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Mideast Wire - Your Daily Briefing - May 11, 2010
Released on 2012-10-18 17:00 GMT
|2011-05-11 20:31:26
From: "Mideastwire.com" <email@example.com>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 13:29:07 -0500 (CDT)
To: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Subject: Your Daily Briefing
News From The Source(TM)
Hello Kamran Bokhari
- "Army source: National Party remnants planning to start civil war"
(Al-Masry al-Yawm)
- *Issam Aryan launches Scandinavian tour** (Al-Mesryoon)
- *Imbaba incidents raise fears over Salafis** (Al-Hayat)
- *Allawi to Al-Khaleej: Accusations of Maliki are empty* (Al-Khaleej)
- *Blocs want Maliki to take responsibility for extension of US troop
stay** (Al-Hayat)
- *Ben Ghalboun: Western tribes should handle overthrowing of Gaddafi**
- "Libya: Al-Qadhafi Resorts To Forming Fighting Army of Women,
Children..." (Asharq al-Awsat)
Middle East
- *Bin Laden*s media consultant: America arrested or killed him since
2003" (Elaph)
- *Bin Jeddo to Al-Chourouk: Al-Assad fall will detonate the region*
(Newspaper - Middle East)
- "American source to Al-Khaleej: ideas to stirr the settlement"
- "Hamas & Fatah breaking out from the prison of the Syrian-Iranian axis"
- *Fayyad*s government unable to pay salaries** (Al-Quds al-Arabi)
- "Khalid Mish'al: We Welcome Dialogue with the United States, Europe..."
(Asharq al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia
- **Five girls flogged in the Taiba Orphans Village* (Okaz)
- *Rami Makhlouf and his surprising statements* (Al-Quds al-Arabi)
- *Al-Assad promises decrees related to diesel, media and protests*
(Al-Watan Syria)
- *French sources: International community has been lenient with Assad**
(Asharq al-Awsat)
- *Syrian Human Rights Committee documenting info about crimes** (Asharq
- **Mourou to El-Khabar: We are not Islamists, rather nationalists*
United States
- *The Baathist Hillary Clinton!* (Al-Rai al-Aam)
- "Army source: National Party remnants planning to start civil war"
On May 10, the independent Al-Masry al-Yawm daily carried the following
report: *A military source revealed to Al-Masry al-Yawm that the armed
forces have been able to obtain certified information indicating that
symbols of the ousted National Party are planning to shove Egypt into a
civil war, through the ignition of a sectarian strife such as the latest
events of Imbaba. The source indicated that the elements of the National
Party have decided to make use of the party*s members - who amount to two
million citizens * in order to carry out acts aimed at causing the
revolution to fail and spreading chaos and igniting a civil war. They
would then be able to go back to practicing their illegal actions.
*[The source] also revealed that these elements were achieving gains from
the party prior to the revolution under the form of stealing and obtaining
bribes that used to constitute a major source of income to them. And
following the revolution, their income became limited to their salaries
alone. The source also stressed that the armed forces will be arresting
the persons in charge of this plan successively because it is impossible
to arrest the implicated persons and all those who have malevolent
feelings against the revolution all at once due to their very large
*And in the context of the Imbaba events, Col. Mohsen Murad, the First
Assistant to the Minister of Interior, said that 35 persons of those who
are implicated in the sedition have been arrested. These include Yassin
Thabet, the husband of the Christian girl who announced her conversion to
Islam, in addition to the owner of the cafe where the shooting had
started. Murad added that the security apparatuses of Al-Giza and the
general security apparatuses are still present at the scene of the events
and they are working on collecting pieces of information and conducting
investigations aiming at uncovering the rest of the persons who are
implicated in the sedition in order to arrest them.
*Thousands of Copts along with a number of Muslims continued their sit-in
for the second day in front of the Radio and Television building. They
called for a quick trial of the persons implicated in the sectarian
events. The protestors tried to infiltrate the building but the armed
forces and policemen were able to abort their attempt. So they reverted to
throwing stones at the glass windows, thus smashing them. There were also
clashes between the protestors and a number of Muslims, which led to some
injuries. The army then interfered in order to break the two sides off** -
Al-Masry al-Yawm, Egypt
Click here for source
Return to index of Egypt Return to top of index
- *Issam Aryan launches Scandinavian tour**
On May 11, the independent Al-Mesryoon daily carried the following report
by Ahmad Othman: *Al-Mesryoon has learned that deputy head of the Freedom
and Justice Party and spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood group Dr. Issam
al-Aryan has launched a tour to a number of Scandinavian states, including
Norway, Sweden and Denmark, upon official invitations including one sent
to him personally by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store to
deliver a lecture about the political action in Egypt following the
January 25 revolution. MB sources assured that Al-Aryan*s tour, which was
not announced in the media, was surrounded with secrecy to avoid raising
any angry reactions on the Egyptian street and preventing its exploitation
to harm the group or accuse it of seeking help from abroad, especially
after it was subjected to a media campaign during the past stage following
its announcement of its intention to run in the People*s Assembly
elections over 5 0% of the seats.
*The sources then revealed that during his tour, Al-Aryan will put forward
the Muslim Brotherhood*s vision on many controversial issues, at the head
of which is the relationship with the West, the future of the peace
agreement between Egypt and Israel, the role of the Islamic powers on the
Egyptian political map, the position toward the upcoming presidential
elections and whether or not the MB will propose a candidates, and the
dealings with the Copts among other topics. At the same time, the sources
did not exclude the possibility that Al-Aryan*s visit might mark the
beginning of a dialogue between the MB and the West, especially light of
the strong ties between the Scandinavian states, the United States and the
wildly influential Zionist circles there. These meetings will also
constitute a prelude for the lifting of the political embargo imposed on
the MB throughout decades.
*It is worth mentioning that every now and then, leaks emerge regarding
the launching of dialogue between the MB and the United States,
considering that the MB is the most likely to win the largest number of
seats in the upcoming People*s Assembly elections, that it will likely
play a role in the formation of the next government and will tilt the
balance in favor of one of the candidates running in the presidential
elections. So far however, this has not taken an official turn, although
the group previously expressed its welcoming of the openness to the calls
for dialogue with it without any prior conditions, and far away from the
umbrella of the government as it demanded in the past.* - Al-Mesryoon,
Click here for source
Return to index of Egypt Return to top of index
- *Imbaba incidents raise fears over Salafis**
On May 11, the Saudi-owned London-based Al-Hayat daily carried in its
paper edition the following report by its correspondent in Cairo, Ahmad
Rahim: *The clashes that have occurred between the Muslims and the
Christians and have led to the death of twelve people and the injuring of
more than 240 in the Imbaba popular area, sent a strong signal pointing to
the fact that the religious clashes were taking a dangerous turn. It
should be mentioned that during the last clashes, a church was burned to
the ground in a way similar to what had previously taken place in the
1990s at the hands of the armed Islamic groups.
*In the meantime, the criticisms addressed to the police and the Salafis
have reached unprecedented levels after the Imbaba incidents, and the
newspapers were filled with articles wondering why security was absent
from the area* And although the Egyptian Cabinet had allowed the police to
fire live ammunition for self-defense reasons, the fact that the Imbaba
incidents went on for five hours without any police intervention clearly
revealed that the police was unable to control similar situations*
However, a security source who spoke to Al-Hayat defended the police
action. The source said in this regard: *The police forces are facing a
very difficult stage following the revolution, especially since they have
lost the most important part of their apparatus.*
*The security source added: *Let us not forget that the police forces are
facing a hostile environment, and this makes it even harder for them to
engage in any kind of disputes or clashes with angry people on the
streets.* However, the deputy director for the Al-Ahram Center for
Strategic Studies, Doctor Nabil Abdul Fattah, said that the absence of any
police presence in areas such as Imbaba was not something new. He added:
*Under the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak, the situation was
very much similar to what it is today. The security services have asked
the thugs to control these streets and to maintain order*** - Al-Hayat,
United Kingdom
Click here for source
Return to index of Egypt Return to top of index
- *Allawi to Al-Khaleej: Accusations of Maliki are empty*
On May 11, the independent Al-Khaleej daily carried the following report:
*The Head of the Iraqiya Bloc, Iyad Allawi, expressed his extreme surprise
over the message that he received from the part of the prime minister and
Head of the State of Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki as it included many
errors and accusations according to him.
*In a statement to Al-Khaleej, Allawi denied having played a negative role
during his many visits to the Arab countries. He stressed that these are
empty accusations and that they are not based on any real grounds. He
called on Al-Maliki to present the documents proving the veracity of his
allegations. Allawi mentioned that *Al-Maliki*s early visits to most of
the Arab countries were coordinated by me.* He insisted that Al-Maliki
does not represent the entire Iraqi scene and that he is only a part of
it. He insisted that no single person or political party can claim to be a
representative of the entire Iraq.
*He also insisted that there is no estrangement between Al-Maliki and him
because the interest of Iraq is above the personal interests. Allawi
revealed that he has asked the leader of the Kurdistan territory, Massoud
al-Barazani whom he had met in Erbil to work on two essential points. The
first point consists of reviving the initiative of Al-Barazani that was
used as a basis for the formation of the current Iraqi cabinet, in
addition to the selection of the other sovereign posts. As to the second
point, this consists of announcing the complete death of the initiative so
that we would know how to deal with the many violations that this
initiative is being subjected to.
*He added: *We have asked Al-Barazani to carry out new actions in the
direction of all the political sides in order to achieve a national
partnership rather than a mere participation.* He thought that the Iraqi
Bloc has the right to nominate one of its members for the presidency of
the National Council of the Higher Strategic Policies, *however, I will
not be a part of the executive authority under any form because there are
not many constituents in the work of this authority.*
*Allawi called on all the political and popular sides to make exceptional
efforts in order to preserve the unity of Iraq. He indicated that the
security related and political situation is getting worse. He also
indicated that the current events in the Arab and Islamic countries have
ignited the region of the Middle East *and I had previously warned against
this situation some eight months ago during a conference in Erbil.* He
also stressed that Iraq will not be far from these changes that are
blowing over some Arab countries* Allawi rejected the idea of the
withdrawal of the Iraqiya Bloc from the political process. He however
asserted that there are other options that will be announced in due time
in the events that things are not placed on the right track.* -
Al-Khaleej, United Arab Emirates
Click here for source
Return to index of Iraq Return to top of index
- *Blocs want Maliki to take responsibility for extension of US troop
On May 11, the Saudi-owned London-based Al-Hayat daily carried in its
paper edition the following report by its correspondent in Baghdad: *The
Iraqi political forces - except for the Sadr Movement - are moving towards
the extension of the stay of the American military forces in the country
for another year. However, it should be noted that most of these groups
want Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to take the responsibility for that
decision in his capacity as supreme commander of the armed forces. The
Iraqi parties want Al-Maliki to present a demand in that regard to
parliament. In this respect, the Iraqi List has called on Al-Maliki to
announce his position in regard to this issue clearly and frankly, while
the State of Law Coalition responded by asking the head of the Iraqi List,
Iyad Allawi, to voice his own position on the matter.
*They added: *We call on Allawi to clearly state his position in regard to
the extension of the stay of the American forces instead of trying to
throw the ball in the court of the prime minister* Saad al-Matlabi, a
leader in the State of Law Coalition was quoted by Al-Hayat as saying at
this level: *Allawi should state his position clearly and without any
ambiguity. He must say whether or not he supports the stay of the American
forces.* Al-Matlabi continued: *The Iraqi parliamentary blocs should
assume their responsibilities instead of trying to put that blame on the
prime minister alone. They should all reveal what is their position in
regard to the extension of the stay of the Americans for one year.
Al-Maliki for his part has repeated on many occasions that this was a
decision that should be taken by all the political parties. This is why I
call on everyone not to try to use this issue as a political tool and
rather to listen to the views of the military and security expe rts on the
matter. But it should be clear that the State of Law Coalition is not in
favor of such an extension, but if there is a consensus over it, we will
support with the majority and the opinion of the military experts**
*In the meantime, prominent Iraqi political sources told Al-Hayat that all
the political parties, except for the Sadr Movement, were in favor of the
extension. The sources added: *The political parties are afraid to say in
public that they support the stay of the American forces because they know
that the Iraqi street does not support this decision. This is why they
want Al-Maliki to say that the Iraqi forces are not yet ready to assume
the responsibility of the security situation on their own*** - Al-Hayat,
United Kingdom
Click here for source
Return to index of Iraq Return to top of index
- *Ben Ghalboun: Western tribes should handle overthrowing of Gaddafi**
On May 11, the Saudi-owned London-based Al-Hayat newspaper carried the
following report by its correspondent in Cairo Mahmud Hassan: *Libyan
opposition leader Mohammad Ben Ghalboun called on the rebels from the
eastern regions not to advance towards the big cities controlled by the
pro-Gaddafi forces in the western parts of Libya. He also noted that this
task should be left to the western tribes that should be responsible for
the toppling of Gaddafi. Sheikh Ghalboun, who is the head of the
Constitutional Union Party, was quoted in this respect by Al-Hayat as
saying: *The revolutionaries should stop advancing toward the west and
they should maintain their positions in the city of Ben Jawad...*
*Ghalboun who heads a pro-monarchy party and who lives in exile added
saying: *Britain, France and Italy have sent trainers to the
revolutionaries and I believe that this technical assistance will help the
rebels a lot and will enable them to defeat Gaddafi*s forces in the
future. But I am also worried about the slogans that were repeated by a
number of revolutionaries and in which they assured that they will advance
toward the tyrant*s compound to eliminate him. This is truly a heroic goal
but it is also an ideal one. Only those who are well aware of the details
of the Libyan society can warn against such slogans. The Libyan revolution
must succeed and achieve its goals, but without being dragged into the
ambush that was set in place by the tyrant**
*The opposition leader added: *The Libyan society should remain united and
I know for sure that they wish to remain so and do not want to enter in
conflict with each other. However, we must also take into consideration
the fact that each area has its own specificities. These points should not
be neglected or else, the tyrant will succeed in achieving his schemes* I
call on those who are in charge within the revolutionary forces not to
allow their men to advance beyond the city of Ben Jawad. They should not
be advancing one kilometer further* The honor of cleansing the West from
Gaddafi and his forces should be left to the western tribes. And I believe
that if the eastern tribes enter the western areas, this will generate
tensions and revive historical rivalries which we do not wish to see
renewed*** - Al-Hayat, United Kingdom
Click here for source
Return to index of Libya Return to top of index
- "Libya: Al-Qadhafi Resorts To Forming Fighting Army of Women,
On May 10, the Saudi owned Asharq al-Awsat reported: "In a new sign of his
defiance of NATO's military operations against his military forces and of
the revolutionaries opposed to him demanding he steps down, the regime of
Libyan Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi has started the large-scale arming of
civilians while a Libyan official admitted to Al-Sharq al-Awsat the
recruitment of women and children to defend what he called Libya's vital
gains. The pro-Qadhafi army launched a new compulsory recruitment campaign
of youths in various areas of Tripoli in an attempt to mass more military
forces in his favour. A Libyan official told Al-Sharq al-Awsat by
telephone from Tripoli: "We are expecting a land military operation by
NATO and we are preparing for all eventualities. We will be fully ready if
they try to invade us by land." The same official, who asked not to be
named, added that NATO would probably undertake a land military operation
in view of wha t he called the failure of its forces and warplanes to
force Al-Qadhafi into stepping down after this massive volume of missile
and military bombardment of his military forces and security regiments. He
said: "The bombardment is not going to force the regime to surrender. This
is what NATO recently realized and we are therefore expecting it to launch
a land war. We have almost confirmed information of this and we are
talking it seriously."
"Al-Qadhafi resorted to the redeployment of his military forces and tanks
by exploiting the extensive area of Libya's territories still under his
control while also starting to recruit women and children to take up arms.
Libya's official television broadcast over the past hours several reports
showing various groups of women training to shoot and vying to reassemble
the Kalashnikov and automatic rifles. One of supervisors of the camps
where women are trained said most of them are housewives who came of their
own will and volunteered to defend Libya and the leader (Al-Qadhafi). But
residents in Tripoli said instead to Asharq al-Awsat by telephone that
they recently heard the regime was tempting some families to send women to
special training camps and to carry arms in return for large sums of
money. A Libyan woman who asked to remain unidentified for fear of
reprisal by the Libyan authorities said "it is not secret that officials
in the revolutionary committees and military an d security commanders have
prepared lists of all the families in all the neighbourhoods to summon
everyone to camps built quickly for military training."
"Clips broadcast by Libyan television showed women officers in
pro-Qadhafi's army training women from all ages. Old women appeared
wearing the local dress and firing their weapons at selected targets in
one camp inside Tripoli. A Libyan military official said: We have
volunteers from all ages. There are women and old men, men, and even
youngsters. According to him, everyone is vying to perform his national
role. Yet citizens in Tripoli reiterated unconfirmed reports that some who
refused to join these camps were arrested and beaten in unknown places.
Activists on "Twitter" and "Facebook" websites have said Al-Qadhafi's
regime is also using children and young boys as fighters within his
military forces. But sources close to the Libyan Government considered
this "situation as normal in view of successive events and military events
that Libya is witnessing."
"The overall number of the army of children and women, which Al-Qadhafi is
seeking to form and join his military forces that are estimated at present
at around 80,000 fighters according to official Libyan sources, so far
remains unknown. His regime is still insisting that the colonel who has
been ruling Libya with an iron and fire fist for 42 years still has the
loyalty of most Tripoli citizens while the opposition is seeking to
encourage the capital's citizens to stage popular demonstrations and rebel
against him. It was noticed that the Libyan authorities are showing
excessive sensitivity towards any information or report s about attempts
to stage popular marches against Al-Qadhafi. Official media organs loyal
to him sought to deny clashes which the revolutionaries' "Libya" satellite
channel had earlier said took place in the famous Friday market in Tripoli
the day before yesterday. Libyan television broadcast video clips saying
it was from the same place and denied that on e of Al-Qadhafi's three
tanks deployed in the market centre was burned. Citing their sources
inside the city, the revolutionaries are saying that Al-Qadhafi's
regiments deployed for the first time tanks in the capital's
neighbourhoods and streets following the escalation of the
revolutionaries' operations against his regiments and security organs.
"Despite the revolutionaries' attempts to encourage Tripoli's residents to
rebel against Al-Qadhafi like other parts of Libya did, his security
regiments continue to impose their control and fist on the city's suburbs
that have a population of 1.5 million. An official in the Libyan
Transitional National Council told Al-Sharq al-Awsat: We have sources and
eyes inside Tripoli and are seeking to organize an active resistance
against Al-Qadhafi in his own backyard but we need more time and much
efforts and expertise..." - Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom
Return to index of Libya Return to top of index
Middle East
- *Bin Laden*s media consultant: America arrested or killed him since
On May 10, the Saudi owned Elaph website carried the following interview
with Ayman Fayed, the media consultant of Osama Bin Laden: **Q. How did
you obtain the [post] of the media consultant of Al-Qa*idah and Bin Laden?
*A. I was passionate about readings revolving around military and
strategic sciences in addition to other sciences. I used to lecture in
training camps. This is when the leaderships discovered that I have the
capacity to theorize* Bin Laden was thinking of establishing a media
branch for Al-Qa*idah and he suggested renting a space in some European
satellite channel, even if this was for only five minutes a day. But I
told him*that no one will allow you a chance to spread Al-Qa*idah*s ideas
in Europe. I suggested that there must be a direct communication such as
publishing books whereby each brother would be in charge of writing about
his experience in Jihad* And I started going more deeply into the issue of
the media war and I became in charge of the media base in Al-Qa*idah.
*Q. How was your relationship with Osama Bin Laden during that time?
*A* I was very close to him. The man had been sick with tuberculosis since
he was a child and no one ever knew that piece of information. I knew it
coincidentally because he used to cough a lot and he preferred to sit at
the edge rather than in the middle of a group of people. When I asked him,
he said that he was sick with tuberculosis and he prefers to sit at the
edge*so as not to infect the other brothers* In addition, he would always
place his hand over his nose involuntarily* Thus, when I saw some of the
tapes made after 2003, I became certain that this is not Osama Bin Laden
because he would not place his hand constantly over his nose* I became
sure that this footage were fabricated*
*Q. This means that you have doubts concerning the operation of killing
Osama Bin Laden carried out by the Americans at the beginning of the month
of May?
*A. I do. America has not killed Sheikh Osama Bin Laden in the operation
of May. It either had arrested or killed him at the end of 2003. The
outcome is that he has been in the hands of America dead or alive.
*Q. What is your proof, or do you have any information that corroborates
what you are saying?
*A. All the voice messages and footage that came out following that date
did not feature the Osama Bin Laden that I know well. They did not have
his special *signature,* as he would have placed his hand over his nose
from time to time due to his tuberculosis infection. In addition, the
brothers coming back from Afghanistan or Albania and whom I met within or
outside the prisons*have asserted that Sheikh Osama completely disappeared
since 2003. Even the Pakistani intelligence services, which had good
relations with the Jihadists, had no idea about his place. We were told
that the American intelligence had killed him that year. In addition, the
French intelligence announced, back then, that America had killed him
along a group of his companions in the battles of Tora Bora. But this news
only lasted for an hour and was then pulled out from the news agencies..."
- Elaph, United Kingdom
Click here for source
Return to index of Middle East Return to top of index
- *Bin Jeddo to Al-Chourouk: Al-Assad fall will detonate the region*
On May 8, the Tunisian Al-Shourouk daily carried the following interview
with former director of Al-Jazeera channel Ghassan Bin Jeddo:
**Q: *Your resignation from Al-Jazeera was finally confirmed, but it
remains the object of controversy and numerous questions on the Arab
street. Why did you leave the channel and what was the backdrop of your
A: *The reasons behind the resignation were previously published and I do
not wish to tackle them anymore. This is due to the fact that a joint
agreement was signed between Al-Jazeera and I not to talk about each other
in an offensive way. But certainly, criticism is not necessarily
offensive. But now that the issue was overcome, it would be fine for me to
point to what was previously published regarding the channel*s focusing on
the events in Libya, Yemen and Syria, while completely disregarding
Bahraini affairs, in addition to the different viewpoints over the way the
issues should be dealt with professionally.
Q: *Does your resignation mean your departure from Al-Jazeera solely or
from the media field altogether. What are you doing next?
A: *I have a media project, as I am considering the launching of a new
satellite channel. In principle, its headquarters will be either in Cairo
or in Beirut, but I am personally tilting toward Beirut* Believe me, I was
surprised, even astonished by the number of calls I received from figures
and businessmen who expressed their willingness to help...
Q: *Mr. Ghassan, how do you follow what is happening in Tunisia today
while abroad, and how do you assess the accomplishments secured by the
revolution so far?
A: *I am following the developments with great interest and on a daily
basis. I believe that the Tunisian revolution is special in comparison
with the revolutions seen around the world. Tunisia now enjoys a roadmap
and this is very important*Clearly, there is a political conflict, and
this is part of the ongoing action. But we hope that the priorities will
prevail over the secondary issues. The priorities today are the staging of
free and honest elections, the creation of a new constitution, the
launching of development and the release of the freedom of belief. I hope
that all the other [secondary] issues will not be lengthily tackled.
Tunisia is a country of moderation, openness and intellect and let us not
forget that the first constitution was drawn up in Tunisia. Therefore, any
attempts to fuel extremism will be dangerous.
Q: *Today, there is a lot of talk about the presence of attempts to thwart
the revolution. How do you perceive such talk, its background and
A: *A lot is being said about the role of the army, about the government
and French and European interference in general in Tunisia. I personally
do not exclude the existence of such attempts by foreign sides. This is
due to the fact that America is not a country that relinquishes its role
and influence in any state, including Tunisia. However, I completely
exclude the talk saying that the army is still receiving orders from Ben
Ali, since the role of the latter has ended. Yes, there are remnants who
are still present on the political, security and media levels, and this is
part of the ongoing conflict in Tunisia. Consequently, I believe that what
was accomplished so far is half a revolution...
Q: *How do you read into the popular revolutions in the region? And what
about their nature and dimension?
A: *What happened in Tunisia was a serious popular uprising, but
naturally, some influential figures tried to maneuver around it. But what
happened in the country was an uprising staged by popular will. In regard
to Egypt, the beginning of the action was based on popular will, but even
the military institution itself * whose non-oppression of the people was
perceived very positively * is not far away from the United States. Of
course, this does not mean that it coordinated everything [with the US]
but at the end of the day, we are taking about a major state... In other
countries as well, there is a popular will to see reform, democracy,
freedom and the elimination of corruption. I am referring to Yemen, Libya
and Syria. However, Arab and international sides seem to have engaged
along the course of these revolutions, and now the foreign factor is
playing a major role at the level of what is happening. In Libya, what we
are seeing is very unfortunate because we are facing real domestic
infighting and interference by NATO. The situation is also sad in Bahrain
where there is an armed Gulf intervention and an oppression of a domestic
Q: *How would you describe the situation in Syria and in which context do
you place the course and the developments in the country?
A: *I would like to assure I am a supporter of freedom, democracy and
reform in Syria. But at the same time, I believe that Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad is leading a national and pan-Arab policy at the level of
the rejection of American hegemony. At the same time, Damascus is hosting
the resistance and when Hamas was ousted from Jordan, Syria was the only
one that embraced it. We are not only talking about Hamas but about other
factions as well. Is there one Arab capital that can handle the hosting of
the Islamic Jihad Movement for example? I support the Syrian people*s
right to reform and freedom, but at the same time I support the
resistance. The problem in Syria is the engagement of armed sides in the
protests. Consequently, we are no longer talking about freedom, rather
about an armed operation that shifted the peaceful reformatory action away
from its natural course. Those whom we have uncovered, who were carrying
weapons and were trained to use them, where did they come from? How were
they trained? What is their relation with the peaceful action?...
Q: *How do you perceive the upcoming stage in Syria, especially in light
of the foreign pressures and threats that are increasingly targeting the
Syrian regime?
A: *The next stage in Syria will witness the implementation of reforms.
However, what is wanted from this regime is to draw up a new Middle East
that is fully submissive. I tell you: If the Syrian regime collapses, it
will be a suicidal venture. The toppling of Al-Assad will have massive
repercussions, not only on the Middle East region but also on the Gulf. I
think that President Bashar al-Assad * from what I know * believes in
freedoms and reform and is serious at this level. I personally heard him
giving reassurances in this regard. I also think that the resistance
project in which he believes requires immunization through social justice,
public freedoms and reform. This is the national project trinity.** -
Newspaper - Middle East, Middle East
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- "American source to Al-Khaleej: ideas to stirr the settlement"
On May 11, the independent Al-Khaleej daily carried the following report:
*An American source asserted to Al-Khaleej that the current events taking
place in Syria will affect the plans that are currently being prepared by
the Obama Administration in the aim of stirring a general peace process;
and that the Obama Administration is currently preparing for *American
ideas* in order to stir this process on the Palestinian-Israeli level; and
there will be discussions with Israel as well as the Arabs before the
American president presents his ideas in a speech that he is planning on
making within a few weeks.
*The source refused to answer a question on whether there are American
ideas aiming at stirring the course of the Lebanese-Israeli peace process
in a solo manner in light of the events currently taking place in Syria.
The source only said that the *Lebanese-Israeli and the Syrian-Israeli
courses have always been connected due to the internal [circumstances] in
these two countries.*
*Al-Khaleej also learned that the peace issue, and the possibility that
Jordan could possibly play a part in addition to Egypt and Saudi Arabia,
will constitute the major two clauses on the agenda of the upcoming
meeting of the Jordanian monarch and the American President, Barack Obama
on the upcoming Tuesday. [Al-Khaleej also learned] that the American
conviction of calling on the Arabs to acknowledge the Judaism of Israel
has not changed; and that Israel agreeing to hold a dialogue with Hamas
might be one of the ideas aimed at pushing the Arabs to acknowledge the
Judaism of Israel in return.
*The date of May 17 was announced by the White House yesterday as the date
of the meeting between Obama and the Jordanian monarch. A statement was
issued that read that Obama is looking forward to discuss the latest
regional developments with King Abdullah and that he welcomes the
continuation of the discussions with him concerning the work on achieving
a global peace in the Middle East.
*The meeting of Abduallah and Obama is expected to revolve around the
issues of the events in Syria, the peace process, and the political
reforms in Jordan. This meeting will be carried out three days prior to
the meeting between Obama and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu in the context of the annual visit to the USA, which normally
celebrates the month of May as the anniversary of Israel. Netanyahu is to
announce his so-called peace initiative during a joint meeting of the
Senate and the House of Representatives following his meeting with Obama.
He is expected to receive a warm welcome. The Israeli lobby has indeed
started to prepare for this visit from the political and media point of
view in order to guarantee a *Hollywood* mise en scene and in order to
show that Israel is working for peace with people who are rejecting
peace..." - Al-Khaleej, United Arab Emirates
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- "Hamas & Fatah breaking out from the prison of the Syrian-Iranian axis"
On May 5, the pro parliamentary minority daily Al-Mustaqbal carried the
following opinion piece by Khayrallah Khayrallah: *The Palestinians have
made a first step on the road of reconciliation. What is to come after
that? Instead of revolving in a vicious circle*the Palestinians must give
real meaning to the agreement that was signed by Fatah and Hamas away from
the useless celebrations. This can be achieved by abstaining from being
overly optimistic and replacing that by raising the following question:
Will the signing of the agreement lead to understanding reality, which
consists of a political ceiling that the Palestinians can move under
regardless of their affiliations? In other words, is there a viable
Palestinian political project that the international community would
accept, other than the political program of the PLO*[?]
*The reconciliation agreement would not have been signed if it wasn*t for
the presence of three factors. The first factor consists of the major
efforts carried out by Egypt* Hamas ended up accepting Cairo and there was
no objection to it anymore. Is this because Tehran is now allowing Hamas
to dispatch envoys to the Egyptian capital*? The second factor consists of
the Syrian weakness. This caused Hamas to feel that it is incapable of
indefinitely supporting a regime with no future. At the end of the day, if
there is a natural coalition between Hamas and a Syrian side, then this
coalition is actually that of the [Hamas] movement and the Muslim Brothers
movement. These [sides] are slowly regaining their role within the Syrian
*The third factor is Turkey. The latter seems to be eager to prove its
ability to fill the void resulting from the collapse of the Arab regimes
one after the other on the one hand, and to be the final reference for the
Muslim Brotherhood in the region, including the Egyptian Brothers on the
other hand. It seems that Turkey has pushed for the Palestinian
reconciliation because it is well aware that Hamas is in trouble and that
only the reconciliation with Fatah would put an end to that. Fatah for its
part is also suffering from a state of weakness mostly due to the internal
*One can say that these three factors have played a major role in pushing
Hamas to regain its senses* Hamas must now follow up on the reconciliation
with Fatah by giving up on the pompous slogans that only serve the
interests of the Israeli occupation. Yesterday, the absurd missiles fired
from the [Gaza] territory were due to liberate Palestine. Today, firing
these missiles represents *treason!*
**Is Hamas capable of being a Palestinian movement that is free of any
restraints and that really wants to end the occupation? Or is it keen on
remaining the prisoner of the Iranian-Syrian axis? The regional
circumstances can undoubtedly provide Hamas with the chance to break away
from the prison* When it does, there will be a political dimension of the
Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation and there will be hope in serious
steps that will not merely remain in the form of ink on papers!* -
Al-Mustaqbal, Lebanon
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- *Fayyad*s government unable to pay salaries**
On May 11, the Palestinian-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the
following report by Walid Awad: *Dr. Salam Fayyad*s resigned government
assured on Tuesday it was going through a suffocating financial crisis,
and that it had not been able to pay the salaries of the governmental
employees since last April. It thus called for a popular action to help
the official action in pressuring Israel to transfer the Palestinian tax
money that is being detained in response to the national reconciliation
agreement signed in Egypt last week. In this context, the director of the
governmental media center, Dr. Ghassan al-Khatib, said to Al-Quds al-Arabi
on Tuesday that Israel was still refusing to transfer the Palestinian tax
money from last month to the authority - $105 million * which caused the
escalation of the financial crisis that is already endured by the
authority due to the non-respect by some donors of their financial
commitments to this authority .
*About what was being said on the Palestinian street, in the ranks of
Fatah and among the governmental employees regarding the availability of
the salaries for April - although Israel did not transfer the tax money *
and the government*s decision not pay them for political reasons to get
more attention for resigned Prime Minister Salam Fayyad so that he is
assigned to form the awaited national unity government to provide the
necessary funds for the Palestinian treasury since he is accepted on the
international level, Al-Khatib assured: *This is not true and there are no
such accusations neither in the ranks of Fatah nor among the employees.*
He indicated that the authority*s finances were transparent, *thus leaving
no room for anything other than what is announced,* continuing: *It must
be clear to everyone that there is a serious financial crisis, and the
fabrication of stories will alleviate the pressures on Israel.*
*He added: *Israel is stealing our land, our water, our youth and now our
money, i.e. the tax money. Therefore, pressures should be exerted on
Israel and it should not be spared from the responsibility*,* calling for
a popular action to condemn Israel*s theft of the Palestinian funds in
response to the reconciliation agreement* Al-Khatib also called on the
international community to pressure Israel and get it to transfer the
Palestinian authority*s tax money, continuing: *We also ask the Arab and
foreign donors to offer aid matching the value of these funds, in order to
compensate for the taxes being detained by Israel so that we can meet our
commitments...* Regarding the payment of the salaries of the authority*s
employees for this month, Al-Khatib explained: *As it was stated by Prime
Minister Fayyad, the authority will pay the salaries the moment our money
is transferred from Israel or when one or more donors provides a sum
equaling the size of the funds detained by Israel ...*
*However, political analyst Khalil Chahin said on Tuesday that what was
happening was a political exploitation of the salaries of the employees,
which constituted a violation of the rights of public servants. He
indicated in press statements there was some sort of attempt to get tens
of thousands of employees to believe that life cannot continue and
livelihood cannot be secured, except if Fayyad remains prime minister** -
Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom
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- "Khalid Mish'al: We Welcome Dialogue with the United States, Europe..."
On May 9, the Saudi owned Asharq al-Awsat reported: "Khalid Mish'al, head
of Hamas Political Bureau, has underlined the need for working out a
comprehensive Arab and Palestinian strategy to get out of the stalemate
that has been facing the peace process for 20 years, and revealed the
features of this strategy, stressing that it includes a diplomatic and
official moves, resistance, and legal prosecution of Israel everywhere to
snatch the Palestinian right and establish the independent Palestinian
state. In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat, Mish'al said that Hamas's
relationship with Europe is positive and we have not decisively settled
our position towards Washington yet. He "welcomed an unconditional
dialogue with the international powers." Mish'al spoke in detail about the
Palestinian national accord and the transitional stage, and stressed the
importance of the Egyptian role in opening the way for the Palestinian
reconciliation and ending t he division. Mish'al, who is staying in
Damascus and is considered one of the most wanted persons who are on the
Israeli assassination list, said: "I intend to visit Gaza, Ramallah, and
Jerusalem soon." He held Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
responsible for the deterioration in the peace process and for leading it
to a dead end. He also held him responsible for faltering the prisoner
exchange deal and threatened to arrest other soldiers.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What is your new vision for the region after the
changes it is currently witnessing, and will the new Arab world support
the Palestinian cause?
"[Mish'al] The new Arab world will witness an integration in the Arab
roles in cycles and interests that do not conflict or collide with one
another due to the depth of the pan-Arab, Islamic, and humanitarian
factors. All these cycles do not conflict, and through what I call the
Arab spring the aspirations of the Arab peoples would be achieved, which
would support the Arab decision, and consequently, achieve a balanced
relationship with the international community's forces on the basis of
mutual respect, equality, and positiveness, and not on the basis of
subservience. All this would contribute in making a substantial progress
in the Palestine question. I also look forward to seeing an end for the
division in the Arab world between the rejectionist and moderate states.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] How do you see the rejectionist and moderate states at
"[Mish'al] What I want is that the whole Arab nation be with the positive
moderation and to be open on the world, and at the same time, we do not
abandon the resistance forces. What I simply mean is to reach a new
political map in the region and that all would unite in one trench and
stand in one fold and make unified decisions that demonstrate an Arab
success in the internal and foreign politics.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] You are talking about the unity of stance and decision,
why then the Palestinian division continued for four years?
"[Mish'al] The division has never been an option for us, but it has been a
commodity that was exported to us and imposed on us by force. I remember
that we contacted the Egyptian leadership in 2006 and told it that Hamas
is prepared for reconciliation and is ready to meet in Cairo to tackle
what happened. However, the word of God wanted the reconciliation to be
successful in 2011 after all have been burned by the fire of division.
Today we have overcome the obstacle and agreed to change the texts of the
agreement into a substantial reality that serves our cause. We will
continue the efforts with Egypt and the Arab brothers to overcome the
obstacles on the ground within one year, according to the estimates on
papers, we will achieve the transitional stage through a national
government, a provisional leadership for the PLO, and a higher security
committee in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and then we are going to
begin a new page after the national Palestinian! front becomes stronger.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What about the reports on the existence of divisions
within Hamas movement?
"[Mish'al] There are no divisions within Hamas but there are various
views, and our establishments are democratic to a large extent. The
Movement is run by elected leaders and we have a Political Bureau and an
elected Shura [consultative] Council that studies the decisions presented
to it. We may agree or differ on the decisions, and it is a healthy
phenomenon, but in the end when the issues are put to the vote, all abide
by the opinion of the majority. I can say that this is our policy.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Some people say that you sought the reconciliation
because you are afraid of a revolution by the Palestinian people against
you to get rid of you. What is your comment?
"[Mish'al] First, we do not fear because Hamas government is elected by
the people and is very close to the Palestinian people. However, the main
factor behind the reconciliation is the fact that we became closer to one
another. The sensitivity that has been there is over and the way became
paved for the Palestinian unity. For your information, the signing of the
agreement had been obstructed because the brothers in Egypt refused to
include the memorandum of understandings as an appendix to it, and when
the political leadership understood our demands, the agreement succeeded
in the way it has been announced. The second point is that the Palestinian
situation is different from that in the countries in which the revolutions
are taking place because all are against the occupation and all are aware
that the division is an evil and we have been eager since the first day of
the division to get rid of it. However, what happened can be interpreted
by saying that we have benefited fro m the Arab revolutions and from
Netanyahu's hostile and confrontational behaviour, and all these are
changes that contributed in reaching the Palestinian reconciliation.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What are the guarantees that the division would not
recur particularly after the holding of new elections?
"[Mish'al] Let me say to you that there is a joint eagerness by all to
turn the page of the division for good and make it a page of the past. We
have serious measures to prevent the recurrence of what happened and we
have a chance to stop the foreign interference through the Egyptian, Arab,
and Turkish role. Furthermore, Egypt provides a safety net for this
agreement since it has been reached under its auspices and it is the
guarantor of its continuation. However, Israel, through its terrorist
policy, is seeking to perplex the reconciliation, and it may carry out
assassinations and arrests, but our greater national project is to end the
occupation and not just to end the division.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Does the success of the reconciliation hinge on
quiet[on the front with Israel]?
"[Mish'al] We have agreed to make the reconciliation factors available and
to run the resistance in a way that takes into consideration the reality
of the reconciliation and to unify the media speech away from the media
battles. We have said after the reconciliation ceremony that we need to
run our political, security, and military decision in an accord way during
this year and to avoid any possible threats to the agreement. We also
agreed on quick steps, including freeing the detainees, setting a date
that can likely be next week to choose the provisional leadership
framework, the prime minister, and the ministers. For your information,
this government will not be concerned with the political stance and it has
specific tasks.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What about Hamas's position within the PLO?
"[Mish'al] Joining the PLO is a normal right for all because we are
partners in the homeland. It is the right of all th ose who are inside and
abroad to be in the PLO. This is a normal right because we are not
foreigners, and we will not wait for an invitation from anyone. A
leadership framework will be there, and this is something possible, and we
have agreed on it in the Mecca agreement and all the texts of the previous
agreements include political texts, and we have a moral and political
heritage that we can develop and add to it on an accord basis.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What about the political posts in the government and
Hamas's share in them?
"[Mish'al] We do not seek to control the government, "all in Gaza and
Ramallah are one hand" and all are in the national liberation stage, and
it is too early to speak about posts. We have agreed to provide the
appropriate circumstances for the security, political, and media
performance and not to bow to the difficulties during this transitional
stage. When the conditions are arranged and we go to the ballot boxes, all
will take their rights, and even after the elections, we will be ready to
have a coalition government.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] In the speech you delivered at the signing ceremony of
the national reconciliation agreement, you spoke about a comprehensive
strategy for peace after the failure of the previous initiatives which
began 20 years ago and have not achieved anything. What are the features
of the new plan in your opinion?
"[Mish'al] As I said, we have a joint national project that we agreed on
and we have a clear political programme whose objective is to establish a
Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, and
ensure the right of return without the presence of settlers. This joint
programme is clear to all. The question is how to achieve it after we
spent 20 years in initiatives that have not realized anything, and then my
question was "until when we are going to continue in this situation?" The
truth is that if no change takes place in the introductions, then we will
not have results, and I told this to all the Arab officials and to Arab
League Secretary General Amr Musa after the launching of the Arab
Initiative in the summit of 2007.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Do you mean that this is the last chance for peace?
"[Mish'al] We have tested the Israeli intentions for 20 years, and today,
for the sake of Egypt and the reconciliation agreement, we are giving
another chance for Israel. However, we should start from today preparing
for a new strategy, not to declare war on Israel, because between
declaring war and capitulation there is a wide space, but to add strong
pressuring cards at this period of time to support the Palestinian right
through various means, including the resistance, the popular work, efforts
against the separation wall, prosecution of Israel everywhere, and
activating the economic dimension through the boycott. We have a golden
opportunity to prosecute Israel, which is hostile to peace. These are the
features I meant when I spoke about the need for working out a strategy by
the Arab and Palestinian political circles that we declare part of it and
hide other parts within a framework that serves the peace process.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Do you plan to make an Arab tour to consult on this
"[Mish'al] Everything is possible and the subject is under discussion and
"[Asharq al-Awsat] How do you see the conditions made by the Israeli prime
minister for accepting Hamas and recognizing the Palestinian state, among
which is your recognition of a Jewish state, and the Movement's changing
its political programme, accepting the past agreements, and renouncing
what he described as terrorism?
"[Mish'al] We will not accept that someone imposes conditions on us. The
Palestinian reconciliation is not an issue for imposing conditions by
someone because it is the Palestinian people's option. We will never
accept these condition s, and if we accept their conditions, then let them
accept our conditions for the results of the next Knesset's elections.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] How do you see the conditions that Washington and the
Western capitals set for dialogue with Hamas?
"[Mish'al] No one has the right to impose preconditions on us, and we are
prepared for dialogue with Europe and the United States, but not on the
basis of preconditions.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What is the point reached by the relations between you
and both the United States and Europe?
"[Mish'al] I can describe our official contacts with Europe as positive,
but we have an unofficial relationship with the United States through the
efforts of former US President Jimmy Carter. The United States has not
decisively settled its options towards us, and we are waiting for the
Egyptian efforts in this respect, and we hope that it would succeed in
this. As for Israel, we are not waiting for anything from it.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] US President Barack Obama will meet with Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu late this month. What is your message to them?
"[Mish'al] Our message to them is to respect the Palestinian people's
decision concerning the Palestinian reconciliation, and they should
respect our legitimate rights.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] How do you view peace with Israel?
"[Mish'al] About what peace are you talking? We want peace for the
Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, abroad, and inside the Green
Line. We are also seeking the Palestinian people's rights and when we
establish the Palestinian state, you can then ask me about peace with
[Asharq al-Awsat] How do you view the issue of the mounting international
recognition of the Palestinian state?
"[Mish'al] We should not sum up the issue of the Palestinian rights in
only the recognition of the Palestinian state. What is more important is
that the occupation forces withdraw to the borders of 4 June 1967 and to
have a Palestinian state on the ground that has the sovereignty over its
skies, land, resources, and water and that is free of settlers and
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Do intend to visit Gaza?
"[Mish'al] soon, and not only Gaza, but also the state of Palestine,
including Gaza, Ramallah, and Jerusalem.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Do you consider moving the headquarters of Hamas from
Syria to Egypt?
"[Mish'al] There is no truth in what has been said about this issue at
all, and nothing new has occurred concerning our situation in Syria that
requires moving our headquarters from Damascus.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] How true what is said that the former Egyptian regime
was obstructing reaching the agreement?
"[Mish'al] The former regime was having positive and negative points, and
the reconciliation has not started from the scratch. As for delaying the
agreement, we used to propose adding understandings that the former regime
did not accept, but the present regime accepted them.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] Why has the deal to exchange the Palestinian prisoners
with Israeli soldier Gil'ad Shalit faltered?
"[Mish'al] Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is responsible for the failure
of the deal. We believe that if Israel fails to act, then Hamas will
arrest other soldiers because Netanyahu is deceiving Shalit's family and
the Israeli public opinion, and he is closing the door for any spark of
hope of making progress on this file.
"[Asharq al-Awsat] What is Hamas's position on the US killing of Bin Ladin
in this way?
"[Mish'al] We differ with Al-Qa'idah on many issues, particularly the
killing of innocent civilians. However, this does not give the United
States the right to carry out extrajudicial killing against the Arabs and
Muslims because this is something unacceptable, and the way he was
executed and buried at sea encroach on the feeling s of all the Muslims
all over the world. The United States is fighting terrorism that it
created by its own hands through its aggression and the killing of
innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan and its blind and continuous
support for Israel all the time at the expense of the rights of the
defenceless Palestinian people who want to live in peace and in their
independent state like the rest of world peoples." - Asharq al-Awsat,
United Kingdom
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Saudi Arabia
- **Five girls flogged in the Taiba Orphans Village*
On May 10, the pro-government Okaz daily carried the following report by
Khaled al-Jabiri: *The security authorities in the women*s prison in
Medina flogged yesterday morning five orphan girls from the Taiba
orphanage whose ages ranged between 12 and 18. Each orphan thus received
between 12 and 18 whips following their involvement in disturbances and in
an attack against the Village*s director several months ago. The clash had
occurred around two months ago between a group of girls and their director
in the orphans* village, which led to their transfer to the Al-Khalidiya
police station to be interrogated. They were then transferred to court
where a sentence based on Islamic law was issued to flog them, after their
involvement in the aforementioned acts was confirmed. For its part, the
Taibi Orphans Village accused the girls of having beaten the new director
in protest against her recent appointment, demanding her ousting due to
the harassment to which they were subjected inside the village.
*And while the director of social affairs in Medina, Hatem Beri, preferred
not to see the news carried by the press because it would result in the
girls* defamation * as he said * the supervisor of the branch of the
National Association for Human Rights in Medina, Dr. Muhammad Bin Shedid
al-Ufi, said that the association was informed about the flogging of the
orphan girls and sent representative Sharaf al-Qarafi to check the
veracity of the incident and write a report about it. He added that if the
whipping was made based on a legal sentence, the judiciary was independent
and there was nothing that could be done about it.* - Okaz, Saudi Arabia
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- *Rami Makhlouf and his surprising statements*
On May 11, the Palestinian-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the
following lead editorial: *Syrian businessman and President Bashar
al-Assad*s cousin Mr. Rami Makhlouf, surprised us with the statements he
gave to the New York Times and in which he said *No stability in Israel if
there is no stability in Syria.* The reason behind the surprise is that
such a link * to which Libyan Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi also resorted *
cannot serve the Syrian regime to which Mr. Makhlouf is supposed to
belong, knowing that the man was placed on the top of the list of American
sanctions imposed on a group of Syrian officials accused of playing a
major role in implementing the policy of bloody oppression used to
confront the Syrian uprising. Indeed, the strongest card in the hands of
the Syrian authorities is the fact that it is supporting the resistance in
Lebanon and Palestine and deterring the Israeli expansionist settlements
*Therefore, such statements might serve those who are questioning this
concept, and weaken the ones who are enthusiastically defending Syria
based on it. Syria*s stability cannot be linked to Israel*s stability and
is actually completely opposed it, because Israel which is occupying Arab
lands * including the Golan Heights and the Islamic and Christian sanctity
in occupied Jerusalem * should not enjoy peace and stability, whether or
not stability is restored in Syria. Moreover, if there is one threat
facing Syrian stability and security, it is coming from Israel and its
conspiracies, and not from the Syrian people who are exercising their
natural right and demanding democratic reform, freedom, transparency, the
respect of human rights and a just and independent judiciary.
*The Israelis are the ones who raided the nuclear reactor that was being
constructed near Deir ez Zor, and the ones who assassinated martyr Imad
Mughniyeh * the commander of Hezbollah*s military wing * and Brigadier
General Muhammad Suleiman * one of the most prominent Syrian security
minds and the person who was said to have been behind the Syrian nuclear
ambitions. Let us also not forget the Israeli raid on the Ain al-Saheb
area under the pretext that it hosted a base to train the resistance
forces, while at this level, the examples are numerous and cannot be
enumerated one by one. In the meantime, the West has shown and is still
showing hostility toward Syria, and is imposing a blockade on it because
it rejected the American hegemony projects in the region and the American
invasion of Iraq, turned a blind eye to the passage of resistance fighters
across its border to occupied Iraq and supported Hezbollah in Lebanon in
the face of the Israeli aggression in the summer of 200 6.
*For Mr. Makhlouf to defend the regime which allowed him to accumulate his
massive fortune is logical and expected. However, for him to commit the
same mistake as Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi * even if it was a mere
slip of the tongue or due to a lack of political experience * is something
that will lead to dire consequences, especially if this unsuccessful
connection between Syrian and Israeli stability is linked to a
determination to proceed with the war against the Syrian people who rose
to demand freedom, justice and democratic reforms.* - Al-Quds al-Arabi,
United Kingdom
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- *Al-Assad promises decrees related to diesel, media and protests*
On May 10, the state-controlled Al-Watan daily carried the following
report: *The meetings of President Bashar al-Assad with the dignitaries
are proceeding in order to learn about the problems facing the citizens
and seek solutions to them, especially in light of the developments
currently witnessed in Syria. Today on Tuesday, Al-Assad met with a
delegation of 22 people from Rif Damascus for about three hours, during
which [time] they put forward services' issues related to their regions.
In this context, Asr Janah, a farmer from Daria, assured Al-Watan that his
intervention during his meeting with President Al-Assad tackled services'
issues related to Darya itself, especially the water shortage from which
the region is suffering although it enjoys a massive water share from the
Al-Aawaj and Barada rivers (Dirani). He also spoke about the construction
issue and the decisions preventing the population from building houses,
under the pretext tha t the land is close to the airport or is located in
agricultural areas.
*Janah assured that the people in his region knew each other very well,
and that there were no Salafi elements or ones from the Muslim
Brotherhood, adding that while some of them emerged during the last stage
they aimed at exploiting the current circumstances and did not constitute
a part of the Daria fabric. He continued that the population * and thanks
to the close ties prevailing over it * was able to form committees and
meet with the demonstrating youth among those who took to the streets
during the previous stage, listened to their demand and managed to
diminish their numbers through dialogue. Janah also conveyed many of their
complaints to the president. As for Ali Ghannam, one of the participants
in the delegation from Al-Maadamiya area, he described the meeting with
the president as being transparent and honest.
*Indeed, President Al-Assad welcomed Ghannam*s proposals, and promised he
will try to resolve all the problems and proceed with the reform process.
He then called on the citizens to cooperate with the government to ensure
the success of this mission. Ghannam indicated at this level that
President Al-Assad closely followed the land acquisitions issue, pointing
to efforts to resolve this problem and restore the lands to their rightful
owners. He also promised * according to Ghannam * that a number of laws
and decrees will soon be issued in regard to the prices of diesel, the
media and the right to protest, also pledging to solve the issue of the
detainees among those who were arrested against the backdrop of the recent
incidents.* - Al-Watan Syria, Syria
Click here for source
Return to index of Syria Return to top of index
- *French sources: International community has been lenient with Assad**
On May 11, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat, newspaper carried
the following report by its correspondent in Paris Michel Abu Najem:
*Paris considered that there existed an agreement between the different
European states to launch an immediate action in order to impose
additional sanctions on Syria that would target the head of the state this
time around* Paris wanted the name of the Syrian president to be included
in the first list of sanctions, but a number of European states objected
that proposal under the pretext that it would be better to gradually
increase the pressures on Al-Assad and his regime.
*However, France has decided to present * once again - its proposal to
impose sanctions on Al-Assad himself. In this respect, French diplomatic
sources were quoted by Asharq al-Awsat as saying: *Since the regime is
still resorting to violence and is still oppressing the demonstrators
while conducting massive campaigns of arrests, it is necessary to impose
these new sanctions. After all, the Syrian president has so far ignored
all the calls that were made to him by the international community to
implement reforms and to respond to the demands that were presented by his
people.* The sources continued: *The Syrian president is clearly dealing
with the current protests with an old mentality that does not go in line
with the new realities and the new developments that have taken place in
the post Arab Spring era. We also believe that if he insists on carrying
on with this same attitude and does not make good use of the time that is
left for him, he will surely be doomed. The regim e is currently under
intensive international isolation.*
*The sources denied on the other hand the accusations made by the regime
and saying it was being subjected to an international conspiracy, noting:
*Contrary to what the regime has been claiming, the international
community has been very lenient with Damascus until now, due to the
complex geopolitical situation of Syria and the impact that these events
might have on Lebanon, the Palestinian arena, Iraq, Turkey and stability
in the whole Middle East.* It should also be noted that Paris believes it
is holding three winning cards which it can use in the future: i.e. to
consider that Al-Assad regime is lacking any legitimacy because of the
acts of violence it has committed, to threaten to resort to international
judicial measures against the regime and to demand the departure of
Al-Assad from power** - Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom
Click here for source
Return to index of Syria Return to top of index
- *Syrian Human Rights Committee documenting info about crimes**
On May 11, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat daily carried the
following interview with Walid Saffour, the head of the Syrian Human
Rights Committee, by its correspondent Mohammad al-Kosheiri:
**Q: *How is the current situation in Daraa?
A: *Today, Daraa has entered its thirtieth consecutive day of complete and
total besieging. Despite this situation, we have been receiving
information from the citizens living there * and who are contacting us via
non-Syrian mobile lines * saying that that the tanks are in the streets
and are blocking all the entries to the city. The mosques have been shut
down and the believers cannot even pray in the houses of God. In addition
to that, all the stores have closed and the people are not allowed to move
freely. If one wishes to cross the street, he is questioned and searched
by the security forces. I can simply say that the citizens do not feel
Q: *What about the medical and living conditions?
A: *Massacres have been committed and homes have been turned into field
hospitals because the number of wounded is very high. The people are
treating the wounded with primitive ways* We have many reports which we
will publish soon, confirming that four doctors were arrested just because
they tried to enter Daraa to help the wounded and treat the sick. As for
the second part of your question, I can tell you that the living
conditions do not differ a lot from the medical ones in light of the
prevailing food shortage.
Q: *But information has circulated claiming that the government introduced
food and medicine to the city.
A: *Food can only enter the city via a number of army units that are
sympathetic toward the inhabitants and who smuggle milk and wheat. But in
general, there is a shortage of food products in the city.
Q: *Are you concerned about a medical and environmental catastrophe?
A: *I do not think this will happen soon but the lack of food products
will surely lead to cases of malnutrition, especially among children*
Q: *During the last few days, the Syrian Human Rights Committee has been
very active in publishing reports regarding the humanitarian conditions in
Syria and the number of dead and detainees. This drove a number of states,
including Turkey, to warn against the repetition of the massacre that had
previously taken place in Hama. Do you share that concern?
A: *Between 300 and 400 people died in less than three days. What can we
call these events other than a massacre? The Syrian government is dealing
in a brutal way with the demonstrators. True, the incidents that have
taken place so far cannot be compared to the Hama massacre yet, but if the
same behavior is carried on in the future, I fear that they might commit
another massacre similar to that of Hama* In the past, when we used to
encounter a torture case, we wrote to the Syrian government about it. But
right now, we have changed our attitude and are addressing the
humanitarian associations directly* We are also documenting the crimes
that are being committed*** - Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom
Click here for source
Return to index of Syria Return to top of index
- **Mourou to El-Khabar: We are not Islamists, rather nationalists*
On May 11, the independent El-Khabar newspaper carried the following
interview with one of the founders of the Tunisian Hizb Ennahda
[Renaissance Party], Abdelfattah Mourou:
**Q: *There were conflicting reports saying you have joined a political
party other than the Islamic Hizb Ennahda. How true are they?
A: *This did not happen. Currently, I am not part of Ennahda because it
has leaders who are setting the foundations for the party all over again.
This is their right. I was offered a political role outside the context of
Ennahda, as well as the formation of a party or to carry out independent
work. So far, I have not yet decided and I will see where my interest lies
and act accordingly.
Q: *What blame do you address to the new command of the Ennahda founding
A: *I have no blame. This founding committee chose to act this way and
this is its right. If it forgot me or excluded me, this is its right and I
do not blame anyone for it.
Q: *How do you perceive political action in Tunisia?
A: *New horizons were opened and more than 50 parties were formed. The
people are now preparing to choose their deputies in the constitutional
council that will draw up a new constitution. This is all positive, but
will this course proceed the way it was announced? Or will there be
obstacles in the way, preventing the Islamists from reaching the positions
that go in line with their size? This is the issue that worries me the
Q: *Will you found a new political party?
A: *This is not what is missing from the arena since there are numerous
parties. What is missing is the presence of wise leaders who can earn the
citizens* confidence. This should be provided whether inside or outside
the context of a party. We need a national command that would get the
people to support figures whom they trust and who will achieve the
Q: *Do you think that the Islamic movement in Tunisia will follow in the
footsteps of other Islamic movements in some Arab countries at the level
of separating religious action from political action?
A: *This has already taken place in Tunisia a while ago, as the separation
between religious and political actions was secured. Religious action is
now being carried out inside the mosques, and the current issue at hand is
the action on the political arena. At this level, we refuse to be called
Islamists. Do not call us Islamists. We are patriotic people working for
the best interest of the country. Our main cause is the country and the
ways to save it...
Q: *It is said that the true governors of Tunisia under Ben Ali*s regime
were America*s and France*s men. How do you perceive the relation with
these states following the revolution?
A: *There is no arguing about the fact that our country is a third-world
country that knew colonialism not too long ago, and that the international
powers are fighting over us and seeking to exploit what is happening to
serve their own interests. The issue revolves around whether or not we
will allow them and around the ways to restore some of our decision-making
powers. Our weak countries should be able * through their democratic
practices * to let the West feel it cannot control our fate through the
appointment of leaders working to serve the interests of foreign powers*
We must deal with our neighbors, and Europe is important for our
development, just as we are important for its security. The people are
willing to deal with neighbors based on respect, and for our part we
pledge to protect our neighbors from illicit immigration and terrorism.
And once our regimes are democratic, terrorism will be nipped in the bud.
Q: *To what extent can the influence of the military institution be
contained following the revolution?
A: *The tradition in our country is that the military has no political
ambitions. Therefore, we are certain that the military men will not seize
power*** - El-Khabar, Algeria
Click here for source
Return to index of Tunisia Return to top of index
United States
- *The Baathist Hillary Clinton!*
On May 10, the independent Al-Rai al-Aam daily carried the following
opinion piece by Mubarak Mohammad al-Hajiri: *It seems from the latest
statements of the American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, that she
is quite a fan of the Baathist regime in Syria as she indicated that this
regime is much higher and more special than the regime of Libya*s madman,
Muammar Gaddafi!
*Mrs. Clinton is witnessing the killing that the Syrian people are openly
being subjected to with her own eyes, but she expressed no sorrow
concerning the Baathist crimes there. We wish that she had stopped there.
But, in addition, she called for self restraint as if she was addressing
the Israeli government as her Excellency is used to direct her advices to
[Israel] rather than to the dictator Baath government, which has ruled
over Syria with fire and steel for forty years with freedom having no
place there!
*What kind of times are these [?] Did the 21st century go back in time and
are we in a world governed by the rule of the jungle? Washington * that
millions of people see as a place of law and democracy * is supporting,
bluntly and arrogantly, and through its Secretary of State, a bloody
regime that shed the blood of its people in order to remain in power for a
longer time! Is this the Washington that claims to be protective of Human
Rights, and supportive of the democracies and the revolutions calling for
democracy [?]
*We have previously said, and we keep on reiterating, that those who
support the American policies are many and they believe that America is
always right. But in reality, it is quite the opposite. And when one
learns the reason, one would not be so surprised anymore. The support of
the American Secretary of State was not born from a void. Indeed, nothing
must exceed the security of Israel* The statements [of Clinton] match the
policies of her country in placing red lines around the security of
Israel. This has led [the USA] to support the Baath regime. The latter has
never dared to fire a single bullet against the neighboring Zionist
*Washington knows for sure that the files of the Syrian regime are very
dark. It is forgetting on purpose what the [Syrian regime] has done in
Lebanon and how it planted the armed Hezbollah there and how it turned it
into a toy used [by the Syrian regime] in order to threaten the security
of Lebanon and the entire region. Do you believe, dear reader, that such a
regime is capable of being a factor of stability in a region cornered by
Israel from the west, and the Tehran regime from the east!* - Al-Rai
al-Aam, Kuwait
Click here for source
Return to index of United States Return to top of index
Please address any questions to firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Featured Stories
New Master's Program in Health Disparities
The WFU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is happy to announce a new M.S. program for fall 2015 – Health Disparities in Neuroscience-related Disorders.
In the past, basic, clinical, and community-based researchers operated in separate domains, often creating barriers …read more »
IASH Lifetime Achievement Award
Career Symposium in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union
November 1, 2014, 8:30 am-4:00 pm
Join us for our fourth annual day of workshops and advice dedicated to your career planning needs across the career spectrum. Alumni, employers and career services professionals will present on a variety of topics …read more »

subset: commoncrawl


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Gear Question
This brake is 92 mm width, but my skis are...
Bryan Davidson
Member since
This brake is 92 mm width, but my skis are 88mm width at the foot (K2 Waybacks); will these bindings work with my skis? Thanks!
Jamie Preston
Member since
Yes, this should work fine.
View More Details on Dynafit TLT Vertical ST Alpine Touring Binding


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Category Archives: Rugby Boot Spotting
Tuilagi Switches to Adidas
It appears that Pumas association with some of the top rugby players in the UK is coming to an end after Manu Tuilagi was the latest player to have switch to a competitor. The Leicester Tigers and England centre has worn Puma boots, along with his brothers, … Continue reading
Rugby Boot Spotting – European Matches 19th & 20th January 2013
The pool stages of this year Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup have now both come to an end and the quarter final fixtures for both competitions have been decided. Last weekends fixtures were hit or bust for some teams as they looked to qualify for the next round whilst others were … Continue reading
Cuthbert Switches (Back) to Adidas
With the recent addition of Northampton Saints and England forward Courtney Lawes to the list of players wearing their boots, Adidas seem to have pulled off another scalp by bringing one of Europe's most exciting young talents over to their prestigious brand. Since his appearance at the Dubai Sevens … Continue reading
Rugby Boot Spotting – Autumn Internationals 16th & 17th November 2012
We are only midway through the annual autumn international test matches and it is already evident that the quality of rugby displayed has been of the highest draw. The fixtures give Southern Hemisphere nations the opportunity to take on their Northern Hemisphere rivals and try to get … Continue reading
Ben Morgan Trains for England in X Blades
With the brand growing in popularity in the UK, so is the number of high profile players wearing their boots. We informed you a few weeks ago on the addition of Gavin Henson to the X Blades roster of players and it seems that they may now have Gloucester … Continue reading
Rugby Boot Spotting – Heineken Cup 12th, 13th & 14th October 2012
Europes biggest club rugby competition is back and once again it didn't fail to disappoint in its opening weekend. Although some fans may feel their team should have got more from their games, for the neutrals who enjoy watching world class rugby, they won't feel let down. There … Continue reading
Henson Makes London Welsh Debut in a pair of X Blades
Last weekend saw the return of one of rugby's most controversial characters, as Gavin Henson made his competitive debut for London Welsh in an Aviva Premiership match against Saracens. It was Henson's first appearance since he had his contract at the Cardiff Blues terminated back in April this … Continue reading
Rugby Boot Spotting – Aviva Premiership 1st and 2nd September 2012
Last weekend marked the return of the Aviva Premiership after the summer break. There were a number of high scoring games and a couple of close score-lines so a joyous weekend for some and a disappointing one for others. With the players having a number of weeks … Continue reading
Rugby Boot Spotting – Worldwide
Last weekend saw the the start of both the Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations) and the Top 14 in France. New Zealand and South Africa both started their campaigns off with wins over Australia and Argentina respectively. In the Top 14, there were wins for Biarritz, Racing Metro, Stade … Continue reading
Lovell Rugby Review the Nike CTR 360 Maestri III FG Rugby Boots Sonic Yellow/White/Black
The CTR 360 has been completely re-designed by Nike with a number of improvements being made to enhance the traction, support and lightweight comfort. The new features include a Kanga-Lite II synthetic upper with ACC technology, a 3D control pad and a responsive sole plate. The Kanga-Lite … Continue reading


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Amber Blackman
Dec 4, 2014
Jonathan E. Benedict
Oct 30, 2014
Darrell W. Cook
Oct 2, 2014
Michael Polchies
Sep 25, 2014
Home » News » Crime
Drug arrests follow hotel guest's call to Manchester police
A guest at La Quinta Hotel, 21 Front St., called 911 just after midnight when he overheard a conversation in a neighboring room, leading him to suspect drug activity was taking place.
Officers met with that hotel guest, who told them he heard people saying they couldn't wake up a woman and that she may have overdosed. Police went to the room where they could hear people talking inside the room before they knocked on the door and announced themselves. No one answered the door and, based on information suggesting there was an emergency medical issue inside, they forced the door open.
Inside were two men and a woman. Police said one of the men, identified as Christopher Adler, 27, of 1 Brandywine Drive, Hooksett, struggled with them when they tried to restrain him. Adler allegedly yelled at the officers, causing a general disturbance in the hotel, and they arrested him for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
The woman, identified as Amanda Montplaisir, 25, of 527 Wilson St., did not need medical assistance. However, police said she was found in possession of several Clonazepam and Seroquel pills and was subsequently arrested for possession of a narcotic and possession of a controlled drug.
The third man, who police did not identify, was taken into protective custody because of his apparent impairment. Investigators said they collected evidence indicative of drug activity in the room including needles, spoons, baggies and a scale. Additional information gleaned from the investigation indicated Adler was involved in drug sales, according to a police news release of the incident.
Adler was searched when he was booked at the police station, and police said they found 9.5 grams of suspected heroin on him. He was then charged with possession of a narcotic with the intent to distribute and falsifying physical evidence.
- Merrimack teen allegedly held girl captive, assaulted her - 0
- Former Colonial Theatre finance director indicted - 0
- Troy welfare officer indicted for misusing town's money - 0
- Man arrested for failing to register as sex offender - 0
- Two Keene men charged with burglary and assault - 0
- Shooting victim's spouse's car being searched - 0
- Altercation leads to suspect fleeing, threatening police - 0
- Crash ends high-speed chase in Lyndeborough - 0
- Good Samaritan pins Manchester purse snatcher - 0
Merrimack teen allegedly held girl captiveREADER COMMENTS: 0
- NHIAA Basketball: Memorial needs shootout to get by Bow - 0
- Man arrested after chase that led from Pelham to Lowell, Mass. - 0
- No shortage of post-holiday shoppers at local stores - 0
- West junior advising College Board on its entrance exams - 0
- Sullivan in the top running for state's Assistant Principal of the Year - 0
- Derry making progress with efforts to honor POWS, MIAs - 0
- Lions Club blood drive draws on spirit of giving - 0
- Last Week's Rare Bird Alert - 0
- Murder suspect fit for trial? - 2
NHIAA Basketball: Central rally stuns MemorialREADER COMMENTS: 0
'Interview' buzz spreads to NH
Murder suspect fit for trial?
Pipeline push gets a second wind
Merrimack teen allegedly held girl captive
- Whom do you think bears the brunt of the blame for the mayhem this weekend in Keene?
- KSC students
- 37%
- KSC administration
- 2%
- Police
- 6%
- Visitors from out of town
- 18%
- A combination of any/all of the above
- 37%
- Total Votes: 2483


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Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories, by Lauren Groff
Title: Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories
Author: Lauren Groff
Pages: 320
Originally Published: 2009
Format I Read: Hardback
Publisher: Voice/Hyperion
Rating: [rating:5]
I received this book for free from the publisher. All content and opinions are my own.
I may have been living under some kind of rock, but I'd never heard of Lauren Groff before I received a review copy of her short story collection, Delicate Edible Birds. I have now made it my mission to track down everything on her back list and to watch for all forth coming works. Because these nine stories are treasures, every one.
- "Lucky Chow Fun" – the fate of the servers at the new Chinese restaurant in the fictional town of Templeton say a lot about the inhabitants of the town.
- "L DeBard and Aliette" – this haunting story takes place during the 1918 influenza epidemic and concerns the love story of two champion swimmers, L. DeBard and Aliette.
- "Majorette" – in this story, a little girl suffers a rather horrible childhood and comes of age, making something different of herself.
- "Blythe" – The title character sucks Harriet into a decades-long co-dependent relationship where Blythe takes and Harriet gives, to the detriment of her other relationships.
- "The Wife of the Dictator" – the wives of the ambassadors to a foreign country watch with little sympathy as the fate of the unlikely wife of the dictator plays out.
- "Watershed" – a wedding changes a not-so-very-young woman's life, for the better and then for the worse.
- "Sir Fleeting" – one woman recounts her life-long flirtation with a man named Ancel de Chair.
- "Fugue" – the owners and guests of a small and rather deserted inn are not quite what they seem.
- "Delicate Edible Birds" – this titular story tells the tale of Bernice "Bern", a war correspondent, and her fellow, male, correspondent evacuees from the German invasion of Paris.
Okay, the descriptions DO NOT do these stories justice. You'll just need to read them, as they are . . . captivating. Each story is clever, well-written, and interesting. To the very end. I'm was somewhat hesitant to start this book as, even if I like a few stories, I generally have to force myself through an entire collection. But in Delicate Edible Birds, as each story concluded, I found myself wishing, in a good way, that there was more about those characters. Then, as I started up the next story in the collection, I found myself equally enthralled with the new story and new batch of characters. This is a collection that I will keep and reread every story from time to time. There are not many collections I can say that about. Get it. Read it!
Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories, by Lauren Groff [rating:5]
Other Reviews:
At Home with Books
Educating Petunia
Farm Lane Books Blog
Largehearted Boy
Linus's Blanket
Pudgy Penguin Perusals
Ratskellar Reads
Categories: Fiction, Review Copy, Reviews
3 comments
Does she have a big backlist? I've only heard of The Monsters of Templeton. #feelsignorant I should try her short stories!
I loved her debut novel, but still need to go back to read her stories: thanks for encouraging me to get there faster!
I'm not a big short story reader, but I have read a few collections I've enjoyed and am open to trying others. The cover of this one is so lovely, I just might have to give it a shot!


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K-30 Auto-Spin Sink Machine
- Clean - Cable contained inside guide hose - minimizes clean-up of hands, work areas and fixtures.
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- Cable: 1/4" x 30' MAXCORE(tm) 50
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