An interesting position on Hezbollah, Hamas and Terrorism

This whole discussion on terrorism and the dangers of its instrumental use is expanding lately. I had the impression you could hear skepticism about the 'global fight against terrorism' in a few occasions only (mainly radical circles). But it seems also the EU has recently challenged the Turkish definition of 'terrorists' because this was including fighters from ethnic minorities (Kurds in this case) claiming for their rights.

Stanley Cohen: "thin line between terrorists & those fighting for freedom"

In its March 1 edition, An Nahar, an independent newspaper, published an exclusive interview with Jewish American attorney Stanley Cohen. The following are excerpts from the interview: “… In an interview given to An Nahar in Doha, Cohen attacked Israel and considered it ‘a nation that is founded on arrogant beliefs that are related to racial superiority. It thinks that it can determine what could and should be done in the region, that it is solely entitled to the land and to land distribution, to demolish and construct, to hold all the authority regardless of international laws, and to openly attack others’.

“In regards to what America calls terrorism, he said: ‘I am not defending terrorism because I am not defending the American President George Bush. There’s a thin line between terrorists and those who are fighting for freedom. Before he came out of prison and was elected the President of South Africa, the world considered Nelson Mandela a mean and dangerous person and a terrorist for 27 years…’.”

The interview then addressed Cohen’s vision of the Israeli and American plans in Palestine and his opinion of Hamas, before reaching the Lebanese issue. The interview went on: “Stanley Cohen visits Lebanon four or five times a year. He said: ‘If you look at what has been happening in Lebanon for the past two years, 20 years from now, you will see things differently. You will see the fingerprints of the US and the West. You will see how the US got involved in the invasion of Iraq and how it destabilized Iran, Lebanon and Syria. Hezbollah has made Israel withdraw from Lebanon as Hamas made Israel withdraw form Gaza. We can’t say that these two organizations are terrorist organizations’.

“He also said: ‘Hezbollah has worked for a long time to provide people with social services in the hardest circumstances, is still responsible for the liberation of the remainder of the Lebanese territory, and should have an important political role. I understand that there are forces in Lebanon that want to lead the country in another direction, that I understand as well. I just hope that the West does not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs and lets the Lebanese freely decide what they want. The US and the West want to impose democracy on the countries of the region because they want to impose a change that would suit the strategic priorities of their policies. But when the outcome of the elections is not what they expected, they do not support the results nor the parties that were elected democratically’.

“He added that: ‘The US does not care much about the democratic process. What it cares about is the outcome of the democratic imposition. That is why it is refusing Hamas and refusing Hezbollah’. He also considered that ‘Washington does not really want to implement reformatory programs in the Arab world. It wants to maintain its interests and will not acknowledge any Arab regime that will not protect these interests, but would acknowledge a regime that spreads chaos, as long as it protects its vital interests in the region’.

“He concluded by saying that: ‘I know that the US has labeled Hezbollah a terrorist group for two reasons. The first reason is that Hezbollah destroyed a US Marines H.Q. in Beirut, which I do not consider a terrorist act, since the American forces were interfering in Lebanese affairs to serve another party, and Hezbollah did not attack American civilians but an arrogant power that disembarked there to change the situation. The other reason why the party is accused of terrorism is because of an attack that was conducted on a Jewish headquarters in Buenos Aires, an accusation that was groundless and had nothing to back it up. All that I hope for, is that the US lets Lebanon and the forces in it, including Hezbollah, choose the destiny of their country freely’.” - An Nahar, Lebanon