A source on politics, war, the Middle East, Arabic poetry, and art.
Monday, January 01, 2007
The Zarqawi of Lebanon. I have written before about the Shaykh Muhammad `Ali Al-Juzu, the Mufti of Mount Lebanon, and one of the most reliable stooges of the Syrian mukhabarat in Lebanon for years. In fact, he was made "the spiritual guide" of Khaliyyat Hamad by Syrian mukhabarat chief, Rustum Ghazalah. Khaliyyat Hamad was set up as a Muslim counter-force against the Maronite Qurnat Shihwan organization after 2000. Juzu is now the star of the March 14th Movement, and is a loud voice against the Syrian government. He is favored by Jumblat and Hariri. This Juzu has been one of the most sectarian anti-Christian voices in Lebanon, and was vocal in calling for establishing an Islamic republic in Lebanon. In an interview with Ash-Shira` magazine on July 23rd, 1984, he also promised that Christians will be treated as Dhimmah people in his future Islamic republic. In the last year, Al-Juzu has been doing his best to instigate Sunni-Shi`ite conflict in Lebanon. His efforts have been so blatant that Hizbullah leaders (privately) issued strict orders to their members that no one is to respond to the accusations and statements of Juzu. Juzu came up with another statement the other day. He basically wants Iran and Shi`ites to support Al-Qa'idah's "heroes"--as he calls them--in Iraq to prove their nationalism. In a year or two,the US will realize anther result of their foolish policies in the Middle East. The Bin Ladenite supporters of Hariri Inc will be heard from. So the US seems to (indirectly at least) support Al-Qa`idah in Lebanon, while opposing it in Iraq.