"We are doing everything possible to stop the violence. But Hamas is a creature of Israel which, at the time of Prime Minister [Yitzhak] Shamir [the late 1980s, when Hamas arose], gave them money and more than 700 institutions, among them schools, universities and mosques. Even [former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin ended up admitting it, when I charged him with it, in the presence of [Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak."
Puppet Masters
In interviews with leading Italian publications, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat went into some detail regarding the genesis and operation of Hamas. To Corriere della Sera on Dec. 11, he said:
Abu Nidal began his long and bloody career in the PLO, only to become a bitter rival of Yasser Arafat. It was a situation that the Israeli Mossad, in a manner similar to their CIA cousins, would seek to exploit.
As Middle East expert Patrick Seale writes:
Israeli penetration of Palestinian organizations was common, but it was clearly not the whole story. Most intelligence sources I consulted agreed that it was standard practice to use penetration agents not simply to neutralize or destroy the enemy but to try to manipulate him so that he did one's bidding without always being aware of doing
Whatever jobs [Abu Nidal] might have done for Arab sponsors, and they had been numerous and nasty, he had done many other jobs from which Israel alone appeared to benefit."(1312)
Confirming Seale's theory are top Middle East terrorism experts, including intelligence officers in Arab countries, and even within Abu Nidal's own organization.
As Middle East expert Patrick Seale writes:
Israeli penetration of Palestinian organizations was common, but it was clearly not the whole story. Most intelligence sources I consulted agreed that it was standard practice to use penetration agents not simply to neutralize or destroy the enemy but to try to manipulate him so that he did one's bidding without always being aware of doing
Whatever jobs [Abu Nidal] might have done for Arab sponsors, and they had been numerous and nasty, he had done many other jobs from which Israel alone appeared to benefit."(1312)
Confirming Seale's theory are top Middle East terrorism experts, including intelligence officers in Arab countries, and even within Abu Nidal's own organization.
Russia will hold a counterterrorism military exercise with China and other members of the "Shanghai Six" in August, the Ground Forces commander said Friday.
"The main [of the six international counterterrorism exercises planned for the year] will be a joint exercise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in August," a regional grouping dominated by Russia and China, Army General Alexei Maslov said.
The exercise will be held in the Russian Urals and will involve 500 vehicles from Russia and China, about 2,000 Russian and 1,600 Chinese personnel, a company (around 100 men) from Tajikistan, and smaller units from other members, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the general said.
While China has yet to decide how its troops would be transited through Kazakhstan, he has already suggested an alternate route directly across the Sino-Russian border in the Far East.
"The main [of the six international counterterrorism exercises planned for the year] will be a joint exercise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in August," a regional grouping dominated by Russia and China, Army General Alexei Maslov said.
The exercise will be held in the Russian Urals and will involve 500 vehicles from Russia and China, about 2,000 Russian and 1,600 Chinese personnel, a company (around 100 men) from Tajikistan, and smaller units from other members, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the general said.
While China has yet to decide how its troops would be transited through Kazakhstan, he has already suggested an alternate route directly across the Sino-Russian border in the Far East.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denied that America has nixed Israeli talks with Syria, but still appeared to throw cold water on the idea when questioned about it Tuesday.
VIENNA - Iran Nuclear Resolution
Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh on Wednesday called the resolutions issued by the United Nations Security Council against Iran as 'illegal'.
Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh on Wednesday called the resolutions issued by the United Nations Security Council against Iran as 'illegal'.
Officials in Beverly Hills will vote on a smoking ban tonight for outdoor diners.
The proposal prohibits smoking at restaurant patios and poolside bars and eateries at hotels.
The proposal prohibits smoking at restaurant patios and poolside bars and eateries at hotels.
Beijing has issued a strong protest to the U.S. following the publication of an annual report on China's military power, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday.
Jiang Yu said the report overstates the power of China's Armed Forces and its military spending, "continues to spread the theory of the 'Chinese threat,' seriously violates the basic principles of international relations, and constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs."
"China is a peace-loving state. It follows a peaceful path of development and conducts a defensive military policy," she said.
The U.S. Defense Department report said China's military buildup is aimed against Taiwan and its possible incorporation into China by force. According to the Pentagon, China's military spending in 2007 will be $85-125 billion.
However, according to official Chinese statistics released in March, the country will spend about $45 billion on its defense needs in 2007.
Jiang Yu said the report overstates the power of China's Armed Forces and its military spending, "continues to spread the theory of the 'Chinese threat,' seriously violates the basic principles of international relations, and constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs."
"China is a peace-loving state. It follows a peaceful path of development and conducts a defensive military policy," she said.
The U.S. Defense Department report said China's military buildup is aimed against Taiwan and its possible incorporation into China by force. According to the Pentagon, China's military spending in 2007 will be $85-125 billion.
However, according to official Chinese statistics released in March, the country will spend about $45 billion on its defense needs in 2007.
China is modernizing its military in ways that give it options for launching surprise attacks, potentially far from its borders, the Pentagon said yesterday.
In an annual report to Congress, the Pentagon said the Chinese are acquiring better missiles, submarines, and aircraft and should more fully explain the purpose of a military buildup that has led some to view China as a threat.
In a measured tone, the report offered a detailed look at China's military modernization. And it outlined areas of perceived ambiguity in Chinese strategy, including its declared policy of never starting a nuclear war; it concluded that Beijing may be exploring "new options" provided by its force modernization.
In an annual report to Congress, the Pentagon said the Chinese are acquiring better missiles, submarines, and aircraft and should more fully explain the purpose of a military buildup that has led some to view China as a threat.
In a measured tone, the report offered a detailed look at China's military modernization. And it outlined areas of perceived ambiguity in Chinese strategy, including its declared policy of never starting a nuclear war; it concluded that Beijing may be exploring "new options" provided by its force modernization.
BAGHDAD - There's a graffiti war going on in Baghdad. In Sunni neighborhoods the champions are "Saddam Hussein is a martyr" and "Muqtada [al-Sadr] is the leader of the thieves". In Shi'ite neighborhoods the favorite used to be "From Fallujah to Kufa Iraq won't be beaten down"; now "Fallujah" has been erased from the script. In Sadr City the favorite is "Down with the Ba'athists".
The Adhamiyah wall - the symbol of the Baghdad gulag, rejected by more than 70% of Iraqis - is not yet finished, but the neighborhood is already isolated by a cluster of checkpoints, with all major streets blocked by blast walls and barbed wire. Walls are planned to expand to Dora, Ghazaliyah, Amiriya, al-Amel, al-Adl - a replication of gulag practices in Fallujah, Tal Afar, Haditha, Samarra.
The Adhamiyah wall - the symbol of the Baghdad gulag, rejected by more than 70% of Iraqis - is not yet finished, but the neighborhood is already isolated by a cluster of checkpoints, with all major streets blocked by blast walls and barbed wire. Walls are planned to expand to Dora, Ghazaliyah, Amiriya, al-Amel, al-Adl - a replication of gulag practices in Fallujah, Tal Afar, Haditha, Samarra.
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You are a political leader. Your country and people have been subjected to long years of occupation and brutality by a foreign power. Your people are suffering horribly, they are being summarily executed, tortured and generally tormented by the forces of occupation who enjoy complete control over your land. Despite this, you manage to hold things together - just. You manage to buy some weapons to protect your people and you, like your countrymen and women, still burn with the desire for freedom.
What's your strategy?
