Syria seeks to consolidate regional and international powers to combat terrorism

“Syria Seeks to Consolidate Cooperation in Combating Crime and Terrorism,” Interior Minister Says   May 14, 2009

Damascus,(SANA)-Minister of Interior Said Sammour has said that Syria incessantly seeks to consolidate mutual cooperation in combating crime and terrorism at all regional, Arab and International levels.   During his meeting Wednesday with heads and members of the delegations taking part in the 2nd meeting of combating terrorism officials, Minister Sammour pointed to the importance of terrorism-related security apparatuses meetings to reach an integrated approach towards combating and stemming terrorism through exerting concerted efforts, laying out common visions and exchanging expertise and information to attain that end.   For their part, delegation members expressed appreciation of Syria’s efforts and its role in reinforcing joint Arab security action through hosting a variety of meetings and symposia organized by General Secretariat of Arab Interior Ministers.   They also hailed the outcomes of the meeting, especially with regard to utilizing experiences and the exchange of expertise as well as laying out a transparent work strategy that prepares the groundwork for reaching the hoped-for goals towards a terrorism-free Arab society. Manal Ismael/Idelbi

Iran welcomes vist of high level Obama contact Vali Reza Nasr

No problem in a senior Obama advisor visit to Tehran: Mottaki Service: Foreign Policy 1388/02/23 05-13-2009 12:53:07 News Code :8802-15620

ISNA – Tehran Service: Foreign Policy TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Wednesday that there is no problem in a senior Obama administration advisor visit to Tehran. There are reports that the US President’s advisor on Iran, Vali Reza Nasr, has stepped in Tehran. Mottaki told reporters on the sidelines of the weekly cabinet meeting “every Iranian, living in every part of the world, could travel to his country and there is no problem in this regard.” Yet, it has not been confirmed by Tehran that Nasr has arrived in the country. Nasr, is a senior advisor to the special US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, and the son of prominent Islamic philosopher and historian of science, Seyyed Hossein Nasr.   Meanwhile, regarding probable Iran-US talks in October he noted “as the Supreme Leader has declared, the issues between Iran and the US hinge on behaviors and judgments are formed on this basis.” End Item News Code: 8802-15620

Open letter to the RCFP on non-disclosure of detainee abuse photos

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/14/18594775.php

Open letter to the RCFP on White House decision not to reveal ‘shock and awe’ photographs of detainee abuse
By Edward Campbell

rcfp14may09.pdf
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MISSOULA, May 14 (Al-Masakin)—I strongly disagree with this position which I believes shows that the RCFP is incapable of viewing the release of these photos through the eyes of a Muslim.
This is not a question of secrecy, or ‘secrecy files.’ It’s about not offending people at a time when such offending material will contribute to the recruiting efforts of terrorists and insurgents that responsible people within the Muslim community also seek to combat.
The Obama administration is wise in not handing over to the insurgency material which will hand them a powerful recruiting tool.
The RCFP should be reminded that under guidelines of editorial responsibility there are numerous photographs in the files of any police department that no responsible editor would ever publish, and the RCFP does not demand that they are published.
The question of the photos of the abuse of detainees, I suggest to you, is far more sensitive than any photograph you would find in police department files.
Nobody in the Muslim community aside from the enemies of America, and the friends of terror, want to see those photographs. No doubt there are those

within the American left who seek those images for the use as a propaganda weapon against the regime and they use these types of weapon not in the interest of defending us, but indeed at our expense.
We already know much of the content of these photos and to those who complain about so-called ‘censorship,’ ‘transparency,’ ‘openness, and alleged ‘promises’ made by the White House, who cannot be satisfied with forensic detailed written accounts of what happened during these interrogations, we in the Muslim community instead question the morality of those who believe they can only be satisfied by looking at sensitive graphic material.
I suggest that they are more concerned with satisfying their own thirst for ‘shock and awe.’ But satisfying their thirst for the profane does nothing to ‘protect,’ ‘help,’ or ‘defend’ our community. I suggest you satisfy you lust in private, away from us, and not in such a public way. Don’t exploit us for your private satisfaction, please.
EHC / EHC
—————————
Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com

Iran: Roxana Saberi indeed a spy

News number: 8802240483 16:20 | 2009-05-14 Social

Iran Intelligence: Saberi Indeed a Spy TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced that despite being released, Iranian freelance Journalist Roxana Saberi was proven to be involved in acts of espionage.

Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Eje’i told reporters on Wednesday that the court had found Saberi guilty of espionage. When asked about the reasons behind Saberi’s release despite the confirmation of espionage, Eje’i explained that Saberi was in fact convicted and handed a jail sentence but the sentence had been suspended for five years at the discretion of the judge, Press tv reported. Saberi, a freelance journalist, was detained in late January as she continued working in Iran despite the earlier expiration of her press credentials. She was sentenced to an eight-year imprisonment on charges of spying for the government of the United States. Her jail sentence was then reduced to a two-year suspended sentence after a court of appeals reviewed her case and she was released from detention. One of her lawyers, Saleh Nikbakht, explained to BBC on Wednesday that his client’s conviction was a result of accidental espionage. Nikbakht said Saberi had been convicted because she had copied and kept a “confidential Iranian government document” about the US invasion of Iraq and because she had visited Israel, travel which is banned by the Iranian government. Saberi had confirmed in her May 10 appeal that she obtained the document and copied it out of “curiosity” while she was working as a freelance translator for the influential Expediency Council, according to Nikbakht. She also acknowledged visiting Israel in the hearing but said that she had carried out no activities against Iran there. The suspended sentence for Saberi will be automatically lifted if she undertakes no unlawful activities in the next five years.

Letter from Neturei Karta to Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the Holy Land

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/13/18594641.php

NETUREI KARTA of THE ORTHODOX JEWRY of Palestine
JERUSALEM, PALESTINE
nkp [at] neto.bezeqint.net
12/05/09

to_his_holiness__pope_benedict_xvi.pdf
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TO HIS HOLINESS, POPE
BENEDICT XVI
Peace and Greetings!

It has come to our attention that Zionist-appointed “rabbis” have again been offering
unsolicited insidious and malicious statements against you in the name of the entire
Jewish People and the Jewish religion. As anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews with a
conscience, we feel it is imperative for us to condemn and to express our disgust at
such statements.

The so-called “chief rabbis” of the Zionist State of Israel, who are not simply satisfied
with supporting the relentless persecution and terrorism against the indigenous
Palestinian People, have now issued demands to you to state that the Jewish People
worldwide belong in their State. Such statements reflect arrogance and contempt for
the principles of Judaism for thousands of years that teach us to live in brotherhood
in all countries wherever we live. On the other hand, such paid “religious” appointees
of the Zionist regime have no concern for desecrating the name of G-d and our Torah
with their support for this racist regime that operates in violation of all the principles
of Judaism.

We also condemn the despicable statements of Shmuel Eliyahu, the so-called chief
rabbi of the city of Safed, that have been publicized in the media in the State of
Israel. Such people may wear the mantle of a rabbi, but they are enemies of peace
and harmony, enemies of the values of the Torah.

On the contrary, we appeal to you and all leaders of goodwill to use all pressure at
their disposal to put an end to the vicious and brutal behavior of the Zionist state
against the Palestinian People, and to seek the peace of Jerusalem by restoring the
rights of all Palestinians, both those in historic Palestine and those living as refugees
outside of historic Palestine. Nothing else will ensure peace and justice.
Yours truly,
Rabbi Meir Hirsh
Neturei Karta, Palestine