He doesn't want to antagonize his BASE.
IRAN-HEZBOLLAH LINK EYED
By URI DAN
May 21st 2004
The NY Post
JERUSALEM — The reason for Israel's ongoing offensive at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip lies hundreds of miles to the east — in Iran.
It is Tehran's deepening involvement in Palestinian terrorism — directly or through Iran's Hezbollah surrogates in Lebanon — that prompted this week's massive hunt for arms-smuggling tunnels at the Gaza town of Rafah.
Tons of weapons are waiting in Egypt's Sinai Desert to be shipped through the tunnels. If the contraband gets through it "would change the balance between Israel and the terrorists," said Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
This is not just a matter of rifles and bullets. It is Russian-made Strella shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles and Katyusha rockets and launchers.
It is the same kind of material that Iran tried to smuggle into Gaza in January, 2002, aboard the infamous smuggling ship Karin-A — until Israeli commandos seized it in the Red Sea.
These are weapons that, in the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, could knock Israeli planes out of the skies and reach towns inside Israel.
The high command considered the arrival of missiles and rockets on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border such an urgent matter that it ordered the massive sweep into Rafah.
Why can't the smuggling be stopped on Egypt's side of the Rafah tunnels?
Zvi Fogel, former chief of staff of Israel's southern command, told The Post that appeals to Egypt to halt the smuggling have been in vain.
"They don't care if Israel bleeds. They would like to see Israel retreating," he said.
http://www.nypost.com/commentary/21343.htm
Iran Try's To Censor Film About Clerics
Gary Fitleberg
05/20/04
American Daily
According to Iran’s state controlled news agency IRNA, Several cinemas in Tehran have stopped screening a hit movie mocking Iran's clerics that sparked hardline criticism.
Seven out of 28 cinemas in the capital stopped screening of the film “The Lizard.”
"The Lizard", which follows the fortunes of a thief who escapes prison by donning the turban and robes of a Muslim cleric. He proves a crowd-pleaser as a preacher.
The film has been playing to packed houses. It sold e650,000 worth of tickets in 18 days, IRNA reported..
Nonetheless, “The Lizard” but has meet strong criticism by Iran’s clerics and Friday prayer leaders. Worshippers in the cities of Hamedan and Shiraz heard special sermons condemning the film, IRNA reported.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati -- head of the Guardian Council, an non-elected constitutional watchdog with sweeping powers -- recently said the film was a "bad influence and should be banned".
The film has already been banned in major Iranian cities such as Mashhad, Rasht and the seminary center of Qom.
Iran continues to be a repressive regime under the rulership of the Ayatollahs and clerics. It is a nation devoid of democracy and freedom especially Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech. Until Iran becomes a democratic and freedom observing nation its citizens can not experience human rights free from oppression and tyranny.
http://www.americandaily.com/item/5744
Let Freedom Ring ~ Bump!