Iraq side-effects, or how good things happen to good nations

[redman]

From GeoStrategy.org:

End of Saddam creates vacuum of power, cash flow problems for Palestinian terror groups

The downfall of Saddam Hussein has led to a shortage of funds. It has also created a power vacuum among terrorist organization in general and Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement in particular.

This power vacuum has been most strongly felt in southern Lebanon. Palestinian sources said all of the Iraqi-financed Palestinian organizations have suspended public activities, such as rallies and marches.

Iraq had been directly funding such groups as the Arab Liberation Front, the Palestine Liberation Front and the Arab Socialist Party.

Saddam's demise has also led to renewed pressure on the Palestinians by Lebanon and Syria. Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has approved a series of appointments in the Fatah leadership in Lebanon. The first changes have already been made in Fatah's organization, including the Fatah commander for the Beirut area, the sources said. The ex-commander was not identified.

Fatah has the largest presence in Lebanon outside of the Palestinian Authority. Lebanon has more than 300,000 Palestinian refugees and Fatah controls the Ein Hilwe camp outside Sidon, with a population of 75,000.

Meanwhile, Palestinian factions have been battling in Ein Hilwe. The battle has pitted Fatah forces against Al Qaida-linked insurgents, led by Abdullah Sharbadi, chief of the Usbat Nur group. Sharbadi was injured in an assassination attempt earlier this year.

The official Egyptian news agency Mena reported that "radical changes" would be made in the Fatah leadership. The agency did not elaborate but Palestinian sources later said this would include a reduction of Fatah member salaries in Ein Hilwe and the revision of tasks in the movement.

The sources also said the powers of Col. Munir Maqdah, the Fatah militia commander in Lebanon, would be reduced. Maqdah is regarded as a leading opponent of any Fatah talks with Israel. He is a chief element in the tension between Palestinians and the Lebanese government.

Fatah secretary-general in Lebanon Sultan Abu Einin has opposed Maqdah. Under the proposed changes, Maqdah's authority would be transferred to other Fatah offices headed by Ahmed Nasser and Said Al Asus.

Is it all about the oil? In a sense, yes. We'd like for that oil revenue to go to the Iraqi people rather than to military expenditures and support for foreign terror groups. Fill 'er up!

[TheKurp]

If accurate, that truly is good news. What I also find interesting is the fighting between Palestinians and al-Qaeda members. Perhaps they'll get so caught up in that battle that they'll have no time for the West.

[Larry]

Anybody got any links to a program book for this, so I can at least keep the names of the teams straight?

[Riggo-toni]

The PLF mentioned here is Abu Nidal's group, which was given sanctuary by Saddam and set up its headquarters in Baghdad after the first Gulf War. Nidal's 2nd in command, Abu Abbas, was the main conduit for funds from Saddam to Palestinian terrorists, particularly suicide bombers. Abbas was arrested by US forces about a month or so ago. For those of you who don't remember the 80s, Nidal was the most wanted terrorist in the world before Bin Laden hit the scene. He's the one Ollie North said was the most dangerous man alive and we needed to hunt down and kill him. Abbas was the mastermind of the Achille Lauro hijacking, in which Leon Klingelhoffer, an old man in a wheelchair celebrating a second honeymoon with his wife, was shot and pushed overboard in front of his family when the terrorists found out he was Jewish.
An interesting anecdote about Klingelhoffer. One of the Schindler Jews at the end of WWII was trying to find out if he had any relatives who had survived the holocaust. His last name was Klingelhoffer, so he sent a letter to Leon Klingelhoffer outlining his family history and explaining how he had survived the death camps and was searching for any possible relatives. LK sent him a care package with various goods and as I recall, several packs of cigs that were used to buy more necessities. LK stated he was not related to the man, but added that anyone who had survived the Nazis deserved some extra help. The survivor confessed he never got around to sending even a thank you note and never had any further contact; then forty years later read in the paper the account of how his good samaritan had been murdered for being a Jew.

[Kilmer17]

It's a religion of peace.

[jbooma]

Surprise no one has yelled about WMD yet



someone should forward this to Bush or Powell

[chiefhogskin48]

Originally posted by Kilmer17
It's a religion of peace.

Kilmer, that type of succinct, subtle sarcasm makes me laugh out loud (even in a crowded office).

I love hearing people try to "correct" me about Islam, using a diatribe about the Christian Crusades, saying in fact WE are a more bloodthirsty culture while taking some random quote from the Koran to validate what they're saying.