Mid-East Leaders' attachmentsTo The Seat of Power. By:Marwan Arikat

When watching the Arab recent Revolutions; you will notice that the longer the régime has been in power, the more likely for the régime to fight more brutally for  his leadership position. For example, the president of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Who became president in 1987, has abandoned his position without much of a fight. While Egypt's Mubarak, who became president in 1981, had to hope that the largest populated Arab Country Will blink first in the battle between the revolutionaries and the security forces, however, after the massacres around the country, Mubarak resigned. In Libya, the situation is different, after 42 of rule, it seems that Muammar al-Gaddafi has grown very attached to the seat of power. That is why Qaddafi's son has warned the opposition that if they keep up the protests, then they should expect bloodbaths. Thus, the removal of the Hashemite régime in Jordan, which existed since the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Will prove the most difficult to change and may cost the people of Jordan half of their population.

1982, The Year of Arab Catastrophes. By: Marwan Arikat

Months before the vicious massacres of Sabra and Shatilla Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, perpetrated by extremist elements of the Maronite Phalangists with the help and direct support of Ariel Sharon and the Israeli Occupation Forces, a systematic genocide and extermination of innocent people was happening in neighboring Syria, more precisely in the city of Hama.  However, unlike the Sabra and Shatilla massacres, the genocide committed against the people of Hama did not receive much media coverage in international or even Arab media. Even the US government and major media outlets, which despises the Assad regime, ignored and downplayed  the genocide committed by Hafez Assad and his brother, Rifa'at Assad. This was probably due to the perception in Washington that Assad, as bad as he was, was fighting a common enemy of the US, Israel and the Syrian régime, the "Islamic Fundamentalists."   Moreover,  the United Nations and the rest of the so-called civilized world chose to turn a blind eye to the genocide in Hama that is considered today to be the worst mass extermination and killing in Arab modern history perpetrated by an Arab, the closest  other mass murder that resembled the Hama genocide, was committed by the Jordanian régime against the Palestinian population in Jordan between 1969 and 1970 in what is known as "Black September." Although no one was surprised by the Arab governments and régimes being a silent accomplice to the crimes in Hama, the fact that Arabs had to follow the Israeli media to get a glimpse of what was happening in Hama, Syria, was sickening.   Other than the Syrians, the Palestinians were mostly disgusted by the actions of the Syrian régime, who used and still uses the Palestinian card to silence his opponents, however, the Hama genocide showed the Palestinians that the real purpose of the weapons that the Syrian régime was accumulating was not to liberate Palestine or even the Golan Heights as we were taught in school, but it was used to demolish mosques, houses and infrastructure in the Arab and Syrian city of Hama. The death-toll in Hama, if we choose to ignore the Syrian civilians who until this day are still missing, was estimated to be between 20 to 40 thousands!  Today history is repeating itself, Assad the son, has launched his homicidal machine to crush the protesters in Hama and the rest of Syria. On the other hand, today we do not have any excuse to stay silent and blame mainstream media instead, because we all have access to our own media, thanks to the internet, so we have the choice to expose the Syrian regime or we can choose to be silent accomplices to Assad's crimes.

1982, The Year of Arab Catastrophes. By: Marwan Arikat

Months before the vicious massacres of Sabra and Shatilla Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, perpetrated by extremist elements of the Maronite Phalangists with the help and direct support of Ariel Sharon and the Israeli Occupation Forces, a systematic genocide and extermination of innocent people was happening in neighboring Syria, more precisely in the city of Hama.  However, unlike the Sabra and Shatilla massacres, the genocide committed against the people of Hama did not receive much media coverage in international or even Arab media. Even the US government and major media outlets, which despises the Assad regime, ignored and downplayed  the genocide committed by Hafez Assad and his brother, Rifa'at Assad. This was probably due to the perception in Washington that Assad, as bad as he was, was fighting a common enemy of the US, Israel and the Syrian régime, the "Islamic Fundamentalists."   Moreover,  the United Nations and the rest of the so-called civilized world chose to turn a blind eye to the genocide in Hama that is considered today to be the worst mass extermination and killing in Arab modern history perpetrated by an Arab, the closest  other mass murder that resembled the Hama genocide, was committed by the Jordanian régime against the Palestinian population in Jordan between 1969 and 1970 in what is known as "Black September." Although no one was surprised by the Arab governments and régimes being a silent accomplice to the crimes in Hama, the fact that Arabs had to follow the Israeli media to get a glimpse of what was happening in Hama, Syria, was sickening.   Other than the Syrians, the Palestinians were mostly disgusted by the actions of the Syrian régime, who used and still uses the Palestinian card to silence his opponents, however, the Hama genocide showed the Palestinians that the real purpose of the weapons that the Syrian régime was accumulating was not to liberate Palestine or even the Golan Heights as we were taught in school, but it was used to demolish mosques, houses and infrastructure in the Arab and Syrian city of Hama. The death-toll in Hama, if we choose to ignore the Syrian civilians who until this day are still missing, was estimated to be between 20 to 40 thousands!  Today history is repeating itself, Assad the son, has launched his homicidal machine to crush the protesters in Hama and the rest of Syria. On the other hand, today we do not have any excuse to stay silent and blame mainstream media instead, because we all have access to our own media, thanks to the internet, so we have the choice to expose the Syrian regime or we can choose to be silent accomplices to Assad's crimes.

1982, The Year of Arab Catastrophes. By: Marwan Arikat

Months before the vicious massacres of Sabra and Shatilla Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, perpetrated by extremist elements of the Maronite Phalangists with the help and direct support of Ariel Sharon and the Israeli Occupation Forces, a systematic genocide and extermination of innocent people was happening in neighboring Syria, more precisely in the city of Hama.  However, unlike the Sabra and Shatilla massacres, the genocide committed against the people of Hama did not receive much media coverage in international or even Arab media. Even the US government and major media outlets, which despises the Assad regime, ignored and downplayed  the genocide committed by Hafez Assad and his brother, Rifa'at Assad. This was probably due to the perception in Washington that Assad, as bad as he was, was fighting a common enemy of the US, Israel and the Syrian régime, the "Islamic Fundamentalists."   Moreover,  the United Nations and the rest of the so-called civilized world chose to turn a blind eye to the genocide in Hama that is considered today to be the worst mass extermination and killing in Arab modern history perpetrated by an Arab, the closest  other mass murder that resembled the Hama genocide, was committed by the Jordanian régime against the Palestinian population in Jordan between 1969 and 1970 in what is known as "Black September." Although no one was surprised by the Arab governments and régimes being a silent accomplice to the crimes in Hama, the fact that Arabs had to follow the Israeli media to get a glimpse of what was happening in Hama, Syria, was sickening.   Other than the Syrians, the Palestinians were mostly disgusted by the actions of the Syrian régime, who used and still uses the Palestinian card to silence his opponents, however, the Hama genocide showed the Palestinians that the real purpose of the weapons that the Syrian régime was accumulating was not to liberate Palestine or even the Golan Heights as we were taught in school, but it was used to demolish mosques, houses and infrastructure in the Arab and Syrian city of Hama. The death-toll in Hama, if we choose to ignore the Syrian civilians who until this day are still missing, was estimated to be between 20 to 40 thousands!  Today history is repeating itself, Assad the son, has launched his homicidal machine to crush the protesters in Hama and the rest of Syria. On the other hand, today we do not have any excuse to stay silent and blame mainstream media instead, because we all have access to our own media, thanks to the internet, so we have the choice to expose the Syrian regime or we can choose to be silent accomplices to Assad's crimes.

1982, The Year of Arab Catastrophes. By: Marwan Arikat

Months before the vicious massacres of Sabra and Shatilla Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, perpetrated by extremist elements of the Maronite Phalangists with the help and direct support of Ariel Sharon and the Israeli Occupation Forces, a systematic genocide and extermination of innocent people was happening in neighboring Syria, more precisely in the city of Hama.  However, unlike the Sabra and Shatilla massacres, the genocide committed against the people of Hama did not receive much media coverage in international or even Arab media. Even the US government and major media outlets, which despises the Assad regime, ignored and downplayed  the genocide committed by Hafez Assad and his brother, Rifa'at Assad. This was probably due to the perception in Washington that Assad, as bad as he was, was fighting a common enemy of the US, Israel and the Syrian régime, the "Islamic Fundamentalists."   Moreover,  the United Nations and the rest of the so-called civilized world chose to turn a blind eye to the genocide in Hama that is considered today to be the worst mass extermination and killing in Arab modern history perpetrated by an Arab, the closest  other mass murder that resembled the Hama genocide, was committed by the Jordanian régime against the Palestinian population in Jordan between 1969 and 1970 in what is known as "Black September." Although no one was surprised by the Arab governments and régimes being a silent accomplice to the crimes in Hama, the fact that Arabs had to follow the Israeli media to get a glimpse of what was happening in Hama, Syria, was sickening.   Other than the Syrians, the Palestinians were mostly disgusted by the actions of the Syrian régime, who used and still uses the Palestinian card to silence his opponents, however, the Hama genocide showed the Palestinians that the real purpose of the weapons that the Syrian régime was accumulating was not to liberate Palestine or even the Golan Heights as we were taught in school, but it was used to demolish mosques, houses and infrastructure in the Arab and Syrian city of Hama. The death-toll in Hama, if we choose to ignore the Syrian civilians who until this day are still missing, was estimated to be between 20 to 40 thousands!  Today history is repeating itself, Assad the son, has launched his homicidal machine to crush the protesters in Hama and the rest of Syria. On the other hand, today we do not have any excuse to stay silent and blame mainstream media instead, because we all have access to our own media, thanks to the internet, so we have the choice to expose the Syrian regime or we can choose to be silent accomplices to Assad's crimes.

Assad's Worst Nightmare

By: Marwan Arikat ------------------------------------------------------------------ In the 2003 Arab summit and shortly before the US invaded Iraq, Bashar Assad of Syria berated the other Arab countries over their silence (and consent) to the US invasion of Iraq. He talked about the evils of allowing imperialist nations to intervene in what he regarded as an Arab internal affair. In addition, he warned the Arab countries that they will be the next target of foreign imperialism and intervention if they do not prevent the US plans to invade and occupy Iraq. Back then, he was regarded, by many people in the Arab world, as a shrewd, farseeing politician who displayed an uncanny wisdom for his age, he was extremely insightful to the extent that his own late cunning father seemed obtuse in comparison. However, the current brutality and violent suppression of the Syrian uprising by his army, security forces, secret police, and government thugs or "Shabiha"proves that Assad has reverted to the primitive mindset of the rest of the other Arab leaders and to the monstrosity of his old-man. This can't be the same perceptive, sagacious, smooth, and savvy Assad of 2003! In 2003, the educated, civilized and articulate Assad reached-out and appealed to the hundreds of millions of Arabs and non-Arabs around the globe. Now he seems incapable of establishing an adequate and a very simple dialogue with his own people. Furthermore, the vicious and cruel crackdown against the (unarmed) Syrian civilian demonstrators makes Assad look like the ignorant and imbecile savage leaders of Libya and Yemen. Moreover, Assad's crimes against his own people and the appearance of mass graves in northern Syria will inevitably pressure foreign countries, especially western nations, to intervene in Syria's internal crisis, thus, fulfilling Assad's worst nightmare. Additionally, Assad initiated foreign intervention in his own country the minute he asked for the support of the persian régime to help him suppress the Syrian local uprising. Iran, one of the Middle Eastern regional imperialist superpowers, was more than happy to mobilize thousands of its notorious and ruthless Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRG) in support of Assad's grip on power in Syria, because Assad was always regarded as an Iranian proxy. Also, the Iranian régime always dreamt of gaining a foothold along the Lebanese and the Israeli borders in order to directly support and arm its own proxies in Southern Lebanon, Hizbollah. It is worth mentioning that the (IRG) happen to be experts on the suppression of uprisings because they practice it everyday in Iran. The Iranian intervention in Syria has triggered a a chain reaction in the region. For example, Turkey, another imperialist power and a rival of Iran in the region, is building up its troops along the Syrian borders and is threatening to intrude on Syrian territory to prevent the influx of Syrian refugees, escaping Assad's massacres, to Turkey. Likewise, Israel, which is currently deploying its elite units to its northern borders with Syria, will not set idle and accept the presence of Iranian troops in Syria or Lebanon. Besides, Israel is the only nuclear superpower in the Middle East and any Israeli intervention in Syria will cost the Syrians more than the Golan Heights, which Syria lost to Israel in the 1967 war. Also, any Israeli intervention will lead to the globalization of the conflict, because both Israel and Iran are armed to the teeth and both possess weapons of mass destruction. Thus, Assad, who was worried about the impact of foreign intervention in neighboring Iraq on his own country, will now have to deal with foreign intervention in his own backyard, thanks to his brutal and inhumane policy toward his people. Isn't that an Irony?

How The Saudi Monarchy Betrayed The (Salafist) Abd Al-Wahhab and crushed "Wahabism"!

How The Saudi Monarchy Betrayed The (Salafist) Abd Al-Wahhab and crushed "Wahabism"! By: Marwan Arikat I.Who is Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab? A. An 18th century Muslim theologian, from the district of Najd in the Arabian Peninsuela which is currently known as Saudi Arabia B. He was a devout followers of the Hanballi Islamic school of thought, which is one of the four Islamic schools of thought recognized by Sunni Muslims. C. He is associated with the revivalist religious movement of Salafism II. What is Salafism and is it the same as "Wahhabism"? A. A Salafi is one who follows the tradition of Salaf. The word Salaf literally means predecessor, and it is short for the phrase "al-Salaf as-Saleh", which means "The Pious Predecessors." B. The Salaf or " The Pious Predecessors" refers to the first three Generations in Islam, the first generation are the companions or disciples of the Prophet of Islam, the second generation are the followers of the first generation of Islam and the third generation are the followers of the followers of the First generation of Islam. C. According to the Salafi interpretation, the ways and the traditions of the Salaf(The Pious Predecessors), embody the Islam that was preached by Muhammad and practiced by his Companions, as well as the second and third generations succeeding them, which was a pure, unadulterated Islam, and, therefore, the ultimate authority for the interpretation of the two sources of revelation given to Muhammad, namely the Qur'an and the Sunnah. D. Salafism is a puritan Islamic movement, and Salafism as we know it today is based on teachings of Ahmad Bin Hanbal whose main accomplishment was integrating and unifying the other three Islamic schools of thoughts of his mentors and predecessors into one school of thought to prevent any innovations or distortions of Sunnah(the Pure Tradition of Prophet Muhammad), thus, Ibn Hanbal earned the title of "The Imam of the Sunnis." E."Wahhabism" is an orientalist derogatory term, was first coined by the British to describe Salafis, because Salafi fighters known as "Ikhwan(not Al-Ikhwan)"were raiding British Mandate areas such as Transjordan and Iraq. The term was then used by members of anti-Sunni Islamic branches, like Sufis and Shia'a. F. The insinuation behind the terminology of "Wahhabism" to describe Salafism is to make Salafi-thought seem as a foreign concept to Islam, by associating Salafism with the British word "Wahhabism", Muslims might believe that this puritanical Islamic school of thought is an invention by Abd al-Wahhab. Even though, the Salafist movement first appeared 1400 years ago, after the Assassination of the third Muslim head of state, Othman Bin Affan, who was also a close companion of the Prophet of Islam. 1.Salafism appeared as a reaction to the appearance of many deviant "Islamic" Ideologies and groups, some of which encouraged or justified the Killing of Othman 2. Salafism tried to reunite Muslims after the murder of Othman, and tried to prevent the civil wars and the unrest caused by the murder of Othman. 3. The two most famous figures who are mostly associated with initiating the foundations of Salafism, after the civil tension(caused by the murder of Othman) intensified between the Muslim Leadership in Baghdad and the Muslim Leadership in Damascus, were Abdullah Ibn Al-Abbas, the first cousin of Prophet Muhammad, and Abdullah Ibn Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, a young companion of the Prophet and the son of one of the most beloved companions to the Prophet. III. The Pact between Ibn Saud and Ibn Abd al-Wahhab: A.Ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammed Ibn Saud ( the founder of the first Saudi State), signed a pact in which Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab would support Ibn Saud leadership on the condition that Ibn Saud would implement and enforce Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's teachings, especially ridding the Arabian peninsula of innovations (heretics) in the practice of Islam by bringing the religion back to its purest form. B. The pact or alliance was formalized by the wedding of Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab's daughter to Abdul Aziz, son and successor of Ibn Saud. IV. Salafists(Salafis) in the Arabian Peninsula were not pacifists! A. Although Abd- Wahab's ideology is misrepresented these days as a pacifist movement which blindly obeys the "House of Saud," Abd al-Wahhab believed that the peaceful call for Islam cannot be seperated from the physical striving in the cause of God. B. Salafis in the Arabian Peninsula have established a military wing which initiated the first waves of anti-colonial armed resistance and armed raids against the British Occupation forces and their Arab proxies in Transjordan and Iraq. C. The armed wing of Salafism was named "Ikhwan" which meant "brothers" (not to be confused with "Al-Ikhwan" or the non-salafi Muslim Brotherhood.) D. "Ikhwan" raided Transjordan and Iraq, which were under British occupation, so many times that the Birtish were enraged and wanted to crush the Salafist"Ikhwan." E. The Saudi Family did not have an army, so it relied on "Ikhwan" to subdue the Arabian Peninsula based on the agreement with Abd al-Wahhab. F. The "Ikhwan" is one of the first anti-colonial resistance moveme in the Arabian Peninsula. G. The "Ikhwan" stood out, because resistance movements in the Middle East were usually initiated by the educated, city inhabitants who belonged to middle or upper class. While " Ikhwan" were religious, salafi Bedouin tribesmen. Thus, the "Ikhwan" did not conform to the common Arab stereotype that Bedouins were primitive in their thinking, because Bedouins are believed to be tribally oriented, rather than ideologically oriented. H. "Ikhwan's" allegiance were to God and His Prophet and loyalty to the tribe came second. Their mission was to eliminate all forms of idolatry in the Arabian Peninsula and the rest of the Arab World. The interest of the tribe was not their priority. I. After the British occupation failed to crush "Ikhwan," they conspired with the Saudi Family to eliminate "Ikhwan." The Brits promised to support the Saudi future state if the "Ikwan" were defeated, and sure enough the Saudi established alliances with different tribes and were armed by the British with modern weapons, along with the support of British Royal Air-force, helping the Saudi Family defeat the "Ikhwan" who relied on primitive weapons like swords and spears. V. How did the Modern Saudi Monarchy silence the many descendants of Abd al-Wahhab? A. The Saudi Family knew that even after the defeat of "Ikhwan", the countless descendants of if Abd al-Wahhab (later named Al-Sheikh, or the tribe of the [religious]Scholar) were concentrated in Najd which happens to be the home base of the House of Saud, and Al-Shiekh were as large as the Saudi Family or the House of Saud. B. Moreover, Al-Shiekh was more supported by the religious scholars and followers of Abd al-Wahhab than the Saudi Family. C. To ensure the support and the allegiance of Al-Shiekh and their supporters, the Saudi Family established a pact with Al-Shiekh which puts the Islamic Holysites under the control of Al-Shiekh, in addition, legislation of internal affairs as well as the religious courts of law are to be based on the salafi principals put down by Abd al-Wahhab. D. Therefore, the legislative council or "Shura" council in Saudi Arabia, is run until this day by the descendants and the followers of Abd al-Wahhab. E. In addition, the affairs and the management of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina must be run by a direct descendant ( not only a follower) of Abd al-Wahhab, which was a coup d'état against the Hashemites (the tribe of the Prophet of Islam) and the their relative tribes of Mecca and Medina who were the ones in charge of the of the two Holy Mosques since the death of the Prophet ( In the case of Mecca, the Meccan tribes, including the Hashemites, controlled Mecca for centuries before the Birth of the Prophet of Islam) until the collapse of the Ottoman empire in 1917. VI. Why is this deal a betrayal of the original pact with Abd al-Wahhab? A. Abd al-Wahhab wanted the basics of Islam or the traditions of the Salaf spread around the Muslim World, and more specifically in the eastern part of the Arab World(Arabia, Yemen, Great Syria and Iraq) while the Saudi Family limited the teachings to the borders of modern Saudi Arabia. B. Abd al-Wahhab did not separate between internal and external affairs, he was determined to ensure that Islamic law would apply to all affairs of the state, and not only limited to internal affairs. C. Abd al-Wahhab and other Salafis refused any harmonious relations with colonial powers( "Ikhwan's" raids and battles against the British.) D. Abd al-Wahhab believed that Muhammed Ibn Saud ( the founder of the first Saudi State) will run the state as Caliphate State not as a royal state. E. Abd al-Wahhab would've not made the pact with the Saudi Family if he had known that they would follow secular traditions with regard to State's external affairs, monarchy system or the State's funds and wealth. F. Salafis in general do not regard anyone, especially the head of the state and his family, as exempt from the Islamic law of the land. G. In addition, almost all Salafis agree that the head of the state is a care taker and enforcer of the Divine Law which is interpreted by the legislative council or the council of the scholars (Shura Council). This means that the head of the state must implements Shura Council laws, hence, the head of the state cannot make-up any laws.

Just because they are rumors, does not make them lies!

By: Marwan Arikat • Just because they are rumors, does not make them lies! • I. The rumors about possible relocation of Hamas leadership, from Syria to Qatar are based on actual facts on the ground: • A. Members of the Hamas political structure in Gaza have expressed discontent with the war crimes committed by the Assad Régime against Sunni Muslims, especially the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, because Hamas happens to be a Member of the global Muslim Brotherhood movement. • B. Hamas leadership in Gaza did not approve of the recent support for the Assad Régime by the Hamas leadership in Damascus. • C. Hamas in Gaza refused the Iranian interference in Syrian Affairs, despite the fact that Iran provides rhetorical, political and some armed support to Hamas. • D. The contradiction, regarding Syrian oppressive crackdown of the "Sunni" uprising, between the Hamas leadership in Gaza and the Hamas leadership in Damascus, led to minor friction between the two entities. • E. The Syrian intelligence is trying to silence Hamas in Gaza by declaring some members as persona non grata(non-welcome persons.) • F. The Syrian Régime have made it clear that Hamas should relocate from Damascus to somewhere else for two reasons: • 1. The Syrian Régime feels betrayed by Hamas because Hamas did not echo the Syrian propaganda that the Syrian civil unrest was caused by foreign elements, and has nothing to due with the brutality of Assad's régime. • 2. The Syrian Régime is desperately trying to appease the American, in order to alleviate the international pressure on the régime to stop the genocide against the people of Syria. • II. Hamas leadership, especially in Gaza, always expressed that resistance is on the side of the oppressed, even if it meant alienating Hamas allies, thus proving that Hamas is a proxy to no one: • A. Hamas siding with the opressed, regardless of who are the oppressors: • 1. Hamas in Gaza publicly condemned the massacres committed by Iran's allies in Iraq against Palestinian refugees in Iraq and Iraqi Sunnis, Hamas condemned the extremist Al-Mahdi (Arab) Shiite militia and the persian-run, Bader Bigade who happen to be the Iranian Arm in Iraq. Risking offending the Ayatollah's Régime. • 2. Other examples of anti-Iranian rhetoric by Hamas in Gaza: • a. Hamas in Gaza condemned the execution of saddam hussein by the Shiite Sectarian Régime. • b. Hamas in Gaza condemned the murder of bin laden, another "nemesis " of Iran. • B. Hamas caused an embarrassment to Hizbollah (another resistance movement), by exposing Hizbollah's hypocrisy. Hizbollah supported the Shiite revolution against the Bahraini régime, however, Nasrallah's organization not only failed to condemn the Syrian Régime, on the contrary, Hizbollah echoed Assad's propaganda that the innocent people who were killed by Bashar's ruthless brother, Maher Assad, were Zionist & Saudi agents, including the children who were tortured by Assad's secret police in Dera'a, the incident that ignited the Syrian revolution

Just because they are rumors, does not make them lies!

By: Marwan Arikat "Hamas Relocation" - Just because they are rumors, does not make them lies!    - I. The rumors about possible relocation of Hamas leadership, from      Syria to Qatar are based on actual facts on the ground:        - A. Members of the Hamas political structure in Gaza have          expressed discontent with the war crimes committed by the          Assad Régime against Sunni Muslims, especially the Muslim          Brotherhood in Syria, because Hamas happens to be a Member of          the global Muslim Brotherhood movement.        - B. Hamas leadership in Gaza did not approve of the recent          support for the Assad Régime by the  Hamas leadership in          Damascus.        - C. Hamas in Gaza refused the Iranian interference  in Syrian          Affairs, despite the fact that Iran provides rhetorical,          political and some armed support to Hamas.        - D. The contradiction, regarding Syrian oppressive crackdown of          the "Sunni" uprising, between the Hamas leadership in Gaza          and the Hamas leadership in Damascus, led to minor friction          between the two entities.        - E. The Syrian intelligence is trying to silence Hamas in Gaza by          declaring some members as persona non grata(non-welcome          persons.)        - F. The Syrian Régime have made it clear that Hamas should          relocate from Damascus to somewhere else for two reasons:            - 1. The Syrian Régime feels betrayed by Hamas because Hamas              did not echo the Syrian propaganda that the Syrian civil              unrest was caused by foreign elements, and has nothing to              do with the brutality of Assad's régime.            - 2. The Syrian Régime is desperately trying to appease the              Americans, in order to alleviate the international              pressure on the régime to stop the genocide against the              people of Syria.    - II. Hamas leadership, especially in Gaza, always expressed that they support      resistance and they are ip on the side of the oppressed, even if it meant      alienating Hamas allies, thus proving that Hamas is a proxy to no      one:        - A. Hamas siding with the opressed, regardless of who are the          oppressors:            - 1. Hamas in Gaza publicly condemned the massacres committed              by Iran's allies in Iraq against Palestinian refugees in              Iraq and Iraqi Sunnis, Hamas condemned the extremist              Al-Mahdi (Arab) Shiite militia and the persian-run, Bader              Brigade who happen to be the Iranian Arm in Iraq. Risking              offending the Ayatollah's Régime.            - 2.  Other examples of anti-Iranian rhetoric by Hamas in Gaza:                - a. Hamas in Gaza condemned the execution of Saddam                  Hussein by the Shiite Sectarian Régime.                - b. Hamas in Gaza condemned the murder of bin laden,                  another "nemesis " of Iran.        - B. Hamas caused an embarrassment to Hizbollah (another          resistance movement), by exposing Hizbollah's hypocrisy.          Hizbollah  supported the Shiite revolution against the          Bahraini régime, however, Nasrallah's organization not only          failed to condemn the Syrian Régime, on the contrary,          Hizbollah echoed Assad's propaganda that the innocent people          who were killed by Bashar's ruthless brother, Maher Assad,          were Zionist & Saudi agents, including the children who were          tortured by Assad's secret police in Dera'a, the incident          that ignited the Syrian revolution

“And The Rowaibeidah Have spoken”

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “سيأتي على الناس سنوات خداعات يصدق فيها الكاذب و يكذب فيها الصادق و يؤتمن فيها الخائن و يخون فيها الأمين و ينطق فيها الرويبضة قيل: وما الرويبضة؟ قال: الرجل التافه يتكلم في أمر العامة.” و ينطق فيها الرويبضة قيل: وما الرويبضة؟ قال: الرجل التافه يتكلم في أمر العامة. وونطق الروبيضة سيأتي على الناس سنوات خداعات يصدق فيها الكاذب و يكذب فيها الصادق و يؤتمن فيها الخائن و يخون فيها الأمين. و ينطق فيها الرويبضة. قيل: وما الرويبضة؟ قال: الرجل التافه يتكلم في أمر العامة. The Messenger of Allah ( Prayer and Peace Be Upon Him) said: Cunning years will come upon people, where the liar will be believed and the honest person  will be disbelieved. And the Treacherous will be trusted and the Trustworthy will be mistrusted. And the Rowaibeidah shall speak(publicly & with authority). The Prophet was asked: what is the Rowaibeidah? He answered: The silly, ignorant(Lacking knowledge or awareness or insight) man speaking(as an authority and an expert) in matters that are of concern (highly critical) to  the public (welfare.) “And The Rowaibeidah Have spoken” According to a Wikileaked US cable and titled KING AND QUEEN[Of Jordan] OUTLINE IRANIAN “NEMESIS”, the Royal couple Spoke to members of a delegation of staffers from the U.S. Senate. They stressed the threat Iran poses to security and stability in the region, and linked the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the rise of Iranian influence in the region.” ( I guess the Iranian Régime, which did not exist in 1948 or 1967, is behind the Israeli occupation of Palestine.) The King asserted that a collapse of the peace process would strengthen Iran’s hand( So the ultimate objective of the the so-called Peace Process is to weaken Iran, Justice for Palestinian is irrelevant here, so the real Mideast Conflict is Tehran, not Jerusalem, based.) The Queen added that economically strong, politically moderate alternatives in the region are the only thing that will ultimately defeat Iran’s influence.( So is The presence of an Israelis Zionist, Arab & Muslim-Hating Fanatic Régime, which is Nuclearly armed to the teeth, the moderate alternative for Iran’s “influence”?) The King stated”Failure (of the peace talks)will give Iran and its proxies exactly what they’re looking for,” (He failed to mention that any success for Iran and its “proxies” means a defeat for American/Israeli “proxies including, the King himself.”) The King stressed that we should “connect the dots” between regional stability and Iranian influence( while, The dots of the existence of the Zionist Régime and the region’s instability should not be connected) and avoid compartmentalizing(Big Psychological Word for the King of Jordan) Iran, Iraq and the peace process. (yet, It is OK to compartmentalize US aid for Jordan, Jordan being an oppressive dictatorship & Jordan being a border guard for Israel and a big Refugee camp to hold Palestinians.) The King said failure on the peace process would make Iran even more aggressive, compel a Sunni Arab response, and thus deepen conflict in Lebanon and Iraq. ( Failure at a “peace-process” will actually make the masses of the Arab world (especially Palestinians) more outspoken against their Régimes, specifically The Jordanian Monarchy , and compel the Jordanian Monarchy and other American/Israeli proxies in the region to act with brutality toward their people, which will increase civil unrest and threaten the Jordanian Monarchy’s existence. It is an insult to basic human intelligence to Project(another Psychological Word the King seem to have forgotten) the real instability caused by the Israeli presence in the Arab world, to the unrealistic and over-exaggerated (although for the Iranian leadership they are true ambitions) “Persian Threat.”

"And The Rowaibeidah Have spoken"

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "سيأتي على الناس سنوات خداعات يصدق فيها الكاذب و يكذب فيها الصادق و يؤتمن فيها الخائن و يخون فيها الأمين و ينطق فيها الرويبضة قيل: وما الرويبضة؟ قال: الرجل التافه يتكلم في أمر العامة." و ينطق فيها الرويبضة قيل: وما الرويبضة؟ قال: الرجل التافه يتكلم في أمر العامة. وونطق الروبيضة سيأتي على الناس سنوات خداعات يصدق فيها الكاذب و يكذب فيها الصادق و يؤتمن فيها الخائن و يخون فيها الأمين. و ينطق فيها الرويبضة. قيل: وما الرويبضة؟ قال: الرجل التافه يتكلم في أمر العامة. The Messenger of Allah ( Prayer and Peace Be Upon Him) said: Cunning years will come upon people, where the liar will be believed and the honest person  will be disbelieved. And the Treacherous will be trusted and the Trustworthy will be mistrusted. And the Rowaibeidah shall speak(publicly & with authority). The Prophet was asked: what is the Rowaibeidah? He answered: The silly, ignorant(Lacking knowledge or awareness or insight) man speaking(as an authority and an expert) in matters that are of concern (highly critical) to  the public (welfare.) "And The Rowaibeidah Have spoken" According to a Wikileaked US cable and titled KING AND QUEEN[Of Jordan] OUTLINE IRANIAN "NEMESIS", the Royal couple Spoke to members of a delegation of staffers from the U.S. Senate. They stressed the threat Iran poses to security and stability in the region, and linked the "Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the rise of Iranian influence in the region." ( I guess the Iranian Régime, which did not exist in 1948 or 1967, is behind the Israeli occupation of Palestine.) The King asserted that a collapse of the peace process would strengthen Iran's hand( So the ultimate objective of the the so-called Peace Process is to weaken Iran, Justice for Palestinian is irrelevant here, so the real Mideast Conflict is Tehran, not Jerusalem, based.) The Queen added that economically strong, politically moderate alternatives in the region are the only thing that will ultimately defeat Iran's influence.( So is The presence of an Israelis Zionist, Arab & Muslim-Hating Fanatic Régime, which is Nuclearly armed to the teeth, the moderate alternative for Iran's "influence"?) The King stated"Failure (of the peace talks)will give Iran and its proxies exactly what they're looking for," (He failed to mention that any success for Iran and its "proxies" means a defeat for American/Israeli "proxies including, the King himself.") The King stressed that we should "connect the dots" between regional stability and Iranian influence( while, The dots of the existence of the Zionist Régime and the region's instability should not be connected) and avoid compartmentalizing(Big Psychological Word for the King of Jordan) Iran, Iraq and the peace process. (yet, It is OK to compartmentalize US aid for Jordan, Jordan being an oppressive dictatorship & Jordan being a border guard for Israel and a big Refugee camp to hold Palestinians.) The King said failure on the peace process would make Iran even more aggressive, compel a Sunni Arab response, and thus deepen conflict in Lebanon and Iraq. ( Failure at a "peace-process" will actually make the masses of the Arab world (especially Palestinians) more outspoken against their Régimes, specifically The Jordanian Monarchy , and compel the Jordanian Monarchy and other American/Israeli proxies in the region to act with brutality toward their people, which will increase civil unrest and threaten the Jordanian Monarchy's existence. It is an insult to basic human intelligence to Project(another Psychological Word the King seem to have forgotten) the real instability caused by the Israeli presence in the Arab world, to the unrealistic and over-exaggerated (although for the Iranian leadership they are true ambitions) "Persian Threat."

Libyans vs. Gaddafi

Libyans vs. Gaddafi By: Marwan Arikat Revolutionaries took control of many of the cities in east of the country of Lybia, including Benghazi, which saw celebrations in the streets of the city, at a time when violent clashes erupted in the capital Tripoli, where pro-Gaddafi troops were still trying  to tighten the grip of the psychopathic dictator on the city. This comes after the announcement of Libya's interior minister, Maj. Gen. Abdul-Fattah Younis al-Obaidi, his resignation from all his posts, underscoring the  clear defiance to Gaddafi, by the Libyan military leaders and diplomats,  who made it perfectly clear that neither the Libyan military nor the civil servants, are willing to side with Gaddafi's homicidal Régime. Furthermore, they refused to take any part  in massacring  their own people to appease the madman in tripoli and his corrupt family. Maj. Gen . Al-Obaidi, who used to be known as the righthand man of Gaddaffi, called on the armed forces to join the demonstrators  and respond to the demand of the people, military leaders also  refused to take any part in the 'blood-bath', that Gaddafi's son, 'Saif al-Islam', threatened the protesters with, if they don't discontinueً the demonstrations against his father. In addition to the military and the diplomatic corp switching their allegiance to the demonstrators, a number of tribes in the country withdrew their allegiance to Colonel Gaddafi during subsequent criticism and international condemnation for the regime use of brutal force to suppress the demonstrators, killing hundreds of the protestors. In a tribal society, such as Libya , the powerful tribes are significant to any change in the country, because most region in Libya are controlled by tribes, including areas rich with oil and natural gas, that is why one of the major tribes that control oil-rich areas, threatened to cut off oil and gas supplies to Europe and the world, if the international community does not pressure Muammar Gaddafi and his corrupt regime to step down and deliver the rule of Libya to the revolutionaries.

Mid-East Leaders' Attachments To The Ruling Seat

When watching the Arab recent Revolution; you will notice that the longer the régime has been in power, the more likely for the régime to fight more brutally for his leadership position. For example, the president of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Who became president in 1987, has abandoned his position without much of a fight. While Egypt's Mubarak, who became president in 1981, had to hope that the largest populated Arab Country Will blink first in the battle between the revolutionaries and the security forces, however, after the massacres around the country, Mubarak resigned. In Libya, the situation is different, after 42 years of rule, it seems that Muammar al-Gaddafi has grown very attached to the seat of power. That is why Qaddafi's son has warned the opposition that if they keep up the protests, then they should expect bloodbaths. Thus, the removal of the Hashemite régime in Jordan, which existed since the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Will prove the most difficult to change and may cost the people of Jordan half of their population.

The Revolution Of Manama And The Secret Saudi War Against The Shiites

By: Marwan Arikat Shiite Muslims Comprises More Than Half Of The Population Of Bahrain. However, They Are Considered Second Class Citizens. Even Though, Religious Affiliation Is Not The Top Reason Young People Are Taking To the Streets In Manama And Other Bahraini Cities; The Saudi Support For The Brutal Crackdown Of The Bahraini Security Forces, Proves That Saudi Arabia Is Worried That The Events In Bahrain, Which Is Geographically Close To Saudi Arabia, Might Spread And trigger Instability In The Eastern Province Of Saudi Arabia, Which Is Predominantly inhabited by Shiites. Moreover, There Are Some circulating Rumors That Saudi Special Forces, Are Providing Military And Tactical Support To The Bahraini Army And Police Forces to combat the demonstrations. On The Other Hand, The Saudi Meddling In Bahraini Affairs Has Fired-back, And According To Reuters, "Saudi Shi'ites have held a small protest in the kingdom's oil-producing eastern province, close to Gulf Arab neighbour Bahrain where unrest has cost six lives, local Shi'ite sources said on Saturday. They said a group of Shi'ites staged a protest on Thursday in the town of Awwamiya, near the Saudi Shi'ite centre of Qatif on the Gulf coast, to demand the release of fellow Shi'ites held in prison without trial.Top OPEC exporter Saudi Arabia fears that unrest in Bahrain, where majority Shi'ites are protesting against the Sunni government, might spread to its Shi'ite minority who mostly live in the eastern province, the source of Saudi oil wealth." Saudi Arabia Has Been Acting As A Pariah State And a Source Of Instability In Th Region, Since It Involved Its Troops To Fight The Houthi Shiite Rebels On Behalf Of The Corrupt Yemeni Government In Sann'a, And The Saudi Army Changed The Course Of The Battle, By Using He Hightech Weapons Supplied By The US Against The Lightly Armed Houthi Rebels, Who Were Defeating The Yemeni Army, By Using Guerilla Style Fighting. In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia Tried To Impose Its Will On The Lebanese People, To Push For The Disarmament Of The Resistence Groups In Southen Lebanon, who Happen To Be Shiites. Lastly But Not Least, The Wikileaks Exposed How Saudi Arabia Was The Lead Proponent Of A US Military Action Against Iran. I Think The Saudi Hostile Policy Toward Iran (the Protector Of The Shiites) Is Foolish And Misguided, Because Iran Is Not Bahrain Or Yemen. Iran Is A regional Superpower That Constitues A Threat To The All Mighty US Troops In The Persian Gulf And The State Of Isreal. Thus, Saudi Arabia Is Small Potatoes To the Islamic Repuplic Of Iran, And Iran Does Not Need To Fight Saudi Arabia In Order To Destiblize The Saudi Royal Family. All Iran Needs To Do Is To Incite The Shiite Population In The Saudi Oil Rich Eastern Province Against The Saudi Royal Regime. Consequently, It Will Be A Good Lesson For The Saudi Ruling Famlly To Avoid Antagonizing The Iranian Regime, Which Is More Resourceful Than The Saudi Leadership And Is Capable Of Setting The Collapse Of The Saudi Regime In Motion.

The Revolution Of Manama And The Secret Saudi War Against The Shiites

By: Marwan Arikat Shiite Muslims Comprises More Than Half Of The Population Of Bahrain. However, They Are Considered Second Class Citizens. Even Though, Religious Affiliation Is Not The Top Reason Young People Are Taking To the Streets In Manama And Other Bahraini Cities; The Saudi Support For The Brutal Crackdown Of The Bahraini Security Forces, Proves That Saudi Arabia Is Worried That The Events In Bahrain, Which Is Geographically Close To Saudi Arabia, Might Spread And trigger Instability In The Eastern Province Of Saudi Arabia, Which Is Predominantly inhabited by Shiites.  Moreover, There Are Some circulating Rumors That Saudi Special Forces, Are Providing Military And Tactical Support To The Bahraini Army And Police Forces to combat the demonstrations. On The Other Hand, The Saudi Meddling In Bahraini Affairs Has Fired-back, And According To Reuters, "Saudi Shi'ites have held a small protest in the kingdom's oil-producing eastern province, close to Gulf Arab neighbour Bahrain where unrest has cost six lives, local Shi'ite sources said on Saturday. They said a group of Shi'ites staged a protest on Thursday in the town of Awwamiya, near the Saudi Shi'ite centre of Qatif on the Gulf coast, to demand the release of fellow Shi'ites held in prison without trial.Top OPEC exporter Saudi Arabia fears that unrest in Bahrain, where majority Shi'ites are protesting against the Sunni government, might spread to its Shi'ite minority who mostly live in the eastern province, the source of Saudi oil wealth." Saudi Arabia Has Been Acting As A Pariah State And a Source Of Instability In Th Region, Since It Involved Its Troops To Fight The Houthi Shiite Rebels On Behalf Of The  Corrupt Yemeni Government In Sann'a, And They Changed The Course Of The Battle, By Using He Hightech Weapons Supplied By The US Against The Lightly Armed Houthi Rebels, Who Were Defeating The Yemeni Army, By Using Guerilla Style Fighting.  In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia Tried To Impose Its Will On The Lebanese People, To Push For The Disarmament Of The Resistence Groups In Southen Lebanon, who Happen To Be Shiites.   Lastly But Not Least, The Wikileaks Exposed How Saudi Arabia Was The Lead Proponent Of A US Military Action Against Iran.  I Think The Saudi Hostile Policy Toward Iran (the Protector Of The Shiites) Is Foolish And Misguided, Because Iran Is Not Bahrain Or Yemen. Iran Is A regional Superpower That Constitues A Threat To The All Mighty US Troops In The Persian Gulf And The State Of Isreal. Thus, Saudi Arabia Is Small Potatoes To the Islamic Repuplic Of Iran, And Iran Does Not Need To Fight Saudi Arabia In Order To Destiblize The Saudi Royal Family. All Iran Needs To Do Is To Incite The Shiite Population In The Saudi Oil Rich Eastern Province Against The Saudi Royal Regime. Consequently, It Will Be A Good Lesson For The Saudi Ruling Famlly To Avoid Antagonizing The Iranian Regime, Which Is More Resourceful Than The Saudi Leadership And Is Capable Of Setting  The Collapse Of The Saudi Regime In Motion.

Syrian Facebook Pages Calling for Demonstrations on Friday, Saturday, February4&5

Please spread the Word http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674?ref=nf The "Popular Action" page, with 1,000 members http://www.facebook.com/pages/nhw-hrak-shby-fy-swryt-ywm-alghdb-5-shbat-2011/... Page titled "Syrian Revolution against Bashar Al-Assad" http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=136763013004194#!/Syrian.Revolution Calls to join the "Day of Rage" Facebook groups and participate in the protests were also spread via Twitter: Twitter account dedicated to Syrian Day of Rage: http://twitter.com/AngrySyriaDay Special Facebook pages have also been created for users to confirm their participation in the protests. For example, a page titled "Syrian Day of Rage – Popular Action in Syria," calling for demonstrations in Syria and abroad, includes 127 confirmations, and a page advertising a planned demonstration in Sa'd Allah Al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo has 194 confirmations. "Popular Action" page, with 127 confirmations http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175308452510885#!/event.php?eid=149985825055327 Page dedicated to demonstration in Aleppo, with 194 confirmations http://www.facebook.com/pages/dd-wqft-5-shbat-w-dd-ywm-alghdb-alswry-w-swrya-...!/event.php?eid=175308452510885 Communiqué Circulated on Facebook: The Day of Rage – an Apolitical Protest to Transform Our Bitter Situation A communiqué posted on various Facebook pages and websites, titled "Syrian Day of Rage on February 5, 2011," stated: "The protests staged by the other Arab peoples were not motivated by a will greater than our own or [enabled by] capabilities greater [than our own]. The regimes [in Egypt and Tunisia] are no less cruel and violent than the regime in our country, but the [Egyptian and Tunisian] people raised the banner of liberty and honor, and stuck to their course. The Syrian Day of Rage is a national call that has nothing to do with any particular political bloc or stream. It [expresses] the will of the people, which aspires to freedom and wishes to rise up against its bitter situation and transform the poor economic situation that is deteriorating from day to day." The Facebook pages called to spread the communiqué on as many sites and platforms as possible. The communiqué http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674 Ad calling for demonstrations: "On Saturday, February 5, [Protest] throughout Syria, in every street, against oppression and corruption" http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674?ref=nf#!/photo.php?fbid=147362948655482&set=a.147230262002084.27852.147151028676674 Day of Rage Profile Picture As in previous protest campaigns, many Facebook users adopted the special profile picture designed for the occasion, consisting of the Syrian flag and the legend "Syrian Day of Rage – February 5, 2011." "Day of Rage" profile picture http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674?ref=nf#!/photo.php?fbid=147230265335417&set=a.147230262002084.27852.147151028676674 Numerous members

Syrian Facebook Pages Calling for Demonstrations on Friday, Saturday, February4+5

Please spread the Word http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674?ref=nf The "Popular Action" page, with 1,000 members http://www.facebook.com/pages/nhw-hrak-shby-fy-swryt-ywm-alghdb-5-shbat-2011/... Page titled "Syrian Revolution against Bashar Al-Assad" http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=136763013004194#!/Syrian.Revolution Calls to join the "Day of Rage" Facebook groups and participate in the protests were also spread via Twitter: Twitter account dedicated to Syrian Day of Rage: http://twitter.com/AngrySyriaDay Special Facebook pages have also been created for users to confirm their participation in the protests. For example, a page titled "Syrian Day of Rage – Popular Action in Syria," calling for demonstrations in Syria and abroad, includes 127 confirmations, and a page advertising a planned demonstration in Sa'd Allah Al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo has 194 confirmations. "Popular Action" page, with 127 confirmations http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175308452510885#!/event.php?eid=149985825055327 Page dedicated to demonstration in Aleppo, with 194 confirmations http://www.facebook.com/pages/dd-wqft-5-shbat-w-dd-ywm-alghdb-alswry-w-swrya-...!/event.php?eid=175308452510885 Communiqué Circulated on Facebook: The Day of Rage – an Apolitical Protest to Transform Our Bitter Situation A communiqué posted on various Facebook pages and websites, titled "Syrian Day of Rage on February 5, 2011," stated: "The protests staged by the other Arab peoples were not motivated by a will greater than our own or [enabled by] capabilities greater [than our own]. The regimes [in Egypt and Tunisia] are no less cruel and violent than the regime in our country, but the [Egyptian and Tunisian] people raised the banner of liberty and honor, and stuck to their course. The Syrian Day of Rage is a national call that has nothing to do with any particular political bloc or stream. It [expresses] the will of the people, which aspires to freedom and wishes to rise up against its bitter situation and transform the poor economic situation that is deteriorating from day to day." The Facebook pages called to spread the communiqué on as many sites and platforms as possible. The communiqué http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674 Ad calling for demonstrations: "On Saturday, February 5, [Protest] throughout Syria, in every street, against oppression and corruption" http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674?ref=nf#!/photo.php?fbid=147362948655482&set=a.147230262002084.27852.147151028676674 Day of Rage Profile Picture As in previous protest campaigns, many Facebook users adopted the special profile picture designed for the occasion, consisting of the Syrian flag and the legend "Syrian Day of Rage – February 5, 2011." "Day of Rage" profile picture http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-alswry/147151028676674?ref=nf#!/photo.php?fbid=147230265335417&set=a.147230262002084.27852.147151028676674 Numerous members use the special profile picture:

Jordan & Syria Day of Rage Feb 5

Feb 5th is the Day of Rage for both Syria and Jordan

Jordan's Day of Rage Feb 5th

يوم الغضب الأُردني٥شباط

JordanDayOfRageFeb5

Jordan's Day of Rage Jan 15

Ma'an, Tafileh Avoided Participation in 'Jordan Day of Rage' Print ArticlePrint Article with Comments Print Article Titles |

2011-01-15

AMMONNEWS - Residents of the two governorates of Ma'an and Tafileh in southern Jordan avoided participation in the massive protests that stirred in the streets of major cities and towns throughout the Kingdom on Friday, in what was called 'Jordan's Day of Rage.' Local tribal leaders and populist figures had urged the residents of the two governorates to avoid storming to the streets in protest "because of the extraordinary circumstances in Ma'an and Tafileh," in reference to the violence and riots there in the past few weeks following the death of several people in fights there. Local leaders noted that they feared demonstrations would turn violent, and go against the demands of protest organizers that demonstrations should be peaceful. Thousands of Jordanians protested in various towns and cities on Friday afternoon against soaring prices, unemployment, and difficult economic conditions, and called on Prime Minister Samir Rifai's government to step-down. Several protests also witnessed chants and slogans against the parliament, which had granted Rifai's government a record 111 vote-of-confidence out of a total of 119 MPs.

Jordan's Day of Anger Feb 5th

Jordan's Day of Anger Feb 5th

Erekat's Quote Of The Day

Erekat: I’m lying, I’ve been lying for the last weeks. Yossi Gal: Between jogging? Erekat: No, no, lying, lying. I was in Cairo, I was in Jordan, I was in America. Everybody is asking me what is going on Israel, what is Olmert going to do? Gal: And you are telling everyone we are on the verge of success. Erekat: And I always tell them this is an internal Israeli matter, a domestic Israeli matter and I keep lying. If somebody sneezed in Tel-Aviv, I get the flu in Jericho, and I have to lie. So that’s my last week- all lies. Gal: As a professor of negotiations, you know that white lies are allowed now and then. Erekat: I’m not complaining, I’m admitting – and sometimes I don’t feel like lying. Gal: Well, around this table we won’t be lying.

The Palestinian Papers: Erekat's contempt for Islamic Charities

By September 17, 2009, Erekat was bragging to U.S. officials that the PA had complete control over “zakat” committees, or Muslim charities, in the West Bank, as well as the weekly Friday sermons. Related Qurei to Israel: "Occupy the crossing" Top PA negotiator offers to allow Israel to reoccupy the Philadelphi corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border. Ali Abunimah: Cutting off a vital connection Palestinian officials were often more concerned with applying pressure to Hamas than easing a humanitarian crisis. “We have invested time and effort and even killed our own people to maintain order and the rule of law,” Erekat said. “The Prime Minister is doing everything possible to build the institutions. We are not a country yet but we are the only ones in the Arab world who control the Zakat and the sermons in the mosques. We are getting our act together.” In 2007, Reuters reported that Fatah was “increasing pressure on ‘zakat’ charity committees that support the network of Islamic schools and health clinics which helped fuel Hamas's rise to power.” On one occasion, the news service reported, 20 gunmen stormed a dairy funded by such a zakat committee but were ultimately persuaded to leave. http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/ http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/ http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/

The Palestinian Papers: Erekat's contempt for Hamas

By September 17, 2009, Erekat was bragging to U.S. officials that the PA had complete control over “zakat” committees, or Muslim charities, in the West Bank, as well as the weekly Friday sermons. Related Qurei to Israel: "Occupy the crossing" Top PA negotiator offers to allow Israel to reoccupy the Philadelphi corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border. Ali Abunimah: Cutting off a vital connection Palestinian officials were often more concerned with applying pressure to Hamas than easing a humanitarian crisis. “We have invested time and effort and even killed our own people to maintain order and the rule of law,” Erekat said. “The Prime Minister is doing everything possible to build the institutions. We are not a country yet but we are the only ones in the Arab world who control the Zakat and the sermons in the mosques. We are getting our act together.” In 2007, Reuters reported that Fatah was “increasing pressure on ‘zakat’ charity committees that support the network of Islamic schools and health clinics which helped fuel Hamas's rise to power.” On one occasion, the news service reported, 20 gunmen stormed a dairy funded by such a zakat committee but were ultimately persuaded to leave. http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/ http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/ http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/

Erekat's Quote Of The Day

Erekat: I’m lying, I’ve been lying for the last weeks.

Yossi Gal: Between jogging?

Erekat: No, no, lying, lying. I was in Cairo, I was in Jordan, I was in America. Everybody is asking me what is going on Israel, what is Olmert going to do?

Gal: And you are telling everyone we are on the verge of success.

Erekat: And I always tell them this is an internal Israeli matter, a domestic Israeli matter and I keep lying. If somebody sneezed in Tel-Aviv, I get the flu in Jericho, and I have to lie. So that’s my last week- all lies.

Gal: As a professor of negotiations, you know that white lies are allowed now and then.

Erekat: I’m not complaining, I’m admitting – and sometimes I don’t feel like lying.

Gal: Well, around this table we won’t be lying.

War Of The Leaks

Wikileaks responds to Aljazeera’s Palestinian Papers with the Israeli leaks:Here is a sample of a wikileak discussing what Fayyad is saying to the Israelis and the US about the PA’s crackdown on the resistance movements in Jenin and Nablus:

The culture of violence in Palestinian society is waning, PM Fayyad said, and “the PA has responded to the public’s need for security despite the abuse we have suffered from (Palestinian) extremists.” Fayyad said Israeli Defense Minister Barak has not delivered on positive comments in their meetings with Secretary Rice. He said there are more obstacles to movement in the West Bank than ever before, and more incursions in Nablus and Jenin than before the PA’s security campaigns. He said the GOI should work with the PA on prisoner releases rather than only freeing prisoners for Hamas and Hizbullah

Palestinian leaders weak – and increasingly desperate

guardian.co.uk Leaked documents show PA and PLO leaders pleading with dismissive US officials in face of Israel's unyielding negotiators The overwhelming impression that emerges from the confidential records of a decade of Middle East peace talks is of the weakness and desperation of Palestinian leaders, the unyielding correctness of Israeli negotiators and the often contemptuous attitude towards the Palestinian side shown by US politicians and officials. It is a picture that graphically illustrates the gradual breakdown of a process now widely believed to have reached a dead end. The documents reveal Palestinian Authority leaders often tipping over into making ingratiating appeals to their Israeli counterparts, as well as US leaders. "I would vote for you," the then senior Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qureia (also known as Abu Ala), told Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, during talks at the King David hotel in Jerusalem in June 2008, as she was preparing for elections in her Kadima party. Given the choice, Livni shot back, "you don't have much of a dilemma." Qureia's comment echoed earlier private remarks by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), to Ariel Sharon in a June 2005 meeting at the then Israeli prime minister's residence which would have caused outrage if they had been made known at the time. Having listened to Sharon berate him for failing to crack down on the "terrorist infrastructure" of Hamas and Islamic jihad, Abbas was recorded as noting "with pleasure the fact that Sharon considered him a friend, and the fact that he too considered Sharon a friend", adding that "every bullet that is aimed in the direction of Israel is a bullet aimed at the Palestinians as well". In March 2008, the documents show that Qureia greeted the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, with the words: "You bring back life to the region when you come." But as the 2007-08 Annapolis negotiations led nowhere and the government of Binyamin Netanyahu successfully resisted US pressure to halt settlement building in the occupied territories during 2009-10, Palestinian negotiators are shown adopting an increasingly injured and despairing tone with US officials, as they seek to demonstrate the scale of concessions they have made to no avail. In an emotional – and apparently humiliating – outburst to Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, in Washington in October 2009, the senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat complained that the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership wasn't even being offered a "figleaf". He said: "Nineteen years of promises and you haven't made up your minds what you want to do with us ... We delivered on our road map obligations. Even Yuval Diskin [director of Israel's internal security service, Shabak] raises his hat on security. But no, they can't even give a six-month freeze to give me a figleaf." All the US government was interested in, Erekat went on, was "PR, quick news, and we're cost free", ending up with the appeal: "What good am I if I'm the joke of my wife, if I'm so weak?" A few months later, in January 2010, Erekat returned to a similar theme with the US state department official David Hale, saying he was offering Israel "the biggest Yerushalayim in Jewish history" (using the Hebrew name for Jerusalem), a "symbolic number of refugees' return, demilitarised state ... What more can I give?" But as became clear even under the earlier, less hardline Israeli government of Ehud Olmert, the scale of concessions offered by Erekat and other Palestinian Authority negotiators – far beyond what the majority of the Palestinian public would be likely to accept – was insufficient for Israeli leaders. During the most intensive recent negotiations, before and after George Bush's Annapolis conference, the documents show the Israelis conducting themselves in a businesslike manner. In an attempt to show her good faith, Livni is recorded confirming what Palestinians have always accused Israeli governments of doing: creating facts on the ground to prevent the possibility of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. At a west Jerusalem meeting in November 2007, she told Qureia that she believed Palestinians saw settlement building as meaning "Israel takes more land [so] that the Palestinian state will be impossible"; that "the Israel policy is to take more and more land day after day and that at the end of the day we'll say that is impossible, we already have the land and we cannot create the state". She conceded that it had been "the policy of the government for a really long time". At the end of 2007, though, "it is still the policy of some of the parties but not the government". But when Palestinian leaders balked at the prospect of an entirely demilitarised state, Livni made clear where the negotiating power lay. In May 2008, Erekat asked Livni: "Short of your jet fighters in my sky and your army on my territory, can I choose where I secure external defence?" "No," Livni replied. "In order to create your state you have to agree in advance with Israel – you choose not to have the right of choice afterwards." By the following year, Erekat appeared to have accepted that choice. "The Palestinians know they will have a country with limitations," he told Mitchell. "They won't have an army, air force or navy." A string of other major concessions had been made, but the issues were no further forward. "They need decisions," Erekat pleaded. Increasingly, PA leaders resorted to warning US officials that if they failed to deliver an agreement with Israel, the door would be opened to Hamas and Iran. In October 2009, Erekat told Mitchell: "In no time you will have Aziz Dweik as your partner," referring to the Hamas speaker of the Palestinian parliament, who constitutionally assumes the role of Palestinian president when the job is vacant. PA leaders repeatedly threatened to abandon attempts to negotiate a two-state solution in favour of a one-state option. At the same meeting, Erekat declared that if the settlement of the West Bank continued, "we will announce the one state and the struggle for equality in the state of Israel". But the documents show US officials unmoved by such claims. Why were the Palestinians "always in a chapter of a Greek tragedy", secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, asked at a meeting with Erekat in Washington in the autumn of 2009. Her predecessor, Rice, had been even more dismissive. In July 2008 during talks with Palestinian leaders over compensation for refugees who fled or were forced from their homes when Israel was established in 1948, she said: "Bad things happen to people all around the world all the time." If the Palestinians kept insisting that Israel could not keep the large settlements of Ma'ale Adumim (near Jerusalem) and Ariel (in the heart of the West Bank), Rice told them: "You won't have a state". No Israeli leader could accept a deal "without including them in an Israeli state". As to the most neuralgic issue – Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount holy sites in Jerusalem – she declared: "If we wait until you decide sovereignty ... your children's children will not have an agreement."

Palestinian leaders weak – and increasingly desperate

The overwhelming impression that emerges from the confidential records of a decade of Middle East peace talks is of the weakness and desperation of Palestinian leaders, the unyielding correctness of Israeli negotiators and the often contemptuous attitude towards the Palestinian side shown by US politicians and officials. It is a picture that graphically illustrates the gradual breakdown of a process now widely believed to have reached a dead end. The documents reveal Palestinian Authority leaders often tipping over into making ingratiating appeals to their Israeli counterparts, as well as US leaders. "I would vote for you," the then senior Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qureia (also known as Abu Ala), told Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, during talks at the King David hotel in Jerusalem in June 2008, as she was preparing for elections in her Kadima party. Given the choice, Livni shot back, "you don't have much of a dilemma." Qureia's comment echoed earlier private remarks by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), to Ariel Sharon in a June 2005 meeting at the then Israeli prime minister's residence which would have caused outrage if they had been made known at the time. Having listened to Sharon berate him for failing to crack down on the "terrorist infrastructure" of Hamas and Islamic jihad, Abbas was recorded as noting "with pleasure the fact that Sharon considered him a friend, and the fact that he too considered Sharon a friend", adding that "every bullet that is aimed in the direction of Israel is a bullet aimed at the Palestinians as well". In March 2008, the documents show that Qureia greeted the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, with the words: "You bring back life to the region when you come." But as the 2007-08 Annapolis negotiations led nowhere and the government of Binyamin Netanyahu successfully resisted US pressure to halt settlement building in the occupied territories during 2009-10, Palestinian negotiators are shown adopting an increasingly injured and despairing tone with US officials, as they seek to demonstrate the scale of concessions they have made to no avail. In an emotional – and apparently humiliating – outburst to Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, in Washington in October 2009, the senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat complained that the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership wasn't even being offered a "figleaf". He said: "Nineteen years of promises and you haven't made up your minds what you want to do with us ... We delivered on our road map obligations. Even Yuval Diskin [director of Israel's internal security service, Shabak] raises his hat on security. But no, they can't even give a six-month freeze to give me a figleaf." All the US government was interested in, Erekat went on, was "PR, quick news, and we're cost free", ending up with the appeal: "What good am I if I'm the joke of my wife, if I'm so weak?" A few months later, in January 2010, Erekat returned to a similar theme with the US state department official David Hale, saying he was offering Israel "the biggest Yerushalayim in Jewish history" (using the Hebrew name for Jerusalem), a "symbolic number of refugees' return, demilitarised state ... What more can I give?" But as became clear even under the earlier, less hardline Israeli government of Ehud Olmert, the scale of concessions offered by Erekat and other Palestinian Authority negotiators – far beyond what the majority of the Palestinian public would be likely to accept – was insufficient for Israeli leaders. During the most intensive recent negotiations, before and after George Bush's Annapolis conference, the documents show the Israelis conducting themselves in a businesslike manner. In an attempt to show her good faith, Livni is recorded confirming what Palestinians have always accused Israeli governments of doing: creating facts on the ground to prevent the possibility of a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. At a west Jerusalem meeting in November 2007, she told Qureia that she believed Palestinians saw settlement building as meaning "Israel takes more land [so] that the Palestinian state will be impossible"; that "the Israel policy is to take more and more land day after day and that at the end of the day we'll say that is impossible, we already have the land and we cannot create the state". She conceded that it had been "the policy of the government for a really long time". At the end of 2007, though, "it is still the policy of some of the parties but not the government". But when Palestinian leaders balked at the prospect of an entirely demilitarised state, Livni made clear where the negotiating power lay. In May 2008, Erekat asked Livni: "Short of your jet fighters in my sky and your army on my territory, can I choose where I secure external defence?" "No," Livni replied. "In order to create your state you have to agree in advance with Israel – you choose not to have the right of choice afterwards." By the following year, Erekat appeared to have accepted that choice. "The Palestinians know they will have a country with limitations," he told Mitchell. "They won't have an army, air force or navy." A string of other major concessions had been made, but the issues were no further forward. "They need decisions," Erekat pleaded. Increasingly, PA leaders resorted to warning US officials that if they failed to deliver an agreement with Israel, the door would be opened to Hamas and Iran. In October 2009, Erekat told Mitchell: "In no time you will have Aziz Dweik as your partner," referring to the Hamas speaker of the Palestinian parliament, who constitutionally assumes the role of Palestinian president when the job is vacant. PA leaders repeatedly threatened to abandon attempts to negotiate a two-state solution in favour of a one-state option. At the same meeting, Erekat declared that if the settlement of the West Bank continued, "we will announce the one state and the struggle for equality in the state of Israel". But the documents show US officials unmoved by such claims. Why were the Palestinians "always in a chapter of a Greek tragedy", secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, asked at a meeting with Erekat in Washington in the autumn of 2009. Her predecessor, Rice, had been even more dismissive. In July 2008 during talks with Palestinian leaders over compensation for refugees who fled or were forced from their homes when Israel was established in 1948, she said: "Bad things happen to people all around the world all the time." If the Palestinians kept insisting that Israel could not keep the large settlements of Ma'ale Adumim (near Jerusalem) and Ariel (in the heart of the West Bank), Rice told them: "You won't have a state". No Israeli leader could accept a deal "without including them in an Israeli state". As to the most neuralgic issue – Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount holy sites in Jerusalem – she declared: "If we wait until you decide sovereignty ... your children's children will not have an agreement."

Lebanon's Sunni religious leaders warn Hezbollah not to ignore their sect's opinion

By The Associated Press (CP) – BEIRUT — Lebanon's Sunni Muslim religious leaders warned Hezbollah on Sunday not to ignore their sect's opinion ahead of key parliamentary talks to pick a new prime minister. The Shiite Hezbollah and their allies said they won't name caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri to form a new Cabinet during two days of consultations that begin Monday. They have not publicly said whom they will name instead. The clerics, led by Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, the Sunnis' spiritual leader in Lebanon, said after a meeting they support Hariri because he represents majority of Sunnis. "We warn against ignoring the Sunni majority and the parliament majority," the leaders said in a statement. "We also warn against the dangers of an imposed government." Ministers from Hezbollah and its allies toppled Hariri's government on Jan. 12 after walking out because of disagreements over a U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Saad Hariri's father. Sunday's announcement came two days after a potential kingmaker in Lebanese politics threw his support behind Hezbollah, giving the militant group a major boost. Walid Jumblatt, the influential leader of the Druse sect, refused to say exactly how many lawmakers are with him. The support of at least 65 lawmakers is required to form a government in Lebanon's 128-seat Parliament. Hezbollah and its allies already claim 57 seats. Saad Hariri has 60. The announcement is the latest twist in a political crisis pitting the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah against the western-backed Hariri, who said this week he will seek the premiership again. Lebanon's crisis stems from a U.N. tribunal investigating Rafik Hariri's assassination. Many fear Hezbollah will react violently if its members, as is widely expected, are named in the court's sealed indictment. The indictment was filed last week but its contents likely will not be made public for weeks. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to speak about the latest political developments later Sunday. http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/ http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/ http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/

Lawyers condemn 'abuse' of suspected WikiLeaker Bradley Manning

Lawyers condemn 'abuse' of suspected WikiLeaker Bradley Manning American soldier's lawyers say holding him in maximum security and putting him on suicide watch breaches his rights The lawyer for Bradley Manning, the army private suspected of leaking hundreds of thousands of documents to WikiLeaks, has filed a complaint that he is being unfairly treated at the marine base jail in Virginia. David Coombs, Manning's lawyer, said that holding him in maximum custody over the last five months and placing him on suicide watch amounted to abuse. Coombs called for his removal from such tight monitoring. The complaint was filed on Wednesday and on Thursday the marines downgraded his classification from suicide watch to prevention of injury. But Coombs argues that prevention of injury is not significantly different in practical terms and is seeking his removal from maximum security. Coombs, writing on his office website, said that on Wednesday, against the recommendation of two forensic psychiatrists, the commander of the Quantico jail, James Averhart, listed Manning as a suicide risk, which meant he was confined to his cell 24 hours a day. "He was stripped of all clothing with the exception of his underwear. His prescription eyeglasses were taken away from him. He was forced to sit in essential blindness with the exception of the times that he was reading or given limited television privileges. During those times, his glasses were returned to him," Coombs wrote. Manning, aged 23, who had been based in Iraq, was transferred to Quantico on July 29 last year. He is facing court-martial later this year and faces a heavy prison sentence if found guilty of leaking classified material. Coombs said that the downgrading of Manning from suicide watch to prevention of injury does not make much practical difference and that he remains under close scrutiny. The guards check him every five minutes during the day and Manning is required to respond, Coombs said. "At night, if the guards cannot see him clearly, because he has a blanket over his head or is curled up towards the wall, they will wake him in order to ensure that he is okay," Coombs said. He is not allowed to do exercises in his cell, only during the one hour a day when he goes from his cell to an empty room with some gym equipment. First Lieutenant Scott Villiard, a spokesman for Quantico, told the Washington Post: "The most important thing is that we're not treating Private Manning any differently from anyone else that would be in the same classification. Whether it's maximum custody or prevention of injury, he's being treated the same as anybody else." There was "a responsibility to make sure that these detainees are safe, secure and make it to trial," Villiard said. Manning had been placed in maximum custody because, the authorities said, his escape could pose a risk to life, property or national security. For latest news and opinion check out: http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/ http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/ http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/.

Lawyers condemn 'abuse' of suspected WikiLeaker Bradley Manning

American soldier's lawyers say holding him in maximum security and putting him on suicide watch breaches his rights The lawyer for Bradley Manning, the army private suspected of leaking hundreds of thousands of documents to WikiLeaks, has filed a complaint that he is being unfairly treated at the marine base jail in Virginia. David Coombs, Manning's lawyer, said that holding him in maximum custody over the last five months and placing him on suicide watch amounted to abuse. Coombs called for his removal from such tight monitoring. The complaint was filed on Wednesday and on Thursday the marines downgraded his classification from suicide watch to prevention of injury. But Coombs argues that prevention of injury is not significantly different in practical terms and is seeking his removal from maximum security. Coombs, writing on his office website, said that on Wednesday, against the recommendation of two forensic psychiatrists, the commander of the Quantico jail, James Averhart, listed Manning as a suicide risk, which meant he was confined to his cell 24 hours a day. "He was stripped of all clothing with the exception of his underwear. His prescription eyeglasses were taken away from him. He was forced to sit in essential blindness with the exception of the times that he was reading or given limited television privileges. During those times, his glasses were returned to him," Coombs wrote. Manning, aged 23, who had been based in Iraq, was transferred to Quantico on July 29 last year. He is facing court-martial later this year and faces a heavy prison sentence if found guilty of leaking classified material. Coombs said that the downgrading of Manning from suicide watch to prevention of injury does not make much practical difference and that he remains under close scrutiny. The guards check him every five minutes during the day and Manning is required to respond, Coombs said. "At night, if the guards cannot see him clearly, because he has a blanket over his head or is curled up towards the wall, they will wake him in order to ensure that he is okay," Coombs said. He is not allowed to do exercises in his cell, only during the one hour a day when he goes from his cell to an empty room with some gym equipment. First Lieutenant Scott Villiard, a spokesman for Quantico, told the Washington Post: "The most important thing is that we're not treating Private Manning any differently from anyone else that would be in the same classification. Whether it's maximum custody or prevention of injury, he's being treated the same as anybody else." There was "a responsibility to make sure that these detainees are safe, secure and make it to trial," Villiard said. Manning had been placed in maximum custody because, the authorities said, his escape could pose a risk to life, property or national security.

Free Bradley Manning-The Wikileaks Whistle Blower

January 21, 2011 Bradley Manning 'abused' - lawyers Ewen MacAskill Amer i can sol dier's lawyers say hold ing him in max i mum secu ri ty and putting him on sui cide watch breach es his rights The lawyer for Bradley Man ning, the army pri vate sus pect ed of leak ing hun dreds of thou sands of doc u ments to Wik iLeaks, has filed a com plaint that he is being unfair ly treat ed at the marine base jail in Vir ginia. David Coombs, Man ning's lawyer, said that hold ing him in max i mum cus tody over the last five months and plac ing him on sui cide watch amount ed to abuse. Coombs called for his removal from such tight mon i tor ing. The com plaint was filed on Wednes day and on Thurs day the marines down grad ed his clas si fi ca tion from sui cide watch to pre ven tion of injury. But Coombs argues that pre­ven tion of injury is not sig nif i cant ly dif fer ent in prac ti cal terms and is seek ing his removal from max i mum secu ri ty. Coombs, writ ing on his office web site, said that on Wednes day, against the rec om men­da tion of two foren sic psy chi a trists, the com man der of the Quan ti co jail, James Aver­hart, list ed Man ning as a sui cide risk, which meant he was con fined to his cell 24 hours a day. "He was stripped of all cloth ing with the excep tion of his under wear. His pre scrip­tion eye glass es were taken away from him. He was forced to sit in essen tial blind ness with the excep tion of the times that he was read ing or given lim it ed tele vi sion priv i leges. Dur ing those times, his glass es were returned to him," Coombs wrote. Man ning, aged 23, who had been based in Iraq, was trans ferred to Quan ti co on July 29 last year. He is fac ing court-martial later this year and faces a heavy prison sen tence if found guilty of leak ing clas si fied mate r i al. Coombs said that the down grad ing of Man ning from sui cide watch to pre ven tion of injury does not make much prac ti cal dif fer ence and that he remains under close scruti­ny. The guards check him every five min utes dur ing the day and Man ning is required to respond, Coombs said. "At night, if the guards can not see him clear ly, because he has a blan ket over his head or is curled up towards the wall, they will wake him in order to ensure that he is okay," Coombs said. He is not allowed to do exer cis es in his cell, only dur ing the one hour a day when he goes from his cell to an empty room with some gym equip ment. First Lieu tenant Scott Vil liard, a spokesman for Quan ti co, told the Wash ing ton Post: "The most impor tant thing is that we're not treat ing Pri vate Man ning any dif fer ent ly from any one else that would be in the same clas si fi ca tion. Whether it's max i mum cus­tody or pre ven tion of injury, he's being treat ed the same as any body else." There was "a respon si bil i ty to make sure that these detainees are safe, secure and make it to trial," Vil liard said. Man ning had been placed in max i mum cus tody because, the author i ties said, his escape could pose a risk to life, prop er ty or nation al secu ri ty.

No Change in Jordan's Torture Policy

According to Human Rights Watch there is no significant change in Jordan's torture policy, Or as HRW put it: Torture, which independent prison inspections conducted by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch in 2006, 2007, and 2008 found to be routine and widespread, continues. Positive initiatives, such as training programs run by the National Center for Human Rights and other groups to raise awareness about torture among law enforcement officials, are far from sufficient considering Jordan’s lack of both political will and effective mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice. http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/ http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/ http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/

No change in Jordan's torture policy

According to Human Rights Watch there is no significant change in Jordan's torture policy,
Or as HRW put it: Torture, which independent prison inspections conducted by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch in 2006, 2007, and 2008 found to be routine and widespread, continues. Positive initiatives, such as training programs run by the National Center for Human Rights and other groups to raise awareness about torture among law enforcement officials, are far from sufficient considering Jordan’s lack of both political will and effective mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice.


http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/
http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/
http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/

Saudi Meddling in Lebanon

By: Marwan Arikat . Since When The Saudi Régime Has Become The Guardian Of Sunni Muslims?    As Far As We Know, Saudi Arabia Is Participating In The Siege And The Starvation Of The Palestinians In The Gaza Strip Where 99% of The Population Are Sunni Muslims.    In Addition, The Hamas Government In Gaza Is The Only Democratically Elected Government In The Arab World, Where The Legislation Is Based On Pure Sunni Islamic Interpretation Of The Quran And Sunnah.   Yet, The Saudi Kingdom Is Conspiring With The US, Europe, Israel And All The Arab Dictatorships Except Syria, To Remove The Elected Government In Gaza. So Why In Lebanon, The Saudi Régime Is Interfering In Lebanese Domestic Affairs And The Saudi Kingdom Justifies Its Meddling In Lebanese Affair " In Order It To Protect The Interests Of The Lebanese Sunni Population"?   And Out Of All The Qualified Sunnis In Lebanon, Why Does The The Saudi Monarchy Insist On Backing Saad Al Hariri As Prime-Minister Of Lebanon?  Is It Because The Slain Father Of Saad Al Hariri Has A Saudi Citizenship And Was Intimately Close To The Saudi Royal Family And His Son, Saad Al Hariri Was Born In Saudi Arabia?   Or Is It Because Saad Al Hariri With All His Wealth, Can Mobilize The Sunni Community Against The Shiite Hezbollah Whose Loyalty Is To The Ayatollah Régime In Iran? The Saudis Have Always Tried To Eliminate The Pro-Tehran Forces In Lebanon And Other Arab And Muslim Countries.   The Saudis Are Pushing The Sunni Population To Engage In A Sectarian War With The Shiites, Which Will Be a Gift To The Enemies Of Lebanon, Like Israel And The US, Who Want The Lebanese Resistence To Get Distracted By A Civil War And Internal Conflicts, Thus Allowing The Israelis to Attack The Resistence From Behind To Make Up For Their Defeat In 2006. Sunnis Should Not Allow The Saudis To Drag Them Into Another Civil War, And They Should Pick A Different Leader To Represent Them, Other Than Hariri, Whose Loyality Is To Saudi Arabia And The US. Please visit the following sites for News, Opinions and Analysis:  http://arikatmail.tumblr.com/ http://freeglobalinformation.wordpress.com/ http://freedomforjordan.blogspot.com/