Archive for October 4, 2006
The historian has spoken: “President Bush has begun reassuring audiences that this traumatic period in Iraq will be seen as “just a comma” in the history books.”
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
News from “liberated” Iraq: “Iraq’s school and university system is in danger of collapse in large areas of the country as pupils and teachers take flight in the face of threats of violence. Professors and parents have told the Guardian they no longer feel safe to attend their educational institutions. In some schools and colleges, [...]
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
I read that some Muslims in Aleppo are working hard to produce the largest ever Qur’an. Don’t you like it when people know their priorities? So whatever happened to Danish cartoons?
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
“Tucked away in fine print in the military spending bill for this past year was a lump sum of $20 million to pay for a celebration in the nation’s capital “for commemoration of success†in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not surprisingly, the money was not spent.”
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
““It is just creepy and Orwellian,” said Lucy Dalglish, a lawyer and former editor who is executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.”
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
“Half a century of foreign affairs experience, and he still doesn’t understand that humiliating young Arab men — and occupying Muslim land — just radicalizes them? We’re expanding terror at a cost of about $6 billion a month.”
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
“I want the White Man to accept me. Please, o great White Man, accept me. I will do anything, and say anything. I am inferior and you are superior, I know. Just accept me, o White Man.” (You have to read to the very end; there is an ironic twist.) (thanks Kamal)
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
There are pictures circulating from Lebanon ostensibly showing members of UNIFEL having sex on the Lebanese beach. I have received them a few times today. They are fake. That is not Lebanon. OK. Go back to sleep.
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
Le Anthony Bourdain in Beirut: Le Lousy Show. I finally was able to show a DVRed “Anthony Bourdain in Beirut” from the Travel Channel. I never heard of this person before, but the program was what I expected: cheesy, corney, silly, shallow, and uncritical of Israel. I at least expected him to say something interesting [...]
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
Anderson Cooper is building up his resume. He is reporting from the Congo. The only time I wish reporters would not cover the world, is when I watch US news in their pathetic attempt to cover the world. His first story from the Congo today was about…gorillas and how cute they are in Africa. Who [...]
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
This is obscene; it is grotesque: “The United States secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, promised today to improve living conditions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, insisting America was “very concerned” about the plight of Palestinians.”
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
What happened to Al-Quds Al-`Arabi’s website?
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
Nir Rosen on Hizbullah (the Nation magazine refused to run the piece because it was not sufficiently pro-Israel. Yes, you may quote me on that. I know what the editor of the magazine wrote).
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
Why does a director from Human Rights Watch write a piece in the Saudi newspaper, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, to offer her criticisms of Hizbullah (but not of Israel)? Has Human Rights Watch also officially joined the Saudi camp? Inquiring minds want to know. Also, do you know that Human Rights Watch has instructed the staff that [...]
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
I am not making this up. The Lebanese government has decided to allow no spectators in football (soccer) games. There were too many sectarian clashes in recent weeks (barely reported in the press), so Nabih Birri and mini-Hariri agreed on holding matches but without an audience. Cedar “revolution” alright.
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
I don’t want you to think that the US has stopped its “liberation” operations in Iraq. Here, an Iraqi family huddles in the corner why a US soldier “liberate” its house east of Baghdad.
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
There is a deep crisis now between Qatar and Jordan (similar to the one that followed my first appearance on AlJazeera). But the crisis is not only related to the Qatari vote against the Jordanian prince who wants to be secretary-general of the UN. Jordanian government is also furious becuase AlJazeera reported about the Los [...]
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
In the press conference of Abu Mazen and Rice today, Abu Mazen slipped. He said that he aims to work to “end the Palestinian cause.” Fat chance, Abu Mazen. Fat chance. No matter how much the US government inflates you.
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
Not only are US policies instigating civil wars in several parts of the Middle East, but the US government consistently supports the most thuggish and most brutal factions: the warlords in Somalia, the Lebanese Forces and PSP in Lebanon, the Dahlan armed gangs in Palestine, the various Sunni and Shi`ite militias in Iraq, the warlords [...]
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad
Freud, Lucian, Factory in North London, 1972.
Posted on October 4, 2006 by As'ad