Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Now this is getting really detached from reality. NO JIHADISTS IN POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST?????
"Jihadist" is an easy term to throw around. There's a far cry from the seated governments proclaiming their hostility for Israel and the al-qaeda, mehdi army, and al-shabab types.
What's so strange is that a lot of these governments are democratically elected yet people still cry 'foul' ... but yet when an insurgent, terrorist, etc, arises people STILL call 'foul' ... so alas, there isn't much room for options.
Quote:
Who's in power in Iran??
mahmoud ahmadinejad, the ayatollah, alliance of builders of islamic iran, etc, why?
Quote:
What about Gaza? Ever hear of Hamas?
Yes, I have. Aside from their military wing...
Quote:
Social welfare wing
Hamas is particularly popular among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, though it also has a following in the West Bank, and to a lesser extent in other Middle Eastern countries. Its popularity stems in part from its welfare wing providing social services to Palestinians in the occupied territories, including school and hospital construction. Hamas devotes up to 90% of its estimated $70 million annual budget to an extensive social services network, running many relief and education programs, and funds schools, orphanages, mosques, healthcare clinics, soup kitchens, and sports leagues. Such services aren't generally provided by the Palestinian government.[48]
In particular, Hamas funded health services where people could receive free or inexpensive medical treatment. Hamas greatly contributed to the health sector, and facilitated hospital and physician services in the Palestinian territory. On the other hand, Hamas’s use of hospitals is sometimes criticised as purportedly serving the promotion of violence against Israel.[49] The party is also known to support families of those who have been killed (including suicide bombers), wounded or imprisoned by Israel, including providing a monthly allowance of $100. Families of militants not affiliated with Hamas receive slightly less.[50]
Hamas has funded education as well as the health service, and built Islamic charities, libraries, mosques, education centers for women. They also built nurseries, kindergartens and supervised religious schools that provide free meals to children. When children attend their schools and mosques, parents are required to sign oaths of allegiance. Refugees, as well as those left without homes, are able to claim financial and technical assistance from Hamas.[51]
The work of Hamas in these fields supplements that provided by the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA). Hamas is also well regarded by Palestinians for its efficiency and perceived lack of corruption compared to Fatah.[52] Since the 2008–2009 Israeli military operation in Gaza, Palestinian public opinion polls have shown Hamas steadily increasing in popularity with 52% support compared to 13% for Fatah. All public opinion surveys conducted recently have supported this trend.[53]
Despite building materials needing to be smuggled into the territory, luxury beach resorts and tourist facilities operated by the interior ministry have been constructed by Hamas government linked charities which include gardens, playgrounds, football fields, a zoo and restaurants aimed to provide employment and low cost entertainment for citizens. Some Palestinians have complained about the admission fee, criticizing Hamas for charging them to use "government-owned" property.[54]
Quote:
And do you not consider Hezbullah to be Jihadists? They now control Lebanon.
Hezbollah is a unique case amongst groups. They have wielded a lot of influence in Lebanese society before AND after they sought control of the government. Even before the recent events in Lebanon, Hezbollah was a government approved defense force, an upstanding nation wide civilian network, etc.
"There are no real threats"? "Alleged victimization"??? There are 50,000 Jihadist short, medium, and long range missiles in Lebanon and Gaza pointed at all of Israel's population centers. In addition to the chemically-tipped missiles in Syria and who knows what in Iran.
Get real.
Sometimes the illusion of power and control is more valuable and long lasting than the consequences of war and conflict.
So now we're being told that Hamas is a "social services organization" and that Hezbullah is a "government-approved defense force"!
And none of them are jihadists, including their patron the boy scouts who run the Islamic Republic of Iran.
What a lovely group of people, AND WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!
So now we're being told that Hamas is a "social services organization" and that Hezbullah is a "government-approved defense force"!
Are they not?
The Lebanese cabinet, under president Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, guidelines state that Hezbollah enjoys the right to "liberate occupied lands."[118]
If they are given the approval to liberate occupied lands (land occupied by Israel IN Lebanon) then yes, they are a government approved force.
In much of the Arab world, Hezbollah is seen as a legitimate resistance organization that has defended its land against an Israeli occupying force and has consistently stood up to the Israeli army.[9]
According to a survey released by the "Beirut Center for Research and Information" on July 26 during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, 87 percent of Lebanese support Hezbollah's "retaliatory attacks on northern Israel",[180] a rise of 29 percentage points from a similar poll conducted in February. More striking, however, was the level of support for Hezbollah's resistance from non-Shiite communities. Eighty percent of Christians polled supported Hezbollah, along with 80 percent of Druze and 89 percent of Sunnis.[181]
Hezbollah social services are social development programs, hospitals, news services, and educational facilities organized by the Lebanese paramilitary group, Hezbollah. Social services have a central role in the party's programs. Most experts believe that Hezbollah's social and health programs are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.[1] The American think tankCouncil on Foreign Relations also said that Hezbollah "is a major provider of social services, operating schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiites."[2][3]
Hezbollah organizes an extensive social development program and runs hospitals, news services, educational facilities, and encouragement of Nikah mut‘ah.[1][4] Some of its established institutions are: Emdad committee for Islamic Charity,[5] Hezbollah Central Press Office, Al Jarha Association,[6] and Jihad Al Binaa Developmental Association.[7] Jihad Al Binna's Reconstruction Campaign is responsible for numerous economic and infrastructure development projects in Lebanon.[8][9] Hezbollah has set up a Martyr's Institute (Al-Shahid Social Association), which guarantees to provide living and education expenses for the families of fighters who die in battle.[10]
In March 2006, an IRIN news report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted:
"Hezbollah not only has armed and political wings - it also boasts an extensive social development program. Hezbollah currently operates at least four hospitals, twelve clinics, twelve schools and two agricultural centres that provide farmers with technical assistance and training. It also has an environmental department and an extensive social assistance program. Medical care is also cheaper than in most of the country's private hospitals and free for Hezbollah members".[1]
According to CNN: "Hezbollah did everything that a government should do, from collecting the garbage to running hospitals and repairing schools."[11]
In July 2006, during the war with Israel, when there was no running water in Beirut, Hezbollah was arranging supplies around the city. "People here [in South Beirut] see Hezbollah as a political movement and a social service provider as much as it is a militia, in this traditionally poor and dispossessed Shiite community."[11] Also, after the war it competed with the Lebanese government to reconstruct destroyed areas. According to analysts like American University Professor Judith Swain Harik, Jihad al-Binaa has won the initial battle of hearts and minds, in large part because they are the most experienced in Lebanon in the field of reconstruction.[12]
Quote:
And none of them are jihadists, including their patron the boy scouts who run the Islamic Republic of Iran.
You see what you want to see.
Quote:
What a lovely group of people, AND WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!
Not recently. In fact when did the Israelites leave Israel? Thousands of years ago? A Timeline of the History of Israel
This even shows that Israel was not the land of the Israelites for centuries.
Gee, what about Gaul?
Then, by your logic, everyone in the US needs to leave and let the Native Americans have this land, it was theirs.
Israel is not a good neighbor. See Palestine.
BTW, the Bible is a nice book of mythology, but nothing else.
If you prefer you can check archaeological records to see that Hebrew habitation in the area dates back much farther than Arab.
How do you think the Arabs got there in the first place? Conquest.
Were the Ummayads good neighbors? Nah.
If you prefer you can check archaeological records to see that Hebrew habitation in the area dates back much farther than Arab.
How do you think the Arabs got there in the first place? Conquest.
Were the Ummayads good neighbors? Nah.
The Arabs of the Levant have Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Canaanites as ancestors.
Their culture was absorbed into Arab culture, as was that of Egypt.
The conquests occurred partially because the locals had no great love for the Byzantine Empire, which they were close to open revolt against, so they were willing to accept Umar's new conquering force...
The Lebanese cabinet, under president Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, guidelines state that Hezbollah enjoys the right to "liberate occupied lands."[118]
If they are given the approval to liberate occupied lands (land occupied by Israel IN Lebanon) then yes, they are a government approved force.
1) The official position of the Lebanese government has been that Hezbullah must disarm, and the government has accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which demands that Hezbollah be disarmed and disbanded as a military force.
2) According to the UN and just about everyone else in the world, there is no "occupied land" in Lebanon.
1) The official position of the Lebanese government has been that Hezbullah must disarm, and the government has accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which demands that Hezbollah be disarmed and disbanded as a military force.
2) According to the UN and just about everyone else in the world, there is no "occupied land" in Lebanon.
So, therein, it doesn't matter what the Lebanese think...
The Lebanese cabinet, under president Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, guidelines state that Hezbollah enjoys the right to "liberate occupied lands."[118]
If they are given the approval to liberate occupied lands (land occupied by Israel IN Lebanon) then yes, they are a government approved force.
In much of the Arab world, Hezbollah is seen as a legitimate resistance organization that has defended its land against an Israeli occupying force and has consistently stood up to the Israeli army.[9]
[/url]
You see what you want to see.
Hezbollah is not a country that is defending its own land. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization with a political arm.
1) The official position of the Lebanese government has been that Hezbullah must disarm, and the government has accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which demands that Hezbollah be disarmed and disbanded as a military force.
2) According to the UN and just about everyone else in the world, there is no "occupied land" in Lebanon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DAAR84
So, therein, it doesn't matter what the Lebanese think...
Ahh. So you agree with the two points I made.
The Lebanese, as represented by their government, have rejected Hezbullah as a military force (point #1).
There are no Israelis on the Lebanese side of the internationally-recognized border (point #2).
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
