Month: November 2006

EXCLUSIVE: HOW WAHHABI SPIN CONQUERS THE WEST
Stephen Schwartz
Family Security Matters, NJ
Nov 15 2006
“The growing middle class of Saudi Arabia, as well as their aspiring
but impoverished peers in Egypt and Pakistan, are drawn to radical,
violent, paranoid, irrational politics in the same way the ruined
middle class in Germany, after the first world war, was lured into
Nazism.” FSM Contributing Editor Stephen Schwartz is an expert on
the threat Islamofascism poses to the free world. Read his response
after his attempts to warn the American people were blasted by the
“Wahhabi lobby” and American Muslim groups.
Last week, I published an FSM column titled “How the Wahhabi Lobby
Spins Islam.” There I described a media assault on me by Hadia Mubarak,
a former leader of the Saudi-founded Muslim Students Association
of the U.S. and Canada (MSA), present board member, i.e. top-level
representative, of the Saudi-financed Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), and associate of Georgetown University’s
Saudi-supported Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (CMCU).
I protested against Ms. Mubarak’s libelous accusation that I have
“a deep hatred of Islam,” since I have been Muslim myself since
1997. I sought to demonstrate how a powerful lobby in the West
aligns with the radical Wahhabi sect that is the state religion in
the Saudi kingdom. The Wahhabi lobby targets as “enemies of Islam”
all Muslims, as well as non-Muslims, who criticize fundamentalism
and other extremist trends in the faith of Muhammad.
In that column I pointed out that from the campus agitation of MSA
to the Wahhabi advocacy of CAIR and thence to respectability at
Georgetown-CMCU is a path worn smooth by young American Islamists.
Such career progress also illustrates why Western mainstream media,
academia, and government “experts” have been so vulnerable to the
argument that Saudi radicalism represents the sole legitimate form of
Sunni Islam. The Wahhabis and their allies have gained a monopoly
on Sunni opinion in the West, and it is natural but abominable
that non-Muslim media, academia, and even government turn to them
for guidance.
But while it is legitimate to question the role of the Saudis in
Western perceptions of Islam, as well as to reply critically to
such questioning, the Wahhabi lobby exposes its totalitarian nature
when it shuns debate and immediately turns to personal abuse. Hadia
Mubarak clearly had no idea that open controversy is a major feature
of Islamic intellectual history – in the classic manner of a Hitlerite
or Stalinist, she interpreted any challenge as an enemy attack.
Yet little did I know how brief a time I had to wait before receiving
fresh and dramatic evidence of the success the Wahhabi lobby has
enjoyed in spinning Islam globally as well as in the U.S. I have
now been honored with a similarly libelous blast from the Parisian
monthly Le Monde Diplomatique, a periodical stratospherically higher
than the internet media and low-circulation Muslim community journals
to which Ms. Mubarak and CAIR most often have recourse.
In its November issue, LMD, as it prefers to be called – perhaps in
imitation of WMD, perhaps out of nostalgia for the drug LSD, which
produced similarly hallucinatory effects – published a long article by
someone named Stefan Durand, identified in the paper as nothing other
than a “researcher.” The topic was the concept of “Islamofascism,”
on which I have published extensively. I first used the term in
print only 11 days after September 11, 2001, in referring to the
Saudi-Wahhabi cult that inspires al-Qaida. While a historian of the
Arab world and Islam, Malise Ruthven, had previously employed it 1990,
to describe the dictatorships prevalent from Morocco to Pakistan,
I developed it much further, in my book The Two Faces of Islam.
In my view, “Islamofascism” implies an extensive and serious
sociological and historical theory, concentrating on the political
role of frustrated elites in the Muslim world. The growing middle
class of Saudi Arabia, as well as their aspiring but impoverished
peers in Egypt and Pakistan, are drawn to radical, violent, paranoid,
irrational politics in the same way the ruined middle class in Germany,
after the first world war, was lured into Nazism.
“Islamofascism” is, then, neither one of the many “sound-bite” comments
on the conflict over the future of Islam, nor a political slogan.
French “researcher” Stefan Durand, however, had a different approach
to the matter. The Durand essay was advertised with a garish
red headline on the paper’s front page, “Is Islamism Fascism?” A
mutilated translation was posted on LMD’s English-language website
(but on some servers is only available to the paper’s subscribers.)
In the English version, Stefan Durand’s punch-line appeared at the
top of the long, laborious piece. First, he was mainly exercised at
the use of the term, or a variant thereof, by President George W.
Bush. Second, he claimed to have traced a connection to the White
House, which he painted as sinister.
According to the French researcher, my argument about Islamofascism was
communicated to the chief executive of our country by Bernard Lewis,
the Princeton historian of Islam. In the world of LMD, Lewis is an
“orientalist” – a term employed as an insult in the impenetrable
and contemptible scratchings in ink by the late Arab author Edward
Said. And LMD reveals that Professor Lewis is an “advisor to the White
House.” Further, our intrepid Frenchman reports, I, Stephen Schwartz,
consider myself a disciple of Lewis. In the words of the ridiculous
Durand, Bernard Lewis and I share “great hostility toward Islam.”
Whoops, there it is… again! An analyst of “Islamofascism” must be
hostile to Islam, according to the prestigious LMD! The content of
the theory of Islamofascism is ignored; neither Durand nor any of
the other drive-by polemicists who have assailed it (in such leftist
tabloids and pulp magazines as In These Times and The Nation) have
pretended to address it..
Stefan Durand is not, one must admit, much of a researcher. His
research did not disclose to him that I am a Muslim, and therefore
should not be accused of hostility to my faith. Nor did it impart
to him that Bernard Lewis is controversial in France because of his
defense of the Turkish authorities against a charge of deliberate
genocide in the massacres of Armenians at the end of the first
world war. Lewis’s view of the Turkish-Armenian tragedy is hardly
a position characteristic of those hostile to Islam. I cannot blame
researcher Durand for not anticipating that I would have published
an article in The Weekly Standard (issue dated November 20, 2006)
criticizing the record of Turkey in dealing with Muslim as well as
non-Muslim minorities, which might be construed as opposed to the
stance of Bernard Lewis. For the French researcher, it suffices to
condemn The Weekly Standard because it is edited by William Kristol.
I do not deny, however, being a disciple of Bernard Lewis, as well as
of William Kristol. Professor Lewis is the dean of historians of Islam
in the West, and notwithstanding the cheap insults directed against him
in the past by Edward Said, all who write on Islamic history today owe
him a debt. Professor Lewis is even quoted by intellectuals in Iran,
although they disagree with him on numerous issues.
All that counts to the protectors and apologists for Islamofascism
is that Schwartz be personally discredited, and the line of attack
is automatic and obvious: I am yet another foe of Islam. And thus it
is that the schoolyard tactics of Hadia Mubarak, MSA, CAIR, and the
Georgetown pro-Wahhabi crowd ascend to the journalistic heights of Le
Monde Diplomatique! The success of the Wahhabi lobby in misrepresenting
Islam to the West has seldom been better illustrated.
I have no need of insisting that I am no enemy of Islam. I
have just returned from the Balkans, where I work closely with
anti-radical Sunni Muslims targeted (literally) by gunfire from
Wahhabi infiltrators. Recently a Bosnian Muslim cleric, Mustafa
Susic, protested that nobody invited the Wahhabis to the Balkans,
and the same may be said of Saudi-Islamist agents in Western Europe
and North America. No Muslims asked these Saudi religious colonialists
to subvert American Islam. Mustafa Susic had simple advice for young
Muslims anxious to improve their study of religion: “do not go to
Saudi Arabia!” Susic went on forthrightly, “Al-Qaida started from the
[Wahhabi] movement – I do not see any other movement in the Islamic
world that could produce such a thing.”
I know for certain that neither Wahhabi lobby functionaries like
Hadia Mubarak nor French researchers like Stefan Durand – neither
the lurkers in the abyss nor the imagined astronauts of journalism –
will pay attention, as I do, to the anti-extremist struggle of a Muslim
cleric in a distant, poor, and tormented land, like Mustafa Susic. I am
a friend and peer of those Muslims, who, to apply in a new context the
words of a California ethnic journalist of the past century, Katayama
Sen, are “mute… silent from despair… stammering… grumbling,
murmuring… so degraded by suffering and ignorance that they have
no strength to speak out.”
I will be a voice for those Muslims. To further paraphrase, I will
be the bleeding mouth from which the Wahhabi gag has been snatched. I
will say everything.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Stephen Schwartz is
Executive Director of the Center for Islamic Pluralism.
© 2003-2006 FamilySecurityMatters.org All Rights Reserved
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more information about this writer or this article, please email your
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Note — The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy
of Family Security Matters.
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TURKEY GOING TO APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT CONCERNING THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Azeri Press Agency
Nov 15 2006
“Turkey may appeal to the International court concerning the so-called
Armenian genocide,” Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul announced, APA
reports, during the discussions of draft state budget for 2007 in the
Turkish Parliament former diplomat, Shukru Elekdag made a new proposal
to prevent international recognition of Armenians’ genocide claims.
He wanted Ankara to appeal to the Hague Court.
“Turkey has to propose the investigation of the events of 1915
according to the requirements of UN Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Even if the Armenians don’t accept
the proposal, it will show Turkey’s moral and legal rightness and
undermine political misuse of this issue,” he said. Highly appreciating
his thoughts, Abdullah Gul estimated the Armenians’ claims and their
influence on Turkey’s relations with other countries as one of the
most important problems of the forthcoming 10 years. He said they
do their best to uncover historical truth and mentioned that they
proposed to form a commission with Armenians consisting of historians.
“Most countries supported us. Now we are trying to take other steps.
We also think of appealing to the International Court. We consult
both with local and foreign lawyers,” he said.
Shukru Elekdag said that if the issue is investigated in the
International Court, the Armenians will have to prove the genocide,
but they have no historical documents to prove it.
Elekdag also explained how the issue will be investigated. He said that
both sides Turkey and Armenia (of course in case Yerevan agrees to
the investigation) will choose three judges, the head of the panel
will be a neutral judge. The panel of judges to be composed of 7
judges will make a decision if the events happened in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915 are genocide or not.
17 states have recognized the so-called Armenian genocide up to now.
After the democrats, close to the Armenian lobby, won in the Congress
elections Turkey is concerned about the probability of recognition
of the so-called genocide by the US.

TAHIR TAGIZADEH: PREPARATIONS FOR PRESIDENTS’ MEETING IS BEING CARRIED OUT
Azeri Press Agency
Nov 15 2006
A step forward was taken in the talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanian with the
participation of OSCE Minsk group co-chairs in the frame of Prague
Process held in Brussels yesterday, said Tahir Tagizadeh, the chief
Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry Press and Information policy Department,
APA reports.
The diplomat said that the talks were difficult but constructive.
“We always declared that the main is the continuation of talks and
to take a step forward. The sides achieved this step,” he said.
Tagizadeh noted that the preparations are being carried out for the
presidents’ meeting in the frame of CIS Summit talks to be held on
November 21-23 in Minsk.
The diplomat did not say anything about the achievements.
“At present, we can not declare anything because of no complete
agreement on issues,” he said.

NKR PRESIDENT HELD MEETINGS IN BOSTON AND DETROIT
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 15 2006
The issues referring to the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement and perspectives of the Nagorno-Karabakh’s social and
economic development were discussed in the course of the NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassian’s meeting with the U. S. Congressman Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) held in Detroit.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Main Department
of Information under the NKR President, Arkady Ghoukassian had
congratulated Mr. Knollenberg on his reelection to the Congress
and expressed his gratitude for promoting the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
interest. In his turn, Joe Knollenberg, the Armenian Caucus Co-Chair,
assured the NKR President of his readiness to go on being actively
involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh’s problems.
In Detroit Arkady Ghoukassian also met with the representatives of
the city’s Armenian Diaspora. In the course of the meeting the NKR
President urged those present to contribute to the development of
the NKR’s economy and infrastructure.
Touching on the Karabakh conflict settlement Arkady Ghoukassian
noted the Artsakh people could not be intimidated by Azerbaijan’s
military threats. He underscored the NKR Defense Army and Artsakh
people were ready to give an effective rebuff to any infringements
on the Nagorno-Karabakh’s freedom and independence.
Earlier, November 11, Arkady Ghoukassian visited Boston, where he
held meetings with well-known Armenian philanthropists. In part,
the NKR President met with the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA)
Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar. The interlocutors discussed
the perspectives of various humanitarian and investment programs’
implementation in Artsakh.
In Boston a reception was organized in honor of Arkady Ghoukassian.
Addressing the meeting’s participants Arkady Ghoukassian paid their
attention to the tasks Nagorno-Karabakh had to resolve in the sphere
of education, agriculture and other key branches.

FINLAND GO TOP AFTER BEATING ARMENIA
Reuters, UK
Nov 15 2006
HELSINKI, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Finland moved top of Group A with a 1-0
win over Armenia in their Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday after a
fine display by keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Midfielder Mika Nurmela gave Finland the lead after 10 minutes with
a free header as he connected with a low cross by Jonatan Johansson,
who was first to the ball after Armenia keeper Gevorg Kasparov could
only parry a long-range strike.
Finland lead the group with 11 points from five games followed by
Serbia who have 10 points from four matches.
The Finns have started well under new coach Roy Hodgson as they bid
to qualify for their first major finals, having beaten Poland and
drawn with World Cup semi-finalists Portugal.
Armenia, who drew 0-0 against Finland last month, came close to
surprising the Finns again and only two superb saves by Jaaskelainen
in the second half kept the home side ahead.

FORUM ON CONTEMPORATY CHALLENGES AND THREATS TO CIS TO BE HELD IN SAINT PETERSBURG
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 15 2006
November 17 an international scientific forum on “Improvement of
cooperation between CIS countries to counter contemporary challenges
and threats” will be held in Saint Petersburg. The conference
will feature parliamentarians and heads of special services of CIS
countries.
Press Service of the CIS Executive committee in Minsk informs that
the participants of the forum will analyze the contemporary threats
and challenges to CIS countries. They will discuss the process of
accomplishment of interstate programs to fight criminal, terrorism,
illegal drug trafficking and illegal migration.

WHO ACCELERATES FIGHT AGAINST COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 15 2006
The World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 20 international
partners are today launching a comprehensive package of measures
to help national authorities safeguard their populations from the
dangers of counterfeit medicines.
At the opening of the first official meeting of IMPACT (the
International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce) in Bonn,
WHO and its partners are unveiling a programme covering legislation,
law enforcement, regulation, technology and communication. IMPACT is
also issuing a warning against buying medicines from rogue web sites
as well as cautioning governments that existing laws against medical
counterfeiters are inadequate and do not act as deterrents.
Counterfeit medicines range from products containing no active
ingredients to those containing highly toxic substances. They can
harm patients by failing to treat serious conditions, can provoke
drug resistance and in some cases kill.
The latest estimates jointly elaborated by WHO, the OECD, and the
Pharmaceutical Security Institute show that more than 30% of medicines
in some areas of Latin America, South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
are counterfeit. In emerging economies, the proportion is estimated
at 10% but in many of the former Soviet republics it can be as high
as 20%. In wealthy countries, with strong regulatory mechanisms,
counterfeits account for less than 1% of the market value, but 50%
of illegal Internet sales are counterfeit.
By the end of 2007 IMPACT aims to have all 193 WHO Member States
formally collaborating to stem global and national counterfeiting of
medical products.

RAMIL SAFAROV’S EXTRADITION EXCLUDED
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 15 2006
Members of the Constitutional Court of Hungary do not have
the authority of speaking about Azeri Officer Ramil Safarov’s
extradition. Attorney Nazeli Vardanyan told “Armenpress” that the
Constitutional Court has never addressed the issue and extradition
is not its function.
Let us remind, that according to Azeri media, one of the Constitutional
Court members declared in Baku that Safarov might carry his punishment
in Azerbaijan.
“At this moment Ramil Safarov’s extradition is ruled out. The protest
of the Azerbaijani side has not been discussed yet. There are other
criminal cases launched against him for getting into conflict with
guards. Before the completion of the investigation of all the cases
and announcement of verdicts extradition is excluded,” said Nazeli
Vardanyan.
Besides, the chances of Azerbaijan are very small, since in case of
life imprisonment extradition has never been applied in Hungary.
Let us remind that Ramil Safarov, who brutaly killed Armenian
Officer Gurgen Margaryan on February 19, 2004, was sentenced to
life imprisonment.

ARMENIA’S IPAP WITH NATO IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE COOPERATION
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 15 2006
Armenia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO is a good
example of “effective” cooperation, representative of the NATO Public
Diplomacy Division Dr. Knut Kirste said during the “Riga summit:
The challenges and opportunities for safe and peaceful future” youth
conference in Yerevan,” Mediamax agency reports.
Dr. Knut Kirste noted that for more than 10 years NATO has been
successfully cooperating with Armenia.
The NATO Public Diplomacy Division representative emphasized
particularly the opening of the NATO Information office in Yerevan.
According to him, the center will enable the Armenian population to
be informed about the policy of the Alliance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN TO VISIT FRANCE AND CYPRUS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 15 2006
At the turn of 2007 President Robert Kocharyan will pay an official
visit to France. The terms of the visit are still being corrected.
The invitation to visit France was received still in September during
French President Jacques Chirac’s visit to Armenia.
Before that, November 23-25 Robert Kocharyan will visit Cyprus. RA
President’s Spokesman Viktor Soghomonyan informs that according to
preliminary agreement it will be a state visit, but the agenda has
not been fixed yet.