LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 03/17
Compiled &
Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the
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Bible Quotations
You are the body of Christ, and each
one of you is a part of it
1 Corinthians 12/01-32/Now
about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be
uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were
influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no
one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can
say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of
gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of
service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of
them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given
through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by
means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in
different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of
tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes
them to each one, just as he determines. Unity and Diversity in the Body Just as
a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it
is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one
body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one
Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now
if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,”
it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should
say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for
that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where
would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the
sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one
of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would
the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to
the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need
you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are
indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with
special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special
modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put
the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that
there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal
concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one
part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of
all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of
healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have
gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire
the greater gifts. Love Is Indispensable And yet I will show you the most
excellent way.
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 02-03/17
Anti Houthis uprising in Yemen? Serious/Walid Phares/Twitter/December
02/17/
Religious debate within Saudi Shiite community vitiated by polemics/Hassan Al
Mustafa/Al Arabiya/November 02/17/
Saleh ready for ‘new page’ with Saudi-led coalition/Arab News/December 2017/
Rome’s Mediterranean Dialogues left many questions unanswered/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab
News/December 02/17
"I am not American," said the Islamist; "I am Muslim"/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone
Institute/December 02/17
Pope's High-Risk Visit to South Asia: Opposition in Catholic Hierarchy/Lawrence
A. Franklin/Gatestone Institute/December 02/17
Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
December 02-03/17
Anti Houthis uprising in Yemen? Serious.
Jubeir Says Lebanon Will Only Prosper if 'Hizbullah Disarms'
Israeli Airstrikes from 'Lebanon Airspace' Target Syrian Military Base
Geagea Defends Lebanon's Financial Institutions, Says Ties with Mustaqbal Will
be Normal
Geagea commenting on Al Jubair's statement: Central Bank coordinates with
American Treasury, I do not think money for Hezbollah passes through the
Lebanese banking system
Nadim Gemayel urges Hariri to decide quickly
Shorter in his blog on 'Lebanon, the Message': We remain committed to Lebanon as
a message of tolerance, coexistence and democracy
Khoury tours Book Fair: Culture Ministry is ready to cooperate for Lebanon to
remain the 'Printing Press of the East'
Sarraf: Satisfied with political atmosphere despite differing stances between
some parties
Maronites for Lebanon' on a European visit
Voice of Abeer Nehme echoes in Occupied Palestine: A Message of peace from
Beirut to Bethlehem
Najari meets alMachnouk, wishes Lebanon stability and balance
Fake Explosive Belt Found in Tripoli
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December
02-03/17
Yemen Rebel Ally Saleh Says Open to Talks with Saudis
Saudi, Allies Hail Saleh for 'Taking the Lead' in Yemen
Yemen's Huthi Rebels Slam Saleh Speech as 'Coup'
US Senate Passes Historic Tax Reform in Trump Win
Syria Says Army Intercepts Israel Missiles near Damascus
Clashes Erupt in Yemen Capital after Failed Rebel Talks
Saudis and Iran Trade Insults at Conference on 'Positive Agenda'
UAE deports former PM Ahmed Shafiq to Cairo by private plane
Slight earthquake nearby nuclear testing site in North Korea
Pope Francis leaves Bangladesh after a visit dominated by Rohingya dossier
Latest Lebanese Related News published on
December 02-03/17
Anti Houthis uprising in Yemen? Serious.
Walid Phares/Twitter/December
02/17/Supporters of former President of Yemen Ali Abdallah Saleh, members of the
Popular Congress, mostly in Sanaa, are rising against pro Iran Houthi Militias.
According to sources these rebels have seized ministries, airport, other
government offices, radio and TV. We are monitoring these important events. If
these movements are confirmed it would be the single most important development
in the Middle East and possibly in the world, today
Jubeir Says Lebanon Will Only Prosper if 'Hizbullah Disarms'
Naharnet/November 02/17/Saudi
Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Lebanon had been “hijacked”
by Hizbullah and could only prosper if the party disarmed. Criticizing Hizbullah
from Italy at a conference Friday, Jubeir said: “Lebanon had been hijacked by
another state (in reference to Iran) through the terror group Hizbullah. The
only solution for Lebanon to flourish is if the party disarmed.” Accusing
Hizbullah of using Lebanese banks to launder money, Jubeir added: “Iran is
harboring and facilitating the movement of terrorists, establishing Hizbullah in
Lebanon, using it to launder money and smuggle drugs.”Iran and Saudi Arabia are
engaged in a regional battle for dominance being fought by proxies in Syria,
Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and other countries. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of
supporting armed groups across the Middle East, including Hizbullah and Yemen's
Huthi rebels.
Israeli Airstrikes from 'Lebanon Airspace'
Target Syrian Military Base
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/Israeli warplanes fired five
rockets at dawn on Saturday from Lebanon's airspace targeting an ammunition
depot inside Syria, radio VDL (93.3) reported. The missiles hit an ammunition
depot of the Syrian regime between Sahnaya and al-Kesweh in western Ghouta in
the Damascus countryside, added VDL. The aircraft flew at a low-altitude over
Lebanon's South, Bekaa valley and Baalbek before firing the rockets. Syrian
state media said its army defenses intercepted at least two Israeli missiles
fired at a government "military position" in Damascus province and the attack
caused material damage. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based
monitor of the war, said the missiles, presumably Israeli, targeted "positions
of the Syrian regime and its allies" southwest of Damascus. An Israeli military
spokesman declined to comment. "At half past midnight (2230 GMT Friday), the
Israeli enemy fired several surface-to-surface missiles at a military position
in Damascus province," the state SANA news agency reported. "The air defenses of
the Syrian army were able to deal with the attack... destroying two of the
missiles," it said, adding that the attack nonetheless caused "material
damage".Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the missile strike targeted a
military base near Kesweh, south of Damascus. "An arms depot was destroyed," he
said, adding that it was not immediately clear whether the warehouse was
operated by the Syrian army, or its allies Iran or Hizbullah. Israel has
acknowledged carrying out repeated air and missile strikes in Syria since the
outbreak of the bloody civil war six years ago to stop arms deliveries to
Hizbullah, with which it fought a devastating 2006 conflict. It has also
systematically targeted government positions in response to all fire into
territory under its control, whoever launched it and regardless of whether it
was intentional or not. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles)
of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it
in a move never recognized by the international community. The two countries
remain technically at war.
Geagea Defends Lebanon's Financial Institutions,
Says Ties with Mustaqbal Will be Normal
Naharnet/November 02/17/Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea defended on Saturday
Lebanon's banking system stressing that it can't be passing funds for the
US-sanctioned party Hizbullah. Geagea was replying to remarks made by Saudi
Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir who accused “Iran of using its ally Hizbullah of
laundering money” through Lebanon. “I appreciate Jubeir's remarks but I have
another opinion regarding Lebanon's banking sector. Lebanese banks are in full
compliance with the Central Bank's instructions, which in turn is in full
coordination with the US Treasury Department,” clarified Geagea. “Lebanon's
Central Bank adheres to the international standards and the international
banking systems,” he said, adding “I do not think there is money for Hizbullah
passing through Lebanese banks.” The Saudi minister said during a conference
held in Italy that “Iran is harboring and facilitating the movement of
terrorists, establishing Hizbullah in Lebanon, using it to launder money and
smuggle drugs.”The US House of Representatives have backed new sanctions on
Hizbullah in October. It came nearly two years after the Hizbullah International
Financing Prevention Act -signed by former US President Barack Obama- that
imposes sanctions on banks that knowingly do business with the group. Washington
has labeled Hizbullah a global terrorist group since 1995. Turning to what was
described as “strained” relations between the LF ally of al-Mustaqbal Movement,
Geagea assured that things will return to normal. "Most likely it will return
back to normal,” he said revealing that extensive consultations are taking place
between the two sides to repair the relationship.
Geagea commenting on Al Jubair's statement: Central Bank
coordinates with American Treasury, I do not think money for Hezbollah passes
through the Lebanese banking system
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea
commented Saturday on the recent statement by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al
Jubeir, saying, "I appreciate Al Jubair's speech, but I have another opinion
regarding the Lebanese banking sector. The Lebanese banks are fully complying
with the Central Bank's instructions to coordinate with the US Treasury
Department, and take it upon themselves to apply international standards and
international banking systems.""I do not think there is any money for Hezbollah
going through the Lebanese banking system," stressed Geagea.
In an interview with "Today's News" Website, Geagea criticized Hezbollah's
Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem's recent talk about "winners and
losers", saying, "The only loser in this crisis are the Lebanese people, who are
being pushed from one crisis to another, with their livelihood and fate being
manipulated from the Gulf far-reaching to the two Americas and all
in-between...""I regret the adventures that have nothing to do with the Lebanese
supreme interest," he added. Geagea stressed that "the March 8 team will not
succeed in separating between the Lebanese Forces and the Future Movement in an
effort to isolate it..." He added that "there are strong deliberations between
LF and Future Movement to restore their relationship back into place."
Responding to a question whether the Lebanese Forces was partaking in
negotiations on the "political statement" to be issued by the Council of
Ministers if it resumes its meetings, Geagea indicated that there was no
"direct" participation.
"President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri are undertaking this
endeavor, but in the end the statement will return to the Cabinet for
discussion...My atmosphere updates indicate that things are going well, but we
have to wait a few days to see the actual result," Geagea disclosed.
Responding to another question whether LF was still the mandate's "godfather",
Geagea stated that "it was supposed to be a basic partner in the mandate, but
this is not the case. Yet, this does not prevent us from maintaining ongoing
understanding with the Free Patriotic Movement towards the other."
In response to a question about the promotion of electoral alliances aimed at
limiting the Lebanese Forces Party in order to get it out of the current
political equation, the LF Chief emphasized that "what determines sizes are not
alliances but public opinion. In this sense, we remain reassured of our future
and the outcome of the upcoming elections. In accordance with the new law,
alliances no longer have the same role they played based on the majority law."
"It is too early to talk about electoral coalitions at the moment. The internal
situation, contrary to what some believe, has not settled on something final
yet," Geagea added. Asked whether Lebanon can actually distance itself from the
problems in the region, Geagea asserted that "the possibility of actually
distancing oneself from the problems of the Arab countries is 100%, if the logic
of the State prevails." "The sole solution lies in the State's logic taking the
reign, and that the military, security and strategic decisions belong to the
State alone," Geagea concluded, noting, "The State must adopt a very clear logic
that satisfies all Lebanese."
Nadim Gemayel urges Hariri to decide quickly
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - MP Nadim Gemayel rejected Saturday the "suspension
principle", saying that "there should either be an effective prime minister and
an existing government or a resigned prime minister and a non-existing
government.""Delay creates confusion in the country, and I urge Prime Minister
Saad Hariri to resolve this matter quickly and brief us on the new atmosphere,"
said Gemayel in an interview with "Radio Free Lebanon" Station. "The Prime
Minister's approach since his resignation from Riyadh to this day is considered
that of an outgoing PM," he added, hoping that "this would be clarified quickly
to reach a positive outcome, because the current situation affects the stability
and security of Lebanon." On the relationship between the Lebanese Forces Party
and the Future Movement, Gemayel emphasized "the need for the parties to
converge on the principle and constituents of the Cedar Revolution despite the
differences." He hoped "to return to the unity that prevailed more than 10 years
ago within the Cedar Revolution.""As it defended Lebanon in the past against the
Syrian occupation, it must stand together today to defend the sovereignty and
freedom of Lebanon, especially in the face of all those who impose their weapons
on the Lebanese interior," stressed Gemayel. "We are in need more than ever to
see a good relationship between the Lebanese Forces, the Future Movement, the
Kataeb and all the parties that fall under the Cedar Revolution, to confront the
occupation of arms and the occupation of Iran inside Lebanon," Gemayel
concluded.
Shorter in his blog on 'Lebanon, the Message': We remain
committed to Lebanon as a message of tolerance, coexistence and democracy
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter has expressed
his country's commitment to Lebanon as "a message of tolerance, coexistence and
democracy."In his blog on "Lebanon, the Message" circulated by the British
Embassy in Beirut, Ambassador Shorter said:
"This week I was invited to speak at a conference entitled: 'From the State of
Greater Lebanon to Lebanon the Message' organised by Adyan Foundation. I was
asked to share my thoughts about Lebanon; its place in the region; the past and
the lessons we can take from it; and together how we can deal with Lebanon's
future challenges.I cannot claim that as British Ambassador I have any more
expertise than others on Lebanon. However I was kindly invited to speak and I
have a personal interest in how societies use experiences from the past to shape
their future. I spoke about what Lebanon can tell us as a country small in size,
but big in influence. A country whose people always amaze me with their talent
and energy. A country that, despite challenges, has risen from the devastation
of war to become a beacon of resilience and inter-faith co-existence. A country
that all Lebanese can rightly be proud of.
But I also spoke about a country whose stability and security has suffered from
a neighbourhood that has not always been kind to it, to say the least. A country
that has been, and continues to be, dragged into regional conflicts by internal
and external actors. Often against its best interests, and the wishes of most of
its people. I hope, as a friend of Lebanon, you'll allow me to do what good
friends do - particularly, I've noticed, in Lebanon! That is, do some straight
talking. I'm sure some will also accuse me of being over-optimistic, even
unrealistic. But I have faith in Lebanon and its people. So, here are my three
key lessons from Lebanon's history. Lessons which I think can help this
remarkable country deal with its future challenges.
1: the disassociation of Lebanon from regional conflicts is a necessity.
2: to succeed Lebanon requires a strong state.
3: any Government of Lebanon must legitimately represent all of its people.
On the first point - disassociation; Lebanese friends and colleagues often tell
me a defining feature of the civil war was regional powers playing the Lebanese
off against each other. Friends, neighbours, even family.
They often remark that Lebanon's stability and security remains vulnerable to
the goals and actions of external powers.
I agree. This is why, for me, disassociation is critical. To me disassociation
means the Lebanese, and their leaders, putting Lebanon - its sovereignty and its
people - before all else. It means working for Lebanon's interests alone.
It also means challenging those who say fighting in regional wars outside of
Lebanon - including in Yemen and Syria - is to Lebanon's benefit. And asking if,
on the contrary, this risks bringing instability, even conflict to Lebanon.
Whether this is forcing Lebanon to compromise its best interests to suit the
goals of others.
However disassociation doesn't mean Lebanon can't have a voice in the region. It
means Lebanon has its own voice and opinion, not another country's. My second
point is that a strong and sovereign state, able to provide security to its own
people, is crucial.
The civil war witnessed prolonged periods where the rule of law was the rule of
the gun and the militia. Where external forces decided whether there was
stability in Lebanon, not the Lebanese themselves.
Lebanon has come a long way since then. The country's army stands with the best
in the region. It is an institution that represents the whole of Lebanon, and
the best of Lebanon. The UK is proud to be a long standing partner to the army
and to Lebanon's security services, as the sole legitimate providers of security
and stability in Lebanon. Lebanese history shows that it is risky to devolve
this role away from Lebanon's legitimate security institutions. It cannot be
franchised out to other countries, or to unaccountable non-state actors.
Anything else drains power from the state and from its institutions. It weakens
Lebanon as a whole. It leaves your security and Lebanon's stability in the hands
of others who have their own aims, or who represent the aims of outside powers.
My final point is that any Lebanese government must be answerable to the
Lebanese people as a whole.
Lebanese history demonstrates what happens when a government is seen only to
represent a narrow set of interests. Only a representative government can be
legitimate, and only a legitimate government - one which is able to make
decisions on behalf of all the Lebanese people - can guarantee Lebanese security
and promote its sovereignty.
Representative governments need to be based on strong democratic institutions. I
have faith that Lebanese politicians will demonstrate that Lebanon is again a
leading democracy in the Middle East and ensure no further delays to
Parliamentary elections.
To my Lebanese friends I also say that change remains in your hands. This
includes electing new candidates which reflect Lebanon's diversity - including
women. We remain committed to Lebanon as a message of tolerance, coexistence and
democracy. We want you to succeed, and as long as you strive, we will be with
you. To finish - I believe in Lebanon the message. I also believe in Lebanon's
future. A Lebanon with a strong policy of dissociation; free from external
interference; a sovereign state reliant on itself for stability and security. A
Lebanon empowered by a representative government to make its own decisions, in
the interests of its own people."
Khoury tours Book Fair: Culture Ministry is ready to
cooperate for Lebanon to remain the 'Printing Press of the East'
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - Culture Minister Ghattas al-Khoury toured Saturday the
Beirut International Book Fair held at "Biel" in Central Beirut, where he had a
closer look at the Culture Ministry's branch activities and reviewed the most
prominent titles and books of participating publishing houses. "This is an
annual cultural event, and we at the Ministry of Culture are honored to partake
in spreading awareness and culture. This year witnesses the participation of
foreign publishing houses, which encourages more work to attract similar
publishing houses," said Khoury. "The Ministry of Culture is a key partner and
supports the efforts of the Arab Cultural Club and the organization of the
Beirut Arab International Book Fair, and is ready to cooperate for Lebanon to
remain the Printing Press of the East," Khoury asserted. "The Ministry is ready
to provide all support despite the talk about its limited capabilities," he
added. Over the failure of some countries to take part in the Exhibition, Khoury
stressed that "we will work with brotherly and friendly countries to eliminate
some ambiguities," calling for "neutralizing culture from political clashes."
Sarraf: Satisfied with political atmosphere despite
differing stances between some parties
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - Minister of National Defense Yacoub Sarraf expressed his
satisfaction with "the prevailing political atmosphere in the country, in spite
of some varying positions between a number of parties."Speaking before his
interlocutors who visited his Meniara residence on Saturday, Sarraf said, "The
current political state of calm and reduced tension level will reflect
positively on the security situation, fortifying stability in the country." He
added that "what is important at this stage is re-launching the government's
work, which will lead to the country's recovery at various levels, especially
after the recent crisis witnessed in Lebanon."Sarraf hoped that "the situation
will be more positive at the internal level," expressing his conviction that
"the only way to save our country lies in placing national interests above all
other considerations."The Defense Minister concluded by praising the efforts of
the Lebanese Army in safeguarding Lebanon's security and stability, adding,
"Things will go in the right direction, especially as we live in the mandate of
a strong President who is able to protect the country's sovereignty and
independence."
Maronites for Lebanon' on a European visit
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - A delegation from the "Maronites for Lebanon" Association,
comprised of Attorneys Paul Youssef Kanaan and Maroun Sharbati, arrived in
Milano on Friday, joined by the Association's European Union Coordinator Elias
Raphael, where they met with members of the Maronite family residing in Milano.
The delegation members are expected to meet today at the residence of Lebanese
Consul Nasri Lahoud in the French city of Antibes, with the Maronite family in
southern France (Monaco, Cannes and Nice). The purpose of the encounter is to
highlight the need to press for the return of Syrian refugees to safe areas in
Syria, under the guardianship of the United Nations. Additionally, the
delegation members will encourage families to spend Christmas and New Year
holidays in Lebanon. After France, the delegation will head to Rome next Monday
to meet with officials of the Secretariat of the Vatican State and the Italian
Foreign Ministry.
Voice of Abeer Nehme echoes in Occupied Palestine: A
Message of peace from Beirut to Bethlehem
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - After a world tour with the most important Philharmonic
Orchestras in the most prestigious theaters in Paris, New York, Brussels,
Montreal, Stockholm, Dubai and Kuwait, Abeer Nehme's voice has reached Bethlehem
in the occupied West Bank, where she will sing and chant via satellite this
evening before lighting up the Christmas tree, under the headline, "Message of
Peace from Beirut to Bethlehem".Nehme wished to participate in this religious
and national event, via a video broadcast directly from Sweden, where she is
today to celebrate the birth of Christ at the invitation of the Bethlehem
Municipality, to affirm that Palestine is Arab and will remain Arab. She wished
to emphasize also that Lebanon and its artists and people reject what the
Palestinian people are exposed to, from injustice to oppression, displacement
and change of history by the Israeli occupation.
"Today I have a dream that my voice will be heard in Bethlehem, and this is a
great pride. I am not with you, but every corner of my heart is with you," said
Nehme addressing the Palestinian people. "Today I bring a message of hope and
determination, regardless of the borders and walls and the roads between us. The
greatest love is that which was born in the land of peace in Bethlehem more than
2018 years ago. Here is Palestine, the land of the people I love...Hhere is the
family of Jesus in Bethlehem, the family of Jesus in Beloved Palestine,
Palestine the great wound and the great promise to return," she added. Nehme
will sing Arabic and Syriac hymns such as "Ya Mariam al-Bakr" for 6 minutes
before the tree is lit. The event is attended annually by artists and clerics
from around the world, an event covered by international media.
Najari meets alMachnouk, wishes Lebanon stability and
balance
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - Egyptian Ambassador Nazih al-Najari met Saturday with
Interior Minister Nuhad al-Machnouk, with talks centering on bilateral relations
and the situation prevailing on both the local and regional scenes. Al-Najari
expressed appreciation for al-Machnouk's reading of regional developments,
wishing Lebanon "stability and balance that would carry it to the horizon it
deserves, which Egypt hopes for this fraternal country and its dear people."
Fake Explosive Belt Found in Tripoli
Naharnet/November
02/17/A fake explosive belt was found on Saturday inside a garbage sorting plant
in the northern city of Tripoli, media reports said. The belt was first spotted
inside the trash management plant, and assistance was called in. The army
cordoned off the scene area. Explosive experts inspected the device, reports
said. Security sources were later quoted as saying that the belt contained no
explosive material.
Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on December 02-03/17
Yemen Rebel Ally Saleh Says Open to Talks
with Saudis
Agence France
Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/
Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh said Saturday he was open to talks with the
Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels, as his alliance with the Huthi
insurgents appeared to be crumbling. "I call on our brothers in neighbouring
countries ... to stop their aggression and lift the blockade ... and we will
turn the page," the former president said in a televised speech. "We vow to our
brothers and neighbours that, after a ceasefire is in place and the blockade is
lifted ... we will hold dialogue directly through the legitimate authority
represented by our parliament."The Saudi-led coalition, which has fought Saleh
and the Iran-backed Huthi rebels since 2015, last month imposed a total blockade
on the impoverished country after a rebel missile was shot down near Riyadh. The
capital has been shaken by escalating violence this week between supporters of
Saleh and the Huthis, with dozens of fighters killed and injured and residents
now fearing a new front in an already devastating war.
Saudi, Allies Hail Saleh for 'Taking the
Lead' in Yemen
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November
02/17/A Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Huthi rebels praised former
president Ali Abdullah Saleh Saturday for "taking the lead" after he announced
he was open to talks with the coalition. "The decision by (Saleh's) General
People's Congress to take the lead and their choice to side with their people
will free Yemen of... militias loyal to Iran," the coalition said in a statement
carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. Saleh, who has been allied with the
Huthi rebels since 2014, said on Saturday that he was open to talks with Riyadh
and its allies on condition they lift a crippling blockade they imposed on Yemen
early last month.
Yemen's Huthi Rebels Slam Saleh Speech as 'Coup'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November
02/17/Yemen's Huthi rebels Saturday accused ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh of
staging a "coup" against their fragile alliance, after the strongman said he was
open to talks with the Saudi-led coalition fighting them. "Saleh's speech is a
coup against our alliance and partnership ... and exposed the deception of those
who claim to stand against aggression," a Huthi spokesman said in a statement
carried by the rebels' Al Masirah TV.
US Senate Passes Historic Tax Reform in Trump
Win
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November
02/17/US Senate Republicans passed landmark tax reform early Saturday, a
critical step toward delivering a monumental legislative victory for President
Donald Trump in his first year in office. After a marathon session, the chamber
voted 51 to 49 in favor of the nation's largest tax overhaul in 31 years,
overcoming stubborn internal Republican resistance and dismissing Democrats
angry over the last-minute, handwritten changes to the legislation. The Senate
version and one passed earlier this month by the House of Representatives must
now be reconciled into a single bill, and approved again by both chambers before
it makes it to the president's desk for his signature.
Syria Says Army Intercepts Israel Missiles
near Damascus
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November
02/17/Syrian air defences intercepted at least two Israeli missiles fired at a
government "military position" in Damascus province early Saturday but the
attack still caused damage, state media reported. The Syrian Observatory for
Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war, said the missiles, presumably
Israeli, targeted "positions of the Syrian regime and its allies" southwest of
Damascus. An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment. "At half past
midnight (2230 GMT Friday), the Israeli enemy fired several surface-to-surface
missiles at a military position in Damascus province," the state SANA news
agency reported. "The air defences of the Syrian army were able to deal with the
attack... destroying two of the missiles," it said, adding that the attack
nonetheless caused "material damage". Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said
the missile strike targeted a military base near Kesweh, south of Damascus. "An
arms depot was destroyed," he said, adding that it was not immediately clear
whether the warehouse was operated by the Syrian army, or its allies Iran or
Hizbullah. Israel has acknowledged carrying out repeated air and missile strikes
in Syria since the outbreak of the bloody civil war six years ago to stop arms
deliveries to Hizbullah, with which it fought a devastating 2006 conflict. It
has also systematically targeted government positions in response to all fire
into territory under its control, whoever launched it and regardless of whether
it was intentional or not. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square
miles) of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later
annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. The two
countries remain technically at war.
Clashes Erupt in Yemen Capital after Failed
Rebel Talks
Agence France
Presse/Naharnet/November 02/17/Clashes erupted in Yemen's capital late Friday,
witnesses said, as talks between feuding rebel allies failed to broker a truce.
It is the third consecutive night of armed violence between supporters of former
president Ali Abdullah Saleh and Yemen's northern Huthi rebels, who jointly
control the capital Sanaa. Multiple witnesses said heavy gunfire could be heard
in southern Sanaa late Friday night, but there were no immediate reports of
casualties. Fighting also erupted near the home of Brigadier Tarek Saleh, a
nephew of the former president and commander in the force loyal to the Yemeni
strongman. Three people were killed in clashes with the Huthis outside of the
commander's home on Thursday night, Saleh's General People's Congress (GPC)
said. Talks between members of the GPC and the Huthis' political council on
Friday failed to reach an agreement between the two parties, a high-ranking GPC
source told AFP. An internal rift has shaken the fragile alliance between the
Iran-backed Huthis and Saleh loyalists, who joined ranks in 2014 to seize Sanaa.
The former enemies drove President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's internationally
recognised government out of the capital, which has been rocked by rebel
infighting. The wider Yemen conflict pits the Huthi-Saleh alliance against the
Saudi-backed government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The war has claimed more than
8,600 lives since Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the Hadi government's fight
against the rebels in 2015, triggering what the United Nations has described as
the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The rebel clashes in Sanaa come as
tensions soar between the insurgents and the Saudi-led coalition, which imposed
a crippling blockade on Yemen in response to a Huthi missile that was
intercepted near Riyadh airport on November 4.Saudi Arabia intercepted and
destroyed another ballistic missile fired from Yemen late Thursday, state media
in Riyadh said. No casualties were reported. The coalition, which accuses the
rebels of being a proxy for Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran, says the
blockade is meant to stop the flow of arms to the rebels from Tehran. Iran
denies it is supplying the Huthis with arms.
Saudis and Iran Trade Insults at Conference on 'Positive Agenda'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November
02/17/Saudi Arabia and Iran have exported their bitter regional tussle to Rome,
accusing each other of villainous meddling in the Middle East during diplomacy
talks in the Italian capital. "They have literally got away with murder in our
region and the world," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told a three-day
conference on creating "a positive agenda" in the Mediterranean on Friday. The
gathering, called "Beyond Turmoil", became the stage for a bitter slanging match
between the two countries, with Al-Jubeir saying Iran's "negative influence
throughout the region" was clear to see. Iran and Saudi Arabia are engaged in a
regional battle for dominance being fought by proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen,
Lebanon and other countries -- a tussle which has drawn in the West. "Since 1979
Iran has been the world's chief sponsor of terrorism", Al-Jubeir said. Tehran
"harbours and facilitates the movement of terrorists" and "established Hizbullah
in Lebanon, using it to launder money and smuggle drugs," he added. Iran got its
own barbs in first, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying on
Thursday: "I don't want to turn this into a Saudi bashing, but..."Saudi Arabia
"has rejected every ceasefire effort in Syria, in Lebanon," he said. "Who
supported ISIS (the Islamic State group), hoping they would overthrow the
government of Syria in three weeks? Who was behind an entire blockade of Qatar?
"Who tried to force the prime minister of Lebanon out of office?" he asked. "We
believe all the countries need to live together, work together, but some people
are trying to exclude us," he said sadly. Al-Jubeir protested that it wasn't
Saudi Arabia that struggled to have friends and allies in the region and beyond
and Iran might want to do some soul-searching. "We have good relations with
almost every country in the world, except Iran and North Korea. Who is Iran
friends with apart from (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad and North Korea?" he
asked. It fell to a tired-sounding Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to
urge the pair to try dialogue rather than insults. "We have been raising the
issue of Saudi Arabia and Iran differences many times, they should start
talking. It's really unfortunate," Lavrov said.
UAE deports former PM Ahmed Shafiq to Cairo
by private plane
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA
- UAE officials accompanied Saturday former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq,
who announced his desire to run for president next year, from his home in Abu
Dhabi to the airport for deportation to Cairo, according to two of his aides.
Slight earthquake nearby nuclear testing site in North Korea
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near the nuclear testing
site in North Korea, the fourth of its kind after Pyongyang's missile test on
September 3, South Korean officials said on Saturday. The earthquake occurred
7.2 kilometers north-east of the site of the nuclear tests, and reported as
being a "natural earthquake," but "may be the result of the sixth nuclear test,"
the South Korean Meteorological Agency said on its website. The strongest
nuclear test conducted by Pyongyang on September 3 caused a 3.6-magnitude
artificial earthquake at the site. According to the specialized website "38
North", the earthquake may be the consequence of the nuclear test causing
earthquakes in the mountain.
Pope Francis leaves Bangladesh after a visit dominated by
Rohingya dossier
Sat 02 Dec 2017/NNA - Pope Francis left Dhaka today, concluding a six-day
sensitive apostolic visit to Burma and then to Bangladesh in wake of the Muslim
Rohingya minority crisis. On the last day of his tour, the Pope visited a
hospital run by the Mothers of Love charity founded by Mother Teresa, and then
met with Bangladeshi clerics and youths in the afternoon.
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published on December
02-03/17
Religious debate within Saudi Shiite community vitiated
by polemics
Hassan Al Mustafa/Al Arabiya/November
02/17/
Conservative societies often fear renewal or any kind of critical review of
their cultural, social and religious legacy, as “collective memory” lends a kind
of communal strength and sanctity.
Resistance to renewal is a common trait in most Arab societies as they are
accustomed to lack of accountability and follow a culture of obeisance.
Religious rhetoric runs deep to the extent that it governs most individual and
public activities.
‘Guardians of faith’ I have my reservations about the term ‘Saudi Shiite
community’ because Shiite citizens in the kingdom are not a homogenous bloc.
However, there are influential sections within this society, particularly
traditional pressure groups which present themselves as “guardians of the faith”
and take on any issues raised about the community by any critic. These
self-appointed ‘guardians of faith’ believe that any review of doctrinal
positions, the conventional biographical accounts of their imams’ or any
critique of Hussaini rituals is tantamount to a “violation of their faith” and
undermines the fundamentals of the sect’s beliefs. They are wary that any such
review would pave the way for the dissolution of the community in the sea of
Sunnis and Shiite Muslims will become less than a minority in the country. The
fear of being subsumed by the majority and their tendency is to viscerally
counter their “rivals’ aspersions”. These tendencies have made the community
susceptible to dubious historical narratives and untenable discourse.
Angry reaction not a studied response
Last month, the Thulata Cultural Forum in Qatif hosted poet Sheikh Ali Al-Farj
for a lecture titled “The Myth Of Historical Symbols: Causes And Consequences.”
The discussion’s main focus was on Farj’s book ‘Al-Abbas ibn Ali: Myth and
Reality.” The speaker was highly critical of the preachers of the Hussaini
platforms and said 70 percent of them rely on inaccurate historical narratives.
He also raised questions about the reasons behind the dissemination of common
myths circulated during Ashura gatherings. Sheikh Farj also criticized classical
religious scholarship and their references for their apathy towards historical
research and heavy focus on jurisprudence. This criticism drew a sharp and
acerbic reaction from members of the conservative movement, along with
“insulting remarks” made against the speaker, which forced Farj to later issue a
statement clarifying his statements.
An eclectic intellect
Ali Al-Farj is a young religious scholar who has studied his faith close to the
Sayyidah Zaynab shrine in Rif Dimashq before resuming his studies at the Qom
seminary in Iran. He is also a poet and a person with literary inclinations. He
was influenced by Iraqi poet Mustapha Jamaleddine and is a friend of the poet
Jawad Jamil. He is highly involved in hosting literary debates and discussions
with students and intellectuals in Iraq and the Gulf. After returning to his
town Al-Qadeeh following his religious education, Ali Al-Farj resumed his work
as a poet. Influenced by Saudi poets like Mohammed al-Ali and Abdullah al-Jeshi,
he started publishing a number of poems in several Saudi and Gulf dailies. He
once told me that he used to fall asleep in his house in Qom with a book of
Nietzsche by his side. This implies there is a general movement of religious
figures and intellectuals who support the approach of questioning false legacies
and clearing of old myths. This fact tells us that he is a young man who loves
sharia and jurisprudence and is still open to reading philosophy and cultural
and literary critiques. In stating that the phenomenon of Ashura has been turned
into a ‘myth’, he was expressing his cultural outlook. In his texts about
Karbala and Imam Hussain ibn Ali, he does not lament the travails of Imam
Hussain and his people but joyfully writes about them. He does not forcibly cry
over them or dress in black to project them as a defeated people. He presents
them as inspiring figures on whom he has based his poetic and literary works.
False accusations
However, Sheikh Ali Al-Farj drew sharp criticism from conservative Shiites due
to his book and his speech on the ‘myth’ of Karbala. Sheikh Mansour al-Salman
criticized the Thulata Cultural Forum and said the forum “seeks to find people
who could insinuate and harm the sect’s cause and who seek to create doubts
about rituals or historical accounts.” He added that the forum rushes to host
anyone “wearing a turban and is willing to criticize (Shiite) references.”
Sheikh Mansour al-Salman is a respectable public figure, who enjoys direct
communication with official channels and opposes the use of violence. However,
in this instance he has resorted to a kind of “symbolic violence” against Farj,
as he could not accept ideological differences and cast aspersions on the
intention of the speaker and the forum and concluded that it was some sort of
conspiracy planned against Shiism.
Farj wrote his book for purely religious reasons as he had promised to himself
that if God responds to his prayers and cures his wife, he would write a book
about Abbas. This historical review was thus written by a student of religion
with the intention of “correcting concepts” and not to destroy them.
The same ‘vitriolic’ criticism against Farj has been made by several other
Shiite religious figures either through messages and articles on social media in
Qatif and adjoining areas. The criticism often descends to making personal
insults that is unbecoming of a people who claim to be followers of Ahl Al-Bayt.
This harsh reaction is the result of Sheikh Farj’s criticism of classical
religious scholarship and references which he blamed for not standing up against
the populist rhetoric. A wide cross-section of Shiite scholars and their
supporters have taken this stance as being tantamount to crossing red lines
against “classical scholarship and their references” who are viewed as worthy
deputies, sanctified by the ‘Infallible Imam’.
Enmity caused by ignorance
However, Farj’s work has also been defended by several Saudi Shiite writers and
intellectuals, who have spoken out against his detractors. Poet Habib Mahmoud
has stated: “Those upset with the results of historical investigation cannot
tolerate this sudden criticism. They cannot pause at one investigation and
respond to it. They respond to what they do not know, and ‘people are enemies of
what they are ignorant of.’ What they do not know about the book is much more
than what they know. Therefore, Sheikh Farj’s problem is not with those who
write and discuss matters but it’s with those who do not read and who want to
respond to statements which he did not say.”A friend of mine told me that a
respected religious figure in Qatif asked those who want to respond to Farj to
respond after doing their research and not to resort to insults and sectarian
remarks. This implies there is a general movement of religious figures and
intellectuals who support the approach of questioning false legacies and
clearing old myths.
The difficult task
Sheikh Farj’s story is an example of the cultural and religious activity taking
place within the Saudi Shiite community. This activity is happening on a daily
basis and its arenas are mosques, Shiite religious institutions and social
media. When it comes to this controversy, people will have a difficult task in
imbibing the concept of plurality and accepting self criticism. This work will
not be easy and people will have to be patient and wise. The movement of the
“guardians of faith” will not sit idle and watch their notions collapse but they
forget that what they claim to be sacred is just a human interpretation of
religion.
Saleh ready for ‘new page’ with Saudi-led
coalition
Arab News/December 2017/
UN aid workers return to Yemen on flights to Sanaa
ADEN: Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Saturday said he is ready
for a “new page” in relations with the Saudi-led Arab coalition supporting the
country’s internationally recognized government. His outreach to the coalition
came as his supporters battled Iran-backed Houthi fighters for a fourth day in
the capital Sanaa, as the two sides traded blame for a rift between them that
could affect the course of the civil war. The fighting began on Wednesday when
Saleh’s General People’s Congress (GPC) party accused the Houthis of breaking
into the city’s main mosque complex and firing rocket-propelled grenades. Both
sides reported at least 16 people killed in the fighting since Wednesday. “I
call upon the brothers in neighboring states and the (Arab) alliance to stop
their aggression, lift the siege, open the airports and allow food aid and the
saving of the wounded, and we’ll turn a new page by virtue of our neighborliness,”
Saleh said in a televised speech. “What happened to Yemen is enough.”
In 2012, he stepped down after 33 years in office following months of protests
against his rule, but remained leader of the GPC, Yemen’s largest political
party. The Arab coalition praised Saleh for “taking the lead” after he said he
and the GPC are open to talks with it. This decision “will free Yemen of...
militias loyal to Iran,” the coalition said, adding that it is closely
monitoring fighting between the Houthis and pro-Saleh forces. The differences
between the rebel factions are due to the Houthis’ attempts to impose, by force
of arms, their will on the Yemeni people, the coalition said. It called on
Yemenis, including GPC supporters, to unite against the Houthis for the benefit
of the entire country. The coalition reiterated its full support for attempts by
the Yemeni people to preserve their land, identity, integrity and social unity
within the framework of Arab, regional and international security.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s legitimate government led by President Abed Rabbo Mansour
Hadi expressed grave concern over the repetition of criminal Houthi practices
such as raiding government institutions, places of worship, courts and private
properties, laying siege to political leaders and intimidating and humiliating
citizens. Hadi’s meeting with top advisers and aides called for opening a new
page with political parties on the basis of the three agreed terms which enjoy
national, regional and international support in order to form a national
alliance to defeat the Houthis. The meeting exhorted all Yemenis in Sanaa and
other cities to develop Saturday’s move into a popular national uprising against
the Houthis. It said in a statement that parties involved in the war in the past
three years who have decided to support the uprising will be under the umbrella
of the government. It called upon the GPC and civil society groups to unite “in
order to end the Houthi nightmare.” Hadi’s vice president called for national
unity to challenge the Houthis’ control over the country’s institutions and
their crimes against the Yemeni people. Lt. Gen. Ali Mohsen Saleh praised the
Yemeni people’s growing awareness of the national, regional and international
dangers posed by the Houthis.Sanaa residents described heavy fighting early
Saturday on the streets of Hadda, a southern residential district of the Yemeni
capital, where many of Saleh’s relatives live. The fighting subsided by the
afternoon as Saleh supporters secured control. There was no immediate word on
casualties.
Rajesh Badi, spokesman for Yemen’s government, said: “What’s happening in Sanaa
is an uprising against injustice and against the bloody Houthi coup, which has
been destroying the country’s assets for the past three years.”
“We call on all Yemenis to rise against the Houthi militias, who sought to
implement the Iranian agenda in Yemen,” he added. “Sanaa and the Yemeni people
are sending a message to Iran and its puppet Houthis that Yemen... will always
remain an Arab state,” Badi said. “Yemen refuses to be a tool of the Iranians.
It gives a strong message to the Houthis: They have no place in Yemen.”The
legitimate government said it has been maintaining an open channel of
communication with several GPC leaders. The party said in a statement on its
website that the Houthis bear responsibility for dragging Yemen into the civil
war.
The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people since 2015, displaced more than
2 million, caused a cholera outbreak infecting nearly 1 million people, and left
Yemen on the brink of famine.
Rome’s Mediterranean Dialogues left many
questions unanswered
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/December 02/17
The 3rd edition of the 2017 Mediterranean Dialogues (MED), organ
ized in Rome annually, was inaugurated with a truly mesmerizing video around the
theme “Beyond turmoil, a positive agenda.” The short film opens with beautiful
shots of the Mediterranean; powerful music in the background begins to play as
we are taken on a photo-journey of the remains of the various — and incredibly
rich — civilizations that existed on both sides of the sea. The video then
fast-forward to the present, where we see how this sea — the birthplace of the
Pharaohs, Romans and Greeks, among many others — is now the graveyard of
thousands of migrants who risk their lives trying to escape terrorism, wars,
hunger and unemployment. However, this was the most drama the attendees of this
three-day event ever got. Despite an impressive lineup of high-profile speakers,
there was simply not much — or anything new — said. The disappointments began
with Lebanese President Michel Aoun. Given the recent saga over the resignation
of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Aoun should have easily been the star of the
show. However, he delivered a mind-numbing history lesson on the origins of
terrorism in the region. Amazingly, Aoun mentioned every terror group except the
one that is holding his country hostage: Hezbollah.
Anyone who knows a tiny bit about Lebanese history knows that one simply cannot
ignore Hezbollah. While this Iranian-backed militia may have gained praise in
the past for resisting the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, it has turned into an
occupying force itself since the Israeli withdrawal.
It took over Beirut by force in 2008, and is the prime suspect in the 2005
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Hezbollah is also involved
— against the will of the Lebanese government — in the turmoil in Syria, Yemen
and Iraq.
While Hezbollah may have gained praise in the past for resisting the Israeli
occupation of Lebanon, it has turned into an occupying force itself since the
Israeli withdrawal.
Given that Aoun was giving a keynote speech and his session was not moderated,
the lack of any follow-up questions may be excused. However, the same does not
apply to the rest of the talks. For example, Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad
Zarif’s claim that Tehran does not meddle in the affairs of its neighbors went
unchallenged. This was just ridiculous given that in the same session, he said
his country is not going to leave Syria, where it has intervened in support of
the murderous Assad regime. During his session, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov painted a romantic view of how Moscow would like to see a peaceful and
prosperous Middle East in the future. However, he was not challenged on why,
given that his country now calls the shots in Syria, it is still unable to reign
in President Bashar Assad and prevent his troops from barrel-bombing or gassing
his own people.
Then we had Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad Al-Thani, who denied accusations
that his country supports terror. Why, then, are several Qatari citizens or
residents on UN or US terror lists? Sadly, that question was never asked.One of
the few officials to have received a fair share of tough questions was Saudi
Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir. He was quizzed on everything from Riyadh’s
stance on Iran, Qatar and Lebanon, to what would be a reasonable peace plan for
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how he describes Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman. Did most other sessions have bad moderators? Or was it the
fact that the event was backed by the Italian Foreign Ministry, which means
there might have been extra caution in terms of ensuring that panels do not
cause a diplomatic crisis for Rome?Unless the purpose of the meeting was to
portray Italy’s ability to be a neutral player and a diplomatic force that
welcomes everyone, the type of sophisticated audience attending demands much
tougher questions if we are to discuss serious issues that threaten our
collective existence today. After all, the event is called Mediterranean
Dialogues, not monologues!
— Faisal J. Abbas is the editor in chief of Arab News. Twitter: @FaisalJAbbas
"I am not American," said the Islamist; "I am Muslim"
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone
Institute/December 02/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11217/islamists-muslims-nations-states
For Islamists, non-Muslim land is different from Muslim land. Many can never
identify themselves with a Western land -- or with a flag or nationality -- even
though they may have been born in that land and their families may have lived
there for generations.
When people are brainwashed not to identify themselves with a flag and a
nationality, it disrupts the human connections and communications that need to
take place within communities. It pits the indoctrinated person against the
entire society and his own countrymen, and develops an "us versus them"
mentality.
This view brings with it a wish for waging jihad against one's birth country. It
creates the priority -- if the country attacking it is ruled by shari'ah -- of
joining the enemy to fight against one's birth country.
Several years ago, when first in the United States on a teaching scholarship,
one issue leapt out. A man asked an innocent enough question: Where I was from?
I told him; then, as a courtesy, asked him the same question.
"I am a Muslim," he smiled.
Thinking that perhaps he had not understood the question -- he sounded American
or English -- I asked if he was from the United States.
"I am not American," he said again; "I am a Muslim."
I subsequently learned that he was an Islamist, a preacher of strict religious
teachings, and that many of the people to whom he preached held the same views.
In Iran and Syria, where I was born and raised, I had never before heard this
answer.
Later, while speaking in Europe, these notions kept resurfacing. Radical
Islamists, particularly in Britain and France, proclaim themselves first to be
Muslim. Even when they speak with English, French or American accents, they do
not name their countries -- even to me, someone from the Middle East.
Their response signals a reason for concern in the countries they live in now.
To begin with, for Islamists, non-Muslim land is different from Muslim land.
Many can never identify themselves with a Western land -- or with a flag or
nationality -- even though they may have been born in that land and their
families may have lived there for generations.
This view is far different from that in the Middle East.
One day, I asked an American imam why he did not identify himself as an
American. Millions of people, I said to him, dream of coming to the US and
becoming Americans; why would anyone want to reject this?
He quoted said one of the founding fathers of Islamist thoughts, Sayyid Qutb:
"The homeland of the Muslim, in which he lives and which he defends, is not a
piece of land; the nationality of the Muslim, by which he is identified, is not
the nationality determined by a government; the family of the Muslim, in which
he finds solace and which he defends, is not blood relationships; the flag of
the Muslim, which he honors and under which he is martyred, is not the flag of a
country; and the victory of the Muslim, which he celebrates and for which he is
thankful to God, is not a military victory."
What became apparent was that Western Islamists were far more strict and
fundamentalist than the Islamists in the Middle East with whom I had grown up.
Once, when I mentioned the name of a deceased imam in a casual conversation with
an American Islamist preacher and some of his followers, I forgot to attach a
piece of religious praise to the name such as "Allah's peace be upon him." There
was a chill. The conversation came to a halt. The American Islamist preacher and
his followers did not hesitate to express their anger.
What you end up seeing is that when people are brainwashed not to identify
themselves with a flag and a nationality, it disrupts the human connections and
communications that need to take place within communities. It pits the
indoctrinated person against the entire society and his own countrymen, and
develops an "us versus them" mentality. The indoctrinated group then wants to
create its own group. For Islamists, it is an ummah (borderless Islamic
community). Emotion and sympathy for fellow countrymen disappear; people feel
isolated from other citizens, and view themselves as separate. Respect for the
social order and the laws of the land vanish, as Islamic laws become more vital
and obedience is then just to shari'ah.
Islamist teachings in the West appear to focus on indoctrinating followers to
identify themselves with Islamist ideals rather than with a nationality.
Moreover, Islamist beliefs are supposed to take priority over anything else,
including family and friends.
The teachings of these Islamist preachers further echo what Sayed Qutb said:
"A Muslim has no relationship with his mother, father, brother, wife and other
family members except through their relationship with [Allah], and then they are
also joined through blood. A Muslim has no country except that part of the earth
where the Shari'ah of God is established and human relationships are based on
the foundation of relationship with God; a Muslim has no nationality except his
belief, which makes him a member of the Muslim community in Dar-ul-Islam; a
Muslim has no relatives except those who share the belief in God, and thus a
bond is established between him and other Believers through their relationship
with God."
Do these Western Islamists then ever identify themselves with their land and
flag? Not, according to their teachings, until the law of the land is shari'ah.
As Syed Qutb also stated:
"The fatherland is that place where the Islamic faith, the Islamic way of life
and the Shari'ah of God is dominant; only this meaning of 'fatherland' is worth
of the human being. There is only one place on earth which can be called the
home of Islam (Dar-ul-Islam), and it is that place where the Islamic state is
established and the Shari'ah is the authority and God's limits are observed, and
where all the Muslims administer the affairs of the state with mutual
consultation. The rest of the world is the home of hostility (Dar-ul-Harb). A
Muslim can have only two possible relations with Dar-ul-Harb: peace with a
contractual agreement, or war. A country with which there is a treaty will not
be considered the home of Islam."
This view brings with it a wish for waging jihad (war in the cause of Islam)
against one's birth country. It creates the priority -- if the country attacking
it is ruled by shari'ah -- of joining the enemy to fight against one's birth
country.
"The honor of martyrdom is achieved only when one is fighting in the cause of
God, and if one is killed for any other purpose, this honor will not be
attained."
When people are brainwashed not to identify themselves with a flag and a
nationality, it disrupts the human connections and communications that need to
take place within communities. It pits the indoctrinated person against the
entire society and his own countrymen, and develops an "us versus them"
mentality. Pictured: Muslims demonstrate in Sydney, Australia, September 15,
2012. (Image source: Jamie Kennedy/Flickr)
Western governments need seriously to address these prevailing extreme Islamist
beliefs, which have significant social, political, and security implications in
their countries. These beliefs are the foundations of disrupting the social
order, peace, freedom, democracy, human rights, and security. If allowed to
continue, these beliefs will become more rampant, and the consequences more
severe.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a business strategic advisor, Harvard-educated
scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and
president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He is the
author of "Peaceful Reformation in Iran's Islam". He can be reached at
Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu.
© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Pope's High-Risk Visit to South Asia: Opposition
in Catholic Hierarchy
Lawrence A. Franklin/Gatestone Institute/December 02/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11474/pope-myanmar-rohingyas
"We are afraid that the pope does not have sufficiently accurate information,
and is releasing statements that do not reflect reality." -- Catholic Bishop
Raymond Sumlut Gam of Myanmar's Bhamo Diocese, suggesting that the Pope is
misinformed about the nuances of the Rohingya issue.
"If we had to take the Holy Father to the people who suffer most among us, we
would take him to the refugee camps of the Kachin [a predominantly Catholic
group], where many victims of the civil war have been displaced from their
homes." -- Father Mariano Soe Naing, Spokesman for Myanmar's Bishop Conference
Even if Islamic extremists in Bangladesh do not mar the visit of the Pope, there
needs to be pressure in the Vatican hierarchy for him to adopt a more realistic
view of the objectives of radical Islam.
The Pope's trip to Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh is occurring against a
backdrop of political turmoil and criticism by some Vatican watchers. The visit
may also present personal danger for the Holy Father. Although no one, of
course, condones violence and mass expulsion, there has been been indignation,
expressed by the spokesperson for Myanmar's Bishop Conference, as to the Pope's
concern for the human rights of Muslims while failing to comment on the regime's
persecution of Christian minorities in Myanmar.[1]
Pope Francis in Myanmar. The Catholic bishop of the country's Bhamo Diocese
suggested that the pontiff is misinformed about the nuances of the Rohingya
issue. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Although the Pope's schedule is filled with pastoral events with the Catholic
faithful, the international media appears to be focusing on Myanmar's volatile
religious and ethnic issues. Pope Francis's visit has been opposed by some in
the country's Buddhist majority, in light of the Pontiff's August 27 comments in
St. Peter's Square: "Sad news has reached us of the persecution of our Rohingya
brothers and sisters, a religious minority. I would like to express my full
closeness to them – and let all of us ask the Lord to save them, and to raise up
men and women of good will to help them, who shall give them their full
rights."[2]
Myanmar's only Catholic cardinal, Charles Maung Bo and others were successful in
persuading Francis not to use the term "Rohingya,"[3] a government-proscribed
term referencing the country's Muslims, during his visit.[4]
Beforehand, the prominent American Jesuit journalist Fr. Thomas Reese worried
that the Pope would risk compromising his moral authority by refraining from
directly discussing the Rohingya plight but cautioned that defending the
Rohingya would lead to increased persecution of the Christians there.
Others, such as the Bangladesh-born Ali Riaz, Illinois State University
Professor of Political Science, commented that "Bangladeshi (Muslims) expect the
Pope to "speak very clearly and loudly" in support of the Rohingya." [5]
Father Mariano Soe Naing, Spokesman for Myanmar's Bishop Conference, also
stated: "If we had to take the Holy Father to the people who suffer most among
us, we would take him to the refugee camps of the Kachin [a predominantly
Catholic group], where many victims of the civil war have been displaced from
their homes." [6]
Other Christian minorities, including the Chin in northern Myanmar and the Karen
in the eastern part of the country, also face Muslim oppression.[7] The Catholic
Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam of Myanmar's Bhamo Diocese suggested that the Pope is
misinformed about the nuances of the Rohingya issue: "We are afraid that the
pope does not have sufficiently accurate information, and is releasing
statements that do not reflect reality."[8]
Myanmar's government is under intense international scrutiny concerning the
Burmese military's assaults against the Rohingya, which has already driven
hundreds of thousands of them across the border to Bangladesh. [9] https://www.unicef.org/appeals/files/2071_Bangladesh-Rohingya_HAC.pdf
Any public sympathy which the Pope may express concerning the Rohingya will
invite criticism by the majority of Myanmar's population who genuinely fear
Islamist movement into their country.[10]
Myanmar's government and people have legitimate cause for concern regarding
Islamist extremism. After all, the army's assault on the Rohingya of northern
Rakhine was precipitated by Muslim attacks on local police stations.[11]
Moreover, members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) are receiving
military training from Islamic terrorist groups in Pakistan and Bangladesh.[12]
The Rohingya diaspora in Saudi Arabia also appears to be coordinating
Myanmar-based militants with Pakistani terrorist groups such as like the
Lashkar-e-Taiba.[13]
Experts, including David Steinberg, a specialist on Myanmar at Georgetown
University, suggests that the Pope's public remarks reflect the similarity of
Buddhist and Christian emphasis on compassion and "loving kindness."[14]
That approach, however, may dampen any potential plans to stage public protests
by those Buddhist clerics who are suspicious of non-Buddhists in the country.
Those themes, however, will likely be received well by the State Sangha Maha
Nayaka Committee, Myanmar's organization overseeing Buddhist clerics.
Pope Francis's next stop, in Bangladesh, from November 30 to December 2, will
probably include a stop in one of the Rohingya refugee camps, which include Arsa
Islamic militants who mixed in with the flow of refugees from the flow of
refugees from Myanmar. Jihadists in the camps might be inspired to start
carrying out recent Islamic State directives to start attacking the Vatican. A
recent Islamic State website featured a drawing of a decapitated pope.[15]
No stranger to Islamist violence in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikha Hasina's
pro-western administration is likely to maintain tight security during the
Pope's visit. Even if Islamic extremists in Bangladesh do not mar the visit of
the Pope, there needs to be pressure in the Vatican hierarchy for him to adopt a
more realistic view of the objectives of radical Islam.
**Dr. Lawrence A. Franklin was the Iran Desk Officer for Secretary of Defense
Rumsfeld. He also served on active duty with the U.S. Army and as a Colonel in
the Air Force Reserve, where he was a Military Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in
Israel.
[1] "The Pope in Myanmar: The Violent Face of Buddhism by Sandro Magister.
L'Espresso. http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2017/09/05/the-pope-in-myanmar-the-violent-face-of-buddhism/
[2] Vatican Radio: Pope Francis "An Appeal to End Violence against Rohingya"
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/08/27/pope_francis_appeal_for_end_to_violence_against_rohingya/1333091
[3] "Tips from a Local: What Cardinal Bo Recommends for the Pope's Visit to
Burma by Andrea Gagliarducci. The Boston Pilot: 21 November 2017. https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=180860
[4] "Pope Avoids Mention of Rohingya in Myanmar Speech" by Joshua Berlinger and
Delia Gallagher. CNN 28 November 2017. http://us.cnn.com/2017/11/28/asia/pope-speech-rohingya-myanmar/index.html
[5] "Trip to Myanmar, Bangladesh May Test Francis' Diplomatic Skills" by Joshua
McElwee. The Vatican Insider: 21 November 2017.
http://www.lastampa.it/2017/11/20/vaticaninsider/eng/news/trip-to-myanmar-and-bangladesh-may-test-francis-diplomatic-skills-DN2PxmaL81g1MCF7sa75KO/pagina.html
[6] "The Violent Face of Supposedly Non-Violent Buddhism" by Sandro Magister
http://angelqueen.org/2017/09/05/the-pope-in-myanmar-the-violent-face-of-supposedly-non-violent-buddhism/
[7] "The Pope in Myanmar: The Violent Face of Buddhism" by Sandro Magister.
L'Espresso: 5 September 2017. http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2017/09/05/the-pope-in-myanmar-the-violent-face-of-buddhism/
[8] "Rakhine, Catholics Fear Tensions over Pope's Words on Rohingya" Asia
News.it 29 August 2017.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Rakhine,-Catholics-fear-tensions-over-Pope%27s-words-on-Rohingya-41639.html
[9] Humanitarian Action for Children: UNICEF 2017-2018: Bangladesh- Rohingya
Influx" https://www.unicef.org/appeals/files/2071_Bangladesh-Rohingya_HAC.pdf
[10] "Rakhine, Catholics Fear Tensions over Pope's Words on Rohingya" Asia
News.it 29 August 2017.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Rakhine,-Catholics-fear-tensions-over-Pope%27s-words-on-Rohingya-41639.html
[11] "Burma-Myanmar "71 killed in Rohingya Militants Attack on Police
Stations-Army Base" Wars in the World" 26 August 2017. https://www.warsintheworld.com/index.php/2017/08/26/burma-myanmar-71-dead-in-rohingya-militants-attack-on-police-stations-and-army-base/
[12] "Rohingya Refugee Crisis: The Role of Islamic Terrorists" by Dr. Lawrence
A. Franklin. Gatestone Institute: 25 October 2017. https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11213/myanmar-islamists-terrorists
[13] "Lashkar Militants Inciting Rohingya Refugees, Indian Warns Myanmar" The
Hindustan Times: 7 February 2017. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-tells-myanmar-rohingya-issue-ticking-bomb-will-come-back-to-haunt-region/story-m7b2QFQn13uzOfX4nK9PWI.html
[14] "Trip to Myanmar May Test Pope Francis' Diplomatic Skills" by Joshua
McElwee. http://www.lastampa.it/2017/11/20/vaticaninsider/eng/news/trip-to-myanmar-and-bangladesh-may-test-francis-diplomatic-skills-DN2PxmaL81g1MCF7sa75KO/pagina.html
[15] "Islamic State Releases Beheaded Pope Francis Poster" Church Militant: 21
November 2017.
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/islamic-state-beheaded-pope-francis-poster-released
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