Posted on 04/07/2002 9:35:31 PM PDT by LarryLied
The Arab world will be victorious in its efforts to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, said His Majesty the King and BDF Supreme Commander yesterday.
But he warned the battle to return Palestine and Al Haram Al Sharif in Jerusalem to the Arab nation would be long and hard.
His Majesty was speaking during a visit to the Royal Navy to mark the return of the frigate Sabha which has been taking part in the international efforts to maintain security and peace in Afghanistan and help in its reconstruction.
He was welcomed on arrival by Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Defence Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, BDF Chief of Staff Major-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Navy Lieutenant-General Yousif Ahmed Malallah and other officers.
The King highlighted the crisis being witnessed by Arab nations, particularly the flagrant aggression on the Palestinians.
He said the Arab world must be patient and prepared for a period of struggle but it was inevitable that sooner or later the Arabs would regain their legitimate rights.
His Majesty said the hopes of the Arab nation lay in achieving economic, cultural and military security.
He stressed the Kingdom's firm stance in supporting the Palestinians.
King hails role of frigate crew
His Majesty the King and BDF Supreme Commander yesterday paid tribute to the crew of the frigate Sabha which has returned to Bahrain after taking part in the international effort to restore peace to Afghanistan.
The King hailed the crew's efforts in contributing to the success of the humanitarian mission.
He also thanked the allied forces taking part in the operation and said the BDF would always stand beside Arab and friendly nations in the cause of peace and security.
His Majesty, who was visiting the Royal Navy base, said the frigate's mission had helped the crew to gain valuable experience which would be of great help in future.
The crew had also played a major role in helping the people of Afghanistan by securing their needs and had also helped to raise the international status of Bahrain.
The King added that the sea had always played a vital role in Bahrain's history, particularly in the kingdom's defence.
Following the ceremonial reception, the frigate's captain Lieutenant-General Sager Hamad Al Mawdah gave a briefing on the ship's duties while serving with the international force.
He said the frigate's role had been to accompany and protect ships carrying humanitarian assistance and ensure they arrived safely at their destinations.
The Sabha also joined search and rescue operations, helped in the evacuation of the injured, and took part in a joint military exercise with live ammunition with the US Navy in the Arabian Sea.
Captain Al Mawdah later presented His Majesty with a commemorative gift to mark the occasion.
REMIER IN KEY VISIT
From Anwar Abdulrahman in Damascus
BAHRAIN and Syria yesterday pledged their full support for the Palestinians in their resistance to the brutal aggression of Israeli forces.
The pledge came as Syrian President Dr Bashar Al Assad received Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at Rawdah Palace after his arrival here yesterday at the start of a two-day official visit.
President Al Assad and the Premier, who were meeting in the presence of Syrian Premier Dr Mohammed Mustafa Miro and Syrian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Farouk Al Sharaa, called for the return of all Arab lands occupied by the Israelis since 1967.
At the outset of the meeting, President Al Assad welcomed the Premier and lauded the ties linking Bahrain and Syria and their keenness to further promote these relations.
The Syrian President also praised the declaration of the Bahrain Kingdom and the positive steps Bahrain has taken to reform its constitution and consolidate its status particularly in the financial, trade and industrial fields.
The Premier conveyed the greetings of His Majesty the King to the President and people of Syria and praised Syria's role in the struggle of the Arab people to regain their rights.
The bad apple...
By Nabeel Saeed
Need is the mother of creation, and as humans it has been part of our history and evolution that whenever we needed something we went out of our limits to achieve it.
This is true in our day-to-day lives, for we may be kind, sincere and friendly in our style of living but, when faced by a rude person we take on a different than usual role particularly with that person.
Yes, I believe that we must not let that person change us, indeed, we must try and change him, but in the end it's God's way that the bad apple will change the good apples no matter how many good apples surround it.
Yes, I assure you that no one in their right mind will want to see innocent people die, no one in their right mind will want to see themselves blown to bits and pieces beyond recognition.
In fact why should innocent Israeli children pay the price of the Middle East conflict? Why should innocent Israeli citizens, attending a dinner, a shopping mall or a coffee shop be the casualties of this war? Why would a 16-year-old schoolgirl attend school in the morning, say goodbye to her friends and wrap herself up with explosives to be yet another suicide bomber? Is it that they are brain-washed like the Israeli foreign secretary exclaimed in his interview?
The Middle East has seen many wars in its history and it has been the scene of many bloodbaths in its time but none of the wars have been coupled with humiliation and degradation like the one that we see nowadays. The one where a child can expect his father to go out to work and be slapped or shot in front of his own eyes by a settler whom he is expected to respect and help build his house and settlement on his land and in his country.
No, the Palestinians are not terrorists. No they are not thugs of war like the United States defined them and Israel obliged to accept with gratitude.
The conflict is much more than a fight for land now, it has now reached a stage where the two sides cannot afford to draw a distinction between civilians and members of the armed forces.
Any member of the other side is a potential enemy and a member of the other side's army and if not then they are the very occupiers of your land and house, the very people that say to you this is not your country but ours.
No lines are now drawn no limits are set and no such thing as an act of crime or an unintended accident exists between the two sides.
Everything now boils down to nothing but war. The war that brings fear and terror to the hearts of those who have all the military might and equipment, all the technology and support from the world's strongest superpower, the war where a young stone thrower can create fear and terror in the hearts of the most well-equipped and well-supported soldier in the world, a war which says in plain words: "If my country is not mine anymore, then by God you will not feel at home in it either."
Thus the likes of Mr Bush, Sharon and Peres must realise that men are as often defined and shaped by their enemies as by themselves.
After all it was none other than the 32nd president of the United States Franklin D Roosevelt, who said in his message to the Young Democratic Convention, in Louisville in August 21, 1941 that "Against naked force the only possible defence is naked force. The aggressor makes the rules for such a war; the defenders have no alternative but matching destruction with more destruction, slaughter with greater slaughter."
King orders riot probe
His Majesty the King yesterday ordered a full investigation into the riots that took place in front of the US embassy on Friday.
He instructed Interior Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa to take all necessary legal measures to investigate the incidents in which several people were injured and damage to property was caused.
Following the order, the Interior Minister said a committee had been formed to launch the necessary investigation.
He called on organisers to ensure order and discipline at future rallies and prevent demonstrators from carrying Molotov cocktails or other weapons that could be used for acts of vandalism.
F***ing morons.
The truth is always there. Somewhere.
A palestinian state continues to sponsor and support an Arab guerilla army inside Israel, dedicated to Israel's destruction.
Right.
Somebody needs to start getting real.
Don't be knocking the Kaiser now, Wilson was the one who hired Madison Avenue advertising execs to sell WWI to America. The first president to launch such a massive propaganda campaign. Too bad it worked. Lloyd George wanted an armistice with Germany in the spring of 1917 so Germany could turn east and take out the commie threat. Wilson knocked it down and we know what happened.
They probably will, but it will be in *spite* of the actions of the PLA, Hamas, Hezbolloah, Arafat, Saddam, etc. etc.
Can anyone name ONE TIME Israel hasn't handed these raghead's asses back to them on a platter? If they had any brains, they'd have learned from the past.
Here's a link to a table that illustrates just how PATHETIC these big bad ragheads are:
Arab countries versus Israel
(The combined territories of Arab countries is 650 fold greater than Israel)
The hubris is almost hilarious.
What would that be? Abandoning ship as is it rolls over in flames?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.