NATO Chief: UN unlikely to stop Iran Voice of America, October 6, 2008
The Reuters news agency today quotes NATO secretary general as saying he is concerned the Security Council is incapable of further sanctions [on Iran, to deter its military nuclear advancement.] The news agency says Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told a meeting in Evian, France, that he has doubts the world can stop Iran from striving to get a bomb.
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Fatwa: Saudi women must cover one eye
Sheikh says women’s modesty laws not stringent enough, revelation of both eyes causes ‘corrupt behavior, conflicts with Islamic principles’
BBC News, October 3, 2008 Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan, an ultra-conservative cleric who is said to have wide influence among religious Saudis, said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye make-up to look seductive.
Monday, September 29, 2008
A [cease -fire] Shana Tova greeting from your friends in Gaza:
A Qassam rocket was fired Monday afternoon from the northern Gaza Strip towards Israel, but landed on the Palestinian side of the border. <ynet>
[The picture is from a report on the same incident on a 'peace' activist site.]
Hamas MP: A Palestinian Who Kills One Jew Will Be Rewarded As If He Killed 30 Million
Following is an excerpt from a press conference held by Hamas MP Fathi Hammad, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on September 7, 2008:
Fathi Hammad: "The approaching victory, about which we are talking, is not limited to Palestine. You are creating the ethos of victory for all Arabs and Muslims, and Allah willing, even on the global level.
Why? Because Allah has chosen you to fight the people He hates most – the Jews.
Allah said: "You shall find the worst enemies of the believers to be the Jews and the polytheists." [*Quran, Chapter 5, verse 82]
In other words, the Jews, who number 15 million all over the world, are equivalent to 4.5 billion infidels in their corruption and their struggle against the religion of Islam. Therefore, our heroic prisoners who were arrested for killing Jews should know that by the grace of Allah, killing a single Jew is the same as killing 30 million Jews. Therefore, the reward of our martyrs is great, and your reward is also great."
*Look up Chapter 5, Verse 82 in the Qu'ran
www.quranbrowser.org
Friday, September 26, 2008
Terrorism planned and implemented by Radical Islam
See articles below about Radical Islamic terrorism in Yemen and calls for jihad in North Africa.
There was a "terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy [in Yemen] last Wednesday," September 17, reports the Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram.
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Al-Qaeda calls for holy war in North Africa
afrol News, 23 September
Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing chief has urged all Muslims to join jihad (holy war) and slammed governments in the region where group has claimed frequent attacks, United States monitoring service said.
The group has also issued new threats against Western interests, including France, Spain and US States.
Threat comes close on heels of last week's deadly suicide-bomb attack on heavily fortified US embassy in Yemeni capital Sana'a, claimed by terrorist outfit Islamic Jihad in Yemen.
"Unite around holy war that is the only alternative power to apostate regimes that dominate over our lands," Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, leader of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), said in an audio speech posted on Sunday on Islamist militant websites, said SITE Intelligence Group.
Mr Abdul Wadud blasted regimes in Mauritania, Algeria and other North African countries, charging that Mauritania has become a nest of foreign intelligence at its forefront Mossad, and has become a station of crusader colonial ambition," he said, according to a SITE transcript.
"History will continue to mention that this is first Arab country, outside of Tawq (Arab nations surrounding Israel) that recognised state of Israel and exchanged ambassadors with it," he said.
Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb has repeatedly claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Algeria, including an increase of bombings in July and August, and also been blamed for an ambush on a Mauritanian patrol last week that killed 12 Mauritanians and found 11 soldiers and one civilian.
See articles below about Radical Islamic terrorism in Yemen and calls for jihad in North Africa.
There was a "terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy [in Yemen] last Wednesday," September 17, reports the Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram.
"The extremist religious discourse was behind the recent violent attacks in Yemen including the last one against the US Embassy, says Ahmed Al-Sufee, director of the Yemeni Institute for Development of Democracy, a local NGO. "We should think of removing the sources of terrorism which are related to our system of education, mosques, schools and curriculums," Al-Sufee told the Weekly.
---------------
Al-Qaeda calls for holy war in North Africa
afrol News, 23 September
Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing chief has urged all Muslims to join jihad (holy war) and slammed governments in the region where group has claimed frequent attacks, United States monitoring service said.
The group has also issued new threats against Western interests, including France, Spain and US States.
Threat comes close on heels of last week's deadly suicide-bomb attack on heavily fortified US embassy in Yemeni capital Sana'a, claimed by terrorist outfit Islamic Jihad in Yemen.
"Unite around holy war that is the only alternative power to apostate regimes that dominate over our lands," Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, leader of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), said in an audio speech posted on Sunday on Islamist militant websites, said SITE Intelligence Group.
Mr Abdul Wadud blasted regimes in Mauritania, Algeria and other North African countries, charging that Mauritania has become a nest of foreign intelligence at its forefront Mossad, and has become a station of crusader colonial ambition," he said, according to a SITE transcript.
"History will continue to mention that this is first Arab country, outside of Tawq (Arab nations surrounding Israel) that recognised state of Israel and exchanged ambassadors with it," he said.
Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb has repeatedly claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Algeria, including an increase of bombings in July and August, and also been blamed for an ambush on a Mauritanian patrol last week that killed 12 Mauritanians and found 11 soldiers and one civilian.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Statement on Meeting of United States Religious Leaders
with President Ahmadinejad of Iran
Thursday, September 25, 2008
John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
This evening, September 25, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will meet with religious leaders at a dinner in New York. The event is co-sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee, the American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker United Nations Office, the World Conference on Religions for Peace, and the World Council of Churches. While a member of Religions for Peace, the United Church of Christ is not active in its participation. We are, of course, a very active member communion of the World Council of Churches.
I was invited to the dinner but have declined. In previous public statements I have objected strongly to the rhetoric of President Ahmadinejad, rhetoric regarding the State of Israel and the historicity of the Holocaust that is deeply disturbing to all who believe in Israel’s right to exist and who acknowledge the on-going pain that the Holocaust and its memory still evokes. While the organizers of this event certainly hope to raise their concern over this rhetoric with President Ahmadinejad, I am not convinced this will be effective. To the contrary, I fear the occasion can and will be used by President Ahmadinejad to claim legitimacy and support for himself by an association with respected United States religious leaders. I respect the sponsoring organizations’ intent for dialogue, but fear that the more likely outcome is sowing confusion and disappointment among our own members and, in particular, the American Jewish community.
The sponsoring organizations also believe that sitting down with one’s enemy is both a Biblical mandate and, at this dangerous moment in the relationship between the United States and Iran, an important historical opportunity. I believe the United States government should adopt a far more engaged diplomatic posture toward Iran. I further believe that churches like the United Church of Christ ought to be encouraging such face to face meetings through contact with our own U.S. Administration officials. I do not believe, however, that this meeting of religious leaders with President Ahmadinejad is an appropriate or helpful means of encouraging state to state diplomacy. In a situation like this, the most effective and appropriate approach for a church is to encourage dialogue with religious leaders who are our most natural international counterparts. I would, therefore, be willing and eager to meet with senior Iranian religious leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern and to encourage meetings at the political and diplomatic level. Such a meeting was scheduled a year ago but, unfortunately, was cancelled when a significant number of the Iranian clerics were denied visas to enter the United States for the dialogue sessions.
The Mennonite Central Committee supports work in Iran in various communities that help address the quality of life of the Iranian people and further interreligious dialogue. It is my understanding that part of the purpose of this meeting is to encourage the President to continue to allow such work to continue. I would certainly support this effort though, again, I suspect that a more private meeting focused on this agenda alone would be more successful and appropriate.
The World Council of Churches did not consult its member churches in the United States prior to the decision to co-sponsor this event. The WCC participates in many meetings and dialogues with religious and political leaders around the world as part of its regular mandate to encourage global peace and justice. I and other UCC leaders did, however, communicate similar concerns to the current senior staff person now responsible for interfaith work in the WCC when participation in a religious leaders’ visit to the President of Iran was proposed over a year ago. I have also shared these same concerns with other ecumenical colleagues here. Our objections and concerns, therefore, have been registered and heard.
In the life of any council of churches there will be decisions made that are not supported by every member church or church leader. While I do not believe sponsorship of this particular event by the WCC to be wise or helpful, I continue to respect my colleagues in leadership there and understand that their decision is based on principled convictions about how best to further the cause of peace. Disagreement should not be interpreted as disrespect, and I would not anyone to interpret this dissenting opinion to signal diminished appreciation or support for the World Council of Churches, its leaders, or its vocation of bearing witness to healing the brokenness of the church and the world.
with President Ahmadinejad of Iran
Thursday, September 25, 2008
John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
This evening, September 25, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will meet with religious leaders at a dinner in New York. The event is co-sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee, the American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker United Nations Office, the World Conference on Religions for Peace, and the World Council of Churches. While a member of Religions for Peace, the United Church of Christ is not active in its participation. We are, of course, a very active member communion of the World Council of Churches.
I was invited to the dinner but have declined. In previous public statements I have objected strongly to the rhetoric of President Ahmadinejad, rhetoric regarding the State of Israel and the historicity of the Holocaust that is deeply disturbing to all who believe in Israel’s right to exist and who acknowledge the on-going pain that the Holocaust and its memory still evokes. While the organizers of this event certainly hope to raise their concern over this rhetoric with President Ahmadinejad, I am not convinced this will be effective. To the contrary, I fear the occasion can and will be used by President Ahmadinejad to claim legitimacy and support for himself by an association with respected United States religious leaders. I respect the sponsoring organizations’ intent for dialogue, but fear that the more likely outcome is sowing confusion and disappointment among our own members and, in particular, the American Jewish community.
The sponsoring organizations also believe that sitting down with one’s enemy is both a Biblical mandate and, at this dangerous moment in the relationship between the United States and Iran, an important historical opportunity. I believe the United States government should adopt a far more engaged diplomatic posture toward Iran. I further believe that churches like the United Church of Christ ought to be encouraging such face to face meetings through contact with our own U.S. Administration officials. I do not believe, however, that this meeting of religious leaders with President Ahmadinejad is an appropriate or helpful means of encouraging state to state diplomacy. In a situation like this, the most effective and appropriate approach for a church is to encourage dialogue with religious leaders who are our most natural international counterparts. I would, therefore, be willing and eager to meet with senior Iranian religious leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern and to encourage meetings at the political and diplomatic level. Such a meeting was scheduled a year ago but, unfortunately, was cancelled when a significant number of the Iranian clerics were denied visas to enter the United States for the dialogue sessions.
The Mennonite Central Committee supports work in Iran in various communities that help address the quality of life of the Iranian people and further interreligious dialogue. It is my understanding that part of the purpose of this meeting is to encourage the President to continue to allow such work to continue. I would certainly support this effort though, again, I suspect that a more private meeting focused on this agenda alone would be more successful and appropriate.
The World Council of Churches did not consult its member churches in the United States prior to the decision to co-sponsor this event. The WCC participates in many meetings and dialogues with religious and political leaders around the world as part of its regular mandate to encourage global peace and justice. I and other UCC leaders did, however, communicate similar concerns to the current senior staff person now responsible for interfaith work in the WCC when participation in a religious leaders’ visit to the President of Iran was proposed over a year ago. I have also shared these same concerns with other ecumenical colleagues here. Our objections and concerns, therefore, have been registered and heard.
In the life of any council of churches there will be decisions made that are not supported by every member church or church leader. While I do not believe sponsorship of this particular event by the WCC to be wise or helpful, I continue to respect my colleagues in leadership there and understand that their decision is based on principled convictions about how best to further the cause of peace. Disagreement should not be interpreted as disrespect, and I would not anyone to interpret this dissenting opinion to signal diminished appreciation or support for the World Council of Churches, its leaders, or its vocation of bearing witness to healing the brokenness of the church and the world.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
EU Says Iran Close to Developing Nuclear Weapon
By Lisa Bryant for Voice of America
Paris 24 September 2008
The European Union said Wednesday that Iran was close to being able to develop a nuclear weapon. The warning to the IAEA in Vienna coincides with North Korea's apparent decision to reactivate its main nuclear reactor. Lisa Bryant reports for VOA from Paris.
The text of the European Union's warning on Iran was released to reporters ahead of its delivery to a board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. It claims Tehran is close to being able to arm a nuclear warhead and that it seems to have pursued a program aimed to acquire a nuclear bomb.
By Lisa Bryant for Voice of America
Paris 24 September 2008
The European Union said Wednesday that Iran was close to being able to develop a nuclear weapon. The warning to the IAEA in Vienna coincides with North Korea's apparent decision to reactivate its main nuclear reactor. Lisa Bryant reports for VOA from Paris.
The text of the European Union's warning on Iran was released to reporters ahead of its delivery to a board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. It claims Tehran is close to being able to arm a nuclear warhead and that it seems to have pursued a program aimed to acquire a nuclear bomb.
Some reactions
Ha'aretz advocates negotiations between US and Iran
[excerpt] According to an assessment by Military Intelligence presented to the cabinet this week, Iran is "galloping toward a nuclear bomb" and mastering the technology for enriching uranium, while the diplomatic and economic battle against it is ineffective.
Israel is justifiably concerned about the naivete with which Ahmadinejad was received by the American media, as well as the world's growing tendency to view him as a legitimate leader and cease efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear program. The calls by the Iranian president to destroy Israel deserve the strongest condemnation, and we must continue the diplomatic struggle against them. But Israel must not be boxed into the corner where Ahmadinejad wants it and join an exchange of threats and counterthreats, which would only intensify the anxiety in Israel and possibly lead to a confrontation.
The chance that the United States or Israel will try to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities looks slim at the moment. Even without waiving the military option, we must not be tempted into bombing as a miracle drug against the Iranian threat. The government is obligated to exhaust every other possibility before seriously considering using the Israel Defense Forces for a distant and highly risky operation in Iran.
Since a direct Israeli rapprochement with Iran is impossible because of the regime's hostility to Israel's very existence, the best chance of calming the atmosphere and reducing the threat lies in starting negotiations between the United States and Iran. The two U.S. presidential candidates support this approach, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, with the understanding that it is the only route not yet tried and is likely to help moderate Iranian policy. Israel must encourage an American rapprochement with Iran, with the understanding that this will serve the Israeli interest as well.
----------------------
From ynetnews. French FM: Condemning Iran insufficient
Following Ahmadinejad's address to UN, Bernard Kouchner joins Peres in slamming anti-Semitic content of speech, but adds, 'We cannot just condemn anymore. We must take care of the Iranian nuclear issue [diplomatically]. The situation is becoming dangerous'
----------------------------------
From jpost.com
'Russia's move to pull out of Iran talks spells end of sanctions'
UN Ambassador Shalev surprised at Ahmadinejad's warm welcome by General Assembly; Moscow's cancellation endangers 4th round of sanctions.
Ha'aretz advocates negotiations between US and Iran
[excerpt] According to an assessment by Military Intelligence presented to the cabinet this week, Iran is "galloping toward a nuclear bomb" and mastering the technology for enriching uranium, while the diplomatic and economic battle against it is ineffective.
Israel is justifiably concerned about the naivete with which Ahmadinejad was received by the American media, as well as the world's growing tendency to view him as a legitimate leader and cease efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear program. The calls by the Iranian president to destroy Israel deserve the strongest condemnation, and we must continue the diplomatic struggle against them. But Israel must not be boxed into the corner where Ahmadinejad wants it and join an exchange of threats and counterthreats, which would only intensify the anxiety in Israel and possibly lead to a confrontation.
The chance that the United States or Israel will try to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities looks slim at the moment. Even without waiving the military option, we must not be tempted into bombing as a miracle drug against the Iranian threat. The government is obligated to exhaust every other possibility before seriously considering using the Israel Defense Forces for a distant and highly risky operation in Iran.
Since a direct Israeli rapprochement with Iran is impossible because of the regime's hostility to Israel's very existence, the best chance of calming the atmosphere and reducing the threat lies in starting negotiations between the United States and Iran. The two U.S. presidential candidates support this approach, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, with the understanding that it is the only route not yet tried and is likely to help moderate Iranian policy. Israel must encourage an American rapprochement with Iran, with the understanding that this will serve the Israeli interest as well.
----------------------
From ynetnews. French FM: Condemning Iran insufficient
Following Ahmadinejad's address to UN, Bernard Kouchner joins Peres in slamming anti-Semitic content of speech, but adds, 'We cannot just condemn anymore. We must take care of the Iranian nuclear issue [diplomatically]. The situation is becoming dangerous'
----------------------------------
From jpost.com
'Russia's move to pull out of Iran talks spells end of sanctions'
UN Ambassador Shalev surprised at Ahmadinejad's warm welcome by General Assembly; Moscow's cancellation endangers 4th round of sanctions.
"The Great Hindrances to Peace Among Nations"
"They [the International Zionists=Jews] are the great hindrances
to the actualization of material and spiritual prosperity
and to security, peace and brotherhood among nations."
-- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 9/23/08
Excerpts from what Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at the UN on September 23, 2008
A modern restatement of The International Jew: The World's Foremost Problem, Henry Ford's anti-Semitic series based on the Protocols of Zion.
"The dignity, integrity and rights of the American and European people are being played with by a small but deceitful number of people called Zionists.
Although they are a miniscule minority, they have been dominating and important portion of the financial and monetary centers as well as the political decision making centers of some European countries and the US in a deceitful, complex and furtive manner.
It is deeply disastrous to witness that some presidential or premiere nominees in some big countries have to visit these people, take part in their gatherings, swear their allegiance and commitment to their interests in order to attain financial or media support.
This means that the great people of America and various nations of Europe need to obey the demands and wishes of a small number of acquisitive and invasive people.
These nations are spending their dignity and resources on the crimes and occupations and the threats of the Zionist network against their will.
Friends and Colleagues, all these are due to the manner in which the immoral and the powerful view the world, humankind, freedom, obeisance to God, and justice.
The thoughts and deeds of those who think they are superior to others and consider others as second-class and inferior, who intend to remain out of the divine circle, to be the absolute slaves of their materialistic and selfish desires, who intend to expand their aggressive and domineering natures, constitute the roots of today's problems in human societies.
They are the great hindrances to the actualization of material and spiritual prosperity and to security, peace and brotherhood among nations."
Messianism is at hand
The conclusion of Ahmadinejad's speech emphasizes his expectation that The Promised One "is about to materialize" to bring forth justice. And toward this end, Ahmadinejad exorts the Righteous to "hand in hand, expand the thought of resistance against evil and the minority of those who are ill-wishers."
A golden and brilliant future is awaiting mankind. A global community filled with justice, friendship, brotherhood, and welfare is at hand and, as I have elaborated, a community which will tread the path of beauty and love under the rule of the righteous and the perfect human being, the one promised by all divine prophets, and the one who is the true lover of humanity.
A community that will be devoid of any fear, despair, and privation, such a community will soon be ours, the community promised by the great divine prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Mohammed, peace be upon him, is about to materialize. Let us, hand in hand, expand the thought of resistance against evil and the minority of those who are ill-wishers.
Let's support goodness and the majority of people who are good and the embodiment of absolute good that Imam of Time, The Promised One who will come accompanied by Jesus Christ, and accordingly design and implement the just and humanistic mechanisms for regulating the constructive relationships between nations and governments.
Oh, Great Almighty, deliver the savior of nations and put an end to the sufferings of mankind and bring forth justice, beauty, and love.
Friends, let's have a proper share in the establishment of that illuminated and promised divine age.
I thank you all very much.
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