Dr Kaukab Siddique | Editor-in-Chief ---------------------------------------------------------
Safar 12, 1426/March 23, 2005 #24
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SCROLL DOWN TO JENNINGS INTERVIEW WITH KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN. It's lengthy but extremely amusing. The U.S., which talks of "democracy" has imposed this playboy on the Muslims of Jordan, a hereditary ruler who rushed to recognize the criminal entity known as Israel, after sending tanks to crush the people of Jordan. Have fun!]
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Jamaat al-Muslimeen News
P.O. Box 10881
Baltimore, MD 21234
  1. Dr. Wilmer Leon, famous independent broadcaster, last week interviewed Amiri Baraka, the Poet Laureate who wrote the poem "Somebody Blew Up America" about 9.11., on local TV in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a "must watch" interview which we have received on DVD. Copies will be made available to our readers soon. [Powerful, unforgettable, controversial.]
  2. Imam Jamil Al-Amin's SECOND INTERVIEW from prison, beautifully done by the Block Report has been received on CD. It has recordings from Malcolm X with comments by Imam Jamil. The tradition of Malcolm X [Al-Hajj Malik Shabazz] has moved to Imam Jamil, America's Imam who follows the Sunnah.
  3. BOYCOTT NESTLE's. Reminder: Most Muslims do not know that the Swiss company known as Nestle's invests heavily in Israel. In 1998, Nestle was awarded the Jubilee Award by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahoo. In 2000, Nestle donated $20 million to the Jewish "Holocaust reparations fund." Nestle employs 4000 Israelis at 11 plants in settlements built on the ruins of Palestinian villages.
    [In U.S.A. Nestle sells: NESCAFE, Perrier, Oreos, Deer Park, Minute Maid and many others.
    [Look for Nestle and boycott it.]
  4. MASAUD KHAN, Virginia Innocent, falsely accused of being part of a "Virginia Jihad Network," has now spent a YEAR in prison after being sentenced to 90 years on ridiculous charges.
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Two Million Rally in Karachi against U.S. Policies.
Pakistan's Biggest City Surges to Corner Musharraf:
Islamic Banners Everywhere: Hundreds of thousands of Women Join Peaceful Protests

by our Pakistan observer

Nothing like this has ever happened in Karachi. The surging masses of this cosmopolitan city turned the tide against the coalition of General Musharraf and the bandits of the fascist group known as MQM. It's difficult to encompass the overall scope of the March 20 Islamic demonstrations. It was billed as a MILLION MAN MARCH but by the end of the day had crossed the TWO MILLION mark. Here are a few highlights: Here are the main slogans of the mass rally in translation. Some we have in the original: In a unique protest against the American style education system being imposed on the country through the Agha Khan Educational Board, a TEN THOUSAND FOOT BANNER [biggest banner in the world?] covered with signatures of students was brought to the rally. The Musharraf regime is using the wealthy Agha Khan [Ismaili] sect to Americanize Pakistan's universities. The banner was organized by Islami Jamiate Talaba, Pakistan's premier student organization..
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HISTORIC KARACHI RALLY WAS CENSORED BY U.S. MEDIA

New Trend notes that the Zionist media which control information in America did not say a word about the Karachi mass rally. One technical reason could be that the media here depend on Pakistani government's information ministry for news or on newspapers like daily Dawn of Karachi. In contrast to Urdu language newspapers across Pakistan, the daily Dawn, in English, in its overseas edition, presented the March 20 rallies as just another protest by the Islamists.
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CHECHNIA: After the Murder of Elected President by the Russians:
Sheikh Abdul-Halim Becomes President of Chechnya

Address to World's Leaders by President Maskhadov's Family

Address to the leaders of the international community and to authoritative international organizations

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You are being addressed by the widow and immediate family of President of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) Aslan Maskhadov, who died a tragic death.

Our address to you is concerning the fact that the leadership of the Russian Federation has been trying to deny their guilt of the murder, while calling President of CRI a "terrorist". In this regard we would like to remind you that the observers from your states have stated that Aslan Maskhadov became a legitimate President of Chechnya after winning a landslide election in Chechen Republic of Ichkeria on 27th of January 1997.

We have no doubts that you, the leaders of democratic civilized community, are condemning the barbaric act of murder of legitimate President A. Maskhadov.
...
Kusama Maskhadova, widow of President of CRI A. Maskhadov,
Anzor Maskhadov, son of President of CRI A. Maskhadov,
Fatima Maskhadova, daughter of President of CRI A. Maskhadov
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State Defence Council of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is announcing that in accordance with CRI Constitution, CRI State Defence Council has the full governing authority throughout the entire territory of the Chechen State.

State Defence Council of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and Military Council of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria hereby order to all Commanders of CRI Armed Forces, to all Commanders of Units of Northern Caucasus Sectors and Directions, as well as to all mobile squads of Chechen troops operating on the territories of CRI and outside to keep carrying out their combat missions in accordance with the previously- ratified plan of the spring/summer military campaign.

State Defence Council of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
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State Defence Council of CRI

In accordance with the Enactment issued by President of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) and edict issued at the broad session of State Defence Council (July-August 2002), in case of death of President of CRI, or in case President is captured by the enemy, Chairman of the Supreme Shariah Court of CRI assumes all of his duties until the next free elections take place.
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Letters [Re: Woman leader takes on Amina Wadud, NT 3/20]

Amina Wadud's Move Part of Colonial Drive

We must not forget the intrigues of the Non-Muslim Colonialists in the Muslim world trying to divide Muslims through similar tactics (like this woman Amina Wadud or Manji from Canada, one other from Wall Street Journal), by creating a division through establishment of Ahmediya sect headed by Mirza Ghulam Ahmed of Qadian, Bahai sect in Iran through Baha-ullah, and Ismaili sect through Agha Khan, etc. The second motive is to divert the attention of Muslims from the events in Iraq or forthcoming evets in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan and Iran . Can the Muslims forget the intrigue of British Homosexual, Col. T. E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia) who was planted by the British to dismember the Ottoman Empire, who succeeded in achieving that objective because some Muslim collaborators sold their conscience to the Devil. When Allah placed Adam and Eve on Earth, He also expelled Iblees or Satan from Paradise as well and placed him on earth. Satan disobeyed and begged the respite of Allah that he will keep on deviating or misguiding some from mankind till the end of the world. Allah admonished Adam and Eve not to fall prey to Iblees's deviant plans. Thus some of these paid deviants are working as foot-soldiers for their paymasters (agents of Iblees), who dangle the "fools-gold" in front of their eyes, to use them for causing division amongst Muslims and distracting the believers from their devious and covert plots and actions. This shows how our tax-dollars are being abused for such activities to bring about the New World Order.

Bashir Syed
[The writer is a leading scientist and elder of the Pakistani-American community.]
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Does she Consider Herself Better than 'Ayesha Siddiqa, r.a.?

Muslims in Uganda especially in Kampala, are still shocked to hear that Dr. Amina Wadud started leading (Juma') prayers?! because this has never happened during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the rightly guided Caliphs and no sayyidaat al-mu'mineen did it. Does she now consider herself to be better than Ayesha Siddiqua (r.a.)? She should go and lecture in any institution of learning as Ayesha (r.a.) did.

Sincerely,
Mahmoud Sserunjogi
Convenor, Jamaat al-Muslimeen
Kampala, Uganda.
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Amina Wadud's Moves are Well Orchestrated and Will Hurt genuine Islamic movement for Women's Rights.

Dear Brother,

Thank you for the information on A. Wadud. It seems that what she is doing is a well orchestrated plan to divert attention from well meaning Muslims who want to genuinely transform the conditions of oppressed muslim women and bring about real change based on the Qur'an and hadith. This serves the interest of not only enemies of Islam but also the conservative Muslims who will point at her and discredit the well meaning group. My concern is that there are many like her (remember the article I sent you?). People like her do more harm to Islam than any other group.

Sis. Zainab [Nigeria]
[The writer is a long time supporter of New Trend and an activist for the rights of women based on Qur'an and Sunnah]
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LETTER From Dr. Amina A. Wadud

[New Trend expected an intellectual response from Dr. W. Instead we got this two liner on March 21.]

I intend to sue your New Trend for slander.

You KNOW no one spoke to me before you wrote that article and let your wife sign.
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[New Trend has informed Dr. W. that New Trend is open to her response. If anything has been incorrectly reported in New Trend, we welcome correction. Reporting of public events cannot be considered "slander" by any definition of the word. We have also informed Dr. W. that the wife of the editor does NOT write for New Trend. An African-American Muslim woman leader has denounced Dr. W. and W might have misunderstood who wrote it.]
We know the big gorrilla standing behind Dr. W. but New Trend will continue to publish reports related to issues which are of relevance to Islam and Muslims.
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Talk to Dr. W. Before She Becomes White House Celebrity

I agree with some of your criticism of Dr W. but not all.
However, as a matter of priority I think you should make contact with this lady.
She cites you in her bibliographies, so she does respect your work. I think your influence could bring the necessay balance required. Do it before she gets sucked into becoming a White House celebrity!
Please do this.

Salaam,

Shoaib
[London, England]
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Loss of Advisory Committee Member Brings New Direction to Organization: Shelter for Abused women and Children Relocated

by Hadayai Majeed, Administrator of the Baitul Salaam Network, Inc.

Early Friday, March 11 a dearly loved and diligent fighter for those who could not fight for themselves returned to her Lord. Evelyn Spencer one of two Christian Advisory Committee Members of the Baitul Salaam Network, Inc. submitted to the will of the creator and began her transition from this life to the next. Her position as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee remains open. The 78 year old former Social Worker and Civil Servant served as the Advisory Committee Chairperson from its conception in 1997 until August of 2004 advising in the area of public policy making as it pertained to Social Work and nonprofit group organization.

She will be missed by her colleagues, family members and everyone who knew her. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 19, at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, TX. A partial obituary is located on the organizational web site at www.baitulsalaam.net.

The organization is moving ahead with developing a fund in her honor to assist temporarily displaced women and children. This fund will replace the Sisters Sadaaqah Fund started in 2000 when the group worked at Turner Field for the ARAMARK Corporation as a part of its nonprofit fundraising program. The name of the fund is the Evelyn L. Spencer Fund.

The new fund will be handled by a brokerage firm that will be announced very soon, insh'Allah. Donations to this fund are being collected now and held until all the paperwork is in completed. The organization anticipates a mid December 2005 date to distribute the funds to those in need who qualify.

"Our goal has always been to assist not enable," says financial officer and Advisory Committee Member Abdul H. Abdullah. "We run a hand up not a hand out operation," stresses Advisory Committee Member Deborah Spencer-Easley daughter of the late Evelyn Spencer and only remaining non-Muslim on the Advisory Committee.

The organization is also recruiting active board members from the metro Atlanta area who have expertise in the following: Accounting, Law, Business Management, Social Work and Group Home start up and Management. Anyone interested in an active board position can inquire by email (haleem1@aol.com).

After a challenging summer filled with rumors and an outright attempt to destroy the organization by a misguided individual the group felt it best to closed the old shelter and began to rewrite protocols and tighten security at the Baitul Salaam Residence for Abused and Neglected Women and Children (new name for the shelter program). "The attempt to stop good works only made us stronger and more determined," says a volunteer who asked to remain anonymous.

The shelter program relocated Friday, October 15 (first day of Ramadan) to a wonderful newer home in Clayton County. This move has provided us with more security and due to lower taxes and less governmental bureaucracy we have been able to reduce our operating budget by 27%. This has made it easier to keep the doors open until we raise the funds necessary to manage the shelter with a full-time staff of four workers (not Stipend Volunteers). The organization fund raising goal is $250,000.

Part of the shift in direction has been the beginning of a new initiative named Muslim Men Against Domestic Violence which is doing very well in Detroit under the facilitation of Imam El Amin of the Muslim Center of Detroit. Other men have pledge to assist and are organizing in the local masaajid around the country. Any brother with good character, good intentions, some background in Social Work and nonprofit organizing is encouraged to inquire. We need strong, clear minded men who fear Allah to step forward in championing this issue in all of our communities. Young men ages 25-35 are strongly encouraged to inquire.

The group continues to meet at Masjid Al Mu minun, 1127 Hank Aaron Dr. SW the first Sunday of the month at 1 pm. Email notes of the meetings are sent to those who support and live outside of the city and the state of GA. All meetings are open to the public. The organization is a family organization. Men and young people are a part of almost every facet of the operation of the group.

For updates visit the organizational web site at www.baitulsalaam.net.

To send a donation or make any other inquiries email haleem1@aol.com, call (404) 366-6610 or send correspondence to PO Box 11041, Atlanta, GA 30310.
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KING ABDULLAH of JORDAN PARRIES CHARGES THAT HE IS the Main Impediment to Progress in Jordan and Practices Torture

[Interview with Peter Jennings on ABC.]

JENNINGS: Any number of international organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, international organizations that favor democracy, say that one of the impediments to political development in Jordan is in fact the crown itself, namely you.

ABDULLAH: Well, by decentralization, by being able to create three or four political parties as opposed to 30, I think that we can strengthen the institutions, so that the crown can take a step back and people can take a step forward.

JENNINGS: But if people want 30 political parties, why shouldn't they have them?

ABDULLAH: Well, you can have 30, you can have 50, but political parties, if we're trying to — I mean, seriously move the process along, 30 parties or more that do not have political party platforms, where they stand on the economy, where they stand on social services, health, education, I don't think that's the mature way of growing them. We're trying to, and this is the problem, the Crown can't step in and say to political parties, 'Shouldn't you come up with a political party program?' But we're hoping, with democratic maturity, that that happens, and, we haven't — (Overlap)

JENNINGS: Excuse me for interrupting. Who decides democratic maturity? Who is —.
ABDULLAH: The people.

JENNINGS: — as of now, you decide democratic maturity?

ABDULLAH: Well in this particular position, we formed the government, that the parliament is elected by the people. But to encourage that, I mean, I have been in discussions with parliamentarians that would it be stronger for you to create where you stand on issues of education, social services, et cetera, et cetera, so that you can create a political party so that in the future, the people actually pick you for where you stand, and not because you happen to be a cousin or a tribal member?

JENNINGS: Would you be happy to be the head of a constitutional monarchy, as well ...

ABDULLAH: Well, eventually ... (Overlap)

JENNINGS: ... than an absolute monarchy?

ABDULLAH: ... eventually that's what we're trying to do, and by creating, decentralization, by trying to get these three regions, with their own elected parliaments, that will be the end game.

JENNINGS: So the end game could be a constitutional monarchy, not an absolute monarchy?

ABDULLAH: Absolutely. Because that — I mean, we have to modernize, I think monarchy plays a vital role in countries such as Jordan. I think there's a lot of positive aspects, but monarchies have to modernize, and a way of modernizing is to do these political reform issues that will give people a much larger say in the way their countries go.

JENNINGS: Can I put it to you quite bluntly, sir: Do you condone the torture of prisoners in the Jordanian penal system?

ABDULLAH: Not at all, and there has been some cases reported where there has been abuse between prisoners and between police prison guards. And I have a new police chief at the moment that is looking into that. We have problems where we've got, as many countries do, overcrowding in jails. We're trying to build new infrastructure. And I gather from the chief of police that he has actually cleaned out a lot of people that he felt are corrupt and not up to the standard. And if we are going to be part of the international community, certain standards need to be set, and especially in jails.

JENNINGS: Why do you think the United States is sending, quote, suspected terrorists, unquote, to Jordan?

ABDULLAH: I'm not fully aware of that process. I know this has been reported in the press. And I don't have enough information to be able to answer that.
(Overlap)

JENNINGS: It's a very big issue in the United States, as I'm sure you know, because Americans believe that prisoners are being sent, or rendered, as it's called, to countries where torture is permissible ...

ABDULLAH: Right.

JENNINGS: ... or acceptable, rather than here.

ABDULLAH: Right. Well, again, I'll have to talk to my people about that, but I think that we have standards that we want to keep as part of the international community, and if there are any wrongdoings done in Jordan, then, you know, we need to make sure that those issues are addressed.

JENNINGS: Can you imagine yourself saying no to the United States, if the United States wanted to send a suspected terrorist to the Jordanian system?

ABDULLAH: (Deep breath) Well, I'd , I would have — I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but I know we have a very good relationship between the Jordanian and American government. I wish I had more information to be able to give you on that particular issue.

JENNINGS: As Americans look at these changes in the Middle East, now they look at Jordan without question, including the restrictive political parties law. Why does that not change, and why could that not change immediately?

ABDULLAH: Well, we're actually in the process of changing those issues. At the moment, working with the government, for example, on media. We have created, in the civil courts, a special judge, actually a lady judge, who's in charge of media issues, and from that point onwards, no journalist can be taken to prison. They can be voted by the Judge Advocate if there is an issue of negligence or misjudgment from a member of the media. And then everything is taken to the civil courts, so there's a process of laws that we're in the process of implementing at the moment to create the right freedoms of the press and of political parties.

JENNINGS: The international organizations who monitor Jordan say that the local media's not allowed to criticize you.

ABDULLAH: Well, with the new system in place, if one does criticize me, and if there's an issue where there is negligence or wrongdoings from the reporter or the media personality, there is nothing that the government can do except for maybe sending them to a civil court, if the person is held liable.

JENNINGS: How long do you think it should be, in your own mind, before people look to Jordan as an absolute model of democratic procedure in the Middle East?

ABDULLAH: Well, again, in our discussions with Western organizations on the issue of decentralization, it could be anywhere as close to one year to five. We have to build a culture of democracy, that's part of the problem, so that people inside Jordan understand their rights, and also we need a lot of technical support. I've been talking to many countries that looked at the federal system or created governors. How do you improve the political system, but at the same time increase transparency, cut down corruption, and have it not affect what we've been doing on the social economic reform program? It's a very complicated issue. And if we're going to have political reform, we've really got to get it right the first time around. And actually my trip to Europe two weeks ago was to reach out to European countries and today to the United States, to really give us any technical advice and support on how to be able to get this political reform done in the right way, the right time, the first time around.

JENNINGS: Are you aware, sir, that it sounds a little defensive to an American audience?

ABDULLAH: In what respect?

JENNINGS: We must create democracy gradually. We can't just spring democracy ...
(Overlap)

ABDULLAH: No, no, we can. We can spring ... (Overlap)

JENNINGS: ... for themselves immediately. We have to have decentralization in order for people to express their opinions politically.

ABDULLAH: Well, I'm honestly trying to do it from the bottom of my heart in the right way. And if you're going to do decentralization, and get a system of government that people can take control of their lives, we do need to be able to reach out to people who've gone through the exercise themselves. Whether we're talking about unions, problems we're having with the production unions at the moment, is something that I gathered you've gone through in the United States. So we're now tackling this issue. What are the experiences that America has gone through? Help us do it. So in other words, if we're reaching out to Europe and to United States, it's to cut the time down. And I don't want a process where we can sit back in our chairs and say, well, the political reform process in Jordan is going to take some time. Help us speed up the process.

JENNINGS: Well, how difficult is it to change a society? Let me put it slightly different to you. How difficult it is to change a society in which the police apparatus, secret police apparatus in many cases, is so pervasive?

ABDULLAH: Well, that is one of the elements that we've been discussing in the national agenda, as well as with the Decentralization Committee is that it's not just enough for the government and civil society to be able to deal with this issue. Police and security apparatuses have also got to be modernized. And again, in these issues, from the practical experience that I've had over the past two years, the leadership is fairly easy to convince. It's having to work down the second, third and fourth level to get the message and to change the way that they're doing business. That's the challenge that we're facing at the moment.

JENNINGS: Let me come back to regional affairs. President Bush would very much like you to help the Palestinian president disarm those people in the Palestinian territories who are not interested in the peace agreement with Israel.

ABDULLAH: Right.

JENNINGS: What can you do for him?

ABDULLAH: Well, we've been working, not just recently but even before the Intifada, with the Israelis and Palestinians to support strengthening Palestinian security services, so that they can bring their society in order and government institutions that are reflective of what we're used to. We did offer the Bardr Brigade to the Palestinians as a well-trained police force to go in there. It seems that the Israelis do not want to do that. That's fine. At the end of the day, we're just trying to think out of the box how to help. But we are instrumental in providing assistance and training, and whatever the Palestinians and Israelis agree to. And it's not just now, it's something that's been going on for many years.

JENNINGS: Do you think that the Israeli government is interested, genuinely interested in getting out of Gaza? Genuinely interested in getting out of the West Bank?

ABDULLAH: I believe from our reports, our discussions with the Israelis that is the case. Our foreign minister just came back from Israel last week and felt the same thing. We want to make sure that obviously the disengagements, whether it's from Gaza and the West Bank are part and parcel of a vehicle that we all understand, which is the road map. That's a vehicle that's been articulated in the international community and the one that we have at the moment to get us to the end game. And I hope that these pulls-outs are part and parcel of that.

JENNINGS: Do you think Hezbollah in Lebanon is a terrorist organization?

ABDULLAH: The way we see it, they're an organization that have moved into politics. And we hope that they will continue to move in that direction. And again, they're an important part of Lebanese society, and they can't be ruled out on that basis.

JENNINGS: Did you explain that to President Bush?

ABDULLAH: President Bush understands that they are moving into politics. I think he just heard the statement today, while I was sitting next to him, and he encouraged, I believe, Hezbollah to look at politics as the way to go forward.

JENNINGS: The president's much-trusted adviser, Karen Hughes, is about to take this new position, improving the American image in the rest of the world. What would you counsel her about the Middle East?

ABDULLAH: I think the problem that America has faced with image in the recent years is obviously a perception in the Middle East that Israel is the only country that holds sway in the United States, so that there is a sort of a biased outlook towards the Middle East. As a result, people feel that the Palestinians have been short-changed. Unfortunately, I think initially what happened in Iraq, the visual images that we get in media, where you have sort of Israeli troops occupying Palestinians, American troops occupying Iraq have added to that problem. But I believe that if we see movement on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and that of Iraq, then the views are going to change, and we said the optimism of all these reforms, these elections, I hope that at the end of the day, whatever part America has played in it will get the credit for making the Middle East a better place.

JENNINGS: Last December, you, in reference to what was happening in Iraq, referred to the Shiite crescent that was developing from Iraq around the Gulf, which was widely taken as a concern by you, that you were threatened by Shiite power.

ABDULLAH: We're not at all threatened by Shiite power. As you know, as being the descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, we have actually a very special relationship with the Shia. And it was turned from what I made as a political message into a religious context. We have a very close affinity to Shia all over the world, especially the Shia in Iraq, and we were concerned that there were elements inside of Iran at that particular point of time that had strategical (sic) objectives in Iraq, which would not be conducive to the harmony between Sunnis and Shia.

JENNINGS: Do you therefore believe that Shiite power in Iraq is largely benign?

ABDULLAH: I do believe so. I think the overwhelming majority of Shia in Iraq want Iraq for themselves. They are obviously an essential building block to the future of Iraq, and again, as the Shias and Muslims and Kurds come together that want Iraq for Iraq, I think that is the best change the country has to become part of the international community as quickly as possible.

JENNINGS: Thank you very much.
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2005-03-24 Thu 22:40ct
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