Excerpts: Terror "Oil cell" members. Not OPEC's fault.Iran's president's
rhetoric.King attacks false rumours.Amman Prosecutor indicts Dutch MP for
internet posting of'fitna' 2 July 2008
+++Saudi Gazette 2 July '08:"'Oil cell' members preach in mosques"By
Abdullah
Al-Oraifij
QUOTE:Al Qaeda...would provide militants from Iraq, Afghanistan and
Mauritania 'to target oil installations and fight security forces' "
FULL TEXT:RIYADH - Seven Mauritanians of the 520 people suspected of having
links to Al-Qaeda terrorist network came to the Kingdom on work visa as
drivers, but they worked as imams and muezzins at mosques in Riyadh and the
Eastern Province, officials said 1july.
For years, they covered the malicious intentions of their terrorist "Oil
Cell" by penetrating through the fabric of the Saudi society using their
fluent Arabic and religious rhetoric that appealed to the religious nature
of Saudis.
The chief of the cell was reportedly found with a message from Al-Qaeda's
second-in-command, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, urging him to raise money and saying
the terrorist group would provide militants from Iraq, Afghanistan and
Mauritania "to target oil installations and fight security forces."
The cell was said to have collected a sizable amount of donation sent
outside the Kingdom to finance terrorist activities.
The terrorist cell was planning to attack an oil facility and an
intelligence building in Al-Khafji, a border city with Kuwait. The cell's
chief was arrested in the Eastern Province and the others in Riyadh. - Okaz
+++ARAB NEWS 2 July '08:"Get used to high oil prices: King "P.K. Abdul
Ghafour
QUOTE:"King blamed specuators, increase in consumption and energy taxes for
the high prices"
JEDDAH: ...King Abdullah said July 1y that the current oil price was cheap
compared to prices of alternative energy products available in the world and
called upon people in consuming countries to adapt with rising oil prices.
King: "Consuming countries should reduce taxes of petroleum products if they
really wanted to soften the burden on consumers," . . .He said Saudi
Arabia has always called for a reasonable price for oil, without causing
harm to consumers as well as producers. ... He said there was no point in
accusing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries for the rise in
prices as the prices are not determined by OPEC but market factors... King
Abdullah blamed speculators, increase in consumption and growing energy
taxes for the high prices. . . .
+++THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) 2 July '08:"Sound advice for Iran's notoriously
outspoken president"
QUOTE:"a growing chorus of frustration with the president's
rhetoric"
Editorial
... Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign affairs adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, cautioned leading politicians against adopting an overly
aggressive stance when publicly discussing the issue of Iran's nuclear
program. "Officials and experts need to avoid provocative and illogical
declarations and slogans," Velayati said, adding that the Western states
involved in the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program scrutinize
"every word of such speeches and slogans."
The advice was widely interpreted as being aimed at Iran's notoriously
outspoken president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And Velayati's words of caution
are only part of a growing chorus of frustration with the president's
rhetoric, which tends to be particularly blunt, especially for a country
where discourse is governed by taaruf, or ceremonial exchanges of
pleasantries. The adviser's remarks are also indicative of an increasing
understanding among Iran's most influential leaders that Ahmadinejad's
uncompromising stances have played a key role in determining the
international community's punitive response to Iran's nuclear ambitions. .
. .
The best way that Iranian leaders can thwart the plans of their enemies
would be to demonstrate a rational, responsible, cooperative and transparent
approach when addressing the issue of their country's nuclear program....
+++JORDAN TIMES 2 July '08:"King: Public policy will never be held hostage
to
rumours and ignorance"
QUOTE: Our culture and our national identity will never be for sale"
EXCERPTS:AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah has stressed that public
policy will never be held hostage to rumours and ignorance and using these
rumours to hinder the progress of the country is completely unacceptable.
...His Majesty said that "if anyone has any proof of any intentional
wrongdoing, please stand up and let it be known. I welcome, and indeed
encourage, public criticism when it comes to the question of transparency.".
. ."I have a vision for the future: I want Jordan to be the most prosperous
country in the world; I want it to be open to the world and unafraid," the
Monarch said.
. . .. . ....His Majesty said that criticism of government policies in
tough times and using it to further a certain group's agenda is fair play
and happens all over the world. "But using blatant lies and childish rumours
that obstruct our progress is not fair play and is unacceptable".
The King stressed that Jordanian tribes will remain the pillar of the
country's strength, steadfastness, stability and progress, stressing that
Jordan is "a state of law and equal opportunity, justice and equality; a
state of institutions that are protected by the Constitution and by its
brave Armed Forces and security institutions of which we are proud".
"I am honoured to belong to a Hashemite Family that is firmly shut to
rumours and irresponsible discourse," the Monarch stressed.
Following is the official translation of the interview:
. . .
... Today, I am extremely shocked and dismayed at the low level of debate
transpiring in some elite and media circles. Throughout my life I have grown
accustomed to rumours about myself and my family, as well as Jordan; but
today, I feel that these rumours are negatively affecting the future of
Jordan and I simply cannot remain silent.
. . .Moreover, I welcome, and indeed encourage, public criticism when it
comes to the question of transparency ...But currently the level of debate
in Jordan has dropped to unacceptable levels with overdramatisation, rumours
and opinions that are based on total ignorance of the issues; to the point
where, even mature and lucid criticism is drowned out by rumours and
ignorance.
. . .... the increase in prices has caused a lot of discontent with the
public and makes for fertile ground for believing lies and rumours; and
hence different groups are using this discontent to further their own
political agendas...Over the years... myself and my father King Hussein
before me, have worked extremely hard to promote Jordan as an investment
destination; finally this is beginning to pay off in a big way. Obviously
the sudden increase in oil prices has been a major help. This is a good
thing, but when we talk about such large investments, which historically we
are not used to in Jordan, automatically people start talking about
corruption. This is normal. Also, the speed with which the government
sometimes has to act in order to attract Arab and especially Gulf
investments can take society by surprise and cause a lot of talk. But it is
important for the Jordanian people to understand that this need for speed is
directly related to the need to invest the proceeds of oil sales in order to
maximise their returns. Whether we like it or not, this is the way the world
works. Countries that cater to that speed will win and others that let
cumbersome bureaucracy get in the way will lose. All countries around the
world and in the region are competing for Gulf investments, and ...no one is
going to wait for us.
This does not mean that investment should come at the expense of
transparency. Absolutely not. I am an ambitious person, especially when it
comes to Jordan... We have to believe that investment both foreign and local
is a good thing for our country and our people, so is privatisation; there
are some that are putting such basic concepts into question and that is
really slowing us down. All countries in the world have privatisation
programmes in place, all countries have investment promotion strategies and
all countries sell state assets such as land to promote development. If
every time the government engages in such activities it is viewed as
engaging in an evil and corrupt act then we will never succeed as a nation.
.... Our culture and national identity will never be for sale, as claimed by
some malicious rumours.
. . .Q: Perhaps the frankness of my questions has led you to delve into
the details of matters, and for that, please accept my sincere apologies...
A: You are right, it is not customary for me to address the specifics of
issues to this level, nor do I intend to make it the norm in the future.
Certainly, my focus is always on the larger issues. However, I felt that the
prevailing atmosphere at this time warrants that I make an exception. I felt
it is crucial to set the record straight on certain issues and to clarify
and dispel some of the misinformation that is being recklessly exchanged.
Whether deliberately or unintentionally, those who engage in such idle talk
can cause tremendous harm to our nation and its reputation, as well as
undermine efforts on the ground aimed at improving our citizens' lives. My
people's opportunities and welfare are things I fiercely defend. Personally,
my door is and will always be open to every one and every view, as long as
the overarching intention is the well-being of Jordan and Jordanians. To my
very core, I have always viewed us as one family, the united and closely
knit family of Jordan. As I know it, the prevailing emotion in this family
is one that is characterised by goodwill not suspicion, by love not
animosity, by cooperation not accusation. Although the members of this
family may disagree and argue at times, as long as they don't intend harm to
this central unit, there will always be a place for each and every one of
them in my heart.
Q: Finally, what is the advice you would give to Jordanians?
A: I will take the cue from the verse from the Holy Koran: In the name of
God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate, "O ye who believe! If a wicked
person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people
unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have
done."
And the first word of God Almighty to our beloved Arab Hashemite Prophet
Mohammad: Read. We should read about the world around us before we judge
ourselves and let us learn from the experiences of others, let us be open to
the world and unafraid, for this is the only way we will progress. Let
knowledge be your weapon and don't believe rumours, especially when someone
tells you "it's from reliable sources". Finally, know that you mean
everything to me.
+++JORDAN TIMES 2 July '08:"Prosecution indicts Dutch MP over anti-Islam
film"By Hami Hazaimeh
FULL TEXT:AMMAN - Amman Prosecutor General Hassan Abdallat on 1 July
subpoenaed Dutch MP Geert Wilders after charging him with five counts for
posting the anti-Islam film "Fitna" on the Internet in March.
The indictment came after Abdallat wrapped up an investigation in a case
filed by "The Messenger of Allah Unites Us" campaign, under which activists
and media outlets joined ranks to fight back at what they see as a wave of
hatred targeting Islam, which started with the publishing and republishing
of inflammatory cartoons insulting the Prophet Mohammad in Danish and other
European newspapers, and then Wilders' documentary.
The local campaign included a call for boycotting Danish and Dutch products
and lawsuits against Danish journalists and the Dutch MP.
According to the indictment, Wilders is charged with violating Articles 273,
278 and 189 of the Penal Code, Article 38 of the Press and Publications Law
and Article 38 of the law governing "electronic transactions".
"As the defendant is not present in Jordan and has no address in the
country, I herby decide under Articles 111/1, 115 and146 of the Criminal
Procedure Law to subpoena the defendant, who shall be notified by the Dutch
embassy in Amman through the minister of justice," Abdallat stated.
"The subpoena will be sent to Wilders through diplomatic channels," Abdallat
told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.
The prosecutor's judicial note obligates Wilders either to appear in person
before the Jordanian judiciary or appoint an attorney to represent him at
hearing sessions, he explained.
If found guilty, Wilders would be sentenced up to three years in jail, the
campaign's lawyer Osama Bitar told The Jordan Times yesterday.
He added that Wilders has no other choice but to appear before the court
within 15 days of receiving the subpoena, otherwise, an arrest warrant might
be circulated through Interpol.
He stressed that the campaign will proceed in confronting anti-Islamic
campaigns with possible legal, economic, media and diplomatic means.
Dutch prosecutors on June 30 said they will not take action against a
politician who angered Muslims worldwide with a film critical of the Koran
because he is protected by the right to free speech, Reuters reported.
"Wilders welcomed the ruling and said he had been careful to limit his
criticism to the religion of Islam and not Muslims, but said he was still
concerned about a case Jordan has launched against him that could limit his
freedom to travel," Reuters added.
Although there is no extradition agreement between Jordan and the
Netherlands, Bitar stressed that Wilders' movement will be restricted, as he
could be arrested in other countries bound by Interpol agreements and then
be extradited to the Kingdom.
Dutch embassy officials in Amman said they were not officially informed with
the latest developments of the case filed against Wilders.
"We read about the lawsuit in the press and we prefer not to comment at the
moment," Johan Verboom, deputy head of the mission, told The Jordan Times
yesterday.
Earlier last month, Abdallat subpoenaed several Danish journalists and
editors involved in republication of the offensive cartoons.
===========================================
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA
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3:41
When David Duke attended an Euro-Rus conference in Dendermonde, Belgium, he stayed the weekend with a local Vlaams Belang council member. The council member, Karin Milik, and her husband Thierry De Rijcke (the personal bodyguard of party leader Filip deWinter) are close personal friends of David Duke. Other council members of Vlaams Belang in the city of Dendermonde are unhappy with this and are demanding the resignation of Karin Milik, but it seems the party leaders will let her get away with this if she admits her error.