Archive for May 3, 2004

UN human rights investigator Paul Hunt is calling for an independent inquiry into how the U.S. military’s siege of Fallujah has affected civilians. Hunt says that while reliable information is difficult to obtain, there are credible claims that U.S. forces have been guilty of serious human rights breaches in their month-long siege of the city. [...]

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Full text. To give you a flavor of the official Arabic press. This is a royal statement from Saudi Arabia yesterday: “His royal highness Prince Sultan bin `Abdul-`Aziz, 2nd deputy prime minister and minister of defense and aviation and general inspector (kluso?), May God preserve him and care for him, went through a surgical operation [...]

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

The official Iraqi health ministry’s count of Iraqi civilian casualties for the month of April is 1028 dead, and 4234 injured.(Tuesday’s Al-Hayat). By the way, US pressures on Arab media are really paying off. Al-Hayat is also playing down the story of US torture of Iraqi prisoners. What do you expect from the corrupt oil [...]

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

An area where Bush has indeed made progress: Iraqi oil export proceeds hit $US8.6b.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Colin Powell admonished the Foreign Minister of Qatar last week regarding AlJazeera’s coverage of the Iraq war and occupation. I can see the difference already. Al-Jazeera has certainly been playing down the story of the pictures of torture from Iraq.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Pictures from an Inquisition

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

BBC analysis: Events in Iraq have been spinning out of control – and out of control of the spinners – so fast on so many fronts that the W word – withdrawal – is now being mentioned.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

News from “liberated” Afghanistan: Heroin boom in Afghanistan overwhelms border nations.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

The best Iranian restaurant in LA is Shehrezad. My friend Rabi` takes me there every time I visit. The best view is from the bar of Casa Del Mar Hotel, where you have a view of the Santa Monica Pier and beach. Guess which tea they serve there? That is right. Angry Arab official tea.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Former Iraqi human rights minister Abdel Basset Turki said US overseer Paul Bremer knew in November that Iraqi prisoners were being abused in US detention centres. “In November I talked to Mr Bremer about human rights violations in general and in jails in particular. He listened but there was no answer. At the first meeting, [...]

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

That is what the US govt is concerned about: The Bush administration is struggling to develop a damage-control strategy to counter the mounting global backlash against the United States after revelations that U.S. military and intelligence personnel abused Iraqi prisoners, according to U.S. officials.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Excerpts From Prison Inquiry

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

“Overcrowded cell blocks, sadistic guards abusing and humiliating prisoners, inmates shot dead trying to escape down dark alleys, and detainees being spirited around the prison compound to avoid Red Cross workers. All this happened as guards made up their own rules and superiors condoned their actions. This was not Saddam Hussein’s gulag but a devastating [...]

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Presidential Race Nears $1 Billion Mark

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

US airstrikes killed at least three alleged militants following an attack on a military convoy in eastern Afghanistan, but local officials said yesterday that the victims were police officers killed in a case of mistaken identity. How many times have I posted such news from Afghanistan.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

“And we stood on the edge and we yelled ‘Am Yisrael chai!’ [the nation of Israel lives] And boom, across came the echo, the most eerie and unbelievable sound. And we sort of looked at each other and we felt as if we were hearing the souls of those who had died there, speaking to [...]

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

CIA inquiry into death of prisoner at notorious jail

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Fifty-three former US diplomats today accuse the White House of sacrificing America’s credibility in the Arab world – and the safety of its diplomats and soldiers – because of the Bush administration’s support for the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

CBS delayed report on Iraqi prison abuse after military chief’s plea

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad

Liberals and strangers

Posted on May 3, 2004 by As'ad