Blog Articles http://mesarabies.com/index.php Promoting and distributing Arab World artistic actions and cultural heritage, films, photography and all visual communication arts. Scandale au musée de l’Elysée et l’état de Vaud <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><img width="440" height="308" align="left" alt="" src="/UserFiles/Image/vupar04_crop_w440.jpg" /><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span></font><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span></font><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />En automne 2006, j'avais &eacute;t&eacute; appoint&eacute; comme intervenant pour la mise en place du projet &quot;Montreux&quot; par les &eacute;tudiants en &quot;Visuel Merchandising&quot; &agrave; l'&eacute;cole de Vevey. Il &eacute;tait pr&eacute;vue de renouveler mon engagement pour l'ann&eacute;e suivante, mais un ordre dictatorial de Michel Berney directeur de l'&eacute;cole est tomb&eacute; sur la t&ecirc;te de la directrice de cette section l'emp&ecirc;chant de m'engager. Le pourquoi est simple, &agrave; cause de la plainte d&eacute;pos&eacute; par ma personne en tant que photographe contre l'&eacute;tat de Vaud dans le cadre de d&eacute;tournement de fonds et malversation lors de l'acquisition de mes oeuvres photographiques par le mus&eacute;e de l'Elys&eacute;e &agrave; Lausanne.<br /><br />Tout le monde avait bien entendu parler de cette affaire &agrave; l'&eacute;poque, mais personne ne conna&icirc;t les dessous de l'affaire comme je l'avais v&eacute;cu. &Agrave; l'&eacute;poque seul Philippe Lambelet est tomb&eacute;, mais comme d'habitude dans les clans mafieux, il y'en a toujours un seul qui se sacrifie pour sauver le groupe. Philippe Lambelet n'&eacute;tait pas seul dans cette affaire, ses deux complices sont toujours &agrave; la t&ecirc;te du mus&eacute;e et n'ont pas &eacute;t&eacute; inqui&eacute;t&eacute;, voir ils ont re&ccedil;u une promotion. L'un est devenu conservateur et l'autre directeur technique, oui je parle bien de Daniel Girardin et d&rsquo;Andr&eacute; Rouvinez.<br /><br />En fait Lambelet, dirigeait d&eacute;j&agrave; dans sa jeunesse un gang de r&eacute;volt&eacute;s avec Rouvinez et Girardin, il s'est toujours pr&eacute;sent&eacute; comme le Robin Hood vaudois qui vole aux riches pour donner aux pauvres, chose qui est honorable &agrave; mes yeux et celles d'autres aussi. En arrivant au mus&eacute;e de l&rsquo;Elys&eacute;e en 1990, la bande s'&eacute;tait pr&eacute;sent&eacute; &agrave; moi au tout d&eacute;but comme la bande &agrave; Bader mais dans le culturelle, ils me racontaient tous leurs aventures r&eacute;volutionnaires de jeunesses et j'entendais toujours Daniel Girardin r&eacute;pondre au t&eacute;l&eacute;phone &agrave; partir de son poste au mus&eacute;e en disant avec un accent allemand; &quot;yah, commandant tour&quot; et avait souvent des exclamations Nazis &agrave; tour de langues. Andr&eacute; Rouvinez, appel&eacute; D&eacute;D&eacute; par le gang &agrave; toujours tenue Girardin par le zippe de son pantalon, il connaissait toutes les aventures sexuelles de l'autre et lui servait de chaperon. D&eacute;d&eacute; c'est toujours pr&eacute;sent&eacute; comme &eacute;ducateur et r&eacute;formateur de la nature Nazie de Girardin jusqu'&agrave; en faire de lui un adepte de Pol Pot et des Khmer Rouge, pas loin de l'esprit de Hitler et des Nazis chose qui est plus naturelle pour Girardin.<br /><br />Lambelet avait la mani&egrave;re avec les photographes, surtout les porteurs de grandes causes, il demandait souvent &agrave; ces pauvres photographes de lui signer des documents &agrave; blanc, ou bien leurs permissions pour contrefaire leurs signatures afin de faire des factures avec le montant qui lui convenait avant de le pr&eacute;senter &agrave; l'&eacute;tat de Vaud pour encaissement. Il avait sortie plus d&rsquo;un million de francs suisses en utilisant mon nom sans ma permission en surfacturant les tirages achet&eacute;s pour la collection mus&eacute;e. Jusqu'aujourd'hui je n'ai pas encore re&ccedil;u la totalit&eacute; des payements pour mes photographies, reconnu en disposition du mus&eacute;e de l'Elys&eacute;e par expertise ordonn&eacute;e dans le cadre de ma plainte contre l&rsquo;&eacute;tat de Vaud. Cette affaire a dur&eacute;e plus de 14 ans et a co&ucirc;t&eacute; une somme colossale &agrave; l'&eacute;tat de Vaud en proc&eacute;dure et salaires d'avocats et d&rsquo;experts, pour finir elle n'a men&eacute; &agrave; rien. Pour finir, j&rsquo;ai laiss&eacute; tomber cette affaire, malgr&eacute; le fait que mon droit aurai pu &ecirc;tre pr&eacute;serv&eacute; et au final j'avais une chance de retrouver une somme de 52000 Fr. Durant se proc&egrave;s, une partie de mes photographies avaient disparues de la collection, ce qui a toujours &eacute;t&eacute; une pratique courante dans ce mus&eacute;e. O&ugrave; Rouvinez et Girardin ont toujours piqu&eacute;s des tirages dans la collection pour leurs utilisations personnelles, ainsi que Lambelet.<br /><br />Voici un exemple d'un fait qui s'est produit devant mes yeux. En 1993, les dirigeants du mus&eacute;e de l'&eacute;poque &eacute;taient venu au Liban pour le lancement de mon exposition, &quot;Les Enfants La Guerre&quot;. Lors de leurs s&eacute;jours nous avons visit&eacute; Walid Joumblat, Ministre des d&eacute;plac&eacute;es &agrave; l'&eacute;poque et toujours chef de la communaut&eacute; Druze au Liban. Durant le d&eacute;jeun&eacute;, Joumblat se l&egrave;ve, saisi une statut grecque originale trouv&eacute;e dans les fouilles de Damour et proclame; &quot;cela est un cadeaux pour le mus&eacute;e de l'Elys&eacute;e &agrave; Lausanne&quot;. La statut est sortie du Pays, fut engloutie dans la collection du mus&eacute;e, o&ugrave; elle n'a pas sa place et pour finir elle a disparue. La derni&egrave;re nouvelle &agrave; ce sujet, je l'ai entendu par Rouvinez, il a cach&eacute; la statut dans un endroit s&ucirc;r.<br /><br />Un jour, j'arrivais dans le bureau de Girardin lorqu'il se ventait d'avoir achet&eacute; &agrave; un tout petit prix une collection de photographies 19&eacute;me de Bonfils. En fait un habitant de Lausanne avait retrouv&eacute; les albums dans son grenier et voulait les d&eacute;poser au mus&eacute;e, mais Girardin l'avait convaincu de lui acheter personnellement. Cela &agrave; toujours &eacute;tait pratique courante au mus&eacute;e de l&rsquo;Elys&eacute;e et ni Lambelet ou Girardin ne se cachaient le faite de faire le plus grand hold-up du si&egrave;cle, en prenant possession du mus&eacute;e vaudois. Malheureusement pour eux, Lambelet n&rsquo;a pas &eacute;t&eacute; confirm&eacute; directeur du mus&eacute;e et voil&agrave; monsieur propre Ewing qui d&eacute;barque &agrave; la direction du mus&eacute;e. Un pacte(s) de confiance fut mis en place entre Lambelet et Girardin, o&ugrave; ce dernier sauve sa peau en faisant un deal avec l&rsquo;&eacute;tat de Vaud lui garantissant la position de Conservateur du mus&eacute;e et de m&ecirc;me pour Rouvinez qui &eacute;tait toujours pr&ecirc;t &agrave; couvrir Girardin en lui servant de chef technique.<br /><br />Bref de l&rsquo;histoire, le gang s&rsquo;est r&eacute;duit &agrave; deux, ils dominent encore aujourd&rsquo;hui le mus&eacute;e de l&rsquo;Elys&eacute;e et ils ont amen&eacute; un autre monsieur propre pour soigner leurs images de marque, Radu Stern, un acad&eacute;mique enfant d&rsquo;&eacute;migr&eacute; roumain, il avait quitt&eacute; l&rsquo;&eacute;cole de Vevey pour manque d&rsquo;entente avec Michel Berney, qui selon lui, est un bourgeois vaudois tout le temps ivre et &agrave; la recherche d&rsquo;un verre de blanc. En tout cas, le but de tous ces gentilshommes est de trouver de la chaire fra&icirc;che pour la croquer. Nulle d&rsquo;entre eux pense plus loin que leur fermeture &eacute;claire. Vous n&rsquo;avez qu&rsquo;a le constater par vous m&ecirc;me en assistant &agrave; l&rsquo;un de leurs vernissages. Personnellement j&rsquo;ai souvent entendu leurs commentaires sur les abus qu&rsquo;ils pratiquent dans le cadre de leurs positions &agrave; l&rsquo;&eacute;tat de Vaud.<br /><br /><br /></span></font><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">&quot;La justice suisse s'applique seulement sur les pauvres et les faibles.. lorsqu'il s'agit d'un dictateur ou d'un criminel contre l'humanit&eacute;, la justice suisse ferme les yeux et se met &agrave; genoux en payant des millions en r&eacute;paration&quot;.</span></font> <!--EndFragment--> <br /><br />Samer Mohdad <!--EndFragment--> http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=32 Tue, 15 15 Jun 2010 15:50:32 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=32 Les Suisses et les nazis <h2><img width="249" height="209" align="left" alt="les Suisses et les nazis" src="/UserFiles/Image/SwissNazi.gif" /></h2> <span style="font-style: italic;">&rdquo;Toute soci&eacute;t&eacute; humaine est p&eacute;trie de contradictions, d'espoirs et de peurs. La Suisse d'alors ne faisait pas exception. Les actions de courage et de solidarit&eacute; y cohabit&egrave;rent avec l'&eacute;go&iuml;sme et les pr&eacute;jug&eacute;s enracin&eacute;s. Et de lourdes erreurs, pour le moins des erreurs de jugement, ont &eacute;t&eacute; aussi commises. Nous devons en prendre acte, car refuser notre histoire telle qu'elle est c'est abdiquer notre responsabilit&eacute; et c'est aussi r&eacute;p&eacute;ter les erreurs du pass&eacute;. Accepter en revanche l'histoire telle qu'elle est c'est pr&eacute;parer l'avenir&rdquo;. </span>Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois Bergier.<br /><br />source: http://www.aidh.org/Racisme/2e_guerre/index.htm<br /><br /><br /> <h2>Les Suisses et les nazis: le rapport Bergier pour tous</h2> Sous le titre : Les Suisses et les nazis, les &eacute;ditions Zo&eacute;, &agrave; Gen&egrave;ve, publient une version simplifi&eacute;e du rapport de la Commission Bergier. Seule la version fran&ccedil;aise est disponible.<br /><br />Ce livre est un trait d'union. Le trait d'union qui manquait entre le grand public et les 11'000 pages des travaux de la commission Bergier sur la Suisse et la Seconde Guerre mondiale. De quoi rebuter les meilleures volont&eacute;s ! Si bien que beaucoup en &eacute;taient rest&eacute;s aux comptes rendus des m&eacute;dias lors de la pol&eacute;mique sur la Suisse face au nazisme.<br /><br />Gr&acirc;ce &agrave; Les Suisses et les nazis, chacun a d&eacute;sormais acc&egrave;s aux points principaux &eacute;tudi&eacute;s par les historiens : comment la Suisse s'est-elle comport&eacute;e pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale avec les r&eacute;fugi&eacute;s et avec les fonds plac&eacute;s dans les banques ? Que savait-on du sort qui attendait les Juifs refoul&eacute;s aux fronti&egrave;res ? Quel r&ocirc;le jouait la place financi&egrave;re suisse ? Qu'en &eacute;tait-il du transit ferroviaire et du travail forc&eacute; en Allemagne pour le compte d'entreprises suisses ?<br /><br />Cet ouvrage livre enfin au grand public les r&eacute;ponses propos&eacute;es par la Commission ind&eacute;pendante d'experts.<br /><br />LE RAPPORT BERGIER ENFIN ACCESSIBLE AU GRAND PUBLIC<br /><br />&quot;La commission Bergier a publi&eacute; son rapport final en 2002, rendant un travail de pr&egrave;s de 11'000 pages sur les relations entre la Suisse et l'Allemagne nazie. Deux ans et demi plus tard, un ouvrage est publi&eacute; pour assurer la diffusion grand public des principales conclusions du travail des historiens. Pietro Boschetti, journaliste &agrave; la TSR et historien, est l'auteur du livre. Cette version simplifi&eacute;e du rapport Bergier ne sort qu'en fran&ccedil;ais, un projet similaire en Suisse al&eacute;manique n'a pas vu le jour.<br /><br />&quot;Le rapport de la commission Bergier est une somme impressionnante: 28 volumes, 11 000 pages. &quot;Qui, &agrave; part quelques sp&eacute;cialistes, peut avoir la patience et le loisir de prendre connaissance dune pareille masse&quot;, s'interroge Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois Bergier dans la pr&eacute;face de l'ouvrage que les &eacute;ditions Zo&eacute; publient sous le titre Les Suisses et les nazis, le rapport Bergier pour tous.<br /><br />Poser la question, c'est y r&eacute;pondre. Le rapport Bergier qui traite des relations entre la Suisse et l'Allemagne nazie n'est connu dans le public que par ce qu'ont en dit les m&eacute;dias et par les pol&eacute;miques que ce travail ne cesse d'alimenter [&hellip;]. En clair, le rapport Bergier continue de d&eacute;ranger, m&ecirc;me si personne ou presque ne l'a r&eacute;ellement lu. Certes, il en existe une synth&egrave;se de 600 pages, mais Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois Bergier lui-m&ecirc;me admet que ce document est &quot;peu digeste&quot;.<br /><br />C'est dire l'int&eacute;r&ecirc;t de l'ouvrage publi&eacute; [par les &eacute;ditions Zo&eacute;]. En 190 pages, Pietro Boschetti fournit une synth&egrave;se accessible et fournit ainsi le trait d'union qui manquait entre ce travail d'histoire d'envergure et le public directement concern&eacute;, soit la population suisse. Michel Pont, quotidien &quot;24 HEURES&quot;, Lausanne, 5 novembre 2004.<br /><br />&quot;Les Suisses et les nazis. Le rapport Bergier pour tous&quot;, par Pietro Boschetti. Pr&eacute;face de Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois Bergier. Editions Zo&eacute;, Gen&egrave;ve, novembre 2004.<br /><br />Pietro Boschetti est historien de formation et journaliste de profession. Pendant l'affaire des fonds en d&eacute;sh&eacute;rence, il a publi&eacute; plusieurs articles sur la Suisse et la Deuxi&egrave;me Guerre mondiale. Depuis deux ans, il est journaliste &agrave; la T&eacute;l&eacute;visions suisse romande (TSR). <br /><br />Editions Zo&eacute;. 11, rue des Moraines, CH-1227 Carouge - Gen&egrave;ve. T&eacute;l. + 41 (0) 22 309.36.06<br />Site web : www.editionszoe.ch / E-mail : edzoe@iprolink.ch http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=31 Tue, 15 15 Jun 2010 15:15:29 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=31 Family peace of mind <div style="text-align: center;"><embed width="588" height="388" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="/UserFiles/Flash/la paix en famille.swf" play="true" loop="true" menu="true"></embed></div> http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=30 Wed, 11 11 Jun 2008 15:18:26 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=30 Swiss Nature Reality <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"><img width="249" height="209" alt="" src="/UserFiles/Image/SwissNazi.gif" /><br /> </div> <div style="text-align: left;">The Swiss Nature Watch.. &copy; Hans Muler<br /><br />Imaginez vous que les victimes des guerres, les enfants handicap&eacute;s &agrave; vie par l&rsquo;explosion des mines, d&eacute;couvrent un jour que tout les marchands et les interm&eacute;diaires qui font fortune gr&acirc;ce au commerce des armes leurs compte bancaire sont bas&eacute;s en suisse. Quelle est la sentiment d&rsquo;un humanitaire qui travail dans le social suite &agrave; la visite des camps de concentration Nazi? Surtout que par respect &agrave; la bonne conscience hypocrite ne d&eacute;nonce m&ecirc;me pas les horreurs vu et v&eacute;cu. Pourquoi? Par respect aux r&egrave;gles!&nbsp; Les quelles? Celle de la convention de Gen&egrave;ve! La neutralit&eacute; tue des gens et bafoue les droits de l'homme.<br /><br />Les Suisses subissent une torture mentale depuis le temps ou ils ont invent&eacute; les coucous et cloch&eacute;s qui sonnent tous les quard'heure. cela rend les helv&egrave;tes g&eacute;n&eacute;tiquement perturb&eacute; et s&rsquo;imagine &ecirc;tre des moutons blancs dociles.<br /><br /><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;" /><br /><a href="mailto:info@mesarabies.com?subject=Comment%20on%20N@ziSuisse">add your comments</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> </div> http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=29 Mon, 17 17 Mar 2008 19:45:53 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=29 Defending Freedom of Expression <title></title> <meta content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> <style type="text/css"><!-- a:link { text-decoration: none; } a:visited { text-decoration: none; } a:hover { text-decoration: none; } a:active { text-decoration: none; } --></style> <table width="492" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <th width="486" scope="row"> <table width="465" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://menassat.com"><img width="480" height="79" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/head-en.jpg" alt="" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> <p align="center">&nbsp;<a title="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF2IZhsPqS8"><img width="440" height="68" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/free-Kareem.gif" alt="" /></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"> <div align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2151-"><img width="325" height="21" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/amman.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2142-talk-amman-ammon">The talk of Amman is Ammon</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 11/14/2007 - 15:07 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="361" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> It has become as essential to Jordanians as their morning coffee. Menassat.com talks with the two men behind Ammon, the website that became an overnight success as a platform for freedom of expression. </td> <td width="105" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2142-talk-amman-ammon"><img width="100" height="64" border="0" title="amman-cafe.jpg" class="image image-thumbnail" alt="amman-cafe.jpg" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/amman-cafe_0.thumbnail.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><img width="465" height="20" alt="" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/sep-news.gif" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="4" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"> <div align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2136-"><img width="326" height="18" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/hassoun.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="4" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2138-lebanese-media-reveal-their-colors-over-nasrallahs-speech">Lebanese media reveal their colors over Nasrallah's speech</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 11/13/2007 - 18:30 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="361" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> The speech of Hezbollah&rsquo;s secretary general on November 11, 2007 opened the door for fresh comments, political one-upmanship and media mud-slinging. </td> <td width="105" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2138-lebanese-media-reveal-their-colors-over-nasrallahs-speech"><img width="100" height="66" border="0" title="Lebanon, posters of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. R.R." class="image image-thumbnail" alt="Lebanon, posters of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. R.R." src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/71973446.thumbnail.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><img width="465" height="20" alt="" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/sep-news.gif" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"> <div align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2130-"><img width="325" height="20" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/kareem.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2131-until-you-change-your-mind">'Until you change your mind'</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 11/13/2007 - 13:19 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="361" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> On the first anniversary of his imprisonment, when fellow bloggers all over the world held demonstrations for his release, Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer was allegedly tortured for having exposed corruption inside the prison. </td> <td width="105" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2131-until-you-change-your-mind"><img width="99" height="62" border="0" title="Egypt, Kareem Amer" class="image image-thumbnail" alt="Egypt, Kareem Amer" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/karim%20amer.thumbnail.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><img width="465" height="20" alt="" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/sep-news.gif" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"> <div align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2108-"><img width="325" height="17" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/internet.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2107-moroccos-video-sniper-sparks-new-trend">Morocco's 'video sniper' sparks a new trend</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 11/12/2007 - 09:23 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="361" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> Do you have a video camera and access to the Internet? Then you have a powerful weapon at your disposal. If you use it as the 'Targuist sniper' did in Morocco, you might even bring about social change. </td> <td width="105" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2107-moroccos-video-sniper-sparks-new-trend"><img width="100" height="59" border="0" title="Morocco, video sniper © R.R." class="image image-thumbnail" alt="Morocco, video sniper © R.R." src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/Morocco.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><img width="465" height="20" alt="" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/sep-news.gif" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"> <div align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2102-"><img width="324" height="18" border="0" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/wael.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2097-wael-abbas-arab-internets-unlikely-superhero">Wael Abbas: the Arab Internet's unlikely superhero</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 11/09/2007 - 11:31 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="361" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> He is the first blogger ever to be given the Knight International Journalism Award, next Thursday in Washington. Menassat.com tracked down Egypt's Wael Abbas in Beirut and sat him down for an exclusive interview. </td> <td width="105" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2097-wael-abbas-arab-internets-unlikely-superhero"><img width="99" height="62" border="0" title="Egypt, blogger, Wael Abbas © R.R..jpg" class="image image-thumbnail" alt="Egypt, blogger, Wael Abbas © R.R..jpg" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/Egypt.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><img width="465" height="20" alt="" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/news/sep-news.gif" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </th> </tr> </tbody> </table> http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=24 Sat, 17 17 Nov 2007 14:04:56 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=24 Launching of "menassat.com" <style type="text/css"><!-- .style1 {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif} .style2 {font-size: 10px} .style3 {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; } .style4 {font-size: 12px} a:link { text-decoration: none; } a:visited { text-decoration: none; } a:hover { text-decoration: none; } a:active { text-decoration: none; } --></style> <table width="552" height="1573" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"> <tbody> <tr align="center"> <td width="548"><a href="http://menassat.com"><img width="540" height="89" border="0" align="left" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/head-en.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <table width="542" height="418" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td height="25" align="left" class="titletop" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;"> <div align="center"> <a title="" href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2036-">From Beirut with love</a> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2036-"><img width="147" height="29" border="0" align="top" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/lead1.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="15" align="left"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);">Posted on 11/05/2007 - 07:57&nbsp; </span><br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--><br /> Please allow us to introduce ourselves. We're a brand-new website with a network of correspondents throughout the Arab world. Our modest mission: to defend press freedom and freedom of expression wherever we can find it.</span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2036-"><img width="462" height="38" border="0" align="right" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/lead3.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter--> <p><font color="#697068">By Menassat.com's Editorial Team</font> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/2036-"><img width="469" height="264" border="0" src="http://menassat.com/files/images/LB05112007s.jpg" alt="LB05112007s.jpg" class="image image-_original" title="LB05112007s.jpg" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: verdana; padding-top: 2px; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The view from our offices in Beirut. &copy; S.M. / arabimages.com <br /> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <div class="block block-views" id="block-views-crticalcol"> <div class="blockinner"> <div id="titlealert"> <div class="blockinner">&nbsp;</div> <div class="blockinner">&nbsp;</div> <img src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/column-en%282%29.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <br /> <span class="style1"><span class="style2"><span class="style4"><a href="menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/2018-cry-wilderness">A cry in the wilderness</a><br /> <br /> </span></span></span></div> <div class="content"> <div class="view view-crticalcol"> <div class="view-content view-content-crticalcol"> <div id="contentalert"> <p><span class="style3"> <!--paging_filter--> Our editor in chief, Nidal Ayoub, reflects on freedom and why it seems <br /> to bother the region's leaders so much.</span></p> <p align="right"><span class="style3"></span><span class="style3"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/1704-"><img width="142" hspace="40" height="27" border="0" align="top" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/col1.jpg" alt="" /></a></span><br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/1704-"><img width="466" hspace="20" height="83" border="0" align="left" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/col2.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <p align="right">&nbsp;</p> <p align="right">&nbsp;</p> <p align="center"><br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9EoF98F-rE"><img width="354" height="29" border="0" alt="" src="http://arabimages.com/menassat/podcast.jpg" /></a><br /> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="left"><img src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/news-en%281%29.jpg" alt="" /><br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table width="542" height="549" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/1971-"><img width="474" height="24" border="0" align="right" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/STO4.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1921-true-form-ramadan-soaps-stir-controversy">True to form, Ramadan soaps stir controversy</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 11/02/2007 - 10:35 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="384" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter-->During Ramadan, Arab families fast during the day and... watch TV at night. This year's crop of Ramadan soap operas, or Musalsals, has stirred the usual controversy and kept the censors busy. </td> <td width="154" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1921-true-form-ramadan-soaps-stir-controversy" title=""><img width="100" height="62" border="0" class="image image-thumbnail" title="King Farouq was the undisputed jewel in the crown of the 2007 Musalsals." alt="King Farouq was the undisputed jewel in the crown of the 2007 Musalsals." src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/p13_20070216_pic_full_thumbnail.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">...........................................................................................................................<br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/1767-"><img width="442" height="23" border="0" align="right" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/STO3.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="menassat.com//?q=en/news-articles/1768-cover-or-not-cover-nahr-al-bared">To cover or not to cover Nahr Al-Bared</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 10/31/2007 - 12:15 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="384" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter-->The clich&eacute; that truth is the first casualty of war made a successful comeback at Nahr Al-Bared this year. But don't shoot the messengers. </td> <td width="154" valign="top" align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1768-cover-or-not-cover-nahr-al-bared" title=""><img width="100" height="67" border="0" class="image image-thumbnail" title="TRIPOLI : Advertising campaign poster supporting the lebanese army. © Caroline Poiron / arabimages.com" alt="TRIPOLI : Advertising campaign poster supporting the lebanese army. © Caroline Poiron / arabimages.com" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/photo_955_20070815_thumbnail.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">...........................................................................................................................</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/1824-"><img width="416" height="29" border="0" align="right" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/STOR1.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1851-blogging-all-way-jail">Blogging all the way to jail</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 10/29/2007 - 09:45 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="384" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter-->In Egypt, bloggers are talking about issues that the traditional media fail to report on. And they are going to jail for it.&nbsp;</td> <td width="154" valign="top" align="right">&nbsp;<a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1398-r-i-p-anonymous-arab" title=""><img width="100" height="71" border="0" class="image image-thumbnail" title="Friends and supporters of Bashar Al-Sayegh cheer his release from jail" alt="Friends and supporters of Bashar Al-Sayegh cheer his release from jail" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/Nic150171_0_thumbnail%281%29.jpg" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" height="20" colspan="2" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">........................................................................................................................... </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(171, 223, 95); font-weight: bold;"><br /> <a href="http://menassat.com/?q=ar/news-articles/1761-"><img width="204" height="31" border="0" align="right" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/STO2.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1398-r-i-p-anonymous-arab">R.I.P. the Anonymous Arab</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" align="left" colspan="2" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(137, 137, 137);"> Posted on 10/29/2007 - 09:00 </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="384" valign="top" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><!--paging_filter-->Arab governments are catching up with technology. Their latest target: anonymous comments and the forum administrators who let them slip past. </td> <td> <div align="right"><a href="http://menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/1851-blogging-all-way-jail" title=""><img width="100" height="72" border="0" class="image image-thumbnail" title="Egyptian blogger Abdul Karim Suleiman, a.k.a Karim Amer, after being sentenced to four years in prison. (AFP)" alt="Egyptian blogger Abdul Karim Suleiman, a.k.a Karim Amer, after being sentenced to four years in prison. (AFP)" src="http://menassat.com/files/Image/R_I_P%20Kuweit_rita_thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div> </td> <td width="10" valign="top" align="right">&nbsp;</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> ............................................................................................................................. http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=23 Mon, 12 12 Nov 2007 09:36:44 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=23 Exhausted (Nahr al Bared camp) <a href="http://harryzzz.blogspot.com"><img hspace="4" align="left" alt="" src="/UserFiles/Image/naherelbared.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">After spending the greater part of Monday touring around &ldquo;Nahr al Bared&rdquo; camp, I feel kind of exhausted. Of course nothing comparing to the soldiers, whose faces reflected total happiness or utter exhaustion. <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nearly all soldiers looked extremely relieved it was very clear the camp has been liberated. I saw Long columns of Lebanese army tanks &amp; trucks leaving the area.<br /> <br /> A sudden fire fight erupted in the afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">About seven militants suddenly appeared, around half the main highway (the one leading right next to the camp), and attacked soldiers. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Five militants were killed when two escaped. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">At the moment of the fight my translator and I were around three kilometers away from the place where it all took place. We couldn't see it, but we clearly heard - for about half an hour - sporadic machine gunfire and just about five loud explosions.<br /> &quot;Oh, don't tell me that it&rsquo;s not over yet&quot; my interpreter said.<br /> &quot;Oh please&quot; I replied.<br /> In a while it all went quiet again. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But the main road was closed for not less then two hours. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">That clearly shows how volatile the situation is still here.<br /> <br /> That was a very tiring day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We met happy soldiers, though many of them had hearing problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">They would tell us: &ldquo;Oh Man, during these past weeks all these explosions fucked my ears up.&quot;<br /> A lot of walking as we tried to get closer to the Fighting area &amp; had to crossover mud and &ldquo;Nahr al Bared River&rdquo;; my shoes and pants got screwed.<br /> In addition got stuck in an insane traffic jam. As if every motorized Lebanese wants to be around the camp.<br /> <br /> &rdquo;Nahr al Bared&rdquo; is still off limits for everybody but the Lebanese army. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have no clue when they are going to allow us in. <o:p></o:p>Need some sleep now.<br /> <br /> Big congratulations though to all the Lebanese soldiers who bravely fought Al Qaeda - the Army of Mordor!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <br />Harald Doornbos (<a href="http://harryzzz.blogspot.com">harryzzz.blogspot.com</a>) http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=22 Wed, 05 5 Sep 2007 12:50:00 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=22 Iraqi Reporter Latest Victim of Violence Against Women Journalists <img width="122" hspace="5" height="152" align="left" src="/UserFiles/Image/sahar.jpg" alt="" /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Sahar Hussein al-Haideri, 45, a top Iraqi reporter working in the perilous <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mosul</st1:city></st1:place> region, who fearlessly wrote about efforts by extremist forces to take control of the city and foment sectarian conflict, was murdered outside her home on June 7.<br /> Haideri reported for a <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mosul</st1:place></st1:city> newspaper, the Voices of Iraq news agency, and the Institute for War &amp; Peace Reporting, IWPR, where she had participated in numerous training and exchange programs over the past three years.<br /> <br /> Her most recent story was a moving feature on the stoning to death of a young Yezidi girl who had converted to Islam after falling in love with a Muslim boy. </span><span lang="FR"><a href="http://iwpr.net/index.php?p=icr&amp;s=f&amp;o=335541&amp;apc_state=henpicr"><span lang="EN-US" style="">See &quot;Honor Killing&rdquo; Sparks Fears of New Iraqi Conflict.</span></a></span><span style=""><br /> <br /> Haideri had long been concerned about her security, and for the past year had contributed reports to IWPR under a pseudonym. Six months ago, her husband and four children moved to <st1:city w:st="on">Damascus</st1:city>, and she had recently relocated to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> herself.<br /> <br /> She was on a brief visit back to her home in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mosul</st1:place></st1:city>. Several individuals confronted her as she left her house on June 7 and shot her dead.<br /> <br /> Earlier this week, Zakia Zaki, 35, a prominent Afghan woman journalist, and Sanga Amach, a 22-year-old television news presenter, were murdered in separate incidents in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kabul</st1:place></st1:city>.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Women journalists have demonstrated particular tenacity and bravery in Afghanistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan and other Islamic countries, reporting on the human costs of conflict and the efforts of mostly male-dominated power structures to undermine democracy,&rdquo; said Anthony Borden, executive director of IWPR, an international not-for-profit organization which supports local journalists in conflict areas and maintains extensive programming in Iraq.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Women are vital agents of democratic change in these societies, and the recent tragic killings demonstrate the depth and violence of opposition to their efforts,&rdquo; he said.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Our psychological state is unbalanced because we live and think in fear and worry, and always think about our destiny and that of our family members, relatives and friends,&rdquo; Haideri told the UK Press Gazette earlier this year. &ldquo;But I have never thought about quitting, as journalism is my life and I really love it.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></p> http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=20 Tue, 24 24 Jul 2007 06:53:24 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=20 What happened during my one week stay in Lebanon. <img hspace="5" align="left" src="/UserFiles/Image/180607lb.gif" alt="" /><span style="">The first day I arrived, a bomb exploded at Zouk where the NDU campus is situated! <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">5 days ago I went to Aley to see the aftermath of the last blast. A number of boutiques have already made the reparations and are operational. 3 others are still working to rebuild their destroyed source of living. On my way back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beirut</st1:place></st1:city> I heard about a current blast at the Raoucheh area. Later on I learned the precise location. I went there, parked my car facing the military bath and start walking to the site where the explosion took place. <br /> <br /> The day before I was accompanied by European visitors and was having a drink on the coastal terrace of Al Rawda, only a dozen meters away from the bombing that took the life of one more deputy, his son and 7 others&hellip; <br /> <br /> The army had established a security zone and only a bunch of reporters and photographers were able to stand on the top of the civil defense vehicle inside the perimeter, with a view of the horror scene.&nbsp; Others were posted higher on the hill trying to get a shoot or a hint about the victims and their identity. I always had a problem with the view on how the media professional behave at the source of the events. They all, without any exception get on site and you can meet all the actors of the media family present on location, ready to diffuse the hot spot. <br /> <br /> In Aley in the morning, after 11 days of the hotspot, there was nobody from the media covering the effort done by the local population, working to forget and rebuild their losses. I am amazed where they find the source of energy to reconstruct what they have lost not for the first time.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> On Saturday I visited for the first time the highest Holy place for the Uniates &ndash; Druze population in the world.&nbsp; Situated in the south east of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region> in the <st1:placetype w:st="on">municipality</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Hassbaya</st1:placename>, just at the border with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>. During the occupation period of 1982-2000 the local population didn&rsquo;t suffer from insecurity or any economical weakness. <br /> <br /> Since the liberation things have changed and the basic aspect for a living became more problematic. Last summer&rsquo;s war eased the social pressures a bit. With the presence of the Lebanese army powered by the UN peacekeeping forces, the population of Hassbaya feels more secure regarding a better future. On my way back to <st1:city w:st="on">Beirut</st1:city>, I crossed the region where, the day after, Lebanese militants fired rockets at <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <br /><br /><br />Samer Mohdad http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=18 Mon, 18 18 Jun 2007 11:29:32 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=18 Nahr El-Bared and the 'Heat' in Lebanon! <a href="http://arabimages.com"><img width="450" hspace="5" height="303" align="left" src="/UserFiles/Image/eglb004.jpg" alt="" /></a>Is Lebanon destined for wars or is it the other way round? Is Lebanon a lover of wars or is it that wars are in love with Lebanon? Has Lebanon lost a precious chance, or is it that the chance has lost Lebanon? Is Lebanon wounded, or is it that the Lebanese are the ones who are bleeding? Is Lebanon &quot;rebellious&quot; against all agreements, or is it that the Lebanese are rebellious against them? Each day, the spirit of Lebanon and its complexion change from joy to sadness and bleed, as always, that blood which is capable of penetrating gunpowder. Confrontations, fighting, narcissism and asphyxiation of the national spirit due to external causes, political and sectarian disagreements between those who call themselves Lebanese leaders - all this is the order of the day there.<br /><br />Last summer, Lebanon went to a battlefield against the will of its people and its government. A war that's been chosen by Hezbollah. It was a vicious war that wreaked havoc over suburbs, the infrastructures, and had its toll on the people. Lebanon lived a &quot;hot&quot; summer abounding in corpses and the stench of blood shed by the Israeli military machines. Today, Lebanon witnesses &quot;sad&quot; days as refugees escape their homes, and the scared inhabitants look for safer places, and more remote ones, away from the threat of explosions and demolition.<br /><br />Shortly before this summer, straying elements known as &quot;Fatah al-Islam&quot; were seeking to turn Lebanon and Nahr el-Bared into torrents of blood rather than water with an eye on revenge and creating a &quot;heated&quot; summer smelling of blood. This was in response to the warm welcome of Lebanon which opened its arms to them unconditionally and without inquiring about the where, why and what. The question remains unanswered: Did the Lebanese military really know about these straying elements? How many they are? What are their nationalities? And how did they enter Lebanon to end up in the Palestinian camps?<br /><br />Surely, the Lebanese military can't lay a hold on the streets of Beirut, and arrest those who break the traffic lights, how can it then get wind of the new comers?<br /><br />The elements of &quot;Fatah al-Islam&quot; don't mean well for Lebanon, the Lebanese, or the Palestinians, but rather death, demolition, disorder and instability in a country which is already &quot;unstable&quot; and that never witnessed a time of stability to begin with. Otherwise, why are those elements reluctant to surrender if they don't mean any harm to the country, or the people, so we can spare the blood and create a &quot;clean&quot; environment in the Palestinian camps which are filled with refugees fleeing the Israeli machine guns? And why don't the Palestinian leaders in Lebanon take concrete steps to convince the Lebanese and the others?<br /><br />In a previous interview with the London daily 'al-Hayat', the military commander of the Fatah al-Islam organization, Shihab al-Qaddour, also known as Abu Hurieira, said, &quot;We are ready to blow up every place in Beirut and/or any place else in Lebanon.&quot; He pointed out that Fatah al-Islam has sleeper cells on alert in all Palestinian refuge camps and in more than one area in Lebanon &quot;and they are on the alert [to launch] a harsh response - they await only a sign from us.&quot; He also said that threatening the organization would only open the fire of hell against Lebanon, as they have suicide bombers ready to carry out suicide operations.<br /><br />Lebanon is a country torn by wars and disagreements thanks to the political mentalities, and the Lebanese leaders. Lebanon didn't need to see his territory occupied by a terrorist organization which has been allowed entrance, deployment and breeding into a camp that doesn't put up with this new burden over the Lebanese streets, and the Palestinian refugees.<br /><br />Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora proves that he is a &quot;Statesman&quot; capable of standing up to difficult challenges, and creating a policy expressive of a &quot;popular&quot; will through the decisions he takes at the times of crises. These decisions don't belittle the crises, which is how some members of the opposition, who don't calculate the repercussions of these continuing disorders and strikes, deal with these crises.<br /><br />Lebanon is an &quot;open&quot; field; those who play abroad are &quot;almost&quot; known, as well as those who threaten it from the inside. At this &quot;decisive&quot; historic phase the Lebanese should defy all the attempts of those who try to manipulate the destiny of their country before it turns into a huge battlefield, and a haven for warmongers. The victim at the end of the &quot;tragic&quot; play is Lebanon and its people.<br /><br />Source: Al-Hayat, by Jamil Ziabi http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=17 Tue, 05 5 Jun 2007 11:25:37 GMT http://mesarabies.com/blog_article.php?id=17