Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 22, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba A15 Winnipeg free press focus tuesday june 22, 2004 Iran shakes regional Power balance ., allies cannot afford to lose this Challenge a bizarre incident that took place last thursday in the Mediterranean port of Sidon in South Lebanon Drew fresh attention to the subversive role that Iran is playing in the persian Gulf Region. Iran a ambassador to Damascus gho Lam Bagheri paid what was meant to be a discreet visit to Sidon where he met with shiite clerics and a few leaders of Hezbollah. The visit was not coordinated with the lebanese government. Unaware of this fact the director of a shiite Centre invited journalists to cover this event. However As soon As the iranian Ambas Sador became aware of the journalists presence he ordered his bodyguards All members of the iranian revolutionary guards to confiscate and destroy All to film ? including that shot by Hezbollah a to station Al Manar ? and he warned the journalists not to report his visit. This incident came amid new Western intelligence reports that Iran ? with the full co operation of Syria ? had recruited in recent weeks an unspecified number of Hezbollah terrorists and moved them to Iraq through the porous Border of Syria. The Hezbollah recruits Are part of a larg Mortada Al Sadr Iran is evidently trying thus Al Sadr a readiness to rein in his the first signal that Iran is about to launcher contingent of islamist militants who to establish in Iraq a Hezbollah like Politi militia fighters pending the establish what has become its Only Success in Are seeking to establish in Iraq a solid Cal party with an armed Wing similar to ment of his Hezbollah like political party exporting its islamic revolution. A few pro iranian base before the new interim Hamas and islamic jihad who have Politi should be seen As a Brief intermission Days after israeli troops drove fast in the iraqi government is installed in Baghdad Cal leadership with armed terrorist rather than a permanent change of heart. Direction of Beirut 300 iranian Volun by the end of june. Groups. Iran a growing interference in Iraq steers crossed the lebanese Border from syrian co operation in this iranian Domestic affairs did not come As a sur Syria and established their base in the Effort proves that president Bashar Assad perfect tool prise. In the aftermath of the 1981 iranian Beka a. This pattern continues until this is not deterred by the limited economic Iran found in Mortada Al Sadr a perfect revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Day ? Syria became the main route for sanctions that the Imposed last tool. His youth 31 years old and his fire declared on several occasions his Intel supplying lebanese Hezbollah and the month. The Hezbollah recruits joined the Brand style have great Appeal among his Tion to Export the islamic revolution to the iranian embassy in Damascus became Mahdi army the armed militia of Moukta poor and disenfranchised followers. His persian Gulf Region and wipe out All the coordinator of this iranian activity a Al Sadr that was fighting against the cult like base of support extends beyond american and Western influence in the supervised exclusively by the revolution Sadr City the Baghdad slum named after neighbouring countries. Ary guards. Fal Lujah Najaf and other iraqi cities. . Marines and other coalition forces in his father Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq Al under Khomeini a guidance a special limited Success Sadr who was assassinated in 1999 by persian Gulf Wing was created within the despite his claims that he has no relation Saddam Hussein a henchmen. The palestinian Intifada provided Iran ship with Iran Al Sadr travelled earlier in intelligence Branch of the revolutionary according to some reports militiamen with a new Opportunity but its Success in june to Tehran where he met senior offi guards and began immediately to try to from Central and Southern Iraq have the fight against Israel was limited due cers of the revolutionary guards and subvert regimes in countries with Large joined the Mahdi army which now num mainly to the successes of the israeli with the chairman of the guidance coun shiite communities. Bahrain in particular Bers according to recent surveys close to Security services that were capable of cil former president Ayatollah Ali Akbar became a prize target because of its shi?10,000 fighters. Husam Al Husseini one of intercepting coded messages and foiling Hashemi a Sfanjani. Ite majority and because of the Perma Al Sadr a aides recently told the to Sta efforts to smuggle arms and Money to after his return from Tehran Mortada nent presence of warships from Chetion Al Araliyah that the Mahdi army is Iran a supporters in the West Bank and the Al Sadr announced that he intends to american fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean. Now capable of launching simultaneous Gaza strip. Establish a political party that will run for All these efforts have failed mostly attacks in 10 different iraqi cities. The real prize however came with the office in january 2005 parliamentary because of the intensified american Intel another aide in the Southern iraqi City downfall of Saddam Hussein and the con elections. He also said that he does not licence activity in the Region. For a while of Basra which is controlled by British tinted presence of american and Western intend to disarm his Mahdi army that it appeared As though Iran had abandoned troops urged his supporters to Kidnap troops in Iraq. By becoming the dominant will continue to serve the iraqi National its subversive activities and was resigned British female soldiers in order to use islamic Power in the Region Iran Hopes to to the failure of its policy of exporting it them As Sadr himself is report shake the regional balance of Power. This this very disquieting development con revolution to neighbouring countries. De lately to be wearing a White coffin is a Challenge that the And its Western statutes a real danger to the stability of abandoned yes but not forgotten. Blanket around his soldiers signifying his allies cannot afford to lose. The entire persian Gulf Region. Through the israeli lebanese War in 1982 was readiness to die As a Martyr for his cause. Letters to the editor the free press welcomes letters from readers. They must include the authors name address and Telephone number. Letters May be edited. Letters to the editor 1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg r2x 3b6. Fax 697-7412. Email City has history of human rights i was thrilled to see that the organizers of the one Day conference workers Winnipeg the left past and present organized a bus tour to some of our City a major locations associated with the legendary 1919 Winnipeg general strike. This is exactly the kind of tourist activity we Hope to create in association with the Canadian museum for human rights. In addition to spending a Day at the museum we believe it is quite possible to create an additional one or two Days of tourism related simply to Winnipeg a extraordinary human rights history which is Why we believe that Winnipeg is the Correct location for the museum for example in addition to the Tours of the Sites of the strike Tours to the Manitoba legislature and Burton Cummings theatre should be included since they Are very relevant to Manitoba a wonderful history of leadership with regard to women a rights. Manitoba was the first province to give women the vote thanks to the hard work of Nelly Mcclung and is. Mcclung conducted mock parliaments at the then Walker theatre. Of course from the Metis perspective Manitoba was also a Leader in Metis rights and there could also therefore be Tours to the Home of Louis Riel the graveside where he is buried and other relevant historical Sites related to the struggle of the Metis and aboriginal people for their rights. Between the visit to the museum itself the human rights tour and the visits to Winnipeg a other outstanding cultural and historical attractions we believe we can make Winnipeg one of the first choices for tourists when they Are looking at Beautiful exciting and interesting places to travel. In the meantime until the museum is built i would encourage All people involved in the hospitality Industry to Start recognizing Winnipeg a special place in our country a history regard ing the advancement of human rights and marketing this to our tourists. Gail Asper managing director the Asper foundation Winnipeg nations Core could be ripped out a conservative by coalition watch the tse crumble and our Dollar Plum met. It la be a very Short lived period of jubilation once the forces of Eastern and Western separatism collide. Per haps this is precisely what this country needs a period to consider the very real Prospect that we have within our grasp the Power to destroy something the rest of the world often eyes with admiration and envy. Levels of taxation the military Gay rights and provincial jurisdiction will amount to Little More than a Hill of Beans if the Core of this nation is ripped out and from what i can see thus far that s exactly where we re headed come election Day. Perhaps its time to get accustomed to the Colour of currency american style. Dan Donahue Winnipeg make helmets mandatory cycling season has begun in Winnipeg meaning that the province of Manitoba is into another year of forcing cyclists to ride on the roads and fining those who Are caught Riding on the Side walks. Many people who drive vehicles find cyclists on the Road a nuisance As our City is not properly constructed for accommodating cyclists As in other cities like Ottawa and As such do not appropriately yield to cyclists. Laws Are supposed to help protect people for instance wearing Seatbelt in a motor vehicle is mandatory. If the government is making it mandatory for bikers to ride on the roads then with that it should also make it Manda tory for helmets to be worn As a preventive health measure. In 2002, Alberta children a services stated that Over 60,000 canadians Are injured every year in Bike related Inci dents. They further noted that riders not wearing helmets Are three times More Likely to suffer head injury in the event of an Accident and that Bike rid ers with head injuries Are 20 times More Likely to die. Manitoba Public insurance stated that 85 per cent of head injuries from cycling could be avoided simply by the use of a helmet. Five provinces in Canada already have implemented this legislation and have displayed a significant increase in helmet use. Simple things that can be done to prevent More Burden to the health care system should be taken into account when government wishes to doonesbury maintain a successful health system that is already overstressed. Also it should be recognized that Good health care is not just a reaction to illness but one that helps to embrace Good health. Bicycle accidents Lead to an increase in health services. Perhaps simple legislation surround ing mandatory helmet use for All cyclists could Lead to future health care savings and better protected cyclists. Karalyn Bagshaw Winnipeg Complete Lack of understanding after Reading the june 14 editorial politics at the g-8, i am forced to wonder Why exactly the free press apparently has such a Complete Lack of under standing regarding the global Justice movement. In that column and in previous columns protesters Are lumped together under the vague Misnomer of anti globalization activists. Accord ing to this column and others these protesters Are hooligans who have no dealings with the South and who Are present Only to smash things with no real ideas for change. Never mind that those who attend protests represent a wide Range of social movements. Never mind the fact that protests Here in the West take place in Solidarity with Large protests and social move ments in the global South. The world social forum took place in India this year and will be held in Brazil in 2005. The world social forum serves As counterpoint to events like the g-8 summits formulating alternatives bringing together tens of thou Sands of activists from All Over the world the very people who participate in the protests the free press so revises. The free press continually gloats Over the demise of the protest move ment but those Pesky protesters would appear to have moved on to other methods. The unprecedented Security we re seeing at events like this past g-8 Summit have played no Small part in making that a necessity. Derek Leschisin Winnipeg by Garry Trudeau ;