Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Lebanon: Aoun represents the axis of evil

MP. Michele Aoun Represent the Axis Of Evil, & not the Lebanese Christians
By: Elias Bejjani

March 03/08

On February the 2nd, 2008, the National Lebanese News Agency has reported the following: "An FPM (Free Patriotic Movement) student committee delegation from French St. Joseph's University in Beirut laid a wreath of flowers at the tomb of the martyr Imad Mughniyah in Ghobeiri (Beirut), in a salute to his sacrifices and accomplishments in regard the sovereignty and liberation of the nation, then they stood one minute in silence for his soul."

On January 30, 2008, news agency and Lebanese newspapers published the following statement that was made by Sheik Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's VP: "The Paper Memorandum of Understanding between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement is not an understanding on subjects, not one constrained by a specific time, rather it is a strategic understanding, steadfast as the mountains, and whoever approaches it we will shatter his head, and the understanding shall remain."

On February 28, 2008, in an interview with the Lebanese LBC TV, MP. Michele Aoun stated openly that Imad Mughniyah is a martyr and made his alleged martyrdom equal to that of Lebanon's assassinated late PM, Rafic Hariri. At the same time Aoun okayed what he termed Hezbollah's legitimate right to retaliate for Mughniyahi's killing. Although he had no legal or substantial proof to blame Israel for this killing that took place in the Syrian Capital Damascus, Aoun agreed with Hezbollah's anti-Israeli rhetoric and allegations. Meanwhile Aoun did not see any wrongdoing in Hezbollah's  resorting to its huge piled Iranian-Syrian weapons against the Lebanese themselves if they try, to in any way, disarm it. Aoun in the same interview used Hezbollah's weapons to threaten the Lebanese ruling majority when he said : "Those who are capable of igniting a civil war and winning it don't want to resort to that choice," Aoun added without giving any detailed explanations.
 
Based on the above sad, nauseating and disappointing Aoun overt stances, we send a thousand congratulations to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM-Aounist Movement), and to MP. General Michele Aoun himself, its leader, the derailed deluded and day dreaming self acclaimed Lebanon's Napoleon, and sole representative for Lebanon's Christian rights. This camouflaging, Judastic, demagogic, ungrateful man who was strongly behind the well known Pro-Lebanese American Act: "Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003", that aimed to: Halt Syrian support for terrorism, end its occupation of Lebanon, stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, cease its illegal importation of Iraqi oil, and hold Syria accountable for its role in the Middle East, and for other purposes.
 
Michele Aoun, who was tagged for 18 years as the champion of freedoms and the number one anti Syrian Lebanese Christian politician, has sadly changed his skin, abandoned all his promises to the Lebanese people, sold his country's independence cause for thirty pieces of silver, betrayed all his sovereignty platforms, turned his back to the USA, European and moderate Arab countries, as well as to other free world nations who supported Lebanon to restore its confiscated independence and force the Syrian occupation army to withdraw in 2005. Aoun actually has joined the Hezbollah-Syrian-Iranian Axis of Evil.
 
Why would a man with this patriotic magnitude take such a bizarre, treacherous and hazardous shift? Simply because his lust for power and longing for the presidential post has overcome his patriotic stances. His mean succumbing to a personal selfish agenda on the account of Lebanon's future is so disgraceful and so disappointing, but what is more disappointing and saddening is indeed the status of many of his supporters who have turned a blind eye to all his Axis of Evil transformation and despite all odd still stand behind him and defend his derailed and anti Lebanese-anti Christian stances.
 
Aoun actually had adopted Hezbollah's Godly strategies which have now become in materiel reality his own too. And as declared by Sheik Hassan Nasrallah following the assassination of Imad Mughniyah., this strategy calls for the elimination of Israel from existence, and for the declaring of an open global war against it and against all the arrogant whether American or mercenary Arabs and others as Nasrallah stated verbatim in his speech.
 
We Lebanese waited with anticipation to hear a reply and explanation from General Michele Aoun on the statements of his ally Sheik Kassem regarding their strategic understanding, and the reply came so clear-cut through the FPM students' laying of the wreath of flowers on Imad Mughniyah's tomb in "salute to his sacrifices and accomplishments in regard the sovereignty and liberation of the nation". The picture became  even more crystal clear in the Aoun's LBC interview.
So that Aoun and his FPM party share now and adopt Hezbollah's strategy, let us see what are the implications of such a shift, and what is actually Hezbollah's strategy?
 
In summary, Hezbollah's strategy that encompasses its long and short term declared objectives, includes the advocacy for death, suicide and martyrdom concept, erection of a Shiite Islamic state in Lebanon, a replica of the Iranian Mullas' Khomeini Republic, enforcement of the "Welaet Al Fakeah" Shiite religious doctrine and its way of life, elimination of the state of Israel, a global fight till a total victory over the American Satan and all the Western infidel countries is accomplished, etc

Based on the above facts and declared stances, We call on those well intending and patriotic Lebanese in Lebanon and Diaspora who blindly still support Aoun, either because they hate and despise other Lebanese leaders, or because of poor political information and lack of follow up for unfolding events, we call on them to wake up and get out of their self imposed darkness and start immediately reviewing thoroughly their naive Aoun loyalty.
 
They ought to ask themselves what in reality is common between their Aoun's FPM and the Hezbollah Iranian fundamentalist Militia. In fact there is nothing, but mere and antagonistic contradictions in every and each aspect. The only reason Aoun is cajoling and appeasing Hezbollah is his "delusion" and lust for the presidency post.

Our comrades must know that Aoun, because of his delusion and lust, has detached himself from reality and from the hopes and aspirations of his Lebanese Christian communities, negated all its deeply rooted culture, identity, national convictions and education. In this context of derailment he also declared a dirty war against his Maronite Patriarch and his Bkerke's national religious authority. The man is deluding himself that Hezbollah can secure the presidency post for him, while Hezbollah sees in him a Trojan horse no more no less.
 
We bring to the attention of our Lebanese people, the Christians in particular who voted for  Aoun in 2005, along with the sovereign and free crowd who still see in this lost man the image of the savior-leader, We bring to their attention that the mandate a people grants to a leader is legally a conditional trust linked to declared and well documented plans, principle, programs, promises, platforms and commitments. In this perspective, Aoun boasted during the last parliamentary elections (2005) that his party owned a complete platform totally different of all other groupings and parties, that people had to review it, and if convinced vote for him and for his candidates on its basis. And indeed, the FPM disseminated these thesis which included several titles covering critical national and sovereignty subjects, the South, Hezbollah's weapons, the economy and many other issues. The elections were conducted and the results gave Aoun 70 percent to 80 percent Christian votes throughout Lebanon.

Therefore the votes were cast in favor of a specific platform, and certainly not on the basis of personality nor personal liking. This mandate vote confidence was conditionally granted on adherence to the Lebanese cause, rights, freedoms,  the state's sovereignty and its right to impose its authority over all its land,  and restricting arms to its own legitimate armed forces, the ending of chaos, anarchy and the cantons, the militia weapons, and most importantly putting an end to the education of killing, suicide, and the godly wars. Wasn't this the general's own position for 16 years?
 
By joining the Hezbollah-Syrian-Iranian Axis of Evil and adopting their strategies of terrorism, Aoun has completely negated all his promises and made null and void all his platforms. Accordingly he does not any more represent those Lebanese citizens who voted for him, and specially the majority of the Lebanese Christian community members who adore peace, honor human rights and long for a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon.
 
How could we ignore the fact that Imad Mughniyah was involved in masterminding and executing many killings and crimes against the French and American forces in Lebanon, and in kidnapping at least four planes, in addition to the bombing and killing of hundreds of people all over the world. Since 1984 and with the assistance of the two Hamada brothers, Mughniyah was involved in the kidnapping of 50 French, American, British German and other western citizens. He was a stringent tool in the hands of the Iranian intelligence bodies. He did not act alone but through a network of Iranian Fanatics and fundamentalists, especially Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps' military wing. He was well known by his extreme hostility to the West in general and to the United States in particular.
 
For the FPM members who are peace lovers and for one reason or another are still supporting Aoun either in Lebanon or the Diaspora, here below are the superb achievements of Imad Mughniyah, the acts that Aoun and his University students see as accomplishments in regard the sovereignty and liberation of the nation".

We call on these members to look thoroughly in the below list and take a stance. A transparent one: either with the Axis of Evil or against it, remembering what Jesus said (Luke 11,14)23. "whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters".
 
Crimes attributed directly or indirectly to Imad Mughniyah:
 
1-Islamic Jihad, a shadowy pro-Iranian group widely believed linked to Hezbollah, kidnapped dozens of Western hostages in Beirut in the mid 1980s at a time when Moughniyah was thought to be the group's commander. The group killed some of its captives and exchanged others for U.S. weapons to Iran in what was later known as the Iran-Contra scandal. Among the victims of Islamic Jihad was the CIA's Middle East station chief.
 
2- September 3, 1981:  Assassination of the French Ambassador Louis DeLamare in Beirut
 
3-April 1983: A van packed with explosives targeted the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans.

4-October 1983: Near simultaneous truck bombings against barracks of French and U.S. peacekeeping forces in Beirut, killing 241 American Marines and 58 French paratroopers.
 
5-March 1984: Kidnapping of Lt. Col. William F. Buckley, CIA station chief in Beirut, who was eventually killed in the beginning of a spate of kidnappings linked to Hezbollah.
 
6-1985: Mughniyah lost two of his own brothers in acts of terrorism that he exclusively masterminded. His brother "Jihad" was killed during the attempt of blowing up the headquarters of Mr. Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah in which 75 individuals were killed. Jihad was one of Fadlallah body guards.

7-March 1985: Kidnapping of the Associated Press chief Mideast correspondent Terry Anderson who was then held for more than six years.
 
8-1985:  Failed attempt to assassinate late Kuwait Prince, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and at the same time bombing of the American and French embassies in Kuwait resulting in the death and injury of tens of individuals
 
9-June 1985: The hijacking of the TWA Flight 847 heading from Athens to Rome, flying it back and forth between Beirut and Algeria. At Beirut's airport, the hijackers lead by
Mughniyah personally shoot U.S. Navy diver Robert Stetham, a passenger on the plane, and dumped his body on the runway. Most of the 150 passengers were freed during the three day hijacking; some were held for two weeks. The United States indicted Mughniyah for his role in the hijacking, and he was put on FBI's most wanted list with a $5 million bounty for information leading to his capture.
 
10-1988: Hijacking of a Kuwaiti passenger jet. Hijackers killed with cold blood  two Kuwaiti passengers before surrendering at the airport in Algeria. None of the hijackers was prosecuted.
 
11-March 1992: Bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires -Argentina, killing 29 people

12-March 1992:  A pickup truck packed with explosives smashed into the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 29 people.

13-July 1994: A van packed with explosives leveled a seven-story Jewish center in Buenos Aires-Argentine, killing 85 people. Argentina issued an arrest warrant for Mughniyah in 1999.

14-1996: A deadly explosions hit Al Kobar complex in Saudi Arabia killing 19 Americans
15-2002: Disguising and smuggling many key Al Qaeda leadership individuals out of  Afghanistan including Osama Ben Laden through the Pakistani borders
 
16- 2006: Kidnapping and killing Israeli soldiers through the Lebanese-Israeli borders that kicked off the Israeli-Hezbollah devastating war in 2006.
 
The whole world should know that the Lebanese Christian Communities are civilized and peace loving  people whose ancestors gave humanity the Alphabet, and whose country Lebanon is mentioned in the Holy Bible  more than 74 times.  In this context its our obligation to state loudly that MP. Michele Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement, the new allies of the Axis of Evil and who adopted its strategy does not by any way represent the hopes, aspirations, religious beliefs, culture, code of ethics, education, identity or national convictions of the majority of the Lebanese Christian communities in particular, or the Lebanese people in general.

Elias Bejjani
Chairman for the Canadian Lebanese Coordinating Council (LCCC)
Human Rights activist, journalist & political commentator.
Spokesman for the Canadian Lebanese Human Rights Federation (CLHRF)
E.Mail phoenicia@hotmail.com

LCCC Web Site http://www.10452lccc.com
CLHRF Website http://www.clhrf.com

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