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Posted on 09/11/2001 2:59:16 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
Tuesday September 11 4:04 PM ET
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By Joseph Logan
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Arab leaders voiced shock and horror at devastating attacks that leveled symbols of American power on Tuesday, but a chorus of cheers rose from streets that resent U.S. backing of Israel.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (news - web sites), Washington's key Arab ally, called the plane attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and left the Pentagon (news - web sites) in flames ``horrific beyond imagination.'' Ordinary Egyptians, however, felt otherwise.
``Do you want to hear my honest opinion?'' asked Samira Mohamed, a 26-year-old lawyer. ``I was very happy when I heard the news. My happiness is based on my utter rejection of the U.S. treatment of the Middle East case.''
The jubilation was echoed in other countries with large Palestinian populations, where sentiment has crystallized against the United States over the course of an 11-month Palestinian uprising against Israel.
While Jordan's King Abdullah called the attacks ``terrorist actions that contradict all...values,'' Jordanians and Palestinian refugees in Amman took to the streets in joy, some handing out sweets to celebrate.
SYRIA CONDEMNS, IRAQ, HIZBOLLAH SILENT
Syria, which has tense relations with the United States, strongly condemned the attacks.
``Syria condemns the sabotage destructive attacks which were directed against innocent civilians in the United States,'' a Syrian information official said.
``Syria expresses its sympathy with the American people and families of the victims who fell as a result of these attacks.''
Iraq, at war with Washington, had no reaction.
The Islamist Hizbollah guerrilla group, which in the past carried out suicide bomb attacks against U.S targets in Lebanon, declined comment on Tuesday's attacks.
In Beirut, Lebanese citizens and Palestinian refugees said the attack was payback for U.S. policies in the region, chief among them its backing for the Jewish state that launched a bloody invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
``We're ecstatic. Let America have a taste of what we've tasted,'' said Ali Mareh, a Lebanese resident of Beirut.
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was quick to offer condolences to President Bush (news - web sites).
``These tragic actions contradict all human and religious values,'' Hariri said in a statement.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) condemned the attacks, but celebratory gunfire echoed across the West Bank, when television stations showed footage of New York buildings on fire and collapsing and terrified Americans fleeing the carnage.
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon greeted news of the devastating attacks with jubilant gunfire, dancing and cheering, saying Israel's chief backer deserved such a punishment.
``This is the result of American policy. America and Israel are one,'' one Palestinian gunman said.
``This is the reaction required to confront the American and Israeli arrogance,'' said Mohamad Hallak, a 40-year-old Palestinian refugee from the Rashidiyeh camp in Tyre.
SHARED JOY
Some Lebanese shared the joy.
``People are happy. America has always supported terrorism. They see how the innocent Palestinian children are killed and they back the Zionist army that does it. America has never been on the side of justice,'' said Samir, a Lebanese.
``This is the language that the United States understands and this is the way to stop America from helping the Zionist terrorists who are killing our children, men and women every day,'' said Palestinian Mohamed Rasheed.
Lebanon is home to some 360,000 Palestinian refugees. After four generations of exile, many feel embittered against the United States for its support of Israel -- a feeling which has grown during the present uprising in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinians who have often burned U.S. flags in protests during their 11-month-old uprising against Israeli occupation also celebrated in Arab East Jerusalem.
``I feel I am in a dream. I never believed that one day the United States would come to pay a price for its support to Israel,'' said Mustafa, a 24-year-old Palestinian gunman.
Several dozen Palestinian youths gathered in East Jerusalem to celebrate, honking out wedding tunes on their car horns.
``We are so happy that America was hit. America is against us in supporting Israel,'' Suleiman, one of the demonstrators, said.
In Nablus, motorists honked horns and gunmen fired into the air to cheer the attacks which unfolded within a few hours and stunned people around the globe.
Israel and the Palestinians have been locked in fighting since the Palestinian uprising against occupation erupted last September after peace talks stalled.
Reaction was mixed elsewhere in Lebanon. Many people, used to wars, bombardment and destruction of their cities, watched the news in disbelief and shock.
``Who could believe this is happening in the capitals of the world's only superpower?,'' said one Beirut resident.
Words of an adult.
Go back and read what I ACTUALLY wrote, and comment on that. Don't filter it through your disgusting bigotry.
In the U.S.A., we have Christians, Muslims AND Jews. I care about all three, not just the last group, as you do.
Don't let the horrible tempers of today be remembered.
Terrible analogy. Women who are raped haven't done anything to the men who rape them. That can hardly be said about the actions our government has taken around the globe.
You belong under a pile of rubble with your hero Arafat.
You need to grow up. Immaturity won't get this nation anywhere, and you are full of just that.
I am amazed at the inability to differentiate commentary from support. I'm as outraged as anyone else. My comment was that I am not surprised that this happened because of the way our government has thrown its weight around. The fact that so many people cannot come to grips with that only underscores the problem.
And if you'd like to meet me in person to lay that "traitor" tag on me, you just let me know where and when.
I've often mildly questioned the relationship of the US with Israel. No more, my support is fully 100% behind these guys. Jew, Christian, Muslim, whatever... Israel as a state has the only democratically elected government in the region. Watching the effin' palestinians dancing in the street over the American dead disgusted me. Burn 'em all.
These terrorists dogs are nasty. I hope we have the stomach to wage a WAR (not a police action) where our armed forces - Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, Marines, and 101 Airborne, if necessary, are allowed to finish the job. Finishing the job means that there will be no more terrorist organizations capable of pulling this off.
I am encouraged by President Bush's statement that we will not distinguish between the terrorist organizations and the countries that harbor them. Correct me if I misinterpreted anything.
Pissed off in CA, MD
Well, expect me to continue shilling, for ALL Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and indeed all people of faith everywhere. I refuse to hate an entire religion out of ignorant bigotry.
So you're happy to do so. You're the one who'll have to deal with it in the end.
So when American cruise missles rain down on innocent civilians on the other side of the globe it's acceptable? We're supposed to impose our will on people and not have them react negatively? Your ignorance is astounding!
If the shoe had been on the other foot for the last dozen years and other countries had been doing to us what we've been doing to them, then there would have been American terrorists cells up and running and taking action long ago.
To look at what our government has been doing in its role as Police Officer to the World and to not expect many people in the world to get upset to the point of taking action against us in some form is idiotic at best. You probably don't realize it, but you are standing in total support of Bill Clinton's globe-hopping foreign policy right now by making attacks against what I have said.
And since it isn't clear, let me make it plain: I want the people who did this found and wiped off the planet. I also want the people who have helped them in any way to suffer the same fate, just as President Bush said in his speech earlier tonight. I don't support what has been done in the least, but I do understand the cause of it. Some of you would do well to take a step back and examine things with a little cooler head for a minute.
Silly reasoning but then again you can't even get your timeline straight. Have you ever heard of the Soviet union and how they wanted to crush America forever? What were we supposed to do...lie down, confine ourselves within our borders, not get involved and get sucked into nuclear war or maybe even be defeated? Then where would you be with all your libertarian freedoms...Huh?
The crew of the Liberty would beg to differ.
Amazing,The Hamas Terrorist homepage says the exact same thing
Maybe you should also tell people that incident happened in 1967?
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