Posted on 03/05/2005 5:06:15 PM PST by nwctwx
Edited on 03/29/2005 8:49:43 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
March 25, 2005
Note: The following text is an exact quote (minus the graphics):
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P O Box 27693
Alb., NM 87125-7693
Tel: (505) 400-7145
www.joyjunction.org
GREEK CHURCH ROCKED BY LAND SCANDAL ALLEGATIONS
Easter Week Old City Protesters Demand Local Arab Rule
Irineos I
Holy Week in Jerusalem is usually marked by time-honored Christian observances between Palm Sunday and Easter, but this year's celebrations have been marred by daily protests of local Arab Christians outside the Church of Holy Sepulcher demanding the resignation of the Greek Patriarch for allegedly selling land to Jews.
According to International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) News, last Friday the Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Irineos I, had approved the sale of several church properties just inside Jaffa Gate, including the landmark Petra and Imperial hotels, to two groups of Jewish investors from abroad.
That evening Irineos issued a statement saying, "I rigorously and absolutely deny any connection with this fictitious transaction."
But the scandal has sparked daily protests for his ouster and replacement with a local Arab cleric, ICEJ reported, a move that could have huge ramifications for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to ICEJ, the PLO has worked quietly for a number of decades to promote local Arab clergy loyal to Palestinian nationalism to positions of authority in Jerusalem's traditional churches. As a result, the Latin Patriarch and the Anglican, Lutheran and several other bishops in Jerusalem are all now local Arabs who openly identify with the Palestinian cause.
But the most coveted position has been head of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, ICEJ reported. The reason being that as successor to the Byzantine Empire the church inherited huge tracts of real estate in the Holy Land, making it one of the three or four largest landowners in Israel today.
The Greek church owns, for example, the hill where the Knesset stands, and the sites serving as the official residences of Israel's president and prime minister. All are held by the state under long-term leases, ICEJ reported.
So far, the Greek church has resisted the PLO's "indigenization" process, continuing to promote Greek clergy to the sensitive position, which carries not only control over a lucrative real estate portfolio, but also the religious title of most senior Christian cleric in Jerusalem.
But the latest land scandal threatens to change all that, ICEJ commented. A Christian ecumenical scholar in Jerusalem told ICEJ News that this week's protests are "undoubtedly being staged to undermine the Greek church's resistance to Palestinianization."
She added that certain Arab Catholic elements may also hope to benefit from a diminished Greek Patriarchate.
The scholar described the local Greek Orthodox community as filled with many "good clergy and parishioners," ICEJ reported. However, she pointed out that over time the church's extensive land holdings here and abroad have attracted certain seedy elements from both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, fostering a separate and somewhat complex, inter-religious underworld of lawyers, land dealers and officials with many secrets and vested interests to protect.
"I doubt that anyone in the church, even the Greek Patriarch himself, really knows exactly what has occurred in this and similar land deals in the past," she said ICEJ News. " I pray they can preserve unity in the church and survive any attempted takeover."
According to Maariv, the Old City properties were sold by a Greek individual called Nicholas Papadimas, using a power of attorney he received from Irineos. The Patriarchate insisted, however, that the power of attorney authorized only renting church properties, and that any sales must be approved by a wider Orthodox council called the Holy Synod.
The Palestinian Authority, Jordan and even Greece have all opened investigations into the situation, ICEJ reported.
Meanwhile, with the Easter celebrations upon us, the plaza of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, adjacent to the Patriarchate, continues to be the site of daily protests by local Arab Christians demanding the church be ruled by Arab priests and not "a branch of the Jewish Agency."
For additional information about ICEJ go to www.icej.org
To learn more about the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem go to www.jerusalem-patriarchate.org/intro.asp and www.jerusalempatriarchate.com
Do you have a link for that?
Ping
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/Wire/050325c.asp
"Suicide Car Bomber Kills 11 Iraq Policemen"
By Edward Harris
Associated Press Writer
March 25, 2005
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "CBN.com – BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the central city of Ramadi, killing 11 Iraqi policemen and wounding 14 other people including two U.S. Army soldiers, the U.S. military said Friday.
In eastern Baghdad, unidentified attackers killed five female translators working for the U.S. military late Thursday, said Iraqi police Capt. Ahmed Aboud.
The translators "were heading home when gunmen driving two cars sprayed them with machine-gun fire," Aboud said. Further details weren't immediately available.
The blast in Ramadi happened Thursday evening at a checkpoint on the eastern outskirts of the Sunni Triangle city 70 miles west of Baghdad. Nine Iraqi security forces and three civilians were among the wounded, U.S. Marine Capt. Jeffrey Pool told The Associated Press. The attacker also died.
Insurgents routinely target U.S. forces and their perceived collaborators as well as members of Iraq's government, army and police - security forces the U.S. military says must gain better control of the strife-torn country before any major U.S. troop withdrawal.
Police found two decapitated bodies clad in Iraqi army uniforms north of Baghdad, officials said.
The headless corpses were lying on the side of a road between Baghdad and the town of Abu Ghraib when a passing police patrol discovered them Thursday and brought them to a nearby morgue, 1st Lt. Akram Al-Zubaai said Friday."
Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2005/20050325_307.html
Soldiers Kill Seven Terrorists, Seize Weapons in Iraq
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2005 – U.S. soldiers have killed seven terrorists and seized weapons caches in Iraq, military officials in Baghdad reported today.
Task Force Liberty soldiers defeated a terrorist attack near Baqubah at about midnight today, killing three of the attackers. No coalition forces were injured in the attack, officials said, but they provided no further details.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, killed four terrorists who were trying to ambush Iraqi and multinational forces in northern Mosul on March 24. The U.S. soldiers also seized weapons that were the terrorists’ vehicles, including two AK-47 assault rifles, an automatic rifle, two hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenade parts and ammunition. No Multinational Force injuries were reported during the incident.
An engagement near Tal Afar resulted in soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, seizing a number of weapons March 24. The soldiers returned fire on a vehicle following an attack and injured one terrorist. They detained another terrorist in the vehicle and found weapons that included an RPG launcher, three rifles and ammunition. The weapons were seized for future destruction, and no Multinational Force injuries were reported.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, discovered a large weapons cache during a March 24 search in southwestern Mosul. The cache included RPG rounds, a sniper rifle, an automatic rifle, two AK-47s, hand grenades and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The weapons and ammunition were seized for future destruction. Various operations today yielded more weapons:
Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), seized three large weapons caches in northern Iraq. No inventory of the weapons was immediately available.
Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, discovered a large weapons cache during a search operation in Tal Afar. The cache included 37 mortar rounds, 50 mortar fuses, an RPG round, RPG parts and a blasting cap.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, discovered another weapons cache in Tal Afar. The cache included 40 mortar rounds and 50 mortar fuses.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, seized a number of weapons from a vehicle during a search in western Mosul. The weapons seized included an RPG, four RPG rounds and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
In other news from Iraq, a suicide car bomb detonated March 24 at an entry-control point in eastern Ramadi. Initial reports indicate the blast killed six and wounded 19 members of the 2nd Iraqi Special Police Commandos, officials said. Two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi civilians were injured.
Entry-control points began outside the provincial capital Feb. 20 at the request of the Iraqi government, officials said. Both Iraqi security forces and U.S. military personnel assigned to the 2nd Marine Division man the control points.
“These terrorist attacks will not deter the soldiers and Marines from accomplishing their mission,” said Brig. Gen. Joe J. McMenamin, assistant 2nd Marine Division commander. “This was an attack on Iraqi security forces who have sworn an oath to protect the citizens of Iraq.”
A detainee questioned about a recent improvised explosive device attack led Task Force Baghdad soldiers to two weapons caches March 24. The first site had IEDs, IED components, caller ID boxes and voltmeters. At the second location, the soldiers found two 160 mm rockets and ammunition. The soldiers continued to search the area and discovered a third weapons cache containing RPGs, night-vision goggles and recoilless rifles. Task Force Baghdad soldiers also found another weapons cache containing three mortar rounds and an IED trigger device.
Coalition forces from the 2nd Marine Division have detained a total of 147 suspected insurgents since taking the Anbar province security and stabilization reins from the 1st Marine Division on March 17.
“Over the past few months, 1st and 2nd Division … have pursued and captured many terrorists attempting to prevent a free Iraq,” said Col. Bob Chase, chief operations officer for the 2nd Marine Division. “These are criminals and murderers who display wanton disregard for their fellow Iraqis.”
Two Marine regimental combat teams and one Army brigade combat team that make up the division also have conducted numerous raids and operations over the last seven days, netting 14 mortar rounds; a 120 mm tank round; about 1,000 small-arms rounds; 66 rockets; 40 small arms of various types, including AK-47 assault rifles, shotguns, pistols and machine guns; Iraqi police and military uniforms; IED-making materials; and insurgent propaganda. “Tirelessly, our young Marines move through the countryside and deny the enemy solace, keeping him off-balance and under increasing pressure,” said Chase. The raids and operations were conducted throughout the province with the cooperation of the Iraqi security forces.
“Our main effort since our arrival in Al Anbar is to accelerate the training and partnering of the emerging Iraqi security forces,” Chase explained. The Iraqi forces provide what they call “eyes and tongues” that allow U.S. forces to discern foreign fighters and strangers, Chase said. “Most importantly,” he added, “they are able to interface with the locals and get information Iraqis might be unwilling to share with U.S. personnel for fear of repercussions from the terrorists. “We will stand with them until their forces are ready to stand alone and can protect themselves from those that fear a united Iraq.”
All the battalions from the Marine division have previously deployed in support of various operations around the globe, including service in Afghanistan, Haiti, the Horn of Africa and Iraq.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)
Related Sites:
Multinational Force Iraq
2nd Marine Division
From: Freshta5101 Sent: 3/20/2005 2:04 AM_________________________
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Ahmed, or any other Administrator can contact me for the domain panel and other access log Ins
Allahu Akkbar!....
OBLCrew - Osama Bin Laden's Crew
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intriguing, indeed.
Thank you Mr. Galt.
http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=456525
"D.C. Mayor Comments on Shooting of Child"
Updated: Friday, Mar. 25, 2005 - 11:29 AM
WASHINGTON
http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=456239
"Two Dead, Three Wounded In Separate D.C. Shootings"
Updated: Friday, Mar. 25, 2005 - 5:49 AM
WASHINGTON
There's another group attempting to build the same kind of stronghold in America with Sharia law (instead of tribal). Once implemented, they'll undoubtedly have the same free reign as tribal leaders in our land. The integration of tribal law and American justice are rough (and even nonexistant) at best.
Voila! They didn't refer to themselves as a "cell," thereby making their statement match the recent FBI statement advising no cells have been found.
The people of Portland elected this Mayor. It's up to them to make the Mayor accountable to them. If they don't want to be part of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, so be it. There's plenty of other cities in America for the FBI to protect. Time for Portlanders to get involved if they don't like what their Mayor and city officials plan for them. They have the right to opt out. Let their loss be another city's gain!
Yep, they would be wise to leave them in place.
Thanks to MamaDearest for pointing to this article.
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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12438853%255E1702,00.html
"Al-Qaeda branch launches web magazine"
By Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai
March 04, 2005
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "THE Iraq wing of al-Qaeda has launched an online publication to rally Muslims to wage holy war against "infidel crusaders" in Iraq and other Islamic countries.
The first edition of the magazine of the al-Qaeda Organisation of Holy War in Iraq, posted on Islamist websites, also called on Iraqi security forces, who have borne the brunt of militant attacks, to "repent" and stop serving the "cross".
"Followers of Sunni Islam, rise up with your brothers the mujahideen (holy fighters) to conquer Iraq and after that other Muslim countries occupied by infidels," said an introductory statement signed by group leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
"Ignoring jihad (holy war) is one of the great sins."
al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has declared Zarqawi his deputy in Iraq and the Jordanian militant is Washington's top enemy in the country."
Swarming attacks by gangs in BC
FBI rules out Islamic boast for refinery explosion
FBI director says gun laws should be reviewed
Hit and run not considered a violation in Mexico
Wisconsin has the highest proportion of undocumented immigrants
Group Threatens to Attack in France
PARIS -- A group sent parts of bomb detonators to President Jacques Chirac and the Interior Ministry, threatening to carry out attacks unless it was paid off, authorities said Friday.
The identical letters, signed by a group calling itself AZF, were received Thursday. They carried threats of striking in May, the prosecutor's office said.
Officials did not disclose the specific nature of the threatened attacks or the amount of payment demanded.
The office said that each letter was posted in France and contained pieces of detonators.
Investigators were analyzing the letters and attempting to identify the group and stop it from acting, it said.
Threats from AZF last year led to a massive search of 19,885 miles of train track for explosives after the group indicated the location of one device buried under a track. Last year's letters demanded a payment of $2 million.
In July, letters signed by AZF were sent to eight multinational food and cosmetics companies, threatening to poison their products if they didn't each pay $1.35 million each. No evidence of a poison plot was found.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-france-threat,0,6610457.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
MD, thank you for staying on top of the refinery explosion. Please continue to follow up on it if you could. This may be the tip of the iceberg - you know, the one that sunk the titanic, the 'unsinkable' ship.
This country is more vulnerable than it’s ever been in its existence. Where do you get your food? How do you get to work? When is the last time you purchased ANYTHING that was made in the USA?
Terrorists claim responsibility for the explosion and the FBI discounts it. Quite honestly, I don't trust what either organization is saying.
Our borders are wide open and have been for a long time. Long enough for 'branches' or 'cells' to be firmly in place and waiting for an opportunity. Some of the reports said the terrorists didn't move on the refinery until they were 98% sure of a successful operation. One person is still missing. We need to find this person.
GWB is right for going after the terrorists but he’s wrong for not securing the back yard. Citizens are trying to take up the slack and are being persecuted by the ACLU that I consider a moral enemy of the Constitution.
Do not underestimate our opponent. While the operatives may be dumb enough to sacrifice themselves as the 911 operatives were, the planners of that operation were educated right here in the USA – in OUR colleges, compliments of the ACLU and the rest of the liberal pukes. Yes, we’ve taken out much of their leadership, but it’s like the drug war. How many are waiting in the wings to take over the operations?
I don’t know if we’re going to be taken down by a magnificent attack like 911 or if we’ll be taken down by ‘death by 1,000 cuts’. Maybe it’ll be a combination of both. I do know that if we don’t make come radical changes we will be taken down.
Sorry to be so pessimistic, but this refinery explosion may be the start of a very nasty road we all must haul. I pray I’m wrong.
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