CounterPunch
If the Cluster Bombs Don't Nail Them ...
Come to think of it, wasn't it just a matter of time before the Bush
administration would get around to declaring the Lebanese registered
construction company, Jihad al-Bina, yet another "terrorist organization"? It
finally did put Jihad al-Bina on the list this week.
Still smarting from Israel's defeat in the July war, the White House and the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as well as their friends in
the US Congress have been busy tightening the screws on Iran and the Lebanese
Resistance. The Lebanese Resistance is led by Hezbollah which Iran, along with
virtually the whole of the Middle East, admires for its military achievements
in defending Lebanon against Israel, and perhaps equally, for its social,
educational, health, housing and infrastructure achievements.
This latter fact alone is a big problem for AIPAC. With an annual budget of $55
million dollars, a paid membership of more than 125,000 and a full time paid
staff of 122, with 12 satellite offices around the US, AIPAC is not happy these
days. It is not enough for AIPAC that the recent Congressional elections, which
increased the number of Zionist Jews in Congress from 26 to 31, is the largest
pro-Israel contingent elected to Congress in American history. No, AIPAC is not
satisfied.
Nor is AIPAC comforted by the fact that 7 of the 11 key subcommittees in
Congress, on just the House side, dealing with the Middle East, Intelligence
and Appropriations are now securely under Israel's control.
AIPAC wants more. Having failed in its recent 'hot' war in Lebanon, Israel has
unleashed its agents in Congress to destroy Hezbollah with 'cold' war tactics
including attacking its social institutions.
The US Israel lobby has been after Jihad al-Bina for years but the organization
became a prime target following the August 14, ceasefire. A quick glance at
Jihad al-Binna makes clear why it was slated for the ever expanding Bush
administration "terrorism list".
* Established by Hezbollah, and licensed by the Lebanese government in 1988
Jihad al-Bina quickly evolved into one of the most effective and prominent
nongovernmental organizations of Lebanon's civil society.
* Its primary objective is "to alleviate the hardships that the disadvantaged
population and deprived families face".
* Between 1988-2002 Jihad al-Bina completed nearly 11,000 projects involving
the construction and rehabilitation of schools, homes, shops, hospitals
infirmaries, Mosques, Churches, Cultural Centers and Agricultural Cooperatives.
According to the annual report of the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia, Jihad al-Bina is "by far one of the best-equipped
organizations engaged in reconstruction".
* In addition, Jihad al-Bina has been the major source of the provision of
potable water and electricity in areas bombed by Israel.
* In the last 14 years it has built 400 reservoirs of potable water for 900,000
Lebanese citizens of Beirut's southern suburbs, satisfying nearly 50% of the
areas needs. It has also dug more than 75 artesian wells, divided evenly
between the Bekaa Valley, South Lebanon and Beirut.
* Jihad al-Bina's electricity department has manufactured and installed more
than 20 large power generators n South Lebanon and the Bekaa.
* Its achievements in agricultural and rural development are as impressive as
in the field of engineering. It provides technical assistance to farmers in
land reclamation and cultivation, opening agricultural roads and building
irrigation networks.
* Jihad Al-Bina also helps farmers with credit to improve their farms.
* Since the August 14 ceasefire, Jihad al-Bina has already cleared much of the
rubble caused by Israel's bombing and is well into a major rebuilding of
private homes in the Bekaa, Beirut and South Lebanon, where thousands of
structures are being rebuilt.
Many American news reports have commented on the efficiency with which the
Lebanese reconstruction began and refugees were resettled, in contrast to the
continuing debacle in post-Katrina New Orleans. In Congress jokes were heard to
the effect that the Bush Administration should immediately contract with Hassan
Nasrallah to provide for Hezbollah to come over to the US and rebuild New
Orleans. AIPAC and the White House were not amused.
Nor was US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman, a fan of Jihad al-Bina or
Hassan Nassrallah.
Feltman's colleague, Stuart Levey, the US undersecretary for terrorism and
financial intelligence, in the Treasury Department, said in a statement on
February 20, 2006 that "Hezbollah uses the firm for its own needs as well as to
attract popular support through the provision of civilian construction
services." Without question, an 'A class' terrorism offense.
A blatant crime, according to Levey and the Bush administration, perpetrated by
Jihad al-Bina against the thousands of Lebanese bombed out of their homes and
trying, yet again, to rebuild their lives following the latest of Israel's
serial attacks on their Country which have spanned more than a quarter-century.
Levey is still searching for other Hezbollah backed institutions to label
'terrorist'. Are Hezbollah supported hospitals, schools, and child care and
rehabilitation centers next?
As the Bush administration crumbles into history part of its sordid legacy will
be the disgrace it brought upon our country by this sort of malicious
interference in the rebuilding of Lebanon, a rebuilding that is necessitated by
Congress and the US government agencies providing Israel with $ 15.1 million
dollars every day for an annual total of 5.7 billion dollars along with 83% of
the weapons Israel used to carpet bomb South Lebanon.
US Ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, who favored putting Jihad al-Bina on
the Bush administration 'terrorism list', owes an apology to the American
people as well as to the people of Lebanon.
Franklin Lamb, PhD was former Assistant Counsel, House Judiciary
Committee,Washington,DC, 20002 He can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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clayman writes: ""Hezbollah uses the firm for its own needs as well as to
attract popular support through the provision of civilian construction
services." Without question, an 'A class' terrorism offense.
The example of Jihad al-Bina is microcosmic, representative of every instance
in which a muslim charity has been designated a "terrorist organization" due to
the lobbying of AIPAC and its associates."
"Strive as in a race to achieve the
goal of excellence in all that you do."
For real insights visit:
http://www.geocities.com/mewatch99/
Regards,
Nashid
