiritual leader can forbid them," Kassem was quoted as saying. "In order to know what is permitted and forbidden regarding the jihad, we ask for and receive overall permission and only then do we carry out the operation. Even with regard to the suicide bombings, no one is allowed to kill himself without religious authorization. Even the rocket attacks on Israel, against the civilian population...in order to apply pressure, even this required overall religious authorization."

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewFlash.asp?Page=/ThisHour/Archive/NTH20070423z.html

Petronas

11-30-2007, 09:33 PM

Is S. America a terrorist incubator?
11/21/2007

ISLA DE SAN ANDRES, Colombia -- This tiny, palm-fringed island off Nicaragua's Atlantic coast seems like an idyllic Caribbean paradise. Duty-free shops, resort hotels and rustic snack bars line streets filled with European scuba divers on holiday. But a powerful Arab presence here has led to claims that a place famous for snorkeling and scuba diving is becoming a hotbed of Hezbollah terrorist activity.

Ely Karmon, director of Israel's Institute for Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya, says that since the 1980s Hezbollah has been recruiting and raising money from Lebanese and Syrian immigrants living in three specific areas of Latin America and the Caribbean: the tri-border area where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet, Venezuela's Margarita Island and the Caribbean coastline of Colombia, including Maicao and San Andres.

"In all three areas you have Lebanese Shi'ite communities,” Karmon told JTA. "Latin America is a soft-belly target because nobody is prepared -- not the law enforcement authorities, not the public, not anyone."

Others say the threat is overblown. Chris Zambelis, a Middle East analyst with the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, says offshore islands like San Andres and Margarita do have large numbers of Muslims, but that "there's no evidence at all" to suggest that local Arab merchants are financing Hezbollah activities overseas. "Colombian and regional governments have played on U.S. concerns by moving to curry favor with the United States to further their own domestic agendas and international standing," Zambelis wrote in a policy paper last year. "In doing so, they often highlight the alleged threat of al-Qaida or other brands of radical Islamist terrorism within their own borders."

The very idea of linking San Andres with Hezbollah is a stretch of the imagination, insists Bashir Harb, the secretary of the board of directors of the Centro Islamico, a mosque in downtown San Andres that is a spiritual home to hundreds of Lebanese Muslims who live here. "Here nobody is involved in Mideast politics," said Harb, 25, whose parents left Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and came to Colombia in 1950, when the government declared San Andres a duty-free zone. "The islenos don't even know what's happening in the rest of Colombia, let alone the Middle East."

Claudia Marcela Delgado, the secretary of tourism for San Andres and the nearby island of Providencia, discount suggestions that Hezbollah maintains an active presence along Colombia's Caribbean coastline. "One can assume that terrorist groups exchange information," Delgado said, "but I wouldn't say there's a strong presence here."

Arabs in Latin America's various free zones have come under increasing scrutiny since 1994, when Hezbollah agents financed by Lebanese sympathizers in the tri-border area were believed to have carried out the truck bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. The blast killed 85 and injured more than 300. This month, Interpol voted to issue arrest warrants for six men -- five Iranians and one Lebanese -- wanted for involvement in the AMIA attack.

The vote, taken at Interpol's 76th General Assembly in Morocco, follows Argentina's issuance last year of an international arrest warrant for former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and eight others on charges of masterminding the AMIA bombing. As evidence of Iran's hand in radical movements across the region, Karmon pointed to the formation a year ago of a new Iranian-backed organization, Hezbollah Latin America, which supposedly has branches in Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico and Venezuela.

"In all these countries there are Arab communities involved” in terrorist financing, Karmon said. “There's a big Islamic Center in Buenos Aires connected to the Iranian Embassy," he said. "This infrastructure is kept alive for fund raising and recruitment. But the moment they decide they need to attack a target, or if the U.S. attacks facilities in Iran, Latin America could be one of the main areas for Iran -- through Hezbollah -- to retaliate against the U.S. or other Western countries."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called "my brother," has visited Latin America three times this year. Ahmadinejad has opened new diplomatic missions in Latin America and initiated direct weekly flights between Caracas and Tehran.

Karmon says Chavez also has allowed Hezbollah to infiltrate the Guajira peninsula shared by Venezuela and Colombia, and convert the Wayuu Indian tribe to Islam. "In Venezuela's case, the entire Wayuu Indian tribe simply converted to Islam because their chief, Teodoro Darnott, was a member of the pro-Chavez Grupo Nacionalista party," Karmon told JTA. "Last summer they put up a Web site in which they threaten to organize terrorist attacks against Zionists."

A look at that site brings up a large banner that reads "Bienvenidos -- Allahu Akbar," which means “Welcome -- God is Great,” as well as color photos of kaffiyeh-clad terrorists bearing AK-47 rifles under a bilingual Arabic-Spanish caption that translates, "The sweat of the workers is as holy and glorious as the blood of the martyrs."

But Zambelis doesn't see the newly minted Wayuu Muslims as much of a threat to anyone. "Whoever's running that Web site is a crackpot," he said. "It's someone who is using the Hezbollah name to gather attention to his movement. There is absolutely no link between the real Hezbollah and that organization. Nobody takes him seriously."

Earlier this year, U.S. and Trinidadian authorities arrested four men in a plot to blow up fuel storage tanks at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. The four allegedly had ties to an Islamic terrorist cell in Trinidad, and one of the suspects is a former member of the Guyanese Parliament.

But Karmon says his biggest worry is that Iran could deploy nuclear missiles in Venezuela, at the invitation of Chávez, in much the same way the Soviet Union sent nuclear weapons to Cuba, sparking the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. "In my opinion, Chavez will continue to radicalize the regime internally," Karmon said. "I know Chavez from my activity as an adviser to the Israeli Anti-Semitism Monitoring Forum, and I think he is actually a proto-fascist. "In the 1990s he cooperated with the most hateful right-wing Argentines. He's much worse than Fidel Castro, who was never an anti-Semite and never collaborated with these kinds of people."

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/print/200711211121columbiaterrorist.html

Casey

02-14-2008, 10:19 PM

H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah: Moghnieh Blood will Serve in Wiping out "Israel"
Source: Al-Manar TV, 14-2-2008

Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah warned "Israel" that if it wanted an open war with Hizbullah outside Lebanon, "then let it be war."
Sayyed Nasrallah was speaking at the funeral of Islamic Resistance commander martyr Imad Moghnieh in Beirut's southern suburb.

"Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah: so of them is he who accomplished his vow, and of them is he who yet waits, and they have not changed in the least, Almighty Allah has spoken the truth. Hajj Radwan was true to the covenant and died as a martyr," Sayyed Nasrallah said.

The Hizbullah chief stressed a few points regarding Hajj Imad Moghnieh's martyrdom.

"They ("Israel") see in his martyrdom a great accomplishment and we see in it a good sign for the coming victory. This was the case with the martyrdom of our leaders Sheikh Ragheb Harb and Sayyed Abbas Moussawi."

Sayyed Nasrallah added that when Sheikh Harb was martyred the resistance got stronger and forced "Israeli" occupation forces into the security zone.
"When Sayyed Moussawi was martyred the resistance grew stronger and a few years later the "Israelis" withdrew from most of Lebanon, humiliated and broken. Today they killed Hajj Imad and they think that killing him would cause the resistance to crash down in the course of the July 2006 war that is not over yet on the political, media and material levels and still backed by the same people. But they are mistaken. With the blood of martyr Imad we must begin to write the history of fall of "Israel" in the very near future. The blood of martyrs Harb and Moussawi drove them out of Lebanon and the blood of martyr Imad Moghnieh will drive them out of existence," his eminence stressed.

Sayyed Nasrallah explained that his speech was not based on emotions but on what the founder of the Jewish state, Ben Gorion, said. "You all know that the founder of "Israel", Ben Gorion, who knows better than any other "Israeli" the strength and weakness of this entity, said that the "Israel" will fall down after the first defeat. "Israel" fought its war in July 2006 and was defeated as acknowledged by the Winograd commission. "Israel" lost its first war, why? Simply because its army faced a sincere and brave resistance for 33 days...Because Imad Moghnieh, his brothers and his pupils were fighting them. "Israel" lost its first war and will fall down soon." the Hizbullah chief said.
Sayyed Nasrallah warned "Israel" that it committed an extremely "foolish" move by killing Moghnieh. "I tell the "Israelis", and the body of martyr Imad is still lying before us, Hizbullah is not weak. The martyr's brothers will take over his Jihad. The blood of martyr Imad only makes us stronger and gives us additional motive to continue the road with a wider perspective. What I promised you in the past was fulfilled at the hands of martyr Imad and his brothers.

Today the resistance is fully prepared to confront any possible "Israeli" war. Yesterday I was speaking about rockets but today I will speak about fighters. Winograd said that a few thousand fighters confronted the strongest "Israeli" army in the region for several weeks. After Hajj Imad's martyrdom, what will be waiting for you in any coming war will be a stronger Hizbullah. Hajj Imad has left you tens of thousands of very well trained fighters who are more than ready for martyrdom," his eminence warned "Israel".

The Hizbullah leader also warned "Israel" of the repercussions of assassinating martyr Imad Moghnieh outside "the normal battleground."

"You have killed Hajj Imad outside the normal battleground. You used to fight us here on our land. Today you went outside the border. I will quote something from the July 2006 war when I addressed you saying that If you wanted it to be an open war then let it be an open war, and I had promised victory to the believers. Today I tell you that in front of the time, style and location of this killing, if you want this kind of open war, then let it be an open war of this kind."
More to follow...

The 801

02-15-2008, 02:36 PM

Thanks Casey for reviving this old thread. It looks like it might come in handy.

Petronas

02-15-2008, 11:31 PM

Jews worldwide urged to be alert
Updated Feb 15, 2008 11:18

More than 50 Hizbullah terror cells believed to be spread across the globe could be activated and used to strike at Israeli or Jewish targets in retaliation for Tuesday's assassination of Hizbullah arch-terrorist and operations officer Imad Mughniyeh in Syria, a senior defense official said Thursday.

As Hassan Nasrallah vowed "open war" to avenge Mughniyeh's death, the Israeli Counterterrorism Bureau issued a travel advisory on Thursday that made plain the seriousness with which it is taking the Hizbullah leader's threats. But Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said "Israel is a strong country" and that there was no need to panic.

FBI anti-terror units raised their alerts for fear of attacks on synagogues and other Jewish targets. Sources in the US administration reiterated that there were no specific warnings of a terrorist attack; nonetheless, an FBI source said that the raised alertness of the Anti-Terrorism Unit, which operates in about 100 cities around the US, is not a routine step.

The counterterrorism bureau recommended that citizens abroad avoid staying in areas where there is a large concentration of Israelis. It advised Israelis overseas to strictly avoid visiting Arab and Muslim states where existing travel warnings are in force; to reject any tempting suggestions, unexpected gifts and offers of free travel from suspicious people or unknown elements; to reject proposals for unscheduled meetings, and to travel to meetings accompanied by someone known and trusted.

The bureau also reiterated previous warnings about the risk of Israelis abroad being kidnapped, including businessmen - particularly those involved in deals with Arabs or Muslims. El Al has also beefed up security, and additional safety measures are being employed at Israeli embassies and institutions abroad. ...

http://www.jpost.com:80/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203019387469&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

FC-UK

02-16-2008, 05:40 PM

H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah: Moghnieh Blood will Serve in Wiping out "Israel"
Source: Al-Manar TV, 14-2-2008
front of the time, style and location of this killing, if you want this kind of open war, then let it be an open war of this kind."
More to follow...

Where has there been a statement of "wiping out Israel"

If you're going to key press sodier and keep this mass murder around the world going, at least be honest

Casey

02-16-2008, 06:11 PM

H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah: Moghnieh Blood will Serve in Wiping out "Israel"
Source: Al-Manar TV, 14-2-2008
More to follow...

Where has there been a statement of "wiping out Israel"

If you're going to key press sodier and keep this mass murder around the world going, at least be honest

Did you not see the source?

FC-UK

02-16-2008, 06:19 PM

Did you not see the source?

As usual you blindly paste rubbish and half truths, actualy not even half ruths just plain propaganda
.
this is what was actually said.

H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah Speech in Full: History will mark martyr Moghnieh blood as the start of the fall of "Israel"~It

Casey

02-16-2008, 06:23 PM

As usual you blindly paste rubbish and half truths, actualy not even half ruths just plain propaganda
.
this is what was actually said.

H.E. Sayyed Nasrallah Speech in Full: History will mark martyr Moghnieh blood as the start of the fall of "Israel"~It

Well actually, I blindly got it from the English Hizbollah website.

:mad_01:

Notice the thread we are in.

Casey

02-16-2008, 06:34 PM

As-Safir: 50,000 Hizbullah Fighters in State of High Alert
Source: As-Safir, 16-2-2008

The Lebanese newspaper As-Safir reported Saturday that the Hizbullah has put 50,000 of its resistance fighters in a state of high alert
and evacuated all buildings in the area designated for social or political purposes in recent days. Hizbullah vowed to retaliate the assassination of it resistance commander Imad Moghnieh who was killed in Damascus by Mossad agents. "Israel" has denied any involvement.

Meanwhile, another Lebanese newspaper, Al-Akhbar, reported that Lebanese officials believe a serious military confrontation with "Israel" will erupt in the near future. "This possibility has been raised in intensive discussions being held between Hizbullah officials and Iranian and Syrian officials. The various militant Palestinian organizations have also declared a state of high alert," the report added.

FC-UK

02-16-2008, 06:38 PM

Well actually, I blindly got it from the English Hizbollah website.

:mad_01:

Notice the thread we are in.

Hezbollah International site, well that makes it all fine and dandy and puker doesn't it?

NYer

02-16-2008, 07:45 PM

As-Safir: 50,000 Hizbullah Fighters in State of High Alert
Source: As-Safir, 16-2-2008

Is Hezbollah preparing to strike ... or be struck? (http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2008/02/is-hezbollah-preparing-to-be-struck-or.html)

The question on both sides of the line is who is going to move next. Judging by reactions Mughniyeh's death was both a tactical and strategic surprise. Internal investigations into security breaches indicate Syria, Iran and Hezbollah themselves ares still trying to figure out how Mughniyeh was hit. But the secret appointment of a new Hezbollah head and evacuation of their buildings in South Lebanon suggests they also haven't decided why they were hit. There is palpable uncertainty in Damascus over whether Mughniyeh's death was a one-off or the first blow of a wider campaign against them.

Casey

02-18-2008, 01:53 AM

FBI warns of possible Hezbollah revenge in U.S.

State and local law enforcement receive an intelligence bulletin to watch for retaliation by the Lebanese militia group, which has vowed to avenge the death of its leader.

By Josh Meyer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
February 16, 2008

WASHINGTON -- The FBI and Department of Homeland Security sent a bulletin Friday to state and local law enforcement authorities advising them to watch for potential retaliatory strikes by Hezbollah, one day after the Lebanese militia group vowed to avenge the death of a top commander by attacking Israeli and Jewish targets around the world.

"While retaliation in the U.S. homeland is unlikely, Hezbollah has demonstrated a capability to respond outside the Middle East to similar events in the past," said the intelligence bulletin sent to about 18,000 state and local law enforcement officials late Friday afternoon.

The FBI also said it was intensifying its domestic intelligence-gathering efforts to identify any potential Hezbollah threats in the United States in the aftermath of Tuesday's car-bomb assassination of Imad Mughniyah in Syria.

On Wednesday, the FBI sent a confidential internal bulletin to its 101 Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the country warning of the possible domestic consequences of Mughniyah's killing. As part of that effort, FBI officials at headquarters told the bureau's field offices and multiagency task forces to increase monitoring and surveillance of suspected Hezbollah operatives and to conduct fresh interviews with sources and informants about the U.S.-designated terrorist group, according to two FBI officials.

U.S. authorities have long described Hezbollah as the "A-Team" of terrorism, with far more discipline than Al Qaeda, vast financing from the government of Iran, and a global network of sleeper operatives who could be called on to launch an attack at any time. Various federal investigations and prosecutions have uncovered dozens of Hezbollah fundraisers and supporters in the United States, but few people are believed to be actual "bomb throwers," according to a senior FBI counter-terrorism official who focuses on Hezbollah.

Though they have no evidence of specific threats in the United States, officials said that precautionary measures were warranted because of Mughniyah's stature within Hezbollah and because the organization and its Iranian supporters had publicly blamed his death on Israel and "Zionist forces."

Mughniyah, the former Hezbollah security chief and military commander, was one of the world's most wanted fugitives, accused by the United States and other nations of masterminding attacks that killed hundreds of Americans in Lebanon in the 1980s. Mughniyah also was in charge of international operations for Hezbollah, and in that capacity was believed to have inspired tremendous loyalty from a large number of operatives, fundraisers and supporters in Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, West Africa and South America.

On Thursday, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah told thousands of fist-waving mourners in a videotaped eulogy in Beirut that the killing of Mughniyah merited a violent response because it occurred outside the "natural battlefield" of Israel and Lebanon. "You have crossed the borders," he said, in a reference to Israel and supporters of the Jewish state. "With this murder, its timing, location and method -- Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open."

The FBI and Homeland Security did not give local and state law enforcement agencies specific instructions in the bulletin.

FBI officials said that was because each local jurisdiction should step up security in ways that it considered appropriate in and around government buildings, Jewish institutions and other potential targets.

The senior FBI counter- terrorism official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the bureau's efforts against Hezbollah, said the bureau was focusing its intelligence-gathering efforts on the Detroit-Dearborn area of Michigan, New York, California and several other U.S. locations with large populations of Lebanese and Muslims.

One prominent Lebanese American cautioned against an overreaction. Osama Siblani, president of the Arab American Political Action Committee in Dearborn, said Nasrallah's threats were directed at Israel, not the United States.

Siblani also said that though many Lebanese in the United States supported Hezbollah's political and social welfare efforts, "they would not tolerate or support any activities of Hezbollah inside the United States. This is our home."

Siblani said: "I think the FBI is expected to do whatever they can to make our country safer. They are trying to do their job.

"But if they start rounding up people because they are Lebanese, that is collective punishment, and we will not tolerate it."

In the past, Hezbollah has not launched any attacks in the United States. The two FBI officials and other experts said Friday that they believed that was because the organization had raised so much money here from supporters of its political and social services efforts in Lebanon that it did not want to risk stepped-up enforcement actions.

But the calls for retribution by Nasrallah and other prominent supporters of Hezbollah have been unusually strident, if not unprecedented, according to current and former FBI officials who have followed the organization over the years. They are equally concerned, they said, about retaliation from others who merely sympathize with Hezbollah.

"My understanding has always been that Hezbollah would never strike in the United States unless they believed that we participated in an operation against them," said Bob Pertuso, a former FBI special agent assigned to the Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force from 2000 to 2004 who specialized in Hezbollah investigations. "So if they believed we assisted in the operation against Mughniyah, I would say they would strike in the United States."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-fbialert16feb16,1,4390125.story

NYer

02-18-2008, 06:53 AM

FBI warns of possible Hezbollah revenge in U.S.

I noticed an increased "law enforcement" presence in Manhattan this weekend. Go figure.

FC-UK

02-18-2008, 03:24 PM

FBI warns of possible Hezbollah revenge in U.S.

State and local law enforcement receive an intelligence bulletin to watch for retaliation by the Lebanese militia group, whicd States."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-fbialert16feb16,1,4390125.story

FBI warns of possible Hezbollah revenge in U.S

What else do you expect Israel and USA are in bed enjoying an orgy of international terrorismhyporocisy and injustice.

NYer

02-18-2008, 04:51 PM

What else do you expect Israel and USA are in bed enjoying an orgy of international terrorismhyporocisy and injustice.

I think this probably sums up the reaction of the rest of the civilized world.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/pspauld/tinyviolin.jpg

Casey

03-07-2008, 08:27 PM

Hezbollah ready for war with Israel, US

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hezbollah is ready for an Israeli, American and multinational war but it does not want to initiate one, says the group's deputy leader.

"Hezbollah cannot confirm (that there will be war) because it does not want to initiate it," Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted Naim Kassem as saying on Wednesday.

"The Israelis know they have to pay a high price in any war," he added.
Kassem said United Nations (UN) forces and Lebanese troops deployed along the Lebanese-Israeli border would not hinder Hezbollah's renewed preparedness to fight Israel.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hezbollah lashed out at UN chief Ban Ki-moon, urging him to "show proof of more objectivity and impartiality" when speaking about the region.

Ban had expressed concern over threats of open war against Israel by the group after the assassination of Hezbollah top commander Imad Mughniyah.
Mughniyah was killed on February 12 in a car bomb in neighboring Syrian capital Damascus.

http://www.moqavemat.ir/?lang=en&state=showbody_news&row_id=26322

The 801

04-08-2008, 10:26 PM

Bulgaria drugs trade funds Hezbollah: report
Tue Apr 8, 2008 12:48pm EDT

SOFIA (Reuters) - Profits from drugs trafficking through Bulgaria have been used to fund organizations like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, the parliamentary security commission said on Tuesday.

Bulgarian crime groups trading in synthetic drugs and Arabs linked to militant groups had been cooperating in the trafficking, said the draft report obtained by Reuters and due to be debated in parliament this week.

"Part of the money accumulated from drugs trafficking are being used to fund terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad," said the report. It gave no further details.

Lebanese Hezbollah, a guerrilla group backed by Iran, fought a 34-day war in 2006 against Israel. Islamic Jihad is a Palestinian militant group sworn to destroying Israel.

Bulgaria lies on one of the main drug trafficking routes between Europe and southwest Asia.

There is growing pressure on Bulgaria's Socialist-led government at home and from the European Union to get serious about fighting rampant organized crime and graft.

High-ranking police officials were arrested last month and accused by prosecutors of passing sensitive information to shadowy businessmen.

The draft report, based on data from the national security agency, said drug seizures had fallen after interior ministry officials passed classified information to crime groups.

Last week, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev gave the interior minister 10 days to draft plans to rid his ministry of corrupt police officers linked to crime bosses.

The report cites interior ministry data showing police seized 169 kilos of amphetamines last year, compared with 324 in 2006 and 1,018 kilos in 2005.

Despite its declared war on crime and corruption, Bulgaria has not charged any senior officials with graft and has put only one organized crime boss behind bars.

Local observers and EU diplomats say politicians and magistrates are often linked to crime groups, and tensions within the ruling coalition are also not helping any clean-up.

(Reporting by Anna Mudeva and Tsvetelia Ilieva; Editing by Robert Woodward)

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL082539320080408

This was a Mugniyeh specialty, as best as I can find out.

The 801

04-16-2008, 09:31 AM

Selling Terror
Madison Avenue meets the Bekaa Valley.
by Jonathan Schanzer
04/16/2008 12:00:00 AM

HEZBOLLAH, THE RADICAL Shiite terrorist organization in Lebanon, is best known for attacking Israelis. But the organization also attempts to gain the support of Lebanese citizens with a sophisticated network of social services, political outreach, and financial aid. And recently, the militia has turned to advertising campaigns to bolster its image.

Hezbollah owns or controls at least two known advertising companies: Ressalat and Media-Publi Management. The U.S. Department of the Treasury should designate both as Specially Designated Global Terrorist entities (SDGTs) immediately as part of its ongoing campaign to cut off Hezbollah from the global financial system.

According to a recent article in the Lebanese al-Nahar, Ressalat is a "Hizbullah-funded organization that handles advertising and cultural events for the group." The company does not appear to have a web presence, but al-Nahar identified Mohamed Noureddine as Ressalat's creative director. One French report also identified Noureddine as the director of a think tank tied to Hezbollah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah. His name can also be found alongside pro-Hezbollah videos on YouTube. After the car bombing that killed Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh on February 13, Noureddine and his team launched a sophisticated advertising campaign to lionize the slain terrorist leader. Within hours of the bombing, colorful stencil drawings of Mughniyeh's bearded and bespectacled face appeared on huge billboards throughout Lebanon. The stenciled portrait was similar to the iconic drawing of Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara. These Mughniyeh billboards--some of which read: "Prophecy of the Final Victory"--now line the road from the Beirut
airport to the city's downtown district. According to Mohammed al-Amin, managing director of a billboard company that rented space to Ressalat, the entire network of billboards along the airport road and within the group's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut cost at least $100,000.

In 2006, following Hezbollah's war against Israel, the group reportedly paid an unnamed public relations firm some $140,000 to design an ad campaign called "Divine Victory," glorifying the 34-day war that ended with a U.N.-brokered cease-fire on August 14, 2006. Last year, Hezbollah posted a huge billboard in southern Lebanon, facing northern Israel, with the faces of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Additionally, near the coastal town of Naqura (where the U.N. peacekeeping force maintains its headquarters), Hezbollah posted a large mural portraying an Israeli warship that had been hit by the terrorist group during the 2006 war.

Was Ressalat behind all of these billboards? The answer is still unknown. There may be other unidentified Hezbollah advertising companies lurking in Lebanon.

However, Hezbollah's advertising operation is not limited to billboards. As first revealed by analyst Avi Jorisch, a Lebanon-based company called Media-Publi Management handles ads and promotions for al-Manar, Hezbollah's television station. Media-Publi is now listed (complete with address and phone number) with the Lebanese Advertising Agencies Association. The company also openly operates a website (www.mpmlb.com), which actually lists al-Manar's scheduled programming and boasts of serving as "the exclusive media representative of al-Manar T.V. station...We are responsible of reservation and monitoring of the ads on al-Manar [sic].

Media-Publi reportedly worked with numerous advertising agencies, including the world-renowned Saatchi and Saatchi, selling ad space to numerous multinational corporations. After the SDGT designation of al-Manar in March 2006, however, many advertisers pulled their products from al-Manar's airwaves.

Media-Publi has four known employees: Saeed T. Fadel (Marketing Coordinator), Hussein Nassour (Account Handler), Ahmad Haidar (Account Handler), and Ibrahim Farhat (General Manager). Farhat identifies himself as the public relations manager for al-Manar. It is unclear whether the others are Hezbollah members.

It is equally unclear whether either of these two advertising companies belong to the Lebanese Media Group, the parent company of al-Manar, which was also designated by the U.S. Treasury as an SDGT in March 2006. If these companies are part of this broader network, Treasury's designation already applies to them. The designation must simply be enforced.

If these companies are not subsidiaries of the Lebanese Media Group, the U.S. Treasury Department should consider a new round of designations to include Media-Publi, Ressalat, as well as the four Media-Publi employees listed on the site. Similarly, other banking systems and companies around the world should be encouraged to cease doing business with them. Hezbollah's Lebanese advertising operations must not be allowed to continue.

Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism analyst for the U.S. Treasury Department, is director of policy for the Jewish Policy Center and author of the forthcoming book, Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine (Palgrave, November 2008).

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/989rronh.asp

The 801

05-04-2008, 08:24 AM

Hezbollah in airport spying row
By Jim Muir
BBC News, Beirut

A fierce political row has broken out in Lebanon over claims that the radical Shia movement, Hezbollah, secretly filmed aircraft at Beirut's airport.

Heads of the Western-backed government accused Hezbollah of preparing for some kind of terrorist attack.

Hezbollah dismissed the accusations as scare mongering.

The exchanges reflect the divisions that have paralysed Lebanon for eight months and left the country without a president for much of that time.

Arab League visit

The allegation levelled by leaders of the government is that Hezbollah set up a hidden, remote-controlled camera in a container park overlooking the main runway of Beirut's international airport.

A newspaper that supports the government, an-Nahar, published documents in which the Lebanese Army's intelligence agency purportedly confirms that the camera was spotted in the last week of April, apparently directed at the runway, but was removed by three men in civilian clothing before it could be impounded.

The accusation is that the radical Shia movement, which controls the suburbs where the airport is located, was spying on air traffic in preparation for a possible attack, perhaps aimed at assassinating one of the prominent pro-government figures who fly in and out of the facility.

Hezbollah ridiculed the charges, saying that those who levelled them were simply parroting a US campaign against it and other groups which are resisting Israel.

Hezbollah and its supporters accused the government of scare mongering in order to torpedo a political settlement and scare Arab and other summer visitors into staying away.

These bitter exchanges came as the Arab League's secretary-general, Amr Moussa, was on yet another visit to Beirut to try to promote reconciliation and an understanding that would allow the election of a president, a job that has been vacant since last November.

Once again, it looks as though Mr Moussa is leaving empty-hand

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7382289.stm

The 801

05-04-2008, 08:26 AM

Report: Hezbollah can intercept calls in Lebanon thanks to Iran
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Hezbollah, Lebanon

An official Lebanese government report reveals that Iran is setting up an illegal telecommunication network across Lebanon, capable of intercepting all telephone conversations in the country, the Saudi-owned daily al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Sunday.

According to the report, Iran has set up this network to aid the Lebanon-based guerilla group Hezbollah.

In an interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat, Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said that the "issue of communications has been under discussion for a long time, but we were waiting for them [Hezbollah] to respond to the security authorities who requested they stop all infringements."

According to Hamadeh, the Lebanese cabinet is planning to discuss this Iranian network on Monday, and later bring the issue before the United Nations Security Council as well as the Arab League, al-Awsat reported.

In the interview, Hamadeh added that Hezbollah was making efforts to link all the militias in Lebanon, Syria and Iran via a vast telecommunications network.

"Their goal is not security resistance. They want to connect between all the Iranian and Syrian militias and they want to eavesdrop on everyone," Hamadeh said.

The Iranian communications network has been completed in southern Lebanon, the Lebanon Valley, southern Beirut and several Christian areas in Mount Lebanon. Work is currently underway to complete the infrastructure in the northern Lebanon Valley.

According to the government report, the network is capable of tracking 100,000 numbers using a digital format in which each number is five digits long.

According to reports, the Hezbollah hardware can hook up to Lebanon's main telephone network.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/980491.html

The 801

05-07-2008, 12:45 PM

Hezbollah declares the Lebanese Army an enemy
Published: Wednesday, 7 May, 2008 @ 4:56 PM in Beirut (GMT+2)

Beirut, Lebanon - Hezbollah isolated itself further on Wednesday when internal sources revealed that the militia no longer considers the Lebanese Army an ally, claiming they have joined the enemy.

Hezbollah has issued an internal memorandum to its party members noting increased provocation against the resistance and the cover some Lebanese factions are providing to any possible Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

"Hezbollah's enemies have seen signals of weakness in the party's decision not to retaliate yet to the assassination of Imad Mugniyah, and this might encourage Israel and its Lebanese allies to come up with a new adventure. Media reports have been focusing lately on Hezbollah's activities in establishing military bases. This is also part of the provocation against the resistance," the memorandum said.

The source also told the Kuwaiti daily As-Seyassah that Hezbollah no longer has good relations with the Lebanese army.

"Members of an official security service that is allied with March 14 have been talking about the cameras placed near airport runway 17 for several weeks. When the cameras were discovered, the information was released through the defense minister, and the Army Intelligence Services confirmed it. This means that the historical close relationship between the Lebanese army and the resistance is over for good. The military institution has taken sides with the other party," the source said.

The internal memorandum also said that an Israeli report has confirmed Hezbollah's suspicion that a PSP official was involved in Mugniyah's assassination.

"Hezbollah called on its officials to take security measures and move into secondary residences. It also called on its members to be prepared for any scenario," the source added.

He also said that the present campaign against Hezbollah is more dangerous than the 2006 July War. "Internal factions are participating in this campaign, and as the number of our allies has decreased, so has their readiness to provide the party with a political cover, especially since the FPM, headed by MP Michel Aoun, has become inefficient on the Christian level. The same is true of Hezbollah's Sunni allies."

"Thus, Hezbollah will be more or less alone in the coming confrontation," he added.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/05/hezbollah_decla.php

By the way, PSP stands for the Progressive Socialist Party headed by Walid Jumblatt

The 801

05-07-2008, 03:51 PM

The poo is now flying in Lebanon, watch for the mainstream US press to get behind this in about a week....

Sunni cleric denounces Hezbollah in Lebanon
Published: Wednesday, 7 May, 2008 @ 9:25 PM in Beirut (GMT+2)

Following today's deplorable instigation of violence and chaos by Hezbollah, the Sunni Grand Mufti Muhammad Rashid Qabbani addressed the Lebanese people, calling on Hezbollah to immediately pull their armed men out of Beirut's streets and its central district.

We thought Hezbollah was concerned with resisting Israeli occupation, and yet it has begun to occupy Beirut.

We turn to the Arab world, to tell them that Lebanon is under Hezbollah hegemony backed by foreign support, under the name of the resistance.

Here is Hezbollah occupying Beirut and the Rafik Hariri International Airport, and blackmailing the Lebanese government.

It is regrettable that an Islamic Republic should rise with the support of those who strike at Lebanese unity.

I call on the Hezbollah leadership to initiate the withdrawal of their armed members from Beirut and fear God, for the Sunni Muslims are tired of excesses.

Forewarned is forearmed.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/05/sunni_cleric_de.php

Love that last line. Where is that from? Is that an arabic translation? I'm writing William Safire on that one. Looks like Mugsy was holding it together more then we realized.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2006/12/30/mufti%20Qabbani%20-1.jpg

Dig that Mufti's hat!

( In case anyone ever cares, I can die happy now that I have been able to write the sentence "Dig that Mufti's hat" in a context that makes sense. I love the english language.)

The 801

05-07-2008, 04:06 PM

Again, here you see the swing of the local press against Hezbollah. The internal situation is getting tense here. US press is ignoring this. We plan to track it here.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/02/06/hezbollah%20flag%20and%20burning%20tires.jpg

Hezbollah holding Lebanon hostage, again
Published: Wednesday, 7 May, 2008 @ 3:59 PM in Beirut (GMT+2)

By Abu Kais,
From Beirut to the Beltway
Beirut - The Hizbullah militia and its supporters spent a good part of the day terrorizing Beirut citizens, blocking major roads, and dumping dirt along the airport road, blocking access to the airport.

Flights to and from Beirut's Rafik Hariri airport have been canceled.

Hooligans on motorcycles are touring Beirut neighborhoods, throwing insults and beating residents. Clashes between Hizbullah/Amal and March 14 supporters erupted in several mixed neighborhoods in the city.

The media is reporting heavy gunfire and use of rocket propelled grenades. The pro-Hizbullah labor unions, meanwhile, have called off today's strike, which LBC said, quoting government sources, was used by Hizbullah as an excuse for unleashing violence and exact revenge after Monday's cabinet decision to crack down on Hizbullah's spy network in the country.

LBC is reporting that Hizbullah will not re-open the airport road. Berri and Hizbullah have reportedly asked the government to reinstate the pro-Hizbullah airport security chief in return for ending their riots and occupation of the airport road.

The army is saying that it will "choose the right time" to re-open the road.

Wafiq Choukair, the pro-Hizbullah airport security chief fired by the government, is reporting to work as usual and refusing to relinquish his post.

LBC is still airing Ministry of Tourism spots promoting tourism in Lebanon, some calling Lebanon a "safe destination". One spot shows families reuniting at the airport.

With Hizbullah in de-facto occupation of the airport, those of us with families in Lebanon will have to wait until someone puts an end to Nasrallah's terrorism. The outlaw is scheduled to give a press conference from some hole in the ground tomorrow.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/05/hezbollah_holdi.php

Folks, Wow, Wow, Wow.....
Check out the last sentence. This is a news source that has been cut free and is expressing itself like it always wanted to. The slant is unmistakable. This reactor is going critical. And the news is changing hourly. This is the blowback from the Mugniyeh assassination. It is not what I thought, but make perfect sense. The people were sick of his shit.

Stand by for adventure. - 801

( As a motorcyclist, I have to defend the fact that most motorcyclists are not hooligans, but upstanding citizens. - Let the record show)

Kamikaze

05-07-2008, 06:04 PM

Well, this was expected to happen for one reason or another sooner or later.

:add36:

The 801

05-08-2008, 01:42 PM

Confrontation in Lebanon Appears to Escalate
Mohammed Zaatari/Associated Press

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The decision by the Lebanese government to shut down a private telephone network operated by the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah was an act of war and Hezbollah would defend itself, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, said on Thursday.

The comments were among Mr. Nasrallah’s strongest since the beginning of Lebanon’s months-long political crisis and may signal a new level of confrontation between Hezbollah and its supporters and the Western-backed government. Tensions have escalated in recent days, and clashes and gunfire continued on the streets of Beirut on Thursday as Hezbollah tried to enforce a general strike called by labor unions.

On Tuesday, the government said that it would send troops to shut down a telephone network operated by Hezbollah in south Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

“This decision was a declaration of war and the start of war on the resistance and its weapons,” Mr. Nasrallah said, speaking via satellite at a news conference convened by Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

“Our response to this decision is that whoever declares or starts a war, be it a brother or a father, then it is our right to defend ourselves and our existence,” he said.

However, Mr. Nasrallah left open the door for some negotiations by saying that it would stop the strike if the government’s forces left the streets of Beirut and the government reversed its decision on the telephone network.

The government has said it would prosecute those responsible for operating the network, which was mainly used for communication between Hezbollah members during the war with Israel in 2006. It also accused the militant group of placing several spy cameras on a road outside the Beirut airport to monitor pro-government officials. The cabinet dismissed the airport’s director of security, a figure close to Hezbollah.

As the country remained mired in its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war, tension has worsened in recent days.

On Thursday, parts of the city were still shut down, and roads were still blocked by burning tires and garbage cans set on fire by Hezbollah supporters and other opponents of the government.

They were trying to enforce a strike protesting government economic policies and demanding higher minimum wages. Roads to the airport were still closed, and only one plane managed to leave Beirut on Thursday.

For 17 months, Lebanon has struggled through a political standoff between the Hezbollah-led opposition which is supported by Iran and Syria and the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who is backed by the West and Saudi Arabia. The impasse has left the country without a president since November.

Many of the clashes in recent days have been in mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhoods. Armed civilians were visible on some streets.

“God is with the Sunnis,” shouted government supporters. “The Shiite blood is boiling,” responded Hezbollah followers from across the street. Lebanese army troops in riot gear stood between them.

In other parts of the city, Lebanese troops in armored personnel carriers raced among neighborhoods trying to contain the fighting and shooting in the air to disperse crowds.

“This is the first day of the civil war,” said a government supporter who gave his name as Omar, in a Sunni neighborhood. “They are the aggressors, and they will be buried here.”

A few miles away, supporters of Hezbollah vowed to continue the protest until Mr. Siniora’s government fell.

“We are staying here,” said a protester who gave his name as Abu Rish. “We have money and support from Iran and Syria and we can go on like this for another 50 years

NYT

Casey

05-10-2008, 10:58 PM

Day 3: Hizbullah, Amal take West Beirut
By Hussein Abdallah
Daily Star staff
Saturday, May 10, 2008

March 14 Forces decry 'armed and bloody coup'

BEIRUT: Lebanon's governing coalition, the March 14 Forces, accused Hizbullah of staging a military coup against the state and said that Hizbullah's arms have become illegitimate after they were used against their fellow Lebanese citizens. "Hizbullah's claim that its arms were only targeted at Israel have proved false and invalid in the past two days, which witnessed the uses of such arms against the Lebanese people," the statement said.

Lebanese Forces boss Samir Geagea, reading the March 14 Forces statement after a meeting at his residence in Maarab, rejected Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's claim that the group's weapons were used against other Lebanese in a bid to protect Hizbullah's possession of arms.

In a news conference on Thursday, Nasrallah said that Hizbullah were ready to use their arms against other Lebanese, if the desired goal was to defend the resistance.

The March 14 statement compared "Hizbullah's occupation" of Beirut to the Israeli occupation of Beirut after the invasion of 1982.

"Beirut did not fall to Israel in the past and will not fall to Hizbullah today," the statement said.

Geagea also said that the Hizbullah "coup" was aimed at putting Syria back in control and increasing Iranian influence. "The armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the Mediterranean."

The March 14 Forces reiterated their backing of the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and called on the Arab and international community to interfere to end the "coup" and put pressure on whoever is backing it.

Meanwhile, former President Amin Gemayel on Friday downplayed what he called "Hizbullah's alleged victory" and said that such "victory" is likely to hit back at Hizbullah.

Gemayel criticized Nasrallah for comparing the clashes in Beirut to the clashes fought by Hizbullah militants against the Israeli military during the summer 2006 war.

Gemayel said that Hizbullah has crossed all the red lines, adding that the ruling coalition was ready to engage in dialogue on the condition that the issue of Hizbullah arms would be the dialogue's first item.

The Phalange leader also condemned the attack on media organizations, referring to the attack against Future Television headquarters in Beirut. The Future TV building was attacked by members of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP).

Gemayel also warned of the security situation in Lebanon and disclosed information about the presence of Al-Qaeda operatives in some of the country's Palestinian refugee camps.

Also on Friday, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt warned Hizbullah against invading the areas controlled by his party.

"Hizbullah need to know that we also have arms the same way they do," Jumblatt said in an interview with New TV.

However, Jumblatt denied his PSP or the Future Movement run organized militias.

The PSP leader proposed handing over the situation to the Lebanese army. "We should leave it to the army to decide what to do. Everybody trusts the army," he said.

Jumblatt also questioned whether the sacking of an army officer deserved the burning down of Beirut.

He was referring to the government's recent decision to remove Airport Security Chief Brigadier General Wafiq Shoucair from his post. The decision sparked the current crisis.

While expressing his readiness to engage in dialogue to end the crisis, Jumblatt vowed that he will remain in Beirut and will not leave his residence in the Clemenceau area.

Jumblatt's residence, which is under the army's protection, is reportedly under siege by opposition militants.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan, one of Jumblatt's chief rivals, contacted the PSP leader and assured him that he (Arslan) was against any action that risked the safety of Jumblatt.

Another rival of Jumblatt, Head of Tawheed Party Wiam Wahhab asked Jumblatt to remove all PSP security checkpoints in Mount Lebanon.

Earlier on Friday, Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun said that the recent events have put the country back on the right track.

Aoun held the government responsible for the eruption of violence in Beirut and said that he had previously warned the United Nations Security Council that the situation in Lebanon could escalate at any time if the international community continued its support for the "illegitimate" Siniora government.

"I also warned them [the ruling coalition] not to arm themselves. I told them that they will not have the chance to use their arms," Aoun said.

The retired general, a leading figure of the Hizbullah-led opposition movement, described the seizure of most parts of west Beirut by Hizbullah and Amal Movement militants as a victory for Lebanon.

"It is not the victory of one party over the other. It is a victory for Lebanon."

In a related development, the Maronite League, in a six-point statement issued Friday, warned against the broadening of the eruption of inter-Lebanese violence in the country, adding that "these tragic clashes have brought back memories of the [1975-1990] Civil War in Lebanon."

The statement expressed concerns after the recent aggravation of the political crisis and the absence of dialogue between the government and the opposition coalition.

The Maronite League called for an immediate return to a multiparty dialogue and to take immediate actions to withdraw fighters out of the streets.

Arab foreign ministers to hold emergency talks

Compiled by Daily Star staff

Arab foreign ministers are to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday on the Lebanon crisis amid fears about Iran's influence over the Shiite Hizbullah movement which seized control of west Beirut on Friday.

The move follows three days of street battles which have stoked fears a protracted political feud could descend into another full-blown civil war in the deeply divided nation.

"It has been decided to hold an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Sunday in Cairo, at the request of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to put an end to the deadly battles in Lebanon," an Arab League official said.

The Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a regional powerhouse and key US ally which backs the ruling majority in Lebanon, had led calls for the meeting in the wake of the fighting that has left 13 people dead and scores wounded.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa cut short a trip to the United States and returned to Cairo on Friday to prepare for it, his deputy told AFP.

Saudi Arabia and the region's other heavyweight, Egypt, have been strong supporters of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and blamed Hizbullah, backed by Syria and Iran, for the latest confrontation.

"Egypt and other Arab countries are very concerned by the actions of Hizbullah in Lebanon," an Egyptian diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"A party backed by Iran cannot be allowed to take control of the running of Lebanon," the diplomat said.

"The situation today in Lebanon is 10 times worse than it was yesterday and we are very concerned at what is happening, because that means that Iran wants to control the country."

Opposition Hizbullah gunmen seized control of predominantly Muslim west Beirut from pro-government forces on Friday, the third day of sectarian violence that threatened to tip the country into all-out civil war.

On Friday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said his country is offering to help warring factions in Lebanon meet for talks in the hope of preventing a grave situation becoming worse.

"We invite everyone to come to the table to reach an accord. We are ready to facilitate their meeting and take all necessary measures," he said in a statement.

Kouchner said civil war must be avoided. He said he would be in contact with Lebanon's leaders and its allies, and he urged other countries with influence to behave responsibly.

"We call on everyone, each party, each force, to immediately stop the fighting and return to dialogue. We demand the barricades be lifted and the airport reopened," he added.

Also on Friday, French Premier Francois Fillon said Paris is working with Lebanese authorities and foreign governments to prevent Lebanon from descending into civil war, Fillon said.

"We know that the situation could lead to greater violence and civil war," Francois Fillon said. "We support Lebanese authorities whose mission is to safeguard stability and order." "French authorities are in contact with all authorities on the ground, as well as the Arab League, to find a solution."

Meanwhile, the White House said Friday it was "very troubled" by the crisis in Lebanon and urged Iran and Syria to end their support for the Hizbullah group battling the government in Beirut.

"We are very troubled by the recent actions of Hizbullah. We urge Hizbullah to stop their attempt to defy the lawful decisions taken by the democratically elected Lebanese government," said spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

"We also urge Iran and Syria to stop their support of Hizbullah and its destabilizing effects on Lebanon," he told reporters.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose country long dominated neighboring Lebanon, said on Friday that the political crisis there was an "internal matter" and called for it to be resolved through dialogue.

Assad was speaking at a meeting with visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, during which the two shared thoughts "on the regional situation, particularly in Lebanon," state news agency Sana reported.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry meanwhile blamed Israel and the US "for the continuous chaotic situation in Lebanon."

Yemen suggested that commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Michel Suleiman, the consensual candidate to replace Lahoud, should chair a national dialogue in to end the violence.

Jordan and Kuwait, both key US allies in the Middle East, also gave their backing to the Cairo meeting.

Jordan's King Abdullah II discussed the crisis with Saudi King Abdullah and they "expressed their deep concern over the repercussion of these horrific events on the future of Lebanon and its people" the palace in Amman said.

Also commenting on the escalating developments in Lebanon, Germany on Friday called for an immediate end to the power "vacuum" in Lebanon, saying it was fuelling the tensions that pushed the country to the brink of a civil war this week.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after a telephone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that he was "deeply concerned" about the deadly clashes between Sunni militants loyal to the Western-backed government and Shiite opposition gunmen.

"I urgently call on all parties to withdraw their armed factions, lay down their weapons and recognize the Lebanese state's exclusive right to use force," he said in a statement.

"The developments of the last few days have shown that a resolution to the political conflict in Lebanon cannot wait any longer."

Steinmeier noted that the parties represented in the Lebanese parliament agreed months ago on a presidential candidate who would be acceptable for all.

"They are now called upon to finally end the vacuum at the top of the state leadership," he said.

"The profound crisis in Lebanon can only be resolved with dialogue and in the framework of institutions that are laid out in the constitution. Part of this dialogue must be an agreement on disarming all the militias in Lebanon."

Germany currently commands the naval component of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which monitors the separation of forces following the 2006 war with Israel.

The crisis, the worst since the 15-year Civil War ended in 1990, has left the country without a president since November, when Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his mandate with no elected successor.

The feud is widely seen as an extension of the confrontation pitting the United States and its Arab allies and Israel against Syria and Iran. - Agencies

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=91899

The 801

05-17-2008, 11:29 PM

Hezbollah in dangerous territory

By Jim Muir
BBC News, Beirut

Hezbollah's lightning offensive against West Beirut and the Druze mountains brought home violently what everybody already knew: that it is far stronger than any other force in the land, including the Lebanese Army.

The issue of Hezbollah's weapons is now centre-stage

Its advances on the ground, and the Western-backed government's humiliating capitulation over its two rescinded decisions, were hailed in the Shia areas as glorious victories, and celebrated with jubilation.

In one way, the Hezbollah escalation and the ensuing crisis has helped to unblock the deadlock that has paralysed Lebanese politics for the past 18 months.

It triggered an Arab League initiative, led by Qatar, to defuse the crisis. The initiative provided the vehicle for an agreement on the immediate start of a political dialogue, something that has been absent for quite some time.

But the full consequences of the worst violence since the civil war in the 1970s and 1980s have yet to be gauged.

So too has the extent to which Hezbollah's undoubted supremacy on the ground can translate into political gains.

Opposition crushed

The onslaught unleashed by the Hezbollah leader, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, just minutes after his televised address on 8 May, saw his movement plunge along a bloody and dangerous course he always vowed it would never follow.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah would never turn its guns on fellow Lebanese

Hezbollah crushed all opposition in West Beirut from Sunni supporters of the government in a matter of hours on that Thursday night.

On 11 May, it pounded the hills south-east of Beirut until the Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, agreed to lay down arms and hand over to the Lebanese Army.

But Hezbollah had turned its guns against fellow-Lebanese, something Hassan Nasrallah said would never happen.

It also stirred up a hornets' nest of sectarian hatreds and very real fears of another outbreak of uncontainable civil strife. Hassan Nasrallah always reassured those anxious about Hezbollah's growing power that he would never allow that to happen.

During the brief period when his fighters and a motley array of allied Syrian-backed militias left over from the civil war erupted into the streets of West Beirut, they burned a television station and a newspaper office, and ransacked and closed down other media outlets owned by their adversaries, especially the Sunni leader Saad Hariri.

That led to fears among many Lebanese that what was under threat was not just the political balance, but a way of life - the strong Lebanese tradition of media freedom and social liberalism that somehow survived all previous upheavals, and made Lebanon for decades a haven for the region's political exiles.

Weapons issue

So Hezbollah and its allies now enter the political contest hoping that the message of their military "victories" against vastly inferior forces will mean a greater chance of getting what they want - at least veto power in a new national unity government, an issue that has snagged all previous efforts to reach agreement.

Hezbollah won two elements in the current package agreement mediated by the Arab delegation:

* The western-backed government formally retracted the two decisions it had taken on 6 May, outlawing Hizbollah's private communications network and reassigning the chief of security at Beirut airport over the alleged deployment of Hezbollah spy cameras overlooking the main runway
* The government side also agreed to an immediate dialogue, as insisted on by Hassan Nasrallah

But those immediate gains for Hezbollah and its allies were balanced by two elements in the Arab-mediated agreement positive for the government side, possibly implying that Hezbollah's political position has been damaged by its use of resistance arms in the domestic arena and the Pandora's box that swung open as a result.

These were:

* A pledge to refrain from resorting or returning to violence in pursuit of political gains - a clear reference to Hezbollah's behaviour over the previous week
* Agreement on a parallel dialogue on spreading state sovereignty throughout the country, and defining the state's relationship with "all organisations" - a reference to Hezbollah and its armed presence

So the issue of Hezbollah's weaponry, which it - unlike all other militias - was allowed to keep at the end of the civil war on the grounds that it was a resistance movement against Israeli occupation, is now centre-stage, as a result of its being turned against fellow-Lebanese.

After the bloodshed, hatred and sectarian tensions of the past week, many Lebanese are fearful that a breakdown of the dialogue now starting could see Hezbollah and its allies back on the warpath in search of a clean political sweep.

The consequences, already foreshadowed by the convulsions which triggered the Arab initiative, could be disastrous.

Bloodbath avoided

While the opposition's move may have been politically motivated, Shia militants could not attack Sunni communities in West Beirut without fanning the flames of sectarian strife.

They can invade our areas, but they will never get the signature of Saad Hariri or Walid Jumblatt or other leaders on a document of surrender to Syria and Iran
Saad Hariri

Sunni reaction in the north of the country produced some of the worst atrocities of this violent episode, when supporters of Saad Hariri took revenge on followers of a Syrian-backed party, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.

Tensions were felt in all parts of the country with mixed communities. Sunni fundamentalists began to come out of the woodwork, feeling that their moment had come.

The pragmatic stance taken by Walid Jumblatt and his Druze community averted what could have been a ferocious bloodbath in the mountains - a spectre that could rise again if fighting resumes.

Hezbollah's onslaught put the Shias on a collision course with both the Sunni and Druze communities which would have been hard to reverse had it gone much further.

The Christian areas were largely spared trouble - mainly because Hezbollah's Christian allies, notably General Michel Aoun, kept out of the fray and did not attempt to block roads on the 7 May general strike, which acted as the vehicle for Hezbollah's move.

Their position has been further undermined by the Hezbollah attack, which stirred atavistic Christian fears of a militant Shia takeover.

Unity at a cost

Another major repercussion of the affair affected the Lebanese Army. Many observers believe that a further escalation in the same directions could lead it to disintegrate on sectarian lines, as it did in the civil war.

The army managed to maintain its unity, but only at the cost of the huge, and for some humiliating, compromise involved in standing by and watching Hezbollah and its unruly allies storming Sunni streets and assets in central and west Beirut, and then attacking into the Druze mountains.

Many Sunni, Druze and Christian elements in the army were said to be deeply disturbed and on the verge of pulling out.

The army's inability to assert itself was one element in what was widely seen, in strategic terms, as a big setback to the US and other western and Arab powers which support the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Mr Siniora was on the verge of resignation at the height of the onslaught but was dissuaded by Saad Hariri and Walid Jumblatt.

Both those leaders saw Hezbollah's move as primarily prompted by its Syrian and Iranian backers, to improve their strategic position against the US and its allies.

"They chose the right moment, with the Americans embroiled in elections, and their position in the region weak," said Mr Jumblatt.

"Quite simply, they want us to surrender, to smile at the return of the Syrian regime to Lebanon, or the handing of the Lebanese decision to Syria and Iran," said Saad Hariri.

"They can invade our areas, but they will never get the signature of Saad Hariri or Walid Jumblatt or other leaders on a document of surrender to Syria and Iran."

US disarray

Many analysts see what has happened as an attempt by Iran and Syria to redress the balance which tilted against them three years ago, when Syrian troops staged a humiliating withdrawal from Lebanon under western pressure at a time when the US star was in the ascendant regionally, following the invasion of Iraq.

Things have changed since then, and the American project is seen as being in disarray throughout the region.

Another complication caused by the crisis has been to aggravate further the relationships of both Iran and Syria with Saudi Arabia, which regards itself as the custodian of the region's Sunnis and especially those of Lebanon.

The Saudi embassy came under fire which, the ambassador said, was not random. Many of its Lebanese associates or proteges and their projects were targeted in the assault by Hezbollah and its allies.

There were sharp exchanges between Riyadh and Tehran - which had cooperated positively to defuse earlier periods of tension in Lebanon.

Another convulsion taking things further along the same line would aggravate relations even more bitterly, which could be a factor persuading Iran to restrain its Hezbollah allies.

Hezbollah 'squeeze'

Some Beirut analysts see what has happened as part of a relentless process by the Syrians of restoring their earlier stranglehold over Lebanese decision-making - spurred by the approach of the UN-backed international tribunal investigating the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, in 2005.

"If they don't get what they want now, they will squeeze some more," said one analyst. "This round has shown that they already have Michel Suleiman where they want him. Nobody can do anything against Syria and Iran."

Gen Suleiman is the Lebanese Army commander, who will be elected president if the current dialogue process produces the desired results.

It is impossible to know to what extent the Hezbollah offensive - which was obviously meticulously planned, and used the government's two ill-judged decisions as the pretext - was motivated locally or pushed by the movement's Syrian and Iranian backers and sponsors, and in what proportion.

There is even speculation that it might have been driven mainly by Iran, alarmed at the current flirtation between Syria and Israel under Turkish mediation and intent on maximising its position.

But local clients of the two countries were both involved alongside one another on the ground, making that seem unlikely.

However, if the outside powers are fuelling it, they, as well as Hezbollah, will have to ponder the dire consequences that could stem from pushing it any further should they not get all they want from the current dialogue.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7403951.stm

Brilliant synopisis and analysis by Jim Muir of NPR

Casey

06-01-2008, 12:43 AM

The Making of Hezbollah Part 1
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18/05/2008
By Manal Lutfi

Tehran, Asharq Al-Awsat- Two fathers created the Lebanese Hezbollah Party. They were Ali Muhtashimi, the "godfather," former Iranian ambassador to Syria who came up with the idea and nurtured it in 1980s; and, Mohammad Hassan Akhtari, the 'operational father," the Iranian ambassador to Syria for the past 14 years, until last January.

Akhtari took the new idea of a "Hezbollah party" and transformed it over the years of his service as ambassador into a reality that has considerably changed the balance of power in the region.

Akhtari, twice ambassador to Syria, (1986 - 1997) and (2005 - January 2008), was the most influential diplomat in Syria. He was not an ordinary ambassador. In addition to being the "operational father" of Hezbollah, he was engineer of "the special relations" between Syria and Iran, coordinator of Iran's relations with Palestinian organizations in Damascus, and founder of the Palestinian-Iranian Friendship Society, which includes representatives from all Palestinian organizations in Damascus.

The purpose of this was "bringing the Palestinian and Iranian people closer together." He is also president of "Ahil al-Bayt World Assembly" for preaching and spreading the Shia doctrine and bringing Islamic sects closer together. Ever since he returned to Tehran (January 2008), he has been working as adviser to the Supreme Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, a position he used to occupy before being posted again as ambassador to Damascus. During his time as ambassador, the Iranian Embassy in Damascus became the most important Iranian embassy in the world. It represented something akin to a "regional centre" for Iran's diplomatic activities that extended from Damascus to Beirut and the Palestinian territories and became privy to files on several matters, chief of which was Iran's relations with Syria, Hezbollah, the Palestinian organizations and Shia scholarly religious circles in the world known in Arabic as "Al-Hawzat al-Ilmiyah." Akhtari's most important achievement was the building of Hezbollah from a mere idea to an establishment with political, economic, military, and social independence in the region.

He supervised the building of Hezbollah, especially its military structure that was built by Iranian Revolutionary Guards specifically sent to Lebanon for this purpose by orders from the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Another no less important achievement was the building of a network of "special relationships" between Syria and Iran, without which Iran would not have been able to move as smoothly in Lebanon or with the Palestinian organizations. He succeeded in weaving all these threads together - Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian organizations and formed what some have called an "Iranian carpet of complex and intertwined relations." Akhtari talks about the years of his work in Damascus and the missions he carried out in two capacities, as an ambassador and as a man of religion. Akhtari did not regard his work in Damascus and the missions with which he was entrusted from the very first day, as merely political activities, but as part of his role as a man of religion. He left his work as the imam at Samnan Mosque in northern Iran to become a diplomat with a religious mission, as he described himself in this extensive interview with Asharq-Al-Awsat in Tehran, the first of its kind with an Arab or foreign newspaper.

His diplomatic language is a mixture of religious fiqh [jurisprudence] and political language. He did not study diplomatic and political sciences; he studied fiqh at a religious school in Qom and worked as a man of religion and a mosque imam. President of the Iranian Republic Ali Khamenei chose him to be Iran's ambassador in Damascus, at a time which Akhtari was described as "sensitive and difficult." Iran was at the time involved in the "war imposed by Iraq" as he put it. Syria was one of three Arab states that stood by Iran; two of which - Libya and Algeria, withdrew their support later on, while Syria alone remained with Iran. It was then Akhtari's job to ensure that this coalition, unlike the rapprochement with Libya and Algeria would not end. Because Iran did not have an ambassador in Beirut at the time and only had a chargé d'affairs, Akhtari was put in charge of the Lebanese file. And, because the Palestinian organizations in Damascus, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, were making Damascus a base, Akhtari became responsible for Iran's relations with the Palestinian organizations.

Asharq Al-Awsat is publishing a series of articles about those decisive and fateful years of the 1980s that shaped relations in the region from that time to the present day. Hezbollah was established in those years, the special relationship between Iran and Syria was forged, as well as the relations between Tehran and the Palestinian organizations. The series includes testimonials from present and former public officials who were in the decision making circles at the time in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Some of these testimonials will be published for the first time. It also includes eye witness accounts, from present and former Syrian and US public officials and Palestinian leaders in Damascus. The first part of the series is with Mohammed Hassan Akhtari, the "godfather" of Hezbollah, and former Iranian ambassador in Damascus. He talked about the three main files that dominated his 14 years in Damascus as ambassador. They were: building Hezbollah and the role of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards; the war between the Amal Movement and the Palestinian organizations; and then between Amal and Hezbollah. He also talked about the building of relations with Palestinian organizations; the relations between Syria and Iran, and the Ahil al-Bayt World Assembly, of which he has been secretary general for the past four years which he said, performs religious activities. The underlying philosophy that guided him through all these issues, he said, was based on the teachings of Ayatollah Khomeini. He revealed that between 1968 and 1972 he was instructed to perform religious activities in the Syrian cities of Homs and Aleppo, as well as Lebanon, implying that he was in contact with these countries for the past 40 years.

The following is the text of the interview:

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You returned to Iran early this year after 14 years as ambassador in Syria, could you tell us about your experiment in building Syrian-Iranian relations all those years?

[Akhtari] First of all, I thank you for coming and for this meeting. I hope that through your paper, we will always continue to consolidate fraternal relations between Muslims, and between Arab and Islamic states. I feel very strongly about these relationships. I believe in, and am convinced of the need to unify the power and resources and realize the unity of the Islamic nation, and establish the defenses against the evil conspiracies plotted against the Arab and Islamic nations. It is probably due to this feeling of responsibility and belief that I succeeded in my work as ambassador to Syria to further consolidate the strong relations between Syria and Iran. I was twice ambassador to Syria. One period lasted about 12 years; the other was seven years later and lasted over two years. It is unusual for an ambassador to remain in one country for such a length of time, not in Syria or Iran anyway. Very few ambassadors in the world spend more than ten years in one country. We have heard of some, but they very seldom stay for 14 years. Continuity and length of time are evidence that I was doing well. I was posted to Syria at politically complex and difficult times on the regional and international level. My first appointment as ambassador was in 1986 during Saddam's imposed war on Iran and after Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. There were also some important Lebanese issues. I can say the circumstances in Lebanon were particularly hot. It was under such circumstances that I was entrusted with the Lebanese file. I never worked as a government employee before my appointment as ambassador, I was new and so were most of the people in government in general.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Where were you before your appointment as ambassador to Syria?

[Akhtari] I was a Friday prayer imam, and from there I came to a seat of political responsibility and diplomatic relations. My background was a good pointer for achievement. In addition, I arrived in Damascus on 5 Ramadan 1986, and started work next day. That was a blessing for me at the start of my work. But that month also, perhaps the 19th or 20th of Ramadan of that year, confrontations between the Palestinians and Amal Movement took place in Lebanon. The Islamic revolution did not have an ambassador in Lebanon. There was only a chargé d'affairs, so, I was entrusted with the Lebanese file as well. In my early days as ambassador, I was entrusted with all these issues, partly because of the importance of the file, partly because Syria had a military and security presence in Lebanon, and partly because all Palestinian organizations and their central commands were in Damascus. I was wholeheartedly involved in these matters. We started working toward a ceasefire in order to create the environment to reconcile the two Muslim factions, the Palestinians and the Amal Movement. There was at the time an attempt to provoke sectarian sedition like the war imposed on Iran by Saddam, in order to portray the issue as a sectarian matter between Shia and Sunni. The conspiracy that we see today has been continuing ever since. There were poisonous and hateful attempts to provoke sectarian conflict. I turned all my attention to this problem because I am a believer in Islamic unity and rapprochement among Muslims in general. I strived earnestly, to prevent this issue from having adverse effects on Lebanon or anywhere else, and from being portrayed as a Sunni/Shia issue. There were Palestinians forcibly driven from their homeland and they came to Lebanon, and there were Lebanese groups who had complaints. And so the problem started. Although infighting was sparked off, our first concern was to prevent it spreading and secondly, prevent the issue from being presented as a sectarian issue between Sunni and Shia. We succeeded in this matter. There were some brothers who assembled Muslim scholars (ulema) in Lebanon at the time. They played an important role in this matter. We used to meet frequently and they used to issue statements calling for calm and explaining that the differences were factional and had no religious or sectarian roots. Thank God, we succeeded in this matter. I can state that Lebanon has refused to regard this as a sectarian matter and, from the beginning we were active in the field to extinguish the fire of sedition and confront it. At the same time, we started building the substance of relations between Iran and Syria, and between Iran and Palestine, amicably, brotherly, surely and with confidence.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] We need to stop here for some detail. What exactly were the differences between the Amal Movement and the Palestinian organizations, and what were your proposals to solve the problem?

[Akhtari] First, as I pointed out, the differences were a conspiracy. The Palestinians were made homeless and they came to Lebanon as guests, especially as far as the Amal Movement was concerned. Second, the founder of the Amal Movement, Imam Musa al-Sadr, was the first to receive the Palestinians. They were not rejecting the Palestinian presence in Lebanon and they knew about the Palestinian question. Moreover, they regarded the Palestine question as their own. So, they played hosts to the Palestinians, and generosity to the guest is one of our religious principles. Imam Musa al-Sadr was among those who welcomed the Palestinians, he always insisted on confronting Israel and supporting the Palestinians. He has a long history in this matter. Third, the two sides have relations with Syria, who was taking care of both the Amal Movement and Palestinian organizations. This provides evidence that it was not an issue of Lebanese Shia and Palestinian Sunnis. It was not like that. Fourth, the two sides had strong new relations with Iran. After the victory of the revolution and declaring the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini received the late martyr Yasser Arafat and the Islamic Republic transformed the embassy of Israel to the Embassy of Palestine. Amal too had relations with the Islamic Republic. They all had relations with the Islamic Republic. Consequently, I can state that the problem was in one backyard, not two, and that Israel was behind it. We have evidence of that. We used to meet in Damascus to follow up the issues. Sheikh Sheikh al-Islam, an assistant to the minister of foreign affairs and later on ambassador to Syria after me, came to Damascus and stayed there. Abdul Salam Jallud, the second man in the Libyan regime who resigned from official work after Lockerbie and kept away from all official activities in May 1993, also came at that time from Libya to Syria. In addition to the three of us, there were Syrian officials. We used to convene tri-partite meetings in the presence of leaders from Amal and the Palestinian organizations. We would meet at night, reach agreement, and in the morning issue a statement. Yet, even before circulating the statement or the decision to be announced, we used to hear about violations somewhere in the South, North, or Beirut. We used to try to discover the reason, and it always appeared that some people were enlisted to sabotage any agreement. The beneficiary in all this was Israel and its supporters. We know that after reconciliation the Palestinians remained where they were. That was a serious problem, caused by mercenaries from outside. Israel was behind it as well as its beneficiary. (Note by Asharq Al-Awsat: Musa al-Sadr, who founded the Lebanese movement Amal, was born in Iran, in the city of Qom on 15 April, 1928. He specialized in Islamic religious studies after obtaining two university degrees from the University of Tehran; one in Islamic studies, and one in political sciences. He went from Qom to Al-Najaf for higher studies under the supervision of Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim al-Tabtabai and Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei. In 1960, he went to stay in the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, where Iranians used to go to escape political problems in Iran. In 1974, he founded the Lebanese resistance brigades that became known as the Amal Movement, and before that in 1969, he established the Supreme Shia Islamic Council. This was the first time a formal sectarian separation was made between Sunni and Shia in Lebanon. His presidency of the Council coincided with the beginnings of Israel's intervention in southern Lebanon. He was naturalized as a Lebanese citizen later on, but not many people know that he was born in Iran, not in Lebanon. Musa al-Sadr vanished during a visit to Libya on 25 August, 1978. Libya continues to be very secretive about the circumstances of his disappearance and his fate is still unknown.)

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You also intervened to contain the conflict between Hezbollah and Amal, could you tell us about your experience with this case.

[Akhtari] I should say first that the issue between Amal and the Palestinians lasted for an entire year before we reached a solution reconciling the parties. After that a new problem arose between Amal and Hezbollah, which began as one party. It can be said that they all were the sons of Musa al-Sadr. After the victory of the Islamic revolution, they had a covenant with the Islamic Republic. They visited Ayatollah Khomeini at the time and began relations like all other Muslims. The problem between Hezbollah and Amal occurred after they split into two groups; some stayed with Amal, others formed Hezbollah. But they started as a united front against Israel to drive it out of Lebanon, or shall we say, from Beirut to the security belt, as it was called at the time. Within a few months, the Lebanese resistance in general, and members of Hezbollah and Amal from southern Lebanon in particular, were able to wage war against Israel. The confrontation between Amal and Hezbollah was very bad and had many negative results. It annoyed us very much. That's why we did all we could to end the problem.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What exactly was the reason, and was it ideological or political?

[Akhtari] I do not believe the reason was ideological. They all have one ideology and belong to the same sect. Nor was the reason political. The two parties had strong relations with Syria and Iran. Moreover, they did not have any particular ambition in Lebanon. So, one cannot really say the differences were political. They did not even have different or conflicting objectives.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is it true then that Amal was more secular, while Hezbollah was more religious and that sparked off the differences?

[Akhtari] Religiosity, as we all know, is what you do. It is one's practical commitment and conduct. One may say that the brothers in Hezbollah were more active and more committed, while Amal had different strata; with some performing their religious duties in the same way as Hezbollah while others did not. But that is normal among youths. The main reason was not religion, sectarianism, beliefs, politics or ideology. They all believed in the need to confront Israel, and believed in the resistance. As I said, they all come from the same house. Sometimes an internal problem arises for a reason, and sometimes for no reason at all. Sometimes, after the event, one may not know what caused it. Two brothers from the same family and the same sect fight each other. This problem took us a long time. I was entrusted with the mission of reconciling the parties by the president of the Iranian Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei. I was Iran's representative, and Ghazi Kanaan, [Syrian intelligence chief in Lebanon from 1982 to 2001 and later, minister of the interior from October 2003 to his suicide in 2005] was representative of the late president Hafiz al-Assad. In addition we had representatives from Amal and Hezbollah. We held long meetings and it took us months to achieve reconciliation.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What were the conditions for reconciliation between Amal and Hezbollah?

[Akhtari] The conditions were the return of things to where they were before, release of detainees by both sides, and abiding by the ceasefire. These were the main points and both parties abided by them. Political and religious figures in Lebanon also helped in solving this problem. Reconciliation between Amal and Hezbollah proceeded until the situation reverted to where it was before. The two parties performed their religious rites together, and they appeared at celebrations together. I can state that the two parties became closer to each other day after day, until they were like one stratum, as we see them today in Lebanon. The reconciliation was the basis for the unity, harmony, and collegiality that we see today between the two parties. Hassan Nasrallah is leading the spiritual and religious leadership, and Nabih Berri is leading the political movement in Lebanon. Both are doing well and we believe the reconciliation has gone well and formed the basis for trust between Iran and Syria more than ever before. Syria stood by Iran from the very first day. The late President Hafiz al-Assad trusted Ayatollah Khomeini and respected him. He was one of those who believed that any opposition to the Islamic Republic in any shape or form and under whatever pretext amounted to treason to the Arab, Islamic, and Palestinian causes. All President al-Assad's speeches at forums of Arab and Islamic states pointed in this direction. President Al-Assad's stand against Saddam was not personal. To him, the Islamic Republic and Ayatollah Khomeini took Iran out of the Western coalition and the coalition with America and Israel and put it in the coalition of Arab and Muslim states. Moreover, Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic Republic regarded the Palestinian cause as theirs and called for commemorating Jerusalem's universal day in the month of Ramadan each year, in support of the Palestinian cause. Hamas and Islamic Jihad were formed after the Islamic revolution and were inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini and the resistance he formed. The Palestinian Islamic resistance became a fact, first in Lebanon and then in Palestine. Therefore, the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance are legitimate sons of the Islamic Republic, morally and spiritually.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Abdul Halim Khaddam, former Syrian vice-president, claimed that Iran strengthened Hezbollah after the confrontation at Amal's expense. Was this true?

[Akhtari] No, it is not true. Iran had the same relations at the same time with both parties, yet even then some people or some circles tried to give the impression that Iran favors or supports Hezbollah at Amal's expense. In reality, Iran's relations were with both of them. Amal's president and members had very good relations with Iran as did Hezbollah and they used to visit Iran. Also, Iranian officials used to meet with the president of Amal and his aides. When the conflict broke out between them, Iran tried to solve the problem; but some people were intent on sabotaging all these attempts and solutions. It took us a long time to reach a solution. What you have attributed to Khaddam might have been his personal impression, but as a matter of fact it was not true. Iran assisted them in developing close and strong relations with Syria and Iran. There was complete trust and interdependence between the two countries. Some groups and political analysts thought that Syrian-Iranian relations would be confined to the war years with Iraq, but we have seen that the relations became wider and deeper and thank God, this is still the case.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You played a big role in building Hezbollah in Lebanon. What were the difficulties that you faced in building Hezbollah, how long did it take, how was it planned, and how did you help?

[Akhtari] In my capacity as representative of the Islamic Republic, I played a role in supporting, widening and deepening the resistance. But it is important to stress that the resistance was launched in Lebanon with Lebanese spirit, Lebanese faith, and Lebanese men. They felt the need to establish the resistance, and found and organize its base. Imam Musa al-Sadr first founded the movement of the oppressed, which later became Amal. When Israel invaded Lebanon, the Lebanese felt the need to resist. At the same time, although we were at war with Iraq, Ayatollah Khomeini agreed to send delegations from the Revolutionary Guards to support the resistance. We stood by them, supporting, assisting and encouraging, but the foundation was theirs. The land, capabilities and the faith were all Lebanese. They wanted to establish a wide deep-rooted resistance, and they did. We stood by them, helped them and supported them in this matter. They followed it up and we supported them morally and materially, and thus they got to where they are now.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can we go back to the early days of founding Hezbollah? You have been repeatedly described as the 'operational father of Hezbollah, while Ali Muhtashimi was described as the 'godfather'. How was your relationship with Muhtashimi, and how did the idea of supporting Hezbollah occur to Iran?

[Akhtari] Ali Muhtashimi was in charge in the beginning, but later on when I became ambassador, I performed this supporting role to the resistance. My relationship with Ali Muhtashimi was good. We have been friends for more than forty years. Our friendship predates the Islamic revolution, and still stands. The reason Hezbollah was established and Iran entered the field of Lebanon was Israel's occupation of Lebanon [sic]. When Israel occupied Lebanon, the Islamic Republic deemed it necessary to support Lebanon in facing up to the Israeli occupation. Iran came to Lebanon and stood by the resistance in 1982. There was the Amal Movement and other Lebanese movements in the resistance, including Christians. The Islamic Republic stood by all political shades of the Lebanese resistance. Even the secular groups, Christian and Muslim, had relations with the Islamic Republic. The group of socialist and communist parties, as well as other groups had relations with the Islamic republic and they still do. The Islamic Republic has stood by the resistance. This group and those men wanted to resist, so they founded their organization and the Islamic Republic assisted them in organizing it. [ Asharq Al-Awsat note on founding Hezbollah: Ali Muhtashimi, Iran's ambassador to Syria from 1982 - 1985, who is considered the 'godfather' of Hezbollah, said in an interview with the Iranian newspaper Sharq, on 3 August, 2008, that Hezbollah fought side by side with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Iran-Iraq war. Muhtashimi said: "Hezbollah's experience was partly gained in fighting and partly in training. Hezbollah gained high combat experience during the Iran-Iraq war. Hezbollah party members fought directly alongside our forces." He added: "After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, Ayatollah Khomeini changed his mind about sending large forces to Syria and Lebanon. In other words, after the fifth Iranian plane carrying units from the guards, the Baseege and Dhul-Faqir Brigades (used to be called Khalidoon or the immortals in the shah's days), Ayatollah Khomeini objected to the idea of sending more forces. I was then Iran's ambassador to Syria, and I was really worried about Syria and Lebanon. I went to Teheran and met with Ayatollah Khomeini. As I was worried about Lebanon and enthusiastic about the idea of sending forces to Syria and Lebanon, I started talking about our responsibilities and what was going on in Lebanon. The imam cooled me down and said that the forces we send to Syria and Lebanon would need huge logistical support. Reinforcement and support would need to go through Turkey and Iraq. We are in a fierce war with Iraq. As for Turkey, it is a NATO member and an ally of the United States. The only remaining way is to train the Shia men there, and so Hezbollah was born." According to Muhtashimi, more than 100,000 men have received combat training, in batches of 300 men, since the party was founded in Lebanon.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Regarding Khomeini's decision to send the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to support Hezbollah, what exactly was the mission of those forces and how long did they stay in Lebanon?

[Akhtari] I do not remember exactly how long the Iranian Revolutionary Guards stayed in Lebanon, but as I said, the circumstances were those of occupation in Lebanon and the Revolutionary Guards went there to support the Lebanese at that particular time. When it ended, after a year or two, and the resistance produced the desired results, they went back and the presence of the Iranian guards in Lebanon was brought to an end.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What was the Guards' mission? Did they take a direct part in military operations or were they confined to training Hezbollah's forces?

[Akhtari] They supported Hezbollah in the matter of training and special instructions. I have no knowledge of any of them taking part in direct combat.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You have talked about supporting Hezbollah and coordination with it. How was the coordination done? Did Hezbollah fighters and activists come to Damascus, or did you go to Beirut, and with whom did the coordination take place?

[Akhtari] We used to meet and they would show us what they had. They would tell us what decisions they had made, what commitments they had and what they were doing. They would tell us and submit some reports that in turn we sent to the brothers in the Islamic Republic. But the decision was always theirs. The relations with Palestinian organizations were conducted in the same way, and the officials in the Islamic Republic would give them advice if they had any. But here again, the decision was absolutely theirs. They had a shura council that was responsible for decision-making, and later on, had the power to elect the secretary general, who was also a shura council member. Executive decisions or major decisions were in the hands of the shura council and the secretary general; and this continues to be the case. We have stated repeatedly that the Lebanese question can only be solved by consensus. No solution can be imposed from outside by dictates or orders. We in Iran have never dealt with any of the parties who have ties with the Islamic Republic by issuing orders. This is how we have been dealing with our brothers in Afghanistan, in Iraq, with their different strata, Sunni, Shia, Kurds or others. The same is the case with the Lebanese and Palestinians. We meet with them, we talk, they send us reports, brief us on matters of concern and consult with us on some issues and we offer advice if we have any. The choice and decision-making is and remains in their hands. It is up to them to agree or disagree and to decide and act as they choose. In our view, the only way to deal with the Lebanese situation is by consensus among the spiritual and political leaders in Lebanon. It is one of the characteristics of Lebanon that the political leadership cannot impose its opinion on all the Lebanese. It is essential that the political and religious leaders reach agreement on this matter. Anyone who knows Lebanon and the events of Lebanon knows that Lebanese-Syrian relations at that time were excellent. All Lebanese groups were in contact with us in Syria. Whenever I went to Lebanon, I met with various parties ranging from the Hezbollah and Amal Movement to other Islamic and secular groups. The relations and contacts varied according to the requirements of the prevailing circumstances. At times of sedition and troubles, communications used to be continuous with a view to reaching a solution. When stability returned to Lebanon, naturally, the balance changed.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How did the balance change?

[Akhtari] What happened is that stability returned to Lebanon. Like all ambassadors sent to Syria, when we used to go to Lebanon, we went in an official capacity and our meetings were official meetings, as is customary in the diplomatic field.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Did Iranian and Hezbollah leaders differ on any matter during your work and experience in Damascus?

[Akhtari] Do you mean the Lebanese and the Islamic Republic?

[Asharq Al-Awsat] No, I mean Iran and Hezbollah. The choices open to the resistance those days were difficult choices. There were strategic decisions to be made. Was there any disagreement between you and Hezbollah?

[Akhtari] This issue is difficult to explain. The issue of having different points of view is perennial among the various strata and officials in the Islamic Republic. This was and continues to be the case. I differ with my assistant, and the president of the republic differs with his ministers. There is always this and that view. In government and organizations, the decision is made by consultation [shura] and the decision made by the majority becomes binding. A 100 % agreement in points of view cannot be a fact. However, differences of opinion do not mean differences and do not mean opposition. As we stated earlier, Lebanese affairs are for the Lebanese. One may criticize the way a matter is dealt with, or may suggest a different way. But as far as we and Hezbollah are concerned, we are all of one religion and one faith. We and Hezbollah regard the United States as an enemy of Islam and Muslims. We regard Israel as a cancer in the body of the region and that the policy of confrontation and resistance is fundamental. As for the modes of implementation, Hezbollah may have its ways and means and different forms of expression. This may happen. As far as fundamentals, roots, and objectives are concerned, there are no differences between us.

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=3&id=12794

Casey

06-01-2008, 12:43 AM

The Making of Hezbollah Part Two
http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=3&id=12848

23/05/2008
By Manal Lutfi

Tehran, Asharq Al-Awsat- Former Iranian envoy to Syria and Hezbollah architect, Mohammad Hassan Akhtari highlights to Asharq Al-Awsat Tehran's historical and present ties to the controversial Lebanese militia and the Palestinian Hamas movement, as well as Iran's future plans to connect Iran, Iraq, and Syria with oil and gas pipelines in addition to major railroads.

The Following is the full text of the interview:

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Regarding Iran's help for Hezbollah, did you give advice and intervene to help. For example, it was said that Iran intervened to help Hezbollah to establish Al-Manar Television. How did you help to build Hezbollah's institutions? Did you make proposals or also extend financial assistance?

[Akhtari] As I said before, we provided financial assistance. We also gave them moral encouragement. We did this not only in Lebanon but also in other countries. During our meetings with representatives of other countries, whenever they spoke about Lebanon, we gave them advice because the way many of these countries dealt with Hezbollah was not right. Sometimes countries asked us to mediate to arrange meetings between their officials and Hezbollah officials. We helped them to do that. We also gave advice to some countries, for example France and many other European countries with which we had good relations. We constantly told them that the way they looked on Hezbollah was not right and that Hezbollah represented a large segment of the people in Lebanon. Ten years ago many of them did not understand this point. Because they used to hear fictitious and illusory things from the Americans, they imagined that Hezbollah represented only a small group of the Lebanese people. Later on they came to understand that Hezbollah represented a large percentage of the Lebanese population. Indeed we can say that Hezbollah is all of Lebanon because the Christians, the Sunnis, and the Shiites all support Hezbollah. Regarding Al-Manar Television, there were difficulties to open this channel because of Lebanese laws. We intervened at that time along with Syria. Actually Syria played the larger role. Then the late Rafik al-Hariri supported the idea and helped to open the channel. We all assisted them and the television channel was opened, thank God.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How exactly did you help Hezbollah to establish this television channel?

[Akhtari] We helped them financially and encouraged them. We helped them politically, regionally, and internationally in various ways.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Former Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam said that a dispute erupted between Syria on one side and Iran and Hezbollah on the other when the TWA airliner was hijacked. He said that the Syrian regime did not favor hijacking a plane or taking hostages. Is this true?

[Akhtari] It is certainly not true because Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah had nothing to do with this incident. This incident happened before Hezbollah was founded and developed into a specific organization. There was no specific and strong group called Hezbollah at that time. Even I was not thereat that point. The brothers in the IRGC were not there either. Additionally the Islamic Republic was consistently and publicly objecting to terrorist ideas such as hijacking planes and taking hostages. Hezbollah had nothing to do with the issue. The same applies to the Islamic Republic and Syria. They had nothing to do with the issue. The incident was carried out by certain persons or unknown groups at the time that had a motive. The newspapers and magazines published a lot of reports about this subject and it transpired that there very small unknown groups in Lebanon. Some groups were supported by anti-peace and anti-Hezbollah circles, which were trying to distort the reputation of Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic. They carried out some terrorist acts in order to accuse Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah. As a matter of principle and conviction, it never occurred to the Islamic Republic to carry out terrorist acts or support them. There were circles at that time that liked to make accusations against Syria and Iran. This man [Khaddam] now supports these accusations. If the accusations are true, this man was a senior official at that time and therefore responsible for the terrorist acts.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You say that Hezbollah was not involved in the hijacking. However, the picture of Imad Mughniyeh, who was in charge of military operations in Hezbollah, was taken showing him standing next to one of the hostages taken in the TWA hijacking in 1985. Is this not proof that Hezbollah was involved in hijacking the plane?

[Akhtari] This charge lacks supporting evidence. The martyr Mughniyeh had no connection at all with this issue. "The hijacking of TWA flight 847 was claimed by a group that called itself the "Oppressed in the World Organization."

[Note: The CIA says that this group was connected to Hezbollah. The operation took place on Friday 14 June 1985 and the hijacked plane was scheduled to fly from Athens to Rome with 153 passengers onboard. The operation lasted for two weeks, during which an American passenger was killed. The plane took off at 10:10 and shortly after the flight began two persons ordered the captain to change course to the Middle East. They were armed with pistols that they succeeded in smuggling through airport security. The plane stopped for several hours at Beirut Airport, where 19 passengers were released in exchange for refueling the plane. The second stop was at Algiers Airport where 20 more passengers were released. The plane then returned to Beirut. This time the hijackers killed an American passenger who was formerly a US Navy diver and threw his body on the tarmac.

At Beirut Airport more gunmen joined the hijackers. On 15June the plane then flew another time to Algiers, where 65 passengers were released and then the plane returned to Beirut again. The hijackers demanded the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel and that an international denunciation of Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon after the 1982 invasion of Lebanon should be issued. They also demanded an international denunciation of the US role in Lebanon. Imad Mughniyeh, Hassan Izzaldin, Ali Atwah, and Muhammad Ali Hammadi were accused of the hijacking. According to US intelligence, these persons were members of Hezbollah. Greek intelligence personnel succeeded in capturing Ali Atwah before he could get on the plane. He was released in exchange for eight Greek passengers who were on the plane. On17 June 1985, Nabih Birri, leader of the Lebanese Resistance Brigades (Amal Movement), made a successful mediation effort and secured the release of 40 passengers. Thirty-nine passengers continued to be held until 30 June 1985 when they were released and flown to Germany.]

[Asharq Al-Awsat] After Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated in Damascus, Iran announced the formation of a joint investigating committee, but Syria denied that. Please clarify this confusion.

[Akhtari] To begin with, there was no Syrian-Iranian investigating committee.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] However, one of the assistants of Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced through the Iranian news agency, IRNA, the formation of a joint investigating.

[Akhtari] I did not hear this announcement. Anyway, practically I do not see that we need to form a joint committee. Perhaps the Islamic Republic announced that we were prepared to help if we were asked to do so. We trust Syria, and the brothers in Syria began investigating the issue. It is their concern more than ours because Mughniyeh was their guest in Damascus and, of course, because of the close relations between Hezbollah and Syria, Syria has a special interest in this issue. It is in the collective interest of Amal, Hezbollah, and Syria to follow up this issue with the utmost seriousness. I am certain that Syrian President Dr Bashar al-Assad gave instructions to this effect. We have no doubts about this matter.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Many things have been said about Mughniyeh. Personally, how would you describe him? Does his assassination in Damascus in this way mean that Syrian security was penetrated?

[Akhtari] I cannot talk about this subject. This is a security matter in which various parties may have been involved, and I do not have any evidence or anything clear to make a comment on this issue. However, I knew the man from the start. He was a loyal and religiously committed man. He was active in Hezbollah and was a strong and courageous man. He played an effective role in the resistance and in confronting the occupation.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is there a specific date when Syria will announce the results of the investigation into Mughniyeh assassination?

[Akhtari] Ever since I returned from Damascus to Tehran, I have not discussed this issue and I have no information about it.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You have stated that the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad are legitimate offspring of the revolution and the Islamic Republic. In what way were they backed ideologically, financially, and strategically? Is this support continuing today?

[Akhtari] After the Islamic revolution's victory and the spread of Islamic reawakening and the spirit of confrontation against injustice, aggression, and imperialist conspiracies, these ideas became widespread. The idea of resistance grew increasingly stronger among the Palestinian Muslims. After the victory of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, the Palestinians became convinced that resistance was the best way. The Palestinians nurtured themselves on this idea and it became an international idea. As a country that supports the idea of resisting the occupation, the Islamic Republic supported the idea of resistance by the Hamas movement in Palestine. Additionally the ties between the Islamic Republic and Hamas are well known. The Islamic Republic's backing to Hamas's legitimate government in Palestine is well known and public. As is well known, apart from ideological and financial support, communication with the Palestinians is now severed. Everyone knows this. No group or party can give aid to Hamas without it being publicly known because the Hamas movement is inside Palestine. The backing for Hamas's government is clear and well known. There is nothing else that is hidden.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Apart from the financial support, is there any political support? Is there coordination and consultation about the situation in the wake of the events in the West Bank and Gaza, especially as Khalid Mishal, chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, frequently meets with Iranian officials in Tehran?

[Akhtari] There is constant communication, there is an exchange of visits, and there is political backing. I mean we offer political support for their positions. We also exchange views with them. However, if you are asking about coordination in the strict sense, there is no coordination. They make their own choices and decisions. There is no coordination in planning. They do what they themselves want and decide.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] A few weeks before you left Damascus, the idea of holding a conference of the Palestinian factions was raised. It was meant to be a response to the Annapolis conference. This conference, however, was delayed and finally was not held. It was said that the Palestinian factions refused to hold a conference because of the complexities of the regional situation. Was the reason a disagreement between Tehran and the Palestinian factions?

[Akhtari] Actually there never was a decision to hold a conference in Tehran. What happened was that Foreign Minister Mottaki, while visiting Syria, publicly announced to the Palestinian factions that if they wanted to come and meet in Tehran, they were welcome. He said: If you want to hold a conference in Tehran, we are prepared. There had been a standing invitation for several months to the Palestinian factions to go to Tehran, prior to Ramadan, last year. One month before Ramadan we informed them of the invitation but circumstances were not favorable for such a visit. It was postponed until after Ramadan. At that time we again said that we were willing to receive them in Tehran. The media portrayed this visit as a conference. Actually there were no plans for a conference. We consider Iran our Palestinian brothers' second homeland. They can visit Iran any time they want. Of course, it depends on their circumstances.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] When you were appointed as Iranian ambassador in Damascus, relations between the two countries had not yet reached the level at which they now stand. No strategic relations had yet been established. How did you build these relations? Was this the first task you carried out, especially as you had said earlier that your aim was to build relations at this strategic level? Or did things gradually develop during your posting to Damascus?

[Akhtari] Of course things occur in a gradual way. When a person wants to reach the summit, he has to climb the steps gradually. It is not possible to reach the top in one leap. A strategic aim of every government or state is to establish relations with various countries in various political, economic, and cultural spheres--in short in all spheres. Like other countries we have also sought to achieve similar goals. At the start there were difficulties because the Islamic Republic was still a young state. After that Iraq imposed a war on us and we had internal problems. All countries, Arab, Islamic, and European took Saddam's side at that time, namely, east and west, as we used to say. Three Arab countries took our side and several Islamic countries adopted a good or neutral stand. Most of the European countries, however, the United States, Israel, and the Soviet Union, all backed Saddam militarily, technically, and financially in the full sense of the word, as everyone now knows. Syria, Libya, and Algeria took Iran's side. Along the way, after a period of several years, Libya somewhat withdrew. Algeria also withdrew. But Syria remained. Relations gradually grew deeper between Iran and Syria and expanded in the cultural and economic spheres. We built strong foundations for economic cooperation.

We began from square one and are continuing to develop these relations today. May God be praised, our economic relations focus on mutual investments. The volume of economic cooperation ranges from $2.5-3 billion. Currently there is a plan to build a joint refinery for Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and Malaysia. It will be a costly enterprise and of course there are other projects. With our Syrian and Iraqi brothers we have a plan to build a pipeline to carry oil and gas from Iran to Syria, passing through Iraq. We have discussed the project with the Iraqi Government and Syria and are waiting for things to calm down in Iraq. We also plan to expand the rail links with Iraq and Syria. The railroads mostly exist but we need to extend them and link them. This new railroad will be like the old Silk Road, will link east and west, and bring the three countries much closer to each other. At this time trucks, buses, and cars carry people and goods for example from Istanbul to Tehran, to Syria. If the situation becomes calmer, the new railroad will pass through Iraq as the median country and will allow much quicker trips. It will boost transportation between east and west. We have good intentions to serve the Arab, Islamic nation.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Tell us about how Iran and Syria became culturally closer during your posting in Damascus. What about the role of Ahl al-Bayt association which you supervise? Is it true that you chaired this association when you were ambassador to Syria?

[Akhtari] I was chairman of this association's world forum during my last two years as ambassador in Damascus.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are its most important functions?

[Akhtari] Ahl al-Bayt is a nongovernmental association. It is an independent, private association that was founded 17 years ago. After a public meeting of a group of intellectuals and Ulema in Tehran, they agreed to form this association. They submitted the idea to His Eminence the leader Khamenei and asked his permission to place the association under his general supervision. He agreed. The association was established with three main sections: the General Assembly, the Supreme Committee or Council, and the secretary general. It began its work to promote several objectives, namely, acquainting the people with Islam, the character of the revered prophet, may God's prayers and peace be upon him, and the members and imams of the Prophet's Household. This was done because many people do not know Islam or are not aware of its true nature and are not acquainted with the personality of the revered prophet, the imams descended from the Prophet's Household, and other Islamic figures among the prophet's companions and Al-Ansar. This is done by various ways including writing, classifying, and translating books and issuing leaflets, magazines, and similar printed material.

Other objectives include promoting Islamic unity and uniting Muslim ranks by bringing the different schools of Islam closer together. As I noted before, many problems among Muslims sects and schools arise from lack of knowledge about each other. For example some of the adherents of our schools of Islam know nothing about the others. When we acquire more knowledge, we will discover that there are not many problems among us on numerous issues and that we can agree on more issues than the ones on which we disagree. Or even when it comes to certain issues we will discover that the disagreement is much smaller than we thought and that the whole problem is a very simple one. For example one jurist has an opinion on a certain issue and another jurist has a different opinion. This happens among all sects and indeed sometimes within the same sect. Sometimes there are differences of opinion over what is permitted by Shariaa [halal], what is taboo [haram], and what is simply frowned upon [makruh]. In all schools of Islam there are actions that we may declare un-Islamic but in various ways and out of various motives, they have been attributed to Islam by people who then made accusations against Islam and uttered calumnies against it and against its various schools. Our mission in this association is to sift through all these issues and clarify what is real, what is false, what is sound, and what is morbid. Another task is to communicate with other Ahl al-Bayt branches in the world and other public Islamic establishments.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How many Ahl al-Bayt branches are there in the world?

[Akhtari] We do not have a statistic on this matter. As long as descendants and followers of the Prophet's Household are spread out in the world, there will be branches according to their numbers. Indeed in some countries there is more than one branch. Some branches like to maintain contact with us. We communicate with them and supply them with Islamic books and some of our publications including Islamic books from other schools of Islam. The Ahl al-Bayt association is not a political organization. It is a cultural, religious, social, and ethical foundation that seeks to unify Muslim ranks and entrench brotherly feelings among the Muslims. We have a leaflet on how to deal with various Muslim schools, which explains our obligations towards them and their obligations towards us. The Ahl al-Bayt General Assembly meets every four years. Last year we held our fourth general assembly in Tehran and representatives from more than 100 countries attended. There were more than 500delegates present at the meeting from around the world. God willing, we plan to make efforts to promote economic and commercial relations between Iran and the other Islamic countries. Ahl al-Bayt's secretary general is elected by the Supreme Council and then his name is submitted to his eminence the leader, who officially assigns him to the post. I was assigned this task for four years. It has been my task since I returned to Tehran.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You are planning to start a television station for Ahl al-Bayt. How is the work going?

[Akhtari] One of our goals is to establish a satellite television channel that will promote the association's objectives. We have started the early work. Perhaps in the next few months, it will become operational.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Will the Ahl al-Bayt satellite television station carry political news or merely be a religious station? Where will it have its headquarters?

[Akhtari] The issue of the type of broadcasts has not been settled in a final way, nor has a headquarters been definitively chosen. It will be a moral, religious, educational, and social television station, not a political or a news station.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Some circles warn that these activities might be tools to spreads Shiism and export the Islamic Republic's ideology.

[Akhtari] When the Ahl al-Bayt television channel begins operating, God willing, it will become clear that all these fears are illusions. They are not true.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Some people in Syria are apprehensive at the increase of Shiite seminaries in the country. What is your response to the accusations that Shiism is spreading in Syria?

[Akhtari] Actually I see no reason whatever to be apprehensive of the presence of seminaries or religious institutes. There are many religious seminaries and institutes in Syria. One seminary has been operating for 25 years. It causes no fear. There are strong and close relations between the persons in charge of this seminary and the people in charge of the Sunni seminaries and religious institutes. They even have ties with Syria's Grand Mufti Dr Ahmad Hassun. They had good relations with the former mufti, the late Sheikh Kaftaru. These relations have always been good. There are contacts between the Ulema from both sects. They organize joint celebrations and hold conferences for Islamic unity. Sunnis and Shiites hold joint Koranic functions every Ramadan. Inside Iran there are continuing relations between the Ulema and seminary instructors with Syrian residents and others, with Egyptian and Saudi Ulema for example. I believe that the fears you talk about are imaginary rather than based on something real. There is no reason for fear because we have relations with both Shiites and Sunnis in Iran and abroad. In the Iranian regions inhabited by Sunnis there are large religious establishments. We also have an institute to bring the Islamic schools in Iran closer to each other. Its members include many Shiite and Sunni Ulema from outside Iran. There are members from Syria, Egypt, Algeria, and Sudan. There are members from all the Arab and Islamic countries. This institute is similar to the Ahl al-Bayt Global Institute, where we exchange views and cooperate to hold many conferences and religious seminars outside Iran.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is the rate of the increase of Iranian seminaries in Damascus? Have they increased to the point of arousing some people's worry?

[Akhtari] The numbers have not increased. There are two or three large seminaries that have been present from 15 or 20 years ago. Of course there might be classes here and there that are associated with a seminary. This depends on the number of students.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] You are nicknamed the "sheikh", and sometimes you are called "minister plenipotentiary." Which name is closer to your heart? Could you give us a brief account of your growing up and education?

[Akhtari] Regarding the nicknames "sheikh" and "minister plenipotentiary," this depends on the speaker's choice and whatever comes to his mind [Akhtari laughs]. The important thing is the person who is addressed, not the words. Regarding my upbringing, I was born in 1945 and until I was 13 I lived in a village called Sarkah near the city of Samnan. But I was not born there. I was born somewhere else because my father and mother, may they rest in peace, lived in a village called Jarmasar. I was born there and we lived one and a half years there after I was born. After that we moved to Sarkah near Samnan. Later I left Samnan for Qom to study.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Under which cleric did you study in Qom?

[Akhtari] In the early stages I studied under our master the martyr Ayatollah Bahishti, the late Ayatollah Rabbani-Shirazi, the late Ayatollah Mishkini, and many others. After that I went to the holy Al-Najaf where I studied for five years. I attended the lessons of Ayatollah Tabrizi, Ayatollah Rusti, and Ayatollah Shahbadi. For a period of six months I studied under the late martyr Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. I attended lessons under Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani for more than a year and some other Ulema. Of course my main, strong, and profound relationship was with Imam Khomeini. I was considered one of his disciples.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How did you get to meet Imam Khomeini?

[Akhtari] We met in Qom at the beginning of our revolutionary work after the imam started his Islamic movement. I was 15 years old. I joined the movement because of the circumstances at that time and our interest in Islamic affairs. After the imam was released from jail, we used to visit him at his home, followed his movement according to our ability, and performed the tasks that were assigned to us. We were carrying out opposition activities at that time. In 1964 I was jailed for the first time in Samnan because I was participating in the Islamic opposition movement. When I was released, I went to Al-Najaf. I arrived in Al-Najaf on the same day that Imam Khomeini entered Iraq. I reached Al-Najaf shortly before 10:00 and Imam Khomeini arrived in Baghdad at 1600. From Baghdad he left for Al-Kazimiyah, where he stayed for several days. We joined the imam in Al-Kazimiyah. We accompanied and served him until he got to Samarra. He then went to Karbala and after that to Al-Najaf. In Al-Najaf we were frequently present at the imam's house and served him.

In 1968 after the 1967 war, I traveled to Syria in Ramadan. I stayed in a village near Homs for the purpose of conveying the call to the faith and to carry out religious guidance. I did the same in 1969. I traveled from Al-Najaf to the same Syrian village to carry out religious guidance. In the same year I left for Lebanon where I stayed for two and a half years until 1972, carrying out religious activities in Lebanon and spreading the faith. My ties with Syria and Lebanon go back more than 40 years. When I returned to Iran, I studied for give more years in Qom until the Islamic revolution triumphed. I had spent those years carrying out opposition activities, making speeches, and issuing statements. I was imprisoned in Iran for the second time in 1972. I was imprisoned for the third time in the last week before the revolution won and Imam Khomeini returned to Tehran. I was released the night he arrived.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What activities did you carry out to convey the Islamic message in Syria and Lebanon?

[Akhtari] I used to carry out this activity by myself. I also did some teaching work. There was no other apparatus that carried out the task of calling to the faith and guidance. I personally acted as spiritual guide to these villages that I visited. In Lebanon I played the role of prayer leader. I used to lead the worshipers in prayer at the mosque. I gave lectures and made speeches to the people in the form of lessons and debates with religious scholars including university professors and students. This is what I used to do, nothing more.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] During the years you were posted as ambassador to Damascus, you were described as absolutely the most important ambassador in Syria. Your activity spread from Damascus to Lebanon and to the Palestinian factions. It was said that you were an envoy dealing with three or four very sensitive issues and the most influential and prominent ambassador in Damascus. You were called many good things. Now that you have left this post, do you have any connection with the issues you used to handle? Are you still following the situation in Damascus through the current Iranian ambassador Ahmad Musavi? Do you intervene sometimes to give advice?

[Akhtari] No, I do not interfere in anything now. The ambassador is the person assigned to this task. He will certainly be successful because circumstances are excellent now and relations between Iran and Syria do not suffer from any special problem. Hence, depending on how energetic the ambassador and embassy are, matters will develop and continue. My relations with many officials, ministers, and elite groups, with Ulema and religious figures, and even with ordinary Syrians are conducted in a personal capacity, no longer as an ambassador. This is how I always conducted my relations. Many Syrians come and see me in my office when they visit the Islamic Republic. They visit me in this office (his office is located in the building housing the Global Council of Ahl al-Bayt Association in central Tehran). If any brothers ask for any special assistance, I am always prepared to help if this does not clash with my official duties. I have faith in this relationship that I always sought to build and to develop. I made great efforts to nurture it. I am interested in the Syrian-Iranian relationship and its requirements.

Casey

06-01-2008, 12:49 AM

Wilayat al Faqih as explained by Bahraini Shiite Cleric
Published: Thursday, 29 May, 2008 @ 8:03 PM in Beirut (GMT+2)

Beirut - Ever since Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah defended and admitted he is a member of the Wilayat al Faqih , the issue of this type of Iranian rule created a lot of interest in the Lebanese media

For this reason Ya Libnan is republishing an interview which appeared in Al Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper (in 2006 at the end of the Lebanon war between Israel and Hezbollah ) with Sayyid Dheya Al Musawi, a Bahraini Shiite cleric and one of the country's most prominent Shiite thinkers.

Sayyid Musawi is a well known critic of the culture of death and the culture of hatred , likes music and is a promoter of love and understanding between all religions . He is also a well known critic of Islamic clerics who promote Hell and refrain from talking about Heaven.

Introduction to the interview by By Salman Dossari of Al Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper

Sayyid Dheya travelled to the Iranian city of Qom to study theology instead of going to Europe to complete his university studies. After three years, in the early 1990s, he returned to Bahrain and became known as a preacher who would deliver fiery sermons. He was arrested in 1994 during what was then known as the 'events of the nineties', and returned to Iran after he was pardoned. After seven years of his expatriation in Iran and with the launch of the reform project by the King of Bahrain in 2001, Musawi returned to Bahrain. This time however, he integrated with the reformist project and launched a strong attack on what he deemed as extremists in his country and elsewhere. He rejected the standpoint of a number of Shiites who boycotted the parliamentary elections.

Q) Is the Shiite ideology summarized by the concept of Wilayat al Faqih?

A) It is important that the Shiite ideology is not viewed only in the context of Wilayat al Faqih. This concept has been placed under the spotlight because a strong state, namely Iran, supports this notion. However, we have dozens of scholars who do not believe in this concept, and they have their reservations about it, such as Sheikh Mohammad Jawad Mughniyah who rejected the concept based on structural terms. An Iranian theologian named Mohsen Kadivar wrote a book entitled 'The Theories of State in Shiite Jurisprudence,' and looked at the views of jurists within nine theories. Not all Shiites in the Islamic world or in the Gulf adhere to this theory. Millions still follow Sayyid Al Khoei, who does not believe in absolute authority, and Sayyid Al Shirazi, who believes in collective leadership as well as Sheikh Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddin, who believes in man governing himself. This is in addition to many religious references that have their reservations upon the theory in terms of breadth and powers. They have millions of supporters. The majority of scholars of Najaf as well as ancient and modern scholars have their own points of view regarding this issue.

Q) Are there specific Shiite orations that are based upon loyalty to the homeland rather than the concept of Wilayat al Faqih?

A) I would like to refer to the work and speeches of Sheikh Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddin, and especially his last book entitled 'Al Wasaya,' in which he focused upon national discourse and national integration. He was able to attract the Shiite intellectuals and a large part of the public to the idea of stabilizing the country. The concept of citizenship in the book invites young Shiites to join national integration and to take part in national projects. In his book, he focused upon the necessity of aborting private projects that aim to work against the state, as well as abandoning the concept of establishing a state within a state. He further invited the youth to join the democratic framework in their homelands. He calls upon rejecting any sectarian political project against one's native country. He called upon governments to include the youth in political and economic systems.

Q) What about Shiite intellectuals?

A) Many Shiite intellectuals and the upper class, especially in the Gulf States, believe in man governing himself. Each individual has his own opinion and involves himself in the projects of their homeland. We believe in the modern state and act in accordance with the framework of the state and government, and reject foreign orders whatever they may be. We are not responsible for regional conflicts and we refuse to be players in this game. We believe in the legitimacy of our systems and we integrate with them. In the Gulf, we have Shiite ministers, agents, traders and intellectuals who can only be loyal to their homelands. We believe in the modern state and not in the trusteeship of the clergy or the theocratic state. This is a stance that we declare clearly to everybody.

Q) What are the effects of the Arab-Iranian conflict upon Shiites in the Gulf?

A)I hope that there is no conflict, and that there would be alliance between these countries. But if we assume that such a conflict exists then it will unquestionably have an impact upon some people, as people are different in their nature. But the question is where will the majority stand?
I do not want to simplify matters, and to be objective, we must understand the political arena clearly. Shiites in the Gulf have had to face major issues and they have taken nationalistic stands for example, the position taken by Shiite traders in Kuwait during the invasion of Saddam Hussein as summarized in Dr. Sami Al Khalidi's book entitled 'Islamic Parties in Kuwait'. On page 124, al Khalidi talks about a businessman called Abdul Wahab Al Wazzan, who opened a warehouse for food commodities to support the people of Kuwait.

Since the war on terror was waged a few years ago, Shiites in Kuwait have been martyred during operations to defend their homeland. We are not responsible for the Iranian conflict. Iran has its own agendas, and its own stances, and we will not relent in our position to defend our homeland. Our country comes first.

In the 1970s, the Iranian Shah wanted to annex Bahrain, however, the people of Bahrain from various sects stood against him and defended the Arab identity of Bahrain and its ruling family and we are proud of this position. Bahraini people had supported the King's reform project, which we consider the source of safety for our national unity. If a party makes a mistake, this should not cause generalisations to be made as it is only natural to make mistakes.

Q) Have Shiites in the Gulf aligned themselves with Hezbollah?

A) First of all, the term "align with" is somewhat exaggerated. There is sympathy because of the existing hostility towards the Arab nation against the Zionist entity, which is not restricted to one party or sect. Whichever party undertakes this role, it will receive the same share of sympathy.
The entire Arab nation is against the slaughtering of civilians and stands against the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. Everybody was grateful for the role that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries played in offering aid and support to the Lebanese people. Each had expressed their assistance in their own way. Some made significant donations, sought diplomatic endeavours, whilst others launched fundraising campaigns. The issue here is that there is an Arab community that is being slaughtered.

Q) Therefore was the alignment justified as it was against the enemy?

A) As Shiites or an Arab community, we interact with any movements that stand against the Zionist entity but we are not bound to any notions or any other actions outside this framework. They do not ask us to be committed to any external framework, nor are we committed to any accomplishments. This is a clear stance. We live in countries in which we have historical and political roots. We shelter under the umbrella of the protective state that is represented in this civil component. From our point of view, there is a sense of belonging to the homeland; we abide by the laws, the constitution, sovereignty and the legitimacy of the regime. This must be endorsed in the minds of our children who should be raised with the idea that our homeland comes before any other. The sense of national belonging, patriotism and loyalty to the homeland is an integral part of faith. This is based upon the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) who said, "Loving one's land is a component of faith." Furthermore, Imam Ali said, "Yearning for one's homeland is part of the happiness of an individual."

In the Gulf, as citizens, we are obligated to comply with the political, security and economic decisions that would preserve the interests of the country, sovereignty and the sense of belonging. We must stand firm with regards to this. For this reason, we find that the Shiites of the United Arab Emirates are backing the state's position on the issue of the three islands and this is the way it should be. This is a purely patriotic approach and in Iraq, Shiites are committed to the Arab identity of the country.

Q) Would supporting Hezbollah be considered a condition of the Shiite doctrine?

A) Neither Shiites nor the religion or even Hezbollah claim so! We are all human beings and all make mistakes. Shiites in the Gulf and in the Islamic world have their reservations upon the fighting that broke out between the Amal movement and Hezbollah. This was a historical mistake that both parties had acknowledged this. Hezbollah had disagreed with Sheikh Sobhi al Tufayli on cooperating with the Lebanese state. Hezbollah had adopted the authority of Khamenai, however, despite this, in Lebanon, and even within Hezbollah, there are people who follow Al Khoei, Fadlallah or Al Sistani. Not everything that is put forward by Hezbollah is imposed upon everyone.

Q) Is it not the case that doctrinal support is considered interference in the Lebanese affairs?

A) We must not mix matters up. I explained that we are not responsible for the escalation of the crisis in Lebanon. No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another country; nor should a movement interfere with the affairs of another. Every society is obligated by the national interest, its political agenda and social benefits. There is no relationship between conditions and national belonging and there is nothing in our creed that states that. I reaffirm that we are committed to the decisions our countries, similarly Hezbollah is committed to the rules and regulations of Lebanon and is also committed to the conditions governing the country. We must remove this fear and phobia in order to interpret clearly the Shiite scene in the region. We should not confuse issues. What I call for and what I am committed to is the national agenda of our homelands and we are currently working to embed this culture in the minds of the youth.

In the Gulf, we have supported the official position by backing the relief efforts. We should think about how to reconstruct Lebanon, heal its wounds and strengthen its legitimate government represented by Siniora, which is a unanimous government on national and democratic levels. Strengthening the government and the integration of all spectrums of society is the only guarantee for the unity and future of Lebanon.

Q) Don't you think that connecting the destiny of the Shiites to the political position of Hezbollah is a gamble, especially as the circumstances of the Shiites in Bahrain, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia differ from those in Lebanon and could contradict the interests of Hezbollah?

A) Yes, both the circumstances and the interests are different. This is why we must separate between these two issues.

Q) Do you agree with the concept of national fusion for the Shiites?

A) National fusion would be realized through strengthening the internal front, reinforcing the concept of and working on the integration of young people from various political and development projects working towards the overall development process of their countries. The introduction of youth to developmental projects endorses their sense of belonging. We must create cultural projects based on enhancing national affiliation. This requires effort, perseverance and vision, as well as an examined approach and further support.

Following the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, there are many concerns about the future. Some of these fears are justified, however, we should never exaggerate these reactions and we should work on creating balanced educational projects to bridge any gaps that might cause any national disorder in the future. Secondly, we must not place all Shiites under one umbrella, as we do not generalize with regards to Salafis, Sunnis or other doctrines. The question is how we can maintain the Shiite components that had succeeded to achieve this fusion, and that have throughout history endured political twists. Shiites must not feel that they need to prove their patriotism or that there is constant doubt of their level of nationalism. Relying on them and strengthening them would ensure this fusion. With all other orientations, there are also errors but generalization is an impractical method. An example of this is terrorism which has engulfed the region. Terrorism has no identity and is not confined to one doctrine, and not all people should bear its responsibilities.

Q) What would be the position of Shiites in the Gulf if the confrontation between Iran and Gulf countries were to escalate?

A) We hope that there will be no confrontation, however we are obligated to stand firm behind the interests of our homelands.

Q) Sectarian conflict has escalated between Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq. How can the dilemma of civil war be avoided?

A) We must learn from history. Spain destroyed itself by civil war, as well as America. In the Arab and Islamic world, the Ottoman Empire and the state of the Safavid dynasty survived the massacres of Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq and Anatolia. In Lebanon, the civil war had devastated the state and eliminated the national consensus, where different states chose to settle their conflicts in Lebanon. Sectarianism is a devilish seed that sets the ground for civil war.

To avoid this dilemma, the culture of tolerance in the Arab world needs to be strengthened. We must be united by humanitarian and national ties and not divided by religious differences. We must eliminate any provoking discourse that aims to produce suicide bombers and ideological clashes that usually result in armed militias that kill people in the name of religion whether the "other" is a Muslim or a Christian. We must preserve our homelands, our national unity and the sovereignty of our countries from any regional or international attempts of infiltration.

Q) Was the program that focused upon reforming the discourse of the revolution in Iran demolished following Ahmadinejad's assumption of power?

A) The reform project that was put forward by Sayyid Khatami was terminated and reformists in Iran did not cry over it. I am not surprised by President Ahmadinejad's speech as it was prepared in the political backstage. No president can captivate a whole country with such a Guevarian speech without having been granted approval for his actions beforehand. The radical line in Iran supports his discourse. The question is would this discourse be suitable for the Arab world?

Q) Would it be suitable to the Arab world in your opinion?

A) No. It may even increase the state of anxiety that Arab countries are now witnessing. Iran is in need of the Khatami discourse and the reformist trend because the world has changed and power is granted to the most democratic and economically prosperous countries and civilian states that work on establishing modern society and not one that is haunted by resounding ideologies and slogans.

Q) Do you not think that it is appropriate to organise a conference to bring together Shiite intellectuals and clerics to resolve the issue of national belonging and patriotism with relation to jurisprudence, especially as it has been put forward that the concept of Wilayat al Faqih contradicts that of citizenship?

A) The issue of national belonging and patriotism in the Shiite jurisprudence is already fixed and the media must express this clearly. Shamseddin as well as others had promoted this idea but unfortunately nobody had highlighted this matter before.

Q) It has been said that sectarian militarization exists in Bahrain on both sides; do you agree?

A) There is no sectarian militarization in Bahrain. It is true that some features of the Iraqi crises can be found in Bahrain; however it has never reached the level of militarization. In Bahrain, we enjoy the best collective social climate. Members of the two sects inter-marry and there are joint social and official ventures. Bahrain established a supreme Islamic council, in which it gathered a number of both Shiite and Sunni scholars. These are considered attempts to create a unified national front.

In Bahrain, we will reject any discourse that seeks to provoke sensitive issues. We do not want another Afghanistan, the Balkans or Lebanon in the Arab or Gulf region. The King's reform project and public awareness are the sources of safety against the dangers of sectarianism.
We are relying upon common factors as well as supporting the civil state and the establishment of genuine citizenship, and we are working upon strengthening national ties.

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/05/wilayat_al_faqi.php

The 801

06-19-2008, 05:38 PM

Report: Hizbullah operatives conduct surveillance on Jewish targets in Canada

Posted: 19-06-2008 , 20:11 GMT

hizbullah Intelligence agencies in the United States and Canada are warning of growing signs that Hizbullah is planning to launch an attack against "Jewish targets" outside the Middle East.

Intelligence officials told ABC News the Shiite group has activated suspected "sleeper cells" in Canada and key operatives have been tracked moving outside Lebanon to Canada, Europe and Africa. According to the report, officials said Hizbullah is seeking revenge for the February assassination of its military commander, Imad Mugniyah, killed by a car bomb in Damascus.

Hizbullah leaders blamed Israel, an allegation denied by Israeli officials.

At this stage, there is no credible information on a specific target, according to the officials. Suspected Hizbullah operatives have conducted recent surveillance on the Israeli embassy in Ottawa, Canada and on several synagogues in Toronto, according to the officials.

© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/229968

NYer

06-19-2008, 09:11 PM

Apparently, it's not just Canada but this has a tie in with the warnings for the UAE and possibly Latin America. (http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/193044.php) 801, what may have set things in motion was Mugsy's unscheduled departure for Virginville. (http://dustmybroom.com/content/view/4338/1/)

Casey

06-19-2008, 09:51 PM

US designates two Hezbollah operatives in Venezuela as terrorists
By Bill Roggio
June 19, 2008 1:30 AM

Qods Force logo, click to view.

The US Treasury Department has added two Venezuelans to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists for their support of Hezbollah. Ghazi Nasr al Din, a Venezuelan diplomat, and Fawzi Kan'an, a businessman, both provide support for the Lebanese-based terror group.

Ghazi Nasr al Din was born in Lebanon who currently serves as a Venezuelan diplomat and the president of a Shia Islamic center. "Nasr al Din served until recently as Charge d' Affaires at the Venezuelan Embassy in Damascus, Syria, and was subsequently appointed the Director of Political Aspects at the Venezuelan Embassy in Lebanon," the US Treasury reported in a press release.

Nasr al Din used his diplomatic cover to meet with senior Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon and fundraise for the terror group. "Nasr al Din has counseled Hezbollah donors on fundraising efforts and has provided donors with specific information on bank accounts where the donors' deposits would go directly to Hezbollah." He also helped Hezbollah operatives get to Iran to "attend a training course."

Fawzi Kan'an is businessman who runs two Venezuela-based travel agencies. He was born in Lebanon but is a naturalized Venezuelan.

Kan'an is described as "a significant provider of financial support to Hezbollah" who also uses his business to funnel money to Lebanon and assist in the movement of operatives.

Treasury also implicates Kan'an as an operational planner who may have plotted kidnappings and terror attacks. "Kan'an has also traveled with other Hezbollah members to Iran for training," Treasury stated.

His two businesses, the Biblos Travel Agency the Hilal Travel Agency, have been designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entities.

The Wednesday announcement by the Treasury Department was the first direct link by the US government between the nation of Venezuela and Hezbollah. "It is extremely troubling to see the Government of Venezuela employing and providing safe harbor to Hezbollah facilitators and fundraisers," said Adam J. Szubin, the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Treasury Department.

Hezbollah has long had inroads into South America. Hezbollah has used the tri-border region between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to recruit, train, raise and launder money, and plot attacks.

In 1994, Hezbollah bombed a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eight-five people were killed and more than 200 wounded in the bombing.

Argentina implicated Hezbollah and Iran in the attacks. In October 2006, Argentine prosecutors charged former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Hezbollah military commander Imad Mugniyah, and six others with plotting and executing the attacks. Mugniyah was killed in a car bombing in Damascus, Syria, in February 2008.

"We deem it proven that the decision to carry out an attack July 18, 1994 on the AMIA (the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association, a Jewish charities association headquarters in Buenos Aires) was made by the highest authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran which directed Hezbollah to carry out the attack," said Argentine chief prosecutor Alberto Nisman.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/06/us_designates_two_he.php

NYer

06-20-2008, 12:30 PM

Treasury Press Release Here. (http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1036.htm)

I wonder if El Gordo Chavez can smell the sulfur?

Casey

07-17-2008, 06:50 PM

Hezbollah victory fruit of resistance
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:23:21

Nasrallah celebrating the release of prisoners at the al-Rayah stadium.
The following is the speech delivered by Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah on July 16, 2008, on the occasion of the release of five Lebanese prisoners from Israeli prisons.

In the name of Allah the Compassionate and the Merciful, peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad, his family, his friends, companions, and all the prophets.

Distinguished guests, representatives of the three political leaders, the president, parliament speaker and prime minister, former President Emil Lahoud, Distinguished guests, all religious figures, all those present, the representatives of all diplomatic delegations, especially the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the representatives of Lebanese parties, and the families of the freed detainees- my dear brothers and sisters Asalamalaykum.

I welcome you all to this national celebration. I welcome Samir, Maher, Khadher, Hussein, and Mohammed. I would like also to welcome the martyrs whom we will receive tomorrow in the same way we received the freed prisoners today.

On July 12, 2006, a group of resistance fighters carried out an operation which led to the arrest of two Israeli soldiers. The goal of this operation was to liberate the remaining prisoners in Israeli prisons, most importantly Samir Kuntar.

Today, July 16, 2008, Samir has finally come home. Before him Nasim Nisr came back, Samir has come home and with him are four brothers who fought for the sake of his liberation. Some of the brothers who fought for his freedom are alive and sitting beside him; others were killed and are among the martyrs we shall welcome tomorrow.

Is it a coincidence that the promise we made has been delivered? Is it a coincidence that the dream has come true in July? How did we reach this result?

There were times when the swap seemed difficult or impossible to achieve. My brothers and sisters, the main factor which helped us secure the swap was what we call the 'Rodvan Operation', our victory after the July 2006 attack and the enemy's failure to achieve its goals.

What I am trying to say is that if we had bowed down to pressures, today Samir, his brothers, and the martyrs would not be home or on their way home. Lebanon would have lost, the whole region would have lost and we would have entered the new Middle East, which the Americans and Zionists tried to promote.

When Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri began negotiating the prisoner swap, he had to endure a lot of pressure. We were forced to bear this pressure and the world did not want to listen to Lebanon's conditions or to what Lebanon had to say.

The only thing the delegations visiting Lebanon and the whole world kept demanding was 'unconditionally release the two Israeli soldiers '. However, we stood firm and continued to fight for the freedom of our prisoners.

We must not forget all those who helped us along the way, the ones who fought in the front line; those who were injured; and those who were martyred.We must remember our beloved Hajj Imad Mugniyah who was martyred-peace be upon his soul. We must also remember that every single Lebanese courageously contributed to this cause and helped make history.

The Lebanese leaders who stood by us must not be forgotten either. We will always remember the perseverance of our people, those whose homes were destroyed; those who had to leave their homes; those who suffered yet never once complained. They did not show weakness. This perseverance was what helped secure the release of our brothers.

The second factor is the negotiations. First, the enemy was incapable of freeing its two soldiers without negotiating. When the war ended, the Israelis knew that in order to free their soldiers they had no option left but to enter into talks. Second, Israeli Intelligence was unable to determine the whereabouts of these soldiers or their fate. This greatly helped us in the course of the negotiations. Had the Israeli's known the fate of these two soldiers, the course of negotiations would have changed.

The third important factor is the enemy's fear. The fear that the negotiations would not bear fruit or that they would be called off. They feared that the failure of the negotiations would prompt the Resistance Movement to carry out other operations and capture more Israeli soldiers.

The pressure on the enemy was that they were incapable of saving these two soldiers and they were unable to determine their fate. They feared that the resistance would capture more of their soldiers.

If the Resistance had been forced to capture more soldiers to free Samir and the other prisoners it would have done so. More Israeli soldiers would have been captured.

The Israelis new this and this was why the majority of the Israeli cabinet voted in favor of the prisoner swap. In 2004 due to the political conflict between Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon, we were unable to free Samir, Nasim, and Yahya. We told them at that time they would regret not freeing Samir Kuntar. The Israelis new if the prisoner swap fell through this time we would switch to another plan, one which I do not believe Israelis were or will be ready for.

I would like add to these factors a fourth one which is the perseverance of Samir Kuntar. Samir stood firm. He did not lose sight of his ideals. He stayed committed to them and his commitment was visible in his letters home. During the negotiations, he never once put pressure on us to hurry the talks and free him faster. He gave us time, so that we could achieve the best possible results for the other detainees.

Another thing I would like to point out is the perseverance of the other detainees. We saw them on TV in Israeli courts. When one of you was asked whether he would fight again if he received orders [from me]to do so, it brought tears to my eyes to hear him say If he went into the sea we would follow him without him having to ask us to do so.

In addition to these, I must mention the families of the detainees and the martyrs who put their trust in us; who had confidence in us. These families helped us go in the right direction and achieve the best results possible.

These were very important factors in the negotiations. We must not forget that these results were obtained through their efforts. Our negotiators were under a lot of pressure from all sides.

Regarding the unity government, I would like to stress that we are ready to address all issues without any exceptions; we are ready to discuss all issues for the sake of Lebanon's future.

We must not forget Imam Mousa Sadr, and we hope he comes back with his two colleagues. Our brother Samir is well known in the world because of his thirty-year imprisonment in Israeli prisons. Thirty years have also passed since Imam Mousa Sadr was kidnapped. As I have said before we would like to resolve this issue. If he is still alive send him back to us and we will thank you. If he has been martyred tell us and give us his body.

Martyrdom is what Imam Mousa Sadr desired most and it is what his family wanted as well. The issue of Imam Mousa sadr must be dealt with and all ambiguities must be resolved in this issue.

I know the sensitivity of the official Arab relations and the questions raised about Imam Mousa Sadr's fate. Although we are speaking about the detainees today, we must not forget Imam Mousa Sadr the person who laid the foundation of resistance in Lebanon. Once again, I call on the world of Islam to help bring Imam Mousa Sadr and his brothers back to Lebanon.

My dear brothers and sisters, all of you who are waiting for the return of the bodies of your loved ones tomorrow, all who are present I like to congratulate you on this victory because this victory is your victory. It is your achievement. I would like to pray for all the detainees, I would like to pray that they will return home as soon as possible.

I pray for Lebanon. Samir Kuntar must be viewed as a national treasure, and we must treat him in a befitting manner. He has endured much pain and suffering in captivity. I also pray our brothers who still remain in captivity will be freed.

RZS/MSH/MMN

http://www.presstv.ir:80/detail.aspx?id=63979&sectionid=3510302

docj227

07-17-2008, 06:59 PM

sami kuntar is a national treasure? perhaps israel needs to send mossad in with rifle butts to crush kuntars skull and while they are at it, nasrallah's as well

Casey

08-03-2008, 11:48 PM

Assad's security advisor shot dead
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:02:18

An unknown gunman has assassinated the Syrian president's security advisor, Mohammad Suleiman in the country's northern port of Tartous.

“Brigadier General Mohammad Suleiman was shot by an unidentified sniper on the coast of Syria's Tartous port on Friday,” Lebanon's An Nahar daily reported two days later.

According to the report, Suleiman was a close military aid to President Bashar al-Assad and the officer in charge of liaison with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assassination as of yet.

Some news outlets, however, have suggested that Israel may be behind the attack, by drawing a link between the incident and the assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Imad Mugniyah, who was killed in an attack back in February.

http://www.presstv.ir:80/detail.aspx?id=65555&sectionid=351020206

Casey

10-05-2008, 06:47 PM

Hezbollah announces new Jihad group

JERUSALEM, Oct. 5 (UPI) --
A new Palestinian militant group called Hezbollah Brigades of Palestine says it has established itself to carry out Jihad.

The group issued a statement Saturday describing itself as a Sunni Jihad group which has nothing to do with politics made up of former members of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and leftist parties whose goal is to carry out Jihad for the sake of Allah and resist enemies of Islam, the Israeli Web site DEBKAfile.com reported.

Unnamed sources told the Web site the Lebanese Hezbollah is behind the new group, saying it aims to lure members of all the established Palestinian terrorist groups on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for ad hoc operations against Israel.

DEBKAfile.com said unnamed Israeli counter-terrorism officials believe Hezbollah issued the statement to counter a warning from Brig. Gaby Eisenkott of the Israeli Defense Forces that any new Hezbollah rocket attacks would result in the destruction of Shiite villages in southern Lebanon.

http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/8819.html

Vancouver

10-06-2008, 01:18 AM

Hezbollah announces new Jihad group

JERUSALEM, Oct. 5 (UPI) --
A new Palestinian militant group called Hezbollah Brigades of Palestine says it has established itself to carry out Jihad.

http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5630

UPI -- are they still owned by Saudis? :D

edit:
On second thought, I'll copy the whole thing. Debka's English is as virile as it stylish.

“Hizballah Brigades of Palestine” - new Gaza-West Bank terror group
DEBKAfile Special Report
October 5, 2008, 1:08 PM (GMT+02:00)

Local undercover officers of the Iranian-sponsored Hizballah established and funded this “new” Palestinian terrorist organization for “operations” under their orders, DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources report. It described itself in a statement issued Saturday, Oct. 4, as a “Sunni jihad group which has nothing to do with politics”, and whose members are “former members of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jhad and leftist parties.” Their goals are to “carry out Jihad for the sake of Allah and resist enemies of Islam.”
Our sources note that the Lebanese Hizballah’s current practice is to hire members of all the Palestinian terrorist groups on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for ad hoc operations for which they are paid. The “new members” are in fact rent-a-terrorist mercenaries. Hizballah also enlists Israeli Arabs for gathering intelligence.
The Israeli high military command and counter-terror chiefs estimate that Hizballah’s issued its statement to counter the stern warning from the IDF Northern Command chief, Brig. Gaby Eisenkott, that a new Hizballah rocket blitz against Israel would bring forth the destruction of Shiite villages in southern Lebanon. They would see a “second Dahya,” he said (referring to the Shiite district of Beirut which the Israeli Air Force flattened in the 2006 Lebanon war).
Hizballah’s replied Sunday that Israel was too weak to make war on Lebanon and if it did, would face the same defeat as before.

LOL

The 801

11-03-2008, 09:01 PM

Report: Iranian docs save Nasrallah from poisoning attempt
By Yoav Stern

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was poisoned last week and Iranian doctors were rushed to Lebanon to treat him, saving his life, the Iraqi Web site Almalaf Yon reported yesterday.

Lebanese government sources reportedly told the paper that a particularly poisonous chemical substance was used against the Shi'ite militia's leader.

He apparently was in critical condition for several days, until the Iranian doctors arrived and saved his life.

The site claimed the sources believed it was highly likely that the poisoning was an Israeli assassination attempt.

Hezbollah has denied the report. Lebanese parliament member Al-Hajj Hassan, a member of Hezbollah, said, "This is a lie and a fabrication. It's true that I haven't seen [Nasrallah] this past week, but he's okay."

The Iranian medical team arrived on Sunday at 11 P.M., apparently on a special military flight.

Officials considered flying Nasrallah to Iran for further treatment, Almalaf reported.

Poison drizzled in Meshal's ear

In September 1997, a Mossad team tried to assassinate Hamas' political chief, Khaled Meshal, by drizzling poison in his ear.

The attempt failed, and two of the agents were captured while others found refuge in the Israeli embassy in Amman.

Nasrallah's second-in-command Imad Mughniyah was assassinated in February in a Damascus car bombing. Hezbollah accused Israel of planting the bomb, but Israel has denied any connection to the act.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1030553.html

What is the arabic word for "drizzled"?
Has the word "drizzled" ever appeared on IH before? In the Alneada section?
Just gotta love them semantics. ( yes, I know, Hezbollah is an anti semantic organization.)

Vancouver

11-03-2008, 09:38 PM

http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5630
UPI -- are they still owned by Saudis? :D
Update! UPI is owned by the Moonies.

Casey

12-12-2008, 03:09 AM

Hezbollah-tied Iraqi groups threat to GCC states, says Ja’afari body

KUWAIT CITY : The Iraqi Ja’afari Shiite Authority has released a statement describing the Iraqi groups affiliated to Hezbollah as a threat to GCC states because they are working hand-in-hand with Iranian sleeping cells in these countries, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.

The Authority has criticized Tehran stressing it is a big mistake to promote its belief of defending Al-Quds and fighting the United States of America.

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitcrime/pagesdetails.asp?nid=25830&ccid=22

The 801

06-27-2009, 10:40 AM

Iran election: Tehran backs Hizbollah operations around world
Iran's harsh condemnation of Western meddling in its election has triggered an alert over a new wave of international terrorism after the regime backed a dramatic expansion of the network operated by Lebanon's Hizbollah movement.

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Published: 6:54PM BST 26 Jun 2009

The country's leaders have repeatedly lashed out at the West, blaming British and other foreign agents for inciting the biggest demonstrations, which were ignited after presidential candidates accused officials of rigging the election in favour of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the hardline president.

Intelligence experts have warned that rather than merely seeking to distract attention from its domestic turmoil with rhetoric, Iran will seek retaliation beyond its borders.

"Hizbollah has stretched, facilitated by Iran, across the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and Latin America," said Magnus Ranstorp, a terrorism expert at Sweden's National Defence University. "It grants Iran global power and Hizbollah has become more susceptible to Iran's efforts to project its influence."

Intelligence experts believe that Germany, where Hizbollah has an estimated 900 operatives, is the most likely source of an attack staged by the group in Europe.

"Hizbollah is capable of striking in Germany or more likely planning an incident like the al-Qaeda cell in Hamburg that planned the attack on New York," said Alexander Ritzmann, a fellow at the European Centre for Democracy.

"Hizbollah operatives can be activated from Beirut or Tehran. Iran is using Hizbollah figures for its foreign policy purposes and killing the regime's opponents."

Hizbollah proclaims it is a Lebanese political party but acknowledges that it maintains a substantial arsenal of weapons as "resistance" against Israel. But its footprint stretches worldwide. In recent months it has been implicated in weapons smuggling, assassination attempts and illicit smuggling schemes by prosecutors in Egypt, Azerbaijan, Belgium and the US.

General Douglas Fraser, the new head of US Southern Command, which overseas its operations in Latin America, this week warned that Hizbollah and other Iranian allies posed the greatest threat to security in his region.

"The real concern is not a nation-to-nation interaction; it is the connection that Iran has with extremist organisations like Hamas and Hizbollah and the potential risk that that could bring to this region," he said.

Iranian pro-democracy activists that have fled overseas aknowlege that Iran can pose a threat to activists based overseas. "Many of the Iranians that are demonstrating all over the world fear they will be identified," said Fatehma Shams, a student at Oxford whose husband Mohammadreza Jalaeipour hass been held in solitary confinement in Tehran for the last 10 days. "In my case I've been singled out and there is risks. Even my own safety is not guaranteed but I don't care because there is a higher goal."

The murder of the veteran head of Hizbollah's military wing, Imad Mughniyah, who was blown up driving in Damascus last year, has emerged as a turning point for the organisation.

Intelligence officials believe that the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds force, Gen Qassem Suleimani, has tightened his control over the organisation's main units.

"Hizbollah is not the independent outfit it was before Mughniyeh was killed," said a British official. "Under Mughniyeh it wouldn't be involved in the range of activities that it is now implicated in.

"The Iranians can now pick and choose between the different units which are competing for prestige and funding."

Frances Guy, the British Ambassador to Lebanon, held talks last week with a Hizbollah MP as part of contacts approved by David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary. A Foreign Official conceded the talks were an attempt to reduce Hizbollah's threats to British interests.

"The point here is not to discuss Lebanese politics, there's wider reasons for this," the official said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5651837/Iran-election-Tehran-backs-Hizbollah-operations-around-world.html

The 801

08-02-2009, 10:21 AM

Explosives En Route to Hizbullah Caused Deadly Iran Plane Crash

by Yehudah Lev Kay
Follow Israel news on Twitter and Facebook.

(IsraelNN.com) Explosives en route to the Hizbullah terrorist group caused a Russian-made plane to crash in Iran two weeks ago, claiming the lives of 168 people, according to a report in the Italian paper Corriere Della Sera on Saturday.

The report quoted Middle East sources who said the plane, which took off from Tehran and was headed for Armenia, was carrying in its luggage compartment several metal cases with two kilograms of explosives and detonators destined for the Lebanese terrorist group. The shipment was meant to have continued by land from Armenia to Turkey, then to Syria, and finally to Lebanon.

Only 16 minutes after takeoff, the pilot of the Tupolev jet reported an emergency. Shortly afterwards, the plane crashed near the city of Qazvin. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions in the plane before it crashed into the ground.

The Italian paper also said that a member of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards was on board the plane to monitor the delivery of the goods to Hizbullah and that Iranian security forces arrived at the plane crash site. Iranian authorities have said that they recovered the plane’s three black boxes but have not yet offered an explanation for the fatal crash.

The report also said that the explosives were meant to be concealed in southern Lebanon, but after an explosion in a Hizbullah weapons depot only a few days before the flight, the terrorist group decided they would be safer north of the Litani river. Tensions rose in southern Lebanon between Hizbullah and UNIFIL forces following the July 14th blast which reportedly destroyed a Hizbullah weapons cache, including numerous Katushya rockets

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132682

The 801

03-31-2010, 04:39 PM

Been a bit slack here, but now there is some good stuff coming out. Bet they throw Mugniyeh under the bus....

Hezbollah chief: Members summoned in Hariri's case

The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 31, 2010; 3:46 PM

BEIRUT -- The leader of the militant Hezbollah group says 12 party members and close suppoters were recently summoned for questioning in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says the 12 were summoned as "witnesses and not as suspects." He adds that six more are to be called soon.

Last week, security and judicial officials told The Associated Press that a team from the Netherlands-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon has interviewed several Hezbollah members, among dozens of other people.

Nasrallah hinted the group was cooperating with the investigators but did not directly say whether the members had showed up for the interviews. He said the TV interview Wednesday he would not give details because of secrecy of the investigation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/31/AR2010033102740.html

NYer

04-03-2010, 09:15 AM

More ominous still is the Great Conjunction of Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. The sound you hear is Monroe's turning in his grave. Look for the Hezzies to be playing in theaters near you.

The 801

07-23-2010, 08:52 AM

Lebanon: Hezbollah Chief Expects Indictments in Ex-premier’s Death
By ROBERT F. WORTH
Published: July 22, 2010

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, said Thursday that he had been told that members of the group would be indicted by a United Nations tribunal investigating the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon, left. Mr. Nasrallah said Mr. Hariri’s son Saad Hariri, who became prime minister of a unity government last year, had told him that “undisciplined” members of Hezbollah would be accused. “We firmly reject the accusation of any Hezbollah member,” Mr. Nasrallah said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/23/world/middleeast/23briefs-Lebanon.html

The 801

07-27-2010, 10:53 PM

Debka source, so hold your nose.....

Hizballah saber-rattling over its expected indictment in Hariri murder
DEBKAfile Special Report July 25, 2010, 1:53 PM (GMT+02:00)

Word that the UN's Special Tribunal for Lebanon may indict high Hizballah security officials in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri placed a ticking bomb under the Shiite militia, which its leader Hassan Nasrallah tossed back Thursday, July 27. He said the news had been brought him by Saad Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister and son of the dead politician's son.

debkafile's military sources report that, among other evidence, the tribunal's attention was drawn to Hizballah when its investigators linked eight of the 20 cell phones found at the scene of the murder to Hizballah's special security and intelligence apparatus and senior commanders.
Nasrallah's threats Thursday revived memories still-fresh in Lebanon and the Middle East of the chaos Hizballah stirred up by its 2006 war on Israel and its violent takeover of West Beirut in 2008 to strengthen the Shiite militia's grip on the Beirut government.
debkafile's military and intelligence sources report that if the STL summons to Hizballah officials is issued in the fall, it could coincide with a tricky situation in Tehran. By then, Iran will have assessed the toll international sanctions have taken on the regime's robustness and its economy and may use its Lebanese proxy to retaliate by igniting another war against Israel or stirring up civilian unrest at home.
This scenario would give Nasrallah the pretext for his men to disobey the tribunal's summons.

The Lebanese Shiite leader said: "The accusation is heading towards members who they (Saad Hariri) tell us now are undisciplined members of Hizballah - two or three. I don't even accept half of a Hizballah member being accused."

He went on to say: "I don't accept decisions from this court unless they are based on solid and real evidence," then turned his fire on the tribunal, this time dragging Israel in to justify his decision to boycott the STL.

"As long as it didn't work on Israeli (involvement) then it's not an honest tribunal," he said.

Our sources add: Word has been going around Washington, Paris and Berlin for some weeks that the eight cell phones implicating Hizballah were part of the case being built up by Daniel Bellemare, Special Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal which the UN Security Council and the Lebanese government established to investigate the assassination of Hariri and 22 other victims in a massive bombing on Feb. 14, 2005 in the Hamra district of Beirut.
Hizballah's ten-day campaign against alleged Israeli spy rings said to have seized control of Lebanon's telephone companies and networks is part of Nasrallah's strategy for discrediting the evidence against his operatives. So is the charge churned out by his propaganda machine an Israeli precision missile caused the mighty explosion which blew up the Rafiq Hariri's armored convoy.
Since Thursday, the Lebanese prime minister has tried to distance himself from a role in the Hizballah leader's charges - to no avail. Saturday, July 24, Hizballah lawmaker Hasan Fadlallah accused Saad Hariri's spokesmen of lying. "…their claims in their confused tales will not do any good in diverting the public's attention from the truth of the matter that Hariri knows very well," said the Hizballah MP.
Later that day, when the Lebanese prime minister spoke to his Mustaqbal movement, he did not rule out the possibility of indictments against Hizballah leaders triggering a conflict against Israel or within the country. "…there are some sides who fear, or hope, the assassination will be the spark that causes a Lebanese war," he said and issued a call for national unity.
Some informed sources calculate that the STL, from its base at Leidschendam-Voorburg town hall near The Hague, is set to issue subpoenas for Hizballah suspects to present themselves in late August or early September. Once the court directives are out, neither the Lebanese government, which established the court jointly with the UN, nor UNIFIL, the operational unit of the Security Council in Lebanon can ignore them.
Indeed it will be incumbent on both to implement the court's orders, a step that the Hizballah leader has already warned would be resisted by force - hence the predictions of a revival of inter-communal violence. Another feared scenario is a Hizballah attack on Israel, which would depend on a green light from Tehran. Aware of the trouble brewing, Saudi King Abdullah announced Sunday, July 25, that after visiting Damascus Thursday, July 29, he would travel to Beirut. The monarch intends to do what he can to cool the high suspense and avert another Lebanese civil war.

http://www.debka.com/article/8928/

The 801

07-28-2010, 10:05 PM

Hezbollah warns against 'false charges'

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:49:04 GMT

Lebanon's Hezbollah Resistance Movement warns against falsely accusing its members of involvement in the assassination of Lebanon's former premier Rafiq Hariri.

A top Hezbollah official, Sheikh Nabil Qaouq, on Wednesday warned about the dire consequences of trying to link the resistance movement to the assassination and called such accusations "dangerous."

Qaouq said the indictment of Hezbollah members was part of a US and Israeli conspiracy and called for the trial of the individuals, who testified in the case of Hariri's assassination and whom Hezbollah regards as false witnesses, a Press TV correspondent reported.

"There is one necessary and binding way to reach the truth and that is through trying false witnesses and those behind them, who are already known," he said.

"We will continue confronting this conspiracy … and we will consider any indictment against the resistance an Israeli-American fabrication executed through local or international means," he added.

Rafiq Hariri, the father of incumbent Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, was assassinated in a massive car bomb explosion in Beirut in February 2005. The explosion also killed 22 others.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was set up by the UN and the Lebanese government in May 2007, is investigating the assassination.

HM/HGH/MMN

The 801

08-09-2010, 07:06 AM

Speculation mounts ahead of Nasrallah’s news conference
By The Daily Star

Monday, August 09, 2010

Listen to the Article - Powered by

BEIRUT: Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s much-anticipated news conference on Monday was the subject of intense media speculation over the weekend. The news conference is expected to set the political road map for the next period in Lebanon.

In a televised speech last Tuesday, Nasrallah openly accused Israel of the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and said he would unveil proof to that effect at a news conference this week.

In July, he had revealed he was aware the UN-backed tribunal probing the Hariri murder was likely to indict members of his party, slamming the court an Israeli project.

But last week, the Sayyed said Hizbullah spent months compiling information showing efforts by Israel to implicate Hizbullah in Hariri’s death.

Al-Akhbar columnist, Ibrahim al-Amine, who is close to Hizbullah, wrote on Saturday that “Monday night will be unlike other nights in Lebanon.”

“The news conference that will be held by the Secretary General of Hizbullah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will open the doors wide open to another talk in the town,” Amine said.

He added that Nasrallah is expected to reveal details related to the ongoing security war between the resistance and Israel. Amine wrote that the goal of the news conference was two-fold: Nasrallah wants to accuse Israel using clear-cut evidence, while drawing attention to the flaws in the work of the investigative missions that looked into the Hariri assassination.

According to Amine, Nasrallah and his team spent a considerable time gathering documents that would support the Sayyed’s thesis. Nasrallah had also discussed all the relevant documents with legal experts, including Speaker Nabih Berri, who is a lawyer.

Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai, however, reported on Sunday that Nasrallah will reveal during his news conference why slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh will be accused in the Hariri murder.

According to Al-Rai, Nasrallah will reveal how an Israeli collaborator had told late Prime Minister Hariri in 1993 that Hizbullah had plans to assassinate him and that Mughniyeh was plotting the attack.

Mughniyeh, also known as “Hajj Radwan,” was assassinated in a car bomb in Damascus on February 12, 2008.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel told MTV on Sunday that Nasrallah would do better to submit evidence that Israel killed former Premier Hariri in 2005 to authorities, instead of revealing it through the media.

The former Lebanese president said the only acceptable reference that can verify the validity of the evidence presented by Nasrallah was the STL

“Nasrallah does not decide what is right or wrong,” he said.

Nasrallah’s statements on the STL sparked fears of an outbreak of violence in already tense Lebanon and prompted a landmark summit in Beirut late in July between Syrian President Bashar Assad, Saudi King Abdullah and Lebanese leaders in a bid to ease tensions.

Sources close to Berri told Ash-Sharq al-Awsat in comments published on Sunday that he was planning, in cooperation with President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to launch renewed efforts to bolster the current calm in Lebanon. The sources said the nature of efforts will be revealed in due time.

Meanwhile, Future Movement officials denied over the weekend news about an imminent meeting between Nasrallah and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to discuss recent developments.

Future Movement official and former MP Mustapha Alloush denied on Sunday the prospects of such a meeting. – The Daily Star

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=117997#ixzz0w6bt2ZXO
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=117997#axzz0w6bICrk4

This will be interesting.

The 801

08-13-2010, 07:45 AM

The case against Israel

The fate of the UN Hariri Tribunal hangs in the balance after Hizbullah reveals evidence that implicates Israel, Omayma Abdel-Latif reports

For almost a year, Hizbullah assigned a team of legal experts the task of collecting evidence that could prove Israel's culpability in the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri in February 2005. The outcome of Hizbullah's "private investigation" was presented in a press conference held by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in which he revealed valuable evidence that points a finger at Israel as the sole beneficiary of the "shattering earthquake" -- as Nasrallah described it -- that was Al-Hariri's assassination.

For three hours Monday evening, Nasrallah built his case against Israel by presenting aerial reconnaissance footage of areas frequented by Al-Hariri, including the site of the assassination. He pointed out that this proved Israel was tracking his movements for the purposes of assassination. Nasrallah said that Israel has "wiretapping devices, aerial and field surveillance in addition to logistic support to carry out the assassination operation in the Lebanese interior". Nasrallah said the footage was intercepted from Israeli surveillance planes prior to Al-Hariri's assassination. This interception, according to Nasrallah, was one of the breakthroughs achieved by the Islamic resistance movement. "Such footage usually comes as the first leg of the execution of an operation," Nasrallah said in a news conference broadcast via video link.

Several clips were also aired showing aerial views of the coastline off West Beirut on various days prior to Al-Hariri's assassination. The Israeli cameras panned across the Hamra district, Al-Hariri's residences in West Beirut and the parliament, his last stop before his killing in a seafront bomb blast. The Israeli drone's monitoring of Al-Hariri's movements "was not by coincidence", said Nasrallah. "We have definite information on the aerial movements of the Israeli enemy the day Al-Hariri was murdered. Hours before he was murdered, an Israeli drone was surveying the Sidon-Beirut-Jounieh coastline as warplanes were flying over the coast off Beirut." An Israeli AWACS plane was hovering over the coast the day of the assassination -- further proof, pointed out Nasrallah, of Israeli involvement.

In building his case against Israel, Nasrallah took the audience back in time to the early 1990s, presenting evidence that Israel has been working to create a wedge between the resistance movement and the late Al-Hariri. He unveiled information about an Israeli spy called Ahmed Hussein Nasrallah who claimed before the late Al-Hariri that a Hizbullah ring was planning to "liquidate" him and that among this group were senior figures like Imad Mughniyeh (later assassinated by Israel), Ali Dib -- better known as Abu Hassan Salama -- and other big names among Hizbullah's security apparatus.

Hizbullah arrested Ahmed Nasrallah whose confessions were videotaped and aired for the first time during the press conference. Hizbullah's secretary-general said his party handed Ahmed Nasrallah over to Syria, the dominant political and military force in Lebanon at the time. But after his return from Syria, Ahmed Nasrallah remained in prison in Lebanon only to be released "for unknown reasons". He then managed to flee to Israel. "Spy Ahmed Nasrallah deluded Al-Hariri into thinking that Hizbullah had a plan to assassinate Bahia Al-Hariri, and hence to force him to go to Sidon to receive condolences so that he would be assassinated there," Nasrallah added.

Ahmed Nasrallah was the first of "the false witnesses" phenomenon that plagued the Hariri Tribunal investigation. Recent leaks that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) was planning to issue its indictments in the fall in which it would direct charges against what it claimed were "undisciplined members" of Hizbullah triggered a series of speeches by Hassan Nasrallah.

The idea to have a team conducting a private investigation into the killing was, according to Nasrallah, inspired by the arrests of an Israeli spy ring in Lebanon starting April 2009. Since then some 150 Israeli spies have been arrested by Lebanese army and security intelligence officers. "An in- depth reading of the confessions of the Israeli agents gave us leads to work towards proving the possibility of Israel's culpability of the crime, although this has been completely ruled out by the [STL] investigation committee," said Nasrallah. Nasrallah spoke at length of suspected spies in Lebanon, airing detailed profiles of a handful of Israeli agents arrested by Lebanese security forces.

When Nasrallah was asked whether or not such valuable evidence would be submitted to the STL investigating Al-Hariri's killing, his answer was brief but telling: "We do not have confidence in this investigation to start with, and even when we accepted to help with the investigation, we did this as witnesses." But if the STL ignores the new facts presented and does not investigate them, this will confirm Hizbullah's conviction that the STL is politicised, said Nasrallah.

Initial reactions to Nasrallah's bombshell remarks varied. Significant, however, was that the signals coming from Saad Al-Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister and son of the late Rafik Al-Hariri, were not encouraging. The Hariri-financed TV channel Al-Mustaqbal ignored the press conference and continued airing its programmes as usual. Former Al-Mustaqbal MP Mustafa Aloush told several TV channels that he "was not convinced by Nasrallah's evidence". There has been no comment -- until Al-Ahram Weekly went to print -- from Hariri's office on Nasrallah's accusations.

Al-Hariri's silence, explained Ibrahim Al-Amin of the daily Al-Akhbar newspaper, has one meaning: things may get complicated. "Al-Hariri told his confidantes that silence will protect the tribunal," wrote Al-Amin in Al-Akhbar 's editorial on Tuesday. This can only mean that Al-Hariri is turning down Nasrallah's helping hand to put an end to the politicisation of the tribunal and the investigation into his father's murder, he added. But other key players, such as the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, voiced the view that Nasrallah presented "evidence valuable enough to open a new investigation into Al-Hariri's killing".

Nasrallah insisted that what he presented was not "conclusive evidence", but was sufficient to open a new investigation into the Al-Hariri killing that should focus on Israel's possible culpability. He added that Hizbullah was ready to assist in any investigation so long as it proved its "seriousness". Although Nasrallah left much unsaid, yet he made no secret of the real purpose behind the press appearance. It is the battle for the hearts and minds of the Arab, Muslim and Lebanese public. "We are very concerned about briefing Lebanese, Arab and Muslim public opinion about the information we have," explained Nasrallah, "because we believe that the primary goal behind indicting Hizbullah is to soil the resistance's reputation and image in the eyes of Arab public opinion and to clear Israel's reputation."

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/1011/re4.htm

Hezbollah is tring to buy time. - 801

The 801

10-29-2010, 04:50 PM

DF reveals Hezbollah's deployment

Information obtained by IDF exposes Hezbollah's immense scope of activity in south Lebanon, in preparation for next clash with Israel

Hanan Greenberg
Published: 07.07.10, 19:45 / Israel News

The Israeli Defense Forces revealed on Wednesday aerial photographs of sites at the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, where the IDF suspects Hezbollah is storing various weapons and even operating headquarters and control centers.

Colonel Ronen Marley, commander of the western brigade at the northern border, commented on the rearmament of Hezbollah: "An event can take place today, or a year from now; I am ready for it to happen by surprise. We are operating in different ways to thwart any event – if one should take place, we will know how to handle it."

Tension in the Air
UN warns of renewed violence between Hezbollah and Israel / AFP
Ban Ki-moon says allegations of Scud missile transfer to Shiite group causing increase in tension between Israel, Hezbollah

Colonel Marley added that the Hezbollah has recently been collecting intelligence on IDF forces, and sometimes operates in civilian guise. The organization was also engaged in infrastructure works that would prepare it for future fighting.

A senior military source claimed that increased cooperation between Iran, Syria and Hezbollah is giving them an operational advantage and increases their effectiveness ahead of a clash with the IDF. However, the IDF emphasized that despite reports of a new radar operating in Syria, this claim was not familiar to them.

Preparing the grounds
The material presented by the military revealed that 23,000 residents live in the village where al-Khiam Detention Center was operating while the IDF controlled the safety zone in southern Lebanon.

According to information obtained by the security establishment, Hezbollah was now preparing the grounds for the next round of battle with Israel.

http://www.ynetnews.com/PicServer2/24012010/2650539/Untitled-1_Wa.jpg

Al-Khiam rooftops. Targets marked in red.

The army noted that some 90 activists were operating in the village vicinity, most of them belonging to special forces that are preparing – as soon as they receive the order – to lie in wait for IDF forces, alongside a "welcome" of various demolition charges, anti-tank missiles and pits filled with explosives.

The IDF decided to present the information in order to demonstrate Hezbollah's scope of activity against Israel, four years after the Second Lebanon War.

The information also revealed that hundreds of short-range mortar shells and rockets have been stored in al-Khiam, and as in the past, intentionally placed adjacent to public institutions, schools and medical facilities.

A military source told Ynet that the images from al-Khiam are not exclusive, and that similar operations were taking place in the entire area. "What you see in this village, you can see in all villages in southern Lebanon. There are some 20,000 activists whose job is, in fact, to act against IDF forces from within the village. When the time comes, they will give our forces a real fight," the source said.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3916665,00.html

The 801

11-19-2010, 10:19 AM

Interesting analysis

Arab World: Hizbullah’s deterrence
By JONATHAN SPYER
11/19/2010 16:32

Does Nasrallah really feel threatened by the UN Special Tribunal?; He is acting to preemptively deter its indictments.

Speculation is currently rife concerning the likely response of Hizbullah in the event of indictments being issued against its members by the Special Tribunal investigating the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. In good Lebanese style, rumors are running rampant. One of these, which was echoed in a comment this week by Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, is that Hizbullah may use the issuing of indictments to “take over” Lebanon in its entirety.

It is impossible, of course, to know precisely what Hizbullah plans to do in the event of indictments being issued against its members. The movement is being deliberately ambiguous. But there is good reason to think that the rumors of an allout putsch are wide of the mark.

The central reason for this is quite straightforward. Hizbullah and its Iranian patrons already have a situation with which they are quite satisfied. Their current tactics, therefore, are probably designed to defend the present arrangement in Lebanon, rather than to prepare for a radical shake-up or shift in the balance of power.

Hizbullah is the product of a long-term investment by the Iranian regime, supervised by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. Since the departure of Syrian forces from Lebanon in 2005, it has constituted a key instrument in rebuilding and consolidating the domination of Iran and its Syrian ally.

In a series of moves, Hizbullah has clearly established the “ground rules” in its relations with the supposed authorities: In 2006, the movement established that it has the sovereign power to use its independent military capacity to take Lebanon to war at a time of its choosing.

In 2008, when the government of Lebanon attempted to interfere with Hizbullah’s military capabilities, it struck back hard and placed its military infrastructure henceforth clearly “out of bounds” for the elected government. It also secured the power to veto government decisions.

In 2009, Hizbullah and its allies paralyzed the political system after an electoral setback, until once more they secured their ability to veto cabinet decisions.

In the period 2006-2010, Hizbullah has, with Iranian backing and direct Syrian involvement, rebuilt and increased its military infrastructure both south and north of the Litani River. In so doing, it has demonstrated that the provisions of international law, most importantly UN Security Council Resolution 1701, present no effective barrier to its activities.

As a result of all this, Hizbullah’s position in Lebanon is currently unassailable.

It has freedom of maneuver in all areas of importance to it. At the same time, it does not need to take responsibility for governance on matters of no interest to it. It can leave non-Shi’ite communities largely to their own devices as long as they do not interfere with its activities.

The indicting of Hizbullah officials for the murder of Hariri would represent an attempt to breach the barriers of the sealed Hizbullah kingdom. The Special Tribunal would in effect be asserting a sovereignty superior to that of Hizbullah – namely, that of international law.

The movement is currently posturing and issuing threats, by way of response.

Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week threatened that the movement would “cut off the hand” which attempted the “arrest or detention” of its “jihadists.” It has also leaked details of its supposed plans for deploying rapidly throughout the country if indictments are issued. All this is almost certainly intended to act as a sort of preemptive deterrent to any such move by the Special Tribunal.

The message it is intending to convey is “don’t even think about it.” Yet Hizbullah has no desire for confrontation with the tribunal, just as it has no desire to clash with UNIFIL or with the March 14 movement – as long as they stay well out of its way.

Hizbullah is ultimately an instrument for the quarrel that the Iranian regime wants to have with Israel. Its actions over the last decade have been about preserving a space for that conflict to take place from Lebanon. Neither Hizbullah nor Iran has anything to gain from widening the circle of Hizbullah’s control in Lebanon at the present time. It is likely, therefore, that the movement will, if faced with indictments, simply ignore them. It is likely to make clear that any attempt to apprehend Hizbullah members will be met with violence.

It will be prepared to undertake a show of force on the model of May 2008, if deemed necessary. And there, as a result of its capacity for violence and intimidatory tactics, the movement will hope that the matter will rest.

This hope may be well-founded. There are already reports of a Saudi-Syrian brokered deal whereby Prime Minister Saad Hariri may proclaim Hizbullah’s “innocence” if indictments are issued. The Lebanese authorities have neither the will nor the ability to act against Hizbullah.

The “international community” almost certainly does not, either.

Hizbullah has surely noted that a precedent already exists attesting to the relative impotence of the International Criminal Court in the Arab world. In 2009, an arrest warrant was issued for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity because of the mass slaughter in Darfur. He ignored the indictment and continues to live a free and untroubled existence.

In other words, if one were to define “power” as the ability to carry out one’s will without the need to defer to the wishes of others in a given area, then Hizbullah has no need to “seize” power in Lebanon, for the simple reason that it already, to all intents and purposes, possesses it. This fact is likely to be sufficient to render any indictments against movement members meaningless, making further action unnecessary.

http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=195936

The 801

01-11-2011, 09:42 AM

Iran Steps Up Arming Hizbullah Against Israel

Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah

* Israeli and Western intelligence services have long been aware of Syrian and Iranian involvement in Hizbullah's arms buildup. Damascus Airport has been identified as the transit point for airlifts of Iranian arms that were subsequently transferred to Hizbullah via the open Syrian-Lebanese border, under the supervision of the Syrian security services.

* A senior Pentagon official has divulged that Hizbullah has 50,000 rockets and missiles, including 40-50 Fatah 110 missiles and 10 SCUD-C ground-to-ground missiles. Furthermore, some 10,000 Hizbullah fighters have been provided with a broad range of modern weapons, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have trained Hizbullah teams to operate these weapons.

* Currently, the Iranians exercise more control than ever over Hizbullah. Iranian General Hassan Madavi, Commander of the Lebanon Corps of the Revolutionary Guards, sits in Beirut alongside scores of Iranian officers and experts.

* The Iranian intelligence services, operating in the framework of the Revolutionary Guards, have built many cells in Africa, most of which rely on Shiite emigrants from Lebanon. This is being undertaken in the framework of the African Division of the Jerusalem Corps of the Guards, an effort headed by Gen. Qassem Suleymani. After training in Iran, they serve as a nucleus for recruiting others and provide a base for Iranian intelligence activity in their countries.

* In South Lebanon, with the assistance of the engineering units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hizbullah has dug tunnels that conceal its fighters from the watchful eye of Israeli UAVs that patrol the region. Hizbullah command centers were also equipped with an independent communications network funded by Iran.

* Hizbullah also continues to conceal its war materiel in mosques, schools, fire stations, and the like. According to Israeli intelligence, at least 100 Lebanese villages have become genuine military bases.

New Missiles Target Israel's Home Front

In January 2010, American intelligence services reported the transfer of 26 M-6002 missiles of Syrian manufacture to Hizbullah in Lebanon. These missiles, with a range of over 250 km., are intended to reinforce Hizbullah's ability to strike at the Israeli home front if and when hostilities erupt. This unverified report corresponds with other efforts by Syria, Iran, and Hizbullah to prepare for a new round of hostilities with Israel.

It is an open secret that the Syrian-Lebanese border has been deliberately left wide open by Syria in order to guarantee the supply of war materiel to Hizbullah. The Lebanese Army is thinly deployed along the 359-km. border with Syria and is unable to block the movement of Hizbullah fighters or Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Any thoughts of attempting to block the border must also take into account the presence of belligerent Palestinian units such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and Fatah Intifada that answer to Syria.1

Israeli and Western intelligence services have long been aware of Syrian and Iranian involvement in Hizbullah's arms buildup. Damascus Airport has been identified as the transit point for airlifts of Iranian arms that were subsequently transferred to Hizbullah via the open Syrian-Lebanese border, under the supervision of the Syrian security services.

Hizbullah's Logistics Network

In the spring of 2010, Western intelligence services received a rare glimpse into the logistics network built by Syria, Iran, and Hizbullah for the passage of weapons from Iran to Hizbullah in Lebanon. This network was built following the slaying of Hizbullah military commander Imad Mughniyeh and was intended, first and foremost, to guarantee Hizbullah's clandestine activity and the security of its fighters and commanders.

Three logistic bodies handle the mission of weapons transfer.2 They are dealing with at least 40,000 rockets of all sizes that passed from Iran to Hizbullah, which were intended to replenish the weapons arsenal that was lost in the Second Lebanon War and provide Hizbullah with the ability to strike deep into Israel - capabilities superior to those it possessed in 2006. A senior Pentagon official has divulged that Hizbullah has 50,000 rockets and missiles, including 40-50 Fatah 110 missiles and 10 SCUD-C ground-to-ground missiles.3

According to a U.S. State Department cable dated Feb. 25, 2010, and released by WikiLeaks, "the Government of Israel is concerned that Syria intends to imminently transfer SCUD-D missiles to Hizbullah in Lebanon. We share this concern. The transfer of such weapons would constitute a significant escalation of a potentially volatile situation that could threaten regional stability." U.S. diplomats were instructed to "caution" the Syrian government "against such a serious escalation," and warn it that "operational support for Hizbullah is a strategic miscalculation that is damaging" to Syria's long-term national interests.4

Furthermore, some 10,000 Hizbullah fighters have been provided with personal weapons, intermediate and long-range missiles, and high-trajectory and flat-trajectory weapons. According to Ha'aretz, Iran has even provided Hizbullah with UAVs and perhaps even with attack aircraft. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have been identified as being responsible for training Hizbullah teams to operate these weapons systems.5

Unit 108, whose main office is located in Damascus, is the main body in the organizational chain that engages in weapons transfers, and it was involved in transferring the M-6002 missiles. The mission of this unit is to transfer weapons that arrive from Iran and from logistics bases in Syria to logistics bases located along and near the Syrian-Lebanese border. "Regular" warehouses are located in Damascus, in Duma near the Syrian capital, and near Adra, adjacent to Damascus International Airport. "Reserve" warehouses are located in the region of Aleppo, Homs, and the coastal city of Tartous.

The second body in the logistics chain is Unit 112, whose job is to disperse the war materiel among Hizbullah bases in the Bekaa Valley and elsewhere. The transfers take place in convoys of trucks that frequently change their license plates.

Finally, there are two sub-units of Unit 100, whose job is to transfer Hizbullah fighters and Iranian advisors between Syria, Iran, and Lebanon. This is the unit that dispatches Hizbullah cadres to Iran for training on the missile systems that Iran supplies.

It should be emphasized that currently, the Iranians exercise more control than ever over Hizbullah. Iranian General Hassan Madavi, Commander of the Lebanon Corps of the Revolutionary Guards, sits in Beirut alongside scores of Iranian officers and experts.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Develop New Arms Smuggling Routes

On November 3, 2009, the Israeli Navy intercepted the cargo ship MV Francop, which carried Iranian weapons bound for Hizbullah. The ship was heading for the Syrian port of Latakia. Nearly 500 tons of weapons were seized, hidden in 36 containers. There were 2,800 short-range 107mm and 122mm rockets as well as 106mm recoilless artillery shells, grenades, and ammunition.6 Once the Iranians became aware that Western intelligence services and Israel were focusing their information-gathering efforts on Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, they sought to develop alternative sea routes after the weapons-smuggling route in Sudan was exposed and attacked in March 2009.

In March 2010, five Italians and two Iranian citizens were arrested in Italy on charges of weapons smuggling. Investigators discovered that the network had been active since 2007 and engaged in the purchase of war materiel in Europe and its transfer via England, Switzerland, and Romania to Iran.7 Albania served as a transfer base for weapons that were purchased for Hizbullah in the Ukraine.8 In Thailand as well, a shipment of war materiel was seized that had been sent from North Korea to Hizbullah, after a technical malfunction compelled the plane to make an emergency landing in Bangkok and thus exposed the shipment.9

A new African weapons route was exposed in October 2010 when Nigerian authorities seized 13 containers at the port of Lagos that had arrived from Iran, containing 107mm rockets, bombs, grenades, rifles, machine guns, and ammunition, camouflaged as building material.10 The Nigerian authorities were induced to take action with encouragement from the United States. Furthermore, UN Security Council Resolution 1929 permits countries to take over ships suspected of transferring war materiel in order to examine their cargo.

As a result of the ship's exposure, Iranian official Ali Akbar Tabatabai'i, the person responsible for the African Division in the Revolutionary Guards' Jerusalem Corps, who was directly responsible for dispatching the ship to Nigeria, was compelled to flee and seek sanctuary in the Iranian Embassy in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. From there, he made his way directly to the private plane of Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who was visiting the country at the time, and from there to Iran. However, Tabatabai'i's assistant, Azim Agha Jani, was arrested by the Nigerian authorities.11

The Role of the Lebanese Shiite Diaspora

The Iranian intelligence services, operating in the framework of the Revolutionary Guards, have built many cells in Africa, most of which rely on Shiite emigrants from Lebanon who live in Africa. This is being undertaken in the framework of the African Division of the Jerusalem Corps of the Guards, an effort headed by Gen. Qassem Suleymani. According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Shiraa, Imad Mughniyeh was the architect who initiated the establishment of support cells in Lebanese Shiite communities outside of Lebanon. Lebanese recruited for the Iranian intelligence efforts were invited to visit Iran, where they underwent training in the field of intelligence. Upon their return, they serve as a nucleus for recruiting others and provide a base for Iranian intelligence activity in their countries.12

Proof of such involvement of Lebanese citizens was provided in June 2010 when a Lebanese civilian was arrested in Paraguay by Interpol and accused of financing Hizbullah.13 That same month, two Lebanese residents of Ohio in the U.S. were arrested and charged with assisting Hizbullah.14

There is no doubt that the Lebanese Shiite community overseas provides a convenient recruiting ground for Iranian intelligence. Their familiarity with the area in which they live, their ability to move freely, their command of the local language, and their ability to obtain the support of local officialdom through bribery or business dealings all provide Iran with a significant advantage. However, due to the recent stiffening of sanctions against Iran and the increased interdiction activity by Western intelligence services led by the United States, some reservations have been heard about following Iran blindly. Iran's strategic objectives do not necessarily dovetail with the narrow interests of the Lebanese Shiite diaspora community, which is largely focused on seeking an easier life and turning a profit.15

Hizbullah's Feverish Preparations for Renewed Conflict

Following the Second Lebanon War, Hizbullah reorganized its command-and-control system. In South Lebanon, with the assistance of the engineering units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hizbullah dug tunnels that conceal its fighters from the watchful eye of Israeli UAVs that patrol the region.

Hizbullah command centers were also equipped with an independent communications network distinct from the system covering all of Lebanon. A U.S. State Department cable dated Apr. 16, 2008, and released by WikiLeaks, "decried the establishment of a complete fiber optics network by Hizbullah throughout Lebanon." Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh cited the Iranian Fund for the Reconstruction of Lebanon as the source of funding for the network.16

As in the past, Hizbullah also continues to conceal its war materiel in mosques, schools, fire stations, and the like.17 According to Israeli intelligence, at least 100 Lebanese villages have become genuine military bases.18

All this attests to the feverish preparations that Iran is making, not only in anticipation of a renewed military conflict between Hizbullah and Israel, but also in anticipation of the possibility that Hizbullah will move to subdue the Lebanese government, should it decide to do so.

* * *
http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=1&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=442&PID=0&IID=5660&TTL=Iran_Steps_Up_Arming_Hizbullah_Against_Israel

The 801

03-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Life in the bunker

Special: Ynet offers rare glimpse into Nasrallah's life in hiding, secret bodyguard unit

Yoaz Hendel
Published: 03.03.11, 07:58 / Israel News

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has been living underground for almost five years now, in hideouts that are little known. A fugitive who fears for his life and is committed to his Iranian patrons, he stays deep inside the soil that he claims to have liberated from the Israelis. Nobody knows his whereabouts with the exception of a small group of bodyguards.

Senior officials who wish to meet him and even representatives of Iran's Revolutionary Guards do it at a central bunker; Nasrallah arrives for such sessions under heavy security and a veil of secrecy. The views regarding his hideout the rest of the time are inconclusive.

An Israeli intelligence official estimates that Nasrallah leads a life similar to that of a wanted terror suspect in the territories. He sleeps at various sites, meets his family infrequently, and runs his guerilla empire via decoded technology provided by the Iranians.

However, Colonel Shlomo Mofaz, the former deputy head of the army's research division, says that Nasrallah is unlikely to conduct himself like a Gaza fugitive. "We are talking about a man with great self-respect; a man who is above the masses…a man like him does not dart from one place to another. Nasrallah has an underground system of bunkers where he spends most of his day."

Intelligence officials do agree about Nasrallah's general location. "In order to continue to run the organization and be close to the decision-making center, he must be in the Beirut region," a defense official who made Nasrallah his life's work says. "The chances that Nasrallah chose the Sunni or Shiite quarters as a hideout are slim. The Dahiya neighborhood, Hezbollah's former nerve center, is the most reasonable possibility."

"It's a crowded neighborhood that takes up several kilometers; Hezbollah's operations and communication centers are located underneath it to this day. Since the Second Lebanon War, and with Iran's support, Hezbollah boosted its fortification and infrastructure," he said. "This complex is also connected in one way or another to the Iranian embassy. Nasrallah stays there and manages the organization's daily activity from there. When he needs to move somewhere, he does it secretly."

In his day-to-day life, Nasrallah maintains contact only with one close circle of associates. Most of them are members of his bodyguard unit. "Nasrallah undertakes major screening," says Colonel Mofaz. "Hence, as is the case with other terror leaders, the close circle around him comprises relatives and people he trusts."

This is confirmed by Shiite websites maintained by Nasrallah's fans. The fear that Israel will penetrate his close circle prompted him to disengage from anyone he doesn't know or doesn’t fully trust. Even in his central bunker, Nasrallah is surrounded by a secret bodyguard unit established by Hezbollah. The unit is so secretive because Nasrallah fears that should the identity of his guards become known, the Israelis would manage to reach them.

Nasrallah's bodyguards
The members of the Shiite bodyguard unit are distinguished Hezbollah men who had proven their loyalties and fighting skill. The unit expanded in the wake of the Second Lebanon War and today comprises 19 men, all tasked with safeguarding the secretary general. Bodyguards are recruited after several years of field service.

A Shiite youngster who wishes to become Nasrallah's bodyguard must undertake basic and advanced training, which usually takes place in northern Lebanon. After proving his skill in handling guns, explosives, communication equipment and anti-tank weapons, and especially after showing that he is ideologically fit for the job, a candidate is examined in the field. There is no shortage of tests under fire in Lebanon, and those who wish to stand out have an opportunity to do so.

Israeli Message

In the next phase, the young men are sent to a Revolutionary Guards training camp near Tehran. Just like Hezbollah men earmarked for other posts, the bodyguards undergo additional basic training. Only after successfully completing this phase, Nasrallah's guards advance to learning bodyguard techniques.

The instructors are Iranian bodyguards who belong to the Revolutionary Guards and possess great skill. In a state where assassination attempts are a matter of routine, there is no other way.

The Second Lebanon War and Nasrallah's move to the bunker forced his bodyguards to develop further skills. A defense official estimates that in recent years the guards have also turned into communication experts. They are responsible for connecting Nasrallah to the outside world by recording his speeches and facilitating coded broadcasts and calls.

Hence, any Nasrallah speech, whether recorder or live, is facilitated by his bodyguards. The fear of Israeli infiltration is so great that even employees of the group's television station, al-Manar, are not allowed to enter the secret bunker.

According to Shiite websites, the Hezbollah chief's bodyguard unit is headed by Abu-Ali, Nasrallah's son-in-law. He is also regularly escorted by Abu al-Fadel, a loyal sniper who has been trained by the Revolutionary Guards.

The spectrum of potential assassination scenarios faced by the bodyguard unit is wide. A Lebanese news website that is not associated with Hezbollah reports that when Abu-Ali married Nasrallah's daughter, the groom's mother wanted to offer sweets to party attendants. Despite the family connection and that fact that the mother was considered a trusted source, she was ordered to leave the sweet outsides – the fear of Israeli poisoning overcame the desire for traditional desserts.

Nonetheless, is it possible to overcome all the security rings and pinpoint Nasrallah's location? Israel's intelligence community is considered a world leader in utilizing agents, but an intelligence official says that in Nasrallah's case the mission becomes increasingly complex, even compared to radical regimes.

Israel could have targeted Nasrallah when he delivered his public speeches. Despite the potential collateral damage, at the end of the day this is mostly a matter of decision. And here we face the question of the benefit of assassinating the Hezbollah chief.

Colonel Mofaz believes that killing Nasrallah would be good for Israel. "At this time I do not see a charismatic successor like him; a man who has the political clout, ties with the Iranians, and religious authority."

For the time being, Nasrallah continues to take over Lebanon and threaten Israel. Hezbollah in 2011 is no longer a small guerilla group, but rather, an organization that maintains major missile capabilities. In the midst of an unstable, volatile Arab world, Nasrallah is able to produce a steady, problematic threat against Israel. Most Israeli officials admit that killing him may prompt a powerful Hezbollah response. On the other hand, even if he is eliminated, the Iranian interest to maintain Hezbollah as a doomsday weapon may ensure a proportional response. Now, all we need is an opportunity and a decision.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4036843,00.html

The 801

03-27-2011, 03:28 PM

Syrian activists: Death toll in anti-gov't protests 100

Opposition figures say Hezbollah members working alongside Syrian security forces to quell Deraa riots; local hospital says bodies of 25 protestors brought in, 'all with gunshot wounds'

Roee Nahmias, agencies
Published: 03.24.11, 13:33 / Israel News

At least 25 bodies of protestors who were killed in clashes with Syrian security forces were evacuated to the main hospital in the southern city of Deraa, a medical official reported Thursday.

"They all had gunshot wounds," the official said.

Activists said the death toll in the anti-government protests has climbed to 100.

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition leaders have accused President Bashar Assad of using Hezbollah to suppress the anti-government protests. Abd el-Razek told BBC Arabic that Hezbollah operatives were working alongside Syrian security forces to quell the riots in Deraa. Other opposition leaders have made similar claims.

'Corrupt government is butchering us'

An independent Syrian human rights organization condemned the wave of arrests of anti-government activists in the country. The group reported that blogger and communications student Ahmad Hadifa was detained in Damascus Thursday by secret police. Last month Hadifa was held in police custody for six days.

According to the organization, Hadifa was arrested due to his "activity on Facebook in support of the protest in Deraa."

Amnesty International published the names of 93 activists it claims were arrested this month in cities throughout Syria. It said the actual number of those arrested was much higher.

A video posted on YouTube showed an activist pleading with Arab and foreign news networks to "Save us, there is a massacre in Deraa. This corrupt government is butchering us. There are tanks and other armored vehicles here. Save us. Deraa calls out to you; Deraa is dead; I beg of you."

The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that late Wednesday an "armed gang attacked an ambulance crew that drove by the al-Omari mosque in Deraa, resulting in the deaths of a physician, medic and ambulance driver."

SANA said security forces would "continue to hunt down armed gangs that terrorize civilians and murder, steal and torch public buildings and homes in Deraa."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4047276,00.html

The 801

04-13-2011, 05:00 PM

Cable dated:2009-11-18T14:32:00
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002501
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, PTER, KWBG, EG, IR, LE, IS
SUBJECT: 40TH JPMG: COUNTERSMUGGLING TECHNICAL DISCUSSION (PART 2 OF 4)
Classified By: A/DCM Marc Sievers, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (S) Summary: Concurrent to the Joint Political Military Group (JPMG) Executive Session, IDF J5 and Israel Defense Intelligence (IDI) officers briefed U.S. JPMG delegation members on current arms transfers and weapons smuggling into Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. IDF J5 and IDI officers first focused on arms transfers to Hizballah in Lebanon via Iran and Syria, and provided current estimates of Hizballah arms. IDF J5 and IDI officers argued that Hizballah's ultimate goal during any future conflict is to launch a massive number of missiles and rockets daily into Israeli territory, including those that can reach the Tel Aviv area. J5 and IDI also described the sophisticated smuggling routes from Iran into the Gaza Strip, arguing that Hamas is now more powerful than prior to Operation Cast Lead. IDF J5 and IDI officers noted improved countersmuggling efforts by Egypt, but stressed more must be done to curb smuggling into Gaza. This is the second of four cables (septel) reporting on the 40th Joint Political Military Group. End summary.

2. (SBU) Israeli attendees included representatives from the IDF J5, IDI, Shin Bet, and Mossad. The U.S. delegation was led by PM Coordinator for Counter Piracy Robert Maggi, and included PM/RSAT John Schwenk, OSD Israel Desk Officer Eric Lynn, J5 Israel Desk Officer LTC Alan Simms, U.S. DAO Tel Aviv Assistant Air Attache Matt Yocum, EUCOM LCDR Molly McCabe, and U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv political-military officer Jason Grubb.

3. (S) Maggi stressed the importance of and noted progress with counter-smuggling efforts into Gaza -- but also acknowledged the GOI desire to see even further progress. He said the USG was looking for practical ideas to improve counter-smuggling efforts. IDF J5 officers argued that smuggling represents a strategic challenge for the GOI, which is facing a proliferation of knowledge and capabilities that are severely limiting Israel's diplomatic options for peace. IDF J5 made the case that weapons and knowledge proliferate from state actors, which disrupts diplomatic regional efforts. IDF J5 highlighted "regional faultlines," with the United States and Iran leading two opposing camps -- and countries such as China, Russia, and Qatar remaining on the sidelines with unclear intentions.

4. (S) IDI officers briefed on arms "deliveries" to the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, making the case with the latter that these arms transfers were done openly and should not be considered smuggling. IDI noted that since 2006, Hizballah has increased its quantity of sophisticated arms with improved range and accuracy -- these arms were acquired via Syria and Iran despite the presence of UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). IDI highlighted the continued desire by Hizballah to avenge the assassination of its former military commander Imad Mughniyah, and pointed to failed attempts to do so in Azerbaijan and Egypt. Finally, IDI reviewed the arms delivery route from Syria to Lebanon via the Beqa'a Valley, and then to points south through Beirut.

5. (S) IDI presented estimates of Hizballah arms in Lebanon, including a breakdown of arms south of the Litani River. According to the IDI, Hizballah possesses over 20,000 rockets, hundreds of 220 mm and 302 mm rockets, several hundred "Fajr" rockets, hundreds of simple anti-tank (AT) launchers with rockets and missiles, and hundreds of advanced anti-tank wire guided missiles (ATGM), dozens of SA-14, SA-7, and QW-1 anti-aircraft guns, several Ababil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), an unknown quantity of C-802 coastal missiles and up to thousands of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

6. (S) Given this arsenal, Maggi asked what the IDF thought Hizballah's intentions were. IDI officers opined that Hizballah was preparing for a long conflict with Israel in which it hopes to launch a massive number of rockets at Israel per day. IDI officers noted in the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Tel Aviv was left untouched -- Hizballah will try to change the equation during the next round and disrupt everyday life in Tel Aviv. A Mossad official noted that Hizballah will want to ensure it can launch rockets and missiles to the very last day of the conflict, i.e., avoid running out of munitions. He estimated that Hizballah will try to launch 400-600 rockets and missiles at Israel per day -- 100 of which will be aimed at Tel Aviv. He noted that Hizballah is looking to sustain such launches for at least two months.

7. (S) IDI then shifted focus to the Gaza Strip, describing three circles of arms smuggling: 1. arms sources and

TEL AVIV 00002501 002 OF 002

financing, such as Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and unfettered arms markets such as Eritrea and Yemen, and possibly China; 2. transit areas and states such as the Red Sea, Yemen, Sudan, Syrian, Lebanon, and Libya; and finally, 3. the "close circle" along the Sinai-Egyptian border and Philadelphi route. Maggi asked what percentage of arms transfers occurred via land, sea and air. IDI noted that it was difficult to determine: smugglers tend to prefer the naval route -- as there are fewer obstacles -- but the last segment almost always occurred overland. IDF J5 added that land smugglers are learning from past experience and building new overland "bypasses." When asked about air routes from Iran over Turkey, IDI officials indicated that Turkey has been made aware of such activity, although a Mossad representative suggested Turkey may not be entirely aware of the extent of such activity, given the IRGC's smuggling expertise. The GOI highlighted that focusing solely on the last phase of smuggling (e.g. along the Philadelphi route) would only lead to limited success, and that wider efforts were key.

8. (S) IDI also provided an analysis of weapons entering Gaza following Operation Cast Lead. IDI noted that one of the goals of Cast Lead was to damage Hamas' ability to produce its own weapons. In this regard, the IDF was successful, but Hamas is reconstituting its capabilities. According to the IDI, Hamas possibly possesses a few rockets with ranges over 40 km -- perhaps as far as 60-70 km, or within range of Tel Aviv. In addition, the IDI believes Hamas possesses quality AT systems such as the Kornet PG-29 and quality anti-aircraft artillery (AAA). These weapons join an already potent arsenal including Grad rockets with ranges up to 40 km, ammonium perchlorate (APC) oxidizer for indigenous rocket production, hundreds of 120, 80 and 60 mm MBs, dozens of mortars, C5 K air-to-surface rockets, PG-7 AT rockets and launchers, SA-7 MANPADS, PKS AAA MGs and thousands of rounds of ammunition, and quality AT, such as Sagger missiles and launchers, and light anti-tank weapon (LAW) rockets.

9. (S) IDF J5 presented some basic benchmarks for possible countersmuggling solutions for Gaza. First, Egyptian national commitment is required. Other benchmarks outlined by the IDF included a clear chain of command, control of the Sinai and its inhabitants, systematic treatment of tunnel infrastructure, trial and imprisonment of smugglers, and overcoming traditional failures such as bribery and lack of coordination. IDF J5 noted that Egyptian Intelligence Minister Soliman has been supportive, while there is growing awareness on the part of Egyptian Defense Minister Tantawi -- who the IDF views as an obstacle to counter-smuggling efforts. However, IDF J5 said there is a lack of coordination between the Egyptian Army and intelligence service on counter-smuggling efforts.

10. (S) The IDF has observed a more systematic response by Egypt in recent months, including assigning guards to newly discovered tunnel entries, or even blowing up tunnels -- by IDF estimates, the Egyptian Army has collapsed 20-40 tunnels in the last 4-5 months. Nevertheless, the IDF continues to see a lack of urgency on the part of Egypt regarding smuggling into the Sinai; little attention has been paid to improving the socio-economic conditions of Bedouins primarily responsible for Sinai smuggling. While Egypt has made several key arrests -- including prominent smuggler Muhammad Sha'er -- others are still at large. Finally, the IDF noted the construction of an underground barrier and sensors' network -- but in many cases, the smugglers have dug deeper tunnels to avoid the network.

11. (S) The IDF J5 outlined consultations with geology and tunnel experts, whom suggested several possible solutions to the Sinai-Gaza tunneling network: constant and specific mine activity in the vicinity of the border to a depth of 20-30 meters; the use of a shock device or stun charge, or smoke at a tunnel entrance for deterrence purposes; constructing underground obstacles 90 meters deep to destabilize current tunnel infrastructure; close supervision and inspection of buildings in urban areas, in which there is a high concentration of trucks and newly built rooftops and roads; and the arrest of major smugglers -- such as Darwish Madi -- and utilization of interrogation to discover major tunnels and dismantle smuggling networks.

12. (U) PM Coordinator for Counter Piracy Maggi has cleared this cable. CUNNINGHAM

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/07/israel-gaza