Walid Phares, ex-Terrorist
Rep. Peter King, slated to hold hearings on the threat of “terrorism in the American Muslim community” is well known for his checkered past in regards to terrorism as well as outlandish and overtly bigoted statements against Muslims.
For instance Peter King has claimed that “85% of Muslim leadership in America are enemies among us,” though when pressed he has not provided one shred of evidence on how he arrived at this number. King has also expressed his belief that there are “too many mosques in America.” This is on top of the fact that Rep. King was one of the staunchest supporters of the IRA at a time when they were targeting non-combatants in bombing campaigns, kidnappings and shootings.
Now it has come to light that amongst those expected to address the “Muslim hearings” will be a former Lebanese Forces militiaman and spokesman, Walid Phares. The Lebanese Forces were responsible for some of the most horrific slaughters and pogroms during the Civil War in Lebanon, amongst them the Sabra and Shatila massacres.
As’ad Abu Khalil of angryarab.net reported on Phares’ involvement with the Lebanese Forces as well as the Guardians of the Cedar whose slogan during the civil war was, “Kill a Palestinian and you Shall Enter Paradise,” way back in 2007. (hat tip: Akkad)
Walid Phares and the Lebanese Forces
by As’ad Abu Khalil
I am aware that Phares now likes to deny his past role with the Lebanese Forces (the right-wing, sectarian Christian militia that–among other war crimes–perpetrated the Sabra and Shatila massacres). Somebody yesterday posted a comment challenging my statement about Phares and his association with the Lebanese Forces. These are only two of many newspaper clips that I have in which his affiliation is clearly noted. In the top one, (As-Safir, 12/6/1987), it said that “Member of the Command Council of the Lebanese Forces, [and] head of the Lebanese Immigration Apparatus in the Lebanese Forces, Walid Phares, lectured on “the Role of Free Christianity in Lebanon and the Middle East.” In the lecture, he also “criticized the mechanism of the development of Lebanse Christian resistance over 12 years.” In the second one above, (As-Safir, 27/8/1991), Phares was identified as the “vice-chair” of the Extraordinary Emergency Committee for the Lebanese Front (the political leadership committee of the Lebanese Forces) (the chairperson was Etienne Saqr (who founded the Guardians of the Cedar, which during the civil war raised the slogan “Kill a Palestinian and you Shall enter heaven,” and he now resides in Israel). And it has to be said that his rise in the Lebanese Forces took place at a time when it was aligned with the regime of….Saddam Husayn. (emphasis mine)
Even before Abu Khalil’s revelatory post, Iviews.com reported on Walid Phares’ activities and association with Etienne Saqr, founder of Guardians of the Cedar in 1999. In a piece about ties between an American Jewish Organization and Lebanese Terrorists that is well worth the complete read we learn that:
Walid Phares, who founded the WLO and is now a professor at Florida Atlantic University left Lebanon for the United States in 1990. But during the Lebanese civil war he was himself a Christian militiaman. (12) Phares told iviews.com that he was in charge of foreign affairs for the Lebanese Front, the political directorate of the Lebanese Forces. The Lebanese Forces was an umbrella coalition of several right wing militias, including Saqr’s Guardians of the Cedar and the Phalange, perpetrators of the Sabra and Shatila massacre. The current chairman of the Lebanese Front is Etienne Saqr. (13)
Asked about the atrocities attributed to Saqr, Phares replied, “Everybody did silly stuff, on both hands…but amazingly enough, the Guardians of the Cedars have been the most moral fighters.”
The Jerusalem Post reported that Saqr is a “leading member” of the WLO, (14) but Phares denies this. “The WLO had a strong alliance with Saqr, not anymore though, because Saqr had been advocating extreme positions, asking the Israelis to intervene directly in Lebanese affairs,” said Phares. Asked when the WLO cut off ties with Saqr, Phares replied, “No, there’s no cut-off, but I would say about six months ago, seven months ago.”
But in June of this year, Phares joined Saqr, Baraket, and an Israeli professor at a symposium in Israel to do just what he says caused him to end his “strong alliance” with Saqr. (15) The four urged Israel to set up an independent Lebanese Christian “entity” in South Lebanon, to be controlled by a “vastly expanded and strengthened [Lebanese Christian] militia.” (16) The aim, they said, was to “revitalize ties with Israel at a time when there is a trend of loosening those bonds.”
“If Israel leaves Lebanon, it has an obligation towards us, we have been faithful allies,” Phares said at the symposium. (emphasis mine)
These are not small revelations, they highlight the fact that this hearing is an absurdity. Led by someone whose own hands are muddied in support of foreign terrorists, we are now expected to hear from a so-called expert, Walid Phares, a former member of a terrorist militia that slaughtered thousands of innocents.
The profound irony should not be lost on anyone, these hearings are going to be McCarthyist to its core. The point will not be to effectively combat extremism or domestic terrorist threats, but to intimidate the American Muslim community while inspiring fear amongst the general population. It has all the recipes of a disaster waiting to happen. I call on Loonwatchers to contact their local congressmen, representatives or embassies to expose the sham that this hearing is going to be.
February 16th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I’ll be on the phone right now, there should be a concerted effort to show this. I am calling all the newspapers I know and blogs out there. People need to hear about this so that pressure can build on King to stop this anti-Muslim McCarthyist hearing.
February 16th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Absolutely disgusted.
February 16th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Is he purposly trying to call an extremist to make them all look bad??? He has gone off the dep end. BTW, I read about Sabra and Shatila in From Beirut to Jerusalem by Friedman. That was a horrific incident
February 16th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Of course, who better to be judge, jury and executioner of Muslims than a guy who was part of a group whose motto was “kill a Palestinian and you shall enter paradise?”
Anyways, methinks it should be Mr. Phares being judged instead of doing the judging…one shouldn’t throw stones from glass houses, right?
February 16th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
That is absolutely disgusting. Not a good time to be an American Muslim, I fear.
February 16th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
I agree contacting congress is a great idea. I wish we had a template letter we could run through a system to make a one-button click for people.
February 16th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Come on King do you support terrorism or not?
Do you consider the actions of the IRA as be8ing terrorist?
February 16th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Don’t comment much but this…damn
It is time for people to boycott, picket, write articles, referrals, petitions.
This is disgusting and humiliating. Where is our dignity, our rights? Egyptians took to the streets for their respect, freedoms, now we aren’t facing nearly what they are but at least send your congress person your disgust and expectation that they will speak out against this.
February 16th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Step 1:
Someone here Please make a Template We all can copy paste and adjust …..
Step 2 Go to this site and find your Rep
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Step 3
Everyone Paste Text of Template to the contact form and sent it.
February 16th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Maybe you should avoid a template and instead write it yourself to make it more personal. If they get an inbox full of the same letters, they won’t be convinced as much as if they received hundreds of very well-written letters from the heart.
February 16th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
As soon as these hearings take place, the rest of the media will pick up on it. We know the story of Sabra and Shatila amd the Christian alliance with the Israelis during the occupation of Lebanon.
In fact, the west doesnt understand that the Christians begged the Syrians to help them when it was brought to light that the Israelis were going to end the oppression because they thought the people the Christians oppressed hand in hand with the Isrealis were going to slaughter them.
Fortunatly, it isnt our way to take revenge on innocent people. However, justice of some kind still should be rendered to those who directly invovled themselves in the atrocities. I think Ariel Sharon is getting the justice he deserved as we speak.
We know the players in the occupation of Lebanon because we learned history. The world will see how much of a farse these hearings are, but of course will damage further the reputation of Americans.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
I’m curious to get folk’s response to Sam’s opinion:
February 17th, 2011 at 9:42 am
An Ex-Terrost must be interrogated by the FBI,not to be invited as a respectable witness to testify before the U.S.Congress.
Whom Representative Peter King is trying to fool?
Peter King himself is well known to be Anti-Muslims. Hence,his activities,through the U.S.Congress,about Muslims,should not be taken seriously.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:53 am
I already wrote my congressman. I’ll paste what I wrote as a guide, but I agree, people should take some time to personalize each letter. My letter is written from an American Muslim. For Loonwatchers from other faiths, I think it would be beneficial to mention that you aren’t Muslim and still find these hearings to be offensive and unneccessary.
Rep. Peter King has demonstrated time and time again, through his own false accusations and statements against the American Muslim community and his alliance with known bigots and Islam haters, that these proposed hearings on “ the threat of radical Islam” are not about national security or reaching greater understanding. These hearings are about fueling a growing movement in the United States that paints Muslims with a broad and inaccurate brush, scapegoating us for problems in America and around the world. Relations between the US and the Middle East are certainly strained, and there are some people working to bring violence against our nation. These people are motivated by political aspirations and grievances, and look to their religion as a means to justify their abhorrent actions. The threat of homegrown terror has been proven to be a decreasing phenomenon, and a recent study from Duke University showed that US citizens joining Islamist terrorist movements in the past year were actually much lower than in previous years. While there may be some Muslims in other parts of the world who hate the United States and everything it stands for, reducing these tensions to a matter of religion is a gross oversimplification of the situation. In addition, hurling suspicion on American Muslims for the actions of radical minorities abroad is akin to suspecting Japanese Americans of feeling a stronger allegiance to Japan and its policies and principles than those of the US. I think we all know where such irrational fear leads and have fairly recent examples as to what happens when minorities in the US are viewed through this dangerously narrow lens.
The number of American Muslims who participated in terrorist activities last year accounted for much less than a percent of the total population of American Muslims. Compared to other forms of violence such as rape, murder, domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking, it seems that this supposed “growing threat of homegrown terrorism” is the least of our worries as a nation. So why take the time to single out a particular minority, one that already suffers from targeted propaganda campaigns against its values and beliefs, during valuable time in Congress that is supposed to be dedicated towards improving the lives of ALL Americans, no matter race, religion or creed. I am Muslim. And I am American. I love my nation and resent having my loyalty to my community and fellow citizens constantly analyzed by irrational extremists of an entirely different flavor, who attempt to limit modern-day Muslims’ civic participation by misrepresenting our beliefs and cooking up a convoluted presentation of Islam that results from misinformed and prejudiced readings of our holy texts. I am a Law-abiding citizen of this country and as my Representative you should be abhorred that someone who openly supported the IRA would now point his finger at me and my community, claiming that we, simply because we are Muslims, are somehow responsible for the extremist behaviors of political and Islamic radicals in other countries. Rep. King may truly be unaware of what he is doing, but those testifying are acutely aware that this is a golden opportunity to further stoke the rising levels of hatred that exist in this country for Muslims.
IF this hearing were to be a bit more balanced and those testifying were less infamous for their outrageous statements and beliefs about Muslims, then I would not be as concerned. This could be a moment for Muslim Americans to speak on a very visible platform, one we’ve been trying to attain for quite some time. Instead we are going to have to be completely on the defense, fending off comments by the likes of Walid Phares, a former Militiaman and leader in a well-known Christian Lebanese terrorist organization that took thousands of innocent lives. Phares’s group saw the conflict as a religious war, and paraded slogans like “kill a Palestinian and you’ll go to Paradise.” Why is this man being asked to testify about radical Islam when he himself was involved in a radical Christian group? Is extremism ok as long as it’s not Muslims killing people? The day before the hearings Rep. King will appear on ACT! America, a TV production run by Bridgette Gabriel, a woman who is documented saying that there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim and that anyone who observes daily prayers or wears a head-scarf should be treated suspiciously. We have heard Rep. King himself say that “80 % of leaders of Mosques in America are run by radicals” and that the Muslim community does not cooperate with law-enforcement officials despite the fact that the majority of terrorist plots have been foiled thanks to members of the Muslim community! How are we to expect a fair and balanced analysis of this issue when a person like this is the one facilitating the discussion?
These hearings will do nothing but further isolate American Muslims. Rep. King is giving the spotlight to people who have no intention of seeing Muslims prosper in any meaningful way in this country and who hate our religion. I implore you to speak out against these hearings or, at the very least, to encourage more balance in the presentation. I am your constituent, and even though our religious sentiments may differ I expect that you should still be concerned about initiatives that will negatively impact my life in this country. You may not realize the hate that is out there for people like me, but I experience it regularly and am scared to think of what these hearings might contribute to the dangerous rhetoric I encounter on a daily basis.
Thank you for your time and understanding on this matter,
February 17th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I’ve written my Congressman already, though a much more brief e-mail. He also serves on this committee, so hopefully he can take some action. I gave him the link to this page, and I hope he or a staff member does the research and then they publicly confront Rep King about his witch hunt.
February 17th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Good idea linking to the web site. A briefer email might also be the way to go
February 17th, 2011 at 10:32 am
Your letter is wonderfully put sunnishine. Good job.
February 17th, 2011 at 11:39 am
I sent an email to my Congressman and sent him a link to this site as well. Thanks to everybody for providing the inspiration.
February 17th, 2011 at 11:50 am
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/are_peter_kings_hearings_un_american
Some of the rabbis here should be given an anti-loon award.
February 17th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
AJ, the award should be made up of kitty litter.
February 17th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Walid Phares! that loon is a professor at my University! maybe i shouldn’t have dropped his course, i heard he has some pretty disgusting things to say about Muslims in his classes, but they are just rumours. However, i am not surprised at his past terrorist activities. Like i said before, Florida is one of the “Loon States’ and we have quite a few Islamophobic professors at our University.
Allahu A’lam
February 17th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Muhammad Abd al Haq, I think your university might benefit from being given the link to this article.
February 17th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Mosizzle i would if i believed it would make a difference. he has been a prof at FAU for many years now and has weathered many a criticism and look into his background. The only terrorists Florida prosecutes successfully are the Muslim ones unfortunately
Allahu A’lam
February 17th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Garibaldi,
You might have been under pressure to delete my post and other four posts written by other four different posters. I do not know for sure,but I ask:
Do we live in a democracy or not?
If we do,then the deleted posts should not have been deleted per the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.
If we do not live in a democracy,then that is a different matter under which I am compelled to stop posting on loonwatch.com and other websites as well.
At any rate,I do thank you for the privilege provided by you and loonwach in embodying my posts,in the past two years,to appear on your various forums. Much appreciated.
February 17th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Garibaldi,
I withdraw my last post addressed to you,since all the posts that,for unknown reason to me,had disappeared from this thread and now they reappeared again.
My apology……….
February 17th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Garo, the first amendment has zero to do with your right to post on someone else’s webpage. Zero. The first amendment restricts what GOVERNMENT cannot do (restrict speech or the press) NOT what private individuals may do (chose to use their own speech or press to publish what THEY want, not what someone else wants.) The owners of this website are not compelled by the first amendment or any other law to post what other people might say.
Second, people post from ALL OVER THE WORLD, not just the United States. Citing the US Constitution means little to those outside of the USA.
February 17th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Danial,
Thanks for the enlightenment. Will keep it in mind.
February 17th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
I am seriously beginning to predict that we are about to see the same kind of demonstrations we are seeing in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East take place in the US. Not just Muslims, but from all Americans. It’s already taking place in the Midwest, Wisconsin in particular, and soon enough will spread. The reason I say that is because what we are seeing here in the US alone regarding our foreign and domestic policies is pushing average hard working Americans to the edge. Pretty soon enough people are going to demand and end to the madness and take it to the streets. A lot of people don’t think Americans aren’t capable of what the Egyptians did last week, but I remember that same thing being said about the Egyptian people themselves last fall. But eventually things got so bad to the point where the people finally stood up and shouted ‘enough!’ It happened in the 1960s when the the Blacks around the country had it with sitting in the back of the bus and using separate facilities because their skin color was different.
Why am I bringing this up on this thread is because the Islamophobia we are seeing is maddening and really a distraction from more serious problems at large.
February 18th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
In 1993 King invited Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to the inauguration of Bill Clinton. Maybe he should invite some of those people to testify.
February 19th, 2011 at 4:38 am
@Khushboo
“AJ, the [Anti-loon] award should be made up of kitty litter.”
May I ask why?
February 19th, 2011 at 9:51 am
RDS, sorry I misread. I meant loon award to Phares.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:09 am
Is Phares of the same “Lebanese Forces” responsible for committing genocide of Palestinians and Lebanese civilians during the Sabra and Shatila massacres (under IOF assistance)? Does this mean one Israel-supporter is going after another? odd. Talk about public humiliation.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
So what is your answer to the vexing problem of Muslim extremism in America? Sweep the problem under the rug as many in the Media and Muslims have been doing now? The problems are getting worse, not better and I have yet to see Muslims stand up and suggest problems to fix this. CAIR continues its path of denial (not the river in Egypt) and mosques continue to churn out true believers intent on blowing up people while seemingly “misunderstanding” Islam.
While Loonwatch tackles Peter King for having this discussion, you offer up no alternative. Doing nothing will not solve the problem. Doing nothing will continue to give Americans the impression that any peaceful Muslims have something to hide by their silence and lack of action in going after extremists. To most people like myself, I interpret no action as complicity or agreement with said actions. When CAIR tells its members to stop helping the FBI by turning in extremists, it can only lead one to think one thing. When Mosques continue to bring radical Imams from the Middle East, it can only lead to one thing.
I am interested in hearing what “peaceful” muslims have to offer to the problem of radicalization in America and abroad. But lets just focus on America first.