I just came across this interview with Norman Finkelstein. While it is already 2 years old, it is even *more* relevant, I would even say more prophetic, today. I got to give that to Finkelstein: he has got tremendous courage and integrity. He should be an example to all of us. I should mention here that the TV station Finkelstein is being interviewed by is Hariri’s “Future TV” (the one
Oh, boy, take a look at this: Druze politician Walid Jumblatt has said that the Lebanese government and the majority bloc would support Hezbollah and the resistance. In a meeting with Qatari Premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, Jumblatt reportedly sent a message to Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah to announce that hostility between the two sides is temporary and Mount Lebanon would support the resistance movement, al-Jazeera TV reported.
What is inevitable tends to happen, doesn’t it? This is the novel conclusion which Hariri, Siniora and Jumblatt have (finally!) come to. They have agreed to oficially revoke the anti-Hezbollah decision which had triggered the conflict last week. Which is a good thing, considering that these decisions were not implementable anyway. Hopefully they will soon come to the next inevitable conclusion: its time that they joined their pal Gemayel in
According to Press TV: Iran’s Intelligence Minister says the Shiraz mosque bombers had plans to target a Russian consulate in the northern part of the country. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i (see picture) announced that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the deadly explosion in a mosque in the southern city of Shiraz, adding that all detainees are Iranian nationals. “Their next target was the Russian consulate general in Rasht. They
The following is the summary of the remarks made by Hussein Al-Khalil, Political advisor to Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah in a press conference in Beirut on May 12 as transcribed by Press TV: We remember what happened between us and the ruling majority we had thought they had good intentions, Nasrallah said if their intentions were not good the opposition would go on with the peaceful strike until the
Yesterday President Dubya, in an interview to the BBC, made one of those statements which will enter future history books as among the dumbest ever uttered by any head of state: the USA will send more money to the Lebanese Army to help them to get the weapons they need to defeat Hezbollah. Amazing, isn’t it? Obviously, the great President of the only ‘hyperpower’ on the planet does not read
Today I am beginning a series of publications of articles about the Shia faith, culture and history. I think that it is important, crucial in fact, to understand the uniqueness and specificity of this branch of Islam which so often either totally ignored or, worse, conflated with Saudi Wahabism. How often do we hear that Iran and Saudi Arabia are “Islamic states”? To a certain degree such a statement is
ANALYSIS / Who will stop Hezbollah? Not the Lebanon Army By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent (original article here) Hezbollah’s rapid and savvy raids of recent days brought to light the true balance of power in Lebanon, and, at the same time, the close connection between the Lebanon Army and Hezbollah. Witness accounts of Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon in the course of the incidents demonstrate not only that the Lebanon Army
The past week saw two extremely important events take place simultaneously: the US occupation forces had to stop their offensive against the Sadrists in Baghdad and the complete collapse of the pro-US/Israeli regime in Lebanon. In the latter case it now appears that Hezbollah literally *owns* Lebanon and that the puppet regime of Siniora, Hariri and Jumblatt only was left alive because Hassan Nasrallah decided to deal with them on
Press TV reports: The Lebanese Army Commander has rescinded anti-opposition decisions made by the government which led to escalation of tensions in Lebanon. According to a Press TV correspondent in Beirut General Michel Suleiman reinstalled Airport General Wafiq Shuqair on Saturday. The army Chief has also lifted a government-ordered ban on Hezbollah’s telecommunications network. “As for the telecommunications network, the army will look into the issue in a manner that
Mariam Bassam from NEW TV: You always keep your promises. Today you vowed having the hand cut. Were you obliged to break your word i.e you’ve promised that the arms of the Resistance aren’t to be used internally; will we see the resistance fighters, who have been at the front, in the internal alleys? If you are going to defend the arms militarily, what kind of home will remain, will
Alalam reports: BAGHDAD, May 10–The movement of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Saturday it had reached an agreement with Iraqi officials to end weeks of fighting in Baghdad. Sheikh Salah al-Obeidi, the spokesman for the cleric’s office in the central shrine city of Najaf, said the deal reached with a government delegation would be effective from Sunday. “This agreement will be executed from tomorrow. The Sadr movement has agreed to
According to Press TV: Situation in the southern port city of Sidon– where two people were killed in the clashes – is now normal and Walid Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party has surrendered its offices in Alia and Shweifat to the army.
by Mohamad Shmaysani for al-Manar The former head of Israel’s intelligence Aaron Zeevi Farkash said that he had warned Washington against relying on its allies in Lebanon. “We advised the CIA not to rely on Walid Jumblatt or Saad Hariri because we tested them in 2006 and they proved helpless in the face of Hezbollah.” In an interview with Filkka-Israel site on the internet, Zeevi stressed “Israel has given Lebanese
The Washington Pravda (a.k.a. the Washington Post) just published an article entitled “Fighting in Beirut Threatens a Top Bush Administration Priority”. Carefully wrapped into a lot of Neocon bull, there are some interesting admissions in this piece. Judge for yourself: (Pravda text in italics) On the eve of his trip to the Middle East next week, President Bush faces the collapse of one of his three top priorities in the
(original photos contributed to this blog by Abdul Latif Fawaz from Beirut) Press TV reports: Fresh clashes have reportedly erupted between supporters of rival political camps in Lebanon after a brief lull on Friday evening. Fierce armed clashes broke out between supporters of the Lebanese government and the opposition in the neighborhoods of al-Jadida, Kornish al-Mazra and Cola Bridge. Gunmen also attacked the residence of Omar Karami, the former Lebanese
Press TV reports: Al-Qaeda has reportedly called on its operatives to go to Lebanon and defend what it called the “Sunni community of the country”. The report came while some Arab media outlets described the current clashes in Lebanon as a fight between Sunni and Shia communities. In an interviews with Sunni clerics with links to Saad Hariri’s pro-government bloc, Al-Arabiya TV network described the ongoing clashes as a sectarian
