Word: berrie
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Born in 1938, the son of a Lebanese merchant in what was then the British colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa, Berri moved to Lebanon as a boy. "He was a dynamic student, a very good leader and a passionate person," says lifelong Friend Nasib Fawaz, chairman of the Islamic Center of America in Detroit. "He enjoyed literature, sports and had lots of friends." Berri studied law at the Lebanese University, where he was elected head of the student union for four years. He later practiced law in Beirut without | drawing much attention. Separated from his American wife...
...leader of Amal, Berri at first did little to oppose the Israeli invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon. As a Minister in Lebanon's so-called government of National Unity, he participated in negotiations aimed at getting Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon although many Shi'ites felt that Lebanon should not even talk to the Israelis. He and his Amal militiamen helped secure the release of one American and a Frenchman kidnaped by extremists early last year. Berri has continued to attend Lebanese Cabinet meetings, even though many of his followers have wanted nothing to do with the central...
Accordingly, Berri led Amal in armed clashes against Israelis, Maronite Christians, Palestinians, Sunni Muslims and former allies, the Druze. "Berri the moderate? That's absurd!" scoffs Joyce Starr, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University. Agrees a U.S. Government source who has dealt with Berri: "He may be in the center but only because the center moved. He's not an extremist, but he's shown that he's quite willing to escalate his language -- and his actions -- to retain his position of authority in the Shia community." Still, there...
...Berri's display of radicalism has not made his hold on power any more secure. Despite being a devout Muslim who prays daily and shuns alcohol, he believes in separation of church and state. That puts him at odds with the Shi'ite Party of God, which advocates an Islamic state. Many of his own Amal militiamen carry pictures of Iran's Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini on leather thongs around their necks. Says one Washington intelligence source with expertise on the Lebanese Shi'ites: "Berri may be well known and popular among Shi'ites, but if you ask, 'Does he have...
...Monday, while filming in the city's teeming Shi'ite slums, he was suddenly caught in a storm of bullets. Only by surrendering his tape was Glass permitted to drive away. Two days later, however, came the scoop of the week: after persistent requests from ABC, Amal Leader Nabih Berri arranged for Glass to interview the crew still aboard...