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Free
Openions between 12/1/02- 29/12/04
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Syria: No More Carrots, Time For Sticks
12/29/2004
By Anwar Wazen
After the deadly attack of December 21, 2004 on a U.S. base in Mosul where 22
soldiers were massacred, an American official declared that sanctions are likely to be
implemented against Syria, where the attack was likely organized. The Najaf attack a few
days later was also coordinated from within Syrian borders according to the city's police
chief. It certainly looks like the Syrian Mokhabarat has been quite busy.
Syria is becoming a safe haven for Arab, Chechen, Afghan and other Islamist insurgents .
Upon Saddam's fall, trucks loaded with the loot from the Iraqi central Bank crossed into
Damascus and were laundered through the Commercial Bank of Syria. "Damascus became a
financial conduit supporting the movement of foreign fighters into and out of Iraq,"
said Lt.Gen. Lance Smith, deputy chief of Central command. The Coalition Forces and the
newly trained Iraqi security forces became easy targets, "sitting ducks" waiting
to be picked off.
Cross border military action is still a matter of discussion within the U.S.
administration and it looks like a military incursion into Syria is still
"premature" ... or is it not?
"The question of what should be done with Syria has yet to be resolved. But for the
first time, there are inter-agency discussions that take into account a range of
scenarios," said Richard Lee Armitage, the Deputy U.S. Secretary of State. George
Casey , commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq, admits that the Syrians are making
some efforts on the border, "but they're not going after the big fish, which is
really the people that we're interested in".
Casey is targeting the number one fugitive among Saddam's loyalists Izzat el Douri as well
as other Iraqi Baathists who are still on the run and operate Iraq's resistance movement
out of Syria. Day in and day out the U.S. led Multinational Force has been suffering
casualities in Iraq. At a time when the intervention in Afghanistan is unfinished and the
war in Iraq against insurgency is far from over, the U.S. military strategists seem to
have opted to withhold from a military confrontation with Syria because it looks like the
diplomatic and Congressional efforts prodding Syria into cooperating so far fell on deaf
ears.
Syria has been turning a blind eye on controlling its borders with Iraq, freezing
financial assets of Saddam's loyalists and arresting the insurgency leaders that took
refuge within Syria proper. Syria has managed to outwit Secretary of State Colin Powell
and ex-chief of the CIA George tenet. Tenet is out and Powell is leaving his office in few
days. Richarge Armitage, meanwhile, seems to be planning his last hurrah in his
forthcoming visit to Syria.
Having witnessed throughout three decades of brutal Syrian occupation the vicious torture,
criminality, intimidation and subjugation of the Lebanese leaders and people alike, the
loud voices of Lebanese activists in the diaspora issued right from the onset of the war
in Iraq clear warning signals on Syria and Iran's intentions in Iraq. They were both
determined to thwart the Coalition's efforts to bring freedom and democracy to the Iraqi
people. It was clear then, and it is even clearer now that a free and democratic Iraqi
federation would send chills down the spine of Syria's dictatorial regime and the
mullah-imposed Shi'ite fundamentalism in Iran.
When Saddam fell, Syria and Iran embarked covertly on an ambitious and carefully planned
project to vanquish America's presence in Iraq. In 1983 , they succeeded by proxy by
bombing the U.S. embassy and the U.S. Marine Compound in Beirut (270 young innocent
Marines and American personnel perished in the two terrorist attacks). Syria and Iran are
sabotaging Iraq, again by proxy. Syrian and Iranian smoking guns were evident in Beirut in
the eighties, they were evident at al Khobar towers in Saudi Arabia in the nineties, and
in Faloujah, Najaf, Karbala and Mosul in 2003 and 2004.
Somehow, when it comes to action against the unfathomable Syria, the U.S. diplomacats and
even some hawks at the Pentagon have been, in their inaction , loyal to the Turkish adage
"too much talk , too little action".
How much more blood do we have to witness in Iraq and elsewhere before Syria is put in
check! Carrots never worked with rogue states. The Assad dynasty in Syria is resilient to
anything short of a stick. A case in point is Turkey's military ultimatum in September
1998 to cease support for the subversive PKK and deject Apo Ocalan. Hafez el Assad, father
of the current President of Syria danced to the Turkish tune when he sensed that Turkey
was serious about curbing terrorism. Syria is again trying to buy time. Dick Armitage will
should warn the Syrians to dance to the texas jazz tune. But will he?
Anwar Wazen studied at St. Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, earning a Master's degree
in Economics. He lived in several countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf,
working on country risk exposure for American and Arab Banks. In Brussels, **Mr. Wazen
became an activist and lobbyist for the Lebanese cause and contributed many articles
promoting freedom of Lebanon from the Syrian occupation, which were published by political
web sites and Lebanese newsmedia. He speaks Arabic, English and French fluently.
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To: Peter Davis" Peter.davis2@sympatico.ca
From: Elias Bejjani
9/12/04
Dear Mr. Davis
We are 100% for giving all citizens including the Homosexuals and labsbians their full
rights. Meanwhile it is up to them to live together and even raise adopted children. No
doubt, they should and must enjoy their full rights...But they do not have the right nor
the courts to destroy the marriage foundation, the most productive, stable and Godly
institution, the marriage. Destroying the family is destroying the nation and its society.
We should take examples from History...There is not one big or might nation
that was defeated by foreign enemies. They all were destroyed from inside because of
corruption and killing of values and norms. I am prying that our Western society would not
face the same punishment that Sadom and Gamorrah did get.
Elias Bejjani
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Peter Davis" <Peter.davis2@sympatico.ca>
To: "Elias Bejjani" <clhrf@yahoo.com>
CC: a.t.gordon@sympatico.ca, "Peter Davis" <peter.davis2@sympatico.ca>
Subject: RE: Release from CLHRF/for publication
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 09:17:11 -0500
Elias: I got your email regarding the defintion of marriage. I understand that there will
be a debate in parliament after the supreme court decision. My opinion is that religious
groups or other private organizations are free to define marriage in accordance with their
moral beliefs. The role of the government should be restricted to upholding legal
contracts through the judicial system, including those that deal with cohabitation
agreements between any consenting adults. Because the traditional understanding of
the term "marriage" includes the union of a man and a woman as well as the
expectation of a family with children, it is wrong for the government to try to impose a
new meaning to the term. I agree with your sentiments here.
Leaving this to religious organizations and other private groups does not necessarily mean
that the government is abdicating its role in furthering the cause of morality and ethics
in society. Our entire legal system is grounded in basic moral principles. In most western
societies, this is based on the Ten Commandments which, in its simplest rendition, says:
DO NOT DO UNTO OTHERS THAT WHICH YOU DO NOT WISH THEM TO DO UNTO YOU.
Because many people feel strongly that it is wrong to equate a traditional marriage with a
same sex union, it is wrong for the government to impose such a definition on society. It
is the duty of the government, however, to protect the rights of same sex couples to live
freely and enjoy the full protections that are available to all members of society. This
distinction seems straightforward to me. I hope the debate in parliament serves to clarify
the issue. Although this issue deals with how a government sees its role
in a democracy by acting on its policies and interpreting its mandate, I personally feel
that the CCD should not get involved in it because it would dilute the impact that we are
trying to achieve with our existing initiatives.
Regards,
Peter Davis
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From Elias Bejjani,
To James Kassouf
1/12/04
Mr. Kassouf:
I am not sure what facts you mean, and which Lebanon you are talking about. Your and my
country, the beloved Lebanon, is an occupied nation, ruled by mercenary puppet officials
and run by Mafiosi. If you are unable to recognize this bitter reality, then you are
either detached from reality or the majority of the Lebanese people are. Just please name
for me one domain where the Beirut regime is doing well.
Take a note that your Lebanon is going to be declared bankrupt soon if the Syrian
occupation does not come to an end.
For your own information 2/3 of the Lebanese people according to the UN are living under
the line of poverty.
Just remember before you advocate for the Beirut current regime that 1.5 million Lebanese
Citizens have left the country since 1990, and that 1.5 Million Syrian illegal workers are
invading our country and depriving our oppressed people from not only work, but also from
clean air to breath.
I am not sure how you envisage the security criteria that you are hailing!! does this
criteria include the status in South Lebanon where there is no state authority, but a
Hizbollah independent State, or in Southern suburbs of Beirut where the region
has been turned into an Iranian state in side the state, or in the 12 Palestinian camps
that have flourished to become exporters for fanaticism, terror and terrorists.
I am not sure if you are aware that there are still, hundreds of innocent Lebanese
patriots imprisoned in the Stalinist Syrian jails without any kind of trial, deprived of
all their basic rights. In the same context are you updating yourself in regards to the
atrocities committed on daily basis against the Lebanese people on the hands of the Beirut
regime and its masters the Baathists? Wake up man and have mercy on your people.
Still what about freedoms, elections, education, identity, culture, health services, old
age pensions etc etc.
Your people in Lebanon are enslaved and there is no other term to describe the status quo
that is imposed on them.
Wake up and witness for the truth, because those do, truth saves them.
Yours truly
Elias Bejjani
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From Kassouf <jameskassouf@yahoo.com>
Sent : December 1, 2004
To : Elias Bejjani <phoenicia@hotmail.com>, clhrf@yahoo.com
Subject : Re: Ex Minister Abu Jamra addresses the Syrian demonstration in Beirut
Dear Elias
Your e-mail is a distortion of the facts.Please take me off your mailing.You have missed
the real object of what is really going on!The big picture which many Lebanese have miss
in the past and aloud Israel to create a civil war that last almost 15 years .Many people
like yourself fall into the same trap again.This to dived and weaken Lebanon so that they
will be forced to take the Palestinian refugees and always have a section of the populous
that can be manipulated by the Israel and cause havoc at any
time.I have lived here in Lebanon with my family for over 3 years and have found this
country far safer then the USA and one of the safest in the world,which was rated last
year as one of the most safest places in the world by Interpol!Why do you want to change
this???
James
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From: LiBaNLoVe1@aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004
Subject: Maronites to remember
For the Maronites to remember,
-The Maronite church has a history and this history is limited to a geography, if we ever
forget the geography we are going to lose the history.
-Lebanon for the Maronites is everything they have created. We did not afford to build
huge Cathedrals as those of the Vatican's, Lebanon's caves were our cathedrals.
We did not have the chance to write enough books like the great orthodox philosophers (We
were planting and maintaining our fields), it is from Lebanon's nature we have known the
philosophy and the beauty of GOD. For us, Lebanon is the cathedral, and the stones of
Lebanon are our books.
- One day, Lebanon is going to be only one page of our church's long history book, but
this page will always remain the most important, because it is the first and from this
page the Maronites have started their church.
-This is our history, Lebanon, without it we certainly will have a future, but we will be
without a past or at least a past that we dont own anymore.
Dory Asy
11/22/04
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From: Edgard Barakat"
<ebarakat@ndu.edu.lb>
To: Cadmous email
17/11/04
Dear Sir
Your article: Open Letter to Father Semaan Atalah is a total lie and a fabrication of
entities that do not possess the minimum of dignity nor common sense for the following
reasons:
1) How could the Syrian jailers relay a letter from 2 priests that they deny their
existence in Syrian jails?
2) How could you or anyone have excess to the alleged letter? Where you able to break in
Mar Roukoz Convent? Or do you claim to have a spy within the convent?
3) All said and done, do you think that you are serving the Lebanese cause or the fate of
our beloved brothers Fr. Albert Sherfan and Fr. Sleiman Abi Khalil?
4) We ask you in the Name of God Almighty to IMMEDIATELY stop all such maneuvers that are
only a service to the enemies of Lebanon.
We the friends of the two jailed priests know very well their integrity and their
submission to their order. Honestly, they know very well that neither Abbot SEMAAN ATALAH,
the members of the Antonins Maronite Order, their families nor their friends have given up
on them or the Lebanese cause.
Finally, you have no right to meddle in someone else's business. No one appointed you as a
representative of the two priests cause. We do have a leader who is defending properly our
rights and the rights of those who are imprisoned: Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir the
head of the Maronite Church may God bless him and protect him.
May God be on the side of all those who are suffering (imprisoned or not) because they are
free and honest citizens of Lebanon The Great.
Sincerely,
Edgard E. Barakat
Friend of the Antonins Maronite Order since 1960
and a personal friend of both priests
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Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004
From: "Glenys Sugarman" sugila@netvision.net.il
Subject: re Damour
To: lccc@10452lccc.com
Dear Sir - this morning before leaving for work I wrote to a colleague in
Jerusalem asking him why it is that no one has mentioned the hosting of terrorist gangs
like Baader Meinhoff and the Japanese Red Army in the town of Damour in Lebanon during the
civil war, where they were taught the "niceties" of urban warfare, courtesy of
the PLO. When I got to the office I found your mail with the article by Joseph Hitti.
Unbelievable.
I walked through the streets of Damour in 1982 - an experience I will never forget. The
remains of a little town that obviously had been standing for generations in a beautiful
setting, empty gutted and silent. It was the silence that I will never forget, there
was'nt even a bird to be seen. And the beautiful church at the top of the village,
desecrated with burn and smoke marks covering the inside, since it had been used as a
kitchen for the student terrorists. My blood ran cold at the thought of what had happened
to the people in this town.
About two years ago in the midst of the current intifada I was asked to write an article
about an event in my career as a radio correspondent for SABC ( South African Broadcasting
Corporation) that had left an indelible mark on my memory - I wrote about Damour. I
could only wish that someone would turn it into a real life museum to show the world what
terror can and will do if it gets the chance to thrive. There are no words that I know
that could comfort the few survivors of Damour, but I for one, will never forget them.
**Glenys Sugarman, (formerly SABC), Radio Kosmos online, Radio Jakaranda Pretoria.
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From: "Richard Atme"
<richard@sarastone.com.au>
To: Phoenicia-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Congratulations
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:51:31 +1000
Dear Mr. Bejjani
My name is Richard Atme, Lebanese by origin, living in Melbourne, Australia.
This might be a bit late (as they say; better late than never)
Just a quick message, (first one from me); I would like to congratulate you on an
excellent and very impressive stand you took when participated in (Kalaam EL Naas) it was
on air via LBCI, June 27, 9:30 pm Aust. time.
It really shows that those who are true believers in their cause and have no fear of any
external influences, are always right, and without any doubt are the most convincing. Most
of the other participants were not as forthcoming/direct or as convincing as you were.
Their way of analysing things were from a very narrow point of view and very shallow
thinking. With one exception; Dr. Aoun.
For sure your extensive knowledge and sheer determination made a major contribution as
well.
I just would like to congratulate the Lebanese community in Canada as well as the Lebanese
people all over the world, and particularly in Lebanon, for having such true believers and
defenders. A job well done (you might feel it is a duty rather than a Job) I hope that one
day you will be able to participate in such forums on a larger scale, and more Lebanese
will have the opportunity to listen to you.
I always look forward to receiving your informative e-mails, keep it up.
God bless you, keep the good work, and take care.
Sincerely yours;
Richard Atme
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George Bejjani"
<griegs_bejjani@hotmail.com>
To: CLHRF@yahoo.com
Subject: the only solution
Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2004
Dear Elias Bejjani,
The only solution for Lebanons problems will invariably require many things. Of
these, power, heart and intellect are paramount. The latter two we in the Diaspora have an
abundance of; what then of power/influence? For those who left or were born outside of
Lebanon, the love of their country will ultimately motivate them to return home, or,
eternally worse mourn the freedom and life lost incessantly, but with no tangible outcome
in Lebanons greater good. Tell me what is better- a
well off citizen in the USA, Australia or Canada or a poor Lebanese in Beirut.
Both ultimately serve Lebanon little good in ridding it of the Syrian parasite. The only
solution that will yield real tangible dividends is for the greater Lebanese Diaspora to
excel in their chosen field or community, reach positions of prominence/respect to
ultimately raise awareness of the Lebanese citizens real situation. If we are to
return to our homeland let us return to a free and sovereign nation to build it and its
citizens, our family and friends, with the knowledge gathered and bought through hard
honest work in our countries of refuge. Because refugees we are and will remain as long as
our homeland promises to exact a harsh and unjust revenge on us if we return through
incompetent financial management, farcical
attempts at provision of essential services and the sale of our nation to a foreign
corrupt power. I will not return and leave a country that has taken me and my family in,
allowed me to excel, given me the sweet taste of freedom both of choice and word; only to
return and be stunted in my endeavors. The return of those in the Diaspora should only be
heralded by sweeping political and sectarian change. Social change will follow, and
Lebanon free once more will be a reality truly realized by all. I wish all my brothers and
sisters to work, learn and excel before attempting a life in Lebanon- it is not easy and
heartache follows those who do not calculate. Why return and become the same person you
would have been if you had of remained throughout the war. The opportunities outside are
valuable and only upon maturity of our mind, spirit and ideals will we help free our
nation from the grip of criminals.
Sincerely George Bejjani
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Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 00:13:41 -0400
From: FDoudar@aol.com
To: "Elias Bejjani" <clhrf@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [cadmous] New (Arabic-English editorial from Elias Bejjani/for publication
Dear Mr. Bijani ,
Well , you also bring up interesting points. Where we probably disagree is in the
priorities vs the strategies. Your strategy is obviously to get the Syrians out of Lebanon
. But your group does little to address the daily suffering of the Lebanese people which
is the priority to the average man. Boycotting established institutions and elections and
labeling most of the elected officials as puppets or traitors will not get you anywhere.
These puppets are providing solutions ( albeit temporary) to problems that people face on
daily basis , where your group doesn't . The people elected these officials , and even
though they are
corrupt , the average person doesn't think of them as puppets to Syria. They may be
thieves , but not necessarily puppets.
You describe slaves in a very liberal manner . Let me tell you what I observed while in
Lebanon . There are tens, and maybe even hundreds of thousands of workers from Ethiopia,
Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Sudan in Lebanon doing everything from housework, waiting
tables, collecting garbage, and even prostitution . And the Lebanese treat them like
slaves . Even my own mother - she has 5 working for her , and I feel that she treats them
like slaves for less than $120 per month. Have you
ever wondered what the punishment is for a Lebanese that rapes , beats, or even murders a
foreign maid? NOTHING ! If they ever run away, they are forcefully returned to their
abusive masters, and a master only needs to pay to ship the body of his maid to her native
land if he/she died/killed . The reverse is obviously not true. Point I m making Elias is
that before you accuse the Syrians of treating the Lebanese like slaves, you might want to
look at how the Lebanese treat others and compare
notes.
Real Estate My late Palestinian Moslem father amazed a fortune in real estate in Lebanon,
buying lots of real estate in the late 50s and early 60s. He left us with over 70 pieces
of RE all over Lebanon. Some are worthless, others are priceless. Some developed, others
still raw land. Not bad for a refugee that became a Lebanese citizen only 2 years before
he died. All the holdings are in my Lebanese mother's name . My 2 siblings and I never
became Lebanese , and we all live outside Lebanon. Managing the developed properties that
has tenants is an extreme headache ( see below) for me and my mother , tha's why we are
selling some. It is strictly a necessity .
The Jamhour property - an interesting story I never ever stepped foot in this 3 story
building with 7 tenants that my father owned forever . Around 1976 , the tenants decided
that they will not pay rent or renew the lease to the Palestinian landlord . Not much my
father could do. In the mid 1980s my father took the tenants to court and found out that
they had falsified records to show that the properties were individually sold to the
tenants. It took 10 years to prove that the sales documents were forged and obtain
eviction judgments . But no Palestinian with his right mind will go to the local police in
that area and ask
them to evict the Christian tenants. So the tenants stayed , and were adamant about
leaving. After the eviction judjment, few offered to sign a new lease, but this time my
father said no. He died in 2000 . Two years ago, a local person offered to buy the entire
building , and deal with the tenants himself. By now, the building became an eye sore in
the middle of prime commercial area. We agreed to sell him and that's when the tenants
started really begging us to sell the apartments to them individually . They even offered
to pay all the back rent . We refused, and some of them put liens on the property to force
us to deal with them. That took another 2 years and $20K to resolve . Up till the day that
we closed on this property last month, the tenants were calling asking for
reconsideration. The person that bought the building is also a Mr. Bijani, but he put the
building in his wife's name.
You think this was a headache ? Other properties that we own were taken over by mosques,
farmers, adjoining businesses, and even local governments. Some are difficult to resolve,
others are impossible to resolve and not worth the fight.
Have a good evening .
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From: Elias Bejjani
To: FDoudar@aol.com
27/7/04
Dear: You are 100% right in all of your stated
observations, but be sure our peoples' priorities were, are, and will remain much more
then to eat and pay bills, although those who look superficially on how they live might
think so. Meanwhile my editorial has addressed a vital Lebanese Diaspora concern in
regards to the many heretic projects targeting their rights. As I understood from the
message, you are selling your family's real estate in Lebanon. My question: Does
this matter bother you or not? Why should you sell and not buy? Simply because of the kind
of corrupted regime that is controlling the country !!!!. Who has installed this regime
and protects its thieves? You know as every body else that the Syrian-Baathists do. You
are right the Syrian soldiers are rarely seen on the streets. Did you ask yourself, why?
it is because they are in the Baabda presidential place, in Ain Eltena, in Qraietem, in
Nejmi Square and in every ministry and institution. They control the whole country and are
leading its people towards complete bankruptcy. Our priorities are, and will remain the
same: Freedom, Independence, Sovereignty, peace and respect for our human rights.
Slaves eat, sleep, pay bills and do not bother about freedom and rights. Free people with
honor and dignity ask for more that the slaves do. Our people are free and will never
accept the occupation or its puppets. They will keep peacefully lobbying for salvation of
their beloved country, Lebanon. We live on the hope of resurrection, resurrection of our
beloved Lebanon...
Let us be ready for this coming day
Yours truly
Elias Bejjani
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Tue, 27 Jul 2004 00:13:54 -0400
From: FDoudar@aol.com
To: cadmous-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [cadmous] New (Arabic-English editorial from Elias Bejjani/for publication
Dear Mr. Bijanai ,
I have a lot of respect for your cause , but often wonder what are the priorities of your
group and how well are these priorities in touch with reality .
I don't know when the last time you were in Lebanon , but if it has been a while, I urge
you to visit , because you all need to see the prioities of the common Lebanese,
regardless of his religion or background. Your group will have much more support if you
can relate to the common man and his issues. It will also earn you much needed credibility
.
I just came back from 3 months in Lebanon where I was selling some of our real estate . My
family owns property all over Lebanon . Real Estate that ranges from worthless land in
Tyre to prime real estate in Rabieh ( also a building in a city called Jamhour near Kahale
that we sold to another Mr. Bijani ... more on that interesting story later ..). I had
interactions with government officials ( including elected ones) , tennants, developers,
brokers, cab drivers, cousins, etc. Strangely, I
only saw two Syrian soldiers near Zahle. Where did the rest of the occupiers go?
People seem to be more worried about paying the school tuition for their kids. They are
scared that they may get sick becasue medical care is expensive. And they hope that more
tourists will visit this summer because "we are so much in debt" ..."our
country is broke" . Government employees continue to be the scum of the earth and can
be bought for dirt cheap, and I bought many. They don't care less if the Kataeb
participated in the election or not, and they don't seem worried that Lahoud and
Hariri don't get along. No one seems to care about the Syria Accountability Act . To them
, Israel is behind it , not the Lebanese Diaspora .
Those that have the means are more focused on making more and screw every one else. The
parity between the haves and the have nots have grown ever bigger than before . If you ask
, you'll find out that the 'TVA' tax is stressing people more than the 'Syrian Occupation'
. People are numb, there is a major scandal over the cellular phone contract, Public Works
contracts and people are only wondering who is Nancy Ajram dating . The most beautiful
beach I saw was in Isterahet Sour right in the
heart of Hizbullah land. Go figure...
More later my friend....
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From: "anwar wazen" aewazen@msn.com
Date: Sun, 06 Jun 2004
Reply to Miss Shaaban 's op-ed which appeared in the Daily Star on june 5th.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=4849
Buthainas lessons in Human rights
Before you accuse the US and Israel of targeting and massacring Arabs take a deep breath
Miss Shaaban and ponder upon the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Syrias
baathist regime against the Syrians and the Lebanese. When your house is made of glass you
should not throw pebbles on other peoples dwellings. Lying , bluffing and faking
crocodile tears is becoming nowadays the trademark of the defenders of the Syrian
totalitarian and ruthless regime.
Having been snubbed by the US media and having failed to secure meaningful meetings with
the US lawmakers Buthaina Shaaban was full of fury and admitted the other day on a
Lebanese satellite channel that she is quite frustrated and disappointed with the
ineffective Arabist lobby not only in the US but in Europe as well . As a matter of fact ,
her European tour was a flop . She was scheduled to give a speech at a gathering in
Germany and as soon as she got to the podium an angry crowd jeered, booed and derided
her.They were a group of Syrian Kurds dressed in white shirts tainted with blood to remind
her of the harsh and brutal repression of their brethren in Qamishli.-Syria . She was
rushed out from the back door.
You want to talk about war crimes Miss ? lets talk about Hama* . You used strong
terms about the US forces in Iraq ethnic cleansing , hidden graves
etc
It was a Tuesday , February 2,1982, 1:am . That was the time set by Hafez
El Assad for the clean up operation to commence in Hama . As the day broke
thousands of Syrian troops surrounded the city *
You should know the details of this
massacre better than us , an estimated 22000 dead , most of them innocent people,
massacred and dumped with bulldozers in pre-dug pits then covered with earth and left
unmarked * Allow me to correct you Miss ,when you say that
where in the 21st
century the Arabs have been officially chosen as the new victims
the falling victims
to hatred, killing , ethnic cleansing ,torture and massacres youre forgetting
that in the 20th century the Syrian baathist regime had already obliged humanity with
worse crimes against the Syrian and Lebanese Arabs . Needless to tell you that You are
utterly insulting the American Media when you write- quote:
would the American media keep the crime in total blackout if the victims were not
Arabs? Enlighten us instead about the free Syrian media . By the way , what ever
happened to the voices advocating reform in Syria during the Spring of Damascus ? Arif
Dalilah, Riad Saif, Riad el Turk, Mamoun al Homsi,Aktham Nuayssa and the hundreds of other
outspoken critics of the Syrian regime? Are they still rotting in the Syrian 5 stars
prisons ? You accuse the US of violating peoples right and sovereignty and you also
accuse them of violating international legitimacy . Why on earth the state of emergency is
still in force in Syria since 1963 ? Why internal opposition is banned and retaliation
against families of Syrian dissidents living abroad is still commonplace in your country ?
Why are you still suppressing the Syrian Kurdish minorities ? Why have you been wrecking
havoc with Lebanon since 1973 ? Havent you stolen enough tens of billions of dollars
from our country to finance your WMD arsenal? Dont you understand that with a
national debt exceeding 200% of GDP we became technically broke thanks to you guys ? What
have you done with the hundreds of Lebanese prisoners of conscience that you kidnapped and
tortured in Mazze and Sidneya dungeons? You have guts as a Syrian official to write about
human rights violations at the Abou Ghraib prison . You really have guts to talk about
violating peoples' rights and usurping sovereignty . Syria has been occupying my country
in clear violation of UN resolution 520 and you think the world is buying your call for
safeguarding international legitimacy in Iraq ? Pity the free world for chosing to look
the other way for 27 long years .The Syrian thugs were left unchecked to plunder Lebanon's
resources , hold a free country hostage and blackmail with their terrorist proxies the
whole world. Do me a favour dear , inform your boss that the clock is ticking . He is in
the crosshair . His manoeuvring tactics have been exhausted . He is not left with too much
yime , neither Europe nor China and certainly not Cuba will be rushing to his rescue.
Anwar Wazen
Brussels
aewazen@msn.com June 5, 04
* From Beirut to Jerusalem Thomas Friedman
N.B: Below Is Bouthaina
Shaaban's Editorial
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The neo-anti-Semitism of the
neoconservatives
By Bouthaina Shaaban
Special to The Daily Star
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Politicians and the media exchange statements and articles
about what happened and what is happening in Iraq, and whether it was possible to avoid a
war that has proved to be disastrous on all levels, as well as unjust for Iraqi people.
Perhaps most important in this regard was the US Secretary of State Colin Powell's
declaration that the information he received about weapons of mass destruction and the
alleged mobile chemical laboratories in Iraq - on which he based a detailed survey
presented to the United Nations Security Council early in 2003 - was not accurate.
But the important question that should be pondered in such a case is who are the people
who deliberately gave misleading information and what were their objectives? Is it not
highly likely that they could give other misleading information about other issues and
other countries, and thus lead the United States toward further disastrous ventures
incurring more calamities on the world? It is not a phenomenon that can be bypassed. When
misleading information is delivered to the decision-makers of the world's military and
economic superpower - deliberately or not - and is adopted by that sole superpower's
administration as a basis to wage wars against nations, occupy countries, consequently
commit war crimes, violate people's rights and sovereignty and violate international
legitimacy, such a phenomenon should be questioned and investigated. Otherwise the whole
world will be in real chaos.
One media event that is close to Powell's declaration in terms of implications is The New
York Times editorial published on May 26, 2004, and entitled "Time and Iraq." In
their piece, the editors admitted that a lot of the information they published about Iraq
before the war was taken from secret apparatuses that depended on defective information.
Such defective and inaccurate information however found its way to a powerful and reliable
media.
There is no doubt that the US secretary of state's statement, along with what he declared
about the media pre-coordination between the Bush administration and media institutions to
pave the way for invading Iraq, shows that there was a previous plan hatched by the
neoconservatives to wage war against the Arabs - and whose ultimate victims were Iraq and
Palestine. Trumped-up information and intensive media coverage were prepared to create
justifications for that war, even though experts insisted that such information was false
and unfounded.
Most dangerous of all is that this very pattern is repeated before our own eyes, whether
through the systematic physical torture that Iraqi prisoners are subjected to in Abu
Ghraib and other prisons, the killing of innocent civilians at the hands of mercenary
foreign snipers in Fallujah, Kufa and Karbala, or the bombing of a wedding in a desert
village. The pattern continues with the raping of Iraqi captives in front of their
husbands and brothers, torturing Iraqi scientists to death, destroying thousands of
Palestinian houses, killing hundreds of innocent children and women, assassinating
civilians, displacing families and imposing a murderous tragedy on a whole nation.
Thoughtful observation of events in Palestine and Iraq show that the real issue is not one
of faulty information sources, because US Intelligence and the US administration are not
that naive. Neither is it a failure in media courage and verifying facts, because the US
media apparatuses are not that feeble. The issue is deeper and more dangerous than this.
It is a phenomena where Western anti-Semitism is transforming from its conventional form
into a new one, where in the 21st century the Arabs have been officially chosen as the new
victim, one country after the other, one people after the other - falling victims to
hatred, killing, ethnic cleansing, torture, and massacres under the pretext of a multitude
of reasons and justifications, including terrorism. They are not much different from the
pretexts used in the past, and cannot conceal from the observant researcher that at their
very essence they are but different expressions of anti-Arabism and hostility to Arab
culture and existence.
It has been proved to all that exercising torture in Iraqi jails is not an individual
isolated case. Nor are those responsible just a few. Rather it is a policy in which
everyone was involved, and where everyone has taken a part in covering up, denying it as a
war crime, and hiding other sides of it, such as the destiny of thousands of prisoners
whose names were not registered, and whose bodies were buried in hidden graves. Such
policy arises from a racist, condescending view of Arabs, and therefore does not consider
Iraqis as human beings equal in feelings, comprehension and sensitivity to Westerners.
There is no doubt that those who prepared and misled their people to wage the war against
Iraq are the same people who believe in that racist view toward Arabs and are waging a war
of eradication against Palestinians, and supervising the persecution methods secreted by
the neo-anti-Semitism in its campaign against Arabs. Would the Bush administration adopt a
similar policy toward any other nation in the world? Would the American media keep the
crime in total blackout if the victims were not Arabs?
It is no coincidence at all that the image of an old Palestinian woman searching the ruins
of her house for her medication reminded Israeli
Minister of Justice Yosef Lapid of his grandmother as a helpless old woman during the
Nazi's persecution of the Jews. This image not only applies to that of the minister's
grandmother, it is the reality of thousands of families in Palestine and Iraq who suffer
the tragedies, cleansing, and racial discrimination that has nothing to do with the
"war on terrorism" or with the security of this side or that.
Into this campaign of hatred fall all the racist points of view such as those expressed by
Benjamin Elon, the Israeli minister of tourism, on May 26 in The International Herald
Tribune: "There is no land for Palestinians here, let them leave to Jordan."
Another is Douglas Feith's - US undersecretary of defense for policy - call for Israel to
deny Oslo and keep the Occupied Territories.
In the same line of thought falls the US president, administration, and war generals'
denial of the war crimes being committed. This includes Bush's continuous justification of
Israeli crimes against Palestinian children and the demolishing of Palestinian houses
being described as an act of "self-defense." All of this, and many other similar
sayings and acts, are nothing but part of a mentality and a policy of a neo-anti-Semitism
targeting Arabs. It is a mentality and a policy that is waging a war of elimination,
committing massacres, torture, rape and punishments in Palestine and Iraq systematically
and in harmony with this new campaign of hatred. Most important of all is that the true
nature of the so-called free press has been revealed. Now it is imperative that the media
should return to reality and discover by itself the victims of neo-anti-Semitism and the
systematic criminal campaigns of torturing Arabs, eliminating them, violating their rights
and lands, and distorting their history and culture.
***Bouthaina Shaaban is the Syrian minister for expatriate
affairs, she wrote this commentary for The Daily Star
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen" aewazen@msn.com
Subject: IMF:Lebanon's debt alarming
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004
The IMF article to which the reply was made
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=3&article_id=3994
Below is the comment which appeared in today's Daily Star
under the section : opinion/readers' letters
Osama Habib "IMF: Lebanon's debt alarming" (May 18)
In today's hi-tech age, an administration that is unable or maybe unwilling to
publish accurate figures with regards to the public debt and the country's GDP is
dangerous, politically impotent and should not be entrusted with the country's finances.
Can anybody guess Lebanon's real debt figures?
If the officially published debt stands today (as they pretend) at $33 billion, why do we
keep hearing in the local press and from other unofficial sources that the real debt has
already surpassed $40 billion? Why can't we have anaccurate figure on Lebanon's GDP? Is it
$17 billion or is there an oversight of 20 or 30 percent?
I am sure Finance Minister Fouad Siniora is aware that even Zimbabwe applies international
standards and other universal statistical conventions to eliminate distortions and achieve
accuracy. As for Siniora's boss, he should realize by now that the Lebanese have had
enough with excuses, false promises and deficiencies in governance.
The Paris II donor conference was a golden chance for Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to
reclaim his lost credibility and treat the rot in his administration. His failure in doing
so, no matter what excuses or false promises he still insists on giving, will not make him
eligible to remain as premier and kick off the Paris III conference in 2005.
Anwar Wazen
Brussels, Belgium
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen" aewazen@msn.com
To: aewazen@msn.com
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004
Herebelow please find Mr E.Saab's reply to my earlier comment
re the "Syria accountability and Lebanon's sovereignty restoration Act"
Dear Anwar
Thank you for your mail dd May 14.
Your comments about our skepticism toward the American regarding the S.A.L.S.A law is
based on a long observance of the American policy in the region. When I say long, it means
for half a century, and I focused mainly on the arrangement made by the Americans in March
1976 to allow the Syrians troops to center Lebanon and camp on its territory for more than
30 years, and the need that the Americans showed now that Syrians should leave Lebanon
under the pressure, we have to admit it what we called Lebanese lobby, and we are proud of
that. Skepticism make us a little bit douting hat Americans, who believed in interets more
than value and idea may reach an agreement with the Syrians, because both have more
interest in Lebanon
But what I stressed on in my article this time is that our people in the lobby would go
straight to the Shebaa issue and convince he Americans to talk to the Israelis in order to
end the occupation of Shebaa, regardless of its identity, with the Syrians or Lebanese. We
want both Syria and Israel to leave our land.
If the Americans believe to do it, it will be a triumph for our people, and we, from that
point may hope as you mentioned that "high ranking officials and congressmen stressed
also among other things on the fact that the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty,
political independence and territorial integrity was in the interest of the United
States".
For sure I will publish your reply, hoping to hear from you always.
Best regards
Edmond Saab
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar
wazen" <aewazen@msn.com>
To: edmond@annahar.com.lb
Subject: Your Editorial in today's Annahar
Date: Fri, 14 May 2004
Dear Edmond Saab
It always gives us a great pleasure to read your op-ed every friday morning in Annahar .
You addressed today the Syria accountability Act and you asserted that:
quote- "in the event Syria complies with two demands that concern the security of
Israel and one demand that concerns the US occupation of Iraq the restoration of
sovereignty of Lebanon mentioned in the Act would be put on ice because this does not
relate to the American interests nor does it relate to the US national security interest
.." unquote.
For the sake of the record may I draw to your kind attention that Section 4 paragraph 5 of
the Syria accountability Act presented to the 108th congress under HR 1828 IH states the
following :
-The full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty ,political independance and territorial
integrity is in the national security interest of the United States.
Furthermore , allow me to refer you to the May 2000 document ( precursor of the S.A.L.S.A
) "Ending Syria's occupation of Lebanon : The US role" prepared by Mr Ziad
Abdelnour and Dr Daniel Pipes and co signed by over 30 scholars , US government high
ranking officials and congressmen stressed also among other things on the fact that the
full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty , political independance and territorial
integrity was in the interest of the United States. http://www.meforum.org/research/lsg.php.
we would highly appreciate your publishing this reply in your esteemed Newspaper
Best
Anwar Wazen
The World Lebanese Cultural Union ( www.WLCU.org).member of the committee for
international relations
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Elias Bejjani phoenicia@hotmail.com
1/5/04
Arabism & Lebanon
Dear Naufal
We do not see any problem
for any one of us to be what ever he is, and no matter what his ethnicity would be. Who
ever you are, this is for me perfect and you should be respected for that. But the problem
lies in denying others what they actually are. Lebanon never was an Arabic country and the
Lebanese in general are not Arabs. The Arabs were invaders who like many others invaded
and occupied Lebanon for a certain period of time. It is true that some of the Lebanese
come of an Arabic descent, but the majority is not. It is a crime to rip any people of
their identity, roots, history and culture and try by all means of oppression to make them
be what they are not. Imagine if the same scenario would be applied in England, Canada,
Australia and the people there would all be forced to be English and only English!!! Look
what happened to the Iraqis after toppling Saddam. Did you find that they were proud of
what used to be the Arabic Iraq? How could some one force the Kurds, Turkmans and other
non-Arab Iraqis to be Arab. Let us be fair and human, let us respect people for what they
are and deal with them accordingly. No body can change my skin or heart or yours!!!
For one I am Lebanese and only Lebanese.
Elias Bejjani/ Phoenia group webmaster
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 1 May 2004 -
From: "naufal ban" <naufal27@yahoo.com> Add to Address Book
Subject: Lebanon
To: lccc@10452lccc.com
Lebanon. Why so much fast about being Arab?
An Arab is a Semite ( Christians,Moslem and some Jewish) who speaks "Arabic"
with various dialect that is influenced by their own native Semitic dialects.
What will happen if all "Arabs" wants discover their old roots? There will be no
Arabs left except for the Hashemite Family, Western Saudi natives , Northern Yemeni and
Bedouins roaming the deserts. We are Semites who are at one time Babylonians,
Akkadians,Phoenicians, Canneries, Edomites, Arabians, Sabeans (Southern Yemeni), Hebrews
among other Semitic tribes.
Like it or not we are all bonded by blood.
EU has Economy and one passport BUT we have one formidable weapon united under one
language "Modern Standard Arabic" and bonded by our Semitic roots and blood.
We should all be proud to be from various Semitic tribes who speaks "Modern Standard
Arabic" as a our lingua France.
An Iranian or Armenians who speaks Arabic could never be "Arab" simply because
they are Indo Europeans Aryans but a Syrian or Lebanese can because we are all related.
I am proud to be a Semite who speaks various "Arabic" dialect. any one point of
time my ancestors smells of desert camel dunk! I am proud.
Regards
Naufal
naufal27@yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen"
<aewazen@msn.com> Add to Address Book
To: clhrf@yahoo.com
Subject: readers' feedback
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 14:04:35 +0200
Dear Elias
Allow me to commend you on your efforts and your candid approach to the sad realities
affecting our national cause. Your latest Op-Ed on the unfair ,skewed and unlawful 1994
citizenship decree should ring the alarm bells in the ears of the traitors who sold our
country for a fistful of dollars .
The said decree which was promulgated by a derelict and corrupt team of traitors i.e the
then Lebanese Syrian appointed and debile President Elias Hrawi (who was on Hariri's
payroll by the way) , Hariri himself and Elias El Murr the then minister of Interior , was
a flagrant fraud of international dimension. As you rightly said in your Editorial ,
whoever was involved in this fraud will have to answer justice when the time comes. So far
,We have not gotten a straightforward answer as to how many individuals/families took
advantage of this fraudulent decree. Is it 150000, 250000, 400000 or more ? after 10 years
we still do not have the exact figure of the naturalized . I have no doubt in my mind that
there is a minority among the naturalized that deserved the honor of acquiring the
Lebanese citizenship.The Syrian appointed Lebanese government has been dragging its feet
all these years and failed to rescind this fraudulent decree when the Maronite League
rightly tried to block it in 1994 with the higher judicial council.The nagging question
today has been exasperated by 10 years of stalling and inaction by the Judicial
authorities. The Syrian appointed Government is finding it hard to strip out the
citizenship from somebody who has claimed to hold it for 10 years albeit fraudulently . I
am sure that when Lebanon regains its sovereignty and Independence the local judicial
system will find its fair procedural mechanism to address this serious national impasse .
Let's have faith and hope that one day true justice will again prevail in the land of the
Cedars . Only then ,The corrupt politicians , other traitors and their
"brethrens" will have to pay in a way or another the price of their misdeeds .
Anwar Wazen
Brussels , 30th April 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From : Walid Haddad <walidoflebanon@yahoo.com>
Sent : March 6, 2004
To : info@lebanonembassyus.org
Dear Mr. Abboud,
I was going through the embassy website, the section about culture, and was surprised to
notice that you declare that "Lebanon has an Arab culture colored by Western
influences".
This is a manipulation of the realities and history, Lebanon is an
"Arabic-speaking" multi-cultural country with Phoenician heritage and
Mediterranean (Western) influences. The Arabs are among many that passed by our country
and left their marks. In your listing of these civilizations, "Assyrians,
Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans" you have missed to mention the
Arabs before the Ottomans.
Stating that our culture is Arabic helps only to dilute Lebanon's specificity and
reinforce the image that people have of Lebanon as being an Arab/Islamic country (65% of
people surveyed), a country with deserts (45% of people surveyed) and petrol-rich (28% of
people surveyed). The starting point of documented Lebanese history and civilization is
certainly Phoenician colored by the many civilizations that passed by since that time.
Looking forward to work with you in order to improve and promote the genuine image of
Lebanon, we look forward to seeing the necessary steps to amend these misleading
information has been taken.
Sincerely,
Walid Haddad
CGL
Committee for Genuine Lebanon
* The percentage referred to earlier has been taken from a survey conducted in Montreal.
Some 150 persons from 32 nationalities participated in that survey about Lebanons
image.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen" <aewazen@msn.com>
Add to Address Book
To: aewazen@msn.com
Subject: Daily Star feedback on Edmond Naim's assertion that we are arabs
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004
the following answer to Edmond Naim's definition of the Lebanese Christians
appeared in today's daily Star Reader's feedback section- March 5th
Nayla Assafs article Jumblatts call for referendum on Syrian presence
draws no interest (Feb. 28)
Although I respect Dr Naims opinion I disagree with his definition of the Lebanese
Christians identity. The Lebanese Christians identity is not an Arab one. It
was the Maronites who fostered what is known to be the revival era of the Arabic
literature and language. We were then under the Ottoman Empires grip. The Maronites
contributed in safeguarding and rescuing the Arabic language from oblivion because the
Turkish language had started to invade the Arab countries. The Arab nation should always
be grateful to this major contribution of the Maronites. However, make no mistakes the
true identity of the Christians of the Orient and more specifically the Lebanese
Christians is Aramaic/Syriac. We spoke the language of Christ until the 19th century. We
still use the same Aramaic/Syriac language in our churchs liturgy. To appease the
Arabs, our Christian political leaders were unfaithful to our identity when they accepted
this caption in the 1943 constitution: Lebanon has an Arab vocation. I wouldnt be
surprised if within a few years the current corrupt Lebanese Christian politicians (or
their sons and daughters) will rubberstamp for 30 silver quid the Arab Islamic
Republic of Lebanon.
Anwar Wazen
Brussels, Belgium
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen"
<aewazen@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2004
Urgent call
« We are the heirs of the tradition of liberty,defenders of the freedom ,
the conscience and the dignity of every person
for too long ,American policy looked
away while men and women were oppressed ,their rights ignored and their hopes stifled.That
era is over . »- George.W Bush , 24 feb 2004 speech at the Library of congress.
Nabil Fayad a Syrian scholar and free thinker is facing physical liquidation on the hands
of the Muslim fundamentalists and their Syrian secret agents. His crime was to write in
bold terms about the practice of chauvinism and discriminatory exactions against members
of religious minorities.He was blamed by the Syrian authorities and their fundamentalist
clerics for inciting sectarian hate.In fact Mr Fayad deplored in his writings the
disrespect for basic human rights in Syria . He was harassed and terrorized on more than
one occasion by Syrian secret agents loyal to taliban style Islamic precepts and die hards
wahhabis. He opted to stay the course and not to waver or give in .
We call upon the freedom lovers , the worldwide human rights defenders and the advocates
of freedom of _expression and thought to show resolve in demanding the Syrian authorities
to divulge without delay the whereabouts of Nabil Fayad . We hold the Syrian authorities
fully responsible with regards to the physical safety of this Human rights militant and to
exercise henceforth restraint in their oppressive tactics .
March the 2nd, 2004
Anwar Wazen
Brussels www.annaqed.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From : <FDoudar@aol.com>
Sent : February 28, 2004 6:40:11 PM
To : phoenicia@hotmail.com
Subject : Re: [cadmous] LCCC, Letter the British PM, Mr. Toni Blair &
his Foreign Minis...
Thanks Elias, I am fine and hoping to visit Lebanon and Turkey in a couple of months .
I need to stress that your cause is absolutely worthy although we may disagree on the
approach. Regardless, I admire your resolve and keeping hope alive. It reminds me of all
the time that I used to spend advocating for the Palestinan cause in the US. Way too much
energy would go with little to show for. Still, I would not have changed a thing I did in
the past.
Regards, FD
=====================================================================================
From: Elias Bejjani , LCCC
Media Chairman
28/2/04
To:FDoudar@aol.com>
Thanks for your interest and concern. My friend, it does not mean because our
country is occupied by an occupier who is supported by big powers in the world,
including Israel, the we have to give up and surrender. Look how much the US foreign
policy is different now, although it not yet where it should be. You know the
Arabic proverb "No right will die as long as there are those who cling
to it. My friend we live on hope and you surely know those who don't end suffering
depression and despair. I am sure that one day, Lebanon will be back an independent and
free country. I might not see it happening, but my children or grandchildren will.
Elias Bejjani
====================================================================================
From : <FDoudar@aol.com>
Sent : February 28, 2004 3:21:56 AM
To : cadmous-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject : Re: [cadmous] LCCC, Letter the British PM, Mr. Toni Blair
& his Foreign Minis...
Dear Mr. Bejani ,
As much respect that I have of your cause , I often wonder if Blair, Bush , Annan, and
other world leaders that you have sent letters to in the past ever responded positively ,
or invited the LCCC to a meting to discuss further .
Face it . Wheather in Europe , the US or in China , the Syrian presence in Lebanon does
not appear to be on the "radar screan" of any major government . Not because the
cuase is not worthy, but because there are more pressing issues for these leaders to deal
with .There needs to be somoething in it for Syria to leave Lebanon , and this needs to be
recognized . Don't know what that could be . Money, few acres of land, less casualties or
more realistically, better economy to feed their miserable masses and lay off Lebanon. I
feel your frustration , and this SAA isn't really going to change things either .
Regards
FD
====================================================================================
From: "anwar wazen"
<aewazen@msn.com>
Subject: 15 years hard labor for A.K.Meho : what a farce
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 20:48:53 +0100
TO: Hon. Judge H.Madi : Many thanks indeed
Somehow your court order against KDP secretary General Abdulkarim Meho did
not surprise us at all . 15 years jail with hard labor on two accounts :
1) for slandering in articles published on the internet the Syrian appointed Lebanese
President Gen.Emile Lahoud
2) for disturbing the special relations with a sisterly country ( i.e Syria)
On behalf of my Lebanese compatriots , the freedom lovers and the thousands of martyrs who
fought hard to safeguard their human rights , I would like to thank you honourable judge .
Why ? simply because by cooking up this unfair judgement you have proven us right. We ,
the free voice of opposition ,free because we are outside our oppressed country the
Lebanon, have been shouting out loud for years that our Government and its Institutions
including the judiciary are completely under Damascus rule and control. . Before the
Syrian invasion in 1976 Beirut was not the most democratically mature capital in the world
may be but we were happy and proud to have freedom. Today , in your desperation you have
made it easier for us to convince the western world that change must come soon to Lebanon.
Although a number of judges in Lebanon have all our sympathy for being subjugated to all
kinds of pressure and at times to outright threats however, we always maintained that
being sworn as a judge confers to whoever takes this oath the required immunity that
protects him against outside interference. The rule of Law shall prevail anytime and
anywhere and shall be applied even-handedly on everyone no matter how high his position is
within the political sphere or other places. If and when the stress of pressure or even
threats start to wear him down , the judge should show nevertheless the resolve and
determination to carry on serving justice . It is regretful to say that some Lebanese
judges have preferred to abet the corrupt Lebanese political system instead of exposing
its lies and vicious manoeuvres.
I am sure that you agree with me that human dignity is inviolable, it must be respected
and protected . You do agree with me I am sure that torture is inhumane and prohibited and
so is the case with degrading treatment or punishment . You know very well judge H.madi
that torture and degradation of human dignity has been common place for many years now in
the Syrian and Lebanese jails . Do I have to remind you that freedom of thought,
conscience and religion is sacrosanct in todays world ? Do I have to remind you
judge H.Madi that the right to freedom of _expression shall include freedom to hold
opinions and to receive and import information and ideas without interference by public
authorities and regardless of frontiers ? Did you know that the freedom and pluralism of
opinions shall be respected especially through the Internet ? you may be aware of all of
this
You and some of your colleagues may be aware of a lot of other wrongdoings
committed by Lebanons Prosecutor-General Adnan Addoum and some other Lebanese judges
who became rich through corruption. And yet , you still find the time to indict people who
exercise their basic rights in telling the truth and exposing corruption in high places .
The Syrian regime over thirty years of occupation of a sisterly country called
Lebanon committed atrocities that are reminiscent of the ones committed by Pol Pot and
Saddam . I will refer you to two website addresses that elicit the dates and crimes
committed against humanity by the Syrian baathist regime.
As for President Lahoud ,Speaker Berri and Prime Minister Hariris outright failures
and dark records of governance I refer you , just to name a few , to the pending cell
phone saga scandal , the hundreds of millions of US dollars siphoned by Speaker Berri and
his Syrian protégés from the electrical and other public utilities , the Medina Bank
money laundering scandal in which President Lahouds son was involved it seems . We
hear that Lahouds son was caught recently red handed in the oil for food grafts
awarded by Saddam. the Kotuno Benin air disaster scandal is being stiffled like the
quaries and Solidere scandals. The ballooning public debt which surpassed 200% of the GDP
is nothing but the result of outright thefts, mismanagement and plunder by the Syrian
baathist mafia and its security agents and apparatus in Lebanon. You are not going to tell
me judge H.Madi that you and your colleagues are completely unaware of all of this . It
looks like you are impotent when it comes to holding the real culprits accountable for
their crimes I know you want to keep your job but if I were you I would have resigned from
my job and protected my dignity.
You know how to show bravery in executing orders to attack the honest and freedom
demanding voices .There will come a day and that day is near when true justice will once
again prevail in the Land of the Cedars.
With all due respect
Anwar E.Wazen/Brussels
Check this out judge Madi
http://www.clhrf.com/syrianatrocities.html
http://www.semainedulibanlibre.com/
check out : chronique du crime organise au Liban with all the dates of its exactions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:
<canadianforlebanon@hotmail.com>
To: president@whitehouse.gov
Subject: THANK YOU Mr. Bush
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003
We at Canadian For Lebanon would like to take a minute of your time to wish you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year. We also thank you and all the freedom lovers for signing
the Syrian Accountability Lebanese Restoration Act. The means a lot to Lebanon's freedom
fighters, democracy and peace. Thank you Mr. President and may the Lord bless you.
CANADIAN FOR LEBANON 10452 KM2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From : Ghazi Aad <fwylb@excite.com>
Reply-To : fwylb@excite.com
Sent : December 2, 2003 12:00:00 AM
To : zunes@usfca.edu
Subject : [Leb] Reply to Stephen Zunes' analysis
Dear Mr. Zunes
I represent a group working on the file of the thousands of Lebanese who were and still
are victims of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances at the hands of the Syrian
forces in Lebanon. From a Lebanese perspective, allow me to start by saying that your
analysis on the Syria Accountability Act made me very furious at the beginning, but a
thoughtful reading of your analysis showed beyond any doubt a considerable lack of
information which eventually led to a biased assessment.
I will try to point out the things that you had wrong in your analysis especially with
regard to Lebanon:
-General Michel Aoun did not
seize
power as you have mentioned.
The word seize, deliberately or not, implies that he assumed power in a coup
detat which puts in the shade the fact that he was officially appointed according to
the Lebanese Constitution by President Amin Gemayel as the head of an Interim government.
The Syrians rejected his government and forced the existence of another one, which was
completely unconstitutional.
-In March 1989, the Syrian forces, in an attempt to kill General Aoun, bombarded the
office of the Commander in Chief of the Lebanese army and forced a blockade on the eastern
enclave of Beirut. After months of heavy clashes, the Arab League formed a ministerial
committee to look into the problem. The committee, after meetings in Tunisia, concluded
that Syria was the party responsible for the current turmoil in Lebanon. Once again, Syria
rejected the findings and a second committee was formed. The second committee led to the
meetings in Taef, Saudi Arabia.
-General Aoun did not
block
the Taef accord. He allowed the
Lebanese parliamentarians to travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the political
discussions. In a meeting with the MPs before their departure, he emphasized on the
sovereignty and independence of Lebanon as a red line in any discussion. Later on, he
rejected the accord because first and foremost it did not specify a clear and decisive
timetable and mechanism for the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon.
-Saddam Hussein was not the
chief foreign backer
of the Aoun
government. The weapons that came from Iraq were delivered to both the Lebanese army and
the Lebanese Forces militia during the presidency of Amin Gemayel to be used against the
Syrian forces. It is worthy to note that a good part of these weapons were used by the
Lebanese Forces to promote the Taef accord.
-The legitimate government of General Aoun was overthrown in a ruthless military onslaught
led by the Syrian army and not the Lebanese army. The pictures of the Syrian tanks in
Baabda presidential palace and at the Ministry of Defense are a vivid witness to the fact
that the Syrians were the attacking force and not the Lebanese army.
As a Lebanese I ask you:
What do you know about Syrian violations in Lebanon?
Do you have any slight idea about how the Syrians destroyed this peaceful country?
Do you know how many politicians, journalists, religious figures and men of knowledge were
assassinated by the Syrian intelligence apparatus?
Did you know that Syrian forces heavily pounded civilian populated areas using 240 mm, 160
mm, 152 mm, 130 mm and 122 mm heavy artillery in addition to BM 21 multiple rocket
launchers?
Did you know that there were 258 car explosions in Lebanon that killed, injured and maimed
thousands of Lebanese civilians?
Can you give me an answer about the fate of the hundreds of Lebanese still detained under
the worst conditions you can imagine in Syrian secret detention centers?
It is true that since 1986 there has been no report of a direct Syrian involvement in any
terrorist activity but it is also true that the Syrian regime was conducting its policy of
terror and intimidation by proxy through organizations like Islamic Amal, Hizbullah and
other Lebanese fundamentalist groups. Lets not forget the foreign hostages crisis at
that time and how the Syrian regime exploited the crisis for political gains by playing
the role of the savior who can rein in those terror groups. Lets not also forget
that the Syrian regime uses Hizbullah and pro-Syrian Palestinian organizations to escalate
tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border every time it feels politically isolated.
Whatever the political reasons behind the overwhelming vote on SALSRA in both Houses of
Congress are, it is an opportunity of historic proportions to see the United States, who
acquiesced and tolerated the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, is helping now the Lebanese
people to regain their independence and sovereignty after three decades of ruthless and
horrible Syrian occupation.
The irony is not in the U.S. Congress and Administration revising its policy towards a
pariah state like Syria but rather in an academic scholar who is in a direct manner
defending a Syrian occupation of Lebanon and trying persistently to overshadow the demonic
nature of the Syrian regime.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From : Abdo Jeha
Boston, MAssachusetts
27/11/03
In comment on the Daily Star article (November 25, 2003) about warnings by
the recent assembly of Lebanese Catholic patriarchs and bishops as being alarmed at the
de-christianization of Lebanon, I would argue that it is the failed policies of the
Maronite Church in particular, and the Church in general, over the past quarter of a
century.
(Read first the report posted
below this letter under the title: the Lebanon Risks Losing Its Young People Catholic
Patriarchs and Bishops Sound a Warning)
1. The Church stood on the sidelines, ignoring the long term effects of its inertia.
2. The Church then reactively colluded with the ruling regime and Syria in acquiescing to
the Taef Agreement for so-called pragmatic reasons, when the reality was that the Church
did not want to see its role eroding to the more secular forces unleashed by Prime
Minister Aoun. It therefore went into the Taef deal to maintain its privileges like the
feudal families and the
political establishment did. Even today, the Church continues to identify the causes of
this "hemorrhage of human resources" as the lack of "appropriate and
faithful" application of the 1990 Taif agreements, when the Church knows very well
that the Agreement itself is the cause of the hemorrhage and that it made a mistake in
sanctioning it. The Church must denounce the Taef agreement as a failure, reject it
officially and publicly, and call for a substitute agreement between the Lebanese that
begins by demanding the departure of the Syrians from the country.
3. The Church had no visibly coherent foreign or domestic policies. It never used any
leverage it claims to have with foreign powers and decision-makers; it never took any
risks in voicing its opposition to the Islamic threat as posed by Syria and Hezbollah.
4. It allowed the loyalist patriotic forces in Lebanon to be banned, exiled, dismantled,
and annihilated, while Hezbollah, a fundamentalist Islamic organization was allowed to
thrive under the Taef Agreement.
5. The Church never used the leverage it has with the Vatican to demand a cessation of
hostilities against Lebanon's peopl, Christian and Moslem alike. The Vatican has
completely abandoned its moral standing by abandoning the only thriving Christian
community in the Middle East. Pope John-Paul fought hard against Communism and rescued
Poland, but sold Lebanon to the Arabs.
6. Where is the Maronite Batrak to stand up and publicly denounce - at a large press
conference to which the entire world press is invited - the Syrian occupation, announce
the death of the Taef regime, and call his people to civil disobedience until specific
demands and policies are met and implemented to slow down, and eventually stop, the drain
of Christians and non-Christians from Lebanon?
7. You hear one message from the Batrak in Beirut, then another when he is outside
Lebanon. In speaking from both ends of his mouth, the Batrak is playing a game. He is
being a politician. He is not a statesman (if he wants a political role), and he is not a
leader (if he seeks to be a moral leader).
8. The Batrak is a total failure who is overseeing the decline of the last standing
Christian community in the Middle East, and his complaining and lamenting about it won't
help. Before it is too late, he must have the courage to demand it, even if it requires
political theater and even if he must blackmail the Vatican into doing something about it.
Otherwise, he and Pope John-Paul will be held responsible for the annihilation of the
Christians of Lebanon and the Middle East. They will be the ultimate traitors to their own
people and their own cause, and their people will never forgive them.
For those reasons, I, a Maronite, hereby call for a conversion en masse of the Maronites
and other Christians of Lebanon into Protestantism, and seek the protection of the
Anglo-Saxons instead of the Latin French and the Vatican who, under Chirac and John-Paul,
also sold the Christians to Hariri, Nasrallah, Syria, and Islam. As we speak, there are
ongoing negotiations
across the US with several Protestant churches to lay the ground for a long-term sustained
program to establish Protestant schools, churches, and colleges in Lebanon, and begin the
process of anglicizing and de-Latinizing the Christians of Lebanon into a Protestant
stronghold in the Middle East. That is our only way to remain alive in the region, and is
timed very well with the increasing penetration of the United States in the region.
The Church has directly caused the exodus of the Christians of Lebanon. People stay when
they have leaders to lead them. People leave when they feel they are alone and abandoned.
The Christian community of Lebanon has lost and will continue losing ground in Lebanon so
long as the Church is part of problem, part of the political establishment, and tries to
maintain its privileges by making political deals and alliances with those it knows will
hurt Lebanon and their people on the long run.
===================================================================================
Lebanon Risks Losing Its Young People
Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops Sound a Warning
BKIRKI, Lebanon, NOV. 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Economic and legal
difficulties and social marginalization are forcing young people to leave the country, the
recent assembly of Lebanese Catholic patriarchs and bishops warned.
The assembly's final document said emigration by young people has reached alarming levels
in recent years. The phenomenon could "empty the country of its youth," the
bishops lamented.
Lebanese people have always been travelers and emigrants, the Web site AsiaNews.it said in
its report on the assembly. What is new now is that young people are leaving the country
with no intention of returning.
When identifying the causes and proposing solutions to halt this "hemorrhage of human
resources," the assembly called for an "appropriate and faithful"
application of the 1990 Taif agreements, which sanctioned the end of the civil war that
bloodied Lebanon since 1975.
The assembly, which was held in Bkirki, headquarters of the Maronite patriarchate, brought
together Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir; Armenian Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX;
Melkite Patriarch Gregorios III Laham (represented by his vicar, Monsignor Salim Ghazal),
and several bishops of the different dioceses.
The topic of the annual assembly, which ended Nov. 16, was emigration and the diaspora.
On another matter, the prelates alluded to "non-parity sovereignty" in reference
to the Syrian military presence in the country, which causes imbalances. "One part of
the population dominates the other" and "those who are close to the poles of
influence monopolize all state functions," the assembly's final statement said.
In 2002 the Church already spoke out against the exclusion of Christians from political
life. In his Lenten message Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said he was convinced this
sentiment was the cause of the emigration of many Christians from Lebanon, who felt they
had "no role in the country." In addition, the prelates noted that the norms for
military recruitment are also responsible for preventing the return of young people to
Lebanon. In this connection, Patriarch Sfeir requested that young people who were either
born or resided abroad for more than five years be excluded from military service. The
present law on military service dissuades many Lebanese parents in the diaspora from
registering their children in Lebanese consulates abroad, Patriarch Sfeir explained. In
the economic plane, the assembly stated that 70% of Lebanese who emigrate do so for
exclusively financial motives -- hence the necessity to create new job opportunities in
the country. In this connection, the bishops appealed to the government to elaborate
"a plan of general and equitable development."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen"
<aewazen@msn.com>
To: clhrf@yahoo.com
Subject: Syria ... where to ? by Colonel Barakat
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 12:23:21 +0100
Dear Charbel
I read with great interest your article " Syria ...where to ?" It's a good
reminder to all of us patriots , Muslims and Christians , that we have a divine and
national duty : to bring to justice all the Syrian thugs who committed crimes against
Humanity.If they thought they succeeded in intimidating the Lebanese spirit , well , let
me tell you they haven't . The Jews of this world haunted for over fifty years the Nazis .
They succeeded in their endeavour because of their stubborn perseverance . This is the
only way we can pay tribute to our beloved martyrs. Let's bring those criminals to
international justice.
Anwar wazen
aewazen@msn.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "anwar wazen"
<aewazen@msn.com>
To: neal-ma@attbi.com
Subject: Life after death
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003
Dear Dr Hitti
In Your Editorial "Life after death" you said it all . I enjoyed reading your
beautifully structured and realistic article. Well done , congratulations . I still think
that the West and the Americans are still not there : They have yet to prove that they
fully understood the hypocrisy and ruthlessness of the Syrian regime and it is high time
that we see concrete action.: forget diplomatic engagement and all that silly stuff we
need to kick ass . The Syrians are still having it easy .
God bless
Anwar Wazen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Adel Khalf <adkalaf@hotmail.com>
From: Elias Bejjani
20/10/03
Albi ++++
Thank you for your nice, well said, expressing and patriotic
message. I really consider it a genuine compliment because if you and others like you who
do not believe in a free and independent Lebanon are that much irritated and unable
to tolerate a different opinion and stance, this means what I am writing it reaching its
targets. We were taught to love our enemies and bless those who insult us..and this is
exactly my response to your hatred ans accusations.
God bless you
Elias Bejjani/ CLHRF spokesman
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ad Kalaf" <adkalaf@hotmail.com>
To : <cadmous-owner@yahoogroups.com>
Subject : Re: [cadmous] Opened Letter to Patriarch sfier
Date : Sun, 19 Oct 2003 16:28:13 -0600
Albi,
I am trying very hard to understand the root cause of your deep hatred of your fellow
countrymen. I try to put some rational and to be objective and logical, but I keep coming
back to the same conclusion: You are nothing but an "ENEMY" of Lebanon and a
very dangerous one at that. How much are they paying you, or are you doing this so if
Israel invades Lebanon, you will be in line to be appointed to some kind of government
post, maybe a president, or better yet incharge of cleansing Lebanon of anyone that don't
agree with you od israel.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Pierre A. Maroun
Topic: Support the Syrian Accountability Act
7/10/03
SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY RESTORATION ACT
In light of the latest events taking place in the Middle East, the importance of standing
by and supporting our troops with all available means is again reinforced. If our troops
lose the war on terrorism, the consequences are going to be grave not only on the United
States of America, but on the entire world.
An important fact arises which can no longer be ignored and this is Syria's role in these
events. Syria, with the help of the Islamic State of Iran, has been supporting the spread
of terrorism by harboring, training, financing, arming, and exporting terrorists to the
world. The latest bloody act of Syria was obvious on Yom Kippur when a Syrian backed
Islamic Jihad terrorist blew herself up in a Haifa restaurant killing nineteen and
injuring over sixty peaceful innocent persons. This is only one of many similar terrorist
acts, which has destroyed, or changed forever, the lives of over a 100 innocent families
in Israel alone. Only a few miles across the border, Syria has also been involved in a
similar, but more vicious cycle of killing, kidnapping, and torturing of the Lebanese
peaceful people with whom we share similar values and beliefs. This violence against
Lebanon has been raging for over three decades despite the calls of the United Nation
(Res. 520) to all foreign troops, including the Syrian one, to evacuate this nation.
Syria, who is in violation of this UN Res. 520, also ignored the repeatedly delivered US
calls to end its support for terrorism and to end its occupation of Lebanon. This
terrorism must end. Syria must be held accountable for its support of terrorism and for
its occupation of a sovereign nation-Lebanon-while at the same time undermining the US
efforts to stabilize Iraq and to solve the Arab-Israeli crisis.
Accordingly, The American Lebanese community find itself compelled to support the passage
of S. 982 and HR. 1828 The Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration
Act. This Act calls for four vital changes in the operations of Syria's government. These
changes are imperative to the national security and to the interests of the U.S. and that
of the free and civilized world. The Act's purposes are: "1) end Syrian support for
terrorism, 2) end the Syrian occupation of Lebanon 3) end Syria's development of weapons
of mass destruction and 4) halt the illegal Syrian-Iraqi oil trade that provided Iraq with
the weapons that killed our Coalition forces. The end of the illegal trade has been
accomplished purely by our troops' military presence in Iraq."
This Act is an important tool which can be effectively utilized by President Bush in his
war on terrorism. The Act will weaken Syria's ability to recruit and transport terrorists
across the border to Iraq to wage a Jihad against our troops. In addition, it will force
Syria to reveal its real stance on the war on terrorism since it will no longer be able to
hide behind the imposed puppet regime in Lebanon. This regime has been imposed to defend
the Syrian presence (occupation) in Lebanon in the international arenas, and in justifying
the existence of terrorist groups, such as Hizbullah and others. Destroying such terrorist
groups, which Syria characterizes as resistance movements, will guarantee stability on the
Israeli border with Lebanon and Syria, and will weaken Syria's repetitive attempts to
undermine the US efforts to stabilize Iraq. In addition, restoring the Lebanese democratic
system in a region filled with radical regimes will help the US succeed in creating a
similar system in Iraq. Furthermore, such an act is considered a moral responsibility on
the part of the US towards occupied nations, like Lebanon, whose people have the right to
determine their destiny.
We find it absurd that our government still conducts diplomatic relations with a state,
like Syria, that sponsors and spreads terrorism across the world when our troops are dying
in defense of democracy and in the fight on terrorism. It is imperative to acknowledge
that the Sept. 11 attack and the killing of 3000 innocent American could have been
prevented had our government worked to implement our laws and respect our doctrines. It is
time to truly defend our way of life; it is time to effectively root out terrorism; it is
time to seriously fight states that sponsor terrorism, like Syria, with more than
diplomatically crafted messages and shallow warnings. It is essential to protect our
interest and national security. Therefore, it is essential to pass The Syria
Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act.
Pierre A. Maroun
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Cedars Committee for Free Lebanon
E-mail. Lubnan_alhur@hotmail.com
Prime Minister Rafiq Alhariri
7501 Wisconsin Avenue -Suite 715
Bethesda, Maryland 20814 -Telephone: (301) 656-1666 -Fax: (301) 656-1613
mailbox@haririfoundationusa.org
3/9/03
Mr. Hariri please allow me to be truthful.
It is really amazing how far removed you are from reality, we do not understand your
comments where you shifted the blame for you failure on the Christian community in
Lebanon, please tell me Mr. Harriri, is it the Christians who are running a muck in the
South, is it the Christian who are making investors stay away, is it the Christians who
are smuggling their merchandise into Lebanon, we all would like to know.
It is time for all Lebanese to take responsibility for their actions, cleaning the house
starts from within first, your government has done nothing to ease the suffering of the
Lebanese people, your tactics is sinking the country into more debts, last figures show
the national debt is at 175% of the actual GNP, please tell me Mr. Hariri tell me what was
the Christian contribution to this debt beside loosing their business and investments, and
how about the Lebanese farmer was he a contributor to the national debt also, while Syrian
merchants compete against him and forces him to sell out or close shop, the time has come
for someone to tell the truth no matter what, there is no need for big words, words are
cheep Mr. Hariri, it is time for action, you were appointed by your master to serve his
interest it is no secret to anyone, admitting guilt is not a problem, but instead it makes
you realize your mistake and learn form it for the better, forget about political carriers
stand up and take charge, save yourself and your people, do not allow yourself to be
played by others, they are not here for you.
Christians, Muslims or Druze all are suffering across the board, poverty has touched every
corner of Lebanon regardless of religious believe, it is time for each and every one of us
to stop pretending and be responsible toward one another, it is time to stop the
corruption at all levels, and focus on fixing the problem instead passing the blame it
benefits no one, and surely it does not benefit Lebanon in the long run.
Selling Lebanon
It has come to my attention, and according to a Saudi news paper (Alamdenah), that
Saudis have acquired about 12,000 apartments, and more than half a million square
meters in Lebanon within the span of 2 months only. My question to you is why is this
allowed and who gave you the right to offer my country to outsiders for personal gain.
Lebanon is not for sale neither to you or your bodies from Saudi and else where in the
region, we as Lebanese are outraged by such a move and are calling on your cabinet to
revert to the old law and halt all sales of land, and building to none Lebanese
immediately and without any delays.
Rest assure Mr. Hariri history is keeping records, and so are we no official in Lebanon
who betrayed his countries trust, is going to get away with it regardless of the rank.
Treason is punishable by law and it shell he uphold against anyone who sold Lebanon for
the benefits of others.
I hope that all Lebanese would wise up, and take back what was stolen from them for the
sake of Lebanon and their kids future.
Long lives the free Lebanon
Sincerely,
CCFL.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Cedars Committee for Free Lebanon
E-mail Lubnan_alhur@hotmail.com
Senator Bob Graham
524 Hart Senate office building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3041
Email Bob graham@graham.senate.gov
29/9/03
Honorable Sir.
The truth about Lebanons Attorney General Addnan Addoum
Adnan Addoum occupies the highest position of Lebanons Judiciary System, his
mission is to crush the Christian opposition, and humiliate anyone one who dares to
question the Syrian presence in Lebanon. His position guarantees Syrias hegemony
over Lebanon and its political system in general.
The imbecile couldn't pass his state law exam, the state felt sorry for him and passed him
through using the 6 of 6 rules in 1965 what a petty.
He was appointed as an attorney general for the Southern district of Lebanon in 1971.
According to the Lebanese Army bureau of information, Addoum was a conspirator from the
beginning, he was an agent for the Palestinians, and the Fatah movement of Yasser Arafat,
in which he gave information regarding the Lebanese Army, and the Internal Security in
exchange for a huge sum of money from the PLO organization, he was also involved in the
smuggling of arms to the Palestinian camps regularly late 60s to early 70s.
In 1995 the puppet regime of Elias Harrawi appointed Addoum as the Attorney General of
Lebanon through direct orders from Ghazi Kenaan the thug of Syrians in Lebanon,
after Judge Ahmad Almualem was suppose to occupy the position, but Ghazi Kennann forced
his will on the puppet government, as he had done in many other occasions through fear and
intimidation.
Addoum gets his orders directly from the new head of the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon
Lt. General Roustom Gazelleh, no Lebanese public official can question his command or his
authority in Lebanon today, he is called by many the hatch man for his brutality against
Lebanese civilians.
Addoum was appointed to fulfill 3 wishes for the Syrian regime in Lebanon.
· 1-Crushing the Christians in Lebanon and degrade them in any means possible, you can
look at his records in doing so through Human rights organizations.
2-Be the watchdog over all judges and lawyers across the country and make sure it suites
Syria agenda, disregarding even the Lebanese president.
3-He is in charge of watching all political policies in Lebanon, and intimidate the
Christians PM'S in particular, and crush all oppositions to Syria through falsified files
aimed at silencing the opposition in any means possible.
In 1999, Judge Walid Ghumrah release a report stating all misconducts by Addoum across the
whole Judiciary system, however such a report was claimed by Syrian conspirators, and has
disappeared from the seen.
Addoums personnel wealth comes to about 6 million dollars, as a result of special
briberies and favoritism's he uses different Aliases to hide his wealth form any
investigations.
Mr. Addoum Father is not even a Lebanese citizen, he was issued a Lebanese citizenship by
the Hariri government in 1993 through pressure from Ghazi Kenaan, Syria forced its will on
Lebanon through killing and assassination of national leaders and elected presidents, it
has infiltrated every government bureau through its 35,000 secret agents, their mission is
to crush any move by any Lebanese who dares to speak against them in any shape or form.
Honorable Sir, it is our wish that the United States Congress recognize the Lebanese
struggle for freedom and democracy, Syrias agenda is to annex Lebanon as province
number 18 when the time is right. We the American Lebanese hope that the United States
Congress stands firm with the terrorist regime of Syria and insist on a complete
withdrawal of all Syrian forces and agents from Lebanon, and without any delays.
May God bless America the land of the free forever?
Sincerely,
CCFL.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Cedars Committee for Free Lebanon
E-mail. Lubnan_alhur@hotmail.com
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500
19/9/03
"Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make: either you are with us,
or with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or
support terrorism will be regarded by the U.S. as a hostile regime".
Honorable Sir.
Millions of Americans are waiting to see what is going to happen to Syria. We all know,
that the Syrian regime is a terrorist regime that have aided and supported terrorism for
the last 30 years. It is time for the free world to take a strong stand against tyrants
regimes like the ones in Syria whose records of human rights abuse, and torturing of
innocents speaks for it.
Mr. President we voted for you last election, because we felt that you are a man of
integrity, you have claimed that you are a man of action many times in your speeches in
regard to the Syrian question, we are all hoping that this motion still stands without the
pressure of special interest of any kind, I hope I am not being nave, we all know how the
political game is played.
Lebanon have suffered enough from the Palestinian cause, the Arabic cause, and the Israeli
cause, the time has come for the world, and the United States in particular to focus some
attention for the Lebanese cause, Lebanon is the only satellite state in the world today,
the Lebanese government is nothing, but a puppet installed by Syria, it does not represent
the views or the aspiration of the Lebanese people.
Ambassador Satterfield announced to the Syrian regime, that the administration has no
intention of punishing Syria, and will not endorse the Syrian accountability act coming up
for discussion on Sept 03, yet he announces in Lebanon, that the United States stands
behind Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. I have to say Mr. President we are a little
confused, how can Lebanon be independent when 30,000 Syrian troops are still lurking
freely in Lebanon, how can Lebanon be independent when over 35,000 secret services agents
occupies every government office, schools and universities, how can the US stand behind
Lebanon's independence when Syria forced the puppet government to adopt a new altered
election law, and forced a different parliament on Lebanon, where 60% of its members were
installed by Syria to serve the Syrian regime, where is Lebanon's free choice when it
comes to protecting its borders, and disarm all militias.
Syria has turned Lebanon into a haven for terrorist training camps, and drug trafficking,
many Syrian officers have gotten wealthy from money laundering and narcotics, and to top
it all of Syria forced its will and altered our immigration law, and forced Lebanon to
immigrate more than 300,000 Syrian nationals aimed at changing the demography of Lebanon,
those Syrians forged their papers and took claim of the Lebanese citizenship through
bribery and lies.
Syria has broken the UN sanction against Iraq by allowing the flow of more than 150,000
barrel of oil into its territory to be sold in the black market; in return Syria used the
money to rearm Sadam Hussein and his war machine. Syria has allowed militant fanatics from
Iran to transport weapons into the Beekah Valley in Lebanon Hizbollah's strong hold, Syria
has helped with logistics and training of Islamic fanatics to attack innocent civilians in
Israel, and the list goes on.
We all the freedom lovers in the world, and United States the protector of freedom should
not accept the lose of 3000 innocent Americans to die in vane for the sake of oil, and
special interest whatever it may be. The problem in the Middle East cannot be solved by
creating another one, the Lebanese have the right to their country free from any
domination Syrian or otherwise, there cannot be a double standard when it comes to freedom
and free choice, freedom cannot depend of who has the most to gain from it, and forget
about the people who thrust for it.
Give me Liberty, or Give me death. Lebanon and freedom are one of the same they go
together, what goes for Americans and their love for freedom, goes for the Lebanese also,
it is our hope, that the United States administration recognizes the Lebanese struggle for
freedom, it is our hope that the leader of the free world land a helping hand, and help
the Lebanese regain back their freedom and independence from any foreign domination. It is
our deepest hope that our President George W Bush endorses the Syrian accountability act
of 2003 in full, and without any delays.
May God bless America the land of the free forever?
Sincerely,
CCFL.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Anwar
Wazen" aewazen@msn.com
To: clhrf@yahoo.com
Subject:Dedicated to my friends at An Nahar
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2003
Dedicated to my friends at AN-NAHAR
I salute a bunch of courageous and clean Lebanese journalists who are waging a
war on one of the most ruthless ,cowardly, and corrupt regime that has a lot of
similarities with the stalinist era . With their pen for an only weapon , their combat is
being fought on the ground . Those valiant journalists are patriotic, they are noble and
daring but they are a chosen few . They experience daily intimidating tactics ,blackmail
and cheap manoeuvres from a highly corrupt and brutal regime . The journalists I am
implying to are the ones who are persisting in their struggle , day in and day out . They
are the ones who are helping Lebanon to break free from its chains .They are doing it in
an eloquent , noble and effective style . They are consistent , persuasive and admirable
in their endeavour. They insist on signing the book of truth . They are made of the
right stuff. God bless them all. With all our due respect Anwar Wazen -
Belgium
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: JackiSkeels@aol.com
To : phoenicia@hotmail.com
Subject : RAYMOND BAAKLINI RAISES MY RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION!
Date : Fri, 22 Aug 2003
Dear Mr. Bejjani:
A million "Merci's", Elias Bejjani, for having the courage to boldly speak out
regarding Mr. Raymond Baaklini, the "MAFI" Lebanese ambassador who has done
inestimable damage to Mr. Bruce Balfour's human rights case in Lebanon without caring to
know all the facts concerning this kind-hearted Canadian humanitarian who has been
flagrantly and falsely charged of spying for Israel and awaits final sentencing on August
27, 2003.
Can we dare wonder if in fact Baaklini, this dispicable, wretched excuse for a man of
Lebanese diplomacy is getting "baksheesh" from the Hezballeh, from Syria, from
Iraq, "mabarafshoo" that sways his narrow-minded, too-quickly voiced opinions
against Bruce Balfour without diplomatically researching facts for himself...which should
be the primary function of a ambassador or diplomat.
Clearly he needs to immediately use all media outlets in Canada and Lebanon to retract his
previous pejorative statements (1) accusing Bruce Balfour of crimes he has not committed
and (2) putting your intelligent, proactive consortium of Canadian-Lebanese NGO's in
extremely poor light if he wishes to be respected by diplomatic peers in the western
world.
Perhaps re-thinking his own preservation of power in the western world of diplomacy will
prompt Mr. Raymond Baaklini to do the right thing when personal and professional ethics
have not bettered his job performance.
Ms. J. Skeels, California USA
Former Intensive English Instructor, East Beirut, Lebanon
August 22, 2003
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From: Karole du Pont karole.dupont@Sympatico.ca
To : phoenicia@hotmail.com
Subject : Quite a wide spectrum or arguments to contest Mr. Balfour,s jailing
Date : Tue, 05 Aug 2003
Dear Elias:
You certainly can count on me to support that position you are expressing. I will send the
email to my friends. Thank you so much for writing the article and I love especially the
paragraph I put in the bold. Actually I would love this text with some petition. It
must be translated in French. It says here Bejjani in both languages is this Arabic and
English? Time to enforce some petition, especially since Syria is taking the Security
Council presidency for one month. Well, I mean in Quebec we help Canadians caught in
the States in infraction of the Driving Code and here these people are accused unduly of
spying. I mean here in Canada Jews and Lebanese do not have to see each other as enemies.
and we have no reason to treat Israel or Lebanon as enemies of Canada. Time for
International Amnesty.
With this jailing of Mr. Balfour they are attacking directly our multicultural mentality
in Canada. A Canadian whatever is origin has to be faithful to Canadian policies national
and international World Multiculturalism is a State policy in Canada. Israel and Lebanon
are both biblical lands.This fellow is not Israeli.
What I am telling you is that there is quite a wide spectrum in possible discredit over
the jailing more than just illegal jailing or non warning to Canada. it is a direct
attack on our national policies of multiculturalism where whatever the political
conditions in the national entities such as Israel or Lebanon. we do not reproduce the
same differences at home in our cultural attitudes.
Canada has no side to these so-called conflict it has relations equally with both States
so why should one of its citizens do differently? I mean we never said to Lebanon that
Canada has no relations with Israel. We have no hidden policy culturally it's all upfront.
We take care of our cultural disagreements constitutionally and not with war. I think the
case has to be presented under the attack to the Canadian mentality and identity to Jean
Chrétien. It is a much stronger case because it definitely attacks all the constitutional
system put in application in Canada by the Trudeau team to further a good cultural
integration in Canada there is no way any government policy in Canada teaches its citizens
to make a difference culturally in between Lebanon and Israel. Everybody is equal under
the Charter or Rights so a Canadian reflects the Canadian identity in thought and in
actions, this way he cannot be reprehensible under Canadian Laws and policies.
Karole du Pont
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From: Elias
Bejjani phoenicia@hotmail.com
To: Ad Kalaf adkalaf@shaw.ca
26/7/03
Dear Mr. Kalaf
You are entitled to lose any thing but not your faith and hope for resurrection. You might
be right that We the Lebanese are responsible for the current status quo. But do keep
weeping and feeling guilty or try to do some thing and save our country? Believe me if
every one of us starts with himself and forgets about the others we cam make a great deal
of difference. We have to start from some where. so let us start with ourselves. Lebanon
despite all the miseries is not dead yet, nor the Lebanese people are that hopeless. I ask
you to maintain your faith in yourself first and then in your creator. Salvation is on the
way, or let us keep thinking this way so we do not lose hope. Thanks for your comments,
this means that your care and that counts.
Elias Bejjani
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From : Ad Kalaf adkalaf@shaw.ca
To : cadmous-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject : Re: [cadmous] Syria's Cain & Lebanon's Abel
Date : Sat, 26 Jul 2003
Hey,
Lebanon is more than 10,452 square kilometers, did you forget the clean air, the clear
water, and the blue sea. and lets not forget the nuclear and chemical dumps to go along
with the stripping of mountains. Man you are full of of it, Lebanon is full of it. We used
to say and that is before the civil war and all that: "KUSS OKHT ALBALAD ILMA BTEHMIL
AHLHA. that is Lebanon, and its not because of Syria. It is because of the Lebanese.
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From
:"Hussein Al Ashmar" hussein_alashmar@hotmail.com
To : Phoenicia-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject :Re: [Phoenicia] New article from Elias Bejjani
Date : Sun, 13 Jul
2003
Dear Phoenicia, To Mr. Elias Bejjani
I would like to pose a question or a simple thought: Please ponder at this: My aim is to
find the nature of those people of Lebanon that live the day-to-day life in this fallen
country. History shows that Lebanon did not enjoy peace of mind at any stage of this
modern age. Whatever brought us to this state; is of no importance because if we stop to
study these factors, in order to find a solution, we will surely become obsolete in our
study, tools and even the factors themselves become history and ourselves subject to new
ones! Thus we need to observe what we have on hand in Lebanon.
For this purpose I offer my observation:
I find the Lebanese at a stage similar to the moral and social degradation the former USSR
reached just before and after its collapse. I talk of degradation in ethics, value,
standards and overall concept of Freedom. And I cannot see how Utopian slogans and
textbook terminologies can accurately describe a Lebanon that is now or ever was. To speak
of truth one should first describe one's self truthfully. Unless whatever description I
read, of the Great Lebanon, is intended to foretell the future. For in truth my friends,
Lebanon was not truly great in any sense. And we need to note the complex that most
Lebanese portray either inside or outside the country. They simply think that they are
superior over every other nationality. In short, it is not true and it annoys me how they
look down on fellow X-pats in Kuwait, who in the long run out perform them; especially
Indians and Syrians! (Remember all the pathetic jokes we Lebanese tell about Syrians).
Also I would like to comment that in Turkey they make jokes of us even worse than we make
of the Syrians!
In the end my observation of Lebanese in and out of the country leaves me not so proud of
my fellow nationals, except those that took-up-arms against foreign aggression both
politically and militarily. I now see the Lebanese as 50% thieves and successful
opportunists and the other 50% trying hard to be the same. Note that I will not give up
the values I was raised upon nor will I give up Lebanon for I have purpose. And till those
Lebanese that think they have a purpose come together and develop common goals and
objectives, then we can place a working plan that provide results. Moreover, there are
people who teach History, others who read it and try hard to preserve & protect it,
and some that live it but do consider those people that make it.
With regards Hussein Al Ashmar
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From:"anwar
wazen" aewazen@msn.com
To: rammelb@parliament.uk
Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2003
The Rt Hon Bill Rammel In your intervention at the house of commons ,you praised the
dismal achievements of the Syrian regime in the area of human rights and you applauded the
steps that Syria has taken so far in its cooperation against international terrorism . You
added insult to injury by alleging that Syria does not occupy Lebanon. I will not
elaborate on the brutal , dictatorial and corrupt Regime which has ruled Syria for the
last four decades . I am sure that as a diplomat and a politician you must have enough
background information on the subject. May I ask you dear honorable MP what was the deal
with Wafic Said ?? perhaps we will be reading about it sooner rather than later in the
British tabloids the same way we read about a number of British MPs who had a weakness for
Middle Eastern sweets.
Cheers
Anwar Wazen Belgium
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From : Ruthhana@aol.com
To :phoenicia@hotmail.com
Subject : Re: [cadmous] Lebanon Abandoned: Broken Promises Three Years Later
Date : Sun, 1 Jun 2003
Thank you for letting me share my concerns on the above issue with others. These broken
promises definitely needs to be addressed and corrected in order to help more people to
understand what the Lebanese Christians have been going through. In my personal opinion
Israel made a mistake when they withdrew their forces to appease the demands of the UN,
EU, Russia, Syria and America. I hope they learn from that mistake and don't repeat it
again in Israel proper. As a result of that withdrawal many more lives were put in great
danger Israeli as well as Lebanese. However, I know most Israelis did not want to abandon
the Christian Arabs and they appreciated their friendship during those border guarding
years since they both shared a mutual concern for each others safety and human rights, but
unfortunately, Israel as always, has been pressured by so many misguided other nations as
well as some of their own ultra liberal leaders who have a tendency to capitulate to
terrorists more than stand up to them and this is one of Israel's biggest problems. Let's
hope not only Israel but all nations of true goodwill and a desire for a more moral,
tolerant and democratic society and government will not continue to give in to the brute
forces and intimidation of terrorists to determine their fate.
From my mouth to G-d's ears. Have a blessed day and keep up your courage to stand up for
your rights for your own self-determination, political as well as religious in order to
achieve your freedom to be a people and a Lebanese country that is not forced to be under
Hizbollah terrorist occupation; but instead, a democratic free Lebanon and free of
dictators and terrorist threats? My heart goes out to you because the world is not
listening to your cries and your pain and your longing to be a people and nation. I know
you need to feel accepted by the world and for the UN to see that your cries for freedom
is no different from the cries of Israel to be free of terrorism and allowed to have its
own culture and religion rights and country without prejudice. Hang in there.
It's a great world if we don't weaken. We must never allow terrorist to dictate to us
instead we must expose the "evil axis" terrorist networks and their leaders for
what they really are and proceed to change that equation and strive to make it a better
world for all people of sincere goodwill. Unfortunately, freedom is not free. It has to be
earned and fought for and constantly protected.
Sincerely, Barbara Ann Bloom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ruthhana@aol.com
To : cadmous-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject : Re: [cadmous] Lebanon Abandoned: Broken Promises Three Years Later
Date : Fri, 30 May 2003
Where is President
Bush, PM Sharon the UN, EU and Russians when it comes for standing up for the Christian
Lebanese people's rights of self-determination and protection from terrorists and Syrian
dictatorship and terror occupation? It appears they are more concern with appeasing the
Arafat's and Abu Mazen's of the world then they are looking out for the innocent victims
of these terrorist leaders leadership. The world cries out for true leadership based on
truth and justice. Nothing is politically correct if it is not morally right first. This
was a great injustice to the Lebanese people by Israel, Syria and the United States. It's
time they be reminded of how they have forgotten a brave people who strive to stand up to
the axis of evil but were abandoned. My heart goes out to these people and I hope that
some leader of conscience in the Middle East will take up your cause. Joseph Farah is a
good person and leader who can help you but we need more people to make this issue more
visible in the media.
Sincerely, Barbara Ann Bloom
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joseph Hitti,
PhD joehitti@attbi.com
New England Americans for Lebanon
118 Ten Hills Road -Somerville, MA 02145
Tel/fax: 617-776-7499/ E-mail: neal-ma@attbi.com
To: "Robert Karcher" bobkarcher31@earthlink.net
Dear
Robert
1. Yes the meeting was stacked with State Department pro-Syrian Arabists and
Lebanon-haters who prefer to see Syria obliterate and absorb Lebanon. They were the
engineers of the Syrian takeover of Lebanon, and have gambled their entire careers on this
failed policy, and they will not change their minds because they lack the spine to do so.
They continue to run after the mirage that Syria will suddenly turn into a decent country,
which is an absolute fallacy. These are the likes of Ed Walker, Richard Murphy, David
Satterfield, and Edward Djeredjian. These people continue to tell Powell that he should
negotiate with the Syrians, even as we have been negotiating with the Syrians for the past
30 years to no avail, and giving them time to kill - via Hezbollah and the PLO - enough
Americans to be in second place after Al-Qaeda on September 11, and enough opportunity to
scuttle the peace process until we are where we are today. All the while telling
successive US administrations and the world that Syria is a factor of stability in
Lebanon!!!!!!
Only this past Tuesday, I was lobbying Michael Capuano, my Massachusetts
representative in the House, at his Washington DC office to co-sponsor the Syria
Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act (HR 1828), only to have to listen
to the State Department dribble that we should give Powell the latitude that he needs to
maintain a negotiation going with the Syrians. The argument goes as follows: "The
Syrians won't deal with the US if HR1828 passes congress. Therefore let us not even
discuss it in committee so as not to alien