Archive for April 18, 2006

Learn about US from An-Nahar Newspaper. Free. Nabil Bu Munsif Explains US to Lebanese. Sometimes I envy all those of you who don’t read Arabic. Do you know the poison that I consume when I read my daily supply of Saudi-funded and Lebanese newspapers? Take this from An-Nahar. Their Lebanese editor just came back from [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

“three endangered chimpanzees and a baboon” join the Humms Revolution. (thanks Rania)

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

I was reading the names of the people who attended Bush’s meeting with Sanyurah. I noticed that Cheney’s aide, John Hanna was present. For those who don’t know: Hanna runs Hariri Inc now.

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

In commemoration of the Qana Massacre: when Israel bombed a civilian UN shelter, killing people inside. These are the victims that are not mourned in Western newspapers. Western newspapers think there are no Arab victims.

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

Sometimes, ok ALL THE DAMN TIME, I get so frusrtated with the ignorance of the Lebanonese press especially when it is related to US foreign policy. Lebanonese journalists asked Sanyurah whether he discussed Shib`a Farms with Bush, and whether Bush was convinced that they are Lebanese. I mean, do these journalists think that Bush would [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

Bush took Lebanonese prime minister, Fu’ad Sanyurah on a stroll on the White House grounds. Those silly gestures mean a lot to those empty politicians. These are people who when Westerners tell them “stay in touch”, they take it literally. I heard that Amin Gemayyel still–I am not making this up–sends x-mass and Easter greetings [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

Nir Rosen, an American correspondent who covered Iraq (and whose book on Iraq will be coming out soon), sent me this: “the guy in charge of psychological operations in al asad air base, which is the largest and most important US base in the anbar, if not all of iraq, has patai’s book in his [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

I read that the Maronite Patriarch Sfyar received greetings and congratulations on the occasion of Easter. On the occasion of Easter, I wish to…ask the Patriarch to reveal the contents of the treaty between the Maronite Patriarchate and the Zionist movement in 1946. Do you know that every Easter, the Patriarch holds a special mass [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

This Saudi journalist underlines his press credentials by bragging that he worked as a producer for Barbara Walter in one of her specials on…Saudi Arabia. Good boy. Good boy. Sit now. Sit. (thanks Amer)

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

Back to our regular feature: the LBC-TV’s From Lebanon segment about “rich and famous” Lebanese. Yesterday, the silly network featured a Jimmy Jbara, who according to the network is a household name here in the US. Yes, Jimmy Jbara, the very same Jimmy Jbara that all of us have heard of. The network bragged that [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

I will not provide links (I will not give free airtime for cheap propaganda outlets). But do you notice that MEMRI would always refer to Arab writers who are pro-Bush as “progressive” and “reformist” even if those people write the most sexist and reactionary articles?

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

You read this article in the New York Times about the Islamic Jihad’s bombing in Israel. Typically, the New York Times shows images of (real) sorrow, mourning, and pain (which the New York Times never accords to Palestinian victims). And then, in passing, the same article says: “In northern Gaza, a 19-year-old Palestinian, Mamdouh Obeid, [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

…off to UC, Irvine. Will speak at 2:30PM on Wednesday (tomorrow) on “The Islam Factor in Western Popular Cultures: Beyond the Danish Cartoons” –Social Science Plaza A, room 2112; and at 7:15PM Wednesday (tomorrow) on “Origins of the Syrian-Lebanese Crisis.” Berry Terrace, Bren Events Center.

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

Neel, Alice, Sunset, Riverside Drive, 1961.

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

“George Clooney’s oil drama Syriana has premiered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with two minutes of film removed at the request of government censors. Scenes showing mistreatment of Asian workers in the Gulf and references to a late Saudi king were among those cut.” (thanks John)

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

Israeli Rabbi: “Gays Responsible For Bird Flu” (thanks John)

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad

I asked whether friends and readers in Lebanon have seen the play about Che that is being performed in Beirut. My friend Rania Masri sent me her reaction:“It was a history lesson – with some inaccuracies – from the time che met fidel to his death. No depth. None whatsoever. The music was 70s Lebanese [...]

Posted on April 18, 2006 by As'ad