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Jamada al-thani 26, 1432/ May 30, 2011 # 23
Scroll down for Jamaat e Islami: "Western Powers Closing
Cordon on Pakistan"
Scroll to the end for Part II of (Rafidhi) Press TV (Iranian
television misreporting on Syria)
Spotlights From Imam Badi Ali
Jamaat al-Muslimeen Shoora, North Carolina
1. All the Muslim regimes are acting as security companies
for the West. They serve only the interest of their masters,
and not of their people.
2. True leaders are the servants of their nations, but most
of the leaders of the Arab and Muslim countries are servants
of Shaitan and enemies of Islam and the Ummah.
3. A country is like a ship. Everyone is responsible for his
own part—except in the case of the Muslim world, it is like
a slave ship.
4. Good leaders do not govern by hitting their people over
the heads, or abusing and demoralizing them. That is not
leadership, and not government. That is an assault. And that
is what's happening in the Muslim world.
5. Most of the leaders of the Arab and Muslim world are
leaders by default, or because they cheated and stole
government and authority from their people, with the help of
the Shaitan and the enemies of the Ummah.
6. Most Muslim and Arab leaders treat the people of their
countries like personal property or like an inheritance.
They behave as if they inherited a grocery store, and the
people are part of their inventory, in need of management.
You manage inventory, but you have to lead people.
7. A question to think about: What jobs do you, the reader,
think the Arab and Muslim leaders can do? Can you trust them
with these jobs? I wouldn't trust Mahmoud Abbas even to run
a restaurant for me. I wouldn't trust him as cashier. Or
King Abdullah of Jordan. What could he do, besides drinking
and being photographed at his exploits? I would not trust
these Arab leaders to keep a flock of sheep for me. They
will steal the sheep. Or they may even feed them to the
wolves themselves.
AIPAC Conference: An Exercise in Arm Twisting and
Indoctrination
Zionist Lobby Seeks Billions More in U.S. Tax Dollars
By Nadrat Siddique
The weekend of May 20 - 22 saw the annual conference of the
American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) at the
Washington, DC, Convention Center. It was a grand affair to
which the 535 members of the U.S. Congress are "invited."
But such an invitation is seen by some as a pressure tactic.
Conference attendees are recognized by a "Roll Call," a
lengthy public reading of their names. The implication is
that no-shows will be noted for their absence in the next
election. (According to Jewish Week, May 24, 2011, AIPAC was
successful at drawing 10,000 delegates and "honored guests,"
including 70 U.S. Senators and 270 members of the House to
the conference.)
The goals of the conference, listed on the AIPAC website,
included inculcating understanding among delegates of "how
America and Israel are stronger together when they
participate in joint military exercises and exchange
intelligence" and "safer together when they share homeland
security and counterterrorism techniques."
"AIPAC has succeeded in creating an army of Israel
supporters who are mobilised and constantly lobby elected
senators," wrote one AIPAC conference participant (Jewish
Chronicle, May 26, 2011). Such militaristic lexicon, as well
as AIPAC's treatment of dissenters, has raised eyebrows,
with some opponents of the lobby going so far as to say the
AIPAC conference is a venue for exchanged allegiances among
gangsters in Armani suits, the dissemination of Zionist
propaganda, and the discussion of coercive and retributive
measures to be used against those not willing to take a
pro-Israel stance.
Special Session for Christian Zionists
The conference included a special luncheon for Black
Zionists (and pro-Zionists), as well as a session for
Christians, called "Understanding Christian Support for the
Jewish State" geared at examining "the roots of Christian
Zionism." The latter targeted the sixty-six pastors in
attendance.
Zionist Student Leaders in Attendance
The conference included a special session recognizing
student Zionist leaders. One thousand five hundred
students, most of them white, attended the conference. These
included 215 elected student government presidents (numbers
from AIPAC's website). The student government presidents
came from campuses including the University of Chicago, UC
Berkeley, Columbia, and Vanderbilt. Interestingly, Brigham
Young University, a Mormon institution, and Morehouse
College, a historically black college, also had Zionist
student body presidents in attendance at AIPAC's
conference.
Zionist students from the U. of Florida were awarded for
"developing new models of pro-Israel leadership on and
beyond their campus," and for soliciting letters of support
for Israel from campus leaders, as well as for lobbying
local Congress members on "issues of concern to the
pro-Israel community." Additional student leaders at UCLA,
Indiana University, the University of Oklahoma, and Liberty
University received "Activist of the Year" awards in
recognition of their pro-Israel political activity. The
question of why they, as American students should expend
such energies building support for a foreign power, seemed
absent from the dialogue. One group of student Zionist
leaders working on blackballing Iran to Congress was given
an award. Another group of student Zionists were recognized
for their efforts at countering the characterization of
Israel as an apartheid state. Both the College Democrats of
America and the College Republican National Committee
received awards from AIPAC.
Gustafo Tactics Against a Sitting American President?
On May 19, just a few days before the AIPAC conference,
President Obama mentioned 1967 borders as a starting point
for co-existing Israeli and Palestinian states—a very weak
position, and unacceptable to most Muslims who believe in
self-determination. But apparently, even the slightest sign
of "weakness" was not to be tolerated by the Zionists. On
May 20, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Obama for
over two hours, and it is speculated, conducted the
mafia-style arm twisting necessary to get his whipping boy
back in order.
Obama at AIPAC
Then on May 22, Obama reported to the AIPAC conference,
meekly telling the Zionist audience, "Israelis and
Palestinians will negotiate a border that is different than
the one that existed on June 4, 1967." Clarifying his
position further, he said, "The bonds between the United
States and Israel are unbreakable, and the commitment of the
United States to the security of Israel is iron clad." None
in the wildly applauding audience asked the question of why
any policy matter in a changing world should be
characterized as immutable, nor why the security of a
foreign power should be of such paramount importance to the
U.S.
Obama further "affirmed U.S. opposition to a Palestinian
plan to seek a vote in the U.N. General Assembly on
Palestinian statehood in September. He vowed to help Israel
defend itself, promising U.S. military assistance on missile
defense and pledging to block Iranian nuclear aspirations.
And he assailed a recent Palestinian unity agreement that
elevated the stature of the Hamas movement, which the United
States and Israel regard as a terrorist group." (The
Washington Post, May 22)
Netanyahu's pressuring of Obama (if indeed that is what
occurred—some would argue that Obama is already so
pro-Israel that he needed no pressuring) is similar to
AIPAC's pressure on members of the U.S. Congress. As Cynthia
McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, recently
disclosed, every candidate for U.S. Congress must sign a
pledge to support Israel, a tactic which changed shape
slightly after it was made public. According to McKinney,
"They were given a pledge to sign...that had Jerusalem as
the capital city. You make a commitment that you would vote
to support the military superiority of Israel, and the
economic assistance that Israel wants, that you would vote
to provide that." (Press TV, May 22).
Obama delivered his address to AIPAC, then retreated to
Europe with his tail between his legs. In the meantime,
Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress on May 24. He
delivered a resounding "No!" to all of the (very
compromising) positions put out by "moderate" Palestinians.
The speech was characterized by opponents as containing more
lies per second than perhaps any other speech in recent
memory. In the course of the 50 minute speech, Netanyahu
received 26 standing ovations. Opponents protesting the
speech were dealt with very brutally (see report from Ali
Abunimah).
Following the AIPAC conference and Netanyahu's speech to
Congress, thousands of AIPAC lobbyists descended upon
Capitol Hill to further the Zionist agenda. According to the
AIPAC website, "At the top of the lobbying agenda is U.S.
security assistance to Israel—the most tangible expression
of American support for the Jewish state. The AIPAC
citizen-lobbyists will urge their House and Senate members
to support $3.075 billion in aid to Israel for fiscal year
2012 as well as ask for support for the overall foreign aid
budget." [Note the double speak in "Jewish state" and "AIPAC
citizen-lobbyists" -editor]
"Move Over AIPAC": A Challenge to AIPAC
This year, as the AIPAC conference went forth, things were a
little bit different. An entire weekend of activities,
including a major conference, called "Move Over AIPAC" was
held in Washington, DC, by CODE PINK: Women for Peace. It
was endorsed by over 100 peace and justice organizations,
including the International Solidarity Movement, Fellowship
of the Reconciliation, the Rachel Corrie Foundation, United
for Peace and Justice, the U.S. Campaign for the Academic
and Cultural Boycott of Israel, Adalah-NY, Jewish Voice for
Peace, and the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli
Occupation.
On May 20, as Netanyahu met Obama, "Move Over AIPAC"
conference participants and others protested outside the
White House. The following day, May 21, the "Move Over
AIPAC" summit was held. The keynote address was delivered by
Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer, authors of the
ground-breaking book, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign
Policy. This was followed by a "writers' salon," featuring
Laila El-Haddad and other Palestinian and pro-Palestinian
authors. A panel entitled, "Time for a New Foreign Policy"
(Phyllis Bennis, Noura Erekat, and others) ensued. Workshops
on topics like "Combatting Misused Charges of Anti-Semitism"
(Rabbi Lynn Gottleib); "Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions:
Campaigns that Work!"; Exposing AIPAC: Delving into the
Nitty-Gritty of How the Israel Lobby Works"; "Israel, the
bomb, and a Mid-east NWFZ (Nuclear Weapons Free Zone); and
"Student Divestment Campaigns and the Role of AIPAC on
Campus" completed the afternoon.
On May 22, while Obama addressed AIPAC and throughout the
day, "Move over AIPAC" participants, and other friends and
supporters of Palestinians protested outside the Convention
Center. The protestors, including many Jews, lined up
outside the DC Convention center, chanting "Free Free
Palestine." A die-in—where activists lay down in the
streets, their bodies covered in fake blood to protest
Israeli brutality—was held. Activists from the U.S. Boat to
Gaza manned a float in the form of a ship, singing
pro-Palestinian songs.
Change Comes But not Without Sacrifice and Struggle
As a result of the immense sacrifices of the Palestinian
people, followed up by creative and heroic actions by a huge
range of human rights and solidarity organizations
throughout the world—of which "Move Over AIPAC" is an
example—support for Israel is being reconsidered in the
U.S., one of the last bastions of Zionist support.
As Jody McIntyre, describing the AIPAC conference, wrote in
the Independent on May 24, 2011, "So yesterday, another
conference commenced; a celebration of continued US support
for Israel. The fact that is being ignored is that, as a
wave of uprisings across northern Africa and western Asia
are proving, US dominance and influence in the region is on
the decline. Just like hundreds of millions of dollars in
aid were not enough to keep Mubarak in power in Egypt, all
the billions of dollars in aid will not be enough to prop up
Israel forever....As Olof Palme, the Prime Minister of
Sweden until his assassination in 1986, once said,
'Apartheid cannot be reformed, it must be abolished.'"
Protestor who Disrupted Netanyahu in Congress Attacked,
Hospitalized, Arrested
Submitted by Ali Abunimah
May 24, 2011
Rae Abileah a CODEPINK activist who disrupted Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in the United States
Congress this morning was physically attacked, hospitalized
and then arrested from hospital according to reports.
According to CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin:
Rae Abileah is in the hospital, after having been assaulted
and tackled to the ground by members of the audience in the
House Gallery during Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu's
speech to Congress. Abileah, who is with the group CODEPINK:
Women for Peace, interrupted Netanyahu with a banner that
said "Occupying Land Is Indefensible" and shouting, "No more
occupation, stop Israel war crimes, equal rights for
Palestinians, occupation is indefensible."
She rose up to speak out just after the Prime Minister
talked about the youth around the world rising up for more
democracy. As this 28-year-old Jewish American woman spoke
out for the human rights of Palestinians, other members of
the audience—wearing badges from the conference of the
American-Israel Public Affairs Committee—brutally attacked
her. The police then dragged her out of the Gallery and took
her to the George Washington University Hospital, where she
is being treating for neck and shoulder injuries.
"I am in great pain, but this is nothing compared to the
pain and suffering that Palestinians go through on a regular
basis," said Abileah from her hospital bed. "I have been to
Gaza and the West Bank, I have seen Palestinians homes
bombed and bulldozed, I have talked to mothers whose
children have been killed during the invasion of Gaza, I
have seen the Jewish-only roads leading to ever-expanding
settlements in the West Bank. This kind of colonial
occupation cannot continue. As a Jew and a U.S. citizen, I
feel obligated to rise up and speak out against stop these
crimes being committed in my name and with my tax
dollars."
Abileah stands in solidarity with the Palestinian and
Israeli activists who are routinely jailed and beaten for
speaking out for democracy.
These actions were part of a week of protests called Move
Over AIPAC.
In a subsequent update on the Move Over AIPAC website, it
was reported that Abileah was arrested from George
Washington University hospital.
Boycott!
By Kaukab Siddique
Around the Muslim world Nestle is selling bottled water to
millions of people in the intense heat of summer. Most
Muslims do not know that 50% of Nestle's shares are in
Israeli hands.
Please spread the word! Boycott Nestle, be it the water
bottles or evaporated milk and milk containers. Remember,
Palestine is occupied.
In addition, empty bottles are thrown into the garbage,
creating a wilderness of environmental depletion.
Action Alert
Egyptian authorities urge US to return Sheikh Omar
Abdulrahman to Egypt
From the Islamic Human Rights Commission
12 May 2011
On 3rd May, 2011, the Egyptian authorities have made an
official request to the
US administration for them to return Sheikh Abdulrahman to
his native Egypt.
Sheikh Omar Abdulrahman has been imprisoned in solitary
confinement in the US
prisons for 18 years. He has repeatedly requested to be
returned to Egypt so
that he can spend the rest of his life there.
IHRC requests that its campaigners send letters to the UN
High Commissioner, the
UN Special Rapporteur on Heath, and the Special Rapporteur
on Arbitrary
Detention.
Background
Sheikh Omar Abdulrahman, a 73 year old religious scholar
from the prestigious
al-Azhar institute in Egypt, was convicted in 1995 for the
1993 New York World
Trade Centre bombing and other New York attack plans. He was
tried under
Sedition Laws, last used during the American Civil War, two
centuries ago. There
is a high chance that he may die soon, and his family have
requested for him to
be able to spend his last moments with them in Egypt.
The Egyptian authorities have made an official request to
the US administration
for them to return Sheikh Abdulrahman to his native
Egypt.
The Grand Imam of al-Azhar institute Dr Ahmed al-Tayeb has
written a statement
to the US Ambassador in Cairo, Margaret Scobey, in which he
called for the
return of the Sheikh.
The family of Sheikh Omar Abdulrahman has last week
submitted a request to the
US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. His case has prompted
demonstrations in Egypt, UK,
Denmark and other countries around the world.
The US Administration has not responded to the request of
the family or to the
official request of the Egyptian government. We therefore
urge you to write to
the UN to take action for the release of Sheikh Omar
Abdulrahman and impose
pressure on the US to provide him compensation for the long
years he spent in
solitary confinement.
Action required
IHRC urges all of its campaigners to help ensure that Sheikh
Abdulrahman is
returned safely to Egypt. Write to the UN High Commissioner,
UN Special
Rapporteur on Heath and Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary
Detention; urging them
to investigate his case and call upon the US to return him
to Egypt.
Sample letter
A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please
note that model
letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to
include further
details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we
request you to send a
copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to
IHRC. This is very
important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with
regards to our
campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It
is preferable that
letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or
email.
Ms. Navanethem Pillay is UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, an email can be
sent to: InfoDesk [at] ohchr [dot] org
[Your name]
[Your address]
Ms. Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights,
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),
Palais Wilson,
52 rue des Pâquis,
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland.
Telephone: +41 22 917 9220
[Date]
Dear Ms. Pillay
Re: Call for the safe return of Sheikh Omar Abdulrahman to
Egypt
I am deeply concerned about the health and detention of
Sheikh Omar Abdulrhman,
a blind 73 year-old religious scholar that has been
imprisoned under solitary
confinement for 18 years, and denied his visitation
rights.
The Egyptian Authorities have recently addressed the US
Administration, calling
for his immediate return to his native Egypt, where he would
serve the rest of
his sentence. His family have also submitted requests to the
US Ambassador to
Egypt, which urges the US administration to fulfil this
request.
Sheikh Omar Abdulrhman was arrested in 1995 for the 1993 New
York World Trade
Centre bombing and other New York attack plans. He was tried
under Sedition
Laws, last used during the Civil War, two centuries ago.
The status of his health has deteriorated considerably over
the years, and the
Sheikh now requires extensive special care. There is a
significant chance that
he may die soon, and his family have requested for him to be
able to spend his
last moments with them in Egypt.
Sheikh Abdulrahman has protested about the conditions he has
been forced to
endure during his time at the Butner Federal Correctional
Institution, North
Carolina. His family have spoken out against the way in
which he has been denied
the basic rights that other prisoners enjoy, such as
visitation, correspondence
and even being able to communicate with other prisoners.
I urge you to investigate the case of Sheikh Abdulrahman,
and call for his
transferral to Egypt. His treatment at the Butner Federal
Correctional
Institution, North Carolina, should also be further
investigated and he should
be compensated for the long years he spent in solitary
confinement.
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent
matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
Additional sample letters to other U.N. officials, as well
as the complete report on Egypt's request can be seen
here:
http://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/alerts/9680-egyptian-authoities-urge-us-to-return-of-sheikh-omar-abdulrahman-to-egypt
Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info [at] ihrc [dot] org
Web: www.ihrc.org
The IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the
Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations.
New Trend Funnies
"Try demonstrating in Gaza, then see what happens."
--Benyamin Netanyahu, whose government has killed scores of
Palestinians, to a group of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators
interrupting his speech to the U.S. Congress
Elderly Nation of Islam Representative Arrested in
Guyana
Released without Charge or Explanation
By New Trend Staff
CNN reported on May 20, 2011, that Imam Akhbar Muhammad, the
international envoy of the Nation of Islam, was arrested by
Guyanese authorities on suspicion of terrorism and drug
trafficking. According to a detailed report in the Final
Call, the Nation of Islam's newspaper, the 69-year old imam
was arrested at 1:30 AM in his hotel room, by four Guyanese
police officers, who threatened to break the door down. He
said one of them told him they were contacted by the CIA,
saying he was a terrorist. As he was being arrested, he saw
two white men who appeared to be with the police, standing
in the hallway. (Final Call, May 24, 2011).
No charges were brought, and the imam was released after
spending nearly two days in a filthy, overcrowded,
mosquito-infested Guyanese prison, but not before corporate
media reports around the world spewed headlines saying a
Muslim cleric suspected of terrorism had been arrested in
Guyana. His release came on the heels of a phone call from
Min. Louis Farrakhan, head of the Nation of Islam, to
Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo. Imam Akbar, who said the
aim of his visit was to talk with children about the dangers
of drugs, is demanding a formal apology from Guyana.
According to an article in the May 24, 2011 Final Call, the
incident inspired Imam Muhammad to further speak out on
behalf of Muslims who have endured harassment in airports
and other places. "This is happening to too many Muslims.
Many (Muslims) have suffered this and have been harassed and
detained and don't say anything, so they continue to do it.
So what we have to do is that when this happens, we have to
make some noise and let the world know that because I am a
Muslim, I am being harassed like this and they just have to
cease and desist. Anybody with a Muslim name can be accused
of anything," he told the NOI paper.
The Guyanese government is a good friend of the U.S. New
Trend deplores all such arrests on suspicion—often at the
behest of the U.S.—by U.S. proxy governments, whether in
Guyana, Pakistan, or elsewhere.
Letter
Condolences to Hodari Ali
Assalamu alaikum. It is with a heavy heart that we read
about the death of Br Hodari Ali. He was a star attraction
in Empower India Conference, organised by Popular Front of
India in Bangalore. He also visited Kerala, our native
state. Convey our deep condolence and prayers to his wife
and children.
Prof P. Koya
Thejas Daily
Calicut, India
Letter
Rafah entrance to Gaza Open
Assalamu alaikum
Rafah is open!
This is the best news so far this year.
It seems the rebels are winning in Libya with the Western
bombing campaign.
I hope their allies do not kill many more children before
they are through.
Br. Richard
Omaha, Nebraska
Ratko Mladic Captured
May 26, 2011 - The Associated Press reported that Ratko
Mladic was captured in northern Serbia after 16 years on the
run. He is charged with war crimes stemming from the Siege
of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, where 8,000 Muslim
men and boys were butchered. The BBC reported that Serbian
President Tadic said the arrest brought the country and the
region closer to reconciliation, and opened the doors to
European Union (EU) membership for Serbia. EU member status,
long sought by Serbia, had Mladic's arrest as unwritten
precondition. Apparently, turning in resident war criminals
is a prerequisite to membership in civilized society.
However, with the killers of millions of Iraqis, Afghans,
Palestinians, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans still at large,
it is clear that not all war criminals are created equal.
And the treatment of Mladic is striking in another respect:
As accused killer of vast numbers of Muslims, he was not
assassinated, nor was his body thrown into the sea.
Asif Zardari's Father Dies
Sufi Site Refuses Burial
May 24, 2011 - The Associated Press reported that Hakim Ali
Zardari died in a hospital in Islamabad. The 81-year old was
a veteran member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, known for
its harsh policies against Afghan refugees during the years
of the Soviet occupation. On May 26, janaza (funeral
prayers) for the elder Zardari were offered outside of the
Data Darbar Complex, according to the Nation (Pakistani news
source). Lahore's Data Darbar, where an 11th century sufi
saint is said to be buried, is one of the oldest Muslim
shrines on the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent. As such, it is a
popular destination among Muslim visitors from around the
nation and the world. Janazas are held there from time to
time. But this time, the local administration disallowed PPP
activists from conducting the ceremony inside.
Comment from New Trend's Pakistan observer: Zardari's
father's death follows upon the heels of the killing of
Osama bin Laden. The Darbar administration is very much
aware of the growing hatred among the populace to the
corrupt Pakistani rulers, who opened the door to the raid in
which Osama was killed. The site is open to people of all
faiths, and they have allowed prayers on site in the past.
Judging from the tears at the janazas-in-abstentia held for
Osama in Pakistan, he was viewed as a father by many. So the
thinking may be: If he was not allowed a proper burial, why
should the father of the treacherous ruler of Pakistan, who
opened the door to international killing and assassination,
be accorded a janaza at a site of such high repute as the
Darbar.
Pakistan and Conspiracy Theories
From our Pakistan observer
Pakistanis in many cases are confused about what goes on in
Pakistan. The most recent problem is posed by the mujahideen
attack on the naval headquarters in Karachi on May 23. Six
Taliban held off 1,500 of Pakistan's forces for 18 hours.
They destroyed expensive aircraft sold by the US to its
Pakistani allies. At least 12 Pakistani forces were killed
and scores wounded.
A retired naval officer told our reporter that it was an
attack by America! Our reporter reminded him that America is
working very closely with Pak military forces and has given
millions in aid to the Pakis. Why would it destroy its own
planes? The flabbergasted officer then jumped to the next
best: It must be India then, he said!
A Pakistani officer killed in the fighting at the base was
publicized as a hero and martyr. How did he become a martyr
when he was fighting Muslims (six of them!) and was one of
1,500 Pakistani forces?
No one knows. He was a bad choice as a hero because he is
also a Shi'ite. Thus the Shi'ite minority is being used by
the rulers to create a rift in Pakistan.
War News
Pakistan
May 13, 2011 - At least 80 people were killed and another
120 wounded in Shabqadar, Charsadda district. The attack was
on the Frontier Constabulary, a paramilitary force academy.
Sixty-six of the dead were said to be newly trained cadets
to be used to police the regions bordering Pakistan's tribal
areas. The attackers came in waves of first one motorcycle,
then another. Both perished in the attack. Pakistani Taliban
claimed responsibility and said the attacks were in
retaliation for the killing of Osama Bin laden. (Source: BBC
News, May 13, 2011)
May 14, 2011 - Six people were killed and several others
wounded when a roadside bomb hit a passenger bus near
Kharian, a town southeast of Islamabad. Kharian is a
garrison town. (Source: The Nation, May 14, 2011)
Editorial note: Since Kharian is a garrison town, one
cannot discount the possibility that it is that the bus may
have been carrying Pakistani soldiers.
Afghanistan
Taliban attacker in Police Uniform Breaches Highly Secured
Takhar Governor's Compound, Northern Afghanistan Police
Commander Killed, Top NATO General Wounded
May 28, 2011 - The commander of Afghan police forces for
northern Afghanistan, Mohammad Daud Daud was killed in a
Taliban attack on the provincial governors' compound in
Takhar. The provincial police chief Shah Jahan Nuri, a
secretary to the governor, and one of Daud's bodyguards were
also killed. Governor of Takhar province, Abdul Jabar Taqwa,
was wounded. The head of NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) for Northern Afghanistan, General
Markus Kneip, a German, was wounded. Two German soldiers
were killed. The attacker, in police uniform, died in the
attack. (Source: BBC, May 28, 2011)
Editorial note: Daud was the former commander of the
Northern Alliance. As such, he may have been complicit in
the December 2001 massacre Deisht-i-Leili massacre of
thousands of Taliban who had surrendered to General Dostum
after the Siege of Kunduz in November of that year.
Eight U.S. Troops killed by Roadside Bomb
May 26, 2011 - Reuters reported that eight U.S. troops were
killed in Southern Afghanistan. It was the deadliest single
attack on foreign forces in a month.
NATO Tries to Hit Back Against Attack on U.S. Marine Base,
Kills 14 Civilians in Airstrike
May 29, 2011 - Twelve children and two women were killed in
a NATO airstrike in Helmand province, reported the
Associated Press, citing Dawood Ahmadi, a spokesman for the
provincial Afghan government. The airstrike was reportedly
in retaliation for an attack earlier in the day on a U.S.
Marine base in Helmand's northwest district of Nawzad. He
said NATO hit two civilian houses, killing five girls, seven
boys and two women. (Source: Associated Press, May 29,
2011)
Taliban seize half of Nuristan District
May 24, 2011 - The Associated Press reported that the
western half of Duab district of Nuristan province was in
Taliban control. Nuristan is in eastern Afghanistan.
According to the provincial governor, Jamaludin Badr, the
Taliban overran the district compound—a government
building—using heavy weaponry like mortars and rocket
propelled grenades against the lightly armed Afghan police.
Three Afghan police officers were killed in the process.
(Source: Seattle Times, May 24, 2011)
Western Powers closing the Cordon Around Pakistan: Syed
Munawar Hasan Warns
LAHORE, May 26: The Jamaat e Islami chief, Syed Munawar
Hasan, has said the US President Obama and British Premier
Cameron's resolve to wipe out terrorism from this region and
check nuclear proliferation was an open challenge for
Pakistan.
The colonial powers were closing their cordon against this
country while the rulers and military leadership were the US
allies in its war against this country, he deplored, in his
address at a special workshop for provincial and district
heads of the JI held at Mansoora on Thursday.
Syed Munawar Hasan expressed grave concern over the
Abbotabad and Naval base attacks and said that if the nation
did not free itself from the clutches of the US slaves, it
would lose its independence and sovereignty. He said these
two incidents showed worst security failure which had not
only created a sense of insecurity among the people but also
shaken their faith in these institutions.
He said, the resolutions adopted by the joint sessions of
the parliament were not given any weight and there was no
indication that the rulers would give up their policy to
sell out national interests on US dictates. However, he
declared that the JI would foil all anti-Pakistan designs of
the slavish rulers with the public support.
Syed Munawar Hasan said that the current wave of terrorism
in the country was part of the agenda of US, India and
Israel against this country. He said the intelligence
agencies were showing complete indifference about the
security of national assets and sensitive installations, the
situation was alarming but the national security
institutions were shifting the responsibility to one
another.
He said in Karachi, those busy in the politics of dead
bodies and bloodshed had joined hands once again after
rapprochement and the port city should get ready for more
bloodshed and extortion. He however remarked that in this
bloody game, neither the heirs of those killed in target
killings had been compensated nor justice had been done to
their families.
He was sure that if there was free and fair elections in
Karachi, the JI would sweep. He clarified that the doors of
the JI were open to all.
Continued from New Trend's May 22, 2011 edition
(Rafidhi) Press TV
By Shahin
Here is another item from Press TV of an interview with
another pro Baathist mouthpiece
'Syria moves in line with people'
Interview with George Jabour, political analyst,
Damascus.
Syria has abolished a 48 year emergency law in the aftermath
of the recent protests in the country, also passing a bill
to allow peaceful protests.
Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:16AM
Press TV has interviewed George Jabour, a political analyst
in Damascus, regarding the government reaction to protests
and about the legitimacy of the demands of the protesters.
Press TV: How important are the new developments for Syrians
especially the decades-long emergency laws?
George Jabour: It is a very important development. For 48
years we have had that emergency rule. And it really started
back in 1959 with intermittent lifting of the emergency law
for a few months.
We must congratulate the people and the ruler of Syria for
the lifting of the state of emergency.
Press TV: Despite the reforms that have been announced there
have been fresh protests. Who are the anti-government
protesters? How legitimate do you think their demands are?
George Jabour: President Bashar al-Assad alluded to national
dialogue and there will be a project for the political life
in Syria what is called 'the law of political parties' and
there will be a space for national dialogue on this law.
Then, when we see a national dialogue on the law of
political parties, it means there will be some national
debate also on some articles of the constitution.
Press TV: Do you think with the current situation that these
protests are gradually reducing in their numbers and their
extent in light of these reforms? Do you think that the
situation now is going back to normal?
George Jabour: This will be the logical development in what
we are witnessing now. It means that there will be less and
less tension and more and more calm with dialogue to a more
peaceful transition to reforms. This is logic and this is
rationality.
Then, if there are conspiracies; if there is money or arms
coming in from outside; if there are certain people who
would like to seize the rule of Syria by force this means
there will be new logical development and logical sequence
of the reformist steps taken by the president and the
government.
Press TV: So in your view you are saying that at least in
some part of these protests they are being financed by
forces outside of Syria?
George Jabour: I don't have this information, but the
statement by the Ministry of the Interior alluded to it.
Anyway, I believe the majority of the protesters are
protesters of goodwill who want Syria to be reformed in many
ways; that will be supporting the measures taken by the
government and will express themselves clearly and nicely
over the coming days
Conclusions
Press TV has taken upon it self to sell the Syrian regime's
story that the popular protests in Syria are being organized
by 'Salafis' i.e. Sunni Muslims and foreigners. The reality
is that even members of Syria's ruling Alawite sect have
joined the protests as this report from Al Jazeera
shows:
"Ali, an Allawite, the sect from which the Assad family and
much of the ruling elite hail, was captured by secret police
during a small protest in Mezze, a suburb of Damascus.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ali said the beating began
as soon as he was on the bus to prison. "You are Alawite and
you don't like Bashar?" the police officer screamed at him.
"Are you with the Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood?"
The fist landed square in his face as Ali tried to explain
that the protesters were not fundamentalist Salafi Muslims."
Clearly, Iran is stoking sectarianism by blaming Sunni
Muslims when the reality is that protesters include Alawites
and Christians.
Press TV has been emphasizing the official line that the
Syrian President has promised reforms while at the same time
ignoring news of deaths, mass arrests and the new refugee
crisis created by large numbers of people fleeing into
Lebanon. For example Press TV ignored the Syrian army
besieging the town of Deraa by cutting off all
communication, electricity, food and water supplies e.g.
shooting at water tanks on the roofs of houses.
Where there have been credible reports of the regime's
sectarian Alawite gangs shooting at protestors; Press TV has
on the same day aired high quality Syrian state TV footage
of "unnamed gunmen" shooting at protestors when this footage
has all the hallmarks of a staged event.
Press TV aired Syrian state TV footage of staged
'confession's of foreigners who allegedly fired at
protestors and security forces. Yet none of the passports of
these so-called foreigners were shown or any proof of their
actual identity. One of those who confessed was an Egyptian
but Press TV did not bother to give his name or where he
even came from in Egypt!
On 15 May 2011 I saw on Al Jazeera, footage of Syrian tanks
firing into civilian areas of Deraa. On the same day, Press
TV showed Syrian regime supporters throwing flowers at these
tanks!! This was a slap in the face of all people with a
functioning brain.
Press TV has not bothered to interview human rights
activists or sent reporters in to interview any of the
demonstrators. I have not seen on Press TV funerals of
people killed by the regime or of ends and relatives of
people shot and arrested by the Syrian regime. Whereas by
comparison, I saw an Al Jazeera, TV crew and journalist go
right into a crowd of protestors who lifted the cameraman
onto their shoulders to get a wide angle shot of the huge
numbers who were out demonstrating.
Al Jazeera showed footage of wounded Syrian soldiers who
were shot by the regime for refusing to fire on unarmed
protesters. Press TV reported that these soldiers had been
shot by "unknown gunmen". Arabic speakers heard these
wounded soldiers say on camera it was the regime that shot
them and they were being cared for by the very civilians who
they were ordered to shoot at!
For Press TV to even suggest that thousands of people braved
bullets, tear gas, mass arrests and torture because they
were paid or influenced by foreigners is risible and beyond
belief.
When that is contrasted to the minute detail they have
lavished on the suffering of their fellow Shia in Bahrain it
only means that Press TV is pursuing an Anti Sunni agenda. I
recall on one day when 40 people were shot to death by the
Syrian regime, Press TV gave detailed coverage of the
funeral of an elderly gentleman who died from tear gas
inhalation after some of it wafted into his house. This is
one death in Bahrain is tragic, but yet Press TV ignored the
deaths of 40 innocent Sunnis shot to death by Iran's ally on
the same day.
I have seen on Al Jazeera interviews of human rights
activists in Bahrain and extensive film footage of human
rights abuses committed by the Bahraini regime against
Shia.
Press TV's disgraceful coverage of events in Syria has made
a mockery of any claims their reporters might have to being
called 'journalists'. They are a travesty of the term
including the celebrity white converts on their payroll.
Press TVs coverage of Palestine is effectively propaganda to
hide their sectarian agenda against Sunnis e.g. when they
ignored the sectarian massacres of Sunnis perpetrated by
their ally, the Mahdy Army, in Iraq.
The anti-Israel pro Palestine card has been used for decades
by every filthy, repressive regime in the Middle East e.g.
Gaddafi, Syria, and the Al Saud. It's now a busted flush and
people see it for what it is - just a fig leaf to hide the
crimes of Middle Eastern regimes - including Iran.
I have stopped watching Press TV.
Three years at the Islam Expo I was told by a Press TV
employee that they cannot compete with Al Jazeera because
they lack the funds. The fact is that Al Jazeera has one
asset which costs nothing in terms of money but which Press
TV lacks, and that is integrity.
2011-06-02 Thu 05:06:23 cdt
NewTrendMag.org