| Author | Message | | Alpha | | Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:45 am Post subject: Hezbollah Rejects Bush's Suggestion |
| Hezbollah kicked the land grabbing Israelis out of southern Lebanon (except for Sheba Farms) in 2000.... We are heading right for the rest of the 'A Clean Break' agenda of going after Syria via Lebanon that Bamford conveys on pages 261-269 of 'A Pretext for War' (check out http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2005/03/16/the-plan-is-still-on-track-bush-strategy-for-syria-lebanon.php ):
Hezbollah Rejects Bush's Suggestion
19 minutes ago
By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah's leader on Wednesday rejected a suggestion by President Bush (news - web sites) that his militants disarm and enter the political mainstream, saying the group will never leave Lebanon defenseless.
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah criticized Bush for not responding to Lebanese demands that Israeli warplanes stop flying over Lebanon, and for not calling on Israel to release its Lebanese detainees.
"He (Bush) does nothing to stop the overflights and its aggression or for the release of the prisoners. Instead, he provides it (Israel) with protection," Nasrallah said in a three-hour interview on Hezbollah's Al-Manar television.
"We are ready to remain until the end of time a terrorist organization in Bush's view, but we are not ready to give up protection of our country, our people, their blood and their honor," Nasrallah said.
The United States has long condemned Hezbollah, but Bush has said that the Iranian-backed militant group could shed its terrorist label and win U.S. recognition if it disarms and stays out of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
"Hezbollah is on the terrorist list for a reason, and remains on the terrorist list for a reason," said Bush.
But Bush said Washington looked forward to working with the elected leaders of "a free — truly free, Lebanon."
Lebanon is to hold legislative elections next month, and Bush has demanded that all Syrian troops and intelligence officials leave the country before the elections.
Under intense international pressure, Syria's 14,000 troops have been pulling back into Syria and the Lebanese side of the border. On Wednesday Syrian intelligence agents ended their 18-year presence in Beirut.
Drawing its support from Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites Muslims, Hezbollah is widely admired in the country and the Arab world for its military role in forcing Israel to leave southern Lebanon in 2000 after an 18-year occupation.
Nasrallah said it was "very big fallacy" that Hezbollah sought to disrupt Palestinian-Israeli peace.
"We don't carry out operations in occupied Palestine ... The Israelis say Hezbollah is behind the operations by Palestinian factions. This is not true. This is a honor that we don't claim," he added.
Nasrallah said "the core" of Bush's remarks was disarmament.
"The real goal before the eyes of the Americans and the Israelis is disarming Hezbollah and undermining the most important elements that Lebanon possesses," Nasrallah said.
"What is required is that Hezbollah be disarmed so that Lebanon can be left without protection," he added.
Nasrallah's strong statements contrasted sharply with the more moderate comments made earlier in the day by a member of Hezbollah's political bureau, Nawaf Moussawi.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya satellite television, Moussawi said Bush was "trying to propose an approach different from the traditional American approach toward Hezbollah."
Hezbollah has repeatedly spurned calls to disarm. Its deputy leader, Sheik Naim Kassem, said last week the group would not disarm as long as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict persists and poses a threat to Lebanese security.
In the past month, Hezbollah has demonstrated its political influence by organizing two huge rallies in support of Syria's military presence in Lebanon. On Tuesday, Hezbollah supporters took part in an anti-U.S. protest of several thousand people outside the American Embassy in Beirut.
At the same time, there have been calls for the United States to support moves to nudge Hezbollah into mainstream political life in Lebanon as Washington pushes for an end to Syrian influence there.
The United States and many other Western nations have linked Hezbollah to the pro-Iranian militants that carried out the suicide bombings of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine base, killing about 270 Americans, during the 1980s. Hezbollah was also widely blamed for the kidnapping of Americans in Beirut during the 1975-90 civil war.
Hezbollah denies links to those militants and kidnappers. | |  | | Alpha | | Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:02 am Post subject: Understanding Hezbollah Of Lebanon |
| Understanding Hezbollah
Of Lebanon
By Sam Hamod, PhD
3-13-5
"Hizbollah has driven the Israelis out of southern Lebanon and kept them out-to this day, it is the force that stands guard against another Israeli invasion of Lebanon."
Isn't it why the U.S. Administration has a grudge for Hezbollah?
"Even with planes and helicopters, the Israelis could not sustain themselves in Lebanon;
they were defeated by the Hezbollah. They have sought political revenge ever since."
"But there is no end to lies that the Zionists will go to because of
their shame at being beaten by Hezbollah."
It is time America understood Hezbollah for what it really is, not what the Israelis and their Zionist friends say it is. Unfortunately, our President, Bush, and Conde Rice, misunderstand, or prefer to remain ignorant of, the truth about Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is a social, political, educational, medical and military organization based primarily among the Shi'a of Lebanon. In addition, Hezbollah also includes many Sunni and even Christians who ally themselves with Hezbollah because of the good this organization does in Lebanon. Many of the doctors who work in their centers, as well as teachers in their schools are Christian and Druze.
As the Christian President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud said of Hezbollah, when it was under attack by Presiden Bush, "Hezbollah is an integral part of the Lebanese government, it is also part of our military, it part of our social order." This was echoed by the late, beloved, Prime Minister, Rafik Harriri.
This is the truth about Hezbollah; not what Bush and his Zionist cronies, and the uneducated Conde Rice has to say about the organization.
Let us look at what Hezbollah has done in Lebanon: it has set up over 50 hospitals; it has set up over 100 schools (secular schools primarily) and many libraries; it has participated in the governing of Lebanon in the parliament and in the life of the country; it has driven the Israelis out of southern Lebanon and kept them out-to this day, it is the force that stands guard against another Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Many of us who witnessed that, and Robert Fisk, the esteemed, award-winning columnist for the Independent of the United Kingdom, will back me up on this, we saw Hezbollah fighters, armed with small arms, mines, bazookas chase the Israeli tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, armored cars and troops out of Lebanon. It was an amazing sight to behold; this is fact. Even with planes and helicopters, the Israelis could not sustain themselves in Lebanon; they were defeated by the Hezbollah. They have sought political revenge ever since.
Thus, at this point, Israel is the biggest campaigner to have Hezbollah labeled a "terrorist organization" by the world-but all that Hezbollah did was to kick the Israelis out of Lebanese land-to kick the occupying Israeli IDF off of Lebanese soil This was defensive action; not offensive action.
Hezbollah has never invaded Israel, nor has Hezbollah ever attacked Americans-though the U.S. media said it has.This is nothing but a lie. True, some of the Shi'a did fight back, as Amal, against the Americans when the American troops were siding with the Falangist Gemeyal family in attacking the Muslims, especially the Shi'a-but it was not then Hezbollah and every honest historian knows this. But there is no end to lies that the Zionists will go to because of their shame at being beaten by Hezbollah.
So why is Hezbollah labeled as a "terrorist organization"-it's pure and simple, because it is a strong nationalist Lebanese force that refuses to bow to Israel or America or the Falangists.
Remember in America the patriots who fought against the British; Hezbollah is like those American patriots-just fighting for their land, their country. As an American, I am all for that. Any decent, educated and moral human being is for that.
We must call those who label as liars those who call Hezbollah a "terrorist organization" because they have no facts to back up their assertions. That Hezbollah defeated the Israelis is a fact, that the Israelis were an illegal occupying force in southern Lebanon (the area of the Shi'a) is a fact, that Hezbollah is now part of the Lebanese defense forces is a fact, that Hezbollah ever attacked American troops is an out and out lie.
It is time the world, especially the American people, knew the truth about Hezbollah and its charitable work, its social work, its medical work, its educational work and its standing in the hearts of most Lebanese and its standing in the Lebanese government. The lies of President Bush and his mistress of state, Conde Rice, must be undone. Tell your friends the truth; perhaps in that way, the truth will prevail over the propaganda Bush and Rice are putting out in the world.
Professor Sam Hamod is an expert on the Middle East and has written extensively on the Arab world, Islam and other parts of the Third World; he is the founder and editor of 3rd World News and 3rd World News Service in Wash, DC (retired); Director of The Islamic Center of Wash, DC (retired) and has taught at Princeton, Michigan & Iowa; he may be reached at shamod@cox.net Dr. Hamod also edits
http://www.todaysalternativenews.com | | | | Alpha | | Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Hezbollah Rejects Bush's Suggestion |
| 'A Clean Break: Strategy for Securing the Realm' (from James Bamford's 'A Pretext for War'):
http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2005/02/11/a-clean-break-from-james-bamford-s-a-pretext-for-war.php
| Alpha wrote: | Hezbollah kicked the land grabbing Israelis out of southern Lebanon (except for Sheba Farms) in 2000.... We are heading right for the rest of the 'A Clean Break' agenda of going after Syria via Lebanon that Bamford conveys on pages 261-269 of 'A Pretext for War' (check out http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/wake-up-america-your-government-is-hijacked-by-zionism/2005/03/16/the-plan-is-still-on-track-bush-strategy-for-syria-lebanon.php ):
Hezbollah Rejects Bush's Suggestion
19 minutes ago
By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah's leader on Wednesday rejected a suggestion by President Bush (news - web sites) that his militants disarm and enter the political mainstream, saying the group will never leave Lebanon defenseless.
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah criticized Bush for not responding to Lebanese demands that Israeli warplanes stop flying over Lebanon, and for not calling on Israel to release its Lebanese detainees.
"He (Bush) does nothing to stop the overflights and its aggression or for the release of the prisoners. Instead, he provides it (Israel) with protection," Nasrallah said in a three-hour interview on Hezbollah's Al-Manar television.
"We are ready to remain until the end of time a terrorist organization in Bush's view, but we are not ready to give up protection of our country, our people, their blood and their honor," Nasrallah said.
The United States has long condemned Hezbollah, but Bush has said that the Iranian-backed militant group could shed its terrorist label and win U.S. recognition if it disarms and stays out of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
"Hezbollah is on the terrorist list for a reason, and remains on the terrorist list for a reason," said Bush.
But Bush said Washington looked forward to working with the elected leaders of "a free — truly free, Lebanon."
Lebanon is to hold legislative elections next month, and Bush has demanded that all Syrian troops and intelligence officials leave the country before the elections.
Under intense international pressure, Syria's 14,000 troops have been pulling back into Syria and the Lebanese side of the border. On Wednesday Syrian intelligence agents ended their 18-year presence in Beirut.
Drawing its support from Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites Muslims, Hezbollah is widely admired in the country and the Arab world for its military role in forcing Israel to leave southern Lebanon in 2000 after an 18-year occupation.
Nasrallah said it was "very big fallacy" that Hezbollah sought to disrupt Palestinian-Israeli peace.
"We don't carry out operations in occupied Palestine ... The Israelis say Hezbollah is behind the operations by Palestinian factions. This is not true. This is a honor that we don't claim," he added.
Nasrallah said "the core" of Bush's remarks was disarmament.
"The real goal before the eyes of the Americans and the Israelis is disarming Hezbollah and undermining the most important elements that Lebanon possesses," Nasrallah said.
"What is required is that Hezbollah be disarmed so that Lebanon can be left without protection," he added.
Nasrallah's strong statements contrasted sharply with the more moderate comments made earlier in the day by a member of Hezbollah's political bureau, Nawaf Moussawi.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya satellite television, Moussawi said Bush was "trying to propose an approach different from the traditional American approach toward Hezbollah."
Hezbollah has repeatedly spurned calls to disarm. Its deputy leader, Sheik Naim Kassem, said last week the group would not disarm as long as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict persists and poses a threat to Lebanese security.
In the past month, Hezbollah has demonstrated its political influence by organizing two huge rallies in support of Syria's military presence in Lebanon. On Tuesday, Hezbollah supporters took part in an anti-U.S. protest of several thousand people outside the American Embassy in Beirut.
At the same time, there have been calls for the United States to support moves to nudge Hezbollah into mainstream political life in Lebanon as Washington pushes for an end to Syrian influence there.
The United States and many other Western nations have linked Hezbollah to the pro-Iranian militants that carried out the suicide bombings of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine base, killing about 270 Americans, during the 1980s. Hezbollah was also widely blamed for the kidnapping of Americans in Beirut during the 1975-90 civil war.
Hezbollah denies links to those militants and kidnappers. | | | | | | ©2002-2009 WarWithoutEnd.co.uk |
