Another UN Commander Caters to Terrorists
Posted by editor on 26 August 2008 at 2:09 pm UTC
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Once again, a foreign military commander leading so-called peacekeeping troops under a United Nations flag in south Lebanon makes a public comment that should surely be condemned as ill-informed, pandering to Hezbollah terrorists, or – should I say it – gutless (not willing to tangle with Hezbollah or simply passing the buck to a higher authority, whoever that may be).
Speaking to a Reuters’ correspondent, Lt. Col. Marc Ollier, commanding officer of UNIFIL’s (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) French contingent, says, “I don’t believe Hezbollah’s weapons figure in Resolution 1701.”
According to Reuters, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 “speaks of keeping armed men and illicit weapons out of the UNIFIL zone.”
Ollier says, “So we monitor that, but disarming an armed militia is not in 1701.”
Perhaps Ollier should take the time to read UNSCR 1701 and the earlier UNSCR 1559, both of which declare that all “militias” in Lebanon are to be disarmed. And 1701 specifically states, “all armed groups in Lebanon” are “required” to disarm, and “there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State.”
Simply put, Hezbollah should have been disarmed two years ago according to 1701, four years ago if we look at 1559.
Ollier’s comments, this week, come on the heels of another comment by a UN commander, this month, which Lebanon’s pro-democracy majority deems was also catering to terrorists.
On Aug. 15, Italian Army Major General Claudio Graziano, senior commander of UNIFIL, told the Jerusalem Post that “excellent cooperation” existed between UNIFIL forces and Hezbollah militiamen, and “apart from UN troops, Lebanese soldiers and [local] hunters, no one is armed south of the Litani River.”
Those comments caused the Lebanese people living south of the Litani, and countless counterterrorism experts worldwide to ask what kind of Kool-Aid Gen. Graziano was drinking.
As I wrote on Aug. 16:
“Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm is officially based on its argument that it is a “resistance” force, therefore it should maintain its arms. That’s what Hezbollah, its supporters, and apologists say. Those of us who have been deeply involved in the development of analysis on Hezbollah understand the group’s “clinging to its guns” actually stems from more sinister motives.”
We must also remember, Hezbollah and it allies launched a deadly series of armed-attacks against the Lebanese government and citizenry in May after the government made decisions that didn’t please Hezbollah. In the end, Lebanon’s government caved and Hezbollah was granted all sorts of concessions; including veto power on Lebanese government decisions (meaning Iran and Syria, Hezbollah’s big-money benefactors, now have covert veto power in Lebanon). As if that wasn’t enough, Hezbollah has now “wormed its way” into Lebanon’s Defense Ministry as a sort of “official” element of the legitimate Lebanese armed forces.
In the wake of Graziano’s comments, Tom Harb, secretary general of The International Lebanese Committee for UN Security Council Resolution 1559, sent a letter to the Italian mission at the UN, all UN Security Council members, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a portion of which reads:
“Graziano says, ‘Hezbollah is one of the parties that agree with 1701 and support 1701.’ This is factually untrue as evidenced by Hezbollah’s armed offensive – with impunity –against the Lebanese government and citizenry in May.
“Graziano adds, ‘UNIFIL has no commitment to the disarmament of Hezbollah … We are a peacekeeping force, not peace enforcement.’ This is contradictory to say the least, and proof that UNIFIL is a hollow force in Lebanon.”
According to sources, Lebanese Army Intelligence in the south is not only coordinating with UNIFIL, but sharing intelligence with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
“Hezbollah is also terrorizing Lebanese civilians in south Lebanon often within eyesight and earshot of UNIFIL troops, and UNIFIL never initiates any investigation whatsoever,” says Harb. “For instance, when Hezbollah attacked across the country in May 2008, the organization’s fighters ransacked the offices of the mufti of Tyre and Jabal Amel. UNIFIL did absolutely nothing to either prevent this act or investigate it after the fact.”
So are UNIFIL commanders and troops really as incompetent – perhaps impotent – as evidenced by their words and deeds (or lack thereof)? Let’s not forget the infamous photograph of UNIFIL troops saluting the remains of returning terrorists during the recent “swap” between Israel and Hezbollah.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
Hezbollah snatches Brazilian journalists
Posted by editor on 23 August 2008 at 3:23 am UTC
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
According to Brazilian media earlier in the week, a team of Brazilian journalists in Lebanon were snatched by Hezbollah in a restaurant in Dahiyeh (Beirut’s southern suburbs — Hezbollah’s stronghold).
I was aware of this story (via personal sources) as early as Monday, but have seen very little about it covered in the Western press, which is amazing when one considers just how bizarre this story really is.
Brazil’s TV Globo stated, the journalists were videotaping in a restaurant (cafeteria) they had discovered had a theme of “terror.” The restaurant served “sandwiches with names of weapons, and dishes inspired by terrorist acts … all prepared by a chef dressed as a soldier.” The establishment was “decorated with mock weapons.”
While the journalists where in the restaurant, armed Hezbollah men appeared, arrested them, and drove them away in cars with curtained windows. The journalists were questioned, and their cell phones, documents, and a video camera were seized.
Five hours later, the journalists were released, but ordered out of the country.
Their phones were returned sans memory cards, and the camera returned without the tape. However, Hezbollah removed the wrong tape because the journalists allegedly switched tapes before the camera was confiscated.
According to TV Globo, the Brazilian Consulate in Beirut “lodged a formal complaint against the abuses suffered by the team. The government admitted that Lebanon against Hezbollah, can do little or nothing.”
Bizarre, but not at all surprising. Though Hezbollah’s apologists and sympathizers would lead us all to believe that anyone can just freely stroll, jog, drive, dine, take pictures, whatever, in Hezbollah-controlled security squares like Dahiyeh.
[Additional information at Brazil’s TV Globo and FolhaOnline]
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
“W. Thomas Smith Jr. provides some of the best commentary and expert analysis available.”
— [click to listen to] Dick Morris, political analyst and best-selling author
Hezbollah and Salafists sign agreement
Posted by editor on 18 August 2008 at 1:02 pm UTC
Yesterday, we broke the following story [in the Western media] at WORLD DEFENSE REVIEW:
Shiia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafists forging an unlikely alliance?
Lebanon’s Shiia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafi extremists may be nearing an agreement of mutual respect and coordination, which could be signed-and-sealed over the next 24-to-48 hours. (Incidentally, the terrorist network Al Qaeda was born of Salafism. So when you think of Salafi extremism, think Al Qaeda and all of its affiliates.)Though almost nothing about this has been reported in the Western press, human intelligence and open sources are indicating the agreement could be signed in Beirut as early as Monday when Hezbollah leaders and Salafists are scheduled to meet.
According to our sources, despite the age-old Shiia-Sunni religious opposition – as well as recent bloodshed between the two radical Islamist organizations – “Hezbollah and Salafi leaders have been negotiating a sort of memorandum of understanding for some time.”
One of the catalysts for such an agreement is based on intelligence suggesting “the Iranians have flooded the Salafists in Lebanon with money in order to undermine moderate Sunnis – even Shiias – who are attempting to move toward democracy in Lebanon; building ties with Lebanese Christians and Druze.”Sources say both extremist groups are issuing statements, primarily in the Arab media, such as, “Muslims should not fight Muslims,” but should instead bring all forces to bear “against the West which is trying to divide us.”
Sources say both extremist groups are issuing statements, primarily in the Arab media, such as, “Muslims should not fight Muslims,” but should instead bring all forces to bear “against the West which is trying to divide us.”
Today, we learn the agreement has indeed been signed.
According to Ya Libnan, highlights of the agreement include:
1- Condemning any Islamic group that assaults another.
2- Abandoning incitement, which creates trouble and will allow the enemies to take advantage of the situation.
3- Confronting the American agenda, which creates division.
4- Firmly supporting Hezbollah and the Salafist movement if any internal or external parties act unfairly.
5- Forming a religious committee to discuss any disagreements between the Shia and the Sunnis.
6- Respecting each others’ opinions.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
Shiia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafists forging an unlikely alliance?
Posted by editor on 17 August 2008 at 8:25 pm UTC
Lebanon’s Shiia Hezbollah and Sunni Salafi extremists may be nearing an agreement of mutual respect and coordination, which could be signed-and-sealed over the next 24-to-48 hours.
(Incidentally, the terrorist network Al Qaeda was born of Salafism. So when you think of Salafi extremism, think Al Qaeda and all of its affiliates.)
Though almost nothing about this has been reported in the Western press, human intelligence and open sources are indicating the agreement could be signed in Beirut as early as Monday when Hezbollah leaders and Salafists are scheduled to meet.
According to our sources, despite the age-old Shiia-Sunni religious opposition – as well as recent bloodshed between the two radical Islamist organizations – “Hezbollah and Salafi leaders have been negotiating a sort of memorandum of understanding for some time.”
One of the catalysts for such an agreement is based on intelligence suggesting “the Iranians have flooded the Salafists in Lebanon with money in order to undermine moderate Sunnis – even Shiias – who are attempting to move toward democracy in Lebanon; building ties with Lebanese Christians and Druze.”
Sources say both extremist groups are issuing statements, primarily in the Arab media, such as, “Muslims should not fight Muslims,” but should instead bring all forces to bear “against the West which is trying to divide us.”
More to come.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
Phares on Hezbollah’s telecommunications expansion
Posted by editor on 17 August 2008 at 2:09 pm UTC
In a conversation last week with Middle East terrorism expert Dr. Walid Phares regarding Hezbollah’s recent strategic positioning and repositioning since the 2006 war with Israel – more specifically since the attacks on the Lebanese government in May 2008 – the subject came up of Hezbollah’s extensive telecommunications system.
I was reporting the existence of Hezbollah’s telecommunications system – and Hezbollah’s control of much of greater Lebanon’s telecom system – as early as September of 2007 (when I was in Lebanon). Dr. Phares has also been writing about it, and with much greater specificity than perhaps any other writer or analyst to date.
On Wednesday, Phares told me:
“Before the invasion of West Beirut and the assault on the Druze mountain, Hezbollah’s telecommunications systems were up-and-running and fully operational in half of Lebanon. They showed the structure of absorption for thousands of Hezbollah fighters and Iranian Pasdaran already deployed in Lebanon. The swift takeover of half of Lebanon’s capital and the multi-axis advance on the Shuf heights demonstrated that this system can insure an internal “hard” communications which can instruct, direct, guide, and move large units from one side of Lebanon to another.
“Following the political victory of Hezbollah in Doha and the surrender of the Lebanese first cabinet of Seniora and the March 14 Coalition to the Syrian-Iranian agenda, Hezbollah’s TC system not only survived, but we believe was extended and expanded. Reports – including those from media open sources – tells us that the TC system was stretched across the line of summits from the Metn area in the center northbound to Kesruwan and Jbeil mountains, deep in the Christian heartland of Lebanon. Hezbollah operatives and special forces have been seen on the commanding heights and summits of central Mount Lebanon where they’ve established “security zones.” The Iranian-backed militia today controls better strategic location than that which was ever controlled by the Syrian occupation forces before 2005.”
More to come.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
NOTE: The opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the author, and do not represent the opinions of World Defense Review and its affiliates. WDR accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the content of this or any other story published on this website. Copyright and all rights for this story (and all other stories by the author) are held by the author.
Archives:
"Hunt for the Somali Pirates" airs soon on the National Geographic Channel.
When Somali pirates hijack the Maersk Alabama -- and international headlines -- Navy SEALs launch a sneak attack to rescue the ship's American captain. Pirate Hunters recounts the harrowing five days from hijack to final fatal shots, and reveals sophisticated Navy SEAL training methods that prepare the world's most elite reconnaissance teams for daring missions with no second chances.
J. Peter Pham, Ph.D. : 'Strategic Interests'
Ballots and Bullets: The Tale of the Two Somalias
[06 Jul 10]
Walid Phares, Ph.D.
Iran Global Terrorist Reach
[15 Jul 10]
Abigail R. Esman : 'International Desk'
Islamophobia
Is the rejection of radical Islam "anti-Muslim"?
[27 Jul 10]
Rabbi Daniel M. Zucker
The Roots of Washington's Failures in Dealing with "Rogue Regimes"
[01 Apr 10]
W. Thomas Smith Jr.
'Beyond the DropZone'
Intelligence and Analysis