Nice job. Do you work for Reuters?
Posted on 08/08/2006 7:27:18 PM PDT by OnRightOnLeftCoast
Nice job. Do you work for Reuters?
Italy: Jailed Members of Salafist Cell Released Under Terms of Pardon
Report by Stefano Zurlo: "In View of Judges, They Belong to Al-Qa'ida; Mastella Releases Them"
Il Giornale (Internet Version-WWW)
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Milan -- In the view of the Court of Cassation (Italy's Supreme Court), they represented Al-Qa'ida in Italy. According to Italy's judges, they enlisted volunteers to be sent to Afghanistan, Tunisia, and Algeria. Now, thanks to the pardon, they are free. Abdelhalim Ramadna, Benattia Nabil, and Ben Heni Lased belonged to the Lombardy cell of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, and they were arrested at the end of 2001, in the course of the initial frenetic investigations after the shock of 11 September.
But a dual slip-up by legislators has allowed the trio to reduce the damage, and to unexpectedly leave their cells in record time. For, at the time, the crime of international terrorism did not yet exist, it was introduced at lightning speed by parliament, and so the alleged members of the group were tried for other crimes, less serious ones. Specifically, for membership of a criminal group for the purposes of forgery and the receipt of stolen documents, and aiding and abetting illegal immigration.
Inevitably, the sentences were more lenient. Ramadna was sentenced on appeal to 7 years and 9 months, while Beni Heni Lased did not even appeal against the court's verdict, which gave him six years. A similar sentence had been handed down to Benattia Nabil.
Now the second twist in the story, which is creating disquiet among police forces and investigators. The melting-pot of the pardon has also taken in prisoners who were in jail for membership of a criminal association for the purposes of terrorism. Just like the Salafists. According to authoritative experts in the fight against Al-Qa'ida and the network of terror, in their rush, parliament forgot this typology, and did not take steps to exclude those crimes committed with the purpose of terrorism. Basically, a warning light which, in the old legislation, indicated international terrorism. Soon other members of the group could be released, starting with the number one figure, the Tunisian, Essid Ben Khemais.
And now the only solution for national security is deportation. Ramadna, the factotum of the imam (at the mosque) in Milan's Viale Jenner, already finds himself at the Temporary (Immigration) Residence Center in Trapani. Ben Heni Lased, meanwhile, was recently the protagonist in an international mess-up involving Germany and Italy. As soon as he came out of prison, he was put aboard a plane bound for Munich. For, in the past, the Tunisian had secured the status of political refugee in Germany. But this time round the Germans did not do things by halves, and they sent him back. At this point, he too will be deported. And the last member of the cell ought to follow the same fate.
In short, the three were tried on the basis of inadequate legislation, as shown by the introduction of the crime of international terrorism; for, in the past, organizing attacks in Afghanistan or in Iraq was not a crime, and proceedings could only be taken on the basis of peripheral crimes, such as the receipt of stolen passports, or aiding and abetting illegal immigration. Now no consideration was given to the context in which the sentences of the Salafists came about. Apart from anything else, Ben Heni Lased had also been targeted by German magistrates: it was suspected that he had taken part in the preparation of an attack against the Christmas market in Strasburg during Christmas 2000. Fortunately, the plan was foiled.
(Description of Source: Milan Il Giornale (Internet Version-WWW) in Italian -- right-of-center daily owned by the Berlusconi family)
Italian Shiite Organization To Stage Pro-Hizballah March in Milan 10 Aug
Report by Fausto Biloslavo: "Hizballah's Italian Pals Take to the Streets"
Il Giornale
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
"With Lebanon, with its people, with the Resistance," and against "the criminal US-Zionist aggression": That is the slogan of a protest march due to be staged by Italy's Shiites, for the first time, in Milan tomorrow.
The Resistance, with a deliberate capital "R," refers to Hizballah's Shiite militiamen who enjoy the support of Syria and of Iran in the conflict with Israel. The protest march has been called by an Islamic association known as the Imam Mahdi. "We urge all people who are sincere and lovers of justice to testify with their presence to their support, their closeness, and their solidarity with Lebanon, with its people, and with its Resistance," our own home-grown Shiites write, beginning their communique with the traditional formula: "In the name of God the clement and merciful." And that is not all: The Imam Mahdi Association, named for one of the legendary figures in the Shiite world, urges "the Italian people as a whole to voice their indignation in the face of the criminal US-Zionist aggression against a sovereign country and the guilty silence of the United Nations and of the so-called international community."
The march organized by Hizballah's Italian pals is due to start in piazza San Babila and to then make its way to piazza Missori, in the heart of Milan, stopping to stage a protest outside the Lebanese Consulate. Italy's Shiites have recently issued a number of proclamations proudly highlighting the fact that the Hizballah guerrilla fighters "have been able to inflict very tough blows on the enemy, in a manner unprecedented in the history of the self-proclaimed state of Israel."
The Imam Mahdi Association, first set up back in 2004, has its headquarters in Rome and it consists for the most part of Italian citizens who have converted to Shiite Islam. An anonymous representative of the association explained on the Internet that "it is national in scope, having members virtually throughout Italy, from Sicily to Lombardy." The Shiite community has opened also a European Islamic Cultural Center in the (Italian) capital, and the center is extremely active in the sphere of publicity and courses linked to the Shiite world.
Italy's Shiites number several hundred, which is quite some figure if we remember that an overwhelming majority of converts have opted for the Sunni variety of Islam. Many come from a political background either on the far Right or on the far Left, both of which extremes are markedly anti-US and anti-Zionist as it is. Italy's Shiite galaxy is part of an international pro-Iranian organization known as the (The People of the House, a reference to the Prohet Muhammad's family). The Italian Shiites' focal point in our country is the Iranian Embassy to the Holy See.
When the clashes taking place in the Land of Cedars (Lebanon) began, the Imam Mahdi Shiites wasted no time in starting to collect funds for Lebanon. Italy's Shiites are urging people to open their wallets "in order to attenuate the atrocity and inhumanity of the situation looming over the heads of these people who are being martyrized by the Zionists." The Imam Mahdi's urge their fellow worshippers to send their financial donations through the ASRI, the Association for Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants. This is a bizarre charity that organized a fund-raising event in Milan in late July, in the course of which violent anti-Israeli slogans were yelled. The ASRI, along with all the parties in The Union (from the DS (Italian Democrats of the Left) to the Daisy Party and right through to Communist Renewal), also joined the Leoncavallo (anarchistic youth club) and other antiglobalization movements in a torchlit march in the Lombard capital on 25 July to call for the "silence of arms in the Middle East."
(Description of Source: Milan Il Giornale in Italian -- right-of-center daily owned by the Berlusconi family)
Some pointed out in another thread (don't recall the title) that during his press conference that President Bush called for Iran to give up their nuclear wepon, then paused, and continued with: to give up their nuclear weapons program.
Not quite correcting oneself for a verbal gaff; so was it a Fruedian slip? Did N.K. or Paki's or someone else slip a nuke into Tehran, did they actually build one one their own, or are they close enough to having one to be considered having one?
Tough to say, but I'm sure the Pres has a better intel briefing than we.
No, but I used to work for the AP.
Lebanon's Lahoud Sees Country Emerge United From Conflict, Supports UN-led Force
Interview with Lebanese President Lahoud by Suzan Haidamous; place and date not given: "'Everyone Backs Hizballah' -- President Lahoud Sides With Warriors of God, Disappointed With United States"
Focus
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
(Haidamous) Lebanon is being bombed by the Israeli armed forces. Why does your army not intervene?
(Lahoud) It has neither the materiel nor the manpower to stop the Israeli army. If you want to confront Israel openly, you need a guerrilla force, putting up resistance. The Israelis do not know where Hizballah's positions are, and this is the reason why they are unable to defeat it.
(Haidamous) But why does the Lebanese army not control the borders with Israel, but prefers to leave the job to Hizballah?
(Lahoud) If the Lebanese army had been posted on the border, the same would have happened as in 1982 . .. .
(Haidamous) . . . when the first Israeli-Lebanese war broke out.
(Lahoud) Now as then, they would have been able to occupy our country with ease. Only because of the resistance (by Hizballah,) were we able to liberate our country. Now, Israel has given Israeli captives as a pretext to occupy the country.
(Haidamous) Should you not have interfered when Hizballah abducted the Israeli servicemen?
(Lahoud) The same happened in exactly the same way three years ago. Hizballah wanted to exchange prisoners as on the first occasion. Hizballah people have been sitting in Israeli prisons for 30 years. The Israelis only needed an excuse to invade Lebanon. But they were wrong, the conflict is now in its 25th day, and they are unable to do anything.
(Haidamous) Is this a failure of the Israelis?
(Lahoud) They want to boost the morale of their troops, telling them lies every day, claiming that Hizballah had no longer any missiles left. Then, they do a five-minute landing in Baalbek, capturing five people that they claim are members of Hizballah. But here, everyone backs Hizballah, so they could take anyone of us along.
(Haidamous) You have made very positive comments on Hasan Nasrallah, whom many consider to be a terrorist. Why?
(Lahoud) The entire Arab world backs him, the Lebanese in particular. Everyone respects him for what he wants. He fights for Lebanon's demands.
(Haidamous) Which are these?
(Lahoud) The withdrawal from Lebanon, including from the territory of the Sheeba Farms . . . .
(Haidamous) . . . that Israel continues to occupy and plans to return to Syria . . . .
(Lahoud) . . . of which also the Syrians say that it is Lebanese land. The Lebanese want to exchange prisoners, and they no longer want their airspace to be violated. These are very small, justified demands.
(Haidamous) Let me ask again: many consider Hizballah to be a terrorist group. What is your view?
(Lahoud) Hizballah is a national resistance movement. Because it is strong enough to resist Israel, it is called a terrorist group. Is it terrorism, when they defend the rights of their people?
(Haidamous) Israel accuses Hizballah of hiding behind civilian people and in schools.
(Lahoud) If the Israelis knew exactly where the Hizballah fighters are, they could do away with them. Hizballah would never store weapons in a school. The proof is that the Israelis stormed a hospital in Baalbek, but did not find anything.
(Haidamous) Iran and Syria deliver weapons to Hizballah. Is the conflict being fanned from outside?
(Lahoud) There are claims in this respect, but no one knows from where Hizballah gets its weapons. No one, not even the Hizballah ministers in the cabinet. This is the strength of the resistance. No one knows the arms depots or the commanders.
The Syrians help the Lebanese by delivering lots of humanitarian relief supplies, but they do not want to just set a foot inside Lebanon. Apart from this, it seems to be largely forgotten that Israel gets everything from the United States.
(Haidamous) What is the role of the United States?
(Lahoud) The United States is no honest broker; it supports Israel 100 percent. All demands are phrased for the benefit of Israel, rather than Lebanon. All it does is to say that Israel may continue as before, and when you accept our demands, we will tell Israel to stop.
(Haidamous) Are you disappointed with US Secretary of State Rice?
(Lahoud) Naturally. After all, she represents the US Administration.
(Haidamous) How will Hizballah emerge from this war?
(Lahoud) Even after the liberation in 2000 . . . .
(Haidamous) . . . when Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon . . . .
(Lahoud) . . . Hizballah has not derived any advantage from it. It will not do so this time either.
(Haidamous) Do you not fear that Islamism will strengthen after the war in Lebanon? This could also affect the Christians in your country.
(Lahoud) I assure you that, once this is over, Lebanon will be more united than ever. The crisis has rallied us around our country. Refugees found accommodation with people of different faiths.
(Haidamous) Who will make good the war damage?
(Lahoud) We will urge Israel to pay this time. This is our right, provided there is international justice. The reconstruction will take long, particularly when you think of the bridges and power plants destroyed.
(Haidamous) Are you in favor of deploying international forces between Hizballah and Israel?
(Lahoud) Should there be an international force, it must be under the command of the United Nations. Otherwise the various components of a multinational force would influence the different groups within our own country. We cannot accept this.
(Description of Source: Munich Focus in German -- centrist weekly news magazine)
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also
2006israelwar or WOT
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I recall reading here somewhere that you had quite a bit of military experience as a Marine. What tactics do you think Israel should use to clean this up before they get shut down?
Actually, I don't think there are any bombs under the Dome of the Rock. Islamists revere and respect their holy sites...usually. (My mind wanders back to the day a few years ago when a sect tried to take over the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Many were killed that day.) A bomb in the tunnels underneath might indeed destroy Jerusalem, but it'd also destroy the Dome.
Somehow, I don't think they want that.
Semper Fi
They don't really. They can always build another dome there. The only significance of the site is that supposedly Mohammed ascended to heaven from that spot. I say supposedly, because that's a theory as to why it was built, not a fact. More likely it was built to represent the idea that Muslims were then in charge in Jerusalem. It's not even a mosque. The dome of the rock doesn't matter to them. I believe they would sacrifice Jerusalem, if need be, to harm Jews.
bttt
The conspiracy theorist in me likes to think that this is Bush expanding the WoT. It was time for a second front and he had Israel invade the beaches of Normandy.....just a thought to toy around with....
Thanks. It is nice that some of the Freepers with extensive military experience, such as yourself, give us some ground level insight into these military affiars.
On the cable channels they only talk to high level mostly retired officers who don't really understand the "boots on the ground" stuff that enlisted military men have.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work.
Are you still active duty, or are you retired?
Every Kyusha fired on Isreal should be met with two to Damascus.. You know Hizballahs headquarters..
Equivelent to a Warrant officer
Semper Fi
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