Peace be upon all of you,
It’s just as we promised in 2000, the age of defeats has gone and that of victories has come; these people, this land and this country which demonstrated an obvious image-
Today, it’s well known to the entire world (including friends as well as enemies) that it’s impossible to have this country defeated!
I liked to pass by you personally for greeting and salutation, but now I will go and let you enjoy an anthem; then, I will be addressing you via the giant TV screen. (as he was hugging the freed Samir AL Qintar along with his 4 friends of the resistance)
“In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Gracious”
Thank to the Lord of people;
Peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and his family members and well chosen accompaniers;
Peace be upon all Prophets as well;
Peace be upon all the gathering especially the representatives of the three presidents;
Salute Mr. President Emil Lahoud;
Salute to all religious men, leaders, ministers, parliamentary members, diplomatic representatives, official envoys-especially those of the Islamic Republic of Iran, brothers representatives of Lebanese and Palestinian parties, families of martyrs and released prisoners of war, all brothers and sisters;
Dear gathering, peace be upon all of you!
Welcome all of you in this great wedding !
Welcome Samir, Maher, Khodor, Hussien, and Mohammad
Welcome pure martyrs whose return will be celebrated tomorrow as we did welcome today the pure alive Lebanese, Palestinians and Arabian youths, this nation’s privilege.
In July 2006 a group of resistant men abducted two Israeli soldiers to liberate war prisoners- preceded by Samir- from Zionist prisons; today July 16th, Samir is back proceeded by the liberation of Nsim Nisir. Now Samir is back along with his brothers who fought for his return and here they are alive by his side as well as who martyred.
Is it a coincidence that the promise is fulfilled and the dream is interpreted in the very similar days of July?
Or, is it the governing , controlling and decision making will of God?
Every one will interpret it according to his beliefs. This timing adheres lost of indications could be explained by good readers.
How could we reach this outcome which seemed several times too hard to be achieved?!!!
The main and greatest factor that has led us to today’s achievement- which we labeled as the “Ridwan Operation”- is endurance and July 2006 victory adding to it the enemy’s failure to achieve any of its goals plus this failures consequences loaded upon its entity, leadership, army and people. In another words, if we had been defeated in July 2006, Samir and his bothers wouldn’t have been able to be back today; then, the whole region including Lebannon would have been lost in the American-Zionist “New Middle East” maze!!!
When House Speaker Nabih Berry was in charge of negotiating of this file, lots of pressure was practiced on him; he was a real participant in the conflict; however, it’s because the world turned deaf ears to Lebanon’s conditions and was just parroting that “the two Israeli soldiers must be unconditionally released”.
Together determination plus victory have made Lebanon and the resistance be standing on a solid base to persist our war-jailbirds and martyrs liberation process.
Now, we remember those who fought in that battle and were in the leadership, martyrdom, injury, challenge and front position – the first to be remembered is the great, brilliant, genius and pure leader Haj Imad Moughnieyeh.
We remember as well the tolerance and the stance performed by our people from all areas and sects;
we remember some governmental stances at that time;
we remember the patience of the people whose house and stores were destroyed and whose belongings were burnt;
we remember the hundred of thousands displaced people who beard being open to air for 33 days- and despite that they kept silent, uttering no complain, showing no weakness or hesitation!
Patience and victory are the most and primary factors that contributed in achieving today’s victory!
The second factor is the hard negotiations in which many subordinating factors were overlapping: the Israeli’s inability to get back his soldiers in any other way rather than negotiations- this particular failure was obvious as July 2006 war ended but non of his goals hadn’t been achieved yet- until he absorbed the fact that his two soldiers could never be back unless through indirect negotiations; the Israeli security and intelligence systems inability even to know whereabouts they are and what about their fates- this was among the strongest merits in the negotiations for if no flaw or tactic were disclosed by our team; otherwise, the negotiations direction would have been totally different.
The third factor is of a great importance: the Israeli’s fear of announcing the failure of the negotiations process or at least the probability of leading it to the failure that means another capture will be performed by the resistance!
It was the humanitarian factor that was pressing the Israeli; it was his incapability- even of the intelligence system- of getting his two soldiers rescued; besides that, his fear that when the resistance speaks, it does. The Israeli recognized that if what’s in the resistance hand is insufficient, another capture will be operated to get Samir back.
This was obvious in the Israeli internal discussions and in his ministerial sessions as the majority were delivering their votes and blaming each other for due to their overbidding they were consequently responsible of halting the chance of the release of Samir, Nasim and Yehyah in 2004; we told them in 2004 celebration of the war-prisoners return that you had reserved Samir AL Qintar but you would be regretful! Here they are regretted! They recognized if negotiations wouldn’t lead to today’s result that the Israeli would be in a place that I think they haven’t been ready for yet.
The fourth factor was Samir’s persistence and steadfastness. All along his imprisonment period, he has stressed to fasten the negotiations, but rather he was rooming us time to be able to achieve the utmost possible result for the rest of the prisoners of war as well. Besides that, the patience of the resistant men captured whom we watched in the “fabricated” trials; I would like to tell these youths today that I was listening to your words; I heard one of them when he was asked that whether he would be involved in another war if he was asked by this man (Sayyid Nassrallah), I heard him as replying if we see this man crossing the middle of the sea, so will I do with no need of his requesting; these words put in my eyes the tears of love of these youths whom could be changed by lashes.
The patience of the honourable and pure families of the alive and martyr war-prisoners families who put their trust and sureness in us and helped as they let the process taking its positive direction to reach its best possible end. Now, I want you to be aware of the qualification, accuracy and patience demonstrated by our negotiation-team who faced as long pressure as the end of the process and the announcing moment of its success.
In your names, in the names of the war-prisoner and martyr families I would like to thank this team who was practicing Al-Jihad in secret but under God’s observation and for his Almighty sake!
We have also to salute the great effort paid by the international mediator to live this outcome. I would like also to seize the opportunity to deliver my thanks to UN president Ban Ki Moon and his envoys to this region.
Today, War-prisoners Dean Samir AL Qintar is back to us along with all the alive brothers as well as martyrs whether who belong to Lebanese resistance or Palestinian parties and factions.
I want to admit that when Samir decided to be involved in resistance 30 years ago, Hezbollah wasn’t found yet. And when Dalal Al Moughrabi and her friends performed their highly brave martyrdom operation, Hezbollah was not born yet. But getting them back by the hands of Hezbollah is something that carries lots of indications among the most important is that the project of the resistance is one with one aim and fate despite the diversity of its structure, parties, groups, beliefs, sects, doctrines, intellectual and political trends- that’s firstly. Secondly; things being so assure that the movements of resistance in this region- particularly in Lebanon and Palestine- are in complementary; they share their effort and expertise, sacrifice that are continuously built upon each other to achieve the very same aim of liberating the man, the land and the wholly thing.
Dear brothers and sisters, standing in this particular celebrating the martyrs resistance that obvious all over these decades and remembering the sacrifice performed by Lebanese, Palestinian, Arabian, Muslim and national resistant men whom we pay all our respect; we pay our respect as well to the different resistant parties, factions and all martyrs who had proceeded us toward the battle of resistance from whose expertise and sacrifice we benefit; we do reserve their highly contribution performed in the past, at the present and in the future. In this context, I want to assure that the true, original, firm and well-rooted identity of this region and nation is the identity of the will and the culture of the resistance as well as the rejection of all sorts of lowliness or weakness whoever the occupiers, tyrants and dictators may be. That’s why the flag of the resistance has never fallen down all over these decades, but rather it has been transmitted from one party to another, one faction to another, under one title to another- this is the cover while the core is this nation’s truth which is resistance!
Some might feel tired, be killed, leave the battle free, or change choices; but God always determines that someone will continue the resistance. Now, we have demonstrations of all resistant groups and parties as models left for the interest of the coming nations and generations.
Our resistance in Lebanon is attempting to demonstrate a model that is complementary with the other models and that should be followed and spread all over the world even if we will be enlisted on the “terrorist list” fabricated by the terrorist states’ departments!!!
Now, I want to inform- as I declared in the last press conference- the other still Arabian, Palestinian, Jordanian and Syrian war-prisoners that despite the difficulties resulted from the regional political situation plus the real situation of the two Israeli soldiers captured with us they weren’t ignored during the 2-year long negotiations. The Israeli in its turn kept fabricating reasons for his inability of releasing other than Lebanese, but we insist on the inclusion of some Palestinians regardless of their names and numbers for the symbolism carried with in it. All our concern lies in getting them back to their families. We asked the Israeli to hand them to any one he chooses (to any leader, government, country and under any title or scenario, decoration or structure) for we are not concerned of attaching this success to us for we are not searching for a glory. Our utmost goal is the get them back to their families. What we could finally agreed about is that the exchange deal must include in its last stage a number of Palestinian prisoners of war regardless the total number or their names. This issue was then in the charge of the international mediator and the UN. My letters in which I address UN president and insist on the release of the greatest number of women, children and sick people will be published shortly afterward. I hope that something will take place and be achieved. To us this is a very symbolic and humanitarian step; we don’t expect great or huge results. Our Palestinian brothers know the reality of the difficulties, but we did insist on the symbolism imbedded in the inclusion of the Palestinians in this exchange deal led by a Lebanese resistance just to confirm the unity of the affair and the fate as well as the interrelation of the entire humanitarian and jihadi issues.
As we are celebrating the return of our prisoners of war, though this gather I would like to address the Arabian world, the hundred-million of Arabs, the milliard and hundred-millions of Muslims, the Arabian and Muslim governments-some of which are among the richest countries in the world, and some are having strong relationship with USA; I want to address nations to remind, in the anniversary day of the liberation of our war prisoners, about the still eleven-thousand Palestinian prisoners (including man and women), the tens of Jordanians, Syrians and Arabs. It is not permitted for the Arabian and Muslim worlds to remove their hands of responsibility and leave the Palestinians or claim that it is a merely Palestinian affair that must be solved only by the Palestinian government. It isn’t allowed to leave the issue on the shoulders of “Hamas”, “the Martyrs of AL Aqsa”, “the Islamic Jihad” or the rest of the resistant groups; This view is not correct in terms of law, ethics, religions and national or humanitarian conventions. Consequently, the entire nation must remind the pain of eleven thousand war prisoners along with their families left behind including all what they might be facing in life on the economical, abstract and psychological levels. All of this is taken place without changing a bit by the Arabian world. I am one of those who believe in the choice of the resistance; however, to all who sing the rhythm of diplomacy I say: let the Arabian and Islamic diplomacy along with the “great” relationship that some Arabian and Islamic countries are enjoying with the USA, let all of these pay an effort. There hasn’t been any real effort made on this level; there was recently some statement “but ineffective” in some conferences and meetings of foreign affairs ministries. Let build a serious framework on the official level and another one among parties, powers and movements in this nation; let both of them work each from its own position to help the Palestinians and let the issue of the Arabian and Palestinian prisoners of war a vital one in media, politics and diplomacy while some of us motivate it in the battle field in order to let all of these efforts in complementary with each other until we reach the desirable outcome.
Concerning Lebanon affairs, today the achievements seem to be completed and gathered in one day, after the end of July 2006 war we had two goals: the first was to release the prisoners of war through the difficult and complicated negotiations, and this is done today by God’s help; the second demand was the national government, and thank God it’s achieved. After the end of the war in the celebration of the victory we called for the establishment of the national government not for stickling reasons but to cooperate together in the building and protection of Lebanon. Today the first national government in the new age has this great and historical chance. Today, the national government met and had the memorial picture taken, and it has made the committee that will write the ministerial statement. This good luck is designed by God and not by chance for a believer in God doesn’t believe in chances, and all what’s going on in this universe is arranged by a great Will. It’s a good fortune that the new government meets and takes its picture for the first time and has the first has the first task of welcoming the liberated prisoners of war in the international airport of Rafiq Al Hariri. It’s the great fortune arranged by God for Lebanon and Lebanese. At this moment, I have to thank Mr. President Mishel Soleiman who organized and was in charge of welcoming the prisoners of war in this great national structure just as preceded Mr. President Emil Lahoud did in 2004. The whole country was in the airport and its surrounding. I thank Mr. Solieman for what he did and said. And I support every single word he said in his welcoming speech in the airport. I thank all current and previous presidents and official figures as well as all the representatives of sects and all who participated in this celebration. Again through the official scene in the airport- the scene in which the national Lebanese army and the resistance stands side by side and a martyr along the other- again through the public scene and the stance of the political powers. Lebanon has proved that it deserved the sacrifice of the sons and the blood paid for it. Today is a real celebration day upon which one has to build and establish. We call all to meet again, overcome the sensitive issues, be away for the ill will and benefit from this opportunity to solve all the main problematic affairs. All is willingly involved in the national government to effectively and seriously share and cooperate in solving the fundamental problems and relive Lebanon in the way that deserved the amount of sacrifice paid by its youth, women, martyrs, sons and prisoners of war. With the spirit of cooperation and solidarity, rather than the will of eliminating the other. Among what’s on the discussion table, I declare that we are mostly and entirely concerned in the liberation of the rest of our occupied land; we are also in Hezbollah open every discussion related to the National Strategy Defence (Shebaa farms, Kafar-shouba heights, and the parts of AL-Ghajjar). All we are concerned about is the liberation of our land, water and sovereignty as well as our people and their dignity and security. We insist on holding this discussion.
We insist that all participate in this discussion for the protection of our country. It’s the government that must bear responsibility of protecting this country. Let’s get out of the bargaining who’s monopolizing the resistance as if it’s a delicious meal. People including those believers usually escape form fighting:
(In the Name of Allah, you have been assigned to fight although it’s undesirable for you.)
People usually like to be involved in cultural, economical, political, trade activities. But when you invite them to participate in fighting, injuries, sacrifice, hunger, getting imprisoned, climbing hills and go to canyons, for sure they would refuse. For that we are envied for? Is it for our youths in the enemy’s jail and we are bringing them back? Are we envied that our youths have lost their spring ages defending this homeland and now we are bringing their corps back? I insist today that all must participate in the defence of this country and the one who turns his back to this duty is the disloyal one. We are ready to cooperate in the treatment of all the national files in the way that saves Lebanon’s unity and let this country passes over its crises.
In the few coming days the fate of the missed and the identity of the martyrs remaining be clarified; we are waiting to build on reports of the international mediator about the four Iranians.
In the freedom, liberation and resistance day I want to say that we must not forget the leader of the prisoners of war and the Imam of the freedom, liberation and the resistance Sayyid Moussa AL Sadr (God help to return them back in safety). Now Samir is known as the senior of the prisoners of war for he had spent 30 years in the zionist jail meanwhile another 30 years has been gone and Sayyid AL Sadr is absentee. As I said in 2004 liberation day, we don’t want to be involved in a conflict or an enmity against any one.
We want to enclose all the painful, saddening and critical files and this intersect with the interest of the Arabian and Muslim countries; it’s time to have this file reaching the end of the tunnel; I said years ago in a general meeting that if he is alive get him back, and if he’s dead, let us know and get us back his pure corps for martyrdom is the feature of his family. It is not allowed that the issue of Imam AL Sadr still be circled with all this ambiguity, ignorance and continuous delay. I am aware of the sensitivity that prevails the Arabian official relationships, we remind about the issue of the founder of the resistance in Lebanon; I call for a real and serious Arabian and Islamic cooperation to have this file done and get the Imam along with his two friends back to Lebanon and the nation as well.
Dear brothers and sisters, dear liberated war-prisoners, the families of the war prisoners and martyrs that are waiting for their loving people tomorrow, dear gathering, I address you in this celebration day to congratulate you for your victory which is your own triumph, your accomplishment, your promise, your doing, your own patience; by you we win; by you we impose defeat on our enemy; by you we are able to continue the movement and get the glory for our country and nation! We ask God liberation for all the remaining captured, and that Lebanon will treat this file as he did today, especially concerning Samir AL Qintar whom must be deal with as a real countrywide, national, humanitarian, civilized and jihadi treasury; he must be treated in a way that equals the patience, aggressiveness, crisis he lived and all the steadfastness he showed.
The entire liberation for all prisoners; the entire mercy for all the martyrs, the entire victory for you; the entire honour and glory for Lebanon, Palestine and the nation.
Friday, July 18, 2008
A bad case of "sour gefilte fish": Humiliated Zionists threaten left and right
(Thanks to Mari for these two articles)
Israel accused of threatening Lebanese by phone
Lebanon protests to United Nations against Israeli ‘threatening phone calls’ to Lebanese.
BEIRUT - Lebanon's new telecommunications minister on Thursday accused Israel of bombarding Lebanese people with threatening phone calls, a day after a prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah. "Hundreds of people throughout Lebanon received threatening phone calls on their landlines from Israel," Gibran Bassil said.
"The phone would ring, the person would answer and they would hear a message saying, 'This is from the state of Israel. Abandon Hezbollah or there will be another war, like there was in 2006,'" he said.
Bassil, a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, the main Christian party in the opposition, said he has written a letter of protest to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"We consider this to be a clear violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701," Bassil said, referring to the resolution which ended the devastating 34-day war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah.
No comment was immediately available from Israel.
Many Lebanese had received similar phone messages urging them not to support Hezbollah during the course of the war which killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
The news comes a day after the bodies of two Israeli soldiers were exchanged for five Lebanese prisoners and the remains of almost 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.
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Israel threatens to assassinate Kantar
Senior Israeli official says intelligence apparatuses would not rest until Kuntar was assassinated.
TEL AVIV - Israel is threatening to assassinate the Lebanese ex-prisoner Samir Kuntar only one day after his release from its jails in a prisoners' swap deal with the Lebanese Hezbollah party, Israeli press revealed. The Israeli daily Yediot Ahtonot quoted an unidentified "senior Israeli official" as saying on Thursday that Kuntar, who was released yesterday in a swap deal with Hezbollah had turned into a man sentenced to capital punishment.
"Israel will reach Kuntar and liquidate him", he told the paper, stressing that the Israeli intelligence apparatuses would not rest until Kuntar was assassinated.
He said that after Kuntar was released from jail there was no "obligation on our part towards him".
The paper quoted other sources as advising Kuntar not to get out of his home publicly because for people like him "it is not advisable to spend much time walking around in broad daylight".
Observers say, however, that Israel is already threatened with retaliation after being blamed for the slaying of Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughnieh in February, and may not wish to give the Lebanese resistance movement further cause to retaliate.
Israel still occupies Lebanese Shabba Farms despite international calls on Tel Aviv to withdraw from the territory.
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Commentary: I really had to laugh when I read these articles. Really, how lame and pathetic can the Israelis get to resort to such empty threats? Don't they know the golden rule of credibility: "never promise, never threaten - just act"? They used to, at least in the past, but the current generation of Israelis is too busy licking the wounds inflicted by the repeated humiliations inflicted upon their collective ego to think about retaining any credibility.
These guys have all the hallmarks of the losers which they have become. Good.
Israel accused of threatening Lebanese by phone
Lebanon protests to United Nations against Israeli ‘threatening phone calls’ to Lebanese.
BEIRUT - Lebanon's new telecommunications minister on Thursday accused Israel of bombarding Lebanese people with threatening phone calls, a day after a prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah. "Hundreds of people throughout Lebanon received threatening phone calls on their landlines from Israel," Gibran Bassil said.
"The phone would ring, the person would answer and they would hear a message saying, 'This is from the state of Israel. Abandon Hezbollah or there will be another war, like there was in 2006,'" he said.
Bassil, a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, the main Christian party in the opposition, said he has written a letter of protest to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"We consider this to be a clear violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701," Bassil said, referring to the resolution which ended the devastating 34-day war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah.
No comment was immediately available from Israel.
Many Lebanese had received similar phone messages urging them not to support Hezbollah during the course of the war which killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
The news comes a day after the bodies of two Israeli soldiers were exchanged for five Lebanese prisoners and the remains of almost 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters.
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Israel threatens to assassinate Kantar
Senior Israeli official says intelligence apparatuses would not rest until Kuntar was assassinated.
TEL AVIV - Israel is threatening to assassinate the Lebanese ex-prisoner Samir Kuntar only one day after his release from its jails in a prisoners' swap deal with the Lebanese Hezbollah party, Israeli press revealed. The Israeli daily Yediot Ahtonot quoted an unidentified "senior Israeli official" as saying on Thursday that Kuntar, who was released yesterday in a swap deal with Hezbollah had turned into a man sentenced to capital punishment.
"Israel will reach Kuntar and liquidate him", he told the paper, stressing that the Israeli intelligence apparatuses would not rest until Kuntar was assassinated.
He said that after Kuntar was released from jail there was no "obligation on our part towards him".
The paper quoted other sources as advising Kuntar not to get out of his home publicly because for people like him "it is not advisable to spend much time walking around in broad daylight".
Observers say, however, that Israel is already threatened with retaliation after being blamed for the slaying of Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughnieh in February, and may not wish to give the Lebanese resistance movement further cause to retaliate.
Israel still occupies Lebanese Shabba Farms despite international calls on Tel Aviv to withdraw from the territory.
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Commentary: I really had to laugh when I read these articles. Really, how lame and pathetic can the Israelis get to resort to such empty threats? Don't they know the golden rule of credibility: "never promise, never threaten - just act"? They used to, at least in the past, but the current generation of Israelis is too busy licking the wounds inflicted by the repeated humiliations inflicted upon their collective ego to think about retaining any credibility.
These guys have all the hallmarks of the losers which they have become. Good.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Samir Kintar's biography according to Al-Manar TV
This is how the website of Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV presented Samir Kintar (himself a member of the Palestine Liberation Front and *not* of Hezbollah):
In a world full of conflicts and atrocities, heroes are rare to find, but wherever they are found, they just seem to impose themselves and their values.
One of those heroes is Samir Kintar who returns to Lebanon after spending thirty years in Israeli prisons, thus earning the title of the longest held Lebanese detainee in the Zionist entity. Yet, the thirty years he spent in jail couldn't change "one iota" of Kintar's beliefs and values.
The man who turned out to be a symbol for freedom in the world was born in Aabey on July 20, 1962. He studied in the town school and was distinguished by his bravery, his great enthusiasm and patriotism ever since he was a little child. Some of his many friends said that he had even written, once, under his picture "Samir Kintar the MARTYR."
Kintar participated in the armed resistance against the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon in 1978, as well as in aiding the citizens who were forced to leave their towns and villages under heavy Israeli bombardment. He attempted to carry out a military operation against the Israeli enemy forces in June 1978, through Jordan, but the mission was aborted for military reasons. After one month, Samir went back to Jordan to carry another operation against Israeli forces but he was captured by Jordanian authorities. As a result, he was imprisoned in Jordan for eight months from January 31 until December 25.
Kintar’s eight months of imprisonment in an Arab jail did not kill his wish to combat oppression and occupation.
Months after his release, the brave teenager carried out an operation dubbed "The Nasser Operation" after Egyptian leader Jamal Abdul Nasser. The operation centered on Naharya settlement and was executed on April 22, 1979. Kintar was leading the group which included Abdel Majeed Asslan (born in 1955), Mhanna Salim Al Muayed (born in 1960) and Ahmad Al Abrass (born in 1949).
The group departed from the seashore of Tyre in south Lebanon using a 55 horse-powered rubber boat with an 88 km/hr speed. The goal of the operation was reaching Naharya where a military base is located, 10KM away from the Lebanese borders, in an attempt to capture Israeli soldiers and later exchange them by Arab detainees in Israeli prisons.
For the Israelis, reaching Naharya without carrying out any attack was in itself a dangerous precedent that also gave Kintar and his comrades their medals of honor.
Kintar amazingly maneuvered his motor boat through sixth squadrons of warships then hid the boat right – under the noses of the Israeli seashore guards and radar; and then managed to enter the settlement, after combating an Israeli patrol squad.
Kintar and his colleagues reached the seashore of military settlement of Naharya that in addition to the military base, had a police center, a military academy, the coastal guards and artillery, the naval alarm network and the head quarters for the Israeli warships (Chairborg).
The group stormed into “building 61” in Jabootinsk and split into two units combating a police patrol. Israeli sergeant (Elyaho Shahar) from the Maalot settlement was killed. In addition, Kintar’s group was able to capture Israeli atomic scientist Dan Harn.
At the end of the battle, Kintar and his comrades were down either dead or injured. Abdul Majeed Asslan got martyred and Mhanna Al Muayed was seriously wounded in head and later died. As for Samir, he was hit by five bullets all over his body as he mentioned in one of his letters; he was under fire from all directions “that even the two hostages who were with me were killed in the crossfire.” Having fell to the ground and became unable to move, Kantar and his colleague Ahmad Al Abrass were captured by Israeli forces but later on, in 1985, Ahmed Al-Abras was released in a prisoners exchange deal. However, the result of this operation was the death of six Israelis including Dan Haran, in addition to 12 injuries.
Samir's sufferings and agony began right after his imprisonment when he was taken to the Israeli Intelligence headquarters where the interrogation started.
In describing the torment, Kintar once wrote that if he was to describe what he was subject to, “it would be beyond people's apprehension.” He said: ''I was crucified on a wall without clothes, then the soldiers began to punch me. I remained under the sun many days standing, my hands were cuffed and, my head was covered by black bad smelling bags. Samir added: ''But the most severe thing was when they began to excise the bullets without anesthesia, at a time they forced me not get out my pain… They kept me held in a closed dark cell.''
Kintar was transferred to more than one Israeli prison .The first was Atleet in 1980, three years later Samir was moved to Bir Al-Sabaa central prison, a year later, he was transferred again to Kfariouna Komoud prison , afterwards he was held at the Nafha prison in the Nakab (Nagev) Desert. In 1989 Kintar was taken to the Askalan (Ashkelon) and then back to Nafha in in 1987.
In prison or outside, Kintar has acted as the fighter and the revolutionist that he is. To him, the detention camp was just another place for struggle and resistance.
Kintar became a symbol for freedom in the world, and April 22, the day of his detention, has become a day for solidarity among Arab and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centers and the people who call for democracy and conscience all over the world.
Today, the Lebanese hero returns to his homeland to mark another victory for the resistance against the Israeli enemy…
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Commentary: I take no position on whether Samir Kintar did, or did not, kill a 4 year old Israeli girl. I was not there and I have no reason to trust the official Israeli account. I know that in 1979 there were plenty of horrible murders committed by all sides to the conflict and I know that a gunshot wound to the head does not look like the blunt impact which a rifle butt would leave. However, I also know that if the Israelis screwed up their rescue operation and killed their hostages (as Kintar claims) they would have a huge stake in blaming it all on Kintar. Here is how, according to Wikipedia, the Isareli newspaper Maariv described the murder:
After drowning Danny in the sea in front of Einat (as Ahmed Al-Brass, Mhanna Salim Al-Muayed, and Abdel Majeed Asslan served as look outs and backup cover for Kuntar), Kuntar turned his attention towards the 4 year-old. He took his rifle and then swung it across the toddler's head, knocking her to the ground. Kuntar then dragged the toddler a couple of feet to the closest rock he could find and laid her head down on a rock, with the intention of crushing it with the butt of his rifle. Einat, instinctively covered her head with her arms, Kuntar struggled with the toddler until he finally managed to clear her arms out of the way. Once her arms were out of the way, Kuntar repeatedly beat her on the head with the butt of his rifle and stomping on her body, until blood rushed out of her ears and mouth. Then, to ensure she was dead, Kuntar continued beating her over the head until her skull was crushed and she was dead.
Keep in mind that all this supposedly happened during a shootout with Israeli policemen and soldiers. Here is, again, Hezbollah's version of what happened:
As for Samir, he was hit by five bullets all over his body as he mentioned in one of his letters; he was under fire from all directions “that even the two hostages who were with me were killed in the crossfire.”
We will probably never know what really happened that day. But at least we should be able to compare the two versions of the events.
In a world full of conflicts and atrocities, heroes are rare to find, but wherever they are found, they just seem to impose themselves and their values.
One of those heroes is Samir Kintar who returns to Lebanon after spending thirty years in Israeli prisons, thus earning the title of the longest held Lebanese detainee in the Zionist entity. Yet, the thirty years he spent in jail couldn't change "one iota" of Kintar's beliefs and values.
The man who turned out to be a symbol for freedom in the world was born in Aabey on July 20, 1962. He studied in the town school and was distinguished by his bravery, his great enthusiasm and patriotism ever since he was a little child. Some of his many friends said that he had even written, once, under his picture "Samir Kintar the MARTYR."
Kintar participated in the armed resistance against the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon in 1978, as well as in aiding the citizens who were forced to leave their towns and villages under heavy Israeli bombardment. He attempted to carry out a military operation against the Israeli enemy forces in June 1978, through Jordan, but the mission was aborted for military reasons. After one month, Samir went back to Jordan to carry another operation against Israeli forces but he was captured by Jordanian authorities. As a result, he was imprisoned in Jordan for eight months from January 31 until December 25.
Kintar’s eight months of imprisonment in an Arab jail did not kill his wish to combat oppression and occupation.
Months after his release, the brave teenager carried out an operation dubbed "The Nasser Operation" after Egyptian leader Jamal Abdul Nasser. The operation centered on Naharya settlement and was executed on April 22, 1979. Kintar was leading the group which included Abdel Majeed Asslan (born in 1955), Mhanna Salim Al Muayed (born in 1960) and Ahmad Al Abrass (born in 1949).
The group departed from the seashore of Tyre in south Lebanon using a 55 horse-powered rubber boat with an 88 km/hr speed. The goal of the operation was reaching Naharya where a military base is located, 10KM away from the Lebanese borders, in an attempt to capture Israeli soldiers and later exchange them by Arab detainees in Israeli prisons.
For the Israelis, reaching Naharya without carrying out any attack was in itself a dangerous precedent that also gave Kintar and his comrades their medals of honor.
Kintar amazingly maneuvered his motor boat through sixth squadrons of warships then hid the boat right – under the noses of the Israeli seashore guards and radar; and then managed to enter the settlement, after combating an Israeli patrol squad.
Kintar and his colleagues reached the seashore of military settlement of Naharya that in addition to the military base, had a police center, a military academy, the coastal guards and artillery, the naval alarm network and the head quarters for the Israeli warships (Chairborg).
The group stormed into “building 61” in Jabootinsk and split into two units combating a police patrol. Israeli sergeant (Elyaho Shahar) from the Maalot settlement was killed. In addition, Kintar’s group was able to capture Israeli atomic scientist Dan Harn.
At the end of the battle, Kintar and his comrades were down either dead or injured. Abdul Majeed Asslan got martyred and Mhanna Al Muayed was seriously wounded in head and later died. As for Samir, he was hit by five bullets all over his body as he mentioned in one of his letters; he was under fire from all directions “that even the two hostages who were with me were killed in the crossfire.” Having fell to the ground and became unable to move, Kantar and his colleague Ahmad Al Abrass were captured by Israeli forces but later on, in 1985, Ahmed Al-Abras was released in a prisoners exchange deal. However, the result of this operation was the death of six Israelis including Dan Haran, in addition to 12 injuries.
Samir's sufferings and agony began right after his imprisonment when he was taken to the Israeli Intelligence headquarters where the interrogation started.
In describing the torment, Kintar once wrote that if he was to describe what he was subject to, “it would be beyond people's apprehension.” He said: ''I was crucified on a wall without clothes, then the soldiers began to punch me. I remained under the sun many days standing, my hands were cuffed and, my head was covered by black bad smelling bags. Samir added: ''But the most severe thing was when they began to excise the bullets without anesthesia, at a time they forced me not get out my pain… They kept me held in a closed dark cell.''
Kintar was transferred to more than one Israeli prison .The first was Atleet in 1980, three years later Samir was moved to Bir Al-Sabaa central prison, a year later, he was transferred again to Kfariouna Komoud prison , afterwards he was held at the Nafha prison in the Nakab (Nagev) Desert. In 1989 Kintar was taken to the Askalan (Ashkelon) and then back to Nafha in in 1987.
In prison or outside, Kintar has acted as the fighter and the revolutionist that he is. To him, the detention camp was just another place for struggle and resistance.
Kintar became a symbol for freedom in the world, and April 22, the day of his detention, has become a day for solidarity among Arab and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention centers and the people who call for democracy and conscience all over the world.
Today, the Lebanese hero returns to his homeland to mark another victory for the resistance against the Israeli enemy…
-------
Commentary: I take no position on whether Samir Kintar did, or did not, kill a 4 year old Israeli girl. I was not there and I have no reason to trust the official Israeli account. I know that in 1979 there were plenty of horrible murders committed by all sides to the conflict and I know that a gunshot wound to the head does not look like the blunt impact which a rifle butt would leave. However, I also know that if the Israelis screwed up their rescue operation and killed their hostages (as Kintar claims) they would have a huge stake in blaming it all on Kintar. Here is how, according to Wikipedia, the Isareli newspaper Maariv described the murder:
After drowning Danny in the sea in front of Einat (as Ahmed Al-Brass, Mhanna Salim Al-Muayed, and Abdel Majeed Asslan served as look outs and backup cover for Kuntar), Kuntar turned his attention towards the 4 year-old. He took his rifle and then swung it across the toddler's head, knocking her to the ground. Kuntar then dragged the toddler a couple of feet to the closest rock he could find and laid her head down on a rock, with the intention of crushing it with the butt of his rifle. Einat, instinctively covered her head with her arms, Kuntar struggled with the toddler until he finally managed to clear her arms out of the way. Once her arms were out of the way, Kuntar repeatedly beat her on the head with the butt of his rifle and stomping on her body, until blood rushed out of her ears and mouth. Then, to ensure she was dead, Kuntar continued beating her over the head until her skull was crushed and she was dead.
Keep in mind that all this supposedly happened during a shootout with Israeli policemen and soldiers. Here is, again, Hezbollah's version of what happened:
As for Samir, he was hit by five bullets all over his body as he mentioned in one of his letters; he was under fire from all directions “that even the two hostages who were with me were killed in the crossfire.”
We will probably never know what really happened that day. But at least we should be able to compare the two versions of the events.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Détente or Hidden Agendas? A sign of “The Times”
by Gilad Atzmon for Palestine Think Tank
Back in 2003 I wrote, “If ‘world peace’ is our main concern, we must achieve a balance of power, we must let the oppressed people of this world have access to the most advanced weaponry…. Balance of power is the only key to peace.” Nowadays, when Israel and its supportive lobbies are doing everything within their powers to drag us all into a third world war, I find it necessary to say it again. The only way to spare the Middle East and the entire world from another devastating cycle of bloodshed is to let the Iranians have their nuclear toy. But it goes even further, seemingly, the only way to save the Jewish state from its merciless parade of belligerent omnipotence is to let Iran join the nuclear club ASAP. The only thing that may cool down the Zionist militant genocidal enthusiasm is an overwhelming Iranian might of deterrence.
But it isn’t only Iran. The only possible way to bring peace to the region is to equip Syria, the Hezbollah and the Hamas with the exact weaponry that would help make the Israelis think twice. As much as the Israelis love to punish their enemies they really hate to pay the ultimate price. Once the Israelis become aware of the clear possibility of their own destruction, they may rapidly develop some real inclination towards peace and reconciliation.
Yet, we have to remember that Israel is not alone in this lethal game. According to the Sunday Times, “President George W Bush has told the Israeli government that he may be prepared to approve a future military strike on an Iranian nuclear plant…Despite the opposition of his own generals and widespread skepticism that America is ready to risk the military, political and economic consequences of an airborne strike on Iran, the president has given an ‘amber light’ to an Israeli plan to attack Iran’s main nuclear sites with long-range bombing sorties”.
Seemingly, we are not in any shortage of lunatics. For more than a while, we are fully aware that the road from Jerusalem to Washington is a soaking red route. However, there is something rather faulty or even amusing in the western argument for a war. According to our western analysts, President Ahmadinejad is really unpopular amongst his people and he is on his way out. The Sunday Times’ editorial informed us yesterday that: “Last year a Tehran website poll of 20,000 people found that 62.5% of those who voted for him (Ahmadinejad) in 2005 would not do so in next year’s presidential election.” I am slightly puzzled. If this is indeed the case, if the Iranian president is politically ruined, why are we so keen to initiate another world war? Wouldn’t it be better to wait for a few months and let this Ahmadinejad be ousted by his own people? Apparently, The Sunday Times and our very many Neocons do not believe their own lies.
In its editorial The Sunday Times tries to give the impression that Ahmadinejad is taking his people into war just to divert the attention from his policy that is failing at home. “With inflation running at an estimated 14% and one-third of the population unemployed, Ahmadinejad’s goal of ‘putting the petroleum income on people’s tables’ is as distant as ever.“
I would be rather suspicious about the Sunday Times’ reading of Iranian current internal affairs as much as I was suspicious of the paper’s reading of Iraqi WMD situation. However, I better admit it, I do not live in Iran. In fact, I live in the West, in London if to be specific. And it is actually in London where I see a growing dismay having to do with very cloudy financial predictions. It is in London where I read about the collapse of major western financial institutions. It is in London where I detect a growing recession and a threat of financial depression.
I ask myself whether The Times’ faulty reading of Ahmadinejad is nothing but a banal projection? I assume that this is indeed the case. In fact it is the other way around. It is our western leaders who are failing to provide for their constituencies and citizens. It is our Western leaders who are taking us to wars just to cover their disastrous malfunctioning. It is our western leaders who are about to initiate a world war just to whitewash the collapse of the western capitalistic dream.
One has to be blind not to see it all.
Back in 2003 I wrote, “If ‘world peace’ is our main concern, we must achieve a balance of power, we must let the oppressed people of this world have access to the most advanced weaponry…. Balance of power is the only key to peace.” Nowadays, when Israel and its supportive lobbies are doing everything within their powers to drag us all into a third world war, I find it necessary to say it again. The only way to spare the Middle East and the entire world from another devastating cycle of bloodshed is to let the Iranians have their nuclear toy. But it goes even further, seemingly, the only way to save the Jewish state from its merciless parade of belligerent omnipotence is to let Iran join the nuclear club ASAP. The only thing that may cool down the Zionist militant genocidal enthusiasm is an overwhelming Iranian might of deterrence.
But it isn’t only Iran. The only possible way to bring peace to the region is to equip Syria, the Hezbollah and the Hamas with the exact weaponry that would help make the Israelis think twice. As much as the Israelis love to punish their enemies they really hate to pay the ultimate price. Once the Israelis become aware of the clear possibility of their own destruction, they may rapidly develop some real inclination towards peace and reconciliation.
Yet, we have to remember that Israel is not alone in this lethal game. According to the Sunday Times, “President George W Bush has told the Israeli government that he may be prepared to approve a future military strike on an Iranian nuclear plant…Despite the opposition of his own generals and widespread skepticism that America is ready to risk the military, political and economic consequences of an airborne strike on Iran, the president has given an ‘amber light’ to an Israeli plan to attack Iran’s main nuclear sites with long-range bombing sorties”.
Seemingly, we are not in any shortage of lunatics. For more than a while, we are fully aware that the road from Jerusalem to Washington is a soaking red route. However, there is something rather faulty or even amusing in the western argument for a war. According to our western analysts, President Ahmadinejad is really unpopular amongst his people and he is on his way out. The Sunday Times’ editorial informed us yesterday that: “Last year a Tehran website poll of 20,000 people found that 62.5% of those who voted for him (Ahmadinejad) in 2005 would not do so in next year’s presidential election.” I am slightly puzzled. If this is indeed the case, if the Iranian president is politically ruined, why are we so keen to initiate another world war? Wouldn’t it be better to wait for a few months and let this Ahmadinejad be ousted by his own people? Apparently, The Sunday Times and our very many Neocons do not believe their own lies.
In its editorial The Sunday Times tries to give the impression that Ahmadinejad is taking his people into war just to divert the attention from his policy that is failing at home. “With inflation running at an estimated 14% and one-third of the population unemployed, Ahmadinejad’s goal of ‘putting the petroleum income on people’s tables’ is as distant as ever.“
I would be rather suspicious about the Sunday Times’ reading of Iranian current internal affairs as much as I was suspicious of the paper’s reading of Iraqi WMD situation. However, I better admit it, I do not live in Iran. In fact, I live in the West, in London if to be specific. And it is actually in London where I see a growing dismay having to do with very cloudy financial predictions. It is in London where I read about the collapse of major western financial institutions. It is in London where I detect a growing recession and a threat of financial depression.
I ask myself whether The Times’ faulty reading of Ahmadinejad is nothing but a banal projection? I assume that this is indeed the case. In fact it is the other way around. It is our western leaders who are failing to provide for their constituencies and citizens. It is our Western leaders who are taking us to wars just to cover their disastrous malfunctioning. It is our western leaders who are about to initiate a world war just to whitewash the collapse of the western capitalistic dream.
One has to be blind not to see it all.
Is This the Beginning of Columbia's Leftward Shift?
By Mike Whitney for InformationClearingHouse
It was a perfectly executed rescue mission and they pulled it off without a hitch. A small group of Columbian military-intelligence agents, posing as aid workers on a humanitarian mission, touched-down in the heart of rebel territory, gathered up Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages, and whisked them away to safety while a small army of rifle-toting Marxist guerrillas looked on dumbfounded. The tale of the daring rescue by Columbia's finest was immediately splashed across the front pages of newspapers around the world. Finally, the Bush-Uribe combo could point to a decisive victory in the seven year-long war on terror. Score one for the good guys in the ongoing struggle against the forces of evil.
There's just one problem; the story isn't true.
Apart from the reports on Swiss Public Radio that "claim that the entire episode was nothing but a sham to disguise the payment of a ransom" and that "the operation had in fact been staged to cover up the fact that the US and Columbians had paid $20 million for their freedom." And, excluding the fact that "the wife of one of the hostages’ guards acted as a go-between to persuade her husband (who was a member of the FARC) to change sides." (Times Online) And, ignoring the fact that on June 3rd, Columbian Senator Piedad Cordoba said that she had information that the government of Columbia was negotiating a deal with the FARC a to trade money for the release of Betancourt and the mercenaries" and that Mediaparte, the French web site founded by the former chief editor of Le Monde, reported that the rescue was “not an achievement of the Columbian military, but due to the surrender of a group of the FARC members” following “direct negotiations by the Colombian secret services with the guerrilla group that held Betancourt captive.” ("Mounting Questions about the Columbian Hostage Operation" Bill Van Auken)
On Friday, the FARC Secretariat issued a formal statement on their Bolivarian Press Agency website saying that they were betrayed by two members of their organization:
"The escape of the 15 prisoners on July 2 was a direct consequence of the despicable conduct of Cesar and Enrique, who betrayed their revolutionary ideals and the trust we had put in them."
Of course, none of the western media reported the statement because it casts doubt the Columbian government's version of the 100% scripted, Rambo-like rescue and calls into question the premature pronouncements of triumph in the war on terror. But it's clear that the official story has begun to unravel and will require some serious PR airbrushing to keep from falling apart altogether. It's looking more and more like the whole farce was concocted by Uribe to build public support for changing Columbia's constitution so he can run for a third term as president. So far, it's worked like a charm; Uribe's public approval ratings have soared to nearly 80%.
The daredevil rescue-mission has catapulted Betancourt into media mega-stardom. She has already made a number of appearances on TV and radio including CNN's "Larry King Live", “NBC Nightly News” the "Today Show". She has also announced her intention to write a play about her experiences as a hostage and the publishing industry is buzzing with news of a forthcoming book deal. In fact, as soon as news reached Paris that she had been freed, a 12 page letter she wrote to her mother as a prisoner was re-released in hardback form.
"I am in communication with God, Jesus and the Virgin every day," Betancourt writes. "Morning overcast, like my spirit...My beloved and divine Mamita...I haven't being eating; my appetite has shut down; my hair is falling out in clumps; I have no desire for anything...Here, nothing is one's own, nothing lasts; uncertainty and precariousness are the only constant. The order is given at any moment to pack up and one gets to sleep stretched out anywhere like an animal. Those are the particularly difficult moments for me. My palms sweat, my mind gets foggy, and I end up doing things twice as slowly as normal."
No one doubts that Betancourt suffered greatly or that she's been deeply traumatized by her 6 years of captivity in the jungle. Clearly, she was just a blameless victim in a much larger political game. Her medical report shows that she is in good health although she still refuses to discuss whether she was tortured by her captors. According to NPR, she fears she "may slip into depression" and speaks slowly about her ordeal.
"The important thing was to fill the day with activities that could be repeated like in a schedule so like to give you stability in a world of no stability. That was the key." She added, "I know that I have to give testimony about all the things I lived, but I need time. It's not easy to talk about things that are still hurting. Probably it will hurt all my life." (NPR)
To her credit, Betancourt has blasted the Uribe government saying, "That's the difference between me and Uribe. For Uribe, the end of the FARC means the reestablishment of peace in Colombia. For me, peace in Colombia will come from social transformations." (There's still a chance that Betancourt will return to Columbia and run for president. She has dual French-Columbian citizenship)
She also praised Hugo Chavez who worked tirelessly to secure her release in an earlier prisoner swap that was scotched by the Bush administration. Bush and Co. believed the exchange would boost Chavez's popularity, so Uribe made sure the deal wasn't consummated. Betancourt said, "It seems to me that Hugo Chávez is magnificent. He can tell the FARC things that they will hear. The FARC didn't like it at all when Chávez told them that the armed struggle in Latin American was obsolete, and that they had to think in a different way." Naturally, Betancourt's remarks about Chavez were not reported in the establishment media.
Betancourt and Chavez are right. Although the revolutionary struggle goes on, hostage-taking subverts the group's larger goal of a society built on laws and human rights. And even though the FARC was pushed out of the political process by a corrupt and ruthless oligarchy, which killed nearly 5,000 of its leaders and union activists, they will not achieve their objectives by adopting the same methods as the right wing paramilitaries they're fighting. It is impossible to defeat crime with more crime. Maybe, a presidential bid by Betancourt will provide the spark that is needed to focus attention on Columbia's glaring social inequities; the massive wealth gap, the deeply entrenched economic and political polarization, and the venal self-serving oligarchy that runs the government like a medieval fiefdom.
Although she is grateful to be free, Betancourt has not "pulled her punches" when talking about Columbia's shortcomings. On Friday she said, "Uribe and all of Colombia, should correct some things. We have reached the point where we must change the radical, extremist vocabulary of hate, of very strong words that intimately wound the human being."
It's too much to hope that one woman will be able to dismantle a repressive system of government that dates back hundreds of years and has the implicit support of the country's main industrial leaders, its most prestigious families and the United States of America. But the power of reconciliation is stronger than many realize and, as Betancourt said in an interview with Eleanor Beardsley, "The only thing I've settled in my mind is I want to forgive." That's a good place to start.
Columbia is America's last right-wing outpost in the hemisphere. There's a good chance that it will be swept along by the leftist current that has overtaken most of Latin America already. Perhaps Betancourt's role is simply to open the floodgates and let the tide rush in.
It was a perfectly executed rescue mission and they pulled it off without a hitch. A small group of Columbian military-intelligence agents, posing as aid workers on a humanitarian mission, touched-down in the heart of rebel territory, gathered up Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages, and whisked them away to safety while a small army of rifle-toting Marxist guerrillas looked on dumbfounded. The tale of the daring rescue by Columbia's finest was immediately splashed across the front pages of newspapers around the world. Finally, the Bush-Uribe combo could point to a decisive victory in the seven year-long war on terror. Score one for the good guys in the ongoing struggle against the forces of evil.
There's just one problem; the story isn't true.
Apart from the reports on Swiss Public Radio that "claim that the entire episode was nothing but a sham to disguise the payment of a ransom" and that "the operation had in fact been staged to cover up the fact that the US and Columbians had paid $20 million for their freedom." And, excluding the fact that "the wife of one of the hostages’ guards acted as a go-between to persuade her husband (who was a member of the FARC) to change sides." (Times Online) And, ignoring the fact that on June 3rd, Columbian Senator Piedad Cordoba said that she had information that the government of Columbia was negotiating a deal with the FARC a to trade money for the release of Betancourt and the mercenaries" and that Mediaparte, the French web site founded by the former chief editor of Le Monde, reported that the rescue was “not an achievement of the Columbian military, but due to the surrender of a group of the FARC members” following “direct negotiations by the Colombian secret services with the guerrilla group that held Betancourt captive.” ("Mounting Questions about the Columbian Hostage Operation" Bill Van Auken)
On Friday, the FARC Secretariat issued a formal statement on their Bolivarian Press Agency website saying that they were betrayed by two members of their organization:
"The escape of the 15 prisoners on July 2 was a direct consequence of the despicable conduct of Cesar and Enrique, who betrayed their revolutionary ideals and the trust we had put in them."
Of course, none of the western media reported the statement because it casts doubt the Columbian government's version of the 100% scripted, Rambo-like rescue and calls into question the premature pronouncements of triumph in the war on terror. But it's clear that the official story has begun to unravel and will require some serious PR airbrushing to keep from falling apart altogether. It's looking more and more like the whole farce was concocted by Uribe to build public support for changing Columbia's constitution so he can run for a third term as president. So far, it's worked like a charm; Uribe's public approval ratings have soared to nearly 80%.
The daredevil rescue-mission has catapulted Betancourt into media mega-stardom. She has already made a number of appearances on TV and radio including CNN's "Larry King Live", “NBC Nightly News” the "Today Show". She has also announced her intention to write a play about her experiences as a hostage and the publishing industry is buzzing with news of a forthcoming book deal. In fact, as soon as news reached Paris that she had been freed, a 12 page letter she wrote to her mother as a prisoner was re-released in hardback form.
"I am in communication with God, Jesus and the Virgin every day," Betancourt writes. "Morning overcast, like my spirit...My beloved and divine Mamita...I haven't being eating; my appetite has shut down; my hair is falling out in clumps; I have no desire for anything...Here, nothing is one's own, nothing lasts; uncertainty and precariousness are the only constant. The order is given at any moment to pack up and one gets to sleep stretched out anywhere like an animal. Those are the particularly difficult moments for me. My palms sweat, my mind gets foggy, and I end up doing things twice as slowly as normal."
No one doubts that Betancourt suffered greatly or that she's been deeply traumatized by her 6 years of captivity in the jungle. Clearly, she was just a blameless victim in a much larger political game. Her medical report shows that she is in good health although she still refuses to discuss whether she was tortured by her captors. According to NPR, she fears she "may slip into depression" and speaks slowly about her ordeal.
"The important thing was to fill the day with activities that could be repeated like in a schedule so like to give you stability in a world of no stability. That was the key." She added, "I know that I have to give testimony about all the things I lived, but I need time. It's not easy to talk about things that are still hurting. Probably it will hurt all my life." (NPR)
To her credit, Betancourt has blasted the Uribe government saying, "That's the difference between me and Uribe. For Uribe, the end of the FARC means the reestablishment of peace in Colombia. For me, peace in Colombia will come from social transformations." (There's still a chance that Betancourt will return to Columbia and run for president. She has dual French-Columbian citizenship)
She also praised Hugo Chavez who worked tirelessly to secure her release in an earlier prisoner swap that was scotched by the Bush administration. Bush and Co. believed the exchange would boost Chavez's popularity, so Uribe made sure the deal wasn't consummated. Betancourt said, "It seems to me that Hugo Chávez is magnificent. He can tell the FARC things that they will hear. The FARC didn't like it at all when Chávez told them that the armed struggle in Latin American was obsolete, and that they had to think in a different way." Naturally, Betancourt's remarks about Chavez were not reported in the establishment media.
Betancourt and Chavez are right. Although the revolutionary struggle goes on, hostage-taking subverts the group's larger goal of a society built on laws and human rights. And even though the FARC was pushed out of the political process by a corrupt and ruthless oligarchy, which killed nearly 5,000 of its leaders and union activists, they will not achieve their objectives by adopting the same methods as the right wing paramilitaries they're fighting. It is impossible to defeat crime with more crime. Maybe, a presidential bid by Betancourt will provide the spark that is needed to focus attention on Columbia's glaring social inequities; the massive wealth gap, the deeply entrenched economic and political polarization, and the venal self-serving oligarchy that runs the government like a medieval fiefdom.
Although she is grateful to be free, Betancourt has not "pulled her punches" when talking about Columbia's shortcomings. On Friday she said, "Uribe and all of Colombia, should correct some things. We have reached the point where we must change the radical, extremist vocabulary of hate, of very strong words that intimately wound the human being."
It's too much to hope that one woman will be able to dismantle a repressive system of government that dates back hundreds of years and has the implicit support of the country's main industrial leaders, its most prestigious families and the United States of America. But the power of reconciliation is stronger than many realize and, as Betancourt said in an interview with Eleanor Beardsley, "The only thing I've settled in my mind is I want to forgive." That's a good place to start.
Columbia is America's last right-wing outpost in the hemisphere. There's a good chance that it will be swept along by the leftist current that has overtaken most of Latin America already. Perhaps Betancourt's role is simply to open the floodgates and let the tide rush in.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Iran Shows Its Cards
by Scott Ritter for Truthdig
There can no longer be any doubt about the consequences of any U.S. and/or Israeli military action against Iran. Armchair warriors, pundits and blustering politicians alike have been advocating a pre-emptive military strike against Iran for the purpose of neutralizing its nuclear-related infrastructure, as well as retarding Iran’s ability to train and equip “terrorist” forces on Iranian soil before dispatching them to Iraq or parts unknown. Some, including me, have warned of the folly of such action, and now Iran itself has demonstrated why an attack would be insane
I’ve always pointed out that no plan survives initial contact with the enemy, and furthermore one can never forget that, in war, the enemy gets to vote. On the issue of an American and/or Israeli attack on Iran, the Iranian military has demonstrated exactly how it would cast its vote. Iran recently fired off medium- and long-range missiles and rockets, in a clear demonstration of capability and intent. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, regional oil production capability and U.S. military concentrations, along with Israeli cities, would all be subjected to an Iranian military response if Iran was attacked.
The Bush administration has shrugged off the Iranian military display as yet another example of how irresponsible the government in Tehran is. But the Pentagon for one has had to sit up and pay attention. For some time now, the admirals commanding the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf have maintained that they have the ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. But the fact is, the only way the United States could guarantee that the strait remained open would be to launch a massive pre-emptive military strike that swept the Iranian coast clear of the deadly Chinese-made surface-to-surface missiles that Iran would use to sink cargo ships in the strategic lane. This strike would involve hundreds of tactical aircraft backed up by limited ground action by Marines and U.S. Special Operations forces which would involve “boots on the ground” for several days, if not weeks. Such a strike is not envisioned in any “limited” military action being planned by the United States. But now that it is clear what the Iranian response would entail, there can no longer be any talk of a “limited” military attack on Iran.
The moment the United States makes a move to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will unleash a massive bombardment of the military and industrial facilities of the United States and its allies, including the oil fields in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. American military bases in Iraq and Kuwait, large—fixed and well known— would be smothered by rockets and missiles carrying deadly cluster bombs. The damage done would run into the hundreds of millions, if not into billions, of dollars, and hundreds, if not thousands, of U.S. military personnel would be killed and wounded.
To prevent or retard any Iranian missile attack, the United States would have to commit hundreds of combat sorties, combined with Special Operations forces, to a counter-missile fight which would need to span the considerable depth of the Persian landmass from which missiles might reach potential targets. While there has been some improvement in the U.S. military’s counter-missile capability, one must never forget that in 1991 not a single Iraqi Scud missile was successfully interdicted by any aspect of American military action (airstrike, ground action or antiballistic missile), and in 2003 the U.S. military had mixed results against the far less capable Al-Samoud missiles. Israel was unable to prevent Hezbollah from firing large salvos of rockets into northern Israel during the summer 2006 conflict. There is no reason for optimism that the U.S. and Israel have suddenly found the solution to the Iranian missile threat.
There is virtually no chance the U.S. Navy would be able to prevent Iran from interfering with shipping through the strait. There is every chance the Navy would take significant casualties, in both ships lost and personnel killed or wounded, as it struggled to secure the strait. There would be a need for a significant commitment of ground forces to guarantee safe passage for all shipping, civilian and military alike. The longer ground forces could operate on Iranian soil, the better the chances Iranian missiles would not be able to effectively interdict shipping. Conversely, the longer ground forces operated on Iranian soil, the greater likelihood there would be of decisive ground engagement. With U.S. air power expected to be fully committed to the missile interdiction mission, any large-scale ground engagement would create a situation in which air power would have to be redirected into tactical support, and away from missile interdiction, creating a window of vulnerability which the Iranians would very likely exploit.
Iran has promised to strike targets in Israel as well, especially if Israel is a participant in any military action. Such Israeli involvement is highly unlikely, since to do so in any meaningful fashion Israel would need to fly in Iraqi air space, a violation of sovereignty the Iraqi government will never tolerate. The anti-American backlash that would be generated in Iraq would be immediate and severe. In short, virtually every operation involving the training of Iraqi forces would be terminated as the U.S. military trainers would need to be withdrawn to the safety of the fortified U.S. bases to protect them from attack. U.S. civilian contractors would likewise need to be either withdrawn completely from Iraq or restricted to the fortified bases. All gains alleged to have been made in the “surge” would be wiped away instantly. Worse, the Iraqi countryside would become a seething mass of anti-American activity, which would require a huge effort to reverse, if it ever could be. Iraq as we now know it would be lost, and what would emerge in its stead would not only be unsympathetic to the United States but actually a breeding ground for anti-American action that could very well expand beyond the boundaries of Iraq and the Middle East.
The chances of preventing an Iranian-Israeli clash in the event of a U.S. strike against Iran are slim to none. Even if Iran initially showed restraint, Hezbollah would undoubtedly join the fray, prompting an Israeli counterstrike in Lebanon and Iran which would in turn bring long-range Iranian missiles raining down on Israeli cities.
Neither the Israeli nor the American (and for that reason, European and Asian) economy would emerge intact from a U.S. attack on Iran. Oil would almost instantly break the $300-per-barrel mark, and because the resulting conflict would more than likely be longer and more violent that most are predicting, there is a good chance oil would top $500 or even more within days or weeks. Hyperinflation would almost certainly strike every market-based economy, and the markets themselves would collapse under the strain.
The good news is that the military planners in the Pentagon are cognizant of this reality. They know the limitations of American power, and what they can and cannot achieve. When it was uncertain how Iran would respond to a limited attack, either on their nuclear facilities or bases associated with the Revolutionary Guard Command, some planners might have thought that the U.S. could actually pull off a quick and relatively bloodless attack. Now that Iran has made it crystal clear that even a limited U.S. attack would bring about a massive Iranian response, all military planners now understand that any U.S. military attack will have to be massive. Simply put, the United States does not now have the military capacity in the Middle East to launch such a strike, and any redeployment of U.S. forces into the region could not go undetected, either by Iran, which would in turn redeploy its forces, or the rest of the world. Because a U.S. attack against Iran would have such horrific detrimental impact on the entire world, it is hard to imagine the international community remaining mute as American military might is assembled.
Likewise, despite the disposition of Congress to either remain silent on the issue or actively facilitate military action against Iran, it would become increasingly difficult for American lawmakers to ignore the consequences of a military strike on Iran, economically and politically. The same can be said of both major presidential candidates. The decision by Iran to show its hand on how it would respond to any American aggression has cleared the air, so to speak, about what is actually being discussed when one speaks of military action against Iran. In many ways, the Iranian missile tests have made it less likely that there will be a war with Iran, simply because the stakes of any such action are so plainly obvious to all parties involved.
Iran continues, based upon all available intelligence information, to pursue a nuclear program which is exclusively intended for peaceful energy purposes. Any concerns which may exist about the dual-use potential of Iran’s uranium enrichment programs can be mitigated through viable nuclear inspections conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA inspections should be improved upon by getting Iran to go along with an additional inspection protocol, rather than pursuing military action which will destroy the inspection process and remove the very verification processes which provide the international community with the confidence that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
The reality is that Iran’s nuclear program is here to stay. Iran has every right under international law to pursue this program, and regional and global tensions would be greatly reduced (along with the price of oil) if American policies, and in related fashion U.N. Security Council mandates, were adjusted accordingly. Israeli paranoia—derived not so much from any genuine Iranian threat but rather an affront to Israeli nuclear hegemony in the Middle East—must in turn be subdued. This can be done through a mixture of international pressure designed to punish Israel diplomatically and economically for any failure to adhere to international norms when it comes to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors, and international assurances that Israel’s sovereignty and viability as a nation-state will forever be respected and defended.
Of course, there can be no meaningful international pressure brought to bear on Israel without American participation, and herein lies the crux of the problem. Until the U.S. Congress segregates legitimate national security concerns from narrow Israeli-only issues, the pro-Israel lobby will have considerable control over American national security policy. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s continued push for congressional action concerning the implementation of what is tantamount to a naval blockade of Iran (and as such, an act of war) by pushing House Resolution 362 and Senate Resolution 580 is mind-boggling given the reality of the situation. Congress must stop talking blockade, and start discussing stability and confidence-building measures.
There has never been a more pressing time than now for Congress to conduct serious hearings on U.S. policy toward Iran. Such hearings must not replicate the rubber-stamp hearings held by the U.S. Senate and House in the summer of 2002. Those hearings were simply a facilitating vehicle for war with Iraq. New hearings must expand the body of witnesses beyond administration officials and those who would mirror their policy positions, and include experts and specialists who could articulate a counter point of view, exposing Congress to information and analysis that might prompt a fuller debate. This is the last thing AIPAC and the Bush administration want to see. But it is the one thing the American people should be demanding.
Only an irrational person or organization could continue to discuss as viable a military strike against Iran. Sadly, based upon past and current policy articulations, neither AIPAC nor the Bush administration can be considered rational when it comes to the issue of Iran. It is up to the American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, to inject a modicum of sanity into a situation that continues to be in danger of spinning out of control.
Scott Ritter was a U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. He is the author of “Target Iran” (Nation Books, 2007).
There can no longer be any doubt about the consequences of any U.S. and/or Israeli military action against Iran. Armchair warriors, pundits and blustering politicians alike have been advocating a pre-emptive military strike against Iran for the purpose of neutralizing its nuclear-related infrastructure, as well as retarding Iran’s ability to train and equip “terrorist” forces on Iranian soil before dispatching them to Iraq or parts unknown. Some, including me, have warned of the folly of such action, and now Iran itself has demonstrated why an attack would be insane
I’ve always pointed out that no plan survives initial contact with the enemy, and furthermore one can never forget that, in war, the enemy gets to vote. On the issue of an American and/or Israeli attack on Iran, the Iranian military has demonstrated exactly how it would cast its vote. Iran recently fired off medium- and long-range missiles and rockets, in a clear demonstration of capability and intent. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, regional oil production capability and U.S. military concentrations, along with Israeli cities, would all be subjected to an Iranian military response if Iran was attacked.
The Bush administration has shrugged off the Iranian military display as yet another example of how irresponsible the government in Tehran is. But the Pentagon for one has had to sit up and pay attention. For some time now, the admirals commanding the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf have maintained that they have the ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. But the fact is, the only way the United States could guarantee that the strait remained open would be to launch a massive pre-emptive military strike that swept the Iranian coast clear of the deadly Chinese-made surface-to-surface missiles that Iran would use to sink cargo ships in the strategic lane. This strike would involve hundreds of tactical aircraft backed up by limited ground action by Marines and U.S. Special Operations forces which would involve “boots on the ground” for several days, if not weeks. Such a strike is not envisioned in any “limited” military action being planned by the United States. But now that it is clear what the Iranian response would entail, there can no longer be any talk of a “limited” military attack on Iran.
The moment the United States makes a move to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will unleash a massive bombardment of the military and industrial facilities of the United States and its allies, including the oil fields in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. American military bases in Iraq and Kuwait, large—fixed and well known— would be smothered by rockets and missiles carrying deadly cluster bombs. The damage done would run into the hundreds of millions, if not into billions, of dollars, and hundreds, if not thousands, of U.S. military personnel would be killed and wounded.
To prevent or retard any Iranian missile attack, the United States would have to commit hundreds of combat sorties, combined with Special Operations forces, to a counter-missile fight which would need to span the considerable depth of the Persian landmass from which missiles might reach potential targets. While there has been some improvement in the U.S. military’s counter-missile capability, one must never forget that in 1991 not a single Iraqi Scud missile was successfully interdicted by any aspect of American military action (airstrike, ground action or antiballistic missile), and in 2003 the U.S. military had mixed results against the far less capable Al-Samoud missiles. Israel was unable to prevent Hezbollah from firing large salvos of rockets into northern Israel during the summer 2006 conflict. There is no reason for optimism that the U.S. and Israel have suddenly found the solution to the Iranian missile threat.
There is virtually no chance the U.S. Navy would be able to prevent Iran from interfering with shipping through the strait. There is every chance the Navy would take significant casualties, in both ships lost and personnel killed or wounded, as it struggled to secure the strait. There would be a need for a significant commitment of ground forces to guarantee safe passage for all shipping, civilian and military alike. The longer ground forces could operate on Iranian soil, the better the chances Iranian missiles would not be able to effectively interdict shipping. Conversely, the longer ground forces operated on Iranian soil, the greater likelihood there would be of decisive ground engagement. With U.S. air power expected to be fully committed to the missile interdiction mission, any large-scale ground engagement would create a situation in which air power would have to be redirected into tactical support, and away from missile interdiction, creating a window of vulnerability which the Iranians would very likely exploit.
Iran has promised to strike targets in Israel as well, especially if Israel is a participant in any military action. Such Israeli involvement is highly unlikely, since to do so in any meaningful fashion Israel would need to fly in Iraqi air space, a violation of sovereignty the Iraqi government will never tolerate. The anti-American backlash that would be generated in Iraq would be immediate and severe. In short, virtually every operation involving the training of Iraqi forces would be terminated as the U.S. military trainers would need to be withdrawn to the safety of the fortified U.S. bases to protect them from attack. U.S. civilian contractors would likewise need to be either withdrawn completely from Iraq or restricted to the fortified bases. All gains alleged to have been made in the “surge” would be wiped away instantly. Worse, the Iraqi countryside would become a seething mass of anti-American activity, which would require a huge effort to reverse, if it ever could be. Iraq as we now know it would be lost, and what would emerge in its stead would not only be unsympathetic to the United States but actually a breeding ground for anti-American action that could very well expand beyond the boundaries of Iraq and the Middle East.
The chances of preventing an Iranian-Israeli clash in the event of a U.S. strike against Iran are slim to none. Even if Iran initially showed restraint, Hezbollah would undoubtedly join the fray, prompting an Israeli counterstrike in Lebanon and Iran which would in turn bring long-range Iranian missiles raining down on Israeli cities.
Neither the Israeli nor the American (and for that reason, European and Asian) economy would emerge intact from a U.S. attack on Iran. Oil would almost instantly break the $300-per-barrel mark, and because the resulting conflict would more than likely be longer and more violent that most are predicting, there is a good chance oil would top $500 or even more within days or weeks. Hyperinflation would almost certainly strike every market-based economy, and the markets themselves would collapse under the strain.
The good news is that the military planners in the Pentagon are cognizant of this reality. They know the limitations of American power, and what they can and cannot achieve. When it was uncertain how Iran would respond to a limited attack, either on their nuclear facilities or bases associated with the Revolutionary Guard Command, some planners might have thought that the U.S. could actually pull off a quick and relatively bloodless attack. Now that Iran has made it crystal clear that even a limited U.S. attack would bring about a massive Iranian response, all military planners now understand that any U.S. military attack will have to be massive. Simply put, the United States does not now have the military capacity in the Middle East to launch such a strike, and any redeployment of U.S. forces into the region could not go undetected, either by Iran, which would in turn redeploy its forces, or the rest of the world. Because a U.S. attack against Iran would have such horrific detrimental impact on the entire world, it is hard to imagine the international community remaining mute as American military might is assembled.
Likewise, despite the disposition of Congress to either remain silent on the issue or actively facilitate military action against Iran, it would become increasingly difficult for American lawmakers to ignore the consequences of a military strike on Iran, economically and politically. The same can be said of both major presidential candidates. The decision by Iran to show its hand on how it would respond to any American aggression has cleared the air, so to speak, about what is actually being discussed when one speaks of military action against Iran. In many ways, the Iranian missile tests have made it less likely that there will be a war with Iran, simply because the stakes of any such action are so plainly obvious to all parties involved.
Iran continues, based upon all available intelligence information, to pursue a nuclear program which is exclusively intended for peaceful energy purposes. Any concerns which may exist about the dual-use potential of Iran’s uranium enrichment programs can be mitigated through viable nuclear inspections conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA inspections should be improved upon by getting Iran to go along with an additional inspection protocol, rather than pursuing military action which will destroy the inspection process and remove the very verification processes which provide the international community with the confidence that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
The reality is that Iran’s nuclear program is here to stay. Iran has every right under international law to pursue this program, and regional and global tensions would be greatly reduced (along with the price of oil) if American policies, and in related fashion U.N. Security Council mandates, were adjusted accordingly. Israeli paranoia—derived not so much from any genuine Iranian threat but rather an affront to Israeli nuclear hegemony in the Middle East—must in turn be subdued. This can be done through a mixture of international pressure designed to punish Israel diplomatically and economically for any failure to adhere to international norms when it comes to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors, and international assurances that Israel’s sovereignty and viability as a nation-state will forever be respected and defended.
Of course, there can be no meaningful international pressure brought to bear on Israel without American participation, and herein lies the crux of the problem. Until the U.S. Congress segregates legitimate national security concerns from narrow Israeli-only issues, the pro-Israel lobby will have considerable control over American national security policy. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s continued push for congressional action concerning the implementation of what is tantamount to a naval blockade of Iran (and as such, an act of war) by pushing House Resolution 362 and Senate Resolution 580 is mind-boggling given the reality of the situation. Congress must stop talking blockade, and start discussing stability and confidence-building measures.
There has never been a more pressing time than now for Congress to conduct serious hearings on U.S. policy toward Iran. Such hearings must not replicate the rubber-stamp hearings held by the U.S. Senate and House in the summer of 2002. Those hearings were simply a facilitating vehicle for war with Iraq. New hearings must expand the body of witnesses beyond administration officials and those who would mirror their policy positions, and include experts and specialists who could articulate a counter point of view, exposing Congress to information and analysis that might prompt a fuller debate. This is the last thing AIPAC and the Bush administration want to see. But it is the one thing the American people should be demanding.
Only an irrational person or organization could continue to discuss as viable a military strike against Iran. Sadly, based upon past and current policy articulations, neither AIPAC nor the Bush administration can be considered rational when it comes to the issue of Iran. It is up to the American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, to inject a modicum of sanity into a situation that continues to be in danger of spinning out of control.
Scott Ritter was a U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. He is the author of “Target Iran” (Nation Books, 2007).
Scott Horton interviews Scott Ritter - a *must* listen!
Check out there interview here: http://antiwar.com/radio/2008/07/12/scott-ritter-5/
(download sound file here: http://dissentradio.com/radio/08_07_11_ritter.mp3 )
An absolute must listen!
(download sound file here: http://dissentradio.com/radio/08_07_11_ritter.mp3 )
An absolute must listen!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Iran will target 32 US bases if attacked
Press TV reports that Iran says its Armed Forces would target the heart of Israel and 32 US bases before the dust settles from an attack on the country.
"If the enemy was confident that it would emerge victorious from an attack on Iran, they would not put it off for even another day," an aide to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Mojtaba Zolnoor said on Saturday.
Today, through the efforts of Iranian experts, the military capabilities of the country's Armed Forces have reached an advanced level, he added.
"If the US or Israel fire one bullet against Iran, the Iranian Armed Forces will not hesitate to target the heart of Israel and 32 US military bases in the region before the dust settles," warned Ayatollah Khamenei's representative in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Iran has repeatedly warned that its Armed Forces are fully prepared to immediately deliver a crushing response to any offensive on Iranian territory.
Iran's words of caution come following escalating speculation that the Israeli maneuver in early June was held in preparation for a war with the Islamic Republic.
"If the enemy was confident that it would emerge victorious from an attack on Iran, they would not put it off for even another day," an aide to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Mojtaba Zolnoor said on Saturday.
Today, through the efforts of Iranian experts, the military capabilities of the country's Armed Forces have reached an advanced level, he added.
"If the US or Israel fire one bullet against Iran, the Iranian Armed Forces will not hesitate to target the heart of Israel and 32 US military bases in the region before the dust settles," warned Ayatollah Khamenei's representative in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Iran has repeatedly warned that its Armed Forces are fully prepared to immediately deliver a crushing response to any offensive on Iranian territory.
Iran's words of caution come following escalating speculation that the Israeli maneuver in early June was held in preparation for a war with the Islamic Republic.
Friday, July 11, 2008
For a change, WONDERFUL NEWS! Dr. Sami Al-Arian Granted Bail
By Jonathan Turley, Lead Counsel to Dr. Sami Al-Arian
In a set back for the government, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was granted bail by Judge Leonie M. Brinkema today. Over the objections of the government and the pre-trial services, Judge Brinkema agreed that Dr. Al-Arian was not a flight risk and no danger to the community. The government has suggested that it may now block release by having Immigration officials hold Dr. Al-Arian for deportation — despite the fact that it is trying to hold him for years under a criminal sentence rather than deport him.
At the hearing, I was joined by my colleague P.J. Meitl from the law firm of Bryan Cave. The government was represented by Gordon Kromberg, who was joined at counsel table by Steve Ward of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Judge Brinkema specifically asked him to identify Ward and immediately noted that his office is part of the plea agreement with Dr. Al-Arian. Kromberg admitted that he was. This would be important later during sharp exchanges with Kromberg over Dr. Al-Arian’s cooperation. Kromberg admitted that the alleged contempt by Dr. Al-Arian was his refusal to answer questions from the Florida trial, which was closed with the plea agreement. In this admission, Kromberg established that Dr. Al-Arian is not being charged with failing to answer questions about the IIIT investigation — which were addressed fully in his affidavits. Rather, the government is trying to revisit the Florida trial that it lost when a jury acquitted Dr. Al-Arian of various counts (and came within two votes of acquitting him on all counts).
Judge Brinkema made a number of significant statements in the hearing.
First, she warned the government that she was getting “strange signals” for this case and that the government should not be found to have harassed efforts for another governments to accept Dr. Al-Arian under the plea agreement.
Second, she stated that the plea agreement continued to apply to the case and that the government is required to deport him with expedition.
Third, she said that any resumption of custody by ICE would trigger the deportation provision.
Fourth, Judge Brinkema specifically asked for confirmation that Dr. Al-Arian had already made detailed statements to the government and repeatedly offered to take a polygraph examination to prove that he was not withholding information.
On the question of the government’s failure to deport Dr. Al-Arian, we were astonished by Mr. Kromberg’s insistence that the government did not know of any travel document issued by the Egyptian government. I objected that multiple copies were submitted to the government weeks ago and that Mr. Kromberg was personally informed of the travel documents before the indictment. Despite this record, Mr. Kromberg suggested that Dr. Al-Arian was “a man without a country” and thus could not be deported at this time.
In one of the most curious moments, the government insisted that Dr. Al-Arian had waived any claim under the statute for deportation within the 90 day period. I immediately objected and said that no such agreement was made. We agreed not to invoke the plea agreement for part of the period of negotiation. We never agreed to waive all statutory arguments of removal. The government, however, is arguing that (unlike the plea agreement) the court should just read such an understanding into prior emails between counsel. We will be submitting these emails to the court to clearly show that no such waiver occurred and the time for deportation has expired.
The government also said that Dr. Al-Arian had refused to meet face-to-face with investigators. We will be submitting material today to the court to show that Dr. Al-Arian repeatedly agreed to meet face-to-face with investigators and only refused to revisit the Florida trial. On the questions related to IIIT, Dr. Al-Arian not only submitted detailed answers but agreed to both meet with investigators and to take a polygraph examination to prove that he was not withholding information.
Next week, we will be submitted pre-trial motions as well as seeking Dr. Al-Arian’s release from ICE custody.
We are deeply grateful to Judge Brinkema for her ruling today as well as her words of concern over the “strange signals” in the case. Indeed, there is much strange about this case such as the government claiming to be deporting someone who it is trying to hold for years in a criminal indictment. Things are likely to become stranger still as the government continues its long campaign to hold Dr. Al-Arian by any means or method. We remain hopeful, however, that Dr. Al-Arian will be vindicated and that the government will be forced to comply with its commitment to allow him to leave the country.
In a set back for the government, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was granted bail by Judge Leonie M. Brinkema today. Over the objections of the government and the pre-trial services, Judge Brinkema agreed that Dr. Al-Arian was not a flight risk and no danger to the community. The government has suggested that it may now block release by having Immigration officials hold Dr. Al-Arian for deportation — despite the fact that it is trying to hold him for years under a criminal sentence rather than deport him.
At the hearing, I was joined by my colleague P.J. Meitl from the law firm of Bryan Cave. The government was represented by Gordon Kromberg, who was joined at counsel table by Steve Ward of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Judge Brinkema specifically asked him to identify Ward and immediately noted that his office is part of the plea agreement with Dr. Al-Arian. Kromberg admitted that he was. This would be important later during sharp exchanges with Kromberg over Dr. Al-Arian’s cooperation. Kromberg admitted that the alleged contempt by Dr. Al-Arian was his refusal to answer questions from the Florida trial, which was closed with the plea agreement. In this admission, Kromberg established that Dr. Al-Arian is not being charged with failing to answer questions about the IIIT investigation — which were addressed fully in his affidavits. Rather, the government is trying to revisit the Florida trial that it lost when a jury acquitted Dr. Al-Arian of various counts (and came within two votes of acquitting him on all counts).
Judge Brinkema made a number of significant statements in the hearing.
First, she warned the government that she was getting “strange signals” for this case and that the government should not be found to have harassed efforts for another governments to accept Dr. Al-Arian under the plea agreement.
Second, she stated that the plea agreement continued to apply to the case and that the government is required to deport him with expedition.
Third, she said that any resumption of custody by ICE would trigger the deportation provision.
Fourth, Judge Brinkema specifically asked for confirmation that Dr. Al-Arian had already made detailed statements to the government and repeatedly offered to take a polygraph examination to prove that he was not withholding information.
On the question of the government’s failure to deport Dr. Al-Arian, we were astonished by Mr. Kromberg’s insistence that the government did not know of any travel document issued by the Egyptian government. I objected that multiple copies were submitted to the government weeks ago and that Mr. Kromberg was personally informed of the travel documents before the indictment. Despite this record, Mr. Kromberg suggested that Dr. Al-Arian was “a man without a country” and thus could not be deported at this time.
In one of the most curious moments, the government insisted that Dr. Al-Arian had waived any claim under the statute for deportation within the 90 day period. I immediately objected and said that no such agreement was made. We agreed not to invoke the plea agreement for part of the period of negotiation. We never agreed to waive all statutory arguments of removal. The government, however, is arguing that (unlike the plea agreement) the court should just read such an understanding into prior emails between counsel. We will be submitting these emails to the court to clearly show that no such waiver occurred and the time for deportation has expired.
The government also said that Dr. Al-Arian had refused to meet face-to-face with investigators. We will be submitting material today to the court to show that Dr. Al-Arian repeatedly agreed to meet face-to-face with investigators and only refused to revisit the Florida trial. On the questions related to IIIT, Dr. Al-Arian not only submitted detailed answers but agreed to both meet with investigators and to take a polygraph examination to prove that he was not withholding information.
Next week, we will be submitted pre-trial motions as well as seeking Dr. Al-Arian’s release from ICE custody.
We are deeply grateful to Judge Brinkema for her ruling today as well as her words of concern over the “strange signals” in the case. Indeed, there is much strange about this case such as the government claiming to be deporting someone who it is trying to hold for years in a criminal indictment. Things are likely to become stranger still as the government continues its long campaign to hold Dr. Al-Arian by any means or method. We remain hopeful, however, that Dr. Al-Arian will be vindicated and that the government will be forced to comply with its commitment to allow him to leave the country.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Let's get some things straight about the upcoming war with Iran
The upcoming war with Iran is again back in the news and while the international media is awash with reports and discussions about the recent Iranian missile test, some usually savvy observers, such as Tom Englehardt and Tony Karon, now say that the US-Israeli aggression on Iran will not happen at all. So which is it - Iranian missiles raining down on Israel or no war at all?
Neither.
First, let's get one thing straight. Iran can, and probably will, launch some missiles at Israel if it is attacked. This makes perfectly good sense since it is absolutely clear that if the USA decides to strike at Iran this will be solely at the behest of the Israel Lobby. Unlike the war with Iraq which has more than one sponsor, *only* the Israel Lobby and the Neocons are pushing for a war with Iran. And yes, Iran has missiles which can reach Israel. And no, these missiles are not "primitive" Scud-like "cigars" but rather advanced missiles. For example, the Shahab-3 features course correction and terminal manoever capability while the Fajr-3 might well be MIRVed. Keep in mind that according to the Jerusalem Post Iran currently has 600 Shahab-3s pointed at Israel while, according to the Israeli state radio, Iran's ally Hezbollah has another 40'000 rockets ready to be fired at Israel. There is a strong element of propaganda here, but even if we cut down these figures by, say, 50-80%, this still represents a potentially powerful retaliatory force any Israeli government will have to take into account. This is also quite besides the point for a very simple reason: missiles do not win wars.
Iranian commanders understand this very well. Furthermore, there are only a limited number of militarily significant targets in Israel simply because Israel's armed forces will only play a marginal role, if at all, in the strike on Iran. Sure, it would make a great deal of sense for the Iranians to strike at Israel for *political* reasons, but there is nothing they could strike in Israel which would make much of a difference militarily, simply because the attack, when it happens, will be a US attack.
US military targets are much, much closer to Iran. They are all over Iraq, they are in Afghanistan, they are in Kuwait, they are all over the Persian Gulf, and they are in Turkey. In fact, the most lucrative of these targets are in the immediate proximity of Iran, think "Green Zone" for example.
The reality is that Iranian long range missiles "capable of hitting Israel" will not play a crucial role in the upcoming war, at least not from a military point of view and the recent missile tests in Iran are just part of a PR effort to look fierce and scare the Israelis. I am not sure whether this is a good tactic or not, but that's all there is to it. Paradoxically, the Iranians, the Americans and the Israelis all share a common propaganda goal: to make the Iranian missiles look as scary as possible. No wonder that the media is going berserk over this non-issue!
Let's now look at the "no war will happen" arguments. It is amazingly simple: Israel, by recently engaging in a public 'rehearsal" for its bombing plans against Iran has lost any hope to achieve a surprise and therefore is not going to attack Iran after all. I am frankly baffled that anyone would take this silly argument seriously. Here is why:
1) Israel will not attack Iran not because it lost the "element of surprise" but because it simply cannot attack Iran, at least not meaningfully. The Israeli Air force probably can fly to the Natanz nuclear facility and drop some bombs and, with enough in-flight refuelling it could even strike deeper inside Iran. But besides a very limited one-time bombing run on Iran there is nothing the Israelis can do. Only the US Air Force and Navy have the means for a country-wide bombing and missile strike campaign in which targets are 're-visited' and which could last for anywhere between several days to several weeks.
2) The entire "element of surprise" discussion about the upcoming war is plain silly: this will be the most announced war in history. Has everyone forgotten that we already were at the brink of war last year? And the year before? Furthermore, the US Navy has brought so much firepower to the region by now that the Iranians can have no doubts whatsoever about the obvious fact that the USA's preparation time is now down to zero and that a war can start literally any minute now. There is no element of surprise, not even tactical, left and hence the USA and Israel cannot "loose it".
The reality is that all the actors in the upcoming war as fine ready, as ready as can be.
One guy got it right: Pepe Escobar. Check out his article "Iran's Missiles are Just for Show". Not only does Escobar explain that the missile issue is vastly overblown, but he even outlines the *real* preparations the Iranians have made:
General Mohammad Ali Jafari has been the supreme IRGC commander since September 2007. Over a week ago, after a groundbreaking interview to the conservative newspaper Jam e-Jam, he announced a very deep structural IRGC decentralizing shake-up, under the orders of Khamenei himself.
Most key regional commanders were replaced. Jafari had already organized the fusion between the Pasdaran - the military elite - and the Bassij militias.
What this means in practice is that Iran now has 30 armies - one in every province, all of them interconnecting Pasdaran and Bassij, all of them with members of both bodies training together. Esfandiari Safari, writing in the Iranian newspaper Rooz, interprets Jafari's new set up as "the response from the IRGC's high command to the imminent attack they are waiting for".
The relevance of this reorganization and fusion of the Pasdaran with the Basiji is not only relevant in case of a ground invasion (as the sentence "30 armies - one in each province" suggests). It is also relevant, much more so in fact, as an exercise in what the Americans would call "continuity of government" i.e., it prepares the entire country to operate even under a massive assault of US cruise missiles and bombers. Be decentralizing the key elements of political and military power the Iranians are basically denying the Americans the option to "decapitate" the government and to prevent a sustained resistance to their attack. Lastly, since the USA, with the blessing of the Democrats, has embarked on a massive terror & subversion campaign inside Iran, this fusion of the Pasdaran and the Basiji makes it possible to combat local insurgencies with locally available ressources. Make no mistake, the Iranians are as ready as can be, regardless of the missiles sideshow.
Neither.
First, let's get one thing straight. Iran can, and probably will, launch some missiles at Israel if it is attacked. This makes perfectly good sense since it is absolutely clear that if the USA decides to strike at Iran this will be solely at the behest of the Israel Lobby. Unlike the war with Iraq which has more than one sponsor, *only* the Israel Lobby and the Neocons are pushing for a war with Iran. And yes, Iran has missiles which can reach Israel. And no, these missiles are not "primitive" Scud-like "cigars" but rather advanced missiles. For example, the Shahab-3 features course correction and terminal manoever capability while the Fajr-3 might well be MIRVed. Keep in mind that according to the Jerusalem Post Iran currently has 600 Shahab-3s pointed at Israel while, according to the Israeli state radio, Iran's ally Hezbollah has another 40'000 rockets ready to be fired at Israel. There is a strong element of propaganda here, but even if we cut down these figures by, say, 50-80%, this still represents a potentially powerful retaliatory force any Israeli government will have to take into account. This is also quite besides the point for a very simple reason: missiles do not win wars.
Iranian commanders understand this very well. Furthermore, there are only a limited number of militarily significant targets in Israel simply because Israel's armed forces will only play a marginal role, if at all, in the strike on Iran. Sure, it would make a great deal of sense for the Iranians to strike at Israel for *political* reasons, but there is nothing they could strike in Israel which would make much of a difference militarily, simply because the attack, when it happens, will be a US attack.
US military targets are much, much closer to Iran. They are all over Iraq, they are in Afghanistan, they are in Kuwait, they are all over the Persian Gulf, and they are in Turkey. In fact, the most lucrative of these targets are in the immediate proximity of Iran, think "Green Zone" for example.
The reality is that Iranian long range missiles "capable of hitting Israel" will not play a crucial role in the upcoming war, at least not from a military point of view and the recent missile tests in Iran are just part of a PR effort to look fierce and scare the Israelis. I am not sure whether this is a good tactic or not, but that's all there is to it. Paradoxically, the Iranians, the Americans and the Israelis all share a common propaganda goal: to make the Iranian missiles look as scary as possible. No wonder that the media is going berserk over this non-issue!
Let's now look at the "no war will happen" arguments. It is amazingly simple: Israel, by recently engaging in a public 'rehearsal" for its bombing plans against Iran has lost any hope to achieve a surprise and therefore is not going to attack Iran after all. I am frankly baffled that anyone would take this silly argument seriously. Here is why:
1) Israel will not attack Iran not because it lost the "element of surprise" but because it simply cannot attack Iran, at least not meaningfully. The Israeli Air force probably can fly to the Natanz nuclear facility and drop some bombs and, with enough in-flight refuelling it could even strike deeper inside Iran. But besides a very limited one-time bombing run on Iran there is nothing the Israelis can do. Only the US Air Force and Navy have the means for a country-wide bombing and missile strike campaign in which targets are 're-visited' and which could last for anywhere between several days to several weeks.
2) The entire "element of surprise" discussion about the upcoming war is plain silly: this will be the most announced war in history. Has everyone forgotten that we already were at the brink of war last year? And the year before? Furthermore, the US Navy has brought so much firepower to the region by now that the Iranians can have no doubts whatsoever about the obvious fact that the USA's preparation time is now down to zero and that a war can start literally any minute now. There is no element of surprise, not even tactical, left and hence the USA and Israel cannot "loose it".
The reality is that all the actors in the upcoming war as fine ready, as ready as can be.
One guy got it right: Pepe Escobar. Check out his article "Iran's Missiles are Just for Show". Not only does Escobar explain that the missile issue is vastly overblown, but he even outlines the *real* preparations the Iranians have made:
General Mohammad Ali Jafari has been the supreme IRGC commander since September 2007. Over a week ago, after a groundbreaking interview to the conservative newspaper Jam e-Jam, he announced a very deep structural IRGC decentralizing shake-up, under the orders of Khamenei himself.
Most key regional commanders were replaced. Jafari had already organized the fusion between the Pasdaran - the military elite - and the Bassij militias.
What this means in practice is that Iran now has 30 armies - one in every province, all of them interconnecting Pasdaran and Bassij, all of them with members of both bodies training together. Esfandiari Safari, writing in the Iranian newspaper Rooz, interprets Jafari's new set up as "the response from the IRGC's high command to the imminent attack they are waiting for".
The relevance of this reorganization and fusion of the Pasdaran with the Basiji is not only relevant in case of a ground invasion (as the sentence "30 armies - one in each province" suggests). It is also relevant, much more so in fact, as an exercise in what the Americans would call "continuity of government" i.e., it prepares the entire country to operate even under a massive assault of US cruise missiles and bombers. Be decentralizing the key elements of political and military power the Iranians are basically denying the Americans the option to "decapitate" the government and to prevent a sustained resistance to their attack. Lastly, since the USA, with the blessing of the Democrats, has embarked on a massive terror & subversion campaign inside Iran, this fusion of the Pasdaran and the Basiji makes it possible to combat local insurgencies with locally available ressources. Make no mistake, the Iranians are as ready as can be, regardless of the missiles sideshow.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Ongoing Persecution of Sami Al-Arian
By Alexander Cockburn for The Nation (thanks to M. for this article)
There are few prospects in the justice system so grimly awful as when the feds decide never to let go. Rebuffed in their persecutions of some target by juries, or by contrary judges, they shift ground, betray solemn agreements, dream up new stratagems to exhaust their victims, drive them into bankruptcy, despair and even to suicide. They have all the money and all the time in the world. Sixteen months ago I wrote here about the appalling vendetta conducted by the Justice Department against Sami Al-Arian, a professor from Florida who had the book thrown at him in 2003 by Attorney General John Ashcroft. As I described it then, Dr. Al-Arian was charged in a bloated terrorism and conspiracy case and spent two and a half years in prison, in solitary confinement.
In December 2005, despite the efforts of a blatantly biased judge, a jury acquitted Dr. Al-Arian of the most serious charges. Dr. Al-Arian's lawyers urged him to make a plea on the two relatively minor offenses of which he was found guilty and put an end to his ordeal and the suffering of his family. A central aspect of the plea agreement was an understanding that Dr. Al-Arian would not be subject to further prosecution or called to cooperate with the government on any matter. The plea agreement signed with Florida prosecutors explicitly protected him from cooperating in any additional cases. The government recommended the shortest possible sentence, no more than time served. But then, almost certainly after a visit to the local federal prosecutors in Tampa by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the feds double-crossed him on the plea agreement, and he was thrown back into prison. The biased judge handed down the maximum sentence, which meant a further eleven months of incarceration before release and deportation slated for April 2007.
Then Dr. Al-Arian passed into the malign orbit of prosecutors in Virginia, notably assistant federal prosecutor Gordon Kromberg. The Justice Department's plan was to set up Dr. Al-Arian in a perjury trap, compelling him to testify before a grand jury investigating an Islamic think tank called the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in a case completely unrelated to his. The institute has been the target of a six-year witch hunt by Kromberg.
On November 16, 2006, dragged up to Virginia, Dr. Al-Arian was brought before a grand jury and placed in civil contempt for refusing to testify--because the actual intent of the subpoena was the attempt to trap him. When the grand jury's term expired, Kromberg promptly empaneled a new one. Dr. Al-Arian was again subpoenaed and again refused to testify. Shunted among prisons in Atlanta and Petersburg and Alexandria, Virginia, Dr. Al-Arian endured hunger strikes and maltreatment from guards.
Even with the additional time served, Dr. Al-Arian's sentence ended on April 6 of this year. He was then taken into the custody of immigration authorities, who were making preparations for his deportation. On June 26 the Justice Department elected to plunge Dr. Al-Arian and his family into fresh torments, thus prolonging the slow-moving auto-da-fé of the past five years. A new federal indictment charges Dr. Al-Arian with two counts of criminal contempt, relating to the efforts by Virginia prosecutors to bring him before a grand jury investigating other Muslim organizations. Dr. Al-Arian faces additional prison time if convicted. Criminal contempt in the American legal system has no maximum penalty.
"This indictment proves that the government was never interested in any information that Dr. Al-Arian has on the IIIT matter," said his attorney, Professor Jonathan Turley, who has represented Dr. Al-Arian since April 2007. "They have indicted him despite the fact that the prosecutors admitted that he is a minor witness in the IIIT investigation, and he has already given two detailed statements under oath to the government and offered to take a polygraph examination to prove that he has given true information about his knowledge of IIIT. Dr. Al-Arian has addressed every document cited by the government as the reason for his being called before the grand jury. He has shown that he has no incriminating information to offer against either IIIT or its officers."
On June 30, Dr. Al-Arian was arraigned before US District Judge Leonie Brinkema for the Eastern District of Columbia, but Dr. Al-Arian did not enter a plea, as Turley stated they were not prepared to do so. The court then entered a plea of not guilty and scheduled a trial to begin August 13. According to a statement issued by Turley, the government is further seeking to indict Dr. Al-Arian for the period during which he was under civil contempt confinement. Thus, after holding him for a year, the government now seeks to punish him for the same period of the confinement.
Why the continued efforts to destroy Dr. Al-Arian? He's just one more object lesson to the world of what can happen to a Muslim--a Palestinian--who tried with some success to combat ignorance and prejudice in the Middle Eastern debate and who established his innocence to a jury on the grave charges the government spent millions to sustain in that Florida court. His assailants in the Justice Department have probably anticipated with relish that Dr. Al-Arian would succumb to malnutrition and illness in one of the holes into which he has been flung. They were mistaken. Sustained by his family, capable attorneys and vast sympathy across the world, Dr. Al-Arian has stayed in the ring with his fearsome and vindictive persecutors. Every word of support and encouragement is important to Dr. Al-Arian and his family. Send such words to tampabayjustice@yahoo.com.
(Thanks to Nation intern Sousan Hammad for pulling together developments in Dr. Al-Arian's case)
Also, check out the Free Sami Al-Arian website for more info and updates
There are few prospects in the justice system so grimly awful as when the feds decide never to let go. Rebuffed in their persecutions of some target by juries, or by contrary judges, they shift ground, betray solemn agreements, dream up new stratagems to exhaust their victims, drive them into bankruptcy, despair and even to suicide. They have all the money and all the time in the world. Sixteen months ago I wrote here about the appalling vendetta conducted by the Justice Department against Sami Al-Arian, a professor from Florida who had the book thrown at him in 2003 by Attorney General John Ashcroft. As I described it then, Dr. Al-Arian was charged in a bloated terrorism and conspiracy case and spent two and a half years in prison, in solitary confinement.
In December 2005, despite the efforts of a blatantly biased judge, a jury acquitted Dr. Al-Arian of the most serious charges. Dr. Al-Arian's lawyers urged him to make a plea on the two relatively minor offenses of which he was found guilty and put an end to his ordeal and the suffering of his family. A central aspect of the plea agreement was an understanding that Dr. Al-Arian would not be subject to further prosecution or called to cooperate with the government on any matter. The plea agreement signed with Florida prosecutors explicitly protected him from cooperating in any additional cases. The government recommended the shortest possible sentence, no more than time served. But then, almost certainly after a visit to the local federal prosecutors in Tampa by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the feds double-crossed him on the plea agreement, and he was thrown back into prison. The biased judge handed down the maximum sentence, which meant a further eleven months of incarceration before release and deportation slated for April 2007.
Then Dr. Al-Arian passed into the malign orbit of prosecutors in Virginia, notably assistant federal prosecutor Gordon Kromberg. The Justice Department's plan was to set up Dr. Al-Arian in a perjury trap, compelling him to testify before a grand jury investigating an Islamic think tank called the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in a case completely unrelated to his. The institute has been the target of a six-year witch hunt by Kromberg.
On November 16, 2006, dragged up to Virginia, Dr. Al-Arian was brought before a grand jury and placed in civil contempt for refusing to testify--because the actual intent of the subpoena was the attempt to trap him. When the grand jury's term expired, Kromberg promptly empaneled a new one. Dr. Al-Arian was again subpoenaed and again refused to testify. Shunted among prisons in Atlanta and Petersburg and Alexandria, Virginia, Dr. Al-Arian endured hunger strikes and maltreatment from guards.
Even with the additional time served, Dr. Al-Arian's sentence ended on April 6 of this year. He was then taken into the custody of immigration authorities, who were making preparations for his deportation. On June 26 the Justice Department elected to plunge Dr. Al-Arian and his family into fresh torments, thus prolonging the slow-moving auto-da-fé of the past five years. A new federal indictment charges Dr. Al-Arian with two counts of criminal contempt, relating to the efforts by Virginia prosecutors to bring him before a grand jury investigating other Muslim organizations. Dr. Al-Arian faces additional prison time if convicted. Criminal contempt in the American legal system has no maximum penalty."This indictment proves that the government was never interested in any information that Dr. Al-Arian has on the IIIT matter," said his attorney, Professor Jonathan Turley, who has represented Dr. Al-Arian since April 2007. "They have indicted him despite the fact that the prosecutors admitted that he is a minor witness in the IIIT investigation, and he has already given two detailed statements under oath to the government and offered to take a polygraph examination to prove that he has given true information about his knowledge of IIIT. Dr. Al-Arian has addressed every document cited by the government as the reason for his being called before the grand jury. He has shown that he has no incriminating information to offer against either IIIT or its officers."
On June 30, Dr. Al-Arian was arraigned before US District Judge Leonie Brinkema for the Eastern District of Columbia, but Dr. Al-Arian did not enter a plea, as Turley stated they were not prepared to do so. The court then entered a plea of not guilty and scheduled a trial to begin August 13. According to a statement issued by Turley, the government is further seeking to indict Dr. Al-Arian for the period during which he was under civil contempt confinement. Thus, after holding him for a year, the government now seeks to punish him for the same period of the confinement.
Why the continued efforts to destroy Dr. Al-Arian? He's just one more object lesson to the world of what can happen to a Muslim--a Palestinian--who tried with some success to combat ignorance and prejudice in the Middle Eastern debate and who established his innocence to a jury on the grave charges the government spent millions to sustain in that Florida court. His assailants in the Justice Department have probably anticipated with relish that Dr. Al-Arian would succumb to malnutrition and illness in one of the holes into which he has been flung. They were mistaken. Sustained by his family, capable attorneys and vast sympathy across the world, Dr. Al-Arian has stayed in the ring with his fearsome and vindictive persecutors. Every word of support and encouragement is important to Dr. Al-Arian and his family. Send such words to tampabayjustice@yahoo.com.
(Thanks to Nation intern Sousan Hammad for pulling together developments in Dr. Al-Arian's case)
Also, check out the Free Sami Al-Arian website for more info and updates
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