Archive for December 4, 2006
I am watching a March 14th Movement figure on Hariri TV right this moment. I have known this person over the years. When I was critical of the Syrian regime over the years, he would staunchly defend the Syrian regime consistently, and tell me that I should see the contributions of the Syrian regime in [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
Well, at least Hassan Fattah is not covering the developments in Lebanon.
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“Families posed for pictures, and youths tried to outdo each other with chants. Most were directed at Siniora and his government allies, particularly Ahmed Fatfat, who as acting interior minister during the recent war had authority over a police commander who served tea to Israeli troops who had entered his headquarters as they occupied the [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“There are about 100,000 government contractors operating in Iraq, not counting subcontractors, a total that is approaching the size of the U.S. military force there, according to the military’s first census of the growing population of civilians operating in the battlefield.”
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“Hassan did not see who fired the shots, but he said he believed it was young men from the Sunni Future Movement, led by the murdered ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri’s son Saad, who shot at them. “It was the Future Youth,” said Hassan. “The shots came from their direction.””
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
One of the “fair and balanced” columnists of the Daily Star: “If the Siniora government is toppled then Lebanon could be in for it. There would no doubt be increased political tension within the country, and with Israel, and major economic reform, the single most important obligation international donors have imposed on Lebanon, could be [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
This is what the US government (Secretary Rice) had said when the government of `Umar Karami fell under pressure from street protests and demonstrations: “Today’s resignation of Prime Minister Karami presents an opportunity to move forward.”
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“All agree that this week’s Hizbullah-organised, largely Shia Muslim demonstrations, although broadly peaceful and “democratic” so far, must not be allowed to topple the government. Their attitude contrasts awkwardly with the approving western view of last year’s anti-Syrian street protests by Sunni Muslims, Christians and Druze, whimsically dubbed the “cedar revolution”, which ousted Lebanon’s then [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“The US defence groups Boeing and Lockheed Martin are in long-established talks with the Saudi authorities about supplying new fighter aircraft, industry sources indicated yesterday.”
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, who flaunts his ideological fervour, has been accused of undermining Iran’s Islamic revolution after television footage appeared to show him watching a female song and dance show.”
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“Few tears for the great intimidator” (except for the tears of Sanyurah, of course)
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
Finally. The Saudi-funded Organization of the Islamic Conference reacted to the developments in Lebanon. It said that the organization expressed its concern over the…publication of Danish cartoons.
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
“The Poet” of the Beirut demonstrations.
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
I am reading tomorrow’s newspapers of Lebanon. Never in my life do I recall a worse point of Sunni-Shi`ite relations in Lebanon. This is the work and legacy of Rafiq Hariri. Hariri was even more skilled than Zarqawi in inciting Sunni-Shi`ite discord.
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
Al-Manar TV has started using the term Militia Al-Mustaqbal (in reference to Hariri Inc militia). Not to be undone: Future TV is now calling Al-Manar a war media for Hizbullah.
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
The newly appointed (and Hariri salaried) Mufti of `Akkar (a huge fan of Bin Laden by the way–as are the various Hariri clerics including the Mufti of Mount Lebanon, Muhammad `Ali Al-Juzu, who praised Bin Laden and refused to condemn the attacks of Sep. 11, and the Mufti of Biqa`, Al-Mays, who helped recruit volunteers [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
I received this anonymous letter from Beirut:“professor asaadyesterday while i was returning home, i saw a clash occured at kaskas area in beirut between hariri supporters and opposition. many people were hurt from the opposition and many were unconscious due to the gas grenades launched by the military . it is the second time that [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
““Arts flourish most when they happen in a democracy,†Ms. Rice said. “The arts give expression to human spirit and give expression to human freedom.— (OK. Put the lack of eloquence aside. What a silly statement. Why would arts not flourish in a dictatorship? In fact, you can argue that arts under Stalin in the [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
I detest the Syrian (official) media coverage of Lebanon’s events. They report the news as if there is only one side in Lebanon–the side aligned with Syria. They also act as if the protests in Lebanon are about inviting the oppressive Syrian army back into Lebanon. And they act as if the Syrian government did [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad
My mother does not like me to criticize Hasan Nasrallah, Fayruz, or Yasir `Arafat (who has not been able to send millions to Suha `Arafat). And she likes Fayruz and Nasrallah very much-she also liked Jamal `Abun-Nasir. But I saw a segment of Fayruz in Sahh An-Nawm (and Lebanese newspapers would praise Fayruz even if [...]
Posted on December 4, 2006 by As'ad