Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech made during AlQods International Day
In the Name of Allah the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Peace be upon our Prophet, the last of the Prophets, Abi Al Qassem Mohammad Bin Abdullah, his Household, the Purified, his chosen companions and all the prophets and messengers. Brothers and Sisters, peace be upon you all and Allah's blessing and mercy. Allah Almighty says in His Holy Book speaking about Pharaoh and the Children of Israel: "So he resolved to remove them from the face of the earth: but We did drown him and all who were with him. And We said thereafter to the Children of Israel, dwell securely in the land (of promise): but when the second of the warnings came to pass, We gathered you together in a mingled crowd." (Verses 103 – 104 Surah Al-Isra). Almighty Allah doesn't mean with (the second of the warnings) Doom's Day but rather the second warning made for the Sons of Israel in this World. In the onset of Al-Isra Surah, one of the verses says: "So when the second of the warnings came to pass, (we permitted your enemies) to disfigure your faces, and to enter your Temple as they had entered it before, and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power."(Verse 5 Surah Al Isra). True says Allah Almighty. Praise be to Allah for helping our generation to witness with their own eyes the disfiguration of the Zionists' faces on the hands of the resistance fighters in Lebanon and Palestine.
Brothers and sisters, thirty years after the announcement made by Imam Khomeini (may Allah bless his soul), this occasion is still beating with life and is forcefully present thanks to the assertions and support of the follower of the Imam, his successor - His Eminence Imam Khamenai. Thanks also to the commitment, love and faith of the peoples of our Arab and Islamic world to AlQods, Palestine and the people of Palestine. Since the beginning of its announcement, AlQods Day aimed at stressing several concepts that are confirmed, recurred, consolidated and established year after year and with the accumulation of experiences and the disclosure of several conflict arenas of clear and definite consequences. Tonight, I will try first to concentrate on several concepts. The main aim of AlQods Day was and is still reviving this cause – the cause of AlQods and the cause of Palestine. The cause of AlQods was and is still subject to liquidation, bargaining and oblivion. Some even view it as an embarrassing cause. AlQods Day aims at asserting that it's a central cause that has to do with the present, future and fate of the nation as well as its status, religion, faith, prophets and upcoming generations. The occasion aims at reviving the cause and not shedding tears at the ruins, the misfortune, catastrophe and loss here or there. It's a revival in the mind, heart and conscience. It's a reassertion on one's determination and will. AlQods Day also asserts to Muslims especially amidst their prayers in the month of Holy Ramadan, on the last Friday and amidst their prayers, fasting, Koran reciting, reverence to Allah Almighty and renouncement of this world and its mortal belongings to assert to this nation several essential concepts including: the nation must feel the extent of humiliation brought against it in the past decades when its holy sites got occupied and fell in the hands of its enemies. We must view the occupation of AlQods and the occupation of the holy sites of Muslims and Christians on the hands of a racial Zionist group as the worst humiliation brought against this nation in the past century especially as the occupation persists. Another concept has to do with asserting the historical, religious and legal responsibility of the nation from the recesses of praying and fasting – the responsibility towards AlQods, Palestine and the Palestinian people. Among the concepts asserted by AlQods Day is that AlQods and Palestine – from the sea to the river – is the property of the Palestinian, the Arabs and Muslims. No one possesses an authorization to dispense with not even one grain of soil, a wall nor a stone in this holy land because its soil is holy, its stones are holy, its neighborhoods are holy, its olive trees are holy … everything in it is holy. No one possesses an authorization to dispense with what is sacred at all. All these holy sites must be restored unblemished to their true owners.
Still, among the concepts stressed by AlQods Day is correcting the concept which the Imam sought to correct: the equivocation which says that Israel rules the world. This is not true. The equivocation also says Israel that we fight rules the United States. This is not true. Indeed we do not deny the influence of the Zionist lobby but the true understanding is that Israel is a functional entity founded by Britain and its allies to perform a definite function. This was inherited by the successive US administrations. Israel is a functional entity performing its mission in the framework of the western-US imperial project which aims to control, tear, humiliate and take control over our nations and goods. Israel plays the role of the spearhead in this project. To understand this concept we must perceive well that liberating our land and the holy sites does not take place through pleading with the Americans and the West - those who founded and created Israel and are investing it to break up our region anew in the framework of a new Middle East. The Lebanese brought down this equivocation during July War 2006. This understanding reveals that the way to restore the land and the holy sites and to liberate man in Palestine and the region comes through the will and determination of the resistance and the sacrifices of the peoples of the region which can impose their will on this functional entity and on these employees. Among the concepts stressed by AlQods Day is asserting that Israel is not the enemy of the Palestinian people only. It's the enemy of Lebanon, the Arab peoples and the Islamic peoples. Israel is a cancerous gland the goal of which is exterminating all around. Consequently this feeling, this position and this culture must remain present so that the course does not deviate from its true path.
Today as in the past we like -on AlQods Day and from our position as resistance fighters and depending on our experience- to stress that the only way to restore the land and the holy sites is resistance – the resistance of the Palestinian people, the Lebanese people and the peoples of the nation. This was and is still possible. I even say that today it's more possible than in any other time in the past. Such an outcome is not a dream anymore. Today the time of Zionist dreams coming true came to an end. Our dreams started coming true. Today we do not dwell in dreams anymore; we are rather realizing our dreams in several stances and domains. Following year 2000, and after the historical victory in southern Lebanon, Al Aqsa Intifada took off. It was a lofty experience and a historical golden chance to make hopes come true. Unfortunately – frankly speaking- the nation did not take the appropriate stance with the Palestinian people. Today this chance is not lost yet especially when it had become clear more than ever that the horizon of a settlement is dim. The Palestinian people are still amidst the catastrophe and suffering. Palestinians are being killed daily in the West Bank and Gaza is under siege suffering from hunger and terrorism. Still the will of the Palestinian people did not die neither did their arms on the background of whatever upcoming possibilities on the Palestinian and regional level. The Palestinian people are determined on remaining steadfast, resisting and not giving up their legitimate rights. The Palestinian people might differ in many domains but they unanimously agree on not giving up Al Qods. This is a stance, a position and a conduct toward which the nation must assume a great responsibility.
No one is asking the Arab governments to dispatch their armies to fight Israel. As we did in July War, we did not ask anything from anyone. But there are several possible means for support which the nation can do but still doesn't do. Today Arab and Palestinian families in East Al Qods are being subject to the worst forms of purgation, displacement and expulsion under various pretexts. These families must be supported to remain in AlQods. Just the present of Palestinian and Arab families –both Muslims and Christians – in Al Qods is a form of resistance. It's rather one of the noblest forms of resistance which must be supported. Arabs who own thousands of billions of dollars are able to support the steadfastness of these families in Al Qods to prevent its Judaism. In the West Bank also - whether we noticed or not – there is programmed gradual displacement due to security and difficult living conditions. This case must be confronted through supporting the steadfastness and the remaining of Palestinians in the West Bank. Gaza Strip is still under siege threatened with hunger. People there might be provided with help. The nation is responsible of lifting the siege off Gaza and is able to do that. Today the Palestinian people hope the extensive Arab nation would work to lift the siege. Unfortunately, only some foreign men and women go on board of boats in seas to deliver some supplies to Gaza. As we express our respect, appreciation and regard to the courage and boldness of those who run the blockade, we feel very much embarrassed when comparing them to the nation of billion and several hundred million Muslims who watch the people of Gaza die from hunger. This is a part of the responsibility of media and political support as well as a continuing summoning of the Palestinian suffering and assertion of their right to return and to achieve their legal rights. These are among the obligations of which the nation is unfortunately performing a small portion. Among the most important obligations: the nation –governments and lively forces- must work industriously to bury alive the ordeal among the Palestinians and to unite their stances and work hard and seriously to make a local reconciliation. Unfortunately some Arabs benefited from the interior Palestinian conflict so as to shake their hands off the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause. They even find themselves pretexts to ignore and turn their back to this cause. This is neither chivalry nor Arabism nor Islam. I think that on the basis of the current developments and the competence of the lofty human capabilities, should the nation assume part of its responsibilities in supporting the Palestinians, achieving the goal of restoring AlQods and Palestine will not be far but rather it'll take place in the near future.
AlQods Day coincides this year with a number of important developments; the falling of the last leaders of July War -Ehud Olmert; though naturally and logically speaking he must have fallen following Winograd Report. However the Israeli press and Israeli information talked about direct American intervention to prevent the fall of Olmert at that moment because that will be recorded among Lebanon's and its Resistance victory in July War. But he was planned to fall at this moment.
Among the developments also is that Israel after July War is experiencing leadership crisis whether on the political or military level.
Among the developments is Olmert's confession that the dream of Great Israel has came to an end. He was preceded by a confession made by Netanyahu in 2000 concerning the extinction of Zionism among Israeli youths.
Among the developments is the lack of Israeli choices in confronting the Iranian atomic program. We noticed that Israel fell in turmoil as regarding this file.
Among the developments is the lack of trust the people of this entity have in the future of this entity. This is a natural outcome to the lack of trust in political and military leadership and in the army. The latest polls released in Israel say that two thirds of the Israeli people consider themselves present in a region they refer to as "dirty". Why do they call it "dirty"? They explain because they do not feel safe anymore. The Zionists came to Palestine with the promise of the land of milk and honey; security and protection. They were promised of being the nation number one in hegemony and control, in tyranny and arrogance, in injustice and dictatorship; the nation which kills and is not killed, captures and is not captured, wounds or is not wounded, humiliates and is not humiliated, and aggresses and its aggressions are not confronted. But today and after these years of resistance, Intifada and the new life that took off in this nation, it's natural that two thirds of the people of this entity feel that this region is not anymore the promised region on the basis of which they came.
Among the developments also is the horizon of any settlement with the Palestinians has came to a dead end. What took place in Annapolis is worse than what was before.
This was on the Zionist level. On the regional level, among the important developments is that the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine has surpassed the stage of risk of existence. This stage is surpassed; it came to an end. Nothing can threaten the very existence of the resistance neither in Lebanon nor in Palestine. We surpassed this stage.
Among the developments, the opposition nations especially Iran and Syria have surpassed the isolation conspiracies. These countries have asserted their active presence on the regional and international arenas.
Among the developments is the failure or stumble (if we are not to say failure because some people might say we are making haste in saying the failure) of the US plots on the region and in more than one domain and country.
These factors increase the power and the influence of the region's peoples and governments on the events taking place in this area and in our region.
On the international level, the international tension after Georgia War which caused defeat to the US-Israel axis and the severe financial crisis the US is facing currently show clearly that the world is moving toward a multi-polar system whether politically, militarily, financially or economically. These changes also are to the benefit of our region's peoples and governments. We see in these changes whether in the enemy's entity or on the regional or international level much hope in the future to achieve the interests of the peoples of the region and to distance our region from the policies of imposition, hegemony, tyranny and colonialism practiced by America and in which it invested Israel to serve its project.
Our obligation – brothers and sisters – in this stage is to clear the dust away from what the current stage will lead to, to be more steadfast in our positions and stances and to fortify our arenas because what's to come brings good tidings of many victories, breakthroughs and hope achievements, if God wills.
Hereof I come to Lebanon, Talking about Lebanon also and in the framework of AlQods Day I will handle two sections: the Palestinian section and the Lebanese section.
As for the Palestinian section, I say that it is the responsibility of Lebanon as a nation, government, people and political forces to struggle and carry on working along the Palestinian brethrens to achieve the right to return. It's not enough in Lebanon to refuse settlement; we must be part of the Arab and international struggle to achieve the right to return for the Palestinian refugees to their homes, properties and lands.
Secondly: Yes Lebanon is concerned in totally refusing settlement. On the national dialogue table before July War this issue was discussed. Our political group presented a constitutional amendment in the Lebanese Constitution that says that accepting settlement in Lebanon necessities the consensus of the cabinet. At the time the other political party did not agree. Lately we have seen in the media that some deputies of the other political party presented a suggestion of a constitutional amendment setting a condition on agreeing on any settlement of the Palestinians in Lebanon, namely the consensus of the cabinet. Good thanks God. Today I announce our total approval to any constitutional amendment of this kind which fortifies the Lebanese national stance in confronting the risk of settlement which I as well as you know is a US plot to which Arab finance is all ready.
When we refuse settlement, we do so in the framework of our resistance to the Zionist project, our resistance to let rightness prevail, our adhering to rightness and our struggle to restore rights to their true owners. It's Lebanon's responsibility to support the Palestinian brethrens in the camps in Lebanon to avoid any security clash. It's the responsibility of the Palestinian factions also to exert every possible effort in this field. Anyway Israel is present in Lebanon in many shapes and colors. It's always seeking ordeals among the Palestinians in the camps and ordeals among Lebanese in all national arenas.
It's among Lebanon's responsibilities on the Palestinian level to show interest on the human and services levels in the status of the Palestinian camps in Lebanon which are suffering from difficult conditions. Man can not imagine that in his neighborhood live a fellow people suffering from such hardships. Finally in the Palestinian section I express my praise to the stance of the Palestinian factions in Lebanon as a whole which consensually agreed on remaining neutral and is still neutral towards Lebanese interior political divisions. This is a wise and sound stance which is to the benefit of the Palestinians as well as the Lebanese.
As for the Lebanese section, I say that what we look forward to in Lebanon – and this is the truth which I say in internal speeches and not only in public speeches and hereof I say again - what we look forward to is that our country and nation be strong, powerful, integrated and safe. Our interior instructions to our brothers and sisters – and several days ago to the families of our martyrs – say that we do not want to dominate over Lebanon neither do we want to hold the reigns of power in Lebanon. We believe that Lebanon's interest and our interest in Lebanon on all levels that we stay together, work industriously, build and face challenges. Indeed if someone gave up confronting struggles, threats and Israeli aggressions for example that does not mean that we do as such. This is our aspiration; that we be together in all positions, arenas, issues and projects. This is what we aspire for and what we look for.
Today and after the news circulated in some newspapers and news media about an Israeli opposition against America providing the Lebanese Army with some kinds of arms I ask how can we build a strong national army able to defend Lebanon's territory, sovereignty and people this way? Is it possible that we wait (I'm not saying that somebody is waiting. I'm speaking in general) for a permission from America or from Israel to arm our national army and to provide it with what enables it of performing its main national obligations? This is not possible at all.
The Resistance has disturbed them because it does not ask permission from anyone to obtain arms whether in quality or quantity and because it hides its arms from the enemy and the friend alike. That's because hiding the arms is a source of power. The resistance also doesn't wait or fear the approval or disapproval of anyone to perform its duty, get ready, prepare and fight. Thus we need from the national unity government a brave decision that says that we in Lebanon want to provide the Lebanese national army with what enables it to defend Lebanon's sovereignty and every grain of soil in Lebanon and we do not need permission from anyone to do so. We must set a ministerial group who believes in money and searches in markets. It's legal and legitimate that our government fetches arms to its army even if it’s from the black market as the Resistance does. If we are to wait for Mrs. Condoleezza Rice to give us permission we will not receive but Rio Trucks, feeble jeeps and tanks but we will never receive what might enable our army to confront Israeli aggressions.
National power and capacities are not built upon a foreign permission but rather with national determination and will. On this very basis – that we want a strong sound capable and intact country – we always express our adherence to national stability, civil peace and coexistence. Thus I say to some editors: do not search for problems on the bases of the reconciliations we are making. We have no problems in that at all. When we staged a sit-in demanding a national unity government, dialogue, concurrence and unity – even after July War when I stood on September 22 Celebration and said disregarding all what took place let's put hand in hand and shoulder each other to build Lebanon together and defend Lebanon together. When the people who does not hear but this speech see that hands are put together and shoulders are supporting each other and people are meeting in an attempt to heal wounds, people will consider what is taking place as going harmoniously with their aims, culture and aspirations. With such a background we moved towards making conciliations. Reconciliation is not a one-sided decision. Reconciliation can never take place on the basis of a one-sided decision. It is a two-sided decision. When both sides took the decision, reconciliations came successively. In such reconciliations we are serious, truthful, attentive and ready to all what promotes a positive atmosphere in our nation. Details are not of any value. We are ready to all what might reassure the people in Lebanon – all regions in Lebanon especially our dear capital, the city of Beirut, and its noble people. Indeed when we talk about reconciliations we do not talk about new political alliances. They as well as we are stressing that. We remain on our political position on the side of our allies to whom we express our sincerity and commitment and they on the side of their allies. Reconciliations do not mean a transition in political alliances. Reconciliations aim at creating a positive peaceful atmosphere so as to put an end to the series of factional tensed atmosphere and sectarian provocation and at creating a sound atmosphere instead so as to address several issues in Lebanon and to move towards sound civilized competition in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Yes, we reconcile and accept that the rule on us be the upcoming parliamentary elections. We've always been looking forward to these elections. We've been seeking them and in our speech since the first sit-in in Down Town we've said let's appeal to people and to referendum. Some answered saying this is heresy and added that in Lebanon there is no referendum. We said OK; let's resort to early parliamentary elections. We've always been callers for people to be the arbitrator. We always do respect people and their will and choice. We are all concerned in insuring in Lebanon a positive agreeable atmosphere for a sound and noble political competition that'll lead to parliamentary elections that'll give birth in turn to a new authority. I do not want to make anticipations but my colleague and I are not among those who alter their promises and commitments. Here I tell you should the opposition win the majority in the parliament God willing, Hezbollah will call and assert its support to a national unity government in which the other party is represented so that it be a partner in the nation's administration. We do not look forward to parliamentary elections that give birth to a new majority that'll annul anybody. We must learn from the events of the past decades in our history – from the last century onwards. We must learn that this Lebanon can't be ruled with majority. (Every now and then a group of people give theories saying that Lebanon is a special country. But we do not agree that Lebanon is a special country. Even if we were the majority we must accept that Lebanon is a special country.) Should Lebanon be a special country we can't address its issues and crises with the mentality of minority and majority but rather with the mentality of mutual assistance, cooperation, solidarity and national integration among all the major national forces that represent various sects and factions.
Are we to head towards ideal choices and consequently deepen the current crises? We call for practical conduct. This is the statue quo of our country. We appeal to the elections and people to rule between us. Thus parliamentary blocs are formed in the Parliament where there would be a majority and a minority. Here I say again Lebanon is a special country which might be ruled by the mentality of majority and minority but as such its crises and problems will not be handled and with such a mentality challenges and risks can not be confronted.
The reconciliations made so far and the meetings held and are to be held in the coming days and nights God willing will promote such an atmosphere. Perhaps the current government and political forces will be given a chance to let security prevail in the country so that we will be able to devote ourselves to some issues and special crises now that the new school year has come altogether with winter on our people in all regions. Unfortunately there are no poor and rich regions anymore. Poverty has become among the common features that unite more than two thirds of the Lebanese people. How are we to face our difficult living and social crises at a time when many of our families do not own the minimum means for living and maintaining livelihood? Let the country breathe freely for a while and take repose from the speeches and debates in this context. As along as there is national dialogue table, national unity government, a parliament that is convening again, let's all take a break and think and exert all possible positive efforts. The future political status has been put on the safe rail as the elections law is to be endorsed within days God willing what will take the country to parliamentary elections at its due time.
It goes without saying that when we talk about the Lebanese issue, our eyes remain gazing at the South, our borders with the land of beloved Palestine and our hills and mountains from which we smell the fragrance of Palestine and the pure scent of Al Qods. Thus we stress at Al Qods Day that we, in the Resistance and with our brethrens in the Lebanese Army, will not neglect any challenge there no matter how difficult were our interior preoccupations and crises. Today we heard from some Israeli analysts quoting the enemy's chief of staff that he does not expect a war with Lebanon this year or in the coming year. That's good. But what is the reason? What's the secret knowing that a couple of days ago Barak as well as Mofaz, Olmert and Levny among others issued their threats and warnings?
I've always said that the Resistance program is not that of war. We are clear even as concerning liberating Palestine. We are saying that it's our duty as Lebanese to support the resistance of the Palestinian people. Today the Palestinian people have enough men and own the human capacity as well as patience, national, religious and moral values and characteristics that enable them to make that achievement but we must all provide them with support and assistance in various forms. The project of resistance is not a classical war, but when an aggression is staged against Lebanon, the resistance will not stand still. The latest amendment since Ehud Barak's term is that he mentioned eight instead of five squads. It seems that he thought deep and found out that with five squads there'll be a problem taking into consideration Lebanon's geography: Amel Mount and the remaining of the region. Thus he began working with eight squads. You as well as I will tell him again your eight squads will be destroyed in our hills, mountains, valleys, houses and under the feet of our fighters.
Talking about eight squads is better than about five squads taking into consideration military, geography, the battle field and the extent of the achievement. My understanding of the issue is that if Israel committed this sin – I've said in one of my previous speeches that that will lead to the extermination of its entity because imagine if five squads of the Israeli enemy were destroyed what will that take Israel to? - There will be no more army or morals. In fact there'll be no more a nation. Then our Palestinian brethrens with their available capacities in Gaza and the Bank will be able to end to the battle to their good God willing. This is concerning five squads. But should he (Barak) ask me: shall I come with five or eight squads? I'll tell him come with nine squads! He knows as well as you. The enemy knows as well as the friend that this is not sheer speech making that go to the days of Arab defeat but rather they are promises and commitments that belong to the Arab victory era.
At a time when people were preoccupied with the interior political crisis and interior clashes, there were in Hezbollah men who do not sleep the night following July War on top of whom was the leader Martyr Imad Mughniyeh (May Allah bless his soul) and they are still working to achieve and realize this promise.
On AlQods Day I say that when we possess the will, determination, spirituality, capacity and power and when we become strong in a world were only the strong is respected, doors to honor will be opened before us and humiliation will abandon us. Our dignity and holy sites will be restored. With this eye we view Al Qods, and we in Lebanon and Palestine and in the Arab and Islamic worlds feel that we are closer than any time in the past to Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, the Prophet's night journey and The Resurrection Church. God willing our generation will be the one who will witness the return of our nation to its dear Al Qods when there'll be no more Israel, Zionists, occupation or humiliation. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Pak army vows to confront US attacks
Press TV reports:
Pakistani military reiterates it will not allow any incursions by the US-led NATO troops into its volatile tribal region near Afghan border.
There has been no change in the rules of engagement with the US forces and the Pakistani military will not permit any aerial or ground incursions by foreign troops, the security officials said at a briefing on anti-militancy operations in the North West Frontier Province and adjoining tribal belt.
The security sources said also the civilian government wanted the anti-militancy operations to "continue till the end".
The military assertion coincides with President Asif Ali Zardari's comments that Pakistan will not allow US forces to violate the country's sovereignty through cross-border raids.
Zardari, in an interview with CNN broadcast on Sunday, said that Pakistan's military is capable of quelling militant elements on its border with Afghanistan, adding that Pakistani troops "can do a better job than anybody else."
Pointing out that such attacks are counter-productive, Zardari said the US should share intelligence so that Pakistani forces could act against militants on the country's soil.
Pakistan has angrily protested the missile strikes in recent weeks, which have resulted in the killing of innocent civilians, including women and children.
Zardari and army comments came after Pakistani and US troops exchanged fire along the Pak-Afghan border last week during which - according to Washington's claims - two US military helicopters came under fire.
Anger in Pakistan has been rising since the US began conducting cross-border commando raids as well as stepping up the number of attacks from unmanned Predator drones in the tribal region.
Pakistani leaders including the president and premier have lashed out at the United States over alleged violation of its air and ground space and killing of innocent civilians.
The political analysts believe that though there's no war going on between the US and Pakistan yet, but recent exchanges involving American and Pakistani forces are sounding like a sputtering fuse that's growing ever shorter.
Washington's unilateral strikes inside Pakistan in the recent time have triggered sovereignty debates within the corridors of the parliament in Islamabad.
Pakistan has gone on to make official complaints that their backing to the US during trying times has not been reciprocated.
The media quoted a Pakistani diplomat saying, “We expected we would be abandoned once again - but we never imagined it would happen so soon.”
Some experts are seeing Pak-US alliance to be under significant strain for the first time in the last six decades.
Pakistani military reiterates it will not allow any incursions by the US-led NATO troops into its volatile tribal region near Afghan border.
There has been no change in the rules of engagement with the US forces and the Pakistani military will not permit any aerial or ground incursions by foreign troops, the security officials said at a briefing on anti-militancy operations in the North West Frontier Province and adjoining tribal belt.
The security sources said also the civilian government wanted the anti-militancy operations to "continue till the end".
The military assertion coincides with President Asif Ali Zardari's comments that Pakistan will not allow US forces to violate the country's sovereignty through cross-border raids.
Zardari, in an interview with CNN broadcast on Sunday, said that Pakistan's military is capable of quelling militant elements on its border with Afghanistan, adding that Pakistani troops "can do a better job than anybody else."
Pointing out that such attacks are counter-productive, Zardari said the US should share intelligence so that Pakistani forces could act against militants on the country's soil.
Pakistan has angrily protested the missile strikes in recent weeks, which have resulted in the killing of innocent civilians, including women and children.
Zardari and army comments came after Pakistani and US troops exchanged fire along the Pak-Afghan border last week during which - according to Washington's claims - two US military helicopters came under fire.
Anger in Pakistan has been rising since the US began conducting cross-border commando raids as well as stepping up the number of attacks from unmanned Predator drones in the tribal region.
Pakistani leaders including the president and premier have lashed out at the United States over alleged violation of its air and ground space and killing of innocent civilians.
The political analysts believe that though there's no war going on between the US and Pakistan yet, but recent exchanges involving American and Pakistani forces are sounding like a sputtering fuse that's growing ever shorter.
Washington's unilateral strikes inside Pakistan in the recent time have triggered sovereignty debates within the corridors of the parliament in Islamabad.
Pakistan has gone on to make official complaints that their backing to the US during trying times has not been reciprocated.
The media quoted a Pakistani diplomat saying, “We expected we would be abandoned once again - but we never imagined it would happen so soon.”
Some experts are seeing Pak-US alliance to be under significant strain for the first time in the last six decades.
Friday, September 26, 2008
US, Pak troops clash on Afghan border
Press TV reports: The US says the Pakistani army and the American troops have exchanged fire near the Afghan border after tensions over incursions flared.
The latest incident took place along the Pakistani border with the eastern Afghan region of Khost on late Thursday.
A senior US military official said skirmishes broke out after Pakistani soldiers fired warning shots near two US helicopters.
US Central Command spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said Pakistani soldiers at a border checkpoint were observed firing on two US OH-58 Kiowa helicopters covering a patrol of Afghan and US troops about a mile and a half inside Afghanistan.
"The ground forces then fired into the hillside nearby that checkpoint, gained their attention, which worked," Smith added.
"Unfortunately, though, the Pak unit decided to shoot down a hillside at our ground forces. Our ground forces returned fire," he noticed.
The incident on Thursday marks the first time US officials have confirmed an attack by Pakistani forces and exchange of fire.
The incident came just days after a pilotless US drone was shot down in the northwestern Pakistan when local tribes and Pakistani troops fired at the plane while crossing the border, local media reports said. The US denied the report.
Meanwhile, the tactic to mount counter-terrorist operations inside Pakistan has met with fierce opposition.
Anger in Pakistan has been rising since the US began conducting cross-border commando raids as well as stepping up the number of attacks from unmanned Predator drones in the tribal region.
US Predator drones usually armed with missiles have killed dozens of Pakistani civilians during recent weeks.
Pakistani leaders including the president and premier have lashed out at the United States over alleged violation of its air and ground space and killing of innocent civilians.
President Asif Ali Zardari said Thursday that Pakistan's military is firing "flares" to warn NATO helicopters about the exact location of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
Later, Zardari launched his verbal attacks at the United States at his UN speech over alleged violation of air and ground space on the border with Afghanistan.
Premier Seyed Yousuf Raza Gilani earlier reiterated that his country would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty after a series of strikes in recent weeks.
The experts say Zardari's speech and Gilani's comments underscore significant tensions between the so-called "war on terror" allies.
The political analysts say that border clashes have added to US-Pak Tensions.
They also believe though there's no war going on between the US and Pakistan yet, but recent exchanges involving American and Pakistani forces along the Pak-Afghan frontier are sounding like a sputtering fuse that's growing ever shorter.
Some others also fear break out of an all-out war between the two countries after the relations reached at its lowest level since last sixty years.
The latest incident took place along the Pakistani border with the eastern Afghan region of Khost on late Thursday.
A senior US military official said skirmishes broke out after Pakistani soldiers fired warning shots near two US helicopters.
US Central Command spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said Pakistani soldiers at a border checkpoint were observed firing on two US OH-58 Kiowa helicopters covering a patrol of Afghan and US troops about a mile and a half inside Afghanistan.
"The ground forces then fired into the hillside nearby that checkpoint, gained their attention, which worked," Smith added.
"Unfortunately, though, the Pak unit decided to shoot down a hillside at our ground forces. Our ground forces returned fire," he noticed.
The incident on Thursday marks the first time US officials have confirmed an attack by Pakistani forces and exchange of fire.
The incident came just days after a pilotless US drone was shot down in the northwestern Pakistan when local tribes and Pakistani troops fired at the plane while crossing the border, local media reports said. The US denied the report.
Meanwhile, the tactic to mount counter-terrorist operations inside Pakistan has met with fierce opposition.
Anger in Pakistan has been rising since the US began conducting cross-border commando raids as well as stepping up the number of attacks from unmanned Predator drones in the tribal region.
US Predator drones usually armed with missiles have killed dozens of Pakistani civilians during recent weeks.
Pakistani leaders including the president and premier have lashed out at the United States over alleged violation of its air and ground space and killing of innocent civilians.
President Asif Ali Zardari said Thursday that Pakistan's military is firing "flares" to warn NATO helicopters about the exact location of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
Later, Zardari launched his verbal attacks at the United States at his UN speech over alleged violation of air and ground space on the border with Afghanistan.
Premier Seyed Yousuf Raza Gilani earlier reiterated that his country would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty after a series of strikes in recent weeks.
The experts say Zardari's speech and Gilani's comments underscore significant tensions between the so-called "war on terror" allies.
The political analysts say that border clashes have added to US-Pak Tensions.
They also believe though there's no war going on between the US and Pakistan yet, but recent exchanges involving American and Pakistani forces along the Pak-Afghan frontier are sounding like a sputtering fuse that's growing ever shorter.
Some others also fear break out of an all-out war between the two countries after the relations reached at its lowest level since last sixty years.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Gilad Atzmon - Taking Elder Peres Apart
by Gilad Atzmon for Palestine Think Tank
Truth must be said, I do admire fierce President Ahmadinejad almost as much as I despise war criminal Shimon Peres.
However reading the rant Peres gave Wednesday during the UN’s General Assembly is a rather amusing experience. The man who has more blood on his hands than any living Israeli politician was rather daring.
“The Iranian people are not our enemies,” declares Peres. This is a pretty interesting statement, bearing in mind that Israeli Minister Mofaz threatens to nuke Iran on a daily basis. “Their leader (Ahmadinejad) is a danger to his people, the region and the world.” Again, a very bold statement considering the established statistical fact that the vast majority of Europeans actually see Israel and the USA as the leading threat to world peace.
But Peres wouldn’t stop just there, following the tradition of the Jewish Marxists who always know better than anyone else what is good for the world proletariat, the Palestinians and so on, Peres, the Yiddishe Mullah knows what Islam is all about:
“He (Ahmadinejad) is a disgrace to the ancient Iranian people. He is a disgrace to the values of Islam.”
But it isn’t just Islam’s values Peres specializes in. He also knows better than the assembly of nations what is good and what is bad. Seemingly Peres must be convinced that Judification of the entire world is completed. This allows him to decide what the UN is all about and who should be allowed to speak on its platform. “He (Ahmadinejad) is a disgrace to this very house, the United Nations, its basic principles and values. His appearance here is already a shame.”
Whether Peres was himself successful in addressing the nations is a question that will be left to historians and analysts, however, he himself wasn’t totally convinced by his own shallow arguments. Thus he ended up employing the most tedious overused Hasbara propaganda. The pathetic repetition of the “Elders of Zion” tale is one example. Shimon, let me advise you, you had better keep quiet about this ‘Elder’ topic at least momentarily. You see, in crumbling America, a super power that was toppled by policies set by Wolfowitzes and Greenspans, the Elders of Zion is a devastating reality. You really do not want to go there, you really do not want to be the one who brings it up.
However, Shimon, just to remind you that amongst your own countless disastrous fatal personal failures was the Oslo Accord. It was you who coined the zio-centric idiom ‘New Middle East’ with the Jewish state as its ‘financial capital’. Let me tell you Shimon, this ‘dream’ of yours qualifies you as the epitome of the Zionist Elder.
However, the Elders of Zion is just one Zionist weapon, once it is brushed aside. The last Zionist weapon of mind destruction is there to be launched, the Shoah and its denial:
“Their despicable denial of the holocaust is a mockery of indisputable evidence, a cynical offense to survivors of the horror. Contradictory to the resolutions adopted by this assembly.”
Listen to me carefully president Shimon, we better admit it, the Zionist Holocaust narrative is falling apart and you have only yourself to blame. For the last 60 years, you and your people have been killing Palestinians in the name of Jewish suffering. Consequently, Israelis are regarded by many as the ‘Nazis of our time’. In other words, your present sinister ugliness is far more concerning for all of us than the Nazi crimes that happened 65 years ago. Differently than any other historical event, the Holocaust is a closed book for research, with its crimes that we are not even allowed to scrutinize properly, due to strict laws about what can an cannot be researched or even uttered.
However, in order to maintain the Holocaust Zionist narrative untouched, a strong dollar maintained by ‘friendly’ bankers is needed. Unfortunately, as you may realize, the dollar is not doing very well at the moment and your ‘friendly’ bankers are about to be subject to a federal investigation. If I were you Shimon, I would ask my Hasbara guys to come up with something slightly better than the old Holocaust to distract everyone from reality.
At a certain stage in his speech, Elder Zionist Peres becomes either a stand up comedian or senile, I just cannot make up my mind yet.
“Iran,” he says “continues to develop enriched uranium and long range missiles. They introduce a religion of fear, opposing the call of the Lord in respect of life.”
Shima’le, look in our eyes when you say it, wasn’t it you yourself who launched the Israeli nuclear project? Wasn’t it you who introduced the entire region to the nuclear threat? Shima’le you are no doubt a disgrace to human intelligence. No wonder the Israelis themselves never voted for you in your entire political career.
However, once you start to spread Israeli Hasbara lies, no one can really stop you:
“Iranian support for Hezbullah divided Lebanon. Its support for Hamas split the Palestinians and postpones the establishment of the Palestinian State.”
I was always sure that Israel loves to see the Arabs divided, was I wrong? And if Iran indeed divides Lebanon and the Palestinians you should really support Iran, am I wrong again? You are obviously lying. Being an Elder Zionist you stand in front of the nation and fib. You know that neither the Lebanese nor the Palestinians are divided. You know very well that the Hamas and the Hezbullah is the new spirit of Islam.
May I advise you, Mr Israeli president: We all support the Hezbullah especially when they crushed your ‘mighty’ army. We all support the democratically elected Hamas. As the truth of Zionism unveils itself, we all come to know who are the enemies of peace. May I suggest to you one more thing. You should never be worried about the Palestinian people being split. As split as they may look, they are far from being divided. They all see the victory at the end of the dark Zionist tunnel !!!
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3601705,00.html Peres
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/09/23/ahmadinejad.us/index.html CNN on Ahmadinejad’s speech
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0809247140115232.htm on IRNA
Pakistan on the brink?
Dr.Tariq Amin-Khan talks with Paul Jay about the consequences of increased US military activity in Pakistan on Real News Network
Tariq Amin-Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University. In addition to a PhD in Social and Political Thought from York University in Toronto, he holds a Master’s degree in South Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. The title of his doctoral thesis is Theorizing the Post-Colonial State in the Era of Capitalist Globalism.
Tariq Amin-Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University. In addition to a PhD in Social and Political Thought from York University in Toronto, he holds a Master’s degree in South Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. The title of his doctoral thesis is Theorizing the Post-Colonial State in the Era of Capitalist Globalism.
What is going on in Pakistan?
Check out this BBC report:
Nato forces in eastern Afghanistan say their helicopters have been fired upon by a Pakistani military checkpoint. The Western alliance said its aircraft had not crossed into Pakistani airspace when they came under fire over Khost province, news agency AP reports. The incident comes amid growing tension over a number of recent incidents at the Pakistan-Afghan border. Earlier this week, Pakistani troops fired warning shots at US helicopters near the border, local officials said. And on Wednesday, a drone believed to be operated by the CIA crashed inside Pakistan. (...) There has been tension between the two countries since 3 September when the US conducted its first ground assault in Pakistani territory on what it said was a militant target in South Waziristan. Pakistan reacted angrily to the action, saying 20 innocent villagers had been killed by US troops. Local officials have said that on two occasions since then Pakistani troops or tribesmen have opened fire to stop US forces crossing the border. The claims have not been officially confirmed.
Amazing, no? It appears that NATO and Pakistani forces are routinely sniping at each other, or, at least, the Pakistanis are shooting at Americans. Clearly, these are very minor skirmishes, but such small skirmishes have a great potential to rapidly get out of hand. The most likely scenario is and air-to-air engagement between NATO and Pakistani aircraft along the border (as had happened during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan). And Pakistan is supposed to be an *ally* of the US in the GWOT...
If this kind of things continue, and there is no reason to suspect it will, or if the escalates, as it might, we might see a fundamental qualitative shift in the entire US operation in the Middle-East from (allegedly) fighting a terrorist group to a military conflict with a major military power equipped with nuclear weapons.
In the meantime, al-Qaeda is blowing up hotels from were US Marines seem to be conducting covert operations in Pakistan.
Is the Empire uniting everyone in Pakistan in a common anti-US front?
Nato forces in eastern Afghanistan say their helicopters have been fired upon by a Pakistani military checkpoint. The Western alliance said its aircraft had not crossed into Pakistani airspace when they came under fire over Khost province, news agency AP reports. The incident comes amid growing tension over a number of recent incidents at the Pakistan-Afghan border. Earlier this week, Pakistani troops fired warning shots at US helicopters near the border, local officials said. And on Wednesday, a drone believed to be operated by the CIA crashed inside Pakistan. (...) There has been tension between the two countries since 3 September when the US conducted its first ground assault in Pakistani territory on what it said was a militant target in South Waziristan. Pakistan reacted angrily to the action, saying 20 innocent villagers had been killed by US troops. Local officials have said that on two occasions since then Pakistani troops or tribesmen have opened fire to stop US forces crossing the border. The claims have not been officially confirmed.
Amazing, no? It appears that NATO and Pakistani forces are routinely sniping at each other, or, at least, the Pakistanis are shooting at Americans. Clearly, these are very minor skirmishes, but such small skirmishes have a great potential to rapidly get out of hand. The most likely scenario is and air-to-air engagement between NATO and Pakistani aircraft along the border (as had happened during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan). And Pakistan is supposed to be an *ally* of the US in the GWOT...
If this kind of things continue, and there is no reason to suspect it will, or if the escalates, as it might, we might see a fundamental qualitative shift in the entire US operation in the Middle-East from (allegedly) fighting a terrorist group to a military conflict with a major military power equipped with nuclear weapons.
In the meantime, al-Qaeda is blowing up hotels from were US Marines seem to be conducting covert operations in Pakistan.
Is the Empire uniting everyone in Pakistan in a common anti-US front?
Listening to Ahmadinejad on Larry King Live
Thanks to Information Clearing House even somebody like me, who does not even own a TV, can sometimes watch a TV show of some interest. This was the case today when I sat down and watched the interview of Iranian President Ahmadinejad on Larry King Live. I must admit that I had high expectations. After all "Larry King" (his real name is: Lawrence Harvey Zeiger) is a very intelligent and talented interviewer and Ahmadinejad had impressed me very much during his speech at Columbia University last year. Alas, the actual show turned out to be amazingly boring.
First, Larry King re-heated the same old nonsense about "wiping Israel off the map", denying the "Holocaust" and Iran's alledged nuclear program. The pinnacle of lameness was reach when King raised the issue of homosexuals in Iran and Ahmadinejad's alledged statement (in reality mis-translated as usual) that "there are no homosexuals in Iran" (which he never said, of course; what he did say that homosexuality was not much of a hot topic there, compared to the issue it still is in the USA).
Ahmadinejad's replies were also boring and lame. Throughout the entire interview he gave the same kind of pseudo-diplomatic half-answers which achieved only one thing: made him look like he actually did say all these things. For example, concerning the old "wipe Israel off the map" canard all he needed to say was that a) he was quoting Khomenei b) that Khomenei was referring to the racist Apartheid-like *political regime* of Israel and c) that there is no such idiom as "wipe off the map" in Persian. But no, he gave some vague explanations which as unconvincing as they were boring.
Clearly, Larry King is getting old and a little senile. All he seemed to be able to talka about was Jews and homosexuals (like these are currently the only topics worthy of interest). But Ahmadinejad's performance was even worse. For example, King asked him whether he would be willing to talk to *all* the actors in the Middle-East including Israel, all that Ahmadinejad could come up with was an bizarre statement that Israelis were "uninvited guests" in the region (which is undeniable, but no less irrelevant and, frankly, silly). He never bothered to remind King that it was Israel which was refusing to talk to Hamas (the only current representative of the Palestinian people with some credibility and legitimacy), to Hezbollah or to Iran (basically anyone who dares to defy the USraelian Empire).
If such proof was needed this interview just goes to show that Ahmadinejad is a clear liability for Iran. In a country with highly intelligent and sophisticated politicians like Khatami, Velayati or, even more so, Laranjani, Ahmadinejad just looks out of place and, frankly, a little ridiculous.
The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei (also an extremely sophisticated and brilliant person), is in a difficult position as a result of Ahmadinejad's lack of diplomatic skills: on one hand Khamenei is cleary irritated with Ahmadinejad personally, but on the other he has to support the government in a time when so many threats are made against Iran. How does one support the government without supporting its President?
While much of the recent focus has been on Russia, the Middle-East is still an extremely dangerous place (I still think that the US will attack Iran before the end of the year) and Iran is playing a crucial role in this region. In June of 2009 the Iranian will hold their next presidential election. Hopefully, this will also be the date when Ahmadinejad retires from politics.
First, Larry King re-heated the same old nonsense about "wiping Israel off the map", denying the "Holocaust" and Iran's alledged nuclear program. The pinnacle of lameness was reach when King raised the issue of homosexuals in Iran and Ahmadinejad's alledged statement (in reality mis-translated as usual) that "there are no homosexuals in Iran" (which he never said, of course; what he did say that homosexuality was not much of a hot topic there, compared to the issue it still is in the USA).
Ahmadinejad's replies were also boring and lame. Throughout the entire interview he gave the same kind of pseudo-diplomatic half-answers which achieved only one thing: made him look like he actually did say all these things. For example, concerning the old "wipe Israel off the map" canard all he needed to say was that a) he was quoting Khomenei b) that Khomenei was referring to the racist Apartheid-like *political regime* of Israel and c) that there is no such idiom as "wipe off the map" in Persian. But no, he gave some vague explanations which as unconvincing as they were boring.
Clearly, Larry King is getting old and a little senile. All he seemed to be able to talka about was Jews and homosexuals (like these are currently the only topics worthy of interest). But Ahmadinejad's performance was even worse. For example, King asked him whether he would be willing to talk to *all* the actors in the Middle-East including Israel, all that Ahmadinejad could come up with was an bizarre statement that Israelis were "uninvited guests" in the region (which is undeniable, but no less irrelevant and, frankly, silly). He never bothered to remind King that it was Israel which was refusing to talk to Hamas (the only current representative of the Palestinian people with some credibility and legitimacy), to Hezbollah or to Iran (basically anyone who dares to defy the USraelian Empire).
If such proof was needed this interview just goes to show that Ahmadinejad is a clear liability for Iran. In a country with highly intelligent and sophisticated politicians like Khatami, Velayati or, even more so, Laranjani, Ahmadinejad just looks out of place and, frankly, a little ridiculous.
The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei (also an extremely sophisticated and brilliant person), is in a difficult position as a result of Ahmadinejad's lack of diplomatic skills: on one hand Khamenei is cleary irritated with Ahmadinejad personally, but on the other he has to support the government in a time when so many threats are made against Iran. How does one support the government without supporting its President?
While much of the recent focus has been on Russia, the Middle-East is still an extremely dangerous place (I still think that the US will attack Iran before the end of the year) and Iran is playing a crucial role in this region. In June of 2009 the Iranian will hold their next presidential election. Hopefully, this will also be the date when Ahmadinejad retires from politics.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech to the 2008 UN General Assembly
The following is a copy of Iranian President Ahmadinejad's speech to the United Nations General Assembly early Wednesday morning, as translated by the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran News Service:
Mr. President, Excellencies,
I am grateful to the Almighty for granting me another opportunity to be present in this world Assembly.
In the last three years, I have talked to you about great hopes in the bright future of human society, and some solutions for achieving sustainable peace and expanding love, compassion, and cooperation.
I have also talked about unjust systems governing the world; pressures exerted by some powers seeking to trample the rights of other nations, oppression imposed on the majority of the global community, especially on the people of Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Africa, Latin America, and Asia; about challenges we are faced with, such as efforts to shatter the sanctity of families, destroy cultures, humiliate lofty values, neglect commitments, expand the shadow of threats, as well as about the arms race and the unfairness and inability of the systems governing world affairs in reforming the status quo.
With the occurrence of various new developments, the debility of existing mechanisms has been revealed even more. However, at the same time, an encouraging trend, which has originated in the thoughts and beliefs of peoples, has blossomed and become stronger. Posed against the despairs caused by the new developments, this trend has ignited the ray of hope for a brilliant, desirable and beautiful future in the hearts of men.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,
Today I would like to talk to you about the main reasons behind the conditions ruling the world and the means to tackle them. Of course, you are already aware of what I am talking about, but I think it is necessary to remind ourselves.
It seems that the roots of problems lie in the way one views and perceives the world and humankind, as well as in the important issues of freedom, obeisance to God, and justice. The world, humankind, freedom and obeisance to God, and justice, have been of utmost importance to humans throughout history.
1. The World:
God Almighty purposefully created the world. This world is the bedrock for the evolution and growth of a creature called man, and the laws governing the world and all other creatures are at the service of man's quest for loftiness. The world should provide the needed opportunities for the fulfillment of the purpose behind man's creation. No phenomenon, creature, or indeed anything has been created in vain. Together they all pave the ground for the flourishing of mankind in a complex and purposeful system, and they are, each, one of the signs of God Almighty. All are His creations and He is the sole creator and ruler of the world. All existence including power, knowledge and wealth come from Him.
2. Humankind:
God created the world for humans and humans for Himself. He created humans from mud and in the soil, but He did not want them to remain in the soil and with animal instincts. He kindled the light of guidance in their souls and asked them to rise from the soil to the heavens and to Him with the help of wisdom, prophets and perfect men.
The world will ultimately disappear, but God has created man for eternity and has made them a manifestation of Himself. Creativity, mercifulness, kindness, knowledge, wisdom, zeal, concealment of sins, splendor, justice, bounteousness, generosity, greatness, love, glory, dignity, forgiveness, insight, kingship and all other goodness and beauty are attributes of God.
God has not created humans for aggression, bloodshed, rancor, selfishness and destruction. He made humans His vicegerents on earth and has asked them to, on the one hand, make earth prosper by using their God-given potentials and to prepare the ground for the growth of divine attributes in all humans, and to provide all with a life full of beauty, amity, freedom, justice and goodness; and on the other hand in pursuance of this path, to prepare for a prosperous, everlasting life endowed by God's mercy.
God has obligated humans to live divinely and socially, for it is only through social life and interactions with others that divine attributes may emerge.
3. Obeisance to God:
God Almighty has tied their perfection and true freedom of humans to their devotion and obedience to Himself. True freedom and obedience to God are in balance and in fact are two sides of the same coin.
Obeisance to God means confessing to monotheism and obeying His commands, and to be free from ungodly worship.
Obeisance to God means the acceptance of the absolute truth, the absolute light, and the absolute beauty.
Obeisance to God means abandoning selfishness and animal instincts, power-seeking and aggression, surrendering to righteousness, justice, love, and perfection.
And in this way, humans can achieve their true freedom and flourish, they can grow and manifest divine attributes, have affection for others, stand up for justice, and fear no power or threat, and defend the oppressed. In such an environment, one's freedom will not impinge on any others.
Contention and conflict are characteristic of materialistic freedom and animal instinct. The essence of all divine religions and obeisance to God and true freedom is disassociating from oppressors and instead obeying and worshiping God, for:
- God is omniscient and knows all that is revealed or kept secret, and He is kind and merciful.
- All creatures are humble before Him and resign to His will.
- God is alive and is the Creator of the universe and all life.
- God loves His creatures and desires nothing but goodness, blessings, and perfection for them, and is against bullying, injustice, selfishness and domination.
4. Justice:
Justice is the foundation of the creation of humankind and the whole universe. Justice is tantamount to placing every phenomenon in its own place, and providing humans with opportunities to actualize all their divine capabilities. Without it, the order of the universe will collapse and the opportunity for perfection will fade away. Without justice, it would be impossible for human society to taste real peace, beauty, joy and happiness. Justice is the main pillar of social life and without it, social life cannot continue or grow.
Humans need to know God in order to realize a prosperous society in this world as well as to strive for a beautiful eternal life, and to this end they first have to know themselves and strive for loftiness in themselves and their societies. However:
- as long as the world is construed as closed, limited and aimless,
- as long as eternal life is considered imaginary and illusory and afterlife and the Judgment Day as well as reward and punishment are thought of as fictional and unreal,
- as long as morals and commitment to them are called backwardness, and immorality, lies, deceit and selfishness are considered desirable, and humans are limited to a materialistic life in this world,
- as long as attempts are made to replace obedience to God and following His prophets and true freedom with servitude to materialistic tendencies and animal instincts and servitude to oppressing human beings, and contention reaches its pinnacle,
- as long as the aggressors, because of their financial, political and propaganda powers, not only escape punishment but even claim righteousness,
- and as long wars are started and nations are enslaved in order to win votes in elections,
not only will the problems of the global community remain unsolved, but they will be increasingly exacerbated.
Friends and Colleagues,
Let's look at the situation of the world today:
Iraq was attacked under the false pretext of uncovering weapons of mass destruction and overthrowing a dictator. The dictator is toppled and WMDs are not uncovered. A democratic government is established by the votes of the people but, after 6 years, the occupiers are still there. They insist on imposing colonial agreements on the people of Iraq by keeping them under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Millions of people have been killed or displaced, and the occupiers, without a sense of shame, are still seeking to solidify their position in the political geography of the region and to dominate oil resources.
They have no respect for the people of Iraq and disregard any dignity, rights or status for them. The UN is not capable enough to solve the problems and to remove aggression, occupation and imposition.
In Palestine, 60 years of carnage and invasion is still ongoing at the hands of some criminal and occupying Zionists. They have forged a regime through collecting people from various parts of the world and bringing them to other people?s land by displacing, detaining, and killing the true owners of that land.
With advance notice, they invade, assassinate, and maintain food and medicine blockades, while some hegemonic and bullying powers support them. The Security Council cannot do anything and sometimes, under pressure from a few bullying powers, even paves the way for supporting these Zionist murderers. It is natural that some UN resolutions that have addressed the plight of the Palestinian people have been relegated to the archives unnoticed.
In Afghanistan, production of narcotics has multiplied since the presence of NATO forces. Domestic conflicts continue. Terrorism is spreading. And innocent people are bombarded on a daily basis in streets, markets, schools and wedding ceremonies. The people of Afghanistan are the victims of the willingness of NATO member states to dominate the regions surrounding India, China, and South Asia. The Security Council cannot do anything about it because some of these NATO members also happen to be the major decision makers in the Security Council.
In Africa, efforts are made to reestablish the relationships of the colonial era. By starting civil wars in large countries including Sudan, disintegration of those countries is planned in order to serve the interests of some corrupt powers. In case there is a national resistance, the leaders of the resistance are put under pressure by legal mechanisms created by the very same powers.
In Latin America, people find their security, national interests and cultures to be seriously endangered by the menacing shadow of alien domineering governments, and even by the embassies of some empires.
The lives, properties and rights of the people of Georgia and Ossetia and Abkhazia are victims of the tendencies and provocations of NATO and certain western powers, and the underhanded actions of the Zionists.
The never-ending arms race and the proliferation and stockpiling of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and the threats to use them, and the establishment of missile defense systems, have made the situation unstable.
With regard to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, despite the inalienable right of all nations including the Iranian nation, in producing nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, and despite such facts as the transparency of all Iranian activities and our country's full cooperation with the inspectors of the IAEA and the Agency's repeated confirmation of the fact that Iran's activities are peaceful, a few bullying powers have sought to put hurdles in the way of the peaceful nuclear activities of the Iranian nation by exerting political and economic pressures against Iran, and also through threatening and pressuring the IAEA.
These are the same powers that produce new generations of lethal nuclear arms and possess stockpiles of nuclear weapons that no international organization is monitoring; and, the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were perpetrated by one of them.
Indeed, they are not against weapons, but they oppose other nations? progress, and tend to monopolize technologies and to use those monopolies in order to impose their will on other nations. But it is very natural that the great Iranian people, with their trust in God, and with determination and steadfastness and with the support of its friends, will resist the bullying and has defended and will continue to defend its rights.
The Iranian nation is for dialogue. But it has not accepted and will not accept illegal demands. The time has come for the IAEA to present a clear report to the international community on its monitoring of the disarmament of these nuclear powers and their nuclear activities, and for a disarmament committee to be established by independent states to monitor the disarmament of these nuclear powers.
The theories of development that are in line with the hegemonic system and not in accordance with the true needs of humankind and human societies, have turned into repetitive and bland tools for assimilation of economies, expanding hegemonic domination, destroying the environment and destroying the social solidarity of nations. There is no end in sight to this. Poverty, hunger and deprivation are hurting more than one billion of the world's population and have dashed their hopes for a decent life.
The dignity, integrity and rights of the American and European people are being played with by a small but deceitful number of people called Zionists. Although they are a miniscule minority, they have been dominating an important portion of the financial and monetary centers as well as the political decision-making centers of some European countries and the US in a deceitful, complex and furtive manner. It is deeply disastrous to witness that some presidential or premiere nominees in some big countries have to visit these people, take part in their gatherings, swear their allegiance and commitment to their interests in order to attain financial or media support.
This means that the great people of America and various nations of Europe need to obey the demands and wishes of a small number of acquisitive and invasive people. These nations are spending their dignity and resources on the crimes and occupations and the threats of the Zionist network against their will.
Friends and Colleagues,
All these are due to the manner in which the immoral and the powerful view the world, humankind, freedom, obeisance to God, and justice.
The thoughts and deeds of those who think they are superior to others and consider others as second-class and inferior; who intend to remain out of the divine circle, to be the absolute slaves of their materialistic and selfish desires, who intend to expand their aggressive and domineering natures, constitute the roots of today's problems in human societies.
They are the great hindrances to the actualization of material and spiritual prosperity and to security, peace and brotherhood among nations. I explicitly state that the Iranian people and the overwhelming majority of peoples and governments are against those deeds and perspectives of the world- domineering powers. Establishment of justice requires people who have achieved moderation and justice inside themselves, and have restrained their domineering attitudes and actualized their attributes of self-sacrifice and are at the service of humanity. The complete and full-scale manifestation of such characteristics can happen only under the rule of the righteous and perfect human being who is obedient to God and who is promised by the divine Prophets.
Dear Colleagues,
Of course with the grace of God Almighty a hopeful trend is flourishing in the heart and soul of human societies. The universal eagerness for justice, purity, and love for others, monotheism and the quest for perfection is clearly and increasingly on the rise. A universal resistance against the acquisitiveness, aggression and selfishness of the bullying powers is being formed.
Today, the bullying powers' thoughts, practices and strategies are rejected by nations and governments, and all are seeking to establish new human relations based on justice with a view to attain prosperity, perfection, security, and sustainable welfare. This is the very auspicious phenomenon that all the traditions of creation and the ruling laws of the universe emphasize and support.
Today, the Zionist regime is on a definite slope to collapse, and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters. The Islamic Republic of Iran, while fully respecting the resistance of the oppressed people of Palestine and expressing its all-out support for it, submits its humane solution based on a free referendum in Palestine for determining and establishing the type of state in the entire Palestinian lands to the distinguished Secretary General of the UN.
American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders. Today, the thought of hegemony quickly becomes a demerit.
And now a few words with the expansionist governments ruling global relations:
Be aware that living with obedience to God and carrying out His orders, compassion for people and striving for the fulfillment of justice is to your advantage too. I invite you to return to the path of God, the Prophets and to the path of the people of the world and to the truth and justice.
The only route to salvation is a divine straight path. Otherwise, God's hand of power will emerge from the sleeve of oppressed nations and will make your life difficult, and will put an end to your hegemony.
Let's love the people of the world and respect their rights. Rectify past behavior. This will benefit you and the human community. The Iranian people are prepared, along with other nations, to help you be rescued from your current situation and to establish peace and prosperity.
My Friends,
Fortuitously, opportunities are accessible. With the grace of God Almighty, the existing pillars of the oppressive system are crumbling. Great developments in favor of humankind as well as its true and real rights are on the way. A golden and brilliant future is awaiting mankind.
A global community filled with justice, friendship, brotherhood and welfare is at hand, as I have elaborated.
A community which will tread the path of beauty and love under the rule of the righteous and perfect human being, the One promised by all divine prophets and the One who is the true lover of humanity. A community that will be devoid of any fear, despair and privation. Such a community will soon be ours. The community promised by the great divine Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ and Mohammad (PBUH) is about to materialize.
Let us, hand in hand, expand the thought of resistance against evil and the minority of those who are ill-wishers. Let's support goodness and the majority of people who are good and the embodiment of absolute good that is the Imam of Time, The Promised One who will come accompanied by Jesus Christ, and accordingly design and implement the just and humanistic mechanisms for regulating the constructive relationships between nations and governments.
Oh great Almighty, deliver the savior of nations and put an end to the sufferings of mankind and bring forth justice, beauty, and love.
Friends;
Let's have a proper share in the establishment of that illuminated and promised divine age
(source: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/25455&Itemid=1)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Threat to Democracy in Latin America
On 10 September, the president of Bolivia declared the US ambassador to Bolivia persona non grata. On 11 September (the 35th anniversary of the military overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile) the president of Venezuela asked the US ambassador to Venezuela to leave the country.
President Hugo Chavez believed he was facing the possibility of an imminent coup d'etat in which he accused the United States administration of being involved. President Evo Morales believed that his government was facing serious destabilisation which was also being fomented by the United States. A third country, Paraguay, announced ten days previously that they had detected a conspiracy involving military officers and opposition politicians.
Latin America now faces its most serious crisis since the re-introduction of democracy at the end of the 20th century.
The plot against democracy in Venezuela centred on a conspiracy, revealed in telephone conversations between senior military officers broadcast on national television, to assassinate the democratically elected head of state, President Chavez.
In Bolivia, the separatist prefects of the five eastern and southern departments, (whose ringleader Ruben Costas, the prefect of Santa Cruz department, recently met with the US Ambassador), have begun a campaign of violence and economic sabotage designed to destabilise the democratic regime.
These events demonstrate unequivocally who defends democracy and who threatens it in Latin America today.
We are appalled by the failure of much of the international media to provide accurate and proportionate coverage of these events.
We call upon democrats throughout the world to rally to defend democracy, social progress and national independence in Latin America and to condemn these conspiracies against democracy and human rights.
We call upon the European Union and European governments to adopt a policy independent of the Bush administration in the US and unequivocally condemn all attempts to overthrow democratically elected governments in Latin America.
Signatories:
Harold Pinter
John Pilger
Bruce Kent
Victoria Brittain
Tony Benn
Ken Loach
Gordon Hutchison, Sect. Venezuela Information Centre
Jean Lambert MEP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Bill Etherington MP
Ian Gibson MP
Harry Cohen MP
Bob Abberley, Assist Gen. Sect. Unison
Gail Cartmail, Unite the Union, Assist. Gen. Sect
Les Bayliss, Unite the Union Assist Gen. Sect.
Bob Crow, Gen. Sect. RMT
Kelvin Hopkins MP
Bill Wilson MSP
Cllr. Salma Yakoob
Prof. Jonathan Rosenhead
Billy Hayes, Gen. Sect. CWU
Keith Norman, Gen Sect. ASLEF
Gerry Morrissey, Gen Sect. BECTU
Bill Greenshields, President, NUT
Andy Bain, President TSSA
Doug Nicholls, Nat.Officer Unite
Geoff Shears
Michael Dereham
Kaveh Mussavi
Diana Raby
Derek Wall
Steve Cottingham
Joni McDougall, Internat Officer GMB
President Hugo Chavez believed he was facing the possibility of an imminent coup d'etat in which he accused the United States administration of being involved. President Evo Morales believed that his government was facing serious destabilisation which was also being fomented by the United States. A third country, Paraguay, announced ten days previously that they had detected a conspiracy involving military officers and opposition politicians.
Latin America now faces its most serious crisis since the re-introduction of democracy at the end of the 20th century.
The plot against democracy in Venezuela centred on a conspiracy, revealed in telephone conversations between senior military officers broadcast on national television, to assassinate the democratically elected head of state, President Chavez.
In Bolivia, the separatist prefects of the five eastern and southern departments, (whose ringleader Ruben Costas, the prefect of Santa Cruz department, recently met with the US Ambassador), have begun a campaign of violence and economic sabotage designed to destabilise the democratic regime.
These events demonstrate unequivocally who defends democracy and who threatens it in Latin America today.
We are appalled by the failure of much of the international media to provide accurate and proportionate coverage of these events.
We call upon democrats throughout the world to rally to defend democracy, social progress and national independence in Latin America and to condemn these conspiracies against democracy and human rights.
We call upon the European Union and European governments to adopt a policy independent of the Bush administration in the US and unequivocally condemn all attempts to overthrow democratically elected governments in Latin America.
Signatories:
Harold Pinter
John Pilger
Bruce Kent
Victoria Brittain
Tony Benn
Ken Loach
Gordon Hutchison, Sect. Venezuela Information Centre
Jean Lambert MEP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Bill Etherington MP
Ian Gibson MP
Harry Cohen MP
Bob Abberley, Assist Gen. Sect. Unison
Gail Cartmail, Unite the Union, Assist. Gen. Sect
Les Bayliss, Unite the Union Assist Gen. Sect.
Bob Crow, Gen. Sect. RMT
Kelvin Hopkins MP
Bill Wilson MSP
Cllr. Salma Yakoob
Prof. Jonathan Rosenhead
Billy Hayes, Gen. Sect. CWU
Keith Norman, Gen Sect. ASLEF
Gerry Morrissey, Gen Sect. BECTU
Bill Greenshields, President, NUT
Andy Bain, President TSSA
Doug Nicholls, Nat.Officer Unite
Geoff Shears
Michael Dereham
Kaveh Mussavi
Diana Raby
Derek Wall
Steve Cottingham
Joni McDougall, Internat Officer GMB
Journalist discloses details of Israeli-PA security-meeting
Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank for the People's Voice
Nahom Barnea is a prominent Israeli journalist and regular columnist at the mass-circulation newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth.
On Friday, 19 September, he revealed shocking details of a recent “security coordination” meeting between Israeli and Palestinian security commanders.
Barnea, well known for his journalistic reliability, attended the meeting which took place at the Israeli occupation army’s West Bank headquarters at the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah.
The following is a verbatim translation of Barnea’s report as published in Yedeot Ahronot:
“They (the PA security commanders) arrived at the IDF headquarters Sunday night, passing through the ‘Court roadblock,’ only a 3-minute-drive from Ramallah. They drove through the road leading to the old Beit El settlement, going through the gate of the former Jordanian camp which houses the Command of the Judea and Samaria Brigade.
All of them were dressed in civilian attire with the exception of the Inspector-General of the Palestinian Police. They were eight commanders, all of them veteran Fatah leaders. This is the last chance for the generation that came from Tunis to retain their grip on power before Hamas could take over and devour everything.
The commander of the Israeli Defense Forces in the West Bank, Major-General Noam Tiv’on wanted to invite them to a meal to break the day’s fasting. However, the agenda of the encounter was disrupted for reasons having to do with the failure of the Israeli army to suppress settler riots (near Nablus) and the death of a Palestinian boy by Israeli army bullets the next day, which eventually forced the guests to break their fast at their homes.
Well they did. The discussion would have wasted a lot of time had it been carried out at the food pantry prepared by the Israeli army. Tiv’on and the head of the Israeli civil administration in the West Bank, Major-General Yoav Mordechai wanted to present to the Palestinian commanders the plan- Jenin-2 for the deployment of PA forces in City.
The Israeli commanders asked their Palestinian counterparts for their permission to allow a journalist to attend the meeting. The Palestinians concurred. In fact, I was the only journalist allowed to attend the meeting. However, because of my presence and essentially because of the sense of urgency on the Palestinian part, the meeting assumed different directions with excessive extents.
Shocking words
Contrary to conventional belief, journalists hate to be surprised. They think they know every thing and that which they don’t know is not considered especially important. I was surprised by the things that the Palestinian security commanders uttered. I was also surprised by the tone of their voices.
The gist of their argument is that a violent confrontation between Fatah and Hamas will take place in January of 2009. On the 9th of January Abu Mazen’s presidential term will expire. He is determined to stay in office until January 2010. We can’t rule out the possibility that Abu Mazen will declare the Gaza Strip a “rebellious province”
The Palestinian security commanders asked their Israeli counterparts to join them in preparing a field plan and train their forces and supply them with weapons.
I have never heard such an excessive willingness on the part of the Palestinian Authority to work with Israel, except for a small period in the Spring of 1996.
Following the meeting, I told one of the Israeli commander who was in the hall “this is just talk. Aren’t you worried that the followers of Fatah would disappear at the decisive moment as they did in Gaza?”
“No,” he said. “Prior to the Gaza events, they didn’t know what would happen to them. But now they do.”
Abu al Fath is the commander of the General Security Apparatus of the Fayyad government. It represents the main military force of the Palestinian Authority . Abu al Fath is the most senior and highest ranking officer among the heads of the Palestinian security agencies.
“There is no conflict between us,” he told the Israeli army commanders. “We have a common enemy.”
Abu al Fath commenced the meeting with a complaint about the settler rampage (near Nablus). The way he related to the riots was interesting. He went on saying that “this makes things more difficult for us, especially in dealing with ordinary Palestinians. You must have law and order just as you expect us to have law and order. I will do all I can to prevent the occurrence of operations (against you.). You realize that we are much better than before. Thanks to our operations, the Israeli army needs to carry out lesser operations.
Hamas: our common enemy
Abu al Fath went on: “ there is a huge strife going on in preparation for January, 2009. Abu Mazen is adopting the peace-line and you should bolster his position. Release juvenile prisoners, this is very important. Remove the roadblocks and dismantle the settlements. I want to ask you to allow us to deploy a regiment from Jericho to Hebron. I know there is a problem with the settlers in Hebron and the frictions spots there. I have no intention to enter these spots. The regiment will operate in the villages of Southern Hebron.
Major-General Kivon replied: “I am quite happy with what you have said. The local commanders of both sides should meet and reach an agreement on this. However, Colonel Mordechai warned the Palestinian officer, saying that “ the deployment of the regiment in Hebron should take place Friday night lest they collide with the settlers.” Abu al Fath said : “No problem. We are moving against Hamas even during the month of Ramadan.”
At this point, the head of the Fayadh government’s military intelligence, Majed Faraj began talking: “We are in the midst of a very difficult battle. There is an Arabic proverb:‘the sea is before us and the enemy is after us.’ We don’t even have a sea. We have decided to fight the battle until the end. We have decided to put all our problems on the table. Every thing is clear. No game-playing. Hamas is the enemy, and we have decided to wage an all-out war against Hamas. And I tell you there will be no dialogue with Hamas, for he who wants to kill you, kill him first. You have reached a truce with them, but we won’t do so. To be honest, we behaved differently in the past.
Faraj went on boasting: “Now we are taking care of every Hamas institution in accordance with your instructions. Lately you gave us the names of 64 institutions, and we have already dealt with fifty. Some of these institutions have been closed down, others we have changed their administrations. We have also seized their money (Israel referred to the PA 150 bank accounts suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations while the PA closed 300 other accounts).
“I have two observations: In the past we thought a thousand times before entering a mosque, but today we enter any mosque whenever deemed necessary. Don’t understand from this that you are allowed to enter the mosque. On the contrary, we can enter the mosques precisely because you don’t. We also can enter the campuses of universities, including the Islamic University in Hebron. We are making utmost efforts and even if success is not 100%, motivation is 100% “
Following Faraj’s remarks, Hazem Atallah, the Inspector-General of the Palestinian Police Forces spoke: “ Until the end of the year, we will enter into a confrontation with Hamas. Khalid Mashala said Abu Mazen’s government wouldn’t be legal after the 9th of January, hence we should bet ready for the confrontation. “
Hussein al Sheik, head of the civilian affairs department in the Fayadh government said “this is very important. Hamas doesn’t have a military power in the West Bank, but it has the power to get people onto the streets.”
Attallah addressed the Israeli commanders : I am talking about a comprehensive plan, if we enter the next year without being fully prepared, nothing will be left except arguing over who was responsible for the defeat, we, or you, or the Americans.
Mordechai assured him, saying :we will form a joint team, we will help you with the training and military gear.
The Palestinians complained that a Canadian shipment of truncheons for the police was still being withheld at the Ashdod Port. Tiv’on assured them that “we will hand it over to you.”
-------
Comment: this story proves again that Fatah is nothing but the local franchise of the Israeli security services, an "outsourced" department of the Shin Bet, and that only Hamas is interested in defending the Palestinian people: Fatah only wants two things: power and money.
The Saker
Nahom Barnea is a prominent Israeli journalist and regular columnist at the mass-circulation newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth.
On Friday, 19 September, he revealed shocking details of a recent “security coordination” meeting between Israeli and Palestinian security commanders.
Barnea, well known for his journalistic reliability, attended the meeting which took place at the Israeli occupation army’s West Bank headquarters at the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah.
The following is a verbatim translation of Barnea’s report as published in Yedeot Ahronot:
“They (the PA security commanders) arrived at the IDF headquarters Sunday night, passing through the ‘Court roadblock,’ only a 3-minute-drive from Ramallah. They drove through the road leading to the old Beit El settlement, going through the gate of the former Jordanian camp which houses the Command of the Judea and Samaria Brigade.
All of them were dressed in civilian attire with the exception of the Inspector-General of the Palestinian Police. They were eight commanders, all of them veteran Fatah leaders. This is the last chance for the generation that came from Tunis to retain their grip on power before Hamas could take over and devour everything.
The commander of the Israeli Defense Forces in the West Bank, Major-General Noam Tiv’on wanted to invite them to a meal to break the day’s fasting. However, the agenda of the encounter was disrupted for reasons having to do with the failure of the Israeli army to suppress settler riots (near Nablus) and the death of a Palestinian boy by Israeli army bullets the next day, which eventually forced the guests to break their fast at their homes.
Well they did. The discussion would have wasted a lot of time had it been carried out at the food pantry prepared by the Israeli army. Tiv’on and the head of the Israeli civil administration in the West Bank, Major-General Yoav Mordechai wanted to present to the Palestinian commanders the plan- Jenin-2 for the deployment of PA forces in City.
The Israeli commanders asked their Palestinian counterparts for their permission to allow a journalist to attend the meeting. The Palestinians concurred. In fact, I was the only journalist allowed to attend the meeting. However, because of my presence and essentially because of the sense of urgency on the Palestinian part, the meeting assumed different directions with excessive extents.
Shocking words
Contrary to conventional belief, journalists hate to be surprised. They think they know every thing and that which they don’t know is not considered especially important. I was surprised by the things that the Palestinian security commanders uttered. I was also surprised by the tone of their voices.
The gist of their argument is that a violent confrontation between Fatah and Hamas will take place in January of 2009. On the 9th of January Abu Mazen’s presidential term will expire. He is determined to stay in office until January 2010. We can’t rule out the possibility that Abu Mazen will declare the Gaza Strip a “rebellious province”
The Palestinian security commanders asked their Israeli counterparts to join them in preparing a field plan and train their forces and supply them with weapons.
I have never heard such an excessive willingness on the part of the Palestinian Authority to work with Israel, except for a small period in the Spring of 1996.
Following the meeting, I told one of the Israeli commander who was in the hall “this is just talk. Aren’t you worried that the followers of Fatah would disappear at the decisive moment as they did in Gaza?”
“No,” he said. “Prior to the Gaza events, they didn’t know what would happen to them. But now they do.”
Abu al Fath is the commander of the General Security Apparatus of the Fayyad government. It represents the main military force of the Palestinian Authority . Abu al Fath is the most senior and highest ranking officer among the heads of the Palestinian security agencies.
“There is no conflict between us,” he told the Israeli army commanders. “We have a common enemy.”
Abu al Fath commenced the meeting with a complaint about the settler rampage (near Nablus). The way he related to the riots was interesting. He went on saying that “this makes things more difficult for us, especially in dealing with ordinary Palestinians. You must have law and order just as you expect us to have law and order. I will do all I can to prevent the occurrence of operations (against you.). You realize that we are much better than before. Thanks to our operations, the Israeli army needs to carry out lesser operations.
Hamas: our common enemy
Abu al Fath went on: “ there is a huge strife going on in preparation for January, 2009. Abu Mazen is adopting the peace-line and you should bolster his position. Release juvenile prisoners, this is very important. Remove the roadblocks and dismantle the settlements. I want to ask you to allow us to deploy a regiment from Jericho to Hebron. I know there is a problem with the settlers in Hebron and the frictions spots there. I have no intention to enter these spots. The regiment will operate in the villages of Southern Hebron.
Major-General Kivon replied: “I am quite happy with what you have said. The local commanders of both sides should meet and reach an agreement on this. However, Colonel Mordechai warned the Palestinian officer, saying that “ the deployment of the regiment in Hebron should take place Friday night lest they collide with the settlers.” Abu al Fath said : “No problem. We are moving against Hamas even during the month of Ramadan.”
At this point, the head of the Fayadh government’s military intelligence, Majed Faraj began talking: “We are in the midst of a very difficult battle. There is an Arabic proverb:‘the sea is before us and the enemy is after us.’ We don’t even have a sea. We have decided to fight the battle until the end. We have decided to put all our problems on the table. Every thing is clear. No game-playing. Hamas is the enemy, and we have decided to wage an all-out war against Hamas. And I tell you there will be no dialogue with Hamas, for he who wants to kill you, kill him first. You have reached a truce with them, but we won’t do so. To be honest, we behaved differently in the past.
Faraj went on boasting: “Now we are taking care of every Hamas institution in accordance with your instructions. Lately you gave us the names of 64 institutions, and we have already dealt with fifty. Some of these institutions have been closed down, others we have changed their administrations. We have also seized their money (Israel referred to the PA 150 bank accounts suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations while the PA closed 300 other accounts).
“I have two observations: In the past we thought a thousand times before entering a mosque, but today we enter any mosque whenever deemed necessary. Don’t understand from this that you are allowed to enter the mosque. On the contrary, we can enter the mosques precisely because you don’t. We also can enter the campuses of universities, including the Islamic University in Hebron. We are making utmost efforts and even if success is not 100%, motivation is 100% “
Following Faraj’s remarks, Hazem Atallah, the Inspector-General of the Palestinian Police Forces spoke: “ Until the end of the year, we will enter into a confrontation with Hamas. Khalid Mashala said Abu Mazen’s government wouldn’t be legal after the 9th of January, hence we should bet ready for the confrontation. “
Hussein al Sheik, head of the civilian affairs department in the Fayadh government said “this is very important. Hamas doesn’t have a military power in the West Bank, but it has the power to get people onto the streets.”
Attallah addressed the Israeli commanders : I am talking about a comprehensive plan, if we enter the next year without being fully prepared, nothing will be left except arguing over who was responsible for the defeat, we, or you, or the Americans.
Mordechai assured him, saying :we will form a joint team, we will help you with the training and military gear.
The Palestinians complained that a Canadian shipment of truncheons for the police was still being withheld at the Ashdod Port. Tiv’on assured them that “we will hand it over to you.”
-------
Comment: this story proves again that Fatah is nothing but the local franchise of the Israeli security services, an "outsourced" department of the Shin Bet, and that only Hamas is interested in defending the Palestinian people: Fatah only wants two things: power and money.
The Saker
Friday, September 19, 2008
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah's September 16th speech - full transcript
The speech delivered by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in the Iftar of Support of Resistance Association - Beirut 16/9/2008
In the old times people’s health was better. Their worries were less than now because there weren’t any satellite channels and communication means. No one used to know what’s taking place around the world. But nowadays there are news bulletins. Anyone who watches them ends up with an aching heart. We see at news bulletins today that in Ethiopia alone 4700000 human beings are threatened by death because of famine. We are talking about people regardless of their religious affiliation. Among them there are many Muslims, Christians, atheists and others of other religious affiliations. This number includes children, women and elderly. Famine threatens millions in Somalia, tens of millions in India, Bangladesh, Burma and other regions around the world. This is the minimum number of human beings including men, women, children, elderly and infants who are threatened by death because of famine and poverty and still no one around the world takes action.
This world is dead. Its humanity and values are dead. World leaders make speeches on human values, democratic values and human rights. This is paradoxical. The whole world talks about human values and democracy while tens of millions die of famine. On the other hand, we see piles of money, gold and silver in the hands of a group of rich people. You might have noticed in news bulletins that year after year the group of rich people is becoming smaller. That means the wealth of a group is increasing while another group is being bankrupt. (I want to give an example. Some might say Sayyed Hassan is attacking the Arab world as it is sacred.) One and only one Arab state deposits in the banks of the USA (which is now suffering from a severe financial crisis) three thousand billion dollars. Indeed this was before the oil prices soared. I mean this piece of information is one and a half year old. Three thousand billion dollars are piled there. What are they doing with this amount of money? Look in Gaza, Iraq and Lebanon. It’s true that the Lebanese do not expose each other but don’t you see in Lebanon people searching in the waste containers for leftovers and clothes and the like? Doesn’t this scene hurt our human values, morals and religion? How can the owners of money piled in the US banks bear this scene? (No one is saying give us three thousand billion dollars we want to spend them on the hungry, thirsty, deprived and oppressed). A humble proportion of this amount may treat many economic and social crises suffered by the peoples of this region and the whole world.
Now we are tackling the issue of famine. Indeed if we touched on other issues: illiteracy, ignorance, celibacy, unemployment.. We must find solutions for all of these crises when we become financially able.
Still our wealthy governments collect and pile money while denying it even their peoples and not any other peoples. Here we feel the lack of the sense of responsibility. Is this what prophetic teachings try to promote?
Following this lead in, I say that the most important factor in the experience of the resistance and the resistance movement in Lebanon which takes pride in your support is the sense of responsibility. That's because in Lebanon and noticeably following 1982 invasion, many people – men and women- refused to know the meaning of humiliation and disgrace, of profaning the sanctity of land and taking control of the water and the sovereignty of land. Thus they took the initiative being moved by their sense of responsibility. Today this is the Iftar of the Support of the Resistance Association. I say that the resistance, the presence of the resistance, the achievements of the resistance as well as its takeoff are the natural outcome of this sense of responsibility and the lofty human feelings shared by many men and women in Lebanon. Was it not for this sense of responsibility, the resistance in Lebanon wasn't to be and we would've submitted to humility, occupation, submission, oppression and control of the Zionists of our land, wealth, water and nation besides our political decisions and the future of our children, grandchildren and the upcoming generations. But this sense of responsibility pushed many young men to resist the occupation with all possible means whether political, cultural, media, social, financial, moral… But above all comes the armed resistance in the battlefield where souls are sacrificed and blood is shed and where the enemy becomes subject to massive losses what forces it to pullout, retreat and be defeated.
The resistance in Lebanon is the fruit of this strong sense of responsibility and because of that it stands till today. I mean has this resistance been consisting of a group of young mercenary men – i.e. they are in the resistance because they are paid- it wasn't to last 26 years. No it is a resistance where its men are daily being subject to killing, liquidation and bloody confrontations.
What has made our men stick to their present status? What has pushed our young men to quit school and university and dwell in hills and valleys in southern Lebanon? That's because they feel responsible of defending their country – even if they believe and are convinced that the government is able of protect them because there is a slogan today that says: the government protects all, isn't it? It's right to say "all" but on the ground is the government really able to protect Lebanon? (We all agree on that. The answer is: no.)
Indeed we have to work industriously so that the government becomes able to protect Lebanon. We mustn't give in and submit to the status quo. They always wanted us to live in Lebanon under the slogan: Lebanon's strength is in its weakness. What's this strength? The tongue i.e. the Lebanese are good only in talking, giving speeches, writing, singing and reciting verse. Is this Lebanon's strength?
This strength does not protect anyone in this world neither in Lebanon nor in any other country. Lebanon must be strong. Its state must be as such too so as to protect the nation and the people. At one stage unfortunately the state was not only weak; it also did not have the will to confront. Even worse at times it was part of the connivance with the enemy at the beginning of the 80s. I don't want to mention other stages when the Israelis used to receive corporation at times. So these young men feel that their homeland is threatened and their people are at risk. They leave their homes, families, schools and universities to live in mountains and valleys in the south. I believe some of you ladies have got introduced to some of these young men. These young men lack nothing neither wit nor mind nor intellect nor personality. Then why this emigration to mountains and valleys to defend the homeland? Because there is a sense of responsibility? They have human values rooted in their conscience. What imposes on them to be in those positions? That's because they will also be asked on Doom’s Day? Because on the emotional level, they can’t bear that their people and country be humiliated or that they be aggressed against or that Lebanon be turned to a territory profaned by the Israeli enemy army, Mossad, security forces and so on. This is also the case of the families of these young men – their wives, mothers, fathers, relatives, sons and daughters who bear this kind of life. They also have their share in the sacrifice. So since the resistance has this sense of responsibility it could continue and also secondly it could make many victories and achievements.
We don’t want to speak about old evidences. The day before yesterday i.e. on Sunday usually the enemy premier at the beginning of the cabinet meeting gives a brief political speech. What did Olmert – who will leave in the coming few days fruitless and miserable – say to the Israelis? He said from their government’s platform – and this has its peculiar meaning because he is talking in the opening session of the cabinet meeting in the presence of the political and military leadership. First the story of the great integrated Israel is sheer illusion. Let no one lie anymore on the Israeli people.
Secondly Olmert said that it’s clear that the regional balance is suffering from disorder and our way in preventing the regional imbalance is in reaching an understanding with the Palestinians and making a settlement and in reaching an understanding with the Syrians and making a settlement. Then there is no military way-out to prevent the regional disorder according to Olmert.
The third point: time is not to our interest. If we didn’t make haste and reach settlements, every day that passes will make us feel remorse in the future. I’m not inventing anything from my mind. He – Olmert – said so during the enemy cabinet meeting.
The evaluation of these three points is clear. This means as a conclusion that after his lengthy experience Olmert – he couldn’t hold long as premier because he got involved in July war but still be he's among the ancient political leaderships in the enemy entity – told them that we are in a new status in the region. The regional situation is not to our interest. The possibility of addressing the situation with military means is unavailable to us. The available way is to make settlements. We must wipe from our heads the dreams we used to nurture. They are sheer illusions that have no place anymore. This is the conclusion. But why Olmert is saying this now? (Even though Netanyahu preceded him following Israel’s defeat in 2000 saying that the Israeli project came to an end following Barak’s decision to retreat from Southern Lebanon in that humiliating way in May 25, 2000.) What is the reason? Is it because there has become a multi-polar regime in the world? No in the past there was a bi-polar system in the world and Israel’s power, arrogance and oppression were increasing what was revealed in occupying more lands and imposing humiliating conditions on the Arabs. It’s true we are on the onset of international changes but their horizons are not clear yet? Is it because the Arabs were weak and now they are strong? No on the contrary, unfortunately day after day the Arabs are becoming number one absentee from all the regional and international developments. Where are the Arab states? Except for Syria which is trying to be on the move somehow and which position impose on it to be in the heart on this move, most of the Arab states are unfortunately absent! Today we can see Turkey, Iran, France, Europe and America – it goes without saying. But where are the Arab states? So is there a new Arab status that frightens Olmert? No indeed. There is no new official Arab status that frightens Olmert! The main development – and whoever has any other discussion can speak it out – that happened in the region since 2000 till today is the victories and achievements of the resistance movements in the region. This turning point started in 2000 with Israel’s defeat in Lebanon. This is the truth and nothing else. Should we remove the resistance movements, the resistance steadfastness, the resistance persistence and the resistance victory, on the contrary all the other factors would be helping factors for Israel to become more arrogant and oppressive in imposing humiliating conditions on all. Why did great Israel come to an end? There are three Israels:
1- Great Israel that spreads geographically from the Nile to Euphrates and this is expressed by the Israeli flag on which two lines are drawn to stand for the two rivers.
2- The big Israel which concedes geographically and contents with the historical Palestine but on which there must be a strong mighty state that imposes its conditions on the whole region and spreads its hegemony on the region even behind Palestine’s historical borders.
3- The ordinary Israel which borders are not determined until now and which nobody knows till now what will become of it. These are the three Israels.
As for great Israel, there are some factors that have to do with the steadfastness of the Arab states, Arab peoples and Arab armies in some stages in the War of 1973. But if I was to be humble I would say that the Resistance in Lebanon hammered the last nail in the coffin of great Israel when the former defeated the latter in 2000. Great Israel came to an end. So this great Israeli Army couldn’t stay not only in southern Lebanon but also in the border lines. So how can it occupy or take control of a vast geographical territory that is to comprise all the territories between the Nile River and the Euphrates River? Great Israel came to an end in 2000. Today Olmert -who is done and who is leaving - admitted that it came to an end. This is the truth. In 2000 it came to an end. They reached a conclusion that they must make settlements and agreements. The discussion turned to a mighty Israel within Palestine’s historical borders. This was the project of Israeli parties. Their ambition was always administrative self rule in the West Bank and administrative self rule in Gaza and that’s it. But developments took place following 2000 the most important of which is the outbreak of the blessed Intifada in Palestine and the resistance in Palestine which have imposed finally the pullout from Gaza. The significance of the pullout from Gaza is the retreat behind Palestine’s historical borders. The Intifada has imposed on Israel to build the Separation Wall. Thus the territories behind the wall are to be given up or negotiated. Then it retreated from Palestine’s historical territories. This is geographically speaking. Geographically I can say that mighty Israel in historical Palestine was defeated twice. The sign of the first is its retreat from Gaza. The sign of the second is the Separation Wall. As for great Israel, the mighty powerful, arrogant, frightening and hegemonic, I humbly say this great Israel fell in July war in Lebanon in 2006. Israel is not great anymore. Israel today is similar to the Arabs of the old times. It makes speeches, threats and talks day and night yet in vain. This is the status quo. When was Israel –when it wanted to launch a war- used to give speeches, threaten and horrify? All its wars were made all of a sudden. But today they need to make speeches and threat a lot to substitute for their weakness, impotence, powerlessness and the weak morals of their soldiers, officers and people with this arousing language. Today we are before an ordinary Israel which once was all-preoccupied with the Arab nation, governments and peoples. Today it is all-preoccupied with a handful of resistance men in Lebanon and a handful of resistance men in Palestine. It is preoccupied with them all day long. It also admits that they equal it in balance. It also fears imbalance if the Lebanese resistance or the Palestinian resistance owned this or that weapon. Thus today we are in a much advanced stage in this struggle.
Back to our present days and the time we are living in and pursuant to what is given and the reading of this experience we say that indeed we are all concerned in protecting our homeland and in fortifying and defending it. This kind of issues necessitates a specific national conduct and national dealing. Hereof I like to mention the last point. Yet before I’d like to mention a good news that’ll come subsequently and in which I believe: with the end of July War, the last developments in Lebanon, passing through May 7 events and Doha Agreement and the current national government, I can say that the resistance which has always been subject and is always being subject to liquidation attempts to suppress it has passed all these experiences and the real dangers are far behind it. From 2000 to 2006 till now, the Israelis along with the Americans and all who back and support them are working this year to beat the new powerful element which is the Resistance. It’s recommended that this resistance be put down and be ridden of by all possible means and even if many means were used: assassinations, the assassination of martyr leader Hajj Imad Mughniyeh which was not the first assassination. Sayyed Abbass, his wife and son and Sheikh Ragheb where among many resistance leaders who were assassinated. Still the resistance wasn’t shaken. In the contrary its power increased as well as its invincibility and ardor. It became more deep-rooted in the conscience of its people and more convinced in the righteousness of its path. Security action against the resistance for 25 years could not do harm to the resistance. Here I am saying: they can’t do harm to the resistance. Nowadays there is competition in Kadima Party. On the light of this competition they are posing a question to Livney saying if you received a line at 3:00 am and the Mossad Chief told you that there is a rare opportunity to kill Hezbollah Secretary General will you give a decision to kill him? She answers: Yes, I give a decision to kill him. Mofaz also issues a similar decision. Well I thank you. There is no problem. Anyone among our brethrens who have the honor of this moment – the moment of martyrdom- would have ended his life in achieving his utmost wish. These were the feelings of all our martyrs who passed and these are the feelings of those who are still alive. But what I would like to say that the Resistance since 1982 till this very moment and onward does not depend on one person no matter how important or essential he might be in the eyes of the people. The Resistance in Lebanon has passed the stage of depending on a political, or military, or field leader or a group of leaders or the like. It is a true public phenomenon. It’s able of producing leaders on all levels – leaders who are not produced theoretically but rather from amidst suffering, tough experiences, hard working, and from amidst blood and tears. Thus the security option is a failure according to the Israelis. So whatever they would do in the future will be fruitless.
As for the military option, before 2000, they tried everything and 2006 was the peak of their military option and still they flopped. What still remains? There remains isolating the resistance publicly. There they flopped too because the resistance is vastly present publicly. Here comes the importance of the public embracing from all the Lebanese sects and the various Lebanese political trends. Here comes the importance of the state embracing the Resistance instead of confiscating, restricting, deactivating and blocking it. This too we have surpassed.
The last and most dangerous point is the continuing attempts to drag the Resistance to internal fighting and to an internal ordeal under various titles: loyalty, opposition, sectarian and factional titles. This is what took place when they killed the opposition martyr during the sit-in and when killed other martyrs for the opposition. They wanted to drag the resistance to fighting. Under all circumstances and even in May 7, we surpassed that. Here I say again: We the Lebanese people have different readings of May 7. I say the previous government was pushed by international and regional nations and international and regional sides to take those decisions that aim at dragging the Resistance to a war of attrition. I repeat: it was demanded that the security forces and the army be dragged to a war against the Resistance. But what some opposition forces did –and not all opposition forces assume responsibility of what took place – buried the ordeal alive, exterminated a civil war and safeguarded the state and the army. Some try to say that what took place is the worst that befell Beirut. No what took place on May 7 saved Lebanon and the Lebanese state, army and people from the worst conspiracies and ordeals which were woven against it. Still we find these very parties which pushed the Lebanese to clash, confront and fight each other still insisting on saying other than this.
Our responsibility now is first to address our disputes through dialog. Hereof I renew my approval of the national dialog table which I feel sorry I can’t attend. I would’ve liked to be present. But the Israelis do not play games with us. They are serious. They are observing us and at the same time they are worried and frightened by us. Once they withdraw all their businessmen from anywhere worldwide and once they prevented their ministers from traveling. Yesterday they withdrew all tourists from Sinai. This is good. We do not give positive or negative comments on it. Why should we assure the Israelis? He who killed hajj Imad must remain worried wherever he is around the world… yes things are serious between them and us. That’s why I didn’t show up in Baabda Castle or else I would have had the honor to be beside the other Lebanese leaders present to work hard to address the Lebanese statue quo.
Secondly, I would like to give my credits to the fully considered, precise, responsible and national speech delivered by His Excellence, President Michael Sleiman. This speech also expresses a collective soul and will and lofty spirituality to address the critical and decisive issues in the nation. I also give my credits to the final statement which is the onset of the national dialogue table. I stress on one point in the final statement which tackles the issue of media campaigns and media escalation and the role of political and media leaderships in tackling the various issues.
In Doha Agreement, we find a clause on halting media escalation and instigation. I can say that we in the resistance have got committed to it. But some parties on the other side didn’t get committed to it though some did. And if some local parties got committed, some Arab sides did not- meaning that if some national media stations got committed, some Arab media stations didn’t and are still practicing the worst factional instigation ever witnessed in Arab media since its foundation. It’s open and disclosed factional and sectarian instigation in which names are mentioned. They exploit the small and simple skirmishes to build on their frightening and alarming instigations to push the Lebanese to fight and resort to arms. The most important clause to which we all must instantly get committed is stopping instigation. Even when we make reconciliation we must stop instigations.
What used to take place in Tripoli? A problem between a loyalist to the majority party and another one in the opposition. But should we revise the media: who was using the language that what’s taking place in Tripoli is a Sunni-Alawi fighting? Who dragged the issue to factionalism and sectarianism? The opposition or some parties on the other side? They invoke wide sectarian and factional instigation until it becomes a volcano on the verge of eruption. And suddenly “we want to pour water to extinguish it”. This makes things difficult and much complicated…
So above all is stopping the instigation. When instigation is halted the smallest and the biggest problem in the nation take their national volume. I will give an example which was worked upon on the past few days. There’s a dispute in Lassa village in the barren mountains of Byblos. The dispute is on a definite place there and it’s an old dispute before the loyalists, the opposition, Hezbollah, the National Free Party and all the people now present there. The dispute is at least several decades old. There are two sides in this dispute and it might be settled in the court or through an understanding. We can work at settling it and that’s the volume of the issue. But some people want to run parliamentary elections in Byblos. “What shall we do?" It’s a real catastrophe that parliamentary elections are getting near. How can we win votes? We win votes through sectarian and factional instigation? Thus it becomes that a small place in Lassa according to some politicians in the other party is threatening Islamic-Christian coexistence and placing Shiites and Christians on the verge of an ordeal. This is not true. This is sheer lying and exaggeration that frighten people.
When General Aoun tackled the issue of the newspaper which said “the martyr pilot killed Samer Hanna in cold blood” and demanded its persecution, a big fuzz was made about it. At first we handled the issue as the many other issues that newspapers write daily. For example yesterday a Kuwaiti political newspaper made a “great innovation” saying that the Southern Suburbs (Dahyieh) put the bomb to (Saleh Aridi). While sitting in Kuwait they invented this piece of information which they wrote in broad letters. Why is it a Kuwaiti political news paper? That’s because it’s a part of the US-Israeli poisonous destructive cuisine which works at spreading various lies and rumors. We have a decision not to answer such rumors. We do not even make denials because if we are to deny we have to specialize a media body to issue denial statements daily because such rumors are sheer lies.
As we are implicated with this kind of media we will not pause lengthily but still lately I became convinced that we have to file a suit on this newspaper that accused us of killing in cold blood and whoever wants to make a sit-in is free to do so because this is falsehood, injustice and sheer lying. Why should we stop at a small incident and magnify it? What took place today and yesterday in Talbaya and Sadnayel? The general atmosphere is tense. Two young men pass near each other and get entangled in a fight. Once the first party kill and at other times the other party. That’s the whole story. Why should we make a big fuzz about it? That’s because the political and media atmosphere is taking such incidents to such ends.
We have all agreed -let’s hope God willing all parties are honest- on the dialogue table. We also agreed on stopping instigation and on media appeasement. I foretell the Lebanese that we are all able to address the various issues and events that might take place. Such incidents may be interpreted in two ways: one says that some incidents are the result of instigation while others are fabricated deliberately to cause ordeals. Who did throw hand grenades in Cornish Almazraa? Who? Finger at one Lebanese person who has morals and honor and comes at mid night and throw hand grenades.
These very sides assassinated Sheikh Saleh Aridi because his main role is clear as is his position. Many do not want the Druze to reach an understanding. Many do not want the Lebanese Democratic Party to reach an understanding with the Socialist Progressive Party. They don't want Hezbollah to reach an understanding with the Socialist Progressive Party and its milieu. The aim of the assassination might be dragging these parties to inter-fighting and consequently the resort of the Resistance to fighting through finger-pointing. So there are people who install the bomb that kills and others who have ready made media bombs to be used in satellite channels, newspapers and platforms to complement the role of the fatal bombs. This is the set up which we face nowadays.
The lead in to any way-out is stopping instigation. Should instigation come to an end we would be able to address all other issues. We would make firm the reconciliation in the north and the reconciliation in Talbaya and Sadnayel in Bekaa as well the reconciliation that took place yesterday between Hezbollah and the Socialist Progressive party under the sponsorship of prince Talal Irslan. We will get along with such reconciliations because they will not stop here. They will carry on in and out side Beirut to cover other Lebanese regions because a peaceful atmosphere must prevail in Lebanon. This does not mean switching alliances at all. Every party might remain in its position. Via reconciliations we are saying: "Let's not harass each other, conspire against each other, kill each other and charge the atmosphere what might lead to opening fire on each other." Let the democratic political means rule over us. There are elections and dialog and there are the people and the supporters. We respect the public will. This is the aim of reconciliations: let such atmosphere prevail, firm civil peace, an atmosphere of security and stability. We want to appease the atmosphere before heading to reasonable parliamentary elections. It seems that some people are in need of civil war to win the elections and become deputies and this is the worst treachery one might commit against this nation.
Any reconciliation we achieve does not aim at isolating anyone, as we said when we concluded the understanding between Hezbollah and The National Free Party. We said in a press conference then that this understanding does not aim at any faction, sect, political party or political alliance. There are some clauses that have to do with the nation and its future and fate... By the way, today in the final statement they stressed all the national dialogue resolutions. Here I call upon you to have a copy of the national dialogue table resolutions and a copy of Hezbollah- National Free Party Understanding; you will find out that they are the same. Have they agreed with us then, they would have spared us much effort and spared the Lebanese much pain and trouble. When Hezbollah and the Socialist Progressive Party or Hezbollah or Future Party or Hezbollah and any other party make reconciliation this does not aim at isolating anyone or unbinding the present alliances. No we have our alliances, relations and positions by which we abide wholly.
We are serious in this dialog and we renew the call for it. Some time ago I said we must listen to the demands of some Lebanese political forces that they must be presented in the dialog table and we must listen to the rightful demands. Today I even say more and this is what Hezbollah representative said on the dialog table. We demand and insist on expanding the dialog table and on having main political forces represented on the dialog table. Why? This is the question. Do you insist on thwarting the dialog? No we want the dialog to make success and that's why we call on such expansion. I do not want to discuss – as some do – the representatives around the dialog table. I respect them all. I do not want to cancel anyone or to force out any of those presented. No, this is not even brought up for discussion….
The dialog table must expand to include the main various forces. The question is: why did you accept discussing the defensive strategy before July war in the presence of the 14 members and you did not demand expansion then? Why are you demanding an expansion now? So you do not want dialog. You rather want complicating the dialog.
Yes, before July War we agreed on this discussion but after July War we don't. You ask me what is the difference between today and the last session for the dialog table two years ago. My answer is July War. July War changed the country, the region and the world. Humbly I say it changed many of the fighting and military schools worldwide. There's a big difference between today and the old days. The main issue according to us and above all has to do with being loyal and moral as was our conduct pertaining to the governmental issue. Some political forces played roles during the war. Now we are heading to a new atmosphere. Some issues were not clear to us at least and I'll not say more to be moderate. But some main forces in Lebanon stood with the Resistance during the war. They supported the Resistance and offered sacrifices as did the Resistance and coupled its fate with that of the Resistance. So if the resistance was defeated the very presence of these forces was to be at stake. To show our faithfulness to the forces who backed us in July War, we must demand firmly that they be on head of the table - and not to lag behind – when discussing the issue of defending and safeguarding Lebanon because such forces took part in defending and safeguarding Lebanon. Yes this is the main difference. The difference is that July War took place. We will follow up on this demand of ours seriously. I know that during the period extending between today and the next date, intensive discussions with the various political forces will take place to achieve this demand and target God willing. Consequently, when all parties are present we will be able to make a serious, responsible and unanimous discussion. Indeed we do not call for this demand to gain strength from anyone. No never. Were those who represent the opposition and defend the resistance on the dialogue table three or four they will balance millions. The issue is not that of numbers or that of needing forces on the table to back us when discussing the defensive strategy. Never! On the contrary, the issue is decisive, strategic and moral at a time. Our morals and national values necessitate that all those who backed, safeguarded and defended the resistance and Lebanon and helped in Lebanon's victory during July war be represented on the national dialogue table.
With this we reach our final words. Here I'd like to call upon us all to benefit from this experience that took place in Lebanon. Two or three days ago, an Israeli website on the internet – it's a respectful and specialized website- wrote the following. I will read the news piece without much comment. The source is a senior military officer in the USA Army. It has to do with Georgia and Russia. The Georgian Army was trained, equipped and formed by American and Israeli experts. The Georgian defense minister has the Israeli nationality. He has two nationalities. He is an Israeli and he was in Israel. Then he went to Georgia and became defense minister. No way for discussion. These are verified pieces of information. The Americans are the ones who forced the Georgians to evoke war. They did not expect that Russia will retaliate with such severity. Thus was the Georgian army's defeat. Now the Americans are revaluating their experience. How are we to rebuild the Georgian army? This senior source says quoting the US chief of staff and not the head of the middle region or the like: we must build the Georgian army following Hezbollah's example. He explains: Georgia is similar to Lebanon. (As for our dear brother Hajj Mohammad Raad – the head of the Loyalty to Resistance Bloc- I gave him this text but because they didn't tackle this issue I don't think he distributed it. I've told him to distribute it to our fellow colleagues present on the table to contribute to the discussion of the defensive strategy. )
The Chief of Staff or one of the senior officers says quoting the chief of staff: Hezbollah has given a new example. A small force could defeat a great army because –indeed this is strategic military talk- Hezbollah could combine between using modern weaponry, spreading the infantry forces and organizing guerrilla war. (This indeed needs explanation but the statement is because Hezbollah could combine between using modern weaponry, spreading the infantry forces and organizing guerrilla war). For your general information ladies – you can ask the military and generals- the military example – not to mention the morals, politics and morales – which was given by the resistance in Lebanon is a Lebanese innovation with no parallel in human wars all through history. With the benefit of previous experiences, it's the innovation of a group of Lebanese youths (indeed they were young; now they are a bit white-haired) on head of whom is martyr leader hajj Imad Mughniyeh – may Allah bless his soul. So today the Americans are saying: I want to take this experience and follow Hezbollah's example in forming the Georgian Army. I want to teach this army fighting using Hezbollah's tactics and techniques especially that Georgia has mountains, valleys, villages and towns as does Lebanon, he carries on. So they can take Hezbollah's experience in Lebanon and pass it to Georgia. (They don't want to defeat the Israeli army but rather the Russian army. To this extent they are convinced of the experience and example.) He adds quoting the US Chief of Staff: we in the US Army must benefit also from Hezbollah's fighting tactics and techniques.
Great! Tonight in your presence, I make a call on all the political and military leaders in Lebanon: officers and generals from all over the world study theories and experiences from all over the world. Today a group of Lebanese made a school in fighting. Our experience is neither from the West nor from the East, neither from the Americans nor from the Soviet. It's an experience and for the first time made in Lebanon. Those who call and overbid in their call for sovereignty must be more fanatic to all what is made in Lebanon including the experience of the Resistance.
Hundred returns and peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
In the old times people’s health was better. Their worries were less than now because there weren’t any satellite channels and communication means. No one used to know what’s taking place around the world. But nowadays there are news bulletins. Anyone who watches them ends up with an aching heart. We see at news bulletins today that in Ethiopia alone 4700000 human beings are threatened by death because of famine. We are talking about people regardless of their religious affiliation. Among them there are many Muslims, Christians, atheists and others of other religious affiliations. This number includes children, women and elderly. Famine threatens millions in Somalia, tens of millions in India, Bangladesh, Burma and other regions around the world. This is the minimum number of human beings including men, women, children, elderly and infants who are threatened by death because of famine and poverty and still no one around the world takes action.
This world is dead. Its humanity and values are dead. World leaders make speeches on human values, democratic values and human rights. This is paradoxical. The whole world talks about human values and democracy while tens of millions die of famine. On the other hand, we see piles of money, gold and silver in the hands of a group of rich people. You might have noticed in news bulletins that year after year the group of rich people is becoming smaller. That means the wealth of a group is increasing while another group is being bankrupt. (I want to give an example. Some might say Sayyed Hassan is attacking the Arab world as it is sacred.) One and only one Arab state deposits in the banks of the USA (which is now suffering from a severe financial crisis) three thousand billion dollars. Indeed this was before the oil prices soared. I mean this piece of information is one and a half year old. Three thousand billion dollars are piled there. What are they doing with this amount of money? Look in Gaza, Iraq and Lebanon. It’s true that the Lebanese do not expose each other but don’t you see in Lebanon people searching in the waste containers for leftovers and clothes and the like? Doesn’t this scene hurt our human values, morals and religion? How can the owners of money piled in the US banks bear this scene? (No one is saying give us three thousand billion dollars we want to spend them on the hungry, thirsty, deprived and oppressed). A humble proportion of this amount may treat many economic and social crises suffered by the peoples of this region and the whole world.
Now we are tackling the issue of famine. Indeed if we touched on other issues: illiteracy, ignorance, celibacy, unemployment.. We must find solutions for all of these crises when we become financially able.
Still our wealthy governments collect and pile money while denying it even their peoples and not any other peoples. Here we feel the lack of the sense of responsibility. Is this what prophetic teachings try to promote?
Following this lead in, I say that the most important factor in the experience of the resistance and the resistance movement in Lebanon which takes pride in your support is the sense of responsibility. That's because in Lebanon and noticeably following 1982 invasion, many people – men and women- refused to know the meaning of humiliation and disgrace, of profaning the sanctity of land and taking control of the water and the sovereignty of land. Thus they took the initiative being moved by their sense of responsibility. Today this is the Iftar of the Support of the Resistance Association. I say that the resistance, the presence of the resistance, the achievements of the resistance as well as its takeoff are the natural outcome of this sense of responsibility and the lofty human feelings shared by many men and women in Lebanon. Was it not for this sense of responsibility, the resistance in Lebanon wasn't to be and we would've submitted to humility, occupation, submission, oppression and control of the Zionists of our land, wealth, water and nation besides our political decisions and the future of our children, grandchildren and the upcoming generations. But this sense of responsibility pushed many young men to resist the occupation with all possible means whether political, cultural, media, social, financial, moral… But above all comes the armed resistance in the battlefield where souls are sacrificed and blood is shed and where the enemy becomes subject to massive losses what forces it to pullout, retreat and be defeated.
The resistance in Lebanon is the fruit of this strong sense of responsibility and because of that it stands till today. I mean has this resistance been consisting of a group of young mercenary men – i.e. they are in the resistance because they are paid- it wasn't to last 26 years. No it is a resistance where its men are daily being subject to killing, liquidation and bloody confrontations.
What has made our men stick to their present status? What has pushed our young men to quit school and university and dwell in hills and valleys in southern Lebanon? That's because they feel responsible of defending their country – even if they believe and are convinced that the government is able of protect them because there is a slogan today that says: the government protects all, isn't it? It's right to say "all" but on the ground is the government really able to protect Lebanon? (We all agree on that. The answer is: no.)
Indeed we have to work industriously so that the government becomes able to protect Lebanon. We mustn't give in and submit to the status quo. They always wanted us to live in Lebanon under the slogan: Lebanon's strength is in its weakness. What's this strength? The tongue i.e. the Lebanese are good only in talking, giving speeches, writing, singing and reciting verse. Is this Lebanon's strength?
This strength does not protect anyone in this world neither in Lebanon nor in any other country. Lebanon must be strong. Its state must be as such too so as to protect the nation and the people. At one stage unfortunately the state was not only weak; it also did not have the will to confront. Even worse at times it was part of the connivance with the enemy at the beginning of the 80s. I don't want to mention other stages when the Israelis used to receive corporation at times. So these young men feel that their homeland is threatened and their people are at risk. They leave their homes, families, schools and universities to live in mountains and valleys in the south. I believe some of you ladies have got introduced to some of these young men. These young men lack nothing neither wit nor mind nor intellect nor personality. Then why this emigration to mountains and valleys to defend the homeland? Because there is a sense of responsibility? They have human values rooted in their conscience. What imposes on them to be in those positions? That's because they will also be asked on Doom’s Day? Because on the emotional level, they can’t bear that their people and country be humiliated or that they be aggressed against or that Lebanon be turned to a territory profaned by the Israeli enemy army, Mossad, security forces and so on. This is also the case of the families of these young men – their wives, mothers, fathers, relatives, sons and daughters who bear this kind of life. They also have their share in the sacrifice. So since the resistance has this sense of responsibility it could continue and also secondly it could make many victories and achievements.
We don’t want to speak about old evidences. The day before yesterday i.e. on Sunday usually the enemy premier at the beginning of the cabinet meeting gives a brief political speech. What did Olmert – who will leave in the coming few days fruitless and miserable – say to the Israelis? He said from their government’s platform – and this has its peculiar meaning because he is talking in the opening session of the cabinet meeting in the presence of the political and military leadership. First the story of the great integrated Israel is sheer illusion. Let no one lie anymore on the Israeli people.
Secondly Olmert said that it’s clear that the regional balance is suffering from disorder and our way in preventing the regional imbalance is in reaching an understanding with the Palestinians and making a settlement and in reaching an understanding with the Syrians and making a settlement. Then there is no military way-out to prevent the regional disorder according to Olmert.
The third point: time is not to our interest. If we didn’t make haste and reach settlements, every day that passes will make us feel remorse in the future. I’m not inventing anything from my mind. He – Olmert – said so during the enemy cabinet meeting.
The evaluation of these three points is clear. This means as a conclusion that after his lengthy experience Olmert – he couldn’t hold long as premier because he got involved in July war but still be he's among the ancient political leaderships in the enemy entity – told them that we are in a new status in the region. The regional situation is not to our interest. The possibility of addressing the situation with military means is unavailable to us. The available way is to make settlements. We must wipe from our heads the dreams we used to nurture. They are sheer illusions that have no place anymore. This is the conclusion. But why Olmert is saying this now? (Even though Netanyahu preceded him following Israel’s defeat in 2000 saying that the Israeli project came to an end following Barak’s decision to retreat from Southern Lebanon in that humiliating way in May 25, 2000.) What is the reason? Is it because there has become a multi-polar regime in the world? No in the past there was a bi-polar system in the world and Israel’s power, arrogance and oppression were increasing what was revealed in occupying more lands and imposing humiliating conditions on the Arabs. It’s true we are on the onset of international changes but their horizons are not clear yet? Is it because the Arabs were weak and now they are strong? No on the contrary, unfortunately day after day the Arabs are becoming number one absentee from all the regional and international developments. Where are the Arab states? Except for Syria which is trying to be on the move somehow and which position impose on it to be in the heart on this move, most of the Arab states are unfortunately absent! Today we can see Turkey, Iran, France, Europe and America – it goes without saying. But where are the Arab states? So is there a new Arab status that frightens Olmert? No indeed. There is no new official Arab status that frightens Olmert! The main development – and whoever has any other discussion can speak it out – that happened in the region since 2000 till today is the victories and achievements of the resistance movements in the region. This turning point started in 2000 with Israel’s defeat in Lebanon. This is the truth and nothing else. Should we remove the resistance movements, the resistance steadfastness, the resistance persistence and the resistance victory, on the contrary all the other factors would be helping factors for Israel to become more arrogant and oppressive in imposing humiliating conditions on all. Why did great Israel come to an end? There are three Israels:
1- Great Israel that spreads geographically from the Nile to Euphrates and this is expressed by the Israeli flag on which two lines are drawn to stand for the two rivers.
2- The big Israel which concedes geographically and contents with the historical Palestine but on which there must be a strong mighty state that imposes its conditions on the whole region and spreads its hegemony on the region even behind Palestine’s historical borders.
3- The ordinary Israel which borders are not determined until now and which nobody knows till now what will become of it. These are the three Israels.
As for great Israel, there are some factors that have to do with the steadfastness of the Arab states, Arab peoples and Arab armies in some stages in the War of 1973. But if I was to be humble I would say that the Resistance in Lebanon hammered the last nail in the coffin of great Israel when the former defeated the latter in 2000. Great Israel came to an end. So this great Israeli Army couldn’t stay not only in southern Lebanon but also in the border lines. So how can it occupy or take control of a vast geographical territory that is to comprise all the territories between the Nile River and the Euphrates River? Great Israel came to an end in 2000. Today Olmert -who is done and who is leaving - admitted that it came to an end. This is the truth. In 2000 it came to an end. They reached a conclusion that they must make settlements and agreements. The discussion turned to a mighty Israel within Palestine’s historical borders. This was the project of Israeli parties. Their ambition was always administrative self rule in the West Bank and administrative self rule in Gaza and that’s it. But developments took place following 2000 the most important of which is the outbreak of the blessed Intifada in Palestine and the resistance in Palestine which have imposed finally the pullout from Gaza. The significance of the pullout from Gaza is the retreat behind Palestine’s historical borders. The Intifada has imposed on Israel to build the Separation Wall. Thus the territories behind the wall are to be given up or negotiated. Then it retreated from Palestine’s historical territories. This is geographically speaking. Geographically I can say that mighty Israel in historical Palestine was defeated twice. The sign of the first is its retreat from Gaza. The sign of the second is the Separation Wall. As for great Israel, the mighty powerful, arrogant, frightening and hegemonic, I humbly say this great Israel fell in July war in Lebanon in 2006. Israel is not great anymore. Israel today is similar to the Arabs of the old times. It makes speeches, threats and talks day and night yet in vain. This is the status quo. When was Israel –when it wanted to launch a war- used to give speeches, threaten and horrify? All its wars were made all of a sudden. But today they need to make speeches and threat a lot to substitute for their weakness, impotence, powerlessness and the weak morals of their soldiers, officers and people with this arousing language. Today we are before an ordinary Israel which once was all-preoccupied with the Arab nation, governments and peoples. Today it is all-preoccupied with a handful of resistance men in Lebanon and a handful of resistance men in Palestine. It is preoccupied with them all day long. It also admits that they equal it in balance. It also fears imbalance if the Lebanese resistance or the Palestinian resistance owned this or that weapon. Thus today we are in a much advanced stage in this struggle.
Back to our present days and the time we are living in and pursuant to what is given and the reading of this experience we say that indeed we are all concerned in protecting our homeland and in fortifying and defending it. This kind of issues necessitates a specific national conduct and national dealing. Hereof I like to mention the last point. Yet before I’d like to mention a good news that’ll come subsequently and in which I believe: with the end of July War, the last developments in Lebanon, passing through May 7 events and Doha Agreement and the current national government, I can say that the resistance which has always been subject and is always being subject to liquidation attempts to suppress it has passed all these experiences and the real dangers are far behind it. From 2000 to 2006 till now, the Israelis along with the Americans and all who back and support them are working this year to beat the new powerful element which is the Resistance. It’s recommended that this resistance be put down and be ridden of by all possible means and even if many means were used: assassinations, the assassination of martyr leader Hajj Imad Mughniyeh which was not the first assassination. Sayyed Abbass, his wife and son and Sheikh Ragheb where among many resistance leaders who were assassinated. Still the resistance wasn’t shaken. In the contrary its power increased as well as its invincibility and ardor. It became more deep-rooted in the conscience of its people and more convinced in the righteousness of its path. Security action against the resistance for 25 years could not do harm to the resistance. Here I am saying: they can’t do harm to the resistance. Nowadays there is competition in Kadima Party. On the light of this competition they are posing a question to Livney saying if you received a line at 3:00 am and the Mossad Chief told you that there is a rare opportunity to kill Hezbollah Secretary General will you give a decision to kill him? She answers: Yes, I give a decision to kill him. Mofaz also issues a similar decision. Well I thank you. There is no problem. Anyone among our brethrens who have the honor of this moment – the moment of martyrdom- would have ended his life in achieving his utmost wish. These were the feelings of all our martyrs who passed and these are the feelings of those who are still alive. But what I would like to say that the Resistance since 1982 till this very moment and onward does not depend on one person no matter how important or essential he might be in the eyes of the people. The Resistance in Lebanon has passed the stage of depending on a political, or military, or field leader or a group of leaders or the like. It is a true public phenomenon. It’s able of producing leaders on all levels – leaders who are not produced theoretically but rather from amidst suffering, tough experiences, hard working, and from amidst blood and tears. Thus the security option is a failure according to the Israelis. So whatever they would do in the future will be fruitless.
As for the military option, before 2000, they tried everything and 2006 was the peak of their military option and still they flopped. What still remains? There remains isolating the resistance publicly. There they flopped too because the resistance is vastly present publicly. Here comes the importance of the public embracing from all the Lebanese sects and the various Lebanese political trends. Here comes the importance of the state embracing the Resistance instead of confiscating, restricting, deactivating and blocking it. This too we have surpassed.
The last and most dangerous point is the continuing attempts to drag the Resistance to internal fighting and to an internal ordeal under various titles: loyalty, opposition, sectarian and factional titles. This is what took place when they killed the opposition martyr during the sit-in and when killed other martyrs for the opposition. They wanted to drag the resistance to fighting. Under all circumstances and even in May 7, we surpassed that. Here I say again: We the Lebanese people have different readings of May 7. I say the previous government was pushed by international and regional nations and international and regional sides to take those decisions that aim at dragging the Resistance to a war of attrition. I repeat: it was demanded that the security forces and the army be dragged to a war against the Resistance. But what some opposition forces did –and not all opposition forces assume responsibility of what took place – buried the ordeal alive, exterminated a civil war and safeguarded the state and the army. Some try to say that what took place is the worst that befell Beirut. No what took place on May 7 saved Lebanon and the Lebanese state, army and people from the worst conspiracies and ordeals which were woven against it. Still we find these very parties which pushed the Lebanese to clash, confront and fight each other still insisting on saying other than this.
Our responsibility now is first to address our disputes through dialog. Hereof I renew my approval of the national dialog table which I feel sorry I can’t attend. I would’ve liked to be present. But the Israelis do not play games with us. They are serious. They are observing us and at the same time they are worried and frightened by us. Once they withdraw all their businessmen from anywhere worldwide and once they prevented their ministers from traveling. Yesterday they withdrew all tourists from Sinai. This is good. We do not give positive or negative comments on it. Why should we assure the Israelis? He who killed hajj Imad must remain worried wherever he is around the world… yes things are serious between them and us. That’s why I didn’t show up in Baabda Castle or else I would have had the honor to be beside the other Lebanese leaders present to work hard to address the Lebanese statue quo.
Secondly, I would like to give my credits to the fully considered, precise, responsible and national speech delivered by His Excellence, President Michael Sleiman. This speech also expresses a collective soul and will and lofty spirituality to address the critical and decisive issues in the nation. I also give my credits to the final statement which is the onset of the national dialogue table. I stress on one point in the final statement which tackles the issue of media campaigns and media escalation and the role of political and media leaderships in tackling the various issues.
In Doha Agreement, we find a clause on halting media escalation and instigation. I can say that we in the resistance have got committed to it. But some parties on the other side didn’t get committed to it though some did. And if some local parties got committed, some Arab sides did not- meaning that if some national media stations got committed, some Arab media stations didn’t and are still practicing the worst factional instigation ever witnessed in Arab media since its foundation. It’s open and disclosed factional and sectarian instigation in which names are mentioned. They exploit the small and simple skirmishes to build on their frightening and alarming instigations to push the Lebanese to fight and resort to arms. The most important clause to which we all must instantly get committed is stopping instigation. Even when we make reconciliation we must stop instigations.
What used to take place in Tripoli? A problem between a loyalist to the majority party and another one in the opposition. But should we revise the media: who was using the language that what’s taking place in Tripoli is a Sunni-Alawi fighting? Who dragged the issue to factionalism and sectarianism? The opposition or some parties on the other side? They invoke wide sectarian and factional instigation until it becomes a volcano on the verge of eruption. And suddenly “we want to pour water to extinguish it”. This makes things difficult and much complicated…
So above all is stopping the instigation. When instigation is halted the smallest and the biggest problem in the nation take their national volume. I will give an example which was worked upon on the past few days. There’s a dispute in Lassa village in the barren mountains of Byblos. The dispute is on a definite place there and it’s an old dispute before the loyalists, the opposition, Hezbollah, the National Free Party and all the people now present there. The dispute is at least several decades old. There are two sides in this dispute and it might be settled in the court or through an understanding. We can work at settling it and that’s the volume of the issue. But some people want to run parliamentary elections in Byblos. “What shall we do?" It’s a real catastrophe that parliamentary elections are getting near. How can we win votes? We win votes through sectarian and factional instigation? Thus it becomes that a small place in Lassa according to some politicians in the other party is threatening Islamic-Christian coexistence and placing Shiites and Christians on the verge of an ordeal. This is not true. This is sheer lying and exaggeration that frighten people.
When General Aoun tackled the issue of the newspaper which said “the martyr pilot killed Samer Hanna in cold blood” and demanded its persecution, a big fuzz was made about it. At first we handled the issue as the many other issues that newspapers write daily. For example yesterday a Kuwaiti political newspaper made a “great innovation” saying that the Southern Suburbs (Dahyieh) put the bomb to (Saleh Aridi). While sitting in Kuwait they invented this piece of information which they wrote in broad letters. Why is it a Kuwaiti political news paper? That’s because it’s a part of the US-Israeli poisonous destructive cuisine which works at spreading various lies and rumors. We have a decision not to answer such rumors. We do not even make denials because if we are to deny we have to specialize a media body to issue denial statements daily because such rumors are sheer lies.
As we are implicated with this kind of media we will not pause lengthily but still lately I became convinced that we have to file a suit on this newspaper that accused us of killing in cold blood and whoever wants to make a sit-in is free to do so because this is falsehood, injustice and sheer lying. Why should we stop at a small incident and magnify it? What took place today and yesterday in Talbaya and Sadnayel? The general atmosphere is tense. Two young men pass near each other and get entangled in a fight. Once the first party kill and at other times the other party. That’s the whole story. Why should we make a big fuzz about it? That’s because the political and media atmosphere is taking such incidents to such ends.
We have all agreed -let’s hope God willing all parties are honest- on the dialogue table. We also agreed on stopping instigation and on media appeasement. I foretell the Lebanese that we are all able to address the various issues and events that might take place. Such incidents may be interpreted in two ways: one says that some incidents are the result of instigation while others are fabricated deliberately to cause ordeals. Who did throw hand grenades in Cornish Almazraa? Who? Finger at one Lebanese person who has morals and honor and comes at mid night and throw hand grenades.
These very sides assassinated Sheikh Saleh Aridi because his main role is clear as is his position. Many do not want the Druze to reach an understanding. Many do not want the Lebanese Democratic Party to reach an understanding with the Socialist Progressive Party. They don't want Hezbollah to reach an understanding with the Socialist Progressive Party and its milieu. The aim of the assassination might be dragging these parties to inter-fighting and consequently the resort of the Resistance to fighting through finger-pointing. So there are people who install the bomb that kills and others who have ready made media bombs to be used in satellite channels, newspapers and platforms to complement the role of the fatal bombs. This is the set up which we face nowadays.
The lead in to any way-out is stopping instigation. Should instigation come to an end we would be able to address all other issues. We would make firm the reconciliation in the north and the reconciliation in Talbaya and Sadnayel in Bekaa as well the reconciliation that took place yesterday between Hezbollah and the Socialist Progressive party under the sponsorship of prince Talal Irslan. We will get along with such reconciliations because they will not stop here. They will carry on in and out side Beirut to cover other Lebanese regions because a peaceful atmosphere must prevail in Lebanon. This does not mean switching alliances at all. Every party might remain in its position. Via reconciliations we are saying: "Let's not harass each other, conspire against each other, kill each other and charge the atmosphere what might lead to opening fire on each other." Let the democratic political means rule over us. There are elections and dialog and there are the people and the supporters. We respect the public will. This is the aim of reconciliations: let such atmosphere prevail, firm civil peace, an atmosphere of security and stability. We want to appease the atmosphere before heading to reasonable parliamentary elections. It seems that some people are in need of civil war to win the elections and become deputies and this is the worst treachery one might commit against this nation.
Any reconciliation we achieve does not aim at isolating anyone, as we said when we concluded the understanding between Hezbollah and The National Free Party. We said in a press conference then that this understanding does not aim at any faction, sect, political party or political alliance. There are some clauses that have to do with the nation and its future and fate... By the way, today in the final statement they stressed all the national dialogue resolutions. Here I call upon you to have a copy of the national dialogue table resolutions and a copy of Hezbollah- National Free Party Understanding; you will find out that they are the same. Have they agreed with us then, they would have spared us much effort and spared the Lebanese much pain and trouble. When Hezbollah and the Socialist Progressive Party or Hezbollah or Future Party or Hezbollah and any other party make reconciliation this does not aim at isolating anyone or unbinding the present alliances. No we have our alliances, relations and positions by which we abide wholly.
We are serious in this dialog and we renew the call for it. Some time ago I said we must listen to the demands of some Lebanese political forces that they must be presented in the dialog table and we must listen to the rightful demands. Today I even say more and this is what Hezbollah representative said on the dialog table. We demand and insist on expanding the dialog table and on having main political forces represented on the dialog table. Why? This is the question. Do you insist on thwarting the dialog? No we want the dialog to make success and that's why we call on such expansion. I do not want to discuss – as some do – the representatives around the dialog table. I respect them all. I do not want to cancel anyone or to force out any of those presented. No, this is not even brought up for discussion….
The dialog table must expand to include the main various forces. The question is: why did you accept discussing the defensive strategy before July war in the presence of the 14 members and you did not demand expansion then? Why are you demanding an expansion now? So you do not want dialog. You rather want complicating the dialog.
Yes, before July War we agreed on this discussion but after July War we don't. You ask me what is the difference between today and the last session for the dialog table two years ago. My answer is July War. July War changed the country, the region and the world. Humbly I say it changed many of the fighting and military schools worldwide. There's a big difference between today and the old days. The main issue according to us and above all has to do with being loyal and moral as was our conduct pertaining to the governmental issue. Some political forces played roles during the war. Now we are heading to a new atmosphere. Some issues were not clear to us at least and I'll not say more to be moderate. But some main forces in Lebanon stood with the Resistance during the war. They supported the Resistance and offered sacrifices as did the Resistance and coupled its fate with that of the Resistance. So if the resistance was defeated the very presence of these forces was to be at stake. To show our faithfulness to the forces who backed us in July War, we must demand firmly that they be on head of the table - and not to lag behind – when discussing the issue of defending and safeguarding Lebanon because such forces took part in defending and safeguarding Lebanon. Yes this is the main difference. The difference is that July War took place. We will follow up on this demand of ours seriously. I know that during the period extending between today and the next date, intensive discussions with the various political forces will take place to achieve this demand and target God willing. Consequently, when all parties are present we will be able to make a serious, responsible and unanimous discussion. Indeed we do not call for this demand to gain strength from anyone. No never. Were those who represent the opposition and defend the resistance on the dialogue table three or four they will balance millions. The issue is not that of numbers or that of needing forces on the table to back us when discussing the defensive strategy. Never! On the contrary, the issue is decisive, strategic and moral at a time. Our morals and national values necessitate that all those who backed, safeguarded and defended the resistance and Lebanon and helped in Lebanon's victory during July war be represented on the national dialogue table.
With this we reach our final words. Here I'd like to call upon us all to benefit from this experience that took place in Lebanon. Two or three days ago, an Israeli website on the internet – it's a respectful and specialized website- wrote the following. I will read the news piece without much comment. The source is a senior military officer in the USA Army. It has to do with Georgia and Russia. The Georgian Army was trained, equipped and formed by American and Israeli experts. The Georgian defense minister has the Israeli nationality. He has two nationalities. He is an Israeli and he was in Israel. Then he went to Georgia and became defense minister. No way for discussion. These are verified pieces of information. The Americans are the ones who forced the Georgians to evoke war. They did not expect that Russia will retaliate with such severity. Thus was the Georgian army's defeat. Now the Americans are revaluating their experience. How are we to rebuild the Georgian army? This senior source says quoting the US chief of staff and not the head of the middle region or the like: we must build the Georgian army following Hezbollah's example. He explains: Georgia is similar to Lebanon. (As for our dear brother Hajj Mohammad Raad – the head of the Loyalty to Resistance Bloc- I gave him this text but because they didn't tackle this issue I don't think he distributed it. I've told him to distribute it to our fellow colleagues present on the table to contribute to the discussion of the defensive strategy. )
The Chief of Staff or one of the senior officers says quoting the chief of staff: Hezbollah has given a new example. A small force could defeat a great army because –indeed this is strategic military talk- Hezbollah could combine between using modern weaponry, spreading the infantry forces and organizing guerrilla war. (This indeed needs explanation but the statement is because Hezbollah could combine between using modern weaponry, spreading the infantry forces and organizing guerrilla war). For your general information ladies – you can ask the military and generals- the military example – not to mention the morals, politics and morales – which was given by the resistance in Lebanon is a Lebanese innovation with no parallel in human wars all through history. With the benefit of previous experiences, it's the innovation of a group of Lebanese youths (indeed they were young; now they are a bit white-haired) on head of whom is martyr leader hajj Imad Mughniyeh – may Allah bless his soul. So today the Americans are saying: I want to take this experience and follow Hezbollah's example in forming the Georgian Army. I want to teach this army fighting using Hezbollah's tactics and techniques especially that Georgia has mountains, valleys, villages and towns as does Lebanon, he carries on. So they can take Hezbollah's experience in Lebanon and pass it to Georgia. (They don't want to defeat the Israeli army but rather the Russian army. To this extent they are convinced of the experience and example.) He adds quoting the US Chief of Staff: we in the US Army must benefit also from Hezbollah's fighting tactics and techniques.
Great! Tonight in your presence, I make a call on all the political and military leaders in Lebanon: officers and generals from all over the world study theories and experiences from all over the world. Today a group of Lebanese made a school in fighting. Our experience is neither from the West nor from the East, neither from the Americans nor from the Soviet. It's an experience and for the first time made in Lebanon. Those who call and overbid in their call for sovereignty must be more fanatic to all what is made in Lebanon including the experience of the Resistance.
Hundred returns and peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.