Target Centermass

Category: Middle East

  • Iraq Calls for Muslim Force; Terrorists Quake

    Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is urging other Arab nations to send troops to combat the terrorists disrupting the progress in the beleaguered nation.

    Allawi made the appeal a day after Saudi officials disclosed that they had initiated an effort to encourage the creation of a Muslim security force to help bring stability to Iraq.

    “The leaders of this region must unify and must stand as one group against those gangs, against those terrorists and those criminals who are threatening and causing a great deal of harm to the Arab World and the Islamic world,” Allawi said.

    The terrorists responded quickly by playing the Jew card and posting internet threats against such a force

    “Our swords will be drawn in the face of anyone who cooperates with the Jews and the Christians,” the group said in its statement. “We will strike with an iron fist all the traitors from the Arab governments who cooperate with the Zionists secretly or openly.”

    The statement was issued in the name of the Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Islamiya — Omar el-Mukhtar Brigade, a little known group whose main title means the Group of Islamic Monotheism. Omar el-Mukhtar is the name of a Libyan nationalist who fought against the Italian occupation who was hanged by the colonial authorities in 1931….

    The Internet statement was addressed to the Saudi and Pakistani governments. It said the two states “intend to send Islamic troops to Iraq.”

    “We will not keep silent in case any Islamic or Arabic country, especially Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt, send troops to Iraq. We also call on Muslim soldiers, in case they are sent to Iraq, not to respond, not to throw themselves in the path of death.”

    These tough guys are getting to be quite the good at the criminal side of the business via their kidnapping. They can prolong the suffering of their fellow Arabs, standing against the tide of progress and the hands of time.

    However, practically asking Muslim troops to please not make the trip shows their weakness: they can’t fight. They can’t make a stand against the well-trained soldiers of the coalition without getting shredded, and they can’t make a stand against Muslim forces without threatening any support they have in the populaces of Arab nations.

    They can only manage atrocities against civilians and assaults on the infrastructure. Oh yeah, they can post threats on the internet.

  • New Allegation of Detainee Abuse

    Just wanted to make sure this story got some play. Don’t count on it reaching the front page of the New York Times or Washington Post, though, as it concerns an American citizen detained in Egypt.

    A California man who was detained in Egypt for nearly a week says he was beaten and questioned before authorities released him without explanation.

    Abdul Ghafoor Mahboob, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City, said he was repeatedly beaten with a stick on his thighs and punched in the stomach and head.

    “Without my prayers, I would have gone crazy,” Mahboob told the Los Angeles Times in a phone interview from London on Friday.

    Won’t get much play without photos of Abdul on a leash, I’m betting.

  • Iraq’s Neighbors Agree to Improve Security

    Or, probably more likely, at least pay lip service to security.

    Iraq (news – web sites)’s neighbors agreed Wednesday to hold a high-level security meeting and share intelligence about cross-border infiltration, answering the war-ravaged nation’s plea for assistance.

    Facing almost daily car bombings and firefights, Iraq accuses foreign Muslim infiltrators of being behind some of the deadliest attacks and says neighboring countries are either facilitating or turning a blind eye to infiltration across borders.

    After a day of long-winded deliberations and minor disagreements, Arab foreign ministers welcomed the proposal of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to convene interior ministers and security officials to discuss how to “eliminate all terrorist and other armed groups present and emanating from Iraqi territory which constitute a danger to Iraq and neighboring states,” the final statement of the meeting said.

    The date of the meeting, to be hosted by Iran, has not yet been decided. But delegates at the sixth regional meeting of Iraq’s neighbors said the meeting will mean intelligence sharing, and possibly reinforcement of border patrols.

    Note the hint that Egypt is possibly realizing their own danger that is being fostered by the terror:

    “Just as neighboring countries affect the situation in Iraq, they are affected by it,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.

  • Israel to Sideline EU after UN Vote on Security Fence

    Fed up with the partisan U.N. vote against its security barrier, Israel has said the European Union is possibly kaput as a player in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

    Israel made clear to senior European officials at United Nations headquarters yesterday that “it will be very difficult in the future to include the EU as a party in efforts to advance the peace process,” after the European Union joined the sweeping majority that passed an extreme resolution on the separation fence.

    In a round of talks with EU representatives, Israeli diplomats stated that “the atmosphere created at the UN following passage of a one-sided resolution makes it doubtful that the EU, UN, and Quartet will be able to play the role of honest broker.”

    Israel said that by backing the resolution, “EU countries ignored even Israel’s right to defend itself. How can Israel place its future in your hands?”

    Right now, why would anyone place their security in the hands of Europe. Even the likes of Britain, Poland and the Czech Republic refused to side with Israel or, at the very least, abstain (kudos to Australia for their nay vote, and a mild golf clap Canada for their abstention).

    Playing their usual role, the Europeans immediately took their traditional two steps backwards.

    Several European ambassadors tried to assuage Israel’s anger. “We succeeded in balancing the wording of the resolution,” a senior European diplomat told an Israeli colleague.

    Senior EU officials also pledged that “we won’t support additional measures that [Nasser] al-Kidwa is planning,” referring to the PLO observer to the UN.

    I’ve studied a lot of history, but I have yet to come across the moment in time when so many Europeans became invertebrates.

  • Militants Burn Building in Protest Aimed at Arafat

    Continuing to feel the repercussions of their long dance with the terror devil, the Palestinian Authority continued to scramble amid protests over their latest display of cronyism.

    Members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades burned down offices of the Palestinian intelligence services Sunday in southern Gaza, protesting a security shake-up announced by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

    The Palestinian Authority president announced a major restructuring of security services Saturday.

    The changes included consolidating more than 12 security agencies into three main units and replacing two top security officials. One was replaced with Arafat’s cousin, Musa Arafat.

    Within hours of Saturday’s announcement, leaders of Arafat’s Fatah movement in southern Gaza resigned and about 2,000 demonstrators took to the streets, many of them armed, accusing Arafat of replacing “corruption with more corruption.”

    I don’t yet believe the PA is in danger, but two things are obvious. First, the Palestinian Street is finally growing tired of false reforms and the game of musical chairs being played by Arafat’s inner circle. Second, when you allow terrorism to grow and blossom because of the convenience that said terrorism is aimed outward, don’t be surprised when the day comes when the bastards turn and look over their shoulder at you. We may be seeing it in the Palestinian areas soon. We’ve seen it in Saudi. We’ve seen plots stopped in Jordan. The lesson should have been obvious from the start; unfortunately, I’m not sure any of the Arab states have truly learned it.

  • Sharon Urges Jews in France to Leave as Anti-Semitism Grows

    The French may not disagree, but Ariel Sharon is urging Jews to leave France.

    The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday urged Jews to flee France to escape a rising tide of anti-Semitism. While acknowledging that the French government was fighting racial violence, Mr Sharon warned of “the spread of the wildest anti-Semitism” in France.

    Speaking to visiting American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Mr Sharon said: “If I have to advocate to our brothers in France, I will tell them one thing – ‘Move to Israel, as early as possible’. I say that to Jews all around the world, but there [in France] I think it’s a must and they have to move immediately.” He added: “In France today, about 10 per cent of the population are Muslims … that gets a different kind of anti-Semitism, based on anti-Israeli feelings and propaganda.”

    France is home to Western Europe’s biggest Jewish and Muslim communities with 600,000 Jews and five million Muslims. But it has been troubled by attacks on Jewish people and property in recent years, some of it blamed on youths of North African origin angered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    The latest French Interior Ministry figures show 510 anti-Jewish acts or threats in the first six months of 2004 – compared to 593 for all of last year.

    Yes, it may seem silly to urge Jews out of France to the safety of Israel. However, urging Jews to leave France, ever growing more hostile for them, is not a bad idea and, if current trends continue, may increasingly become a very good idea. At least in Israel, they would have a home that would fight for their protection.

  • Arafat’s Panel Declares State of Emergency

    Is the Palestinian Authority in a more dire position than I thought?

    A security panel headed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news – web sites) declared a state of emergency in the Gaza Strip (news – web sites) early Saturday after a wave of kidnappings involving a Palestinian police chief, a security official and four French citizens.

    Although most of the hostages were later freed, the crisis raised questions about the future of Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia’s government, which will meet Saturday in a session that could determine its future, a Palestinian official said on condition of anonymity.

    The declaration by the Palestinian security council called for increased protection around government facilities and canceled all leave for security officials.

    The deteriorating situation reflected the growing disagreements among militant groups and individuals trying to strengthen their positions before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news – web sites) fulfills his pledge to withdraw Israeli forces and some 7,500 settlers from Gaza late next year.

    You can dance with the Devil but, sometimes, he wants to lead.

  • Envoy: Palestinian Authority May Collapse

    The AP is reporting that the U.N envoy for the Middle East is questioning the stability of the Palestinian Authority.

    Roed-Larsen painted a grim picture of lawlessness in the Palestinian Authority, its failure to institute critical reforms, and he blamed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news – web sites).

    He lamented that there was “no sign” of the bold leadership needed to tackle Palestinian reform and move toward peace.

    “The Palestinian Authority, despite consistent promises by its leadership, has made no progress on its core obligation to take immediate action on the ground to end violence and combat terror, and to reform and reorganize the Palestinian Authority,” he said.

    Roed-Larsen said the only explanation is “the lack of political will” to advance toward reform, which is critically needed in the security services.

    “Despite a well-intended prime minister, the paralysis of the Palestinian Authority has become abundantly clear,” he said.

    “Clashes and showdowns between branches of Palestinian security forces are now common in the Gaza Strip (news – web sites), where Palestinian Authority legal authority is receding fast in the face of the mounting power of arms, money and intimidation,” Roed-Larsen said.

    “The perceived Palestinian Authority abdication of responsibility” has led many residents of Rafah in southern Gaza to take matters into their own hands, including establishing a checkpoint to prevent Palestinian officials from entering the city or crossing into Egypt, he said.

    The PA lasts as long as Arafat wants it to last. Arafat lasts as long as the Palestinians allow him to last (or the Israelis tolerate him to last).

  • U.S. Stands with Israel against U.N. Action on Barrier

    Per Reuters, the U.S. will oppose action by the U.N. based upon the World Court ruling denouncing the security barrier.

    Palestinians face a brick wall of U.S. opposition to possible United Nations (news – web sites) action against Israel after the World Court ruled the Jewish state’s West Bank barrier was illegal and should be dismantled.

    “We don’t think there’s a need for (U.N.) General Assembly action at this point,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said after the World Court, the U.N.’s top legal body, announced its non-binding ruling in The Hague (news – web sites) on Friday.

    The General Assembly can, and probably will, denounce Israel and demand a dismantling of the barrier. And? And nothing, any General Assembly resolution will be non-binding, and the U.S. will block any Security Council motion. Why? Because we see that the Israelis have a right to defend themselves against Palestinian terrorism. Who cares about the judgement of a “world court” led by a judge from the justice-and-freedom-loving nation of China.

    The Palestinians later intend to take their case to the 15-nation Security Council, where the United States — Israel’s main ally, vetoed a resolution last October that sought to bar the Jewish state from extending the West Bank barrier.

    In The Hague, Nasser al-Kidwa, the U.N. Palestinian observer, declined to say whether he would push for sanctions against Israel.

    “It remains the obligation of the international community to ensure that compliance takes place. We will take it step by step,” he said …. The court said the barrier, which is about a third built, “severely impeded” Palestinian rights to self-rule.

    I want to go on record as saying the major impediment to Palestinian self-rule is the terrorist Arafat. The Palestinians have had many opportunities to take the peace route; each time, they have found an excuse to venture down the road less traveled by the peaceable.

    Opinion polls show strong support in Israel for the project.

    “The choice was between the inconveniences which are caused to the Palestinians — and we recognize that there are inconveniences — but the fence doesn’t kill,” said Israeli Vice Premier Ehud Olmert.

  • World Court to Rule Against Israel’s Barrier

    Surprise, surprise. It seems the World Court is set to rule against Israel’s security fence and demand it be dismantled.

    The paper, quoting documents it had obtained, said the barrier infringed Palestinian rights.

    “The construction of such a wall accordingly constitutes breaches by Israel of its various obligations under the applicable international humanitarian law and human rights instruments,” Haaretz quoted the documents as saying.

    And even less surprising:

    Israel has said it will not accept what is expected to be among the most watched rulings in the 58 years of the World Court, based in The Hague.

    The Jewish state says the network of fences, ditches and walls has already improved security, but Palestinians call it a land grab.

    First, I’m confused as to what “rights” are being infringed upon here, just as I am confused by the constant comparisons of the security barrier to the Berlin Wall. The inability to comprehend to simple difference of the fundamental purposes of the security fence and the Berlin Wall (the former’s being protection of citizens and keeping terror at bay, the latter’s being the trapping and subjugation of the East German citizenry) astounds me.