Archive for November 26, 2005

Akram Al-Bunni. Lebanonese newspapers love to publish articles by Syrian writers who are willing to criticize Syria, and praise the Hummus values in Lebanon. These are the ones that would not be allowed to publish one word if they dared to criticize Lebanonese racism toward the Syrian people, or even to utter a word of [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

Many of us have urged Clovis Maqsud to stop writing for An-Nahar. Last week when I was in DC, Clovis reported that he has decided to stop writing for An-Nahar. It took Clovis a week to break that pledge.PS Here Clovis (in his article in An-Nahar) makes references to those who think that the Arab [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

I watched an interview with `Ali Sadr Ad-Din Al-Bayanuni, the General Inspector of the Muslim Brothers in Syria. Under free conditions, I think that he would be the most powerful man in Syria, and this of course restrains the US behavior toward Syria, although–as I always tell people–the foolishness of current officials of the US [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

(Palestinian) Guards and Puppets of Israeli Occupation. The Occupier’s Agreement on Rafah Crossing. I heard the cunning and corrupt Muhammad Dahlan talk in the most vague of terms about the Gaza crossing agreement. As I watched him try to sell it–just as you watch a sleazy car salesperson trying to sell a damaged car–I knew [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

This is a new blog by the staff of Aljazeera. But what is with the title? Could it be more whiny and wimpy? Is this because the Qatari foreign minister once said that the best way in dealing with the US is begging and pleading?

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

The new Jordanian government refers to “the distortion of the image of Islam” by the fanatics of Zarqawi. But the Jordanian government has also distorted the image of governance, democracy, rule, AND of Islam too. Was King Husayn not responsible for the funding and cuddling of religious fanatics in the 1950s and 1960s to undermine [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

Does anybody know what the new Jordanian prime minister, Ma`ruf Al-Bakhit, was doing during Black September? He graduated from the military academy in 1966, so he must have served in some capacity.

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

George W. Bush has been president for 5 years, and has been dealing with foreign policy for that duration, and yet when you hear him talk (talk, not read a speech), you don’t see any evidence of that. There is no evidence that his knowledge of the world has advanced one bit. He remains as [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

Have you noticed that all Western and UN reports that are critical of Israel are “unpublished” and “confidential”? Fortunately, somebody who is outraged at this unfair protection of Israel leaks to the press and that is how we know about it.

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

The tool of the House of Saud who runs Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, Tariq Al-Humayd, has this to say about press reports about US plans to bomb Al-Jazeera: “it is a joke,” he said. “No big deal.” This from an ostensible journalist. But the Saudi-Qatari feud surpasses all other considerations, except the consideration of pleasing and servicing [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

Cedar Sanctuary, c. 1942. Emily Carr.

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

Former Iraqi prime minister/Saddam’s henchman/embezzler-in-Yemen/car bomber, Iyad `Allawi, is back. You know that `Allawi is running for something by watching and reading the Saudi media. Al-Arabiyya TV has just started running a repetitious supply of Western-produced political ads for `Allawi’s parliamentary campaign, while AshSharq Al-Awsat is running what it is calling the “memoir” of Iyad [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

“My homeland is NOT a suitcase.” (Mahmud Darwish)

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

“Blood money boom for Iraqi donors as hospitals run dry”

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

“Profession : mercenaire français en Irak” (thanks Jad and Sonia)

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

The Washington Post would like you to know that war is really good for you: “experts have become increasingly interested in those who emerge from combat feeling enhanced”

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

“The campaign for U.N. secretary general is moving into high gear, as jet-setting candidates audition in New York, Washington and other capitals”

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

“From Scandinavia to the tropical Canary Islands, the CIA’s clandestine use of European soil and airspace for counter-terrorism missions is triggering outrage, parliamentary inquiries and a handful of criminal prosecutions.”

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

66% of Lebanese believe that US/France/UK interfere in Lebanese political affairs. There are very good political polling firms in Lebanon: the most reliable are the ones owned by Kamal Fghali, `Abduh Sa`d, and Jihad `Adrah. I have talked to all three, and asked about their methods and methodologies and find them reliable (although like rivals [...]

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad

The British Consul in Jerusalem needs two more years–or more–of Arabic.

Posted on November 26, 2005 by As'ad