AZERBAIJAN CONDEMNS ARMENIA’S MILITARY EXERCISES IN KARABAKH

ANS TV, Baku
3 Aug 04

The heads of the Armenian community of Karabakh and the Armenian armed
forces started joint military exercises in Nagornyy Karabakh
today. Reserve officers are also taking part in the exercises which
will continue until 12 August.

(Passage omitted: Russian news agency RIA is quoted)

We condemn these exercises as the aggressor country is staging them on
the occupied territory. We know the level of the Armenian armed
forces, and therefore, we know that the exercises will not be
successful, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service has said.

ISLAMIC CONFERENCE CONDEMNS LOCAL POLLS IN BREAKAWAY KARABAKH

Turan news agency
3 Aug 04

BAKU

The secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC), Abdelouahed Belkeziz, has sent a letter to the Azerbaijani
foreign minister, condemning the “local elections” in Nagornyy
Karabakh scheduled for 8 August.

The press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reports that in
his letter, the OIC head confirms the OIC resolutions demanding that
Armenia vacate the occupied Azerbaijani territories, including
Nagornyy Karabakh.

The letter says further that the “illegal elections” in Nagornyy
Karabakh will have a “negative” impact on a negotiated settlement to
the conflict.

AZERI, ARMENIAN LEADERS TO MEET IN SEPTEMBER SUMMIT OF CIS

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
3 Aug 04

BAKU

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will meet Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan in the Kazakh capital, Astana. The meeting will be joined by
Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the meeting will be
part of the CIS summit due in September.

Political circles in Azerbaijan explain Putin’s participation in the
meeting by Russia’s desire not to lag behind Turkey in resolving the
Karabakh conflict.

The main topic on the agenda of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian
presidents’ meeting will be regional stability. In addition to that,
the sides are expected to discuss new recommendations of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

AGBU GEN NEXT’S 2ND ANNUAL ARTISTIC SHOWCASE A HIT

Pasadena, CA – The Second Annual Artistic Showcase was held on Sunday
June 27, 2004 in the AGBU Pasadena Center’s Boyajian Hall. The unique
program brought together an array of musical, artistic and fashion
personalities that demonstrated to the Generation Next mentees the
cultural creativity in their own community.

Along with the performances of guest artists Lucy Nargizyan, Jaime
Avila, and Zvart Zulfayan, one of the mentees displayed rare talent
when they played a moving piece by Armenian composer Chebotaryan.
Those that attended the event, were also welcome to tour a special
exhibit of the visual culture of Armenians that included art,
photography, historical Armenian maps, and select objects from the
postal history of Armenia.

In addition to the exhibit, mentee Sona, who mounted a popular fashion
show at last year’s Artistic Showcase, returned this year to explain
the extensive work involved in designing dresses and accessories.

The afternoon ended with a surprise video production entited “Let’s
Dance,” which was realized through the combined efforts of a group of
mentors and mentees. Produced under the direction of Edna Shakhmalian,
who spent many hours finalizing the tape, all those involved in the
project were exposed and educated about the process of filming and
editing footage.

The AGBU Generation Next Mentorship Program is currently seeking
dedicated, qualified young adults to mentor the Armenian youth of
Southern California. Established in 1997 by AGBU Young Professionals
of Los Angeles, AGBU Generation Next’s mission is to serve the
Armenian youth of Southern California by providing them with guidance
and mentorship. Adult volunteers from the Generation Next Mentorship
Program act as positive role models and introduce young Armenians to
new experiences and alternatives, enabling them to become responsible,
self-sufficient, and independent adults.

To receive more information about the program or to request an
application to become a mentor, please call 626-794-7942 or email
[email protected].

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

LEO HAMALIAN REMEMBERED AS A LITERARY MENTOR

New York – Friends, family and colleagues of Leo Hamalian attended a
special commemorative ceremony to honor the memory of the longtime
editor of AGBU’s Ararat quarterly. Known as a distinguished writer,
educator and editor, Hamalian had a great impact on Armenian and
American literature not only through his work as an essayist, critic
and anthologist, but also through his ability to recruit new writers
and assist in their literary development. “Leo Hamalian has
demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the role literature plays in
defining the Armenian identity. As editor, he has fostered new talent
and been supportive of Armenian American writers so that they feel
part of a strong cultural community,” AGBU President Berge Setrakian
said about the long-time editor of Ararat.

Emceed by Ararat Board members, Peter Sourian and Nishan Parlakian,
longtime friends and colleagues, including Peter Balakian, Lynne
Kassabian, Harry Keyishian and Valerie Krishna, spoke about Hamalian’s
life at the May 20th event at the New York Society of Ethical Culture
on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Ararat Chairman and Interim Editor
Aram Arkun welcomed the guests and thanked those that made the event
possible.

Each speaker reminiscenced about the genteel and insightful nature
that was a hallmark of Hamalian’s life and Balakian summarized
Hamalian’s gift to his readers and friends: “Leo’s work as a writer,
editor, scholar, teacher and cultural emissary and friend-meant a
great deal to many people-people in this room tonight-and generations
of his students scattered around the country. He was a true
cosmopolitan; he brought the wider world of literature and culture to
Armenians all over the world, and brought Armenians to that wider
world. His good work made a difference; his kindness, his generosity
touched many of us. We’re indebted to him and we’ll miss him.”

Kassabian refered in her words to Hamalian’s remarkable role, “Leo was
at the center of a giant, turning wheel, and probably the single
vehicle that could contain us all-could carry us all-was the journal
AraratA.” Keyishian remembered Hamalian’s sophisticated sensibility
that easily engaged and celebrated every aspect of human
experience. While Valerie Krishna shared a personal story about
Hamalian’s sensitivity that helped her overcome the sense of loss she
felt from her mother’s death-it was a moment, she said, that gave her
insight into the beauty of his nature.

The speeches were followed by a number of works performed by pianist
Sahan Arzruni and the event concluded with a reading by James
V. Hatch’s of an excerpt from a seven-part poem by Hamalian entitled,
“Suite for Shushanik”.

Over a hundred guests attended the event, and a special memorial fund
has been established in Leo Hamalian’s name to guarantee that the work
of Ararat continues to foster a new generation of Armenian American
writing. Donations can be mailed to: Ararat, c/o AGBU, 55 East 59th
Street, New York, NY 10022-1112.

A special memorial issue is also being prepared for release later this
year that will highlight Hamalian’s life and work for over four
decades. For more information, please call, 212.319.6383, fax,
212.319.6507, or email, [email protected].

Established in 1959, Ararat has for over forty years been a leading
forum for Armenian American literature and ideas. It is published by
AGBU and is part of the organization’s mission to promote Armenian
culture and heritage around the world.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

AGBU NEW YORK SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES EXCITING PREMIER
SEASON

Last Two Events Sold Out with New Activities in Progress

New York – The AGBU New York Special Events Committee (NYSEC) recently
joined together with the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club of America,
where more than 75 supporters gathered for the annual Kips Bay
Decorator Show House in Manhattan. This important fundraising event
brought together area residents, Armenian and non-Armenian alike, in a
show of support for the Boys and Girls Club of America. The sold out
afternoon continued for NYSEC participants at the trendy restaurants
JoJo and Barbaluc on the Upper East Side of New York City.

In addition to the Kips Bay event, the recently initiated committee
also hosted several other programs. During its inaugural event last
fall, NYSEC gathered a sizeable number of guests for an afternoon tour
and high tea at Caramoor in Katonah, New York. Winter outings for the
group have included a day trip to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and a
special luncheon at Becco’s Restaurant, along with a lecture by
Dr. George Bournoutian the following month.

Entitled, Armenian History 101, Dr. Bournoutian’s informative lecture
was well received by a sold out NYSEC audience at the AGBU Central
Office. The program was followed by a question and answer period and
concluded with an afternoon reception.

The NYSEC members have already begun to organize new events for the
local community in the coming months, and anticipate another
successful season. Details and dates for the September event will be
announced shortly.

Launched in 2003 by a dedicated group of AGBU volunteers, NYSEC seeks
to promote a better understanding of both Armenian and American
culture and history in New York City. NYSEC organizes activities that
support AGBU membership and brings together Armenians in the local
community. Those interested in joining the Committee or being placed
on the mailing list should call the AGBU Central Office: 212.319.6383
ext. 128.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

August 3, 2004
___________________

CLERGY, PARISHIONERS GATHER TO HONOR LATE BISHOP

Funeral services were held for the late Bishop Houssig Bagdasian on
Monday, August 2, 2004, at the St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ. The
church, where Bishop Bagdasian served as pastor for many years, was
filled with clergymen, family of the bishop, and parishioners.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), presided over the service, during which
Bishop Vicken Aykazian celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

The Primate read a message from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in which he expressed his
condolences for the loss and prayed for the eternal rest of Bishop
Bagdasian, the first Armenian-born bishop of the Armenian Church.

Following the badarak, the mourners attended a hokejash, served by the
parish’s Women’s Guild chapter.

Bishop Bagdasian was buried in his hometown of Providence, RI, on
Tuesday, August 3, 2004.

What follows is the eulogy delivered by the Primate during the funeral
service.

* * *

Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth and dies,
it remains alone; but if it
dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:24

These words of our Lord are not only true in a literal sense, but also
when they are applied to all circumstances. Human life itself bears
testimony to this. It began with God breathing life into the nostrils
of the first man that He formed out of dust, and gave man the mystical
gift of regenerating the human race with the seed of his loins.
Similarly, behind every great and positive accomplishment in life there
is a grain of wheat, that sparkles in the human mind in the form of an
idea or a dream. If the grain is sown in fertile soil, in time it buds,
blossoms and bears much fruit.

Bishop Houssig’s example, from his childhood to his demise, reminds us
of our Lord’s parable on the grain of wheat. His entire life was
devoted to serving our church and our people. As a pastor, his flock
always held a special place in his heart. He left his mark by planting
the seeds of leadership in people who lead our church today, and in
others who will lead it in coming years.

Born on American soil in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, this
grain of wheat budded in the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of the same
city. He attended the parish schools and began serving in the church as
a choir member and altar boy. This tells us something about the wisdom
and importance of exposing our young boys and girls to our liturgy,
traditions and parish life from the very beginning. Some will hear the
calling from above, while others, who are not given that gift, will
spend their lives in the spiritual sphere of the church, practicing
their faith.

Bishop Houssig was one of those youth who received the calling from
above and hearkened to the Divine voice that led him to Jerusalem, the
center of the Christian faith. There for four years he tolerated the
rigors of seminary life, which were very different than the life he knew
in his parents’ home in Providence. Finally, the grain of wheat that
had budded in Providence and had been transferred to the fertile soil of
the St. James Monastery bloomed, as he was ordained a celibate priest
and accepted into the brotherhood of St. James.

Instead of returning to the United States after his ordination, Bishop
Houssig stayed in Jerusalem and held several responsible positions in
the monastery. As a member of the St. James Brotherhood, he was deeply
involved in guarding the rights of the Armenian Church at the Dominical
sites. This was a great service to our church, since our holdings in
the Holy Land and our custodianship over the central sites of
Christianity make our church and people visible in the international
world. Bishop Houssig was at various times responsible for the
properties of the Armenian Patriarchate. In 1960 he was appointed
Patriarchal Vicar of Israel, and was responsible for the Armenian
community in Israel as well as for the properties of the Armenian
Patriarchate on the Israeli side of the border. During his 11 years of
service in the Holy Land, Bishop Bagdasian helped renovate several
Armenian churches, including St. Nicholas in Jaffa, St. Elijah in Haifa,
and St. Krikor Loosavorich in Jerusalem. In accordance with the words
of the Prophet Isaiah, “[Blessed] is he that has a child in Sion and
household friends in Jerusalem [Isaiah 31:9]”, our entire Diocese and
Bishop Houssig’s family were blessed that an American-born Armenian
priest played such an important role in the Holy Land.

Returning to the United States in 1971, Bishop Houssig was assigned to
the St. Mary Church, then in Irvington, NJ. He led the church in its
move to Livingston in 1974. After the church was destroyed by fire in
1980, Bishop Bagdasian’s leadership was key in helping the parish
faithful pull together to rebuild the church, which was consecrated in
March 1982.

His service to the Diocese was not limited to the St. Mary parish. He
was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese, headed the Diocesan Finance
Committee, and served on several other committees. He had also been a
member of the Diocesan Council. For a short while he was the chancellor
of the Diocesan Center. And he was dedicated to the Armenian homeland,
leading a group of 26 ACYOA members to the region devastated by the 1988
earthquake to help with reconstruction.

In 1991 the General Assembly of the Brotherhood of St. James elected
Bishop Houssig as a member of the Executive Council of the Patriarchate.
He accepted, and returned to Jerusalem. At the request of the Patriarch
and the Brotherhood, he was consecrated a bishop in 1992 by the hand of
Catholicos Vasken I. Through his consecration he became the first
American-born bishop of the Armenian Church. For over five years, the
bishop was in charge of all the properties of the Patriarchate.

Bishop Houssig was a great leader, a dedicated pastor, and above all
else, a kind friend to so many. His dedication to the faith he was
called to serve was strong, as was his love for his flock. He will
surely be missed in Livingston, throughout the Diocese, and in the
worldwide Armenian Church family.

Tomorrow he will be buried in the bosom of the land where he was born.
I pray that his remains, which we consecrated earlier, will be a source
of blessing and inspiration to us all and particularly to the young
generation. May the Lord sow many grains of wheat in the fertile soil
of His church, and may those grains bud and blossom, so that we have
others who will follow Bishop Houssig’s footsteps.

— 8/3/04

ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Monday, August 2, 2004

ARMENIA WARNS BAKU OVER WAR THREATS
In a special statement issued last week, the Armenian Foreign Ministry
warned Azerbaijan that it would face “disastrous consequences” should its
leaders again resort to military force in the Karabakh conflict. The warning
came after President Ilham Aliyev told his diplomatic envoys posted abroad
that should Azerbaijan fail to regain Karabakh through negotiations, it
would “use… the military option.” The Armenian statement further
questioned Azerbaijan’s commitment to ongoing negotiations, with yet another
summit between Aliyev and Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian planned for
September.

Similar threats have been coming from Baku for years and many observers have
began to ignore them. Last week, the Azeri daily Zerkalo cited one unnamed
Western diplomat in Baku as saying “militant calls of your leader are at
odds with the real situation in your army, attitude of your society and
moral parameters of your ruling class.” The source added that the threats
are no longer taken seriously in the West.

But Armenian officials chose to react this time since unlike typical war
rhetoric for domestic consumption, the most recent threat came in what was
supposed to be President Aliyev’s policy speech to the Azeri diplomatic
corps. It also appears that Azerbaijan is beginning to accelerate its
military preparedness. Last month, Aliyev gave an average of a 50 percent
salary raise to the Azeri military and security forces. Azeri officials have
also indicated plans to begin new weapons purchases in Russia, Ukraine and
Pakistan.

Separately, Azerbaijan is beefing up its border security forces, which
received a $19 million aid package from the U.S. last week. The program,
known as the Caspian Guard, focuses on Azeri ability to defend the Caspian
oil infrastructure and on counter-proliferation. But it does appear to have
special operations and air components that could potentially be used against
Armenia, which would in turn violate U.S. law.

The Azeris have also stepped up provocations along the Line of Contact this
year. The Armenian army reported six deaths from enemy fire so far this
year, with Azeris reporting about a dozen. This week, Karabakh forces began
their annual maneuvers, which this year will also test their
inter-operability with forces from Armenia proper. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 7-19, 26; Ekho 7-20, 29; Arminfo 7-23; Azg 7-23; Zerkalo 7-23; Armenian
Foreign Ministry 7-28; U.S. Department of Defense 7-29; RFE/RL 7-30, 8-2)

ARMENIAN ECONOMY CONTINUES TO TOP GROWTH EXPECTATIONS
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by more than nine percent in the
first half of 2004, the National Statistics Service reported this week.
While below the record-high 2002-2003 growth of 12 and 14 percent
respectively, the increase was well above the six to seven percent
anticipated by the government and international financial institutions
earlier this year.

Significantly, this year’s robust growth comes after completion of
infrastructure projects funded by the U.S.-based Lincy Foundation, as well
as an 11 percent decrease in diamond-processing and jewelry production,
which had been one of the fastest growing sectors in recent years.
Industrial output was up 4.5 percent, driven by growth in generation of
energy (up 17 percent) and mining and metallurgy (up 46 percent). Textiles
production was up 2.2 times, with garment / leather and rubber / plastics
up 1.4 times each. Investments in construction increased by 12 percent, with
agricultural production up 8.5 percent.

In January-June 2004, the volume of Armenian exports grew by over 7 percent
to $340 million and imports by 4 percent to $625 million. Dependence on
outside supplies of energy and fuel, and raw materials imported for
processing in Armenia, kept the trade deficit large. The list of main export
destinations for Armenian goods continued to be topped by Belgium (19
percent of all goods), Israel (12), Russia (11), the United States (10),
Germany (9) and Switzerland (6). Most imports arrived from Russia (18
percent), Belgium (11), the United States (8), Israel (7) and Great Britain
(6).

The Armenian government also reported to be on track with a projected
increase in revenue collection to reach $450 million this year. Combined tax
and customs revenue in the first half of 2004 reached $211 million, up 17
percent year-on-year. Nevertheless, the State Taxation Service chief
estimated that the so-called shadow sector continued to account for 30
percent of economic activity, with an equivalent portion of profits and
incomes remaining officially untaxed. At the end of June 2004 the average
private sector monthly salary was estimated at $100, up 28 percent
year-on-year, while average public sector wages stood at a meager $50,
despite a 46 percent increase. The unemployment rate remained largely
unchanged at 9.3 percent of the adult population. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 2-6, 4-30; Arminfo 7-31, 8-2; Golos Armenii 7-31)

Visit to read Armenia This Week
issues since 1997.

Armenian Assembly of America
Research & Information Office

August 2, 2004

ISSUE BRIEF: ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF IRAQ

On Sunday, August 1, 2004 Iraq’s Christian communities were the targets of
unprecedented violence. Five bombs exploded nearly simultaneously at four
churches in Baghdad and one in Mosul. The bombings claimed the lives of at
least seven people and dozens were wounded. Among the churches targeted was
an Armenian Catholic Church in Baghdad.

Christian Assyrians and Arabs make up the largest Christian groups in Iraq.
Since the Saddam Hussein take-over in the 1970s and due to subsequent
oppression and wars with Iran and the U.S. and coalition forces, many Iraqi
Christians have emigrated. Today, their number is estimated at about 500,000
people out of Iraq’s twenty seven million.

The Armenian presence in Iraq dates back centuries. But the largest group
arrived during and after the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the then Ottoman
Turkey. Today, the number of Armenians has decreased to under 20,000 people,
but a large community infrastructure remains, including some ten churches.
Most Armenians live in Baghdad, with communities in northern Iraq and Basra
in the south.
Below are the major landmarks sustained by the Armenian community in Iraq:

· Built in 1640, the St. Mary’s (Sb. Astvadzadin) Armenian Church is
the oldest in Baghdad. Reconstructed in 1967, it has been closed through
most of last year. It is also known locally as St. Meskenta (Shirin), named
after a 5th century female martyr. During its annual August 15 festival, the
church draws Christians of all denominations.

· Our Lady of the Roses’ Armenian Catholic Church, built in 1884 and
located in Baghdad’s Karrada district, was one of the targets of the August
1 bombing. As a result, three people were injured and the nearby
headquarters of the Armenian Catholic Church office destroyed. The church
itself sustained comparatively less damage. The Armenian Catholics, who also
maintain the newer St. Mary’s Armenian Catholic Church in Baghdad, are led
by His Grace Antoine Atamian.

· The Holy Martyrs’ (Sb. Nahadangats) Armenian Apostolic Church is
located at the Armenian cemetery in Baghdad and is used for observance of
last rights during funerals.

· St. Gregory the Illuminator (Sb. Grigor Lusavorich) Armenian
Apostolic Church in downtown Baghdad’s Younis al-Sabaawi Square was built in
1956. It also houses the Armenian Church headquarters, headed by the Most
Rev. Archbishop Avak Assadourian. Since 2003, the church has been closed for
services as “unsafe.”

· St. Karapet Armenian Apostolic Church, built in 1973 in Baghdad’s
Christian Camp Sarah neighborhood has remained open throughout the war and
continues to function attracting some 1,000 Armenian families from
throughout Baghdad.

· Outside Baghdad, there are functioning Armenian Apostolic Churches
in the southern city of Basrah, home to some 300 Armenian families, and
northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, with 300 and 120 families respectively.
The St. Mary and St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Churches serve the largely
Kurdish-speaking Armenian communities in Zakho and the nearby village of
Avzrug, respectively, which comprise over 200 families.

Since 2003, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church in the United States have provided modest aid
to the Iraqi Armenian community’s neediest families. Armenians, along with
other Iraqis, have faced a precarious security situation over the past year
and a half. Dozens have become victims of ongoing violence. Until the August
1 attacks, none of the Armenians were targeted because of their faith or
heritage.

Sources:
The Armenian Assembly of America information 8/2/04
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Press Release 8/2/04
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) 7/7/04
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty 7/6/04
Atlas Travel & Tourist Agency (Jordan)

A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX
(202) 638-4904
E-Mail [email protected] WEB

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

American Daily, OH
Aug 3 2004

A Just War
By David Huntwork (08/15/2003)

The justifications of the Iraq War should be old news by now but
still the shrill cry of `Where’s the WMD’s?’ continues to reverberate
across the political landscape. Presidential hopeful Howard Dean
threatens to lead the Democratic Party to the brink of political
oblivion by attacking the war and advocates the `cut and run’ policy
if he were to be elected.

The rest of the nine democratic lemmings, as well as many in the
media, have desperately joined the scramble to disavow the war in
spite of the fact that many supported it. While the rest of the
nation has moved on, the Democratic Party is preparing to make the
Iraq war their major issue in the coming presidential election. It is
embarrassing to watch a major political party seek the sissy vote.

In spite of the the buried centrifuges, banned missiles, mobile
biological weapons labs, the testimonies of defectors and captured
officials, captured documents and thousands of gassed Kurds and
Iranians moldering in the grave the there are still those who
question whether Saddam had Weapons of Mass Destruction in the months
and years leading up to the Coalition invasion and the inclination to
use such weapons. I suspect that most are really asking whether the
destruction of the Baath regime and the ousting of Saddam Hussein was
the right thing to do.

It is indisputable that the Iraqi’s developed, possessed, used and
coveted WMD’s , and were planning to develop the nuclear form of them
as soon as United Nations sanctions were lifted. As to whether they
were an undefinable `imminent’ threat is irrelevant and a red herring
argument at best. The real question is whether the Iraq War was a
just war. Was liberating the Iraqi people the moral and right thing
to do and will history regard this as a suitable, just and deserved
ending of the despotic Saddam regime?

History has recorded in stark black and white the tyrants and mass
murder of the last century. The slaughter of Armenians by the Turks,
the insanity of Idi Amin, the apocalyptic terror of Pol Pot, the
ethnic orgy of death in Rwanda, the horrific war against Christians
in the Sudan, and the countless lives sacrificed by Lenin, Stalin,
and Mao on the Red altar of Communism. These are just a few on the
list that reads as a nightmarish record of mans’ inhumanity to man.

Only rarely do tyrants meet the end that they deserve. The world
defeated and destroyed the triple evils of Nazism, fascism and
Japanese militarism but only after the organized slaughter of tens of
millions had run its course.

Saddam and his sons have served as just the latest Middle Eastern
incarnation of such terror, war and death. The thirty years of
Baathist rule in Iraq produced wars, invasions, and attacks on three
neighboring countries, the direct deaths of over a million people,
and ethnic and religious civil wars with the obligatory torture
chambers, execution squads, rape rooms, and chemical attacks on
civilian populations. The laundry list would not be complete without
mentioning the funding, arming and training of terrorist groups of
all political and ideological stripes and the attempted assassination
of a former president of the United States.

Perhaps the most premeditated diabolical act was what occurred after
the imposition of UN sanctions. The Saddam regime embarked upon the
deliberate starvation and medical neglect of the Iraqi people for
political purposes. Tens of billions of illegal petro dollars funded
WMD programs and was hoarded or spent on lavish lifestyles for the
elite as the children of Iraq died from neglect, malnutrition, and
lack of medicine. All played out for the eager lenses of the world
press and the benefit of the pacifists here at home.

In the end it should be a moral outrage that it took this long for a
`coalition of the willing’ to finally end the reign of yet another of
histories monstrosities. When the Iraq War first started what was
heard from the average American was not `why are we doing this?’ but
`what took us so long?’ and `we should have taken him out the first
time’. The blood soaked sand of Iraq deserves better.

The name Saddam will become just another one word term symbolizing
the utter cruelty humanity is capable of inflicting on itself. His
shadow will always be with us and be remembered for its own
particular horrors and the unique terror he brought his victims.

The members of the Axis of Evil, Al-Queda, and their allies have
shown no mercy to their victims and should be shown none in return.
With a little luck some native Kurd will mete out some true justice
and display the head of Saddam on a pole in a village square
somewhere. It would certainly simplify the worries of providing a
`proper Muslim’ burial for a mass murderer and spare the ever so
sensitive sensibilities of the Arab street.

Those that bemoan the use of force against the Saddam regime or mourn
the killing of the `Hussein boys’ share a portion of guilt for the
horrific crimes committed by such criminals. To prevent rape,
mutilation, torture and the shedding of innocent blood, to civilize a
people, to kill a sadist, to liberate a country, to bring peace to a
region wracked by war and help heal an ancient land is a cause that
is noble and worthy of respect. Civilized and free people have a duty
to do what we can to make the world a better, safer and more merciful
place. It is certainly reasonable to prevent rogue ideologies and
psychotic personalities from unleashing their holocaust of terror and
vision of destruction on the rest of us.

When you add it all together; a vicious tyrant, nuclear ambitions,
torture, genocide, sponsorship of terror, user of WMD’s, combined
with a vicious hatred of Israel, America and Western Civilization,
there can be no other conclusion than that the Iraq war was a just
war. Untold thousand of future Saddam victims have President George
Bush and the iron resolve of the American people to thank for their
lives. In the course of history few nations have destroyed tyranny
instead of imposing it and liberated nations instead of enslaving
them. A nation founded in Liberty has given that blessed gift to the
Iraqi people.

David Huntwork is a long time conservative activist and occasional
columnist in Ft. Collins, Colorado where he lives with his wife and
two (soon to be three) young daughters. He strongly believes in the
importance of Faith, Family, and Freedom as the formula of success
for a good life and a healthy nation.

Persian Journal, Iran
Aug 3 2004

Iran, Armenia Keen to Expand Cultural Ties

A visiting high-ranking Armenian delegation reached an agreement on
urban architecture and cultural interaction with officials from
Tehran Municipality Art and Culture Department here on Monday.

During this meeting, Head of Tehran Municipality Art and Culture
Department Esfandiar Rahim Mosha’ie named Iranian Armenians “good
citizens” and said that they had a crucial role in pivotal occasions
such as the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Sacred Defense and
in cultural, political and social affairs, IRNA reported.

Referring to the history of Tehran Municipality in seeking expertise
of other countries in optimizing Tehran architecture, Mosha’ie noted
that he expects close cooperation with Armenian architects along with
art and cultural interaction in the future. For his part, Armenian
Deputy Minister of Culture Gagik Gurjian mentioned the history of
Iran-Armenia cultural and artistic cooperation and appreciated Iran’s
special interest in such collaboration.

Regarding the monument of Zorzor church in West Azarbaijan province
which was previously flooded by water “The ancient church was
restored at a higher altitude through joint efforts of Iranian and
Armenian experts and engineers,” he said, adding that the church is
currently being examined by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “In addition to
architectural cooperation between the two countries, Iran and Armenia
can also cooperate in other fields such as introducing their
religious and spiritual ceremonies,” he concluded.