Syria, Lebanon, Lebanese Brigitte Gabriel & A Steady Diet of Lies, Spain's Aznar & Al Qaeda

Syria's road to freedom Amir Taheri

March 7, 2005 -- 'LET'S do the Salsa!" is one of the refrains chanted by Lebanese demonstrators who have vowed to occupy the streets of Beirut until Syria ends its occupation of their country. But the Salsa they are referring to is not the Brazilian style of sexy dancing. It refers to the Syria Accountability and Lebanon Sovereignty (Restoration) Act (SALSA) — passed by Congress over a year ago, and seen as a signal that the Bush administration was determined to extend its quest for status quo change in the Middle East beyond Iraq into the Levant.

And Lebanon's Cedar Revolution — while far from complete — could, and must, become a prelude to the liberation of Syria from half a century of despotic rule. [. . . . ]

TRUTHS OF POWER Peter Brookes

March 7, 2005 -- IT'S been almost a full year since Spanish voters re jected the chosen successor of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Aznar had cultivated a warm relationship with President Bush and committed troops to Iraq — and Spain went to the polls just days after a vicious terrorist strike.

But Aznar's having no second thoughts about his policies or America's dominant role in the world.

On the contrary, in a recent visit to The Post, Aznar said he sees American power as more important than ever, especially considering the independent, "soft power" foreign-policy agenda being pushed by Europe's dominant powers, France and Germany

[. . . . ] Remember that a year ago this Friday, al Qaeda operatives brutally attacked Madrid commuter trains with 10 bombs, killing 191 people. The attacks stunned the world . . . and, just days later, sent Aznar's popular, right-of-center government down to defeat in national parliamentary elections. [. . . . ]

Remaking the Middle East Mark Steyn, Mar.7, 05

The other day in the Guardian, house journal of the British left, Martin Kettle wrote:

"The war was a reckless, provocative, dangerous, lawless piece of unilateral arrogance. But it has nevertheless brought forth a desirable outcome which would not have been achieved at all, or so quickly, by the means that the critics advocated, right though they were in most respects."

Very big of you, pal. And I guess that's as near a mea culpa as we'll get: Even though George W. Bush got everything wrong, it turned out right. Funny how that happens, isn't it? [. . . . ]

Assad's sham withdrawal Editorial/OpEd, Mar. 7, 05

Syrian boss Bashar Assad's announcement of a two-stage pullback of his forces in Lebanon is little more than a transparent attempt to stall for time and divert attention from Syria's brutal occupation of its western neighbor. [. . . . ]

Search: a petition drive



Israeli Arab explodes Mideast 'lies' -- Lebanese woman says she discovered freedom in Jewish state Brigitte Gabriel, WND.com, Mar. 6, 05

A Lebanese-born woman who later lived in Israel told a Columbia University forum today the Muslim Arab world's hatred of the Jewish state is blinding it to reason.

Brigitte Gabriel, founder of American Congress for Truth, recalled being raised on "a steady diet of lies poisoning our attitudes toward the Jews. [. . . . ]

Search: a personal experience, 100 different countries, infiltrating U.S. college campuses like Columbia

Do read her story; you will learn.