Archive for August 5, 2005

On al-Jazeera TV yesterday, and for one hour, Muhammad Hasanayn Haykal, who has not stopped telling stories about his friendship with Nasser since Nasser died in 1970, told stories about…Malaria in Egypt in the 1940s. It was as interesting to watch as it is watching Larry King Live with John Kerry as his guest.

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

Not fair: if believers are proven wrong after death, they would not know it. But if atheists are proven wrong after death, not only will they know it, but they will be punished for it.

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

Now this crackpot: the widow of Lebanonese fascist war criminal, Bashir Gemayyel issued this statement–I am not making this up: “She received series of phone calls in the wake of delivering her statement in parliament during the confidence session. And the callers congratulated her for her candor and seriousness in treating the critical and sensitive [...]

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

This house in Zahlah fascinated me. 

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

A view of Zahlah. 

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

The entrance to the Grand Hotel. 

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

Another view of the Grand Hotel. 

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

Do you know what this is? This is the Grand Hotel in Sawfar, Mt. Lebanon. At one point, early in the 20th century, this one was probably the most fancy and luxurious hotel in the Middle East, favored by the colonialists and their puppet leaders in the Middle East. Up until WWII, Arab leaders would [...]

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

This is an interview with my dear friend Sinan about his excellent novel I`jam.

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

“War on terror costs more American lives”

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

“Never again? How the war in Iraq spurred a new nuclear arms race”

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

I really am sincere in asking this question. I really want to know. I address this question to those readers who are supporters of the US war in Iraq: Do you also consider this man a terrorist? I am just curious.

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

I had mentioned how Lebanonese casually call Lebanonese crackpots and nutcases “philosophers.” Two weeks ago, the Lebanese journalist who manages to annoy me more than Larry King, Gizelle Khuri, introduced right-wing sectarian Christian Lebanese publisher, Ghassan Tuwayni, as “philosopher.” If Tony Danza was Lebanonese, they would also refer to him as “philosopher.”

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

“George Bush’s Philosophers”

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

Substance aside, holy books are really badly edited works. You would think that God would have divine editors to assist him/her. Compare those books to the great books: (Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason; Plato’s Republic, Dostoyofsky’s Crime and Punishment, Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra). In those books, every word belongs in the sentence, and you cannot [...]

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

Ramsey Clark and Saddam: I read that Saddam is trying very hard through his lawyers to meet Ramsey Clark, a fan of Saddam. I know some leftists praise Clark, who I think is more a burden to leftism than an asset.

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad

I heard George W. Bush say that US troops will stay in Iraq until the “mission is completed.” First, I thought that Bush had “accomplished the mission” one month after US troops reached Baghdad. Secondly, and I don’t mean to stress or strain Bush’s simple and feeble mind, but what is the US mission in [...]

Posted on August 5, 2005 by As'ad