Attorney General Eric Holder was in the hot seat on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, as a Senate panel bombarded him with questions on Guantanamo Bay, the hunt for Osama bin Laden and a possible location for the trials for the Sept. 11 terrorism suspects. Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that a decision on the venue hasn't been finalized, though Manhattan is still a possibility. Five months ago, Holder announced that the Sept. 11 suspects -- including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-conspirators -- would be moved from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to stand trial in New York City. He was hammered for the decision, and the White House scuttled the plan after N.Y. officials and fearful residents expressed concerns that the trials would make the city a target yet again. "It should be clear to everyone by now that there are many legal, national security and practical factors to be considered here," Holder said Wednesday. Republicans repeatedly charged the attorney general with putting Americans at risk by trying to integrate terrorism suspects into the federal court system. "Pretending that terrorists can safely be treated as common criminals will not make it so," snapped Sen. Jeff Sessions, the committee's ranking Republican. Holder also stepped back from remarks he made last month that bin Laden wouldn't be tried for crimes against the U.S. because he wouldn't be taken alive. On Wednesday, he told lawmakers that the U.S. would like to capture bin Laden and put him on trial, but that it's unlikely the al-Qaida leader would allow himself to be taken alive. "Our plan is to capture him or to kill him," Holder told the committee. "Our hope would be to capture him and to get useful intelligence from him." At times, even Democrats seemed to pile on the attorney general. Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin tried to get Holder to say when the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba would be closed, but Holder threw part of the responsibility back on Congress, saying lawmakers must provide money for a replacement facility. A replacement prison is being planned for Illinois.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged Barack Obama to follow Tehran's example in fighting terrorism in a letter sent to his US counterpart, the Iranian leader's office said on Wednesday. "Questions like the attack on Afghanistan, the expansion of instability and insecurity in the region and America's backing for terrorism were raised in the letter," said Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, the Iranian presidency's chief of staff. "The president has also asked Obama to learn from Iran on how to combat terrorism," Mashaie said. In the letter, which was sent in the Iranian month of Esfand (February 20 to March 21), Ahmadinejad also brought up the topic of Sunni militant Abdolmalek Rigi, whom Iran arrested in February and accuses of being backed by Washington. "The aim of writing this letter is for the world to grasp the view of the Islamic republic of Iran and also criticise US policies in the region," Mashaie said. Ahmadinejad had previously written a letter to Obama's predecessor George W. Bush in May 2006. The same year in November he had also written an open letter to the American people. In recent days, Ahmadinejad has raised fresh doubts over the occurrence of the 2001 attacks on the United States, and even written to the UN chief Ban Ki-moon to launch a probe into what he has called a "big lie."
An Israeli parliamentary delegation has arrived in Moscow to discuss ways of tackling terror following the attacks on the Russian capital last week. Israel, which has been fighting Islamic terrorist groups for years, is going to share with Russia its anti-terrorism know-how. “Unfortunately, Israel is a laboratory for combating terrorism methods,” Tsakhi Anegbi, head of the Israeli parliament delegation, told RT. “Our country has been fighting terrorism in almost every version – in the air, in the sea, and on the ground. We have learned a lot, we can share our experience with every state that would like to take advantage of our experience and we definitely intent to help Russia in its efforts to put an end to terrorism.” Until now, Israel has only revealed its anti-terror tactics to the US, but the recent attacks made the country alter its principles. “Terrorism is like a disease. If you don’t fight it immediately and put an end to its growth, eventually you’ll find yourself paralyzed by this disease,” Anegbi said. Even though there is a big difference between Russian and Israel, which has been fighting terrorism from its first days of independence in 1948, the countries face the same difficulties. “The problem in Russia and in Israel is that we need very accurate, real-time intelligence in order to locate the leaders of terrorism and try to get to them,” Anegbi told RT. “What Russia should learn from our experience is that you can never rest. You always have to understand what the threats of terrorism are and to be one step ahead if you want to win the war against terrorism.” The Israeli delegation will also offer an assessment of Iran’s nuclear activities and is likely to try and persuade Moscow to back new sanctions on Iran. Also, further discussions will touch on regional issues, such as resumption of peace talks with Palestine and the arms trade. “We have just signed a treaty of cooperation in various fields,” Anegbi said. “We are establishing, together, a committee that will make this dialogue very fruitful and intensive.”
Following an urgent call on all Israelis in Sinai to return home immediately and rumors of a kidnapping, the defense establishment reiterated the warning Wednesday, but said that there was no concrete evidence to suggest that an Israeli had been captured in the area. However, they stressed that the matter was “still being checked,” Army Radio reported. The National Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau reiterated its warning Wednesday that a terrorist cell was on its way to Sinai to kidnap an Israeli and transfer him or her to the Gaza Strip. While officials refused to reveal the cell’s affiliation, they said it was working on behalf of Hamas. Former OC Southern Command Brig.-Gen. Tzvika Fogel told Army Radio that various terror organizations, like the Islamic Jihad, “are likely to exploit the wide recognition of the Sinai being a hotspot for Israeli vacationers in order to get more ‘Gilad Schalits.’” He said the Sinai beach strip was an “extremely important asset for Egypt,” and that terror groups were operating there on a regular basis in order to “deal a blow to the soft belly of the Egyptian regime.” Head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, Maj.-Gen. (res) Amos Gilad, reinforced the travel warning, telling the radio station Wednesday that it was based on quality intelligence. “It’s not a general warning, but concrete information that points to the possibility of the kidnapping of an Israeli with the possibility of his murder and transfer to the Gaza Strip,” he said. “It’s a justifiable concern for the welfare of Israelis and therefore, the advisory was of a concrete nature – there’s no need to invent anything in this place. The danger is severe.” Tourists, both from Israel and elsewhere, who decided to leave the Sinai continued to arrive at the border Wednesday. Nevertheless, according to police estimates, 550 Israelis were still there.
V. FINANCIALMIRROR - Greek Premier in Cyprus
Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou has stressed his country’s determination to continue working towards finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem. Arriving in Cyprus for a short working visit, Papandreou stressed Greece firmly supports the Republic of Cyprus, “standing by the side of the Cypriot leadership and people, in practice. I am here again, and together to send out the same firm message, in all directions”. He pointed out that “we move with determination, and I repeat that we will never stop working for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, our national issue”. The Greek Premier was met at Larnaka International Airport by Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou and Under Secretary to the President Titos Christofides. Today in the morning Papandreou will hold a tete-a-tete meeting at the Presidential Palace with President Demetris Christofias. An extended meeting will follow with the participation of the leaders of the Cypriot parliamentary parties. The meeting will also be attended by the Greek Alternate FM Demetrios Droutsas, Greek Government Spokesman George Petalotis, Greek Ambassador to Cyprus Vasilis Papaioannou, Cypriot FM Markos Kyprianou, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou and Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou. In the afternoon Papandreou will meet the Primate of the Cyprus Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos II. Immediately after, he will depart for Athens. Papandreou’s visit takes place after UN-sponsored intensive rounds of talks between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, interrupted in view of the illegal elections in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.
There is no connection between Serbia's EU path and the resolution of the Kosovo issue, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated. He also added that the European Commission (EC) expects that every EU candidate country should have good relations with the neighboring countries if it wants to make progress toward the EU. Fuele said in an interview for the Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik that the EC questionnaire for Serbia's EU candidacy is impartial regarding Kosovo, adding that he believes that the EU member states will give a mandate to the EC in June to start drafting the assessment of Serbia's readiness for the candidacy status. "The content of the questionnaire will clearly show that the EC is unbiased concerning the status of Kosovo. There is no connection between the resolution of Belgrade-Priština relations and Serbia's future steps in the EU integration process. The questionnaire will prove that Belgrade is in no way made to choose between the EU path and Serbia's aspirations to maintain Kosovo as its integral part," Fuele pointed out. Fuele said that he hopes that in the years to come, a solution that would secure a European future for Serbia and Kosovo will be found in the EU integration process.
VII. PRAVMIR - Christ's Limitless Love
Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 No doubt, in today’s society we are exposed to many messages about the meaning of love. Countless song titles speak on the subject - “What’s love got to do with it?” “Will you still love me tomorrow?” “All you need is love.” Amidst thousands of songs, movies, and book titles, our Lord’s Resurrection reminds us that it ‘is’ about God’s limitless and sacrificial love. Mother Teresa said it well when she spoke of a paradox ‘that if you love until it hurts, there can be not more hurt, only more love. This is the limitless love God has given for us at Pascha. It is a love that transfigures pain, a love that continues to fill, inspires, and changes the world. It is a love that ignites hearts to be a light into the world. This limitless love of Jesus is freely given for all on Pascha! We see love in action. Christ pours out His self-sacrificial love and devotion to His people and His creation. He empties himself, and is crucified on the cross. His limitless loves takes Him to Hades to take on Satan to save and free us from the chains and shackles that restricts us from being united with Him with this limitless love. On Pascha, He didn’t measure the amount of blood shed for our salvation. He didn’t complain about the beatings and whippings or being spat upon. He never asked anything from anyone for carrying that cross. He didn’t complain about Peter’s denial or Thomas’ doubt. He just did it! In fact, Christ was not economical with His pain. He didn’t say this amount of suffering equals saving a few people. He didn’t give life for a few but for every precious person. He shed his blood for you and me. He commanded for His word to be preached to everyone and for us to become living temples of His Holy Spirit. There is no limit to His love. There is no waste for the things of God. He deserves it all and I wish we can learn to not waste but use every ounce of breath and energy on Christ as He freely gave us His life, breath, and energy. I am reminded that nothing is wasted when it is done from the heart. Before His crucifixion, Mary, Lazarus’ sister took a pound of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. Her heart burned for the love of Christ and she showed it while the cold heart of Judas asked why she is wasting this ointment. I am sure we say the same thing. What is this crazy woman doing wasting this on Jesus? We know you love Jesus but don’t be foolish spending a years worth of wages on that ointment to wipe Christ’s feet. But this ointment was an expression of the overflowing heart of Mary. It was an outward expression of love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed and it is this crazy expression of love that we are asked to offer Christ. I have experienced this limitless love when I see a parent of a child suffering from cancer sacrificing their will, their time, their energy to care for their child. There is nothing a parent will do to bring life, comfort, hope and joy to an ailing child. Nothing! St. Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 8:38-39. There is nothing that will keep us from God’s love. For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love; neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below – there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord! The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of relationship we have developed with Him. Our love for Him will not grow unless we spend time with Him in prayer, listen to His voice in His Holy Word, and experience His love for us during the day. Just as she poured out the very best she had, we are asked to do the same. Money is never the issue, but a sincere expression of faith and love is. We offer our ointment when we practice faithful service wherever God has placed us- at home with the kids, at the office, leading a company, teaching, preaching, etc. Let us realize the limitless love of Christ offered at His Holy Resurrection and offer Him our faithful, diligent service as our gift with our tears. Many may consider our efforts crazy or wasted leading to no permanent change in the world. But what others may call insignificant or wasteful, God deems to be a fragrant aroma that fills His home of the universe with aroma. There is always something beautiful and fragrant about what we do out of love. No act performed out of a mere sense of duty or obligation can fill the air with that kind of fragrance. May the limitless love of Christ’s Resurrection enlighten you, challenge you, motivate you, and inspire you to freely practice offering everything you have to Jesus.