Posted on 02/26/2007 4:18:14 PM PST by DAVEY CROCKETT
No one to counter Chavez In a region where the leading ideology is Bolivarianism, there is not one leader positioned to offer a better idea for a brighter future.
Commentary by Sam Logan for ISN Security Watch (23/02/2007)
For over two decades, the prevailing ideology in Latin America was neo-liberalism, a Washington-born idea that claimed the power of open markets would lift the region’s poor from misery. It did not, and corruption ran rampant.
While democracy still remains strong, resentful voters ushered in a new generation of neo-populist leaders touting a new idea: a form of socialism, called Bolivarianism, that has slowly but surely become the loudest and most prevalent ideology.
Bolivarianism is anti-capitalist, supports nationalization, regional trade with like-minded countries and above all, suggests that a country should rely on itself or fellow socialist states, not imperialist powers, as a source of the economic growth that will lift all from poverty. It is a sort of refurbished socialism that is not a guiding light for the future.
Latin America cannot readily absorb the economic shock of open markets, nor can it get bogged down in the trappings of old socialist ideas. A blended ideology must be promoted, but the problem is that no one is strong enough to counter Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the leader of Bolivarianism.
Chavez calls it Socialism for the 21st Century. Cuba's Fidel Castro passed him the torch. Leaders around the region pay homage to their own past as socialist upstarts through hugging and laughing with Chavez on the international stage while taking care of often pro-capitalist, neo-liberal business at home.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva is a perfect example. He has the leftist background and eye for fiscal conservatism to become a great ideological counterweight to Chavez. His politics represent an ideal blend for the region. But his politically weak position at home and strong voices from his own left deter any would be shouting match with Chavez.
Within a week after winning his second term in office, Lula visited Chavez for a photo opportunity on a bridge linking both countries. That was in November, and it looks like Lula’s administration will remain bogged down until March as he struggles to get past his party’s sordid past and form a working cabinet willing to share the same table.
Argentina of the past could have been a counter weight to the Bolivarian ideology. But since Nestor Kirchner has come to power, Argentina has become a Venezuelan puppet.
Chavez has literally bought the support of his southern neighbor with over US$3 billion in purchases of Argentine debt. The most recent purchase occurred on 16 February, when Venezuela dumped another US$750 million into Argentine government coffers.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has the politics to promote an ideological battle with Chavez. Colombia has been a model of economic growth through a mixture of neo-liberal policies and social programs. But Uribe has serious problems.
Political allies are falling like dominos due to links with former paramilitary leaders. And if Uribe took the time to speak out for neo-liberalism and against Chavez, he would be dismissed as another of Washington's puppets. Colombia is a top recipient of US aid.
The only other leader who could take up an ideological fight with Chavez is Mexican President Felipe Calderon. He has the right politics and his country has a history of not blindly supporting the US. Voting against the US invasion of Iraq at the UN is a clear indication. But Calderon won on the thinnest possible mandate. His opposition controls enough seats in the Mexican Congress to block any unwanted initiative, and his focus is on Mexican organized crime, not on verbal sword play with Chavez.
Finally, the US has launched a diplomatic offensive in the region. This is to be a year of engagement, but the US president is clearly obsessed with the war in Iraq, not with putting a muzzle on Venezuela’s leader for the sake of the region’s future. Washington is doubly discredited, first for promoting an ideology that clearly did not work, and second for doing nothing about it.
Latin America needs an independent leader willing to stand up to Chavez, but that leader does not exist on the region’s geopolitical map. Bolivarianism will continue to seep into the minds and hearts of millions across Latin America. Chavez and his pool of allies will control the headlines until the next round of presidential elections tell the world how the region has embraced this new ideology.
As Chavez puts it, Socialism for the 21st Century is just getting started. If that is true, then he will continue to trumpet his ideology until Latin Americans learn, the hard way, that Bolivarianism did not carry them much farther from poverty than neo-liberalism. Disillusionment with reality may then spread faster than hope for the future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Logan is an investigative journalist who has reported on security, energy, politics, economics, organized crime, terrorism and black markets in Latin America since 1999. He is a senior writer for ISN Security Watch based in Brazil.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author only, not the International Relations and Security Network (ISN).
Jihadist Calls On Islamic Charities To Unite Against US 'Interference'
Hamid al-Ali Calls On Islamic Charities To Unite Against US 'Interference'
Originally published on 3/18/2007 by Jihadist Websites -- OSC Summary in Arabic
Terrorism: Hamid al-Ali Calls on Islamic Charitable Organizations to Stand United Against External Intervention
On 18 March, the website of prominent Kuwaiti jihadist cleric Hamid Al-Ali posted an article by him entitled, "What is Behind Going After Islamic Charitable Organizations?," in which Al-Ali expresses his bewilderment over "the shameful submission" in the Muslim world to what he calls the intervention of the US in the way Muslim organizations collect and spend their money. Al-Ali, who says he was personally affected by such "intervention" when the US Treasury, in 2006, accused him of sympathizing with Al-Qa'ida and froze his assets, argued that the real goal behind this expedition is "to stop the spread of Islamic civilization, which continues to grow and emerge even in the heart of the Western World."
In his article, Hamid al-Ali explains that he is not surprised to see the new attempts to close down the charitable organizations in Kuwait under the pretext of supporting terrorism. According to him, these attempts come as part of a conspiracy against Islam, and because, "they [the US] know that the elimination of Islam and the destruction of its civilization can only be achieved by attacking two pivots, moral and financial." This is why, Al-Ali argues, "The US is leading a global conspiracy against the wealth of the ummah, which provides for the Islamic Da'wah and erects buildings for the propagation of Islamic civilization around the world."
Al-Ali expresses his astonishment over the "shameful submission to this humiliating intervention in the affairs of the Muslim world," even though it is "stealing food from the mouths of the Muslim orphans." He suggests that, "today, it is the duty of the Islamic charity organizations to cooperate and to stand united in the face of any external interference in the way they collect and spend their funds."
Al-Alam: US Behind British Entry Into Iranian Waters
Iranian TV: US Behind British Sailors' 'Entry Into Iranian Territorial Waters'
Originally published on 3/30/2007 by Al-Alam Television in Arabic
An informed source has said that the British Royal Navy has set up a committee to look into the reason why the British sailors entered the Iranian territorial waters. The source talked of a possibility of sacking the commander of British 99th fleet [as heard, apparently referring to British frigate HMS F 99] and some other commanders.
The source further said that the British military experts believed that the US forces command in the Persian Gulf had been behind the entry of the British sailors into the Iranian territorial waters.
: Tehran Al-Alam Television in Arabic -- IRIB's 24-hour Arabic news channel, targetting a pan-Arab audience
UK Hostage Propaganda Statement
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0703303333182551.htm
I am sacrificed by Bush, Blair policies - UK sailor
One of the 15 British sailors arrested last Friday in the Iranian
waters in
Persian Gulf said she was "sacrificed due to the intervening policies
of the
Bush and Blair governments".
"I believe that for our countries to move forward we need to start
withdrawing our forces from Iraq and leave the people of Iraq to start
rebuilding their lives," Leading Seaman Faye Turney said in a letter
sent to
British people on Friday.
"It is now our time to ask our government to make a change to its
oppressive
behaviour towards other people," she wrote in the letter obtained by
IRNA.
Also in an earlier letter to British MPs, she had urged them to
question why
UK soldiers were still in Iraq and to challenge the government why
Britain's
presence in the Persian Gulf has led to another diplomatic conflict
with
Iran.
"I ask the representatives of the House of Commons after the government
had
promised that this type of incident would not happen again, why have
they
let this occur and why has the government not been questioned over
this,"
Turney said.
"Isn't it time for us to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let
them
determine their own future," the letter read.
Fifteen British marines who illegally entered into Iranian territorial
waters were arrested by the Iranian border guards on March 23.
9/11 financial facilitator and intermediary testifies in Guantanamo
http://www.terrorfinance.org/the_terror_finance_blog/2007/03/911_financial_f.html
Propaganda: Radical Cleric Blames U.S. for Iraq Woes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/30/AR2007033000209.html?hpid=topnews
Radical Cleric Blames U.S. for Iraq Woes
By BUSHRA JUHI
The Associated Press
Friday, March 30, 2007; 10:44 AM
BAGHDAD -- The radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr issued a scathing attack
on
the United States on Friday, following one of the country's bloodiest
days,
blaming Washington for Iraq's
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/countries/iraq.html?nav=el
troubles and calling for a mass demonstration April 9 _ the fourth
anniversary of the fall of Baghdad.
As al-Sadr's remarks were read in a mosque, Shiites in Baghdad loaded
wooden
coffins into vans and shoveled broken glass and other debris into
wheelbarrows in the aftermath of a double suicide bombing at a
marketplace.
continues...........
Saudis admit Israeli journalist
www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/print/20070328AzoulaySaudi.html
Saudi Arabia admitted an Israeli journalist for the first time. Orly Azoulay, a U.S.-based correspondent for Yediot Achronot, flew to Riyadh this week as part of a press delegation accompanying U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Arab League summit.
Azoulay wrote Wednesday that Ban, "who is now working to promote the Saudi peace initiative between Israel and the Arab states, wanted to convey a message of conciliation: He believed that if he were to bring together on his plane Arab journalists and an Israeli media representative, he would
succeed in partially breaking the ice."
Azoulay, a dual French-Israeli citizen, was the only journalist in Ban's entourage to whom the Saudis denied a visa. According to Azoulay, she boarded Ban's plane while U.N. officials were still lobbying Saudi Arabia over the issue.
When they landed, a representative of the Saudi Information Ministry who met them had still not been informed of Azoulay's participation. When he learned of it, the representative told her, "Welcome to Riyadh. Welcome, you have nothing to worry about, we will all watch over you here. You are our guest."
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?fr=yalerts-keyword&c=&p=bomb+OR+explosive+device&ei=utf-8
# Traffic stop nets 'homemade explosive device' Open this result in new window
The Eureka Reporter - Mar 30 9:52 PM
A Blue Lake man is facing a laundry list of charges after a routine traffic stop Friday morning resulted in the discovery of what police have called an explosive device.
Save
# E. Ky. man charged with putting explosive device on SUV Open this result in new window
WAVE 3 Louisville - Mar 29 1:29 PM
An eastern Kentucky man has been charged with putting an explosive device on his vehicle, which was parked near a building being used as a temporary courthouse.
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# Police defuse explosive device in eastern Ky. Open this result in new window
WAVE 3 Louisville - Mar 27 8:14 AM
A state police bomb squad has disarmed an explosive device found under the hood of a vehicle parked in Salyersville.
Save
# FBI Offers Reward In Bomb Scare Open this result in new window
KOTV 6 Tulsa - Mar 30 12:59 PM
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The FBI on Friday offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who placed an explosive device outside a Jewish temple last week in Muskogee. The device was made of an explosive material contained in cooking oil containers and placed inside a shopping cart that was discovered Saturday, March 24, outside the Temple Beth Ahaba, said FBI ...
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# Homemade bomb found in Montgomery County mailbox Open this result in new window
WMCTV Memphis - Mar 30 1:39 PM
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. Authorities used a robot to remove and detonate an explosive device found in a Montgomery County mailbox. Authorities said the device, made out of a...
Save
# Man arrested for allegedly making explosive device out of butane Open this result in new window
WPRI 12 Providence - Mar 28 12:04 PM
RICHMOND, R.I. (AP) -- A man is arrested after he allegedly made an explosive device out of butane and left it in his living room. State police Captain James Swanberg says 20-year-old Timothy Winn of Richmond made the device out of a six- to-eight-inch-long butane tank and an ignition device.
Save
# Resident Finds Bomb In Mailbox Open this result in new window
WSMV Nashville - Mar 30 7:27 AM
Authorities used a robot to remove and detonate an explosive device found in a Montgomery County mailbox. Video
Save
# FBI offers reward in bomb scare Open this result in new window
NewsChannel 4 - Mar 30 3:09 PM
The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who placed an explosive device outside a Jewish temple last week in Muskogee.
Save
# Explosive found in man's mailbox Open this result in new window
The Leaf Chronicle - Mar 30 3:03 AM
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a call Thursday night of an explosive device discovered in a mailbox in the Port Royal area.
Save
# Man arrested for allegedly making explosive device out of butane Open this result in new window
Boston Globe - Mar 27 2:31 PM
A man is arrested after he allegedly made an explosive device out of butane and leaving it in his living room.
Way too many fires in our schools:
Risks grow of terrorists getting nukes
Hilary Leila Krieger, THE JERUSALEM POST Mar. 30, 2007
There is a growing threat that terrorist groups such as Hizbullah will acquire nuclear or other WMD technology, a senior US State Department official told The Jerusalem Post this week.
He indicated that there are a "large number" of nuclear smuggling incidents each year, some of which are "substantial" and not limited to low-grade material.
"You have this environment of material, expertise and supporting equipment [for weapons of mass destruction] being more widely available than before," he said. "You have that coupled with the demonstrated interest of some terror groups to acquire these capabilities, and that is a real concern to us."
"It's a bigger threat than it was in the past... You see work by the groups to try to acquire the means. It's not just the will. They are working to acquire the means," he said.
While the official wouldn't discuss the specific capabilities of Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, he said "each of those terrorist groups are ones the United States is very concerned about." He also said Arab and Muslim countries were increasingly playing a role in combating the spread of such technologies to terrorist organization.
The first two meetings of the US-led Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism were held in Morocco and Turkey, respectively, and the next one is scheduled for Kazakhstan.
"I don't know that I could yet say it's a shared concern across the Arab world. That would be an overstatement," he said. "But I would say the beginnings are positive here. You have countries, including Islamic states, with a common vision working closely together."
The official stressed the importance of international cooperation on Iran. He said moves to make the Islamic Republic abandon uranium enrichment efforts should be done in "a way where we continue to have the international community united."
To that end, if Teheran fails to comply with the second unanimous UN Security Council Resolution calling on it to stop enriching uranium, the US will use "incremental increases in pressure" to get Iran to comply, he said.
"It's important that we maintain the international community's united support for dealing with the Iranian nuclear program," the official said. "While you have consensus on the need to take steps to stop this, you don't have complete consensus on the timing or on the specific measures."
He said such differences were particularly apparent between the American approach and that of the Russians and the Chinese, but that they existed also with regard to the Europeans.
"I think we perceive a greater threat and are more concerned by it than our European colleagues," he said. While noting European support for many US steps against Iran, he also said, "There are debates inside the EU as to whether certain measures they're supporting, such as sanctions, are consistent with engaging Iran and what's going to be a more effective policy over the long run."
With Israel, the official said, there's largely agreement on the threat posed by Iran and the time frame for handling it, but that the Israelis "give more stress to the worst-case scenarios."
"It's very apparent to me from being in Israel that the Iranian nuclear threat is perceived as being an existential threat to the existence of Israel, and I understand that," he said.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879211871&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[ Back to the Article ]
Copyright 1995-2007 The Jerusalem Post - http://www.jpost.com/
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/187197.php
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March 30, 2007
Birmingham Mosque Supporting Exiled al Qaeda Supporter? (Sticky)
birmingham_mosque.jpg***sticky***scroll down for newer**
A week after the website of radical cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed was shut down (thank us later), his followers have migrated to a new website. The new website is registered to an address that matches what was once Western Europe's largest Islamic house of worship: The Birmingham Central Mosque.
The mosque address is:
180 Belgrave Middleway, Highgate, Birmingham England B12 0XS
A Whois search of Bakri Mohammed's website, islambase.co.uk, reveals this as the address of the registrant:
180 Belgrave Middleway, Highgate 2
Birmingham, B12 0XS, United Kingdom
The. Same. Address.
The Birmingham Central Mosque is described by this Wikipedia article:
Birmingham Central Mosque is the second purpose built mosque in the United Kingdom....The mosque was then officially opened in 1975 as the largest mosque in Western Europe....Since the mosque's establishment, it has become a focal point for the Birmingham Muslim community, providing education for children and adults, lectures and seminars, counselling and a marriage bureau along with sporting and recreational activities and workshops....
The chairman of the Birmingham Mosque Trust is Dr Mohammad Naseem, a nationally recognised and sometimes controversial Muslim leader. Dr Naseem once claimed that Al Qaeda did not exist.
Does Dr. Naseem, like Omar Bakri Mohammed, support the radical Islamist agenda of al Qaeda?
Why yes, he does. In fact, "He is executive member of and home affairs spokesman for the Islamic Party of Britain."
What are the Islamic Party of Britain's goals?
Its main efforts are, however, directed at the majority of non- Muslims living in the West, who are to be offered practical alternatives to the mounting problems of modern society and may be helped to understand that as an ideology and way of life Islam is superior to the failed ideologies of capitalism and communism.
In other words, the implementation of Sharia law. They are the British front for the Muslim Brotherhood, the less violent fellow travellers of al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Dr. Naseem is on the record as both a 9/11 skeptic and has expressed doubts about the authenticity of the Mohammed Sidique Kahn martyrdom videotape.
Omar Bakri Mohammed has been told he would not be allowed to reenter the U.K. after he fled the country when a number of his followers were linked to death threats and statements in support of terror and jihad. Since that time, he has been exposed to be a supporter of al Qaeda. Much of this relationship is explored in Jeremy Reynald's book, War on the Web: Fighting the Online Jihad. Just last week this video of Bakri Mohammed justifying the 9/11 attacks was released.
His Islambase webpage, the one registered to the Central Birmingham Mosque address, has a variety of pro-jihadi material on it. For instance, one of their free English language books is titled: 39 Ways to Serve and Participate in Jihad.
39waystoparticipateinjihad.jpg
Peaceful inner struggle? From the book:
So, the Muslims of today are left with no choice but that of jihad and the language of weaponry....the only way to come to an understanding with the enemy is through the language of force and revenge?
There is no solution except for the greatest jihad. World peace no longer satisfies us. (p. 6)
It just gets worse from there. Including chapters on "preparing yourself for the jihad", "financially supporting the mujahidin", and "inciting the peole to jihad".
And the ever important, "Hide the secrets of the mujahidin from the enemy". Who is the enemy? "Whoever does this [exposes the mujahidin]....he is assisting the Americans."
Their literature includes a "Clarification of 9/11" and a "Declaration of War" written by none other than....drumroll please....Osama bin Laden.
Omar Bakri Mohammed's follower's at Islambase even have their own Youtube channel.
Bakri Mohammed is a known al Qaeda sympathizer, yet when he was living in Britain he was careful always to hide this supprt by using ambiguous terms in public. But we have amassed a number of videos and audios showing that, privately, he was rather direct in this support.
There is also a large following of Bakri Mohammed in Birmingham. Those followers, once known as al-Muhajiroun until they were banned, have had clashes with Dr. Naseem in the past.
Given, though, that the remnants of the followers of al Muhajiroun are now congregating on a website registered to the very mosque that Dr. Naseem leads, one wonders how real those conflicts are? Or were those conflicts simply cover for an internal power struggle? Or over the best tactics on reaching the Islamic State? Both Naseem's Islamic Party and Bakri Muhammed's followers claim that very same goal.
So, does this all mean that there is a secret working relationship between the self-proclaimed 'moderate' leadership of the Birmingham Central Mosque and Bakri Mohammed? Or is the Birmingham Central Mosque the victim of a prankster in Bakri Mohammed's organization who thought it would be funny to register their website to the mosque address?
As of this writing, we have no idea. I would like to think the latter. I hope that either Dr. Naseem himself, or any of the others on the board of directors at the mosque have no relationship with Bakri Mohammed.
But there is one more fact which needs to be added to this mystery. It does not prove that there is a relationship, but it strongly suggests it. All Bakri Mohammed's past websites have been registered to legitimate physical addresses where he or his followers lived, worked, or congregated.
Let's hope this is an exception to the trend.
P.S.--If you are in the U.K. you might want to spread the word to Brit bloggers and/or media. I just don't have the resources to do the needed followup on this.
Related
See our new Omar Bakri Mohammed archives and the following:
Looks like Omar Bakri Mohammed is Having a Bad Day
British Cleric Encourages Muslims to Behead Hostages: Birmingham Connection
British Muslims Mock 7/7 & 9/11 Victims, Support Terror. U.K./Birmingham Subsidizing
Injured UK Soldier Accosted in Hospital
Terror Plot Linked to Exiled Cleric
UK Muslim 'Almost Ashamed' for Advocating Beheading Cartoon Blasphemers
Video of UK Imam: Ken Bigley Murder Justified
Clash of Civilizations on Our Streets: Muslim Soldiers Called Apostates, Traitors; al Qaeda Infiltration in U.K. Government?
Al Qaeda Behind British Beheading Plot; Bakri Mohammed Implicated; Suspects Identified
Muhammed Cartoon Protester Guilty
British Islamist Website Shut Down
Names of Terror Suspects Released by Bank of England
Video: British Imam Urges Terror Attacks
British Muslim: "How dare (the police) come to a Muslim area"
Exiled Muslim Cleric Behind London Protest Calling for Pope's Death
Izadeen's Group Banned!!!
Omar Bakri Mohammed Detained in Lebanon, 3 al-Muhajiroun Arrested
Abu Izzadeen Arrested: British Muslims Seethe, Threaten
By Dr. Rusty "John Doe" Shackleford at March 30, 2007 11:35 PM
http://www.stolenchildhood.net/entry/finding-no-way-out-teens-prefer-to-go-in-for-jihad-in-pakistan/
Finding No Way Out, Teens Prefer to Go in for Jihad in Pakistan
Pooja Pooja,Shimla, INDIA
22 hr. ago
You can use the same account for over 100 blogs of Instablogs Network.
You will be able to not only leave a comment on this blog,
but post entries here too.
jihad_50
Muridke madrassa is what every youth in Pakistan aspire to join than regular schools or boarding. It is situated right outside of Lahore and is Pakistan’s second-largest city.
Youth in the region have lost hope in their future, they are in utter despair.
Muhammed Bakhtiar, a seventeen year old youth said,
We were told to fight against Israel, America and non-Muslims. We are so unhappy with our lives here. We have nothing.
Hence, these boys prefer to go in for suicide bombers thinking that they would get a ‘better life’ in ‘life after death’.
Muridke madrassa
This so called religious school or madrassa is run by the Jama’at-ud-Da’awah, the charity linked to the outlawed terrorist organization, Lashkar e Taiba. And Lashkar e Taiba has links to al-Qaida.
The premises of this madrassa resembles very much to an exclusive boys boarding school, the only thing which this school has is the bearded armed men that guard the compound. The complex offers various types of sports activities like cricket, swimming, horse riding etc.
In addition to religious instruction, the school offers computer sciences, engineering and pre-med classes for students ranging in age from six to 17 but above all, it teaches jihad.
Recruited at local high school
Ahmad, a seventeen old lad revealed that he along with his friend was recruited at their high school in Buner. But then the recruiter offered to take the boys to Muridke for two weeks of training and then to Peshawar where they would be introduced to people and make contacts.
Such people have instilled in the minds of young men that in order to become great, they would have to fight against the non believers of Islam. The boys themselves revealed that the option was laid before them to become a freedom fighter or a suicide bomber.
Parents outraged
When the parents got to know about the week’s gap which the boys had given in Buner, they felt very distressed. Some how, they acquired their contact in Muridke and claimed that the boarding school in Buner had brainwashed their sons.
However, the principal, Abdur Rahman, denied this, saying he went to the local police and demanded they go after the man who recruited the boys at his school.
He said,
We don’t support this, suicide attacks are murder, this is against Islam. Those boys went to Muridke by themselves, they should have been here taking their exams, and I no longer want them back in my school.
Main thing
Now, no one knows how far the statement made by the principal is correct. But one thing is for sure, the boys are not hopeful towards their future. They just harp one thing, there is nothing for us here. Nothing.
Perpetrators of this ‘heinous crime’ called jihad are making youth an easy target by playing with the religious ideology.
Vacuum has occupied the life of these youth. The world leadership must start looking at how to fill this void, give hope, with core solutions that would lead to redemption in such depressed lives.
Al-Alam TV Says UK 'Seriously Considering' Iranian Message on Sailors' Issue
Originally published on 3/30/2007 by Al-Alam Television in Arabic
[Announcer] Al-Alam TV has obtained confessions made by one of the British sailors held by Iran for entering the Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.
[Passage omitted: Repetition of earlier report in Al-Alam TV, 1031 gmt, 30 March]
[Unidentified reporter] The solution is in Tehran, something which London realizes: Admitting the mistake. [Instead] London has moved the issue and its concern to the Security Council which consoled it. [There are] two readings into the issue and an exchange of accusations. The concern has been dispelled by images confirming that the British sailors are safe and sound. The sailor Nathan Thomas Summers has made a confession which is the second of its kind and which gives more credibility to Tehran.
[Passage omitted: Footage of Summers speaking - covered by previously filed material]
[Reporter] In 2004, eight sailors were arrested for a few days. In 2007, 15 others have been arrested and the crisis is escalating. Mediations have not yet yielded a positive result. There is talk of an official Iranian message which London is seriously considering. London has probably realized that internationalizing the issue is not helpful.
Sailor Fay Turney has written a letter of reassurance to her family. The letter contained an explanation of the circumstances of the arrest, regret and apology to the Iranians. She could have been on her way home but a hasty reading into the situation has kept her where she is now.
[Passage omitted: Archive footage of Fay Turney's statement]
[Reporter] The Friday sermon has sent a message to London that the time of the [British] empire is over and that Washington's judgement might not be accurate enough this time.
[Al-Alam TV correspondent in Tehran Mahmud Ramak] London, which has partially lost momentum following the UNSC's meeting which has not met its expectation of putting pressure on Tehran to release the sailors, is now looking for a solution which will save it from the consequences of its act. All this depends on whether London will have its own perspective of things or share a perspective similar to that of its ally the USA.
: Tehran Al-Alam Television in Arabic -- IRIB's 24-hour Arabic news channel, targetting a pan-Arab audience
Syrian Paper on Pelosi Damsacus Delegation
Al-Watan, citing the BBC, reports that US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi, heading a delegation of Congressmen, will arrive in Damascus on 3 April for talks with President Al-Asad and other Syrian officials. The paper says the Syrian information minister welcomed Pelosi's visit and praised her rejection of the war in Iraq. It also cites the director of Al-Sharq Studies Center telling the paper that Pelosi's visit reflects the importance that a large sector of the Americans attach to finding compromise solutions to the problems of the region. [Description of source: Damascus Al-Watan (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic -- Independent daily; URL: http://www.alwatan.sy/]
Dismay and defiance as diplomatic crisis deepens over captured Britons
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/article2406396.ece
Dismay and defiance as diplomatic crisis deepens over captured Britons
[Published: Friday 30, March 2007 - 10:11]
By Kim Sengupta
The confrontation between Iran and Britain became increasingly grave
last
night with the United Nations Security Council expressing its concern
after
the appearance of a new letter from the hostage Faye Turney criticising
the
British presence in Iraq.
The letter said: “Isn’t it time to start withdrawing our forces from
Iraq
and let them determine their own future?” The overtly political
language
supposedly used by the 26-year-old servicewoman led British officials
immediately to declare that it was written under duress and dismiss it
as
crude propaganda.
But its release fuelled a highly charged and increasingly tense
situation
with Britain asking the UN to condemn Iran and an angry Tony Blair
describing the way Tehran had used Ms Turney as “disgraceful” and
calling
for the unconditional release of the 15 sailors and marines.
The Iranians, however, struck a new note of belligerence, ruling out
any
freeing of the prisoners unless Britain apolo-gised for “breaching
Iranian
sovereignty” and showing new television footage purporting to show that
their arrest took place inside Iranian waters.
There was dismay at the Ministry of Defence in London about the latest
letter from Leading Seaman Turney and also a sense of foreboding about
what
else the Iranians may produce, or whether others in the party may have
been
persuaded to make similar appearances.
There is, however, no serious talk yet of military action to rescue the
hostages, not only because of the immense logistical difficulties but
the
continuing uncertainty about where they are being held. The handwritten
note
said to be from the Leading Seaman was addressed to British MPs. It
said: “I
am writing to inform you of my situation. I am a British Serviceperson
currently being held in Iran.
I would like you to know of the treatment I have received whilst here.
The
Iranian people are kind, considerate, warm, compassionate and very
hospitable. They have brought me no harm, but have looked after me
well. I
have been fed, clothed and well cared for.
“Unfortunately during the course of our mission we entered into Iranian
waters. Even through our wrongdoing, they have still treated us well
and
humanely, which I am and always will be eternally grateful. I ask the
representatives of the House of Commons after the Government had
promised
that this type of incident would not happen again why have they let
this
occur and why has the Government not been questioned over this?
“Isn’t it time to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them
determine their own future?”
Tony Blair said: “I just think it’s completely wrong, a disgrace
actually,
when people are used in that way. That’s contrary to all international
laws
and conventions, and is not going to make any difference to us.
“The important thing is we just keep making it very, very clear to the
Iranian government it is not a situation that will be relieved by
anything
but the unconditional release of all our people,” he said.
“What you can’t do is end up negotiating over hostages, end up saying
there’s some quid pro quo or tit for tat; that’s not acceptable.
“There’s no alternative but to release them and the longer it goes on
the
more the pressure will be stepped up. We are going to have to step up
pressure not just with them in the UN and the European Union, but see
what
further measures are necessary.”
Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, added: “We have not seen this
letter but we have grave concerns about the circumstances in which it
was
prepared and issued. This blatant attempt to use Leading Seaman Turney
for
propaganda purposes is outrageous and cruel.”
Letter escalates diplomatic crisis
John Nichol, a former RAF navigator who was shot down over Iraq in 1991
and
held captive for the duration of the war, told Sky News: “Faye was
clearly
coerced into making the TV broadcasts that we saw yesterday and today.
She
was clearly coerced into writing the letter ¿ No serviceman or woman is
going to pick up a pen and write to their dearly beloved MP. It’s a
nonsense.”
However, Britain’s hopes of an early and unanimous backing from the UN
Security Council ran into problems after Russia, China, Indonesia and
Qatar
objected to wording stating that the Royal Navy team was illegally
arrested
outside Iranian waters. In its press statement, negotiated for hours
and
watered down considerably from the original British draft, the
15-member
body called for an “early resolution of this problem” and appealed to
Iran
to allow consular access. It also said that it expressed “grave
concern” at
Iran’s detention of the sailors and Marines and asked for their
release.
Unlike a resolution, all Security Council members have to approve a
statement, which means any one of the 15 nations has, in effect, a veto
right.
Iran immediately responded by saying the council statement was “not
helpful
¿ This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels. The
British Government’s attempt to engage third parties, including the
Security
Council, with this case is not helpful,” Iran’s UN mission said in its
statement.
Iranian television showed further footage last night of the events
leading
to the capture of the 15 sailors and Marines. In images which appeared
to
mimic those produced by the Ministry of Defence in London to prove the
incident had taken place in Iraqi water, senior Iranian military
officers
used charts and captured British equipment to insist that the incident
had
taken place inside the coun-try’s national territory.
Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council,
declared
that an offer of an early release of Leading Seaman Turney has now been
rescinded. “The British leaders are miscalculating the case,” he said.
Mr
Larijani, a highly influential figure, continued: “With the excuse of
controlling ships that go to Iraq, they want to make it a norm to
violate
other countries’ sovereignty. But they should know that the cost of
this is
not cheap.”
Diplomats based in Tehran said the rising tensions appeared to have
helped
the Iranian Revolutionary Guards gain support from others in the
country’s
political structure. The United Nations secretary general, Ban Kimoon,
also
held talks last night with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki,
at a
summit of Middle Eastern states in Riyadh.
Date: Fri, Mar 30 2007 10:08 am
Calls for jihad on Pak radio
Islamabad, March 29: Calls for jihad can now be heard in Pakistan’s
capital Islamabad on an unregistered FM radio station.
The Pakistan government continues its drive to "defeat" terrorists and
extremists, however, fanatics seem to find perfect environment in
Pakistan to flourish. An illegal FM radio station is operating from the
heart of the federal capital. The transmission of the channel can be
heard daily between 92 and 93 frequencies from 6 am till 8 am. A
spokesman of the Lal Masjid Complex which also houses a troublesome
madrasa, Jamia Hafsa, told this newspaper: "We have launched this
channel. The main purpose of this channel is to educate the listeners
about the teachings of Islam. For this sacred duty we don’t need
permission from authorities," he said, "no one dares to stop us".
According to the spokesman, the FM radio station is getting tremendous
response from the listeners, especially from the women audience.
He said hat the operation of this (illegal) FM channel was in the
knowledge of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which
provides licences to electronic media in Pakistan. On Tuesday, the
Jamia
Hafsa administration held two policemen and kept them hostage for a
day,
before releasing them on Wednesday night.
The madrasa men "punished" the two policemen for arresting their
teachers. Under a deal reached on Wednesday night, the Islamabad
Capital
Territory Administration, released two female teachers arrested by the
authorities.
Pakistan’s interior secretary Syed Kamal Shah confirmed the agreement.
"We have reached an agreement". Mr Shah said that the police have
released Jamia’s four people and the Madrasa administration in response
freed two policemen and an alleged brothel owner along with two
vehicles. On Tuesday, two policemen, along with their vehicles were
taken hostage by the students of Jamia Hafsa after the area police
arrested five students for allegedly kidnapping the owner of a brothel.
The Jamia administration gave an ultimatum to the authorities that they
would wage jihad if Khalid Khwaja and five students were not released
from the police custody. The madrasa accused the intelligence agencies
behind kidnapping of these persons. Ghazi Abdul Rashid, vice-principal
of the Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid, while addressing a press conference
on Wednesday night, said the students of Jamia Hafsa had launched a
drive against video centres selling "anti-social" compact discs and
brothels to end vulgarity in the federal capital. He said the owner of
a
video centre visited the Jamia Hafsa and told the madrasa
administration
that first they must close down a brothel.
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2188141&SectionID=55
Tory MP urges Muslims to fly Union Flag at mosques
A YORKSHIRE MP has called on Muslims in Britain to fly the Union Jack
from mosques as a show of national unity.
Shipley's Conservative MP Philip Davies is urging Muslims in the UK to
follow the example of those in Australia flying their country's flag
above mosques.
He submitted an early day motion which says that it would "show
everyone
that those in the Muslim community are very keen to integrate and
positively contribute to good community relationships in the UK."
However leading Muslim figures in Yorkshire accused Mr Davies of
singling out their community, described his comments as offensive and
likely to do more harm than good.
Mr Davies said: "This is not my idea. I was congratulating the idea of
Muslims in Australia and calling on Muslims here to follow the
example."
He added: "There are some people who feel that part of the Muslim
community does not feel predominantly British. There are people in my
constituency who think some Muslims do not feel they are British. This
is an issue – when we talk about community cohesion we are
predominantly
talking about Muslims."
The early day motion, which has also been signed by Conservative MP for
Castle Point in Essex, Bob Spink, calls "on the Muslim community in
Britain to promote the flying of the Union Flag in the grounds of
mosques in the UK; believes that this action would demonstrate the
Muslim community's commitment to the UK; and further believes that it
would be a very effective way of countering any negative publicity and
that such a move would publicly show everyone that those in the Muslim
community are very keen to integrate and positively contribute to good
community relations in the UK."
But Rashid Awan, president of the Pakistani Society of West Yorkshire
said: "To identify Muslims as needing to do this will aggravate the
situation.
"We are trying to win the hearts and minds of people who are
unfortunately involved in subversive activities but this will not help.
I believe in one nation and that we should all tackle issues together."
Shahid Malik, the Muslim Labour MP for Dewsbury said: "What this
country
need is not more flags flying above mosques but less irresponsible
politicians."
Bary Malik, a Bradford magistrate and chairman of the Ahmadiya Muslim
Association, said temples, churches and mosques were places of worship
and he did not think people should be asked to fly a national flag
above
a place of worship. "They belong to everyone, they are houses of God."
http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL2958108520070329
U.S. to send Guantanamo prisoner to Britain
Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:19PM BST
LONDON (Reuters) - A man held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay
for more than four years, the last 12 months in solitary with only a
sleeping mat and Koran, will be sent back soon to Britain, the British
government said.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Thursday that Bisher al-Rawi
would be returned shortly.
He was a long-time resident of Britain but not a citizen before his
arrest along with his business partner, Jordanian Jamil el-Banna, by
Gambian authorities in late 2002.
Al-Rawi's representative in parliament, Edward Davey, said in January
that the men had been handed over to the U.S. Central Intelligence
Agency and taken to Afghanistan before being sent to Guantanamo Bay.
Davey accused MI5 of being complicit in their arrest, a charge the
government denies.
Britain has secured the release of all nine of its citizens who were
held at Guantanamo and says it is not obliged to seek the release of
nine others who were resident in Britain but not nationals. Four are
Algerians and the others are from Ethiopia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan
and Morocco.
The government has declined to comment on reports that it intervened
with Washington on al-Rawi's behalf because he had once helped MI5 keep
tabs on a prominent suspect.
The Foreign Office refused to comment on any conditions for his
release,
but al-Rawi's lawyer, Zachary Katznelson, said the government had told
him that his client would only have to tell police where he lives and
report to them once a month.
"I think what that demonstrates is that he's not a security threat," he
said. "If he were, they'd be doing something to try and restrict his
movements and monitor him."
Katznelson, of the legal charity Reprieve, added: "It's fantastic news,
it's been far too long in coming." He noted there were still British
residents at Guantanamo "and they should be coming home too. That's
what
justice demands".
The United States has faced strong international criticism over the
indefinite detention of terrorism suspects at the U.S. naval base at
Guantanamo Bay.
President George W. Bush has said he would like to see the prison
closed, but the White House said last week it would likely remain open
for the rest of his term because of legal proceedings still pending.
The
United States has declared its intention to try 60 to 80 of the 385
foreign captives there.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1885947.htm
March 30, 2007. 4:07pm (AEST)
Bangladesh executes 6 top Islamic militants
Six Islamic militant leaders accused of masterminding a string of
deadly
bomb attacks across Bangladesh have been hanged.
Authorities in the emergency-ruled country immediately stepped up
security following the executions, with extra police and members of the
elite Rapid Action Battalion seen patrolling Dhaka's main streets.
The six included Shaikh Abdur Rahman, the leader of the outlawed
Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and his deputy Siddiqul Islam
Bangla Bhai.
The inspector-general of prisons, Brigadier Zakir Hassan, says they
were
hanged early on Friday, local time, which was two weeks ahead of
schedule.
"They were hanged in four different jails and their dead bodies were
handed over to their families," he said.
"They did not show any emotion during the hangings.
"We informed their relatives and took measures to send their bodies to
the village homes."
The Islamists were specifically sentenced to death last year over
bombings that killed two judges in November 2005.
However, authorities say the group was also behind 400 almost
simultaneous blasts that shook this country of 144 million people on
August 17, 2005.
The attacks were part of a campaign apparently aimed at forcing
Bangladesh to replace its Muslim but secular legal system, which dates
from the British colonial period, with traditional Islamic or sharia
law.
At least 28 people were killed and hundreds injured in the attacks, and
an ensuing crackdown saw some 1,000 JMB members arrested.
Brigadier Hassan says the hangings were carried out more than two weeks
before their scheduled dates.
"We maintained total secrecy about the hangings because of security
reasons," he said.
"We also did not break any laws by hanging them earlier."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20070330.C07&irec=1
The perfect time for Muslim groups to unite
Mochamad Subhan Zein, Jakarta
There may be many Indonesian Muslims who belong to Islamic
organizations
who do not know the history of the celebration of the Prophet
Muhammad's
birth, Maulid, despite the fact that these festivities have taken place
for generations.
This may lead to a misunderstanding of the essence of Maulid, which
falls on Saturday, because people perceive the celebration as merely a
routine. In fact, Maulid or Muludan is not just a time to observe a
holy
man's birth and chant the shalawat (hymn), but also a moment to capture
the essence of the rebirth of faith.
According to the great thinker Ibn Jarir Ath Thabari, it was about 10
centuries ago when Saladin Al Ayyubi and some of his colleagues
celebrated the Prophet's birth for the first time. It was a joyous
commemoration as a means of reconciliation to unite disaffected
Muslims.
Saladin and his men believed it was highly unlikely that Muslims would
be able to defend themselves against European troops if they did not
stand together and speak with one voice. They realized there should be
an event to unite Muslims to fight the European soldiers for the Holy
Land, Jerusalem.
Since it was impossible to unite Muslims of different schools due to
the
fanaticism of their followers, as was evident in the acute friction
between Sunnis and Shi'ites, Saladin found that the Prophet was the
only
figure who could bring Muslims together.
Saladin eventually invited some leaders and representatives of Islamic
schools to discuss the matter and agreed on the importance of
celebrating the Prophet's birth, though the Prophet himself and his
companions did not do it. Saladin and his colleagues gathered and
chanted the shalawat when they celebrated 12 Rabiul Awwal as the date
of
the Prophet's birth, with the hope of gaining God's blessing to conquer
the Holy Land.
Saladin was fortunate when he successfully gathered the Muslims under
his command and led them in a remarkably long journey to the pristine
land of Syria and the Promised Land, Jerusalem, under the spirit of
Maulid. He won some ferocious battles and made peace agreements with
the
King of Jerusalem before taking the Holy Land in a difficult war
against
Balian and his armies, writing his name in the pages of history as the
conqueror of the Holy Land.
But we do not celebrate Maulid today in a spirit of conquering lands or
fighting against people of different faiths. Given how many calamities
Indonesia has faced over the last few years, it should be a spirit of
nation building that inspires this Maulid.
Indonesian Muslims, and particularly Islamic organizations, should use
the momentum of the celebration to reconcile elements of the nation.
Islamic organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah should
agree to speak in one voice and walk hand in hand to establish civil
society in Indonesia.
There are several important requirements for Islamic organizations to
build unity:
First, preventing conflict both at the elite and grassroots levels
should be the top priority of Islamic organizations. Today is surely
not
the right time to debate which organization most closely follows the
Prophet's sunnah (guidance). It is not time to fight; it is time to
act.
They should cooperate to save this nation from calamities, and this
cannot be achieved if Muslims are still divided by organizational and
political interests.
Second, in a broader context, Islamic organizations should emphasize
cooperation with the government in educating people. Those at the
grassroots need more than religious speeches and advice. Education is
urgent. Youths need to be strengthened to build this nation and
therefore they need better schooling. Not only is it important to
allocate 20 percent of the state budget for education, but there must
also be training to create more qualified teachers. Islamic
organizations can take part by providing training for teachers in
remote
areas such as Kalimantan or Papua.
Third, due to the natural disasters that have struck the country
recently, Islamic organizations should put some of their budget toward
humanitarian assistance or disaster prevention. Raising funds to help
people affected by earthquakes, floods, or diseases and those living in
disaster-prone areas should be their focus.
Muhammadiyah, for example, has provided scholarships to the children of
families who have been displaced by the mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java.
This sort of empathy for people in need should inspire other Muslim
organizations to follow suit. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) also
set an example, regardless of its political motives, when it quickly
lent help to people affected by the Jakarta floods. Since its birth in
1998, the PKS has built its image as a party with a humanitarian
mission
by involving thousands of its constituents in humanitarian work across
the country.
In the near future, as a means of prevention, Islamic organizations
should quickly respond to any natural disaster that may occur by
showing
their deep empathy and revealing Islam as a blessing for the universe.
To commemorate this special day, Islamic organizations should embrace
the spirit of Maulid to do something for this country. With that spirit
and hard work toward establishing a civil society, Islamic
organizations
would express the true meaning of Maulid and contribute to the
development of Indonesia.
The writer is a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the
Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKSP32646020070330
Forces on alert after Bangladesh hangs six Islamists
Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:53AM BST
DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh hanged six Islamist militants on Friday
convicted of a wave of deadly countrywide bombings in 2005, as the
army-backed government moved to stamp out extremist violence.
Security was beefed up across the mainly Muslim democracy, which has
been under emergency rule since January, following reports that
supporters of the executed men would stage protests in their home
districts.
The six Islamist leaders executed early on Friday had been behind a
campaign to impose Islamic law on the impoverished country.
Police said among those put to death were Bangla Bhai, chief of the
outlawed group Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh, and Shayek Abdur
Rahman, supreme leader of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen.
The six were sentenced to death by the High Court in May last year for
masterminding or involvement in a series of bomb attacks which killed
at
least 30 people and wounded 150 in 2005.
The victims included judges, lawyers, police and other officials.
The six were hanged at different jails across the country and their
bodies returned to their respective villages in different districts.
Police said Bangla Bhai's body was sent to his village home in the
northern district of Bogra.
The elite Rapid Action Battalion force handed over the body of Shayek
to
his brother at a remote village in Jamalpu district, also in the north.
There were no immediate signs of trouble in the capital, Dhaka, and the
port city of Chittagong.
Last week police said Islamist groups had threatened attacks if their
leaders were hanged.
Mostafizur Rahman Shahin, detained in the northern district of Pabna on
March 14, told security and intelligence agencies that about 5,000
members of banned Islamist groups were still active in the country,
police said.
Bangladesh's interim government, headed by former central bank chief
Fakhruddin Ahmed, is planning to enact a law to ban any group linked to
Islamist militants or other terrorist groups.
Shahin told interrogators that Islamist militants in Bangladesh
received
money from sources overseas, including in the United States and Saudi
Arabia, police said.
An election scheduled for January 22 was postponed after the interim
government's caretaker president quit following weeks of protests,
strikes and transport blockades called by an alliance of parties that
had boycotted the poll.
Fakhruddin has vowed to eliminate corruption from politics before
announcing a new date for elections. More than 160 senior political
figures have been arrested.
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