Many thanks to Anita for this most interesting contribution!My comments in green italics inside the text of the original article `Angry’ Iran sharpens tone with Baghdad’s leaders BAGHDAD (AP) — When a group of Iraqi envoys headed to Iran recently, they were fully prepared for some tense moments. But they also hoped to come away with something to show for it: pledges of cooperation on weakening Shiite militias in Iraq.
Following the recent shameful debacle of the Three Stooges it now looks like the (expected) blame shifting and finger pointing game is in full swing amongst the various components of the USraelian Empire and its Lebanese puppets. The latest story coming out of the region is that Israel was poised to strike at Hezbollah on May 11 but reneged at the last second. This story was first broken by Franklin
Press TV reports: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has dismissed claims that Iran is sending weapons into his country and called for strong Iran ties. “Those who make such claims against Iran only express their personal views which don’t reflect those of the Iraqi government,” he said in interview with the Al-Arabiya TV on Friday. “I, as the president of Iraq, do not agree with such views,” he added. “Our Iranian
Note: while we can commend Olbermann for ripping Dubya into shreds for all his idiocies, I do not think that we should expect him to equally denounce Dubya for saying, for example, that there are 307 million Isarelis (nevermind that he never got a mandate from the 300 million Americans to say so and nevermind that Israel and the USA are not even bound to each other by any kind
After Dubya’s recent performance at the Knesset one would think that the Israelis would finally be satisfied with their ability to dictate what everybody, even the US President, has to think and say. But no, this morning I came across this totally Orwellian news item: Israel demands UN strike ‘Nakba’ from its lexicon World body’s spokeswoman says Ki-moon phoned Abbas to stress his support for Palestinians on day marking ‘catastrophe’
President Bush Addresses Members of the KnessetThe KnessetJerusalem 2:55 P.M. (Local) THE PRESIDENT: President Peres and Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Speaker, thank very much for hosting this special session. President Beinish, Leader of the Opposition Netanyahu, Ministers, members of the Knesset, distinguished guests: Shalom. Laura and I are thrilled to be back in Israel. We have been deeply moved by the celebrations of the past two days. And this afternoon,
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.
