Archive for July 12, 2006
Nasser on Al-Arabiyya TV. It seems that the Saudi government wants to refight the Arab Cold War. It is airing a “documentary” dealing with Nasser, and is basically discrediting and mocking him. I have no problem with that. I am no fan of Nasser: I have always believed that his charismatic spell was dangerous for [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
The statement by Al-Jama`ah Al-Islamiyyah in Lebanon yesterday regarding the Hizbullah’s operation was most interesting. In Lebanon, it was explained to me that Al-Jama`ah moved toward Hariri Inc not only due to money–only, but due to pressures from Sunni public opinion following Hariri’s assassination.
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
The Muslim brotherhood of Jordan. This reactionary organization that was reared by the Hashemite family and its mukhabarat and which was used in the past against the leftists and the Arab nationalists in the country has announced its “clear loyalty to the king.” It made the announcement after a meeting the prime minister and the [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
Egypt has started requiring Palestinians entering the country to obtain a special visa. US Congress hailed Mubarak’s commitment to democracy, and ordered him a new 9-year term.
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
A Palestinian mother (whose three sons were kidnapped and held by Israeli occupation troops) celebrates the news of Hizbullah’s kidnapping of two Israeli occupation soldiers.
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
A good critical evaluation of Lebanese TV’s coverage of the events in Lebanon. It contains a good critique of the Hariri TV (the official mouthpiece of the Sex Tourist Industry of Lebanon).
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
It seems that Saatchi and Saatchi got a new contract from the royal family of Jordan. The king today launched a new slogan: “We all are for Jordan.” How original. But who is for you, o King of Jordan? Who?
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
I interviewed many people in Lebanon during my last trip. Jumblat’s people were clearly mad at me, so I did not get to see them. One of them, Jumblat’s closest advisor, Wa’il Abu Fa`ur (a member of parliament), talked to my sister. While he said some nice things about me, he told my sister that [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
Is Zidane a good Muslim or a bad Muslim? I am confused. Help me out, please. I don’t watch sports, and did not follow the World Cup–I asked my brother even about the look and design of the new football. I have not seen that before. But I was curious about the last game–I wanted [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
I have seen it from the outside. Do you think that he will use the money to help the Palestinians? “It has 15 bedrooms, anything between 16 and 26 bathrooms (the estate agent may have lost count), a lift, an indoor pool and sits on 95 acres. And if it sells for its $135m (£77m) [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
“The crisis facing Israel was compounded when its air force killed a family of nine, dropping a 550lb bomb on a house in a residential area of Gaza City early today. Nabil Abu Salmiah, a lecturer at the Islamic University – who has been described by Israel as a Hamas activist – was killed, along [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
Best American-puppet-in-the-Middle-East-award. I was thinking: I should hold annual best-American-puppet-in-the-Middle-East-award. You can make your nominations, and somebody will do the tabulations. The choices are obvious. Personally, I nominate the King of Jordan. No, Abu Mazen. Wait, no. How about Karzai. No, I will settle on Maliki. Wait, how about Mubarak. No…
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
This is a headline from Guardian: “Israelis invade Lebanon after soldiers are seized.” Even the article by Anthony Shadid in the Washington Post, used the word “entered” in reference to Israeli invasion of Lebanese territory.
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
“The Witch of Pungo — who supposedly accursed Tidewater farms in the 17th and 18th centuries — has been cleared of all charges, namely that she was ever a witch. On Monday, 300 years after Grace Sherwood was convicted at a trial that saw her thrown into the Lynnhaven River with her thumbs tied to [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
Saddam is on a hunger strike. So what is on TV tonight?
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
Learn this term, NOW: Ministry advisory teams. “GEN. CALDWELL: Bobby, obviously we’ve got what we call ministry advisory teams that work with the ministries to help them think through some of these challenges and issues. Price liberalization is a key aspect. Part of the World Bank’s requirements, as they move on for their monetary fiscal [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
Chairman Kong Pao Hariri. Mini-Hariri is in China. Here, he is met by the advisor to the assistant to the deputy of the Lebanon’s specialist at the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Mini-Hariri was not happy. He asked to meet with Chairman Mao. He said that he came all the way to China to meet with Chairman [...]
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
I will speak on the developments in South Lebanon today at 5:00PM on KPFA’s Flashpoint. You may listen live. Warning: I am jet-lagged, have a cold, and am therefore in a bad mood.
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
“After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore†before adding “so just f*** off†for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.”
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad
New York Times headline: “Israel Enters Lebanon After 2 Soldiers Are Kidnapped”. Enters? Enters? You enter a restaurant, a bar, a club, but NOT a sovereign country. So, o skilled editors of the New York Times, did Hitler also “enter” Poland?
Posted on July 12, 2006 by As'ad