The Language of Condemnation. posted by Richard Seymour

Hizbollah has officially condemned the beheading of a US civilian in Iraq. Quite right, too. I don't much care for the calls of Christian leaders in the UK for Muslims to announce - every time a crimes is committed by a bastardised sect pretending to fight for Islam - their shame and disgust at such crimes. I think we can trust that such sentiments are axiomatic.

Nevertheless, the voice of a group known for its successful resistance to Israeli aggression will carry considerable weight in the Middle East. The terms of the condemnation are interesting too:

"Hizbollah condemns this horrible act that has done very great harm to Islam and Muslims by this group that claims affiliation to the religion of mercy, compassion and humane principles...

The timing of this act that overshadowed the scandal over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in occupation forces prisons is suspect timing that aims to serve the American administration and occupation forces in Iraq and present excuses and pretexts for their inhumane practices against Iraqi detainees."

Indeed, one doubts that Al Qaeda time their atrocities to meet the aims of the coalition, but it is a fact that their presence and performance in Iraq is extremely harmful both to the resistance and to Muslims worldwide. In seeking to stir up civil war between Sunnis and Shi'ites, they have perpetuated some of the most grotesque acts of mass murder and threatened the nascent unity of Sunnis and Shi'ites against their occupiers. The claim by Al Qaeda to represent the authentic anti-imperialist movement in the Arab and Muslim world has always been a transparent absurdity, a cruel hoax, and an appalling distortion of the true aspirations of the people in those countries and regions. Suffice to say, the impact of the growing resistance in Iraq and of the international anti-war movement will have done serious damage to Al Qaeda's claim to hegemonize the anti-imperialist spirit. As good a reason as any to continue this fight against the occupation.