Flash: Ghalyun
Burhan Ghalyun, recognizing mounting criticisms of his insistence on leadership of the Syrian National Council announced that he would be ready to resign once Syria obtains nuclear weapons.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Conflict of Zionist interest
"As an article by Alex Kane in the May 2012 issue of Extra! reports, Kershner's husband, Hirsh Goodman, is a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), an institution well-connected to the Israeli government and military. Many of its associates come from government or military careers; its websiteboasts of the group's "strong association with the political and military establishment." In 2010, according to INSS financial documents, the Israeli government gave the institute about $72,000." (thanks Nadia)
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
FBI entrapment
"The guy who convinced the plotters to blow up a big bridge, led them to the arms merchant, and drove the team to the bomb site was an FBI informant. The merchant was an FBI agent. The bomb, of course, was a dud. And the arrest was part of a pattern of entrapment by federal law enforcement since September 11, 2001, not of terrorist suspects, but of young men federal agents have had to talk into embracing violence in the first place. One of the Cleveland arrestees, Connor Stevens, complained to his sister of feeling "very pressured" by the guy who turned out to be an informant and was recorded in 2011 rejecting property destruction: "We're in it for the long haul and those kind of tactics just don't cut it," he said. "And it's actually harder to be non-violent than it is to do stuff like that." Though when Cleveland's NEWS Channel 5 broadcast that footage, they headlined it "Accused Bomb Plot Suspect Caught on Camera Talking Violence."
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Flash: Saudi King reveals that his mother and sisters are women
"“I believe strongly in the rights of women. My mother is a woman. My sister is a woman. My daughter is a woman. My wife is a woman,” said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in an interview with Barbara Walters on American television station ABC in October 2005." But when he said "my wife", he really meant "my many wives".
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Get a blood transfusion
""Ben Gurion is in my blood," says Mr Yehoshua, 75, who as a student met the then Prime Minister in a "peculiar episode" in 1959."
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Kanan Makiya wants another US war against another Arab country
This guy who teaches Arab politics (although he dropped out of graduate architectural school and never completed a graduate social science degree--notice his bios say that he "attended" MIT) offers advise to US policy makers (from the platform of a Likudnik magazine): "shooting from the air and ground wherever necessary." Can you imagine a professor of Middle East studies in the US daring to urge US government to "shoot from the air and ground wherever necessary" against Israel? Can you imagine the uproar? (thanks Chathan)
PS Electronic Ali sent me this: "Aib aleyk ya As'ad. Did you forget that Makiya has HONORARY DOCTORATE from BOTH Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University? Isn't that qualification enough?"
PS Electronic Ali sent me this: "Aib aleyk ya As'ad. Did you forget that Makiya has HONORARY DOCTORATE from BOTH Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University? Isn't that qualification enough?"
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Burhan Ghalyun: Qatari puppet for life. Long live democracy, Ba`thist style
Akram sent me this: "In a statement to Reuters, just before being re-elected (Reuters was wrong: he was actually elected -not re-elected- "democratically in an environment of transparency and integrity" Г la Ba'asist) as the head of SNC, Burhan Ghalioun expressed his intention to bring support to a new strategy for "liberating Syria":
"We do not deal weapons but we will make some agreements and some countries promised us that they would provide the Free Syrian Army with weapons,"
"We do not deal weapons but we will make some agreements and some countries promised us that they would provide the Free Syrian Army with weapons,"
- It seems too late for the great opportunist Burhan Ghaliuon
- If he's looking for "some agreements", the question is: what does he have to give (on behalf of Syria for sure) in return?
- Does this plain expression of this strategy (not of the own thoughts of this silly puppet of course) explain what's going on in north Lebanon? I mean, are we witnessing the build up of a hub where the promised weapon shipments (and militants) can be freely imported then re-exported to Syria?"
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Reuters is outraged: Iran is sending weapons to Syria
"Syria remains the top destination for Iranian arms shipments in violation of a U.N. Security Council ban on weapons exports by the Islamic Republic, according to a confidential report on Iran sanctions-busting seen by Reuters on Wednesday." Of course, Reuters is outraged because it knows that only Turkey, US, EU, Saudi Arabia, US, Qatar, and UAE are permitted to send arms to Syrian rebels under UN charter.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Moroccan communist party
The Moroccan Communist Party is one of the worst and most opportunistic of the not impressive spectrum of Arab orthodox communist parties. Its leader was known for kneeling before the Moroccan king and for allowing the demagoguery of the King's version of the Sahara issue to dominate the party's rhetoric. The party has now agreed to enter into a coalition government (as minor insignificant sidekicks) with Morocco's royal Islamists. The party said that the decision is motivated by "deep political choice".
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Zakariyya Muhyi Ad-Din
Khaled wrote me this about Nasser and his right-wing lieutenants: "On several occasions - the most catastrophic, President Nasser appointed, or at least did not disqualify a right-wing person from
assuming a leading position in his administration. In many crucial moments, President Nasser dispensed with loyal allies and cast them aside, in favor of right-wing replacements. I am almost drawn to the conclusion some time ago that President Nasser does not allow an ideology to govern his steps, crucial or dull managerial ones. As such he had no ideology but serving the interests of his people, the way the son of the Menia can see it! That is not to say at all, that he was not an anti-imperialist, and at
times a fierce lion at that, but it suggests that he had a very long-term vision, one that in real life is not obtaining. The end of the Egyptian left, heralded by the Sadat Nights of the Long Knives, is an
example of the extent of such political horizons, I think!"
assuming a leading position in his administration. In many crucial moments, President Nasser dispensed with loyal allies and cast them aside, in favor of right-wing replacements. I am almost drawn to the conclusion some time ago that President Nasser does not allow an ideology to govern his steps, crucial or dull managerial ones. As such he had no ideology but serving the interests of his people, the way the son of the Menia can see it! That is not to say at all, that he was not an anti-imperialist, and at
times a fierce lion at that, but it suggests that he had a very long-term vision, one that in real life is not obtaining. The end of the Egyptian left, heralded by the Sadat Nights of the Long Knives, is an
example of the extent of such political horizons, I think!"
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Clowns in exile
Apparently, Bush inspired Arab people: "Protesters in Syria and around the world draw inspiration from President George W. Bush. During his administration, President Bush personally met with more than 180 pro-democracy and human rights activists, independent journalists, and their family members from 35 countries."
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Outrage on Egyptian social networks
The Zamalik club of Egypt tried to beg for Saudi money and that caused outrage on Egyptian social networks. (thanks Osman)
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Worst abusers of the planet
"In order from most to least, the top 10 greediest resource users per capita are:" (Qatar, UAE, and US win big. Congratulations to the winners.) (thanks Sami)
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Christian censors in Lebanon
Of course, Muslim and Christian religious authorities are book burners and censors in Lebanon and elsewhere. But campaign of censorship and repression by Christian religious authorities in Lebanon don't get any media coverage (not even in Arab media) and Lebanese intellectuals are reluctant to go after Christian religious authorities. They recently launched a campaign against a film that you never heard about.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Adonis: a wanted man
There is a campaign by religious-sectarian fanatics of the Syrian opposition (still described in the West as "secular"--ha ha ha) to seek revenge and exact punishment against Arab poet, Adonis. Now I am no fan of Adonis but this campaign against him (accusing him of being `Alawite--a crime in Syrian exile opposition circles and of "offending" Islamic religion) has not gotten any notice in the West because the culprits are part of the "pro-Western" coalition in Syrian opposition.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Hitler is his role model
I have talked before about the far right-wing Lebanese TV station, MTV. I mentioned that it is notorious for its racist and misogynist reports and I mentioned that US ambassador in Lebanon, Maura Connelly paid a special visit to the station to offer official American support. Now this item will not be featured on MEMRI (an arm of (former?) Israeli intelligence) or in Western media because the culprit is a right-winger who falls within the spectrum of "pro-Western" March 14 coalition in Lebanon. So the host of a sensational show on MTV, Joe Ma`luf (a Gerry Springer wannabe) said that Hitler is his role model and that a person like Hitler is needed to "decrease numbers". (thanks Adonis)
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Ahmad Al-Khatib on GCC plans
Ahmat Al-Khatib is a veteran Kuwaiti Arab nationalist. He was a classmate of George Habash and supported his struggle through the ages. Al-Khatib talks in the 1st volume of his memoirs about financial support for the Movement of Arab Nationalists: how he donated the bulk of salary as a doctor in Kuwait to the movement. Here, he offers a critique of GCC plans. It is a long article but someone should translate it.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Nakbah commemoration
Comrade Fawwaz on Nakbah commemoration.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
Reuters and Israel’s feeings
This report is hilarious: it starts by reporting on the reality of Israel bashing in the Egyptian presidential campaign and then concludes--Zionist style--with an assertion intended to not hurt Israel's feelings. It is amazing how far Zionists go to reassure themselves: "Israel has become a punchbag for politicians vying for votes in Egypt's presidential race, playing on popular antipathy in Egypt towards its neighbor, but the realities of office are likely to ensure a 33-year-old peace treaty is not jeopardized." (thanks Andrew)
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad
died from torture
"On January 11, Mowali left for his morning walk and never returned. Police said they found Mowali's body floating in the water on January 13 in the Amwaj area, not far from his family's home in Muharraq. A state doctor reported the cause of death as drowning and ruled out signs of violence. However, Al Jazeera has exclusively obtained a report from a second autopsy performed by an independent forensic pathologist that concludes Mowali was electrically tortured and unconscious when he drowned." (thanks Laleh)
Posted on May 17, 2012 by As'ad