Posted on 09/17/2001 2:19:32 PM PDT by Wallaby
Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.
Birthplace of anti-American suicide raids, Lebanon takes moderate line SAM F. GHATTAS; Associated Press Writer AP Worldstream INTERNATIONAL NEWS September 17, 2001 Monday 11:53 AM Eastern Time BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP)-
Mindful of its violent past and the linking of one of its citizens to the terror attacks in the United States, Lebanon is going to lengths to condemn terrorism and try to shield itself from any possible fallout.
At the same time, Lebanon is quick to accuse Israel of also committing "terrorism" against Arabs, comments that appear to be part of a growing Arab campaign to focus attention on Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
The Lebanese family of a Ziad Jarrah, from the eastern Bekaa Valley, expressed disbelief, saying that if the man was on one of the four hijacked planes, then he would have definitely been a victim, not a terrorist.
"We unreservedly condemn the savage terrorist act which contradicts all what we believe in," Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Monday about the attacks on New York and Washington. Since the attacks last Tuesday, Hariri and most other Lebanese political and religious leaders have issued statements condemning the devastation and expressed sympathy with Americans. Even the Hezbollah guerrillas, linked by the United States to past attacks against Americans in Lebanon, have expressed regret for the loss of life.
Hariri has gone further, backing U.S. retaliation against the proven culprits.
"We hope that the reactions be calculated and founded on accurate and correct information and the whole world will stand with punishing the perpetrators," Hariri said.
Lebanon feels the pain of the Americans because it has suffered at the hands of Israel's "organized terrorism," Hariri said.
He said that Palestinians are being subjected daily to terrorism. "This does not justify killing a civilian for any reason. But we and the world must recognize that occupation of others' land is terrorism par excellence."
U.S. law enforcement officials have identified one of the 19 suspects behind the attacks as Lebanese Ziad Jarrahi.
The Lebanese family of a Ziad Jarrah, from the eastern Bekaa Valley, expressed disbelief, saying that if the man was on one of the four hijacked planes, then he would have definitely been a victim, not a terrorist.
That disclosure prompted the government to try to distance itself from the attacks, saying that Ziad Jarrah has lived outside the country for several years and that Lebanon, too, lost several people in the attacks.
Beirut also said that the activities of a group linked to Osama bin Laden, the exiled Saudi fugitive singled out as the prime suspect in the attacks, were crushed nearly two years ago in clashes with the Lebanese army. Twelve Lebanese soldiers and dozens of gunmen were killed.
Back in the early 1980s, at a height of the 1975-90 civil war, Lebanon was the birthplace of suicide attacks carried out by Muslim militants against American interests.
A suicide bombing destroyed the main U.S. Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. Six months later, U.S. marines on a peacekeeping mission were targeted by a suicide bomber who destroyed their Beirut airport base, killing 241. On Sept. 20, 1984, a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the current embassy compound in the suburb of Aukar, killing himself and 14 others.
Wouldn't it be nice if all the news sources were this enlightented?
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Anybody who's not absolutely, 100% for us is AGAINST US. Take note, Lebanon.
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Read the American Battle Hymn -- A serviceman's anthem for the coming fight.
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