Archive for December 24, 2006
Follow the money. “The debts by one of the world’s wealthiest countries — owed to the very lobbyists, advisers and event organizers hired to promote the kingdom — have left a trail that weaves together bitter princely rivalries, diplomatic subterfuge and a policy clash over one of the thorniest issues of the day: what to [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Sectarian troops. Aljazeera showed footage of training of the so-called Iraqi army. They were chanting “`Ali, O `Ali. `Ali, O `Ali.” But this does not matter anymore. Read below about the new security plan for Baghdad which will end all conflict and bloodshed in Iraq, and beyond.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
“If it was not for evil Iran, Blair implied, Iraq and Afghanistan could become holiday hotspots for tourists, following the example set by Dubai, which has had more than a million British visitors this year.”
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
“Some in the Bush Administration had convinced themselves that Saddam was the source of all of the ills of the Middle East and that, therefore, any progress on any issue in the region first required Saddam’s removal. This was a key piece of the neoconservative support for Laurie Mylroie’s bizarre claims that Saddam was responsible [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
All the tributes to Jubran Tuwayni in US media failed to mention one item on his resume. He led a group of right-wing fascistic goons in 1991, and they stormed the US embassy in `Awkar, and wanted to set it on fire.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
I read that Marwan Barghuti will be released from jail. The conspiracy requires his participation in the PA.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
This Hariri adviser, and chairperson of the Hariri media, says that he received his PhD from the “University of Northern California in Los Angeles.” OK.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Where but in the “professional” Saudi press can you find such news item. This is from the front page of Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat: “Prince Salman bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Amir of Riyadh region, honored the wedding party of Prince Faysal bin Sattam bin `Abdul-`Aziz…”
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Bin Ladenites for Hariri. Hariri Inc held a rally in `Irsal in the Biqa` yesterday. The town has been a hotbed of Bin Ladenites in Lebanon. It has served as a major recruiting center for people who want to join Al-Qa`idah in Iraq.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
I saw the results of a new Iraqi public opinion survey that was cited on AlArabiya TV. If anybody can find the full results please send them. I remember the figures: 50.7% of Iraqis want an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq; 20.something % of Iraqis want a phased withdrawal of US troops; while [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
It is over: the Iraq mess is no more. There is a new security plan for Baghdad. I know. I know. You have grown cynical. I know. This is security plan number 121st. I know that you have lost faith in the credibility of the occupation authority. But this one is serious. I mean, I [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
There was a gas explosion in a bakery that makes manaqish near the main gate of the American University of Beirut. Kofi Annan was most alarmed at the news. He said that he will add the damaged manaqish to the list of victims of the assassinations that followed Hariri’s assassination. He said that the manaqish [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
This bakery in Beirut has a sign. It reads: “Please don’t discuss politics. Thank you.”
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Unfortunately, he was wrong. I came across this interview that Jamal `Abdul-Nasser (I violate transliteration rules for his name) gave to a Soviet correspondent in February 1966. He was talking about King Faysal’s effort to create an Islamic world organization. Nasser said: “There are some slogans that are being promoted, like the idea of establishing [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
What is wrong with this headline in the London Telegraph? “Israeli PM offers Abbas £51m peace gesture” (The money is Palestinian money, of course). This is like me stealing 10 dollars from somebody and then try to offer 2 dollars as a gift to that person.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
“Like many Afghans, Khail believes that despite Musharraf’s persistent denials, his country’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, still supports the Taliban and at least some of its allies. The intelligence documents show that the U.S. military shared this suspicion as recently as the start of this year.”
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Look at this story in the Washington Post. You always brace yourself when the Washington Post comes out with its monthly token story on one African-American. This story is like: a black man who does not want to be black. Look at the crux of this article: “For his entire life, Mason had been determined [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Once a year, US newspapers remember the Christians of the Middle East. How nice.
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
I was teaching in a visiting capacity one winter (a few years ago) at Colorado College. And I took a cab in Colorado Springs; the driver (not Abed, Robert Fisk’s driver) was a native American. So he asked me about my job. I told him. He did not say anything. But a few minutes later, [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad
Wow. Sen. Kerry fights back. He is defending himself against attacks by the Bush campaign more than TWO YEARS AGO. (The article lists Kerry’s email. You may feel free to tell him how boring he is. He likes that. He likes to be reminded that he possess a boring personalty. I am told that he [...]
Posted on December 24, 2006 by As'ad