Christians Fearful Over US Syria Strike ("American Strike Will Destroy And Displace Us")

al-monitor.com ^ | September 6, 2013 | Jean Aziz

[11th_VA]

Voices were loud and tones were clear in the closed conference held Monday, Sept. 2, in a Christian monastery in Mount Lebanon, about 20 kilometers [12 miles] from Beirut. The participants included representatives of the 11 Christian churches in Lebanon, along with a number of Lebanese Christian intellectuals and politicians, including Al-Monitor’s correspondent.

The hottest topic was about the fate of Syria and Lebanon’s Christians in light of a potential US strike against Damascus. One of the participating bishops addressed his fellow bishops and others with a sharp tone, saying, “Hear my words and take notes; the US strike on Syria has no guaranteed results whatsoever, neither on the military level nor on the political level or any other. The only certain and inevitable result is that the launch of the first rocket on Syria by NATO will be the end of Christians in this country. They will either be slaughtered or displaced.”

The following series of positions expressed by the bishops were in favor of their colleague, opposed to US policy in particular and the West’s policy toward Syria in general. “It is the Iraqi experience all over again,” said another participating bishop. He explained: “Americans entered Iraq under the pretext of overthrowing Saddam Hussein and establishing democracy. Yet, their intervention led to absolute chaos, the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq [group], endless Sunni-Shiite massacres, and most important, an almost total displacement of the Christians of Iraq.” The bishop, eagerly encouraging a peaceful solution in Syria, stated, “A few weeks ago, and in coordination with concerned Vatican circles, I headed to Europe with a delegation of Syrian and Lebanese Christians. We met with officials from the EU and the NATO leadership.”

The bishop said, trying to hide the agony in his voice, “We explained our situation and the inevitable dangers that lie ahead. Yet, we did not receive any response, not even any understanding of our tragedy. But we will never despair. We decided to convene all of the European churches to a conference in order to discuss our cause. Before the recent deterioration of the situation, in light of talks about the possibility of a US strike on Syria, we had set our mind to hold a conference in Cyprus in October 2013, with the participation of more than 200 representatives of European churches. Now, things have become even more complicated, more dangerous and more urgent.”

A third bishop participating in the same closed-door conference went further in his criticism of Western policies on Syria and its Christians. He said he now believes that the West indeed wants to displace the Christians of the East. He explained that whenever he talks about the tragedy of Syrian Christians facing the threats of jihadists, takfiris, al-Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as other Sunni radical forces supported by the West in Syria, the Western answer addresses the outcomes rather than the causes.

“A number of European officials have told us that the recent German experience is encouraging. Berlin has opened the door for around 5,000 displaced Syrian Christians,” the bishop revealed. He added, “The experience will be followed by other similar steps on the part of Austria, Denmark and other European countries.”

“What does this mean?” asked the bishop. “It means the displacement of a sect that includes more than 2 million people,” he answered.

Only 48 hours after the Christian conference, the tragic news came from Maaloula, the oldest Christian village in Syria, 50 kilometers [31 miles] northwest of Damascus: Sunni jihadists were attacking the village and one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the East was being sabotaged.

This was not received as normal details of the Syrian war. After the news of the attack on Maaloula emerged on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 4, all of the church officials Al-Monitor’s correspondent met with expressed anger as they tried to contain their tears.

The place is a veritable sanctuary for the Christians of Syria, Lebanon and the East. It is unique, for it is home to the last population in the world that still speaks the original language of Jesus of Nazareth, and they still teach this language to their children. The ancient Aramaic language is the treasure of Maaloula and its neighbor Saidnaya, another Syrian village threatened by Sunni jihadists.

When Al-Monitor’s correspondent visited Maaloula in 2008, one of the residents insisted on giving him the full names and addresses of his relatives who had emigrated to the United States, to confirm how Mel Gibson had asked them to correct the original language of Jesus in his famous movie The Passion of the Christ.

The Christian outcry regarding the potential US strike on Syria is growing louder and louder. On Friday, Sept. 6, a news conference was called in Beirut for all the Christian associations in Lebanon, in condemnation of what happened in Maaloula. On Saturday evening, worshippers from all the Christian churches will meet in the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa in the center of Mount Lebanon to say a communal prayer for peace in Syria. The prayers will be led by the Maronite patriarch in participation of the apostolic nuncio, in observance of the appeal of Pope Francis I, who called upon all the faithful to join in a day of prayer and fasting on Sept. 7 for peace in Syria.

In addition, one of the Catholic bishops at the conference quoted an official in the Vatican as saying that Rome would not only call for this day and send a papal message to the G-20 summit, but would also have a stronger position calling for avoiding war in Syria.

“We will not accept dying or being killed in silence,” the bishop concluded, as he tightly held the cross hanging around his neck.

Jean Aziz is a contributing writer for Al-Monitor’s Lebanon Pulse. He is a columnist at the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar and the host of a weekly political talk show on OTV, a Lebanese TV station. He also teaches communications at the American University of Technology and the Université Saint-Esprit De Kaslik in Lebanon.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/syria-lebanon-christians-fears-syria-strikes.html#ixzz2eVo1S9XF

[11th_VA]

You'll not see this point of view anywhere in the American Press ...

[BenLurkin]

They understand that Hussein has no use for Christians — especially where he intends to grow the Caliphate.

[Thane_Banquo]

A third bishop participating in the same closed-door conference went further in his criticism of Western policies on Syria and its Christians. He said he now believes that the West indeed wants to displace the Christians of the East.

Yep. Pretty much.

[lightman]

Orthodox Ping!

Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

I honestly believe that its time for the US to arm the Christians .
The muslims , all factions , are INVADERS into their land and heritage ;the Christians were there first !

[11th_VA]

Most Christians in Syria don’t want to take up arms, and the ones that do are against Assad. That’s why these Christians want Assad in power, he looks out for them.

[factoryrat]

Obama and his cabinet has sided with the MB. The Syrian Christians had better find some Russian troops to protect them, because the western politicians have sided up with the radical islamists. If you’re a Jew or Christian in the ME right now, the US and western countries and their saudi backers perceive you as a threat to their financial interests, which makes you cannon fodder.

[MeshugeMikey]

From Your Lips to God’s Ear!

[Nifster]

I have come to the conclusion that even if O is not a muslim himself ALL of his actions have helped the Muslim Brotherhood and other terrorists in their efforts to destroy Christians

[Resolute Conservative]

He is just a tool of Lucifer.

[I want the USA back]

0 wants the Christians eliminated. He hates Christians and Jews.

[Nifster]

No argument from me. We draw closer and closer.

[I want the USA back]

The left hates Christians and loves jihadis. Someday I will understand that.

[RKBA Democrat]

Of course we don’t hear about this in the states. It doesn’t fit the carefully crafted narrative that the uniparty and it’s cronies want us to hear.

God help these people!

[familyop]

Maronites are the predominant Christian population in Lebanon.

Harb pledges to be forceful president [Maronite "ready to fight" Israel, "protect Hezbollah"]
Lebanese Lobby (Lebanon) ^ | 11SEP07 | Francis Matthew

Posted on Wed Sep 12 03:12:26 2007 by familyop

"Beirut: Boutros Harb, long-serving Maronite Lebanese Member of Parliament, is standing for president and reaching out to the Shiite Hezbollah, across the political divide in the country.

[...]

"I have proposed that the Lebanese army and government must be in control of declaring war, and that we should find a way to incorporate Hezbollah's forces into the army. But this has to be on the condition that the Lebanese government and army accept the full duty of being ready to fight and protect Hezbollah if Israel attacks," he said, adding that it was also important that Lebanon had to liberate the occupied territory of the Sheba'a Farms from Israel."


Lebanese leaders call for unity [All of them support the terrorists. ...always have.]
CNN International ^ | 20JUL06 | CNN
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668991/posts

"The ship is sinking and all of us, the Lebanese, should stick together and work together to stop the Israeli aggression," Amin Gemayel, a Maronite Christian who served as president from 1982 to 1988, told the Arabic-language TV station Al-Jazeera . . . Michel Aoun, a one-time commander in Lebanon's 15-year civil war who now serves in parliament, said . . . "I don't think that Israel has the capability to destroy Hezbollah militarily because Hezbollah is not a group of armed men," Aoun said. "Hezbollah is a major part of the Lebanese social fabric."

Lebanon says army ready to fight [The truth about Lebanon.]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1670344/posts

Aoun is also a Maronite Christian.

Lebanon Turns to the Vatican to Halt Israeli Offensive
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668754/posts

Vatican Condemns Israel for Attacks on Lebanon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665678/posts

On the Syrian-Lebanese-Iranian alliance.

Lebanon Is NOT Innocent (David Horowitz Slams The Lebanon “Innocent Bystander” Myth Alert)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1671142/posts

Ground to a Halt (Research shows: Suicide-bombers Communists, not Islamists
New York Times ^ | August 3, 2006 | ROBERT PAPE

Posted on Wed Aug 9 01:23:46 2006 by GodGunsGuts

...

In writing my book on suicide attackers, I had researchers scour Lebanese sources to collect martyr videos, pictures and testimonials and the biographies of the Hezbollah bombers. Of the 41, we identified the names, birth places and other personal data for 38. Shockingly, only eight were Islamic fundamentalists. Twenty-seven were from leftist political groups like the Lebanese Communist Party and the Arab Socialist Union. Three were Christians, including a female high-school teacher with a college degree. All were born in Lebanon.

...

Robert A. Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, is the author of “Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism.”

---

Iran is also communist, by the way (everything state-owned and much of it doled out to the families of clerics). I posted hundreds of articles on Iran and the need to take care of business there a long time ago, but anti-American, pecuniary, international socialist interests here threw trash in threads at nearly every article. Iran continues to build nuclear weapons.

AGI
Italy On Line

Special service by AGI on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office

LEBANON: D'ALEMA, ITALY HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE PART IN 5+1 ON I

(AGI) - Berlin, Aug. 26 - After having a protagonist role for peace in Lebanon Italy asks to take part in the 5+ 1 group that negotiates with Iran on nuclear. Foreign minister, Massimo D'Alema in an interview to "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" asks a place near to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. "We are Iran's most important commercial partners with Germany and we are pledged in Lebanon with Hezbollah. So we have the right to be included in the negotiation with Iran. The goal is not a new conflict but talks aimed at preventing Iran from having an atomic bomb, he said. Italy searched for a greater G8 involvement in the negotiation with Iran but it remained excluded from the 5 plus 1, the group that started a negotiation with Tehran offering incentives in exchange for the suspension of the uranium enrichment program. This exclusion was due to the fact that Rome was not part of the European trio (France, Germany and UK) that had tried the first mediation with Tehran and represented the EU in the 5 plus 1. D'Alema remembered that the United Nations and the EU had not a role in the Iraqi crisis, and warned that the new opportunity in Lebanon could not be missed now. "It is a very difficult mission full of unknown points but it is worth pledging or the only alternative would be a new burst of war" he said. The foreign minister, was sceptical on the possibility of a new UN resolution for the mission in Lebanon asked by the US. "I'm sceptical about it, because in these situations they always open long negotiations. The strategic plan is clear and the resolution was completed defining the rules of engagement. If they will make a new resolution soon I agree with them but the most important thing is getting there as soon as possible (In Lebanon)" he said.

[Scroll down on this page for another link and blurb in case the Italian government wiped that page.
http://www.williambowles.info/syria_lebanon/sl_newslinks_260806.html]

"IRAN: ITALY MUST RELY ON TEHRAN TO BOOST ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST, DIPLOMAT ["Main trading partner."]
AKI (Italy) ^ | 10AUG06 | AKI (Italy)
"Italy is Iran's main trading partner in Europe and commercial relations between the two countries were reportedly worth five billion euros in 2005."

Payvand's Iran News ...
8/6/03
Huge recovery in Iran's exports to EU
"The increase in Iranian exports was dominated by the rise in EU oil imports to eur 1.5 bn. It was led by Italy, Iran's biggest market, whose imports grew by eur 130 m to eur 500 m."

Italy defends Iran’s nuclear rights
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933837/posts

IRAN: D'ALEMA, SANCTIONS WOULD ESPECIALLY DAMAGE ITALY>
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1639485/posts
Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, Italy
"(AGI) - Rome, May 26 - Economic sanctions under discussion against Iran would damage Italy in particular, which is an important trade partner of Iran."

Freed Italians eye return to Iraq [Italy paid a ransom!]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1231061/posts

Sgrena's 'truth' doesn't ring true
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1361764/posts

Italy to stop paying ransoms
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1361666/posts

20,000 in farewell to Italian 'martyr' (Huge Anti-USA demonstration)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1358260/posts

Italy Plans to Charge GI in Iraq Death
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1559896/posts

I warned Bush about Iraq: Italy's PM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512263/posts

Berlusconi protests over CIA ‘kidnap'
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1434969/posts
THE VATICAN AND THE STANDOFF AT THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
Sergio Minerbi

Commencement Address at Boston College (Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Boston, Massachusetts, May 22, 2006. US Department of State)

Excerpts:

As a student of a Catholic high school, the Sisters of Loretta taught me, I am pleased to be at an institution of higher education with such strong and celebrated Catholic and Jesuit traditions . . . You see, I got my Master's Degree at Notre Dame. (Boos.) I acquired a passion for the fighting Irish . . . and my family has been college educated and Presbyterian ever since. (Laughter and applause.) . . . I wandered into a course on international politics taught by a Czech refugee who specialized in Soviet studies, a man who had a daughter by the name of Madeleine Albright. With that one class, I was hooked. I discovered that my passion was Russia and all things Russian.

Israel Asks U.S. to Ship Rockets With Wide Blast - State Department seeks to delay supply
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1681771/posts

Rice Calls for Israeli Restraint
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665489/posts

US Supplies Fatah With Arms, Rice Decries “Occupation”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1718348/posts

US pressure prompts delay of [Israel’s] offensive (”We do not want escalations” - White House)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680983/posts

U.S. Directs Criticism at Israel
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680666/posts

Don’t Be a Sucker : U.S. War Department (1947)
http://archive.org/details/DontBeaS1947

[Honorary Serb]

See http://www.antiochian.org/ for the latest on the Antiochian Patriarchate’s response to the Syrian crisis.

It’s not enough just to complain about obama’s impending attack on Syria, and/or to rant on FreeRepublic about it:

1. PRAY to God for the Syrian people, especially our Syrian Christian brothers and sisters.

2. CALL and E-MAIL your Senators and Representatives, and ask them to vote NO on any attack on Syria. (You may get an answering machine—leave the message and send an e-mail. The volume of calls to vote NO are very heavy—keep it up!)

3. GIVE to support the Syrian people. A good place to give is IOCC—write “Syrian relief” on your check, etc.

http://www.iocc.org/countries/countries_syria.aspx

[lightman]

Excellent advice.

With regard to the first: Pray the threefold Kyrie in Arabic:

Yaa Rabb urHam.
Yaa Rabb urHam.
Yaa Rabb urHam.

Over and over and over—let it form a subconscious background of every breath.

Deepen that continual prayer with Fasting. Even if you haven’t been in the habit of following the Apostolic Constitutions’ pattern of fasting every Wednesday (in remembrance of Judas’ treachery) and every Friday (in memory of the Passion of Our Lord)—START! It doesn’t need to be as strict a fast as a Lenten fast, but do something.

And then give the cost of the food you otherwise would have eaten to an appropriate refugee/relief agency.

[Liz]

UPDATE---BBC NEWS reports Assad's Syrian Army fights to take back Christian town Maaloula from Islamist rebels.

That twit Obama is on the wrong side again ....ordering the CIA to arm Muzzie rebels so they can kill more Christians.

============================================

I, for one, am firmly convinced the tipping point occurred when Egyptian General al-Sisi refused to take vacaying Obaba's call from MV. It affirmed Gen al-Sisi's determination not to let Obaba interferre with his plan to drive the Muslim Brotherhood out of Egyption politics. Superpowers Russia and China both backed al-Sisi and the Saudis jet-streamed al-Sisi millions to finish the job..

Al-Sisi and Putin got the lay of the land---they know who's got the ear of our Muslim president.

=============================================

Stupid Ohaha doesn't yet realize that the world is a changed place.

Gen al-Sisi's unrelenting defense of Christians has turned the world upside down. Gen al-Sisi is igniting worldwide disapproval of the MB---world leaders are vocally defending Christians. Russian Pres Putin has also weighed in---decrying Christian slaughter by Muzzies. The Saudis are jet-streaming millions to al-Sisi so he can continue the fight.

==========================================

As the unabated slaughter of Syrian Christians continues--- conducted by the fanatical Muslim rebels----the truth is Muzzie rebels want Baathist Assad out b/c he accepts Christians.