COVER STORY

 

The side-walk cafe was packed. One could not ignore the elegance of the Lebanese women who were drinking, chatting, making jokes and laughing loudly. Ismael, one of our escorts directed us to a table where evidently Mahmood and his friends were seated. A 6 foot tall man, elegantly dressed, wearing a Christian Dior's tie and expensive crocodile shoes stood up, smiled to us, warmly welcomed us and greeted us in English and Arabic: "Welcome, welcome, Ya Ahlan  Wa Sahlan", meaning in Arabic: You are most welcome. And this elegantly dressed up man was nobody else than Mahmood himself. He introduced us to his friends who were equally well-dressed and kept on repeating "Welcome to Beirut, welcome to Beirut." We did feel some warmth and sincerity in the way he received us and more particularly in the manner he displayed civility and courteous demeanor toward two western ladies. Yet, we remained very cautious and alert all the time.Without asking us what we wish to order, to drink or to eat, Mahmood took the liberty to order a fleet of dishes of all sizes and shapes of Lebanese favorite national specialties and appetizers, such as “Warak Bi Arich”  (Grape leaves),  “Lisanat” (Lamb tongues),  “Baba Ghanouj” (Eggplant mousse), “Mejaddara Msafayeh” (Lentil mousse or salad), etc.  It was a feast to the eyes. We started to count how many dishes were brought up, and if we were not mistaken, no less than 40 dishes were already on the table. It was really something unique. However, no hard alcohol was served. We ordered two bottles of Perrier. Mahmood and his friends, to our great astonishment, ordered Amstel beer. We thought that Muslims do not drink in public, little did we know. And they drank like a fish!  Khaled one of the gentlemen sitting at our table assured us that "Bon Viveurs Muslims drink as much as Jews and Christians do."  Mahmood took the initiative to tell us that he is ready for the interview. And the interview began, verbatim and unedited; meaning printed as is, without editing or correcting grammatical or linguistic errors.

WHAT THE ARABS REALLY WANT FROM THE UNITED STATES AND PRESIDENT BUSH?

THE INTERVIEW    

Photo:  A Muslim day time butcher and night-volunteer freedom fighter at Sabra (Remnant of Fateh Palestinian Camp) in the Muslim section of Beirut.

Peggy: What it would take to make peace between the Fundamentalist Muslims and the United States?                                                                                                                                                                        Mahmood: First, let me tell you something. There is no such thing as Fundamentalist Muslims. This is a fabrication by Bush and the Americans. Either you are Muslim or you are not. I am a Muslim and I don't understand what do you mean by Fundamentalist Muslims. If you mean they are terrorists, you will be making a big mistake. We are freedom fighters and we are fighting for our countries. I read a lot about early American wars and battles against the Indians. I mean the American Indian tribes, about David Crocket and the Alamo. Would you call the Americans who were with David Crocket fighting the Mexicans, would you call them Fundamentalists and terrorists because they were defending their lands? No! Would you call them Fundamentalist Christians? No! I know. We, the Arabs, the Muslims we are doing the same thing. We are defending our lands against Israel and America who wants to change our way of live, our political system and create a more powerful Israeli state in the Middle East. We do not hate the American people. We only hate Bush and the first Bush too. Madam Peggy. Look, what we want is very simple...please madam Peggy and you too madam (talking to Ruth), please eat something, this is delicious...you will not find this in America... OKKAY (with a strong accent), we will make peace with America and Bush or any American president,  if America will do this:

Number one (Counting on his fingers): We want America out of our lands. Out of Iraq, out of Bahrain, out of Kuwait and out of Saudi Arabia. We will stay friends with the Americans, we will do business with the Americans, we will do import and export and trade with the Americans but, the American forces must leave immediately. Don't misunderstand me, I did not say civilian Americans. Civilian Americans are welcome to stay and work here, as long as they are not spies and working for the CIA. You understand? We have no problem with the American people. We have problems with Bush people.

 

Photo: A 4 year Muslim child (Arab boy of a Pakistani ethnic background) carrying a shotgun in a Muslim stronghold training center, where Islamic ideologies, terrorism tactics and anti-Israel doctrines are taught and where militia training is provided 7 days a week.

 

 

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