Archive for May, 2005
“Uzbekistan has shown former Soviet states that the west tolerates the repression of peaceful protest in return for oil”
Posted on May 30, 2005 by As'ad
Bono’s political advocacy is bothering me. There is no world leader or dictator or war enthusiast that he does not like “on a personal level.” And does he play one musical instrument?
Posted on May 30, 2005 by As'ad
“Claims of abuse at Guantanamo are revealed” (When asked about that, Bush said: “But Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East”)
Posted on May 30, 2005 by As'ad
“U.S. Forces Mistakenly Arrest Sunni Leader”. The man was a member (and one-time president) of the now-defunct puppet governing council. But don’t jump to conclusions. The US military explained what happened, and the explanation eased my mind, and should ease yours. Apparently, the Sunni-terrorist-detector device used by the US military malfunctioned. That is all. Go [...]
Posted on May 30, 2005 by As'ad
One more time: Arabs prove that they are genetically capable of stuffing a ballot box (albeit in very small numbers). Western world impressed. Wake up the children, and tell the neighbors. Today, US, UN and Eu extended their congratulations to the Lebanese government for their lousy election. The turnout, it turns out, was even less [...]
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Portrait d’un m�decin militaire, 1914�15. Albert Gleizes.
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
For the second time today, I am citing approvingly Hassan Fattah (on Hariri): “But at least some voters said they had been put off by his heavily bankrolled campaign.”
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
After weeks and months of silly US media articles about “Lebanese unity,” now, NOW, the US media are finally learning about Lebanon: “Fault Lines Apparent At the Polls: Religion Remains Divisive in Capital”
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Now that the Hummus has melted, “After Withdrawal, Letdown in Lebanon”
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
“Long Jailings Anger Iraqis” (I wonder why)
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Christian Science Monitor asks “Is Iran telling the truth about nuclear program?” I don’t know, but is Israel telling the truth?
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
“Palestinian youths looking through a hole in the wall following an [Israeli occupation] missile strike in the Jabaliya refugee camp in north Gaza early Monday. (AP)”
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
“The U.S. Justice Department is expected to file indictments against two former senior American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) staffers.” (Both will be offered jobs as Middle East experts at the National Security Council)
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
“British soldiers face war crimes charges”
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Beirut “election” or Tribal bay`ah? Lebanese pollster `Abduh Sa`d was right today. This was no election, he said. It was more of a tribal acclamation ritual (bay`ah); no surprises and 9 out of the 19 candidates won their seats prior to election day. I meant it when I said that there were more candidates per [...]
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
While Sa`d Hariri salutes the masses, polling stations in Beirut show crowds of enthusiastic voters.
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
I heard the Minister of Interior in Saudi Arabia say that the health of the Saudi king keeps improving. In fact, if he keeps improving he may start to reverse the aging process.
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Some people believe that the rise of Sunni religio-political movements in Syria is due to opposition against the regime. Others believe that the Syrian intelligence service is behind the rise of those groups. I believe that both sides are correct.
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Abu Mazen will be going to Tunisia hoping to calm Faruq Qaddumi down. Qaddumi has been very critical of Abu Mazen. The latter (along with Arafat’s nephew, Nasir Al-Qidwah–the new Palestinian foreign minister) has been trying to replace all of Qaddumi’s people in the Palestinian foreign service. But during the days of Arafat, Qaddumi’s criticisms [...]
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad
Gabriel Yared. (His recent work has become too commercial for my taste).
Posted on May 29, 2005 by As'ad