Archive for January 12, 2007

“30th Mary” by Fang Lijun.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

“Some Somali officials with the TFG, however, openly boast that U.S. ground forces are in Somalia, while others stick to the party line and flatly deny it. And in a telephone interview today from Mogadishu with NEWSWEEK, the TFG’s interior minister, Hussein Aidid, confirmed that U.S. ground forces were involved in the mop-up in southern [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

“Last year, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, worried by Shiite expansionism, was persuaded by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the head of his National Security Council, to coordinate policy with Israel to counter Iran’s growing influence. Israel, after all, is a “reliable enemy” for Saudi Arabia, having destroyed Nasser’s Egyptian Army in 1967 — a time when [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

In the Senate hearings today (mentioned below), Sen. McCaskill of Missouri asked the most pertinent questions (although she did sound angry when talking–like they all did–about Iraqi ingratitude toward the US which after all has devastated and occupied the country to “liberate” its people). She for example was the only one to point out–the media [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

“Syria diplomat: No preconditions to negotiations with Israel”. OK, Syrian government. I swear, we heard. You say that almost every day. I believe you. I know. You are very open and eager for negotiations with Israel. But do you have to say that daily? Really.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

People have been asking me, and I thought that I would consult with my readers. Is Iraq now a democracy or a super-democracy? Thanks.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

Between Amin Gemayyel and Israeli newspapers I believe…Israeli newspapers. Hell. Between Amin Gemayyel and anybody, I believe…anybody.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

Now since this is the season of brilliant ideas about Iraq: why not embed Hamid Karzai (who has been doing an outstanding job in Afghanistan) with US troops in Iraq? I mean well by that suggestion.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

Look who is now mediating between Hamas and Fath: one of the most corrupt people in the history of the Palestinian national movement. I mean, he even was corrupt by PLO standards. We still don’t know how much he (allegedly) embezzled from the Palestinian National Fund.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

“On December 4, General John Abizaid, the commander of US forces from the Middle East through Afghanistan, arrived in Addis Ababa to meet the Ethiopian prime minister, Meles Zenawi. Officially, the trip was a courtesy call to an ally. Three weeks later, however, Ethiopian forces crossed into Somalia in a war on its Islamist rulers, [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

Sen. Ensign of Nevada today suggested in a public hearing to the chairperson of the joint-chiefs of staff that US troops should use more tear gas in Iraq. The chairperson said that it against international law. OK. But do you: we do have some really insights coming out of Washington, DC these days.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

“Somalia’s Islamist movement, whose leadership is accused by the US of sheltering some of al-Qaida’s most wanted operatives, sent a delegation on a fundraising trip to Britain last year, the Guardian has learned.”

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

You know that the exit strategy for the US in Iraq was embedded in the very speech by Bush. The speech stressed that the “Iraqis have to do their share (i.e. to help the US in subjugating them and colonizing them)”–or words to that effect. So when the US will officially and publicly fail in [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

The collective wisdom of the Arab media these days–including the few who are not beholden to Saudi Arabia–is that Prince Bandar is running Saudi foreign policy. I happen to think that such reports are exaggerated, and aim at gaining support and legitimacy for King `Abdullah. They are all together–those royal princes.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

Ghassan Ghusn, the head of the Labor Unions in Lebanon, should have been forced to resign when the first Mehlis report revealed him to be no more than a tool of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon.

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

International “figures” gathered in Madrid to revive the so-called “peace process.” To represent the Arab point of view, Amin Gameyyel was invited. I kid you not. And Terry Roed-Larson said that he saw maps that show that Shib`a farms belong to Syria. Is this how border disputes are now settled? By having Larson look at [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

In demonstration by Hamas in Gaza today, demonstrators chanted: Ya Haniyyah, dus dus; `ala Dahlan al-Jasus. (O, Haniyyah, step, step; on Dahlan, the spy).

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

I have been wondering where the new IraqSlogger website is going to go. Now, I know. As its top item, it today featured Michelle Malkin as their correspondent in Baghdad. IraqSlogger has also asked Pat Robertson to serve as its in-house adviser on Islam. (Amer wants me to tell you that he protested).PS: I am [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

20,000 Additional Troops. As I heard Bush’s speech the other day, I could not stop thinking. I mean, I could not stop revisiting historical moments. I really really think that history could have been changed, had some historical players had the wisdom and foresight of George W. Bush, and his keen knowledge of foreign affairs. [...]

Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad

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Posted on January 12, 2007 by As'ad