Posted on 01/18/2003 2:49:48 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The delegations are widely diverse. Some members have celebrity status, such as Sean Penn and Bianca Jagger. Others said that until recently they had never thought of either protesting for peace or traveling to Iraq.
Take Terry Kay Rockefeller, a 52-year-old documentary filmmaker from Arlington. The memory of the death of her sister, Laura, in the attack on the World Trade Center prompted Rockefeller to make the long journey to Baghdad.
''Afghanistan, the bombing in Bali, this war - every time, I feel it as re-experiencing Laura's death,'' said Rockefeller, a member of the group September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, which advocates nonviolent solutions to conflicts. ''I understand somebody, somewhere in the world is going through what I did.''
For John Paulmann of Westfield State College, it was accidentally spotting a message posted on a Web site with a petition against the war. Some 30,000 American academics signed the petition; Paulmann is one of 32 visiting Iraq.
''My theory is there are good, everyday people in all places, and they don't show up in the headlines,'' the 54-year-old professor of communications said on his first full day in Baghdad. ''I want to go back and tell my students about the people I will meet here.''
Peace delegations are largely circumscribed in what they see. All are assigned government guides, as are reporters, making it difficult, if not impossible, to talk with Iraqis who are critical of President Saddam Hussein.
Some tour ballet or music schools, others hospitals. Few visits here are complete without a trip to Baghdad's Al Amiriya Shelter, where American bombs killed hundreds of civilians sheltering there in 1991, or a meeting with those injured in American bombing raids in the no-fly zone in the south.
Few leave here without at least one moving experience.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
An Iraqi boy stands on the balcony of his house holding a toy gun in front a portrait of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, while watching U.N. weapons inspectors during their visit to the house of Faleh Hassan, an Iraqi Physicist in Baghdad Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003. The inspections at the homes of Hassan and his next door neighbor, nuclear scientist Shaker el-Jibouri, were the first at private houses. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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I wonder how many of these people considered traveling to Bali or Ground Zero or maybe visiting with some of the victims of terrorism.
Sign the Petition. Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits.
***BBC NEWS: "NEW IRAQ DOCUMENT FIND ALARMS UN" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The head of the United Nations atomic agency has voiced concern about documents apparently relating to nuclear technology which were found in an Iraqi scientist's home. The documents, numbering 3,000 pages, appear to focus on laser enrichment - a way to modify uranium for use in nuclear weapons - and were taken from the home of physicist Faleh Hassan on Thursday.") (011803)
***AFTENPOSTEN.no: "USA WANTS NORWAY TO WATCH KREKAR" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mullah Krekar has been, and likely remains, the leader of Ansar al-Islam, a fringe Islamic group in Iranian Kurdistan accused of having connections to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network. The New York Times reported the connection last week after interviews with Ansa al-Islam members, and after finding documents in Afghanistan mentioning direct links to al-Qaeda.") (January 17, 2003)
***ALBAWABA.com: "HAMAS GETS RPG LAUNCHERS, DEVELOPS ADVANCED VERSION OF QASSAM ROCKETS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The Palestinian resistance group Hamas said Tuesday it has received a large number of rocket-propelled grenade launchers and has produced a new batch of an advanced version of its Qassam rockets.") (January 14, 2003)
stepping back in time...FOX NEWS.com (AP): "ISLAMIC CHARITY HEAD CHARGED WITH FUNNELING FUNDS TO BIN LADEN" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "CHICAGO - The leader of a Chicago-area Islamic charity was indicted Wednesday on charges of funneling donations to Usama bin Laden's terrorist network, with Attorney General John Ashcroft vowing, "We will find the sources of terrorist blood money." Enaam M. Arnaout, 40, head of the Benevolence International Foundation, has been in federal custody since April.") (100902)
***BUSH COUNTRY.org - Opinion Corner by Jeremy Reynalds: "TERRORIST GROUP'S TV STATION APPEALS FOR FUNDS FOR 'OPPRESSED PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.'" (COMMENTARY SNIPPET: "The radical terrorist group Hizballah, on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations, is raising funds for its activities on an associated web site apparently hosted by an American internet service provider. The web site is www.manartv.com, a Lebanese television station broadcasting by satellite, that is commonly considered to be a propaganda arm of the Hizballah.") (January 14, 2003)
***FBI.gov: MOST WANTED - TERRORISTS: "ALI ATWA aliases: Ammar Mansour Bouslim, Hassan Rostom Salim" (WANTED POSTER SNIPPETS: "CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT AIRCRAFT PIRACY, TO COMMIT HOSTAGE TAKING, TO COMMIT AIR PIRACY RESULTING IN MURDER, TO INTERFERE WITH A FLIGHT CREW, TO PLACE A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT, TO HAVE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ABOUT THE PERSON ON AN AIRCRAFT, AND TO ASSAULT PASSENGERS AND CREW; AIR PIRACY RESULTING IN MURDER; IR PIRACY; HOSTAGE TAKING; INTERFERENCE WITH FLIGHT CREW; AND PLACING EXPLOSIVES ABOARD AIRCRAFT; PLACING DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES ABOARD AIRCRAFT; ASSAULT ABOARD AIRCRAFT WITH INTENT TO HIJACK WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON AND RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY; AIDING AND ABETTING"..."CAUTION Ali Atwa was indicted for his role and participation in the June 14, 1985, hijacking of a commercial airliner which resulted in the assault on various passengers and crew members, and the murder of one U.S. citizen. REWARD The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension and/or conviction of Ali Atwa. SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
***FBI.gov: MOST WANTED: TERRORISTS: "HASSAM IZZ AL-DIN aliases Ahmed Garbaya, Samir Salwwan, Sa-id" (MOST WANTED POSTER SNIPPETS: "Remarks: Izz-Al-Din is an alleged member of the terrorist organization, Lebanese Hizballah. He is thought to be in Lebanon. CAUTION Hasan Izz-Al-Din was indicted for his role in planning and participation in the June 14, 1985, hijacking of a commercial airliner which resulted in the assault on various passengers and crew members, and the murder of one U.S. citizen. REWARD The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension and/or conviction of Hasan Izz-Al-Din. SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
NATIONAL POST.com: "HAMILTON MAN ADMITS HE KNEW TERRORISTS" by Tom Blackwell (ARTICLE NOTE: The suspect is identified as Abdellah Ouzghar, age 38, a Moroccan-Canadian.) (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "An Ontario man convicted in France of belonging to an Islamic terror group said yesterday he made repeated social visits to the Montreal apartment where Ahmed Ressam and other Muslim extremists lived. Abdellah Ouzghar said he knew several Montreal residents who have since been found guilty of terrorist-related acts, including reputed ringleader Fateh Kamel. Ressam was found guilty of plotting to set off a huge bomb at the Los Angeles airport during millennium celebrations, and was arrested trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border in a car packed with explosives. "(011603)
***NATIONAL POST.com: "LEBANESE ENVOY OFFERS NO APOLOGIES" (ARTICLE NOTE: Raymond Baaklini is Lebanon's ambassador to to Canada.) (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The diplomatic dispute erupted after publication of an interview Mr. Baaklini gave to the Montreal-based Arabic-language newspaper Sada al Machric, in which he said the "Zionist movement" in Canada had the "number one role" in forcing Ottawa to outlaw Hezbollah. The Dec. 31 edition of the newspaper asked the ambassador for his response to the "unfair" policy on Hezbollah. "The most stubborn party benefiting from this subject is the Zionist party that exists in Canada," he was quoted as saying. "As you know this party controls 90% of the Canadian media. It takes instructions and help from many Zionist organizations either in Canada or abroad. Therefore, if we don't say the Zionist movement had the number two role, it had the number one role and America comes second." Mr. Graham indicated he may also personally speak with Mr. Baaklini to "set him straight" about the behaviour expected of foreign diplomats posted to Canada.")(011103)
NATIONAL POST.com ("A Part of Canada.com): "THE GOOD SON" by Isabel Vincent (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: "Omar Khadr: from Toronto's suburbs to bin Laden's army: 'Omar was always there for us,' says sister of teenager accused of killing U.S. soldier"..."Omar's father, Ahmed Khadr, is suspected of being one of Osama bin Laden's key lieutenants and a high-ranking member of the terrorist group Egyptian Islamic Jihad. He is hiding in rural Pakistan.") (122802)
CANADA.com - THE OTTAWA CITIZEN (THE MONTREAL GAZETTE): "CANADIAN ACTIVIST WON'T LEAVE WEST BANK" (ARTICLE NOTE: The "Canadian activist" is Jaggi Singh, age 29.) (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mr. Singh said he also intends to visit the Jenin refugee camp or other areas of "Palestinian resistance."") (122702)
NATIONAL POST.com - Series: "In Case of Emergency": "A NUCLEAR BOMB ENTERS THE PORT" by Richard Foot (ARTICLE SNPPET: "The threat of terrorist acts against North America has not diminished since it was made real on Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. authorities have warned al-Qaeda may be planning "spectacular attacks," and Osama bin Laden has threatened that Canada will pay for supporting the United States. How ready are we to respond to an act of terrorism on our soil? Today, in the conclusion of a series exploring the state of Canada's preparedness, the National Post examines the potential for mayhem should a nuclear bomb be smuggled into the Port of Halifax.") (010603)
***THE STAR.com - THE TORONTO STAR (CANADIAN PRESS): Ottawa. "CANADA ALLOWS IMPORT OF BOMB BOOK" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The federal government has approved the importation of a book that gives detailed instructions for making bombs and blowing up bridges, the Ottawa Citizen reported yesterday. Even the author of The Anarchist Cookbook has renounced it as "misguided and potentially dangerous." But the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency says there is nothing to prevent its sale in Canada because it violates neither the hate law nor obscenity law, the newspaper reported.") (121502)
***FBI.gov: SEEKING INFORMATION: "AMER EL-MAATI" akas "Amro Badr Eldin Abou El-Maati, Amro Badr Abouelmaati" (SEEKING INFORMATION POSTER SNIPPET: "Amer El-Maati is being sought in connection with possible terrorist threats in the United States."..."SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
***FBI.gov: MOST WANTED TERRORISTS: "IMAD FAYEZ MUGNIYAH" aka "Hajj" (WANTED POSTER SNIPPETS: "Mugniyah is the alleged head of the security apparatus for the terrorist organization, Lebanese Hizballah."..."The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension and/or conviction of Imad Fayez Mugniyah."..."SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
PAK TODAY.com - PAKISTAN TODAY: "THE FRANCHISING OF HEZBOLLAH" by Avi Davis (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Western intelligence has now revealed a high level of cooperation between Bin Laden and Imad Muganiyeh, the Hezbullah terrorist who masterminded some of Hezbollah's most spectacular atrocities and kidnappings in Lebanon. Reports have Muganiyeh first meeting with Bin Laden as early as 1995 and those meetings have continued. More than this, since al-Qaida fled Afghanistan at the end of last year, the Sunday Telegraph reports, between 80 and 100 al- Qaida fighters were provided with false passports by Hezbollah before being relocated to southern Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The same report acknowledges that Hezbollah, working hand in hand with al-Qaida, has set up cells in the Far East - including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. It is well known that Hezbollah has operated in Gaza and the West Bank for years, but the recent revelation by the Shin Bet in Israel that al- Qaida has now also joined them there, is chilling evidence of a level of cooperation previously unsuspected. Such news comes as a dire warning to American, Israeli and Jewish communities throughout the world.") (122702)
ALBAWABA.com: "IS HIZBULLAH INVISIBLE LEADER INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES IN CANADA?" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In the United States, authorities believe that perhaps one of the world's most wanted men is behind the Canadian organization, which has raised funds, falsified documents and purchased military equipment for Hizbullah. In Washington, officials currently suspect that the agents sent to Canada to gather support for the Hizbullah work for Mugniyah, a top-level Hizbullah leader and the suspected mastermind of numerous attacks worldwide.") (120102)
NATIONAL POST.com: "SOMALI MOSQUE APOLOGIZES FOR E-MAIL" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "TORONTO - A Toronto mosque has apologized for a Christmas Day message that said wishing someone Merry Christmas is comparable to congratulating them for committing murder or engaging in adultery. "The Board [of Khalid Bin Al-Walid Mosque] sincerely apologizes for the distress that this e-mail has caused to subscribers of its e-mail list, other Muslims, and most importantly, our Christian neighbours during this important season for them," a written statement said.") (010603)
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