Archive for January 20, 2007

Another new definition of democracy according to the Bush Doctrine: “His advisers are trying out devious ways around this drawback: Azzam al-Ahmad, Fatah’s parliamentary leader, claims Mr Abbas can do anything the Basic Law does not expressly forbid, and, since it says he cannot dissolve parliament during a state of emergency, he can therefore do [...]

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

“His book, which dwells on the Palestinian refugee experience, makes two fleeting references to the Holocaust.” Lipstadt has a point here. After all: the Palestinian refugees were part of the Nazi regime. And did Lipostadt think that Carter was writing a book on European history?

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

“Any day now I expect some janitors at the Carter Center to resign, declaring that they can no longer in all conscience mop bathrooms that might have been used by the former President, their letter of protest duly front-paged by the New York Times, just like the famous fourteen members of the Carter Center’s Board [...]

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

Here it is. A new definition of democracy. “”Arguably, Palestinians are digesting the bitter lesson that the United States and its allies set out to teach them a year ago — that even in a democracy, there are repercussions if you choose leaders who reject the international consensus. Especially in the Middle East.” (thanks Regan)

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

In today’s issue of the Globe and Mail, there was an article by their lousy Middle East correspondent on Hamas. Can somebody find me the text and send to me? I need to share one line. It is classic.PS: Got it. See above.

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

You have to admit that Israeli media and their affiliates in the US have a special skills in finding some really unusual characters and plug them as Middle East experts: “”There is a big difference between Shiite and Sunni mullahs. Foreigners may not know this. Many of the Sunni mullahs would pick up arms and [...]

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

“British military bases in Iraq have been “blotted” out from Google Earth maps at the request of the Government to hinder terrorist attacks, it can be revealed.”

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

“Dreams Vanish in Smoke of Dubai Fire” (thanks May)

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

TV Islamist, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, returns the favor. In a speech, he said: “The Gulf is ruled by princes who are Sunni but the Shi`ites have lived among the Sunnis [there] safe and secure, and have the biggest commercial businesses.”

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

Marwan Iskandar is one of the least interesting or insightful “economists” in Lebanon. He was launched by An-Nahar (the right-wing, sectarian Christian newspaper) only becuase of his right-wing views. I never took him seriously–nor have I taken his brother (a former professor at AUB who once told me that people in the Middle East need [...]

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

I don’t want to upset you but look at this from the London Times: “Obama ‘was educated in madrassa’” (They misspelled Madrasa it should be: Maaaadrraaaasssssaaaaaa). But apparently it is not the same Taliban-madraaassssaaaah that Irshad Manji attended in Vancouver. I can’t believe how many maaadraaassahs are sprouting in Western cities. In fact, in Calgary [...]

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

“The [Israeli] army has become the settlers’ militia and views the local people as hostile elements.”

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

King `Abdullah in a revealing interview: Jordan will develop a nuclear-powered PlayStation.

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

This maybe the last interview that Sami Hadawi gave before his death. I strongly recommend his Bitter Harvest as a first book to recommend on the Palestinian question. (It was originally published in Toronto Star). (thanks Hicham)

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

Iyad `Allawi (former Iraqi prime minister/car bomber/embezzler-in-Yemen/former henchman of Saddam) gave an interview from his hiding place in London to Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (Saudi media still love to promote him). In it, he refused to rule out the possibility of establishing his own militia. In Arabic, `Allawi is often critical of the US. In English he [...]

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad

Here, Ibrahim Al-Amin reveals that UAE (through its intelligence apparatus) is also heavily in Lebanese affairs.

Posted on January 20, 2007 by As'ad