Arms from Iraq, Iran found near Arafat HQ

Ha'aretz ^ | 4/18/02 | Amos Harel

[tomahawk]

Arms from Iraq, Iran found near Arafat HQ

By Amos Harel

The IDF has discovered weapons smuggled from Iraq and Iran in the Muqata complex surrounding the Ramallah office of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, according to Israel defense sources.

The weapons uncovered during Operation Defensive Shield include Soviet-made RPG launchers that were modified by Iraq. The defense sources said the Iraqi weaponry was probably smuggled into the territories in Arafat's helicopters, which have since been damaged and grounded by the IDF.

The army also found Iranian-made RPG anti-tank rockets in the Muqata area. These rockets feature improved capabilities for piercing armor. Following the capture of the Karine A arms shipment from Iran in January, the Palestinians have continued their efforts to smuggle weaponry into the PA, defense sources said, noting that Iran and Iraq remain the primary arms suppliers for the Palestinians.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein recently announced that Iraq would increase the amount of money it sends to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

[tomahawk]

Arafat and the Palestinian Authority are part of the Axis of Evil. They need to be eliminated.

[SunStar]

The IDF has discovered weapons smuggled from Iraq and Iran in the Muqata complex surrounding the Ramallah office of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, according to Israel defense sources.

Smoking gun?

Nah, Islam is a Religion of Peace®.

[SolitaryMan]

I guess they could find anyone brave enough to use them while Arafat was being attacked.

[ChadGore]

bttt

[ChadGore]

bump

[Brett66]

Proof that innocent Pali victims of agression are allied with every terrorist regime in the world? No way!

[Nogbad]

I don't understand why they just don't kill Saddam and Arafat now.

The political consequences might be a bit unpleasant
but all the alternatives seem much worse.

(This operation should have been carried out years ago)

[muawiyah]

The problem with your analysis - to wit: pointing toward Islam - is that Arafat, the PA, as well as Hussein and the Iraqi leadership elite are secularists!

They're actually more like us than the rest of the Arab world.

In fact, an argument can be made that these people are on our side!

We must also note that the Palestinian people are the second most educated group in the world (the Israelis are first). They are different from their Arab neighbors. So different, in fact, that from the "street view" in, let's say, Cairo, the Israelis and Palestinians cannot be differentiated.

We really have to come up with something better than antagonism to deal with these guys. I don't know what it might be, but we are not going to be in a position to bring about the modernization and enlightenment of Sharia dominated Islam unless we can bring our natural allies into our camp.

[veryconernedamerican]

funny one palestenians second most educated group in the world.

[pulaskibush]

Was this shipment before or after the Colin Powell peace process?

[SunStar]

They're actually more like us than the rest of the Arab world.

Except that all the groups you mentioned are using Islamic extremism to further their own political goals. Therefore, IMHO, I don't really care if they actually identify with the tenets of Islam. They are exploiting it for anti-U.S. gains.

[muawiyah]

Look, as bad as the Palestinians and Iraqis are, they are as close to Western in their outlook as you will ever find in the Middle East.

That goes for Israel too. In the long run the Orthodox will provide enough pressure to move the whole country in their direction.

20 years from now you will be looking back on the good old days with Saddam Hussein!

[Bogey78O]

Do you really think anything will become of this?

[A CA Guy]

So Israel gets extra weapons. Whoopie!

[11B3]

No, I think that in 20 years you will look back and say those were the good old days - back when there were Arabs.

[My Identity]

The problem with your analysis - to wit: pointing toward Islam - is that Arafat, the PA, as well as Hussein and the Iraqi leadership elite are secularists!

From the Palestinian Violence video:

"Have no mercy on the Jews, no matter where they are.
Fight them, wherever you are. Wherever you meet them, kill them.
Wherever you are, kill the Jews, the Americans who are like them, and those who stand by them.
They are all in one trench, against the Arabs and the Muslims.
They should be slaughtered. They should be murdered.
Such is the word of Allah."
- an Islamic mufti, broadcast on Pali TV

So...
Muslim "True Believers" see the Arab-Israeli conflict as religious.
Therefore, any compromise with the Israelis is a heresey.
Therefore, any "peace process" that requires compromise is heresey.
Therefore, only complete surrender or complete victory will bring peace.

So far, the US has not let the Israelis obtain complete victory,
Therefore, Israel's only options are surrender or death.
And if Israel goes, the US is next on the islamists' list.

If anyone can explain how Islam isn't the issue here, I would be happy to listen.

[SevenDaysInMay]

To start, the USA should deliver the ashes of Arafat and Saddam to Mecca. The world is a better place for everyone else when purged of this murderous evil. The children of the Arab Street will get over it. Consider it "honor killings".

[FreeReign]

Arms from Iraq, Iran found near Arafat HQ

What's next -- Legs From Lebanon Found Near Arafat Regional Office.

[jimkress]

In fact, an argument can be made that these people are on our side!

If Sadam murders us becaues he is a tyrant, Arafat murders us because he is terrorist/criminal, or bin Laden murders us for 'allah' - the results are the same - we are dead. There is NO argument that these 'people' are on our 'side'. They all want us dead.

[cookcounty]

"The problem with your analysis - to wit: pointing toward Islam - is that Arafat, the PA, as well as Hussein and the Iraqi leadership elite are secularists!

They're actually more like us than the rest of the Arab world.

In fact, an argument can be made that these people are on our side!

Oh, please. They are not personally highly religious, that's all that "secularists" means in this context. They are members in good standing of the Islamic Conference, and their speeches drip with Islamic values and imagery.