Archive for October 8, 2005

A security official in Egypt defended his M.A. in communication with a thesis dealing with Arab internet sites. According to his “study”, there are some 130,000 Arabic sites, 16,000 of which are Egyptian. This head of the Egyptian Society to Combat Internet Crimes stated that there are 800 sites that promote the values of “deviance, [...]

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

The last speech by Zarqawi was particularly kooky. He said that “people on earth are three segments as far as Islam is concerned: The first segment are those who are the community of Islam who are members of it; the second segment are those who are peaceful and in detente with Muslims, for dhimmah or [...]

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

In a TV interview, Huda `Abdu-n-Nasir (daughter of Jamal `Abdu-n-Nasir) accused Anwar Sadat of killing her father.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

If it is up to me, I would not entrust the life of one Palestinian in Lebanon to the Lebanese government or the Lebanese armed forces. Not one.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

I really feel that Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist (and Al-Arabiyya director) `Abdur-Rahman Ar-Rashid writes every column not for the readers, but for the eyes of Thomas Friedman, hoping to impress him, and hoping to be cited by Friedman.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

I read in the UK Observer that Adonis, the Syrian poet, may win the Nobel Prize in literature this year. He has been eagerly wanting that prize for years. So eager is he for that prize, that he has not criticized Israel publicly in years, although in private he speaks very differently. Yes, you may [...]

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

When I was in Washington, DC, I was so impressed with the local police sketch artists. But the Lebanese police, has the most ludicrous sketch artists. Unbelievable. Look at this latest one above. All young men in Lebanon look like him, with or without a moustache. 3 months ago, and based on another lousy sketch [...]

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

Lebanese prime minister Fu’ad Sanyurah wants his Lebanese critics to accept his alliance with Dick Cheney because 40 years ago he was an Arab nationalist enthusiast.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

This is capitalist democracy: “Billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg has poured $46.6 million of his own cash into his campaign for a second term, including nearly $20 million on advertising, according to finance reports.” Pericles in his funeral oration said: “Its administration favours the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a [...]

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

Today, the most shifty Lebanese sectarian politician/warlord, Walid Jumblat, criticized the presence of armed Palestinians outside of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. He forgot that those armed Palestinians outside the refugee camps saved his…neck during his wars of the mountains.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

“Does Meritocracy Work?”

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

Audacity of the New York Times (on Muhammad Bradei): “But he is diplomatic in his comments about Iran’s leaders, a trait critics have sometimes cited as evidence that he goes easy on Islamic countries.” Oh, no. He is even easier on…ISRAEL.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

Azure, 1933. Oscar Bluemner. (There is an exhibition of his work at the Whitney in NY)

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

Thanks to all those who sent me the article on Pissarro from Commentary.

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad

” t’s a done deal, and one of the biggest residential real estate transactions ever in the District, says the listing agent for a Northwest Washington estate once owned by Rafiq Hariri, a billionaire Lebanese politician who was assassinated in February.Cathie Gill, principal of Cathie Gill Inc. Realtors in the District, said the 16.2-acre tract [...]

Posted on October 8, 2005 by As'ad