Archive for November, 2006
Buried in the morning news broadcast on New TV was a news item that Sami Gemayyel (Pierre Gemayyel’s brother) is being investigated for possible involvement in the assassination of Pierre. It said that the investigation stemmed from cellphone records. He was interviewed yesterday by judge Sa`id Mirza–the judge in charge of the investigation.
Posted on November 29, 2006 by As'ad
Now we know where Yunus (who has engineered the best system for poor people to spy on one another) stands on welfare: “The welfare system is designed to keep people in poverty rather than take them out of poverty.”
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
“Ad Blitz Satirizes Lebanon’s Divides”(I suspiciously noticed that those “non-sectarian” ads ran more in some sectarian media (Hariri Inc) over others. So those anti-Sectarians find some sectarianisms worse than others?)
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
I was reading the statements by Sulayman Franjiyyah and Talal Arsalan in the wake of their visit to Amin Gemayyel. I thought that they were visiting Nelson Mandela. And the Hizbullah delegation that visited Gemayyel spoke highly of the “family.” It is a “family” alright–in the same way that Charlie Manson founded a “family.”
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
“After fleeing violence and persecution in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis living in Jordan face a daily threat of arrest, fines and deportation because the Jordanian government treats them as illegal immigrants rather than refugees, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.” (But notice how mildly HRW expressed itself on the matter [...]
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
Lebanese Prime minister Sanyurah assumed that Bush’s pat on his shoulder is sufficient to empower him. Sanyurah is now the prisoner of the prime minister’s headquarters in downtown Beirut (he has not been to his home in months now): just like Karzai. Just like Karzai. Why can’t people learn from history regarding the plight of [...]
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
Look at the medals on his chest. For what? Courage under fire? Or great performances in video games?
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
The US administration thinks that John Bolton’s daily dosage of wisdom on Lebanon is sufficient to tip the balance in favor of Hariri Inc in that country’s conflict. This is like assuming that Bush’s constant assertions that he is “making progress in Iraq” is sufficient to achieve progress in Iraq.
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
This is the first time ever that I read the expression “engaged in prayer”–notice that even prayer is a dangerous act for some Westerners when “perpetrated” by Muslims: “Muslim religious leaders removed from a Minneapolis flight last week exhibited behavior associated with a security probe by terrorists and were not merely engaged in prayers…”
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
The arrest of the armed militia men of the Lebanese Forces: make no mistake about it. LBC-TV’s Pierre Ad-Dahir is trying to cover up for Samir Ja`ja` (or ga`ga` in Egyptian dialect). He will ask for a price: to control more of LBC-TV. I hear that the former head of the terrorist apparatus of Lebanese [...]
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
The revelation in the Israeli media of secret negotiations between the Israeli government and Marwan Barghuti only confirms my early theory about him: that he can’t be trusted. Didn’t enjoy his work for Oslo, and don’t trust whatever he is doing now.
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
“The U.S. military is no longer able to defeat a bloody insurgency in western Iraq or counter al-Qaeda’s rising popularity there, according to newly disclosed details from a classified Marine Corps intelligence report that set off debate in recent months about the military’s mission in Anbar province.”
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
“Violence and persecution follow Europe’s downtrodden minority across the continent: Eight million Roma find political voice in face of evictions and mob attack“
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
Of course there are rumors floating all around Lebanon; people are saying that a ship of arms arrived weeks ago into Junyah and was divided between Jumblat and Ja`ja` (ga`ga` in the Egyptian dialect). Others talks of Israeli weapons found on the coast of Na`mah. I can’t confirm. But I know names of Druze villages [...]
Posted on November 28, 2006 by As'ad
I sent the interview in the NYT with Walid `Idu to As-Safir and to Al-Akbar newspapers in Lebanon. I noticed that the Lebanese media (from what I have seen thus far) ignored it. Only Al-Akhbar mentioned it on the first page. (An-Nahar’s correspondent in DC also cited the remarks by `Idu and the report was [...]
Posted on November 27, 2006 by As'ad
We need a source for regular updates on Lebanon. I recommend contacting Robert Fisk’s driver, Abed. In fact, if we can set up an Abed hot line. Something along the line of 1-800-ABED. Let me know.
Posted on November 27, 2006 by As'ad
I am about to board the plane, but there are so many developments in Lebanon. Not only regarding the arrest of the Lebanese Forces’ special “Collision Force”–which was notorious during the war for its responsibility for car bombs, assassinations, and torture. But there have been many clashes around Lebanon–many of them not even reported in [...]
Posted on November 27, 2006 by As'ad
Lebanese Army intelligence arrests Lebanese Forces’ men training on arms in Kisrawan.
Posted on November 27, 2006 by As'ad
Let me know if you are interested. I am arranging for Robert Fisk’s driver, Abed, to do a speaking tour in the US.
Posted on November 27, 2006 by As'ad
Neo-slavery. “At a Wharton Business School conference on business in Africa, World Trade Organization representative Hanniford Schmidt announced the creation of a WTO initiative for “full private stewardry of labor” for the parts of Africa that have been hardest hit by the 500 years of Africa’s free trade with the West. The initiative will require [...]
Posted on November 27, 2006 by As'ad