“Witnesses at the time said machine guns and rockets were used – and when the army went to Mr Assir’s compound, it found heavy weapons and military-style uniforms.” But you know, they were machine guns, rockets and heavy weapons of peace.
How did this Muslim cleric come to misunderstand the religion he had dedicated his life to understanding and teaching to others so spectacularly as to think it had something to do with weapons?
“Lebanon arrests wanted militant cleric Ahmad al-Assir,” BBC, August 15, 2015 (thanks to Blazing Cat Fur):
Lebanese authorities have arrested a fugitive radical Sunni preacher as he was trying to leave the country, officials say.
Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir was detained at Beirut airport early on Saturday.
He had been on the run since clashes with the Lebanese army in 2013, which left at least 17 soldiers dead.
The cleric organised followers to fight alongside rebels in Syria in response to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group which backs President Bashar al-Assad.
Sheikh Assir is wanted over an incident in June 2013 in which one of his men was caught with unauthorised weapons in his car at a military checkpoint in Sidon, 40km (28 miles) south of the capital, Beirut.
Witnesses at the time said machine guns and rockets were used – and when the army went to Mr Assir’s compound, it found heavy weapons and military-style uniforms….
Sheikh Assir built his reputation on television talkshows as a self-proclaimed defender of Sunni rights against the Shia movement, Hezbollah, and its backing of Syria’s President Assad, our analyst says….
Oliver says
IF his group would ONLY fight against Hezbollah and their Iranian allies (I am going under the assumption that the US is not an Iranian and Hezbollah ally) I would have no problem with him.
The difference–my view- between ISIS and Hezbollah is like the difference of being attacked by a shark or a piranha. Either/both will kill you. The best is fi they fight ( and kill and destroy) each other.
cs says
hahaha, well put.
pafel says
you have no idea what you are talking about
Lia Wissing says
Does anybody else get the feeling that Iran might be aiming for Saudi Arabia? Or are the ‘inb Saud, ibn Yahood’ cries just friendly teasing?
ObamaIstheShiaantiChrist says
These idiots don’t know the Shia sect of Islam that rules Iran. In their sect of Islam it is OK to LIE to non-believers to advance their brand of Islam sect. They also believe in killing Jews to bring their version of the Messiah. Those who don’t know what the Iranian Shia sect teaches dealing with their enemies, which they can LIE TOO them.
Angemon says
What? Heavy weaponry in a temple dedicated to the religion of peace?
Gee, who could have seen that one coming…? sarc./ off
Oliver says
I read somewhere, a few years back, that in ( at different times) in Rome (Italy); various parts of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, (as well as in Gaza, and the West Bank) there were weapons found.
In S.A. and the Gulf States, the “law” allows the government to search the mosques at any time, for weapons.
Should have that here- and to be non discriminatory, allow it to churches also,.