Annan Mum on Hizballah’s Wounding of UN Workers

Courtesy of CNS NEWS.Com
Article was written by Jeff McKay
CNSNews.com Correspondent
August 07, 2006

CNSNews.com – A Hizballah-based mortar attack, which fell short of its target in Israel on Sunday and injured three Chinese members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has received scant media attention and no reaction from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Late last month, after four U.N. peacekeepers were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, Annan said he was “shocked and deeply distressed” at the “apparently deliberate targeting” of the outpost.

While information about Sunday’s incident was not immediately available from the United Nations in New York, news accounts in China reported that “A Hizballah rocket hit the Chinese contingent headquarters at 11:55 am local time (0855 GMT), causing three peacekeepers [to be] lightly injured,” according to a text report from China’s Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese account added that the three UNIFIL soldiers were rushed to a hospital inside the headquarters and “their condition was stable.”

Chinese authorities were quick to condemn the attack, shortly after they had called on the governments of Israel and Lebanon to ensure the safety of U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon.

“China is seriously concerned and strongly displeased with the incident,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang stated in a report by Xinhua. However, the United Nations has yet to condemn Hizballah’s firing on the U.N. compound.

According to the U.N., there have been four incidents of the Israeli military firing close to UNIFIL Headquarters in the town of Naqoura and positions in the general area of Bayt Yahun and Hula in southern Lebanon since Hizballah’s kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers sparked hostilities in July.

On Sunday, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora condemned the Israeli bombing in the town of Hula where he reported that 40 civilians had been killed in “a deliberate massacre.” Siniora called the victims “martyrs.”

Less than 24 hours later, Siniora revised the death toll to a single person. “The massacre in Hula, it turned out that there was one person killed,” Siniora told reporters Monday. “They thought that the whole building smashed on the heads of about 40 people …. Thank God they have been saved.”

There have been documented incidents where members of UNIFIL have come dangerously close to Israeli military fire from the air and on the ground. While those incidents have made headlines, especially the strike that hit the U.N. observer post near the Lebanon-Israel border killing four UNIFIL staffers, there is only rare mention about the proximity of Hizballah positions to the U.N. bases.

Israel has maintained that it fires on positions where Hizballah rockets and missiles have originated. Israel has stated that Hizballah in many cases has fired these weapons from civilian populated areas and in the cases documented by UNIFIL, from positions close to U.N. workers.

According to a UNIFIL report dated July 31, Hizballah rockets and small arms fire originated from a location near a UNIFIL headquarters. Israel returned fire to that and other Hizballah rocket launching positions.

“One (Israeli) aerial bomb impacted in the vicinity of a U.N. position in the area of Alma Ash Shab yesterday morning, causing damage to the perimeter wall. It was reported that Hizballah fired rockets from the vicinity of this UNIFIL position prior to the aerial bombardment. Hizballah also fired small arms fire from the vicinity of the same position,” the UNIFIL report stated.

On Aug. 1, UNIFIL documents reported that “Hizballah fired mortar rounds from the vicinity of three UNIFIL positions in the area of Tibnin, Hariss, and At Tiri.”

An Aug. 3, a UNIFIL report obtained by Cybercast News Service showed that other Hizballah rocket fire had hit United Nations positions.

“One rocket from the Hizballah side impacted directly on a UNIFIL position in the general area of Hula yesterday evening, causing extensive material damage, but no casualties. Half an hour later, another rocket from the Hizballah side impacted directly on the same UNIFIL position, causing additional material damage, but no casualties. Hizballah also fired rockets from the vicinity of four UN positions in the areas of Alma Ash Shab, Marwahin, Tibnin, and At Tiri,” the Aug. 3 UNIFIL report stated.

On Aug. 4, UNIFIL documents reported that “Hizballah fired rockets from the vicinity of two U.N. positions in the general area of Alma Ash Shab and At Tiri.”

On Aug. 5, UNIFIL documents reported that “there was one incident of Hizballah firing rockets from the vicinity of the U.N. position in the general area of Tibnin.”

There were also three incidents of Hizballah guerillas firing rockets from the vicinity of UNIFIL positions in the general area of Tibnin, Tiri and Bayt Yahun, according to a UNIFIL report dated Aug. 6.

In a separate report filed by UNIFIL dated Aug. 7, “Two missiles from an unknown source impacted in the vicinity of a UNIFIL logistic convoy in El Addaisseh.

“This morning, Hizballah fired rockets from the vicinity of the U.N. position in Tibnin, and the IAF (Israeli Air Force) carried out air strikes on the areas from which the fire originated,” the report stated. “There were no injuries or damage to UNIFIL property,” as a result of Israeli air strikes. UNIFIL, the report declared, “strongly protested all these incidents to the Lebanese and Israeli authorities respectively.”

UNIFIL has also noted that in at least one case, its relief operations have come under “small arms” fire on the ground in southern Lebanon near the town of Markaba, causing damage to a UNIFIL armored personnel carrier. UNIFIL did not specify who attacked the convoy.

However, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) blamed Israel for attacking a vehicle traveling ahead of its convoy during an IAF air strike north of Tyre.

According to the OCHA report on the incident, the two individuals occupying the vehicle traveling ahead of the relief convoy were killed, however, “there were no injuries to the four UN staff accompanying the convoy or damage to convoy vehicles.”

In a separate incident according to UNIFIL, a July 25 report specifically stated that Hizballah had attacked a U.N. convoy, damaging vehicles and forcing that aid convoy to return to its base.

“This morning, Hizballah opened small arms fire at a UNIFIL convoy consisting of two armored personnel carriers (APC) on the road between Kunin and Bint Jubayl. There was some damage to the APCs, but no casualties, and the convoy was obliged to return to Kunin,” the UNIFIL report stated.

According to the United Nations, since the outbreak of hostilities, four U.N. military observers assigned to UNIFIL, one UNIFIL international staff member and his wife were killed. Eleven others have been wounded.

Venezuelan President Chavez on Al-Jazeera

Special Dispatch – U.S. & The Middle East
August 8, 2006
No. 1235

Venezuelan President Chavez on Al-Jazeera: Israel Uses Methods of Hitler, the U.S. Uses Methods of Dracula; I’m a Nasserist who has Crossed Deserts, Ridden Camels, and Sung Along With the Bedouin; Al-Jazeera Plays a Role in Liberating the World

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views of MEMRI and its contributors are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD123506.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera TV that aired on August 4, 2006, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed his solidarity with the entire Arab people on the occasion of his birthday, stating that his heart “beat along with millions of Arab hearts.” He goes on to talk about how Israel is “doing what Hitler did to the Jews,” how the U.S. is “like Count Dracula – always in search of blood and petrol,” how Nasser was “one of the greatest people in Arab history,” and how Al-Jazeera plays “a role in liberating the world.”

The following are excerpts from the interview.

TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1220.

“I Have Crossed Deserts, I Have Ridden Camels, and I Have Sung Along With the Bedouin”

Hugo Chavez: “I want to congratulate the people of Qatar, and its leader, my friend and brother, Prince Hamad. From this pulpit, I send my brotherly congratulations to the entire Arab people. I’m celebrating my birthday in the heart of the Arab homeland, on Arab land. What a happy coincidence! My heart beats along with millions of Arab hearts. I could have been an Arab. I have crossed deserts, I have ridden camels, and I have sung along with the Bedouin. I have learned in those years to love and respect the Arab people.”

[…]

“We feel that the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and against Lebanon is directed against us too. This aggression is unjustified. It is perpetrated in the fascist manner of Hitler. Israel is justified in criticizing Hitler and his aggression – and we criticize this as well – but now they are doing what Hitler did to the Jews. They are killing innocent children and whole families. They dismantled the legitimate government of Palestine, and thwarted tremendous efforts to achieve peace and establish a Palestinian state.

“Now they are attacking Lebanon, and have destroyed more than half of it, according to the latest information. They have assassinated hundreds of innocent people, and to what end? There is no justification for this. I am telling you with all honesty that the hand of the Americans is spurring them on. This hand is behind the Israeli aggression. It is imperialistic aggression. The real threat to the world is the imperialistic threat posed by the U.S., and Israel is one of its imperialistic instruments in this part of the world.”

[…]

“On this day, as I am celebrating my birthday, I demand, on behalf of the people of Venezuela, that Israel withdraws from the land of Palestine and from Lebanon. There must be an immediate cease-fire. We must give room for diplomacy, and respect law and human rights. We cannot go back to living in caves. This will be terrible for the future of humanity.”

[…]

“Once again, the mask has fallen from the Satanic imperialistic face of the U.S. They used their veto to prevent the Security Council from activating the mechanism of the U.N. in order to put an end to this aggression.”

[…]

The U.S. is “Like Count Dracula – Always in Search of Petrol and Blood”

Interviewer: “Mr. President, could this lead us to say, as has been claimed, that this is an American war by proxy, rather than an Israeli war against Lebanon and Palestine?”

Hugo Chavez: “Yes, I have no doubt about this.”

[…]

“In 50 years, the U.S. consumed the energy consumed by humanity in 150 years. Now, they are working to take control of the petroleum of the peoples, in order to consume it, just like Dracula. They are like Count Dracula – always in search of petrol and blood. Why? Because they want to preserve something transient – the American imperialistic way of life.”

[…]

“The American Empire is the No. 1 Enemy in the Way of the Kingdom of Peace and Justice”

“In all honesty, I say that it is the U.S. that should formulate a plan for post-imperialism. American society cannot and should not come to an end, but the imperialism of the fascist elite will. We must defeat imperialism in this century, so that this elite will not annihilate the world. Either we succeed in 1,000 different ways to end imperialism, or else imperialism will use 1,000 different ways to annihilate the world. This would constitute the end of mankind, the end of our hopes. Jesus Christ called on us to live in the Kingdom of Peace, but there can be no peace without freedom. I’m a Christian, and I believe that Jesus came to announce to us the coming of the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of God is peace, equality, and justice. The American empire is the number one enemy in the way of the Kingdom of Peace and Justice.”

[…]

“How can this be achieved? The answer has to do with the strategy that will allow us to reach our goal – reaching what Jesus called the Kingdom of Heaven. How? This can be done in a multi-polar world. The answer is that we must create a multi-polar world. This is the spirit of the foreign policy of Venezuela, my dear friend and brother, Muhammad.”

[…]

“Nasser was One of the Greatest People of Arab History”

“Someone talked to me about his pessimism regarding the future of Arab nationalism. I told him I was optimistic, because the ideas of Nasser are still alive. Nasser was one of the greatest people of Arab history, to say the least; I am a Nasserist, ever since I was a young soldier.”

[…]

“My Heart is With Al-Jazeera and its Media People… You Have a Role in Liberating the World”

“Whenever I meet an Al-Jazeera reporter, I feel like giving him an interview or a statement. Allow me to say to the Al-Jazeera staff that I am amazed by them. As someone who fights for a just world, it is an honor for me to be here, and to sit across from you in these studios, and among these colleagues and brothers in Al-Jazeera. I say to the media people I have met here, and with some of whom I shook hands, that you are an example and a model of honor, bravery, and the fight for justice. You are committed to the code of journalistic work, and to the breaking of the monopoly over the media, and the distortion of the truth, despite all the pressure.”

[…]

“My heart is with Al-Jazeera and with its media people, its employees, and its workers. You should continue to serve as an example, and present the truth to the world, because the truth is that you have a role in liberating the world.”

*********************
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Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Ahmadinejad … Hugo Chavez … Venezuela … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Anti US … South America … Latin States… Martyrdom fighters … Fighters of Muhammad … Anti-Semitic

Two nabbed as Phoenix ‘Serial Shooter,’ another Predator still loose

According to after action reporting the alleged two serial killers, known as “the Serial Shooter,”  who stalked metro-Phoenix over the past year operated together.  The two gunmen took turns shooting at people and animals as they drove around the city. According to court documents, one of the gunmen shot at lone pedestrians from the window of a silver Toyota Camry in what he called “random recreational violence.”  For details on the serial shooter suspects, please read Associated Press article written by CHRIS KAHN, ‘Phoenix suspects took turns, police say‘

With those two misfits in custody, Phoenix police are continuing to look for another predatory serial killer nicknamed, “the Baseline Killer,” so-called because some of the killings took place near Baseline Road.  The Baseline Killer is thought to be responsible for eight slayings and 11 sexual assaults since August 2005.  In all but one case, his victims were women.  The Baseline Killer often strikes up a conversation with the victim before he executes the crime. 

The Baseline Killer has grown more violent as his killing spree has continued.  Last week police added the unsolved February murders of two women in a lunch truck in the Southwest Valley to the list of the Baseline Killer’s probable crimes. 

The Baseline Killer is brazen. He apparently approaches his victims on foot before attacking. He has allowed himself to be seen by some who were fortunate enough to escape with their lives. Their descriptions, however, are sketchy, and the killer probably wears disguises. Source: AZ Central, Cold Cruel Attackers.

7/31/06 – An updated description of the Baseline Killer has been released:

Dark skinned male, could be of varying ethnicity, 25-30 years old, 5’10”, 170 pounds, thin to medium build, varying hair styles, wears different types of hats, including ball caps (possibly turned backwards) or a beanie type cap, long sleeve shirt.  

Phoenix and Mesa police are using a composite drawing but they believe the killer is wearing a disguise.  Anyone with information regarding the Baseline Killer, please contact Silent Witness at (480) WITNESS or 1-800-343-TIPS.

Technorati Tags: Phoenix … Sniper … Armed … Violent Crime … Arizona … Domestic Terrorism … Scottsdale … Tolleson … Serial Killers … Phoenix Crime spree

Hebollah Terrorists in America

Courtesy of CBNNews.com – (CBN News) – DISCLAIMER: The different points of views in this article by Dale Hurd CBN News, Hebollah Terrorists in America , are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

The leader of Hezbollah has declared America the enemy. Many Arabs and Muslims in America openly support Hezbollah.

Is this a potential threat to our safety?

Several thousand people marched through the Detroit suburb of Dearborn a few weeks ago, chanting “Hezbollah” and holding up photos of Hezbollah leader Sheik Nasrallah and posters comparing President Bush to Hitler.

Similar protests took place in San Francisco, New York, and other cities.

The U.S. government calls Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but don’t tell that to these Americans.

Osama Siblani publishes the Arab-American News, the largest Arab-American newspaper in the United States. He said, “No, They are not terrorists. Absolutely not. No. They are freedom fighters.”

(Nadine Naber, a Jordanian Christian and professor of Arab American studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor said, “Hizbullah was born as a result of resistance to illegal Israeli occupation. “We don’t have to look far to know that ethnic cleansing of Arabs is not out of the question. All we have to do is look to Palestine and Iraq.” Source Arab-American News )

Adding that the U.S. tries to use religious differences to weaken Middle Eastern nations, Naber called for not only an end to U.S. funding of Israel’s military, but also for fair reporting.

He told the Chicago Tribune that if the FBI wants to go after Hezbollah supporters in Dearborn, “…they better bring a fleet of buses. I, for one, would be willing to go to jail.”

Hezbollah is an Iranian creation, and although it has a measure of independence, it’s considered Iran’s proxy army in southern Lebanon. As many as 15,000 of Dearborn’s Arabs come from the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon.

In fact, the current mayor in Bint Jbeil, Haj Ali Bazzi, is from Dearborn. He has an American passport and a Michigan driver’s license.

The dominant Islamic leader in Dearborn is Mohammed Ali Elahi, an Iranian-American whose Web site displays photos of Elahi with Hezbollah spiritual leader Sheikh Fadlallah and former Iranian President Rafsanjani, who once suggested nuking Israel.

Debbie Schlussel, a Detroit columnist and attorney, was the first to call attention to Elahi’s Web site and to his ties to Iranian government officials.

(You may view Debbie’s account of the rally in Dearborn here: Honoring Hezbollah )

“I went to his Web site, and I found even more outrageous pictures of him with Ayatollah Khomeini–who we know held many Americans hostage for 444 days,” Schlussel said. “We have pictures of him delivering prayers to the Iranian parliament. We have pictures of him with the former President of Iran, Mr. Khatami.”

Yet Elahi is respected by many in the Detroit area, and even does a regular column for the Detroit News.

He spoke with CBN News terrorism expert Erick Stackelbeck.

“We need to have another interview,” said Elahi, “of talking about Hezbollah – whether that is a terrorist organization or not. I know that, legally, in the U.S. now, Hezbollah is on that list. And whether we agree with the law or disagree, we have to follow the law of the land.”

Before 9/11, Hezbollah killed more Americans than any other terrorist group: 300 murdered in six separate attacks, including 241 Marines in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. Now, with America’s building confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program, the New York Post reports that Hezbollah is prepared to activate terrorist sleeper cells in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Detroit.

No less than nine Federal prosecutors are investigating Hezbollah ties in the Detroit area alone. And the FBI has issued a nationwide alert for local and state police to be vigilant in investigating Hezbollah sympathizers.

Barbara Newman, a former investigative producer for ABC news, is co-author of Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists on American Soil.

Newman said, “Hezbollah makes al-Qaeda look like Sunday-schoolers. They’re the best light infantry in the world, and they’re dangerous, and they’re all over America.”
“It’s an army that was started in 1982 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,” Newman explained. “And they wanted to impose the same type of regime on Lebanon as they have in Iran. They’re a mortal enemy of the West and of democracy.”

Hezbollah fighters have also already fought the United States in Iraq, and Newman says it’s building improvised explosive devices that kill GIs.

“The FBI just told me that Hezbollah is making the most advanced ones that are coming into play. Plus, they’re training. They have offices there. It’s not widely known,” she said.

Arab and Muslim Americans who support Hezbollah have expressed anger that their patriotism is being questioned. But critics wonder how it’s possible to support both Hezbollah and the United States.

Technorati Tags: Hizbollah … Middle East … Terrorism … Patriotism … Iran … Islam … Terrorist … Anti US … Anti Israel … Anti Semetic… Martyrdom fighters … Fighters of Muhammad … homeland security … Hezbollah …terrorism … terrorist … war on terror