U.S. Citing Conservative Calls To Bomb Iran To Pressure Diplomats

Calls for a U.S. military strike on Iran have grown in recent weeks. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) notably called for Americans “to be prepared to take aggressive military action” against Iran. Norman Podhoretz wrote “The Case for Bombing Iran,” the cover story in the latest Commentary magazine, “widely regarded as the leading outlet for neoconservative writing.” Other prominent neoconservatives, including William Kristol, Fred Kagan, and John Bolton have echoed this line.The calls have apparently become serious enough that Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, “the chief American strategist on Iran,” has begun using them to pressure foreign diplomats.

The New York Times reports:Mr. Burns and officials from the Treasury Department have been trying to use the mounting conservative calls for a military strike to press Europe and Russia to expand economic sanctions against Iran. 

Just last week, Israel’s transportation minister and former defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, visited Washington and told Ms. Rice that sanctions must be strong enough to get the Iranians to stop enriching uranium by the end of 2007.While Mr. Mofaz did not threaten a military strike, Israeli officials said he told Ms. Rice that by the end of the year, Israel “would have to reassess where we are.”The Times reports that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has “increasingly moved toward” the position that “a military strike would be disastrous.” But Vice President Cheney’s office is well known to feel very differently. In February, the Washington Post reported that John Hannah, Cheney’s national security adviser, said during a meeting that the administration considers 2007 “the year of Iran” and “indicated that a U.S. attack was a real possibility.”

Source: ThinkProgress

Hamas seizes PA intelligence materials, says Israeli tactics exposed

After storming PA security headquarters in Gaza, Hamas officials say they’ve uncovered thousands of documents, including classified correspondence with Israeli forces. Hamas: ‘These will help us battle Israel’s surveillance tactics’

After overtaking the Palestinian Authority’s Preventive Security headquarters in Gaza City on Thursday afternoon, Hamas fighters report they have seized tens of thousands of highly valuable intelligence documents, including correspondence between the PA and others, including the CIA, regarding security issues. A Hamas member told Ynet that he and his men removed thousands of documents, video tapes and other equipment from the compound: “I saw my name appeared at least four times in the intelligence documents – in attempts to take me out. I saw details of surveillance against me and joint Fatah-Israeli plans to thwart our attacks.”

“These will help us battle Israel’s surveillance tactics,” he added.

Hamas members seizing Fatah documents (Photo: Reuters)

“If we release these documents, the entire world will be shocked, not just the Palestinians. The dozens of armored vehicles, RPG launchers and rockets, the hundreds of thousands of bullets we have – they are all nothing compared to the documents and data discs we uncovered.

“There are video tapes of surveillance against our fighters and their homes, wiretaps on our calls, the PA’s entire method of operation has been exposed,” he said.

The Hamas man said that the documents also implicate several Arab nations of involvement in the internal Palestinian power-struggle in an attempt to impair Hamas. According to the Hamas source the papers also document the PA’s cooperation with the American CIA against Palestinian organizations, especially Hamas.

Releasing the documents would entail the approval of the Hamas leadership, said the Hamas source, saying that the documents would be used to prove the justness of Hamas’ fight against the Palestinian security forces.

The WorldNetDaily news website reported Muhammed Abdel-El, the spokesperson for the Hamas-allied Popular Resistance Committees group, as saying: “The CIA files we seized, which include documents, CDs, taped conversations, and videos, are more important that all the American weapons we obtained the last two days as we took over the traitor Fatah’s positions.”

Another Hamas official, quoted by WND, said the CIA documents they browsed so far contain “information about the collaboration between Fatah and the Israeli and American security organizations; CIA methods on how to prevent attacks, chase and follow after cells of Hamas and the Committees; plans about Fatah assassinations of members of Hamas and other organizations; and American studies on the security situation in Gaza.”

The official claimed the documents also detailed CIA networks in other Arab countries, and “how to help beat Islamic allies of Hamas in other Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan.

“We will use these documents and make portions public to prove the collaboration between America and traitor Arab countries,” he told WND.

Waiting for Abbas

Meanwhile all eyes are on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas is preparing itself for any scenario, threatening that any decision on Abbas’ part that is not deemed acceptable by Hamas will lead to an escalation in the clashes.

“We are the elected government and we represent the Palestinian public’s legitimacy,” said Hamas.

Hamas gunmen pray after storming Fatah building (Photo: AP)

Hamas said it was prepared to begin combating the anarchy rampant throughout the PA using Hamas Special Forces, police forces and the civilian guard – all would answer only to Hamas.

“None of the other collapsed forces will be allowed to operate save these groups,” announced Hamas.

Another possibility Hamas says it is prepared is the isolation of Gaza and Abbas declaring it a rogue district.

WASHINGTON TIMES PROMOTES HATE GROUP THAT WOULD OUTLAW ISLAM

‘Adherence to Islam’ would be punishable by 20 years in prison

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/14/07) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today expressed concern about an article published by Insight magazine, a website owned by the right-wing Washington Times newspaper, that offered a sympathetic portrayal of an anti-Muslim hate group that advocates making “adherence to Islam” punishable by 20 years in prison.

The hate group, Society of Americans for National Existence (SANE), is supporting the so-called “Mapping Shari’a in America Project” devoted to spying on 2,300 Islamic institutions in the United States.

SEE: Private Undercover Team Exposes Nationwide Network of Radical, Anti-U.S. Islamic Centers
http://www.mappingsharia.us/Insight-Magazine-Mapping-
Sharia-Project-Uncovers-Jihadists-near-DC-article-438-67.htm

In February of this year, SANE offered a policy proposal that states in part:

“Whereas, adherence to Islam as a Muslim is prima facie evidence of an act in support of the overthrow of the US. [sic] Government through the abrogation, destruction, or violation of the US Constitution and the imposition of Shari’a on the American People. . .It shall be a felony punishable by 20 years in prison to knowingly act in furtherance of, or to support the, adherence to Islam.”

SEE: A SANE Act to Deal with the Islamic Threat to America’s National Existence (SADITANE)
http://www.saneworks.us/SANE-Immigration-Proposal-
article-379-1.htm

SEE: Original Article

In its report on the mosque spying project, Insight magazine falsely claimed: “Hundreds of Islamic centers in the United States have become a hot-bed of extremist activity; they promote violence, terrorism and hatred against America.”

Earlier this week, CAIR accused the Washington Times of “agenda-driven reporting” for falsely suggesting there has been a drop in that organization’s grassroots support. CAIR says its membership, donor base, annual budget, and attendance at fundraising events has increased each year.

SEE: CAIR Accuses Washington Times of ‘Agenda-Driven Reporting’
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=
2775&theType=NR

Many Muslims have expressed concerns about repeated instances of anti-Islam bias in the Washington Times’ reporting and commentary.

The paper has in the past refused to publish CAIR’s responses to its Islamophobic content.

SEE: CAIR Says Washington Times ‘Hypocritical’ on Press Freedom
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=
2624&theType=NR

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to promote justice, enhance the understanding of Islam, and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE. This publication WILL use hostile messages to further defame the Muslim community.)

CONTACT the Washington Times to express your concern about that newspaper’s apparent support for an anti-Islam hate group that advocates criminalizing Islam in America. Please include your name, address and a phone number.

GOT TO: http://video1.washingtontimes.com/contact-us/contact_us.php
COPY TO: info@cair.com

MAILING ADDRESS:

Letters Editor
The Washington Times
3600 New York Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002-1947