This is a reply to Mr. Wael Beydoun’s post on Bint Jbeil Guest book in which he requested the removal of Hassan Bazzi from the “WHOIS” page, calling him a “traitor” because of the role he was selected for, by the United Nations, as a Chemical Weapons Inspector in Iraq last year.

We would have liked to send this reply directly to Mr. Beydoun, however, he did not provide an e-mail address with his post!

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Dear Mr. Wael Beydoun,

1. Unfortunately, we, at bintjbeil.com, do not have the much-needed information to highlight the accomplishments of those Bintjbeilis who really deserve to be on the “WHOIS” page. Thus, we rely entirely on what’s being published in the Lebanese and/or international media outlets. We are continuously seeking information and data about any person whose accomplishments have accredited him/her in the eyes of the public with honor and credentials.

2. Mr. Hassan Bazzi was selected by the United Nations merely on the base of his research credentials in the chemical field as well as for his linguistic capabilities. He was not chosen because of any political affiliation or non-affiliation. Note, that the Iraqi regime requested the UN team’s return to Baghdad, but it was the Bush Administration who refused that. Mr. Bazzi was still in his training session with the U.N. team, outside Iraq, when the mission was called off due to the beginning of the war.

3. On the eve of his selection, Mr. Bazzi was received by the President of Lebanon, General Emile Lahoud, who presented him with an honorary shield for his academic success and accomplishments. As far as we all know, Mr. Lahoud is not known to tolerate, let alone honor, “traitors” in Lebanon!

4. It’s one thing to be against the illegitimate and even criminal war against Iraq; it’s completely another thing to support the stripping of military power and even the removal of the criminal regime of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. I don’t think you are going to find that many people from Bint Jbeil, the South, or Lebanon in general, who are disheartened by “stripping” a criminal dictator, such as Saddam, of his military resources, knowing very well that such means were only used against his own people and/or his Arab or Muslim neighbors.

5. It’s really disappointing that after all what we have been through in Lebanon, it’s still so naively simple for some people to brand their fellow countrymen as “traitors”, “infidels”, and/or “kuffar”!! It’s even more disappointing when such immature accusations come from someone who lives, and being educated, in an open and diverse society.

6. We don’t know how good is “Lebanese standards” against which you have judged this website. However, the thousands who visit bintjbeil.com from around the world every day and send us feedbacks, critiques, and appreciation letters and notes do really appreciate “un-regrettably” what this site is providing to them.

7. We apologize for refusing to honor your request. We are proud of Hassan Bazzi and of every man and woman who are striving to succeed, each in his/her domain, while remembering, always, that they can never be detached from their roots to our mother: Bint Jbeil!

Sincerely Yours

Khalil El-Saghir
Webmaster, www.bintjbeil.com

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Bint Jbeil Guest Book
Date: March 4th 2004
Name: Wael Beydoun
Country & City: USA

Comments:
Good website by Lebanese standards. But i am a bit surprised that you hail as an accomplishement someone who went to Iraq with Hans Blix' team and searched for weapons. Stripping a fellow Arab nation of military resources is a shame and that's nothing to be proud of. It behooves this website to move that post about Hassan Bazzi to the section that deals with the traitors.

Regrettably yours,

Wael Beydoun

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• More Articles by Khalil El-Saghir

• Hassan Bazzi (WHOIS Page)

• BJ Guest book