New Swedish documentary highlighting over 3 decades of US/PLO cooperation

[Stockholm]

This is a "teaser" for a new documentary by Swedish journalist Peter Löfgren for Swedish TV due to be aired on the 10th of February.

http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=26895&a=321781

To speak to the Devil

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have had direct contacts with the US for more than three decades. The unlikely secret contacts between the CIA and PLO are thoroughly described in a film by Peter Löfgren for SVT (Swedish Television). Unique footage of Palestinian security soldiers being trained in US army training facilities will be disclosed.

The cooperation between CIA and PLO has continued even though US laws bans official contacts with terror organisations. From the documentary it is established that Yassir Arafat early realised, despite his official, strong anti-US rhetoric, that only the US could help PLO reach the political goals the organisation decided upon.


Ali Hassan Salameh Photo: Private



The Palestinian leader appointed a strikingly handsome, whiskey drinking, charismatic exile-Palestinian, Ali Hassan Salameh, in Beirut to manage the contacts. He was the head of Arafat's´personal body guards, Force 17. Salameh was nicknamed "the Red Prince"; a revolutionary who loved luxury and extravagance. He only wore silk shirts, tailored suits and hand made Italian shoes. In Beirut to this day people still talk about the wedding party held when "the Prince" married the exquisite beauty and Lebanese Georgina Risk, the previous year Ms. Universe.

The US supports military training

In 1969, Salameh in greatest secrecy met with CIA master spy Robert C. Ames in Beirut. It became the start of the controversial cooperation between the two enemies. Through secret agreements the US was protected against terrorist acts and PLO eventually won political recognition.

The film by Peter Löfgren also shows how the CIA since the beginning of the 1990´s financed and trained Yassir Arafats´security apparatus, who Israel today claims is assisting and protecting terrorists. Also, what very few knows is that Jibril Rajoub, the by Yassir Arafat appointed head of security, since 1994 has acted as the prolonged arm of the US supported with military training and millions of dollars. Jibril Rajoub, who at the age of fifteen was arrested by the Israeli occupation authority, after attacking a military jeep with a Molotov cocktail and having spend 17 years in Israeli prisons.

Chooses to see what one wants

The superpower has chosen to close its eyes to all reports about the terror and torture of the Palestinian security service against its country men. I the name of the peace process, the CIA have focused solely on suppressing the militant Palestinian opposition. The building of a democratic Palestinian state have not been prioritized.

US policies have so far failed. The peace process broke down and turned into a bloody war between Israelis and Palestinians. But President George W Bush continues in his predecessors tracks. In his crusade against terrorism Bush recently sent new CIA agents and bundles of dollars to the Palestinian security service. For Washington there is a goal that supersedes everything else: A US-friendly Palestinian state, in the middle of an ocean of growing Muslim fundamentalism.

Discussion after the film

After the film Political Science Professor Ulf Bjereld and journalist Peter Löfgren in discussion with "Document from abroad (Shows name) moderator Olof Dahlberg.

To speak with the devil is produced 2005. Peter Löfgren has worked as a middle east correspondent for more than 10 years.

[Stockholm]

1. Thought it might be interesting as it will probably never be aired

by MSM in the US.

BTW, sorry for the lousy translation.

[Bjornsdotter]

2. Let us know

..how it was after it airs next week.

Your translation was great!

Cheers,
Kim