“Our ‘Neocons’ are neither new nor conservative, but old as Babylon and, evil as Hell.” - Edward Abbey

Kevin Zeese got right to it in his opening remarks at a Forum, entitled, “Independent Solutions for the Middle East Crisis.” It was held in the town’s City Hall on Thursday evening, Aug. 17, 2006, in the Council Chambers. Zeese said: “The dividing line between peace candidates and pro war candidates is no longer opposition to the Iraq War. It is whether they oppose the premeditated destruction of Lebanon and a military attack on Iran.”

Zeese, the “Unity candidate” for the U.S. Senate in Maryland, was one of six speakers at the event. He has received the endorsements of Maryland’s growing Green, Populist and Libertarian Parties. Another speaker was Noura Erakat. She is the National Grassroots Organizer & Legal Advocate, “U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.” Erakat recently spoke at protest actions, in Washington, D.C., opposing Israeli evildoing in Occupied Gaza and Lebanon, on July 25, 2006, at the Israeli Embassy; (1) and on July 31, 2006, at the State Department. (2) The other four presenters were Dr. Bash Pharoan, President of the Baltimore Chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC); Jerry Raitzyk, Tikkun Maryland; Bob Kaufman, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maryland; and Steve Warner, a Green Party candidate for the U.S. Congress, in the 5th district of Maryland. The moderator was Eric Bond, who is the Publisher/Editor of the Takoma/Silver Spring Voice newspaper.

Zeese, relying in part on an article by investigative reporter, Sy Hersh in the New Yorker, charged that the Bush-Cheney Gang was in cahoots with the Israeli regime, led by the extreme Far Rightist, Ehud Olmert, with respect to the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) decimation of Lebanon. It was planned, he said, long before the July 12th capture of the two Israeli soldiers, which   was just “an excuse” for the invasion. (3) He cited the “Clean Break Document,” co-authored by the Neocon, Richard Perle, as further evidence of that design, along with reports that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Christian Science Monitor. (4) Zeese underscored that a military attack on Iran could lead to “a regional war or even WWIII.” He said the U.S.’ desire to dominate the Middle East is all about the vast “oil resources” in that area. Zeese said America is moving in the “wrong direction.”

Erakat told the audience, in her wide ranging comments, that the war in Lebanon has been “devastating on a humanitarian level…The cease-fire is not the end. The worst is not over for Lebanese civilians and survivors and for Palestinians, who are continuing to live under occupation; and for Iraqis who continue to live under occupation and resist. This is just the beginning, the beginning of a misery at our door…Two million Lebanese are unemployed. How will they feed their families? How will they rebuild their homes and their lives? The attack on Lebanon has destroyed almost all forms of infrastructures” in that country. Erakat also strongly denounced Zionist Israel as “an Apartheid state.”

Takoma Park is a breath of fresh air in a country dominated by a bellicose War Party. It’s a town of about 20,000, situated just north of the District of Columbia line, in Montgomery County, Maryland. Decades ago, it bravely declared itself a “nuclear free zone,” which sent some of the state’s reactionary politicos into a high orbit. It’s laid back, California-like, and enjoys putting on free  concerts and other fun events. I’ve been there a few times, over the years, to join in the jambe drumming circles, held in the town’s center. Takoma Park is an authentic slice of fast-fading Americana. It has the Spirit!

Closer to home, the Baltimore Sun published an unsigned editorial on August 15, 2006, entitled, “An Imperfect Cease-Fire,”  dealing with Israel’s unjust invasion of Lebanon, which took the lives of over 1,100 Lebanese and left a million of its people, one third of the nation, homeless; along with tens of billions in damages. It must have been ghostwritten by Sen. Joe Lieberman, a flaming Likudnut. It stated, contrary to all the well-know facts: “Israel was dragged into this war by Hezbollah in early July.”

Offering such an absurd opinion is like arguing that Israel was “dragged into” attacking a clearly identified USS Liberty, on June 8, 1967, and killing 34 of its crew, because it couldn’t stand any state of the art intelligence vessel, flying the American flag, and sailing in international waters, 14 miles off the Sinai coast. The Israelis’ dubious excuse for that murderous assault was that it thought the USS Liberty was an out-of-service Egyptian horse carrier transport boat, El Quseir. (5) If anyone expects to read the truth about a habitually-deceiving Israel, vis-à-vis the Middle East, don’t look to the Baltimore Sun’s editorial page to find it. (6) By the way, talking about proportionality, if Israel can destroy Lebanon because two of its soldiers were captured, what should the U.S. have done to the Zionist state for slaughtering 34 of her bravest sons and injuring 174 more on the USS Liberty?

Getting back to the Forum. Candidate Kaufman gave an erudite history lesson on the Middle East from a Marxist perspective, which ended up with him, essentially, blaming the present mess on U.S. Imperialism and Zionism. Raitzyk argued for a “new bottom line” where we all can begin to see our common humanity and to seek a decent life for ourselves, our children and grandchildren. Candidate Warner said he has been deeply upset about the “foreign policy” of this country, particularly with regards to the Iraqi conflict and our one-sided support of Israel. Dr. Pharoan, who was born in Damascus, Syria, expressed his objections to the discrimination that Arabs have faced and are still facing in this country. He also pointed out that when the Israelis “pushed” the Palestinians out from their homeland over the years, they were also creating “instability in the surrounding countries.” Dr. Pharoan added that Israel was in violation of at least 29 UN Resolutions, “including UN Security Council Resolution 242.”

After the six speakers spoke, a question and answer session was opened up for audience participation. The lively event was cosponsored by the Maryland Independent Voters Forum and the Takoma/Sliver Spring Voice.

Zeese concluded his remarks by saying that it is time to bring the troops home from Iraq and to do so “quickly.” He emphasized, “We can not bring stability to that country. The U.S. has made so many mistakes in Iraq. We can not win the hearts and minds of the Iraqis. Our being there is the cause of most of the problems. The more we stay, the more our fears will come true; the more likely there will be a civil war…a theocratic state and terrorism. If we don’t get out of Iraq in an organized way, we will get out in a dangerous way. It will be like Vietnam all over again.”

William Hughes
ALJAZEERA

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad Bini Khalifa Al Thani praised from Beirut, the Lebanese people and the resistance which “achieved the first Arab victory against Israel since many years.”

The Emir also delivered and invitation from Syrian president Bashar Assad to Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, to visit Damascus at any time. Sheikh Hamad was speaking during a joint press conference with President Emile Lahoud at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

The Emir’s visit is the first by a head of state to Lebanon since the end of Israel war on Lebanon. Qatar has pledged to rebuild the southern town of Bint Jbeil that was devastated by Israeli bombing. Shiekh Hamad, President Lahoud, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Saniora as well as senior officials were received by Hezbollah officials in Beirut’s southern suburb and toured the area.

ALMANAR

The head of parliamentary Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Monday that the parliament will take a decision on restrictions for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in case of raising economic sanctions or extra pressure on Iran.

He told reporters that if the Europeans take hasty actions against Iran and wanted to ignore the rights of Iranians in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran will no longer grant inspections to the IAEA.

He said the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) will give answer to the package of incentives of the group 5+1 tomorrow adding that if the United Nations imposes economic sanctions on Iran, the SNSC will make a decision on removal of cameras of IAEA which are currently installed over all Iranian nuclear sites.

Asked about the Canadian accusation about Iranian support for Lebanese resistance movement in the course of Israel-Lebanon war, Boroujerdi said that usually the countries which suffer defeat in the battle, talk in this way.

Boroujerdi added that the Zionist regime has one of the strongest military power which suffered a defeat despite multi-lateral assistance of the United States and the West in its war against Lebanon.

IRNA

Israeli forces have arrested another senior member of the Hamas-led Palestinian government in the West Bank.

Troops surrounded the home of Mahmoud al-Rahami - secretary-general of the Palestinian Legislative Council – and detained him in broad daylight, his sister Yageen said.

An army spokeswoman confirmed that Israeli soldiers and officers from the Shin Bet internal security service had seized the member of parliament in Ram Allah.

Almost all of Hamas’s leaders in the West Bank are now in Israeli custody.

The crackdown on the group’s officials began after the capture of an Israeli soldier by gunmen in the Gaza Strip on June 25. The military wing of Hamas is one of three groups believed to be behind the operation.

Al-Ramahi, a trained doctor, is the fourth highest ranking member of the parliament and is responsible for many administrative and procedural matters.

AGENCIES

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyed Ali Khamenei here Thursday felicitated the Lebanese Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Seyed Hassan Nasrallah on the victory of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon.

The Supreme Leader said the victory of Lebanon’s Islamic resistance movement was a victory for Islam, an honor to Arab nations and a shattering of the myth of the Zionist army’s invincibility.

Referring to the enemy’s attempts to create intolerance and doubt among the people and sow discord among Lebanese officials, Ayatollah Khamenei assured the faithful Lebanese nation that they “will be successful in thwarting these plots and will achieve a second victory.”

IRNA

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Israel and its supporters must compensate for all the damage they have inflicted on the people of Lebanon.

On the second day of his visit to the Ardebil province, Ahmadinejad told residents of Kousar city on Wednesday afternoon, “the Zionist regime and the US and the UK are the ones who damaged Lebanon, so they must compensate for the whole damage.”
He added the United Nations and its secretary general are duty bound to take the compensation from those countries and pay it to Lebanon.

Referring to the criminal actions of the Zionist regime in killing Lebanese innocent women and children and the US support for these crimes, Ahmadinejad said the UN Security Council and the UN secretary general, himself, must take these war criminals to the international court for punishment.

Unlimited support of the US and the UK for the usurper Zionist regime made it clear for the whole world who are the main agents of creating insecurity and crisis in the world, Iran’s president concluded.

IRNA

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, said his guerrillas had achieved a “strategic, historic victory” against Israel.

“We came out victorious in a war in which big Arab armies were defeated [before],” he said in a pre-recorded address on Al-Manar television on Monday.

Nasrallah also said that now was not the time to debate the disarmament of Hezbollah fighters, arguing that the issue should be done in secret sessions of the government to avoid serving Israeli interests.

“This is immoral, incorrect and inappropriate,” he said. “It is wrong timing on the psychological and moral level particularly before the ceasefire.

“Who will defend Lebanon in case of a new Israeli offensive? The Lebanese army and international troops are incapable of protecting Lebanon.”

Moments after his speech ended, celebratory gunfire erupted across Beirut.

Earlier, posters of Nasrallah were distributed in Beirut’s Shia-dominant southern suburbs with the caption: “The divine victory.”

AGENCIES

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora agreed on the time, Annan said. But he urged both sides to stop fighting immediately.

“Preferably, the fighting should stop now to respect the spirit and intent of the council decision, the object of which was to save civilian lives, to spare the pain and suffering that the civilians on both sides are living through,” Annan said.

Hours earlier, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that his militia would honor the call for a cease-fire once a deal on the timing was reached.

The Lebanese government, which includes two members of Hezbollah, unanimously approved Security Council Resolution 1701 on Saturday, Siniora said.

AGENCIES/AFP

Israel has ordered an expansion of its ground offensive in Lebanon aiming to strike harder at Hezbollah and curb its cross-border rocket attacks.

The decision was announced on Wednesday by the office of Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, after the cabinet voted to send soldiers deeper into Lebanon, possibly as far as the Litani river, up to 20km north of the border.

The statement said: “The security cabinet approved the recommendations of the defence establishment for the continuation of operations in Lebanon.”

Amir Peretz, the defence minister, had recommended a deeper thrust into Lebanon despite what media reports said were Olmert’s fears of heavy Israeli casualties in such a large-scale operation. Nine ministers approved the decision. Three abstained.

Israel already has about 10,000 troops in southern Lebanon, and it was not immediately clear how many more would be deployed in the widened military campaign. Olmert’s office said further details would be released in a separate statement.

Reshuffle

Also on Wednesday, Aljazeera reported that 11 Israeli soldiers were killed by Hezbollah fighters.

The Israeli army declined to comment on reports that said the soldiers were killed near the Israel-Lebanon border.

But it had said earlier on Wednesday that 15 soldiers were wounded in overnight clashes, without specifying whether these were on Tuesday or Wednesday.

So far over 70 Israeli soldiers have been killed.

Also on Tuesday, in a surprise step, the army’s chief-of-staff appointed major-general Moshe Kaplinsky “to co-ordinate operations in Lebanon”.

The move more or less sidelines major-general Udi Adam, who has been the top commander of the Lebanon front and could come as a blow to the morale of Israeli forces.

Israeli media linked the appointment of Kaplinsky to mounting public criticism of the army’s handling of the battle against Hezbollah.

The naming of a fellow general to oversee the campaign was described in a headline in Israel’s Maariv daily as “an effective dismissal”.

AGENCIES

Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday warned Muslim states against any discord and called on them to get further united, saying Muslim states’ division, especially certain Arab states’ silence, is a grave mistake and detrimental.

“Under present circumstances two bitter events are gripping Muslim nations: Ongoing catastrophe in Lebanon and Palestine and massacre of innocent people and children by the Zionist regime; and division of Muslim states, especially certain Arab states that are looking on in silence. Such a behavior is totally wrong and detrimental,” said Ayatollah Khamenei in an address to a group of people on the birthday anniversary of the first Imam of Shiites, Hazrat Ali (AS).

The Supreme Leader said defending Lebanese Hizbollah is today a duty for entire Muslim world.

“Some Muslim governments, that are keeping silence as respect for the US and the arrogant powers, should know that the US will never consider them,” said the Ayatollah.

The Iranian Supreme Leader harshly criticized the UN for its incompetence as well as the US, Britain and certain other powers for their encouraging words and behaviors in the face of the usurper Zionist regime’s crimes.

Also warning against the US and British plots to eradicate Islam in the region, Ayatollah Khamenei said the reason is that Islam is standing their interests.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said that pitting Shiites and Sunnis against each other is among usual conspiracies of enemies to cripple Muslims.

“Division is a lethal poison for the Muslim world and any action, which would divide Muslims and serve enemies, is a treason against the world of Islam,” added Ayatollah Khamenei.

Hailing resistance of Hizbollah against the Zionist regime of Israel, the Supreme Leader said that the Zionist army, known to be invincible and once defeated three Arab armies in six days, has not yet been able to overcome Hizbollah and suffers consecutive defeats despite lapse of about one month since the fighting and despite benefiting from the US support.

Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei hailed Hazrat Ali (AS) as model of justice, who is respected and endeared by all the world freedom lovers.

IRNA