Archive for January 23, 2007

Now I know why Washington Post is a fan of Al-Arabiya: it surely can imitate the standards of US media. Today, AlArabiya ran a story on the “elegance” of Nancy Pelosi. It even talked about her hair style. (How could you, Muna?)

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Does anybody have a copy of a letter that was written by Muqtada As-Sadr to Saddam Husayn when the father of the former died? It was mentioned by Saddam’s fan and lawyer, Bushra Al-Khalil (from Tyre to boot) on Al-Arabiya.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

What does it say about US foreign policy in the Middle East that Bush in his speech tonight did not mention the name of one dead Iraqi, but found time to mention Pierre Gemayyel. Pierre Gemayyel, for potato’s sake. I bet you that his fascistic family and party are thrilled. I wish Bush told the [...]

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Abed is back: and he is sound and safe. “It is not that simple. The Shias are the downtrodden, the poor, the dispossessed, those who have always been ignored by the dons and patriarchs of the Lebanese government ­ for in one sense this is also a social revolution ­ and on the other were [...]

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

“Hillary Clinton has a soft spot for Israel.”

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Ultra Lebanese nationalist, crackpot poet Sa`id `Aqi, offers his praise for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. (thanks Hicham–I am not sure that I should thank you for this). What did they do with people like him, people in Europe who cheered the Nazi invasion of Europe?

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

The US congress during the State of the Union speech, with all the cheering and hollering, remind Arabs of parliaments in the Arab world. I mean, it could be a scene from Damascus or Cairo.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

…off to Boston. Speaking at this conference at Tufts University. Returning on Saturday.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

A radio interview I taped in Canada. (thanks Laith)

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Bush has a new plan for energy conservation. He suggested that you fill your cars with olive oil instead of gasoline. I tried it, and it works. Wait, I am slipping. Help.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

“”This is not democracy,” said Roger Hayek, a government supporter and member of the Phalange Party, a Christian group. He pointed across lines of soldiers separating the sides, standing in a smoky haze. “This is an image of Iraq.” A friend jumped in: “They’re animals.””

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Bush in his speech spoke about “battery research.” That is great news for the King of Jordan. He has been looking for a portable PlayStation with longer battery life. Help is on the way, o King of Jordan.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya now have the annoying habit of carrying Bush’s State of the Union speech live, with Arabic translation. Do they now think that the Arab world is part of that Union?

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

If you enjoy the “liberal” Saudi-funded, Wahhabi Arabic press, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat is your newspaper. Here, Tariq Al-Humayyid (is that how he pronounces his name?) asks King `Abdullah of Jordan (as the latter was handling his PlayStation III): “Your Majesty, what distinguishes the experience of your country is that the royal palace remained the security barrier [...]

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Don’t you like the civilized? Hariri TV aired an interview with this dude who started talking by saying: “We are very civilized. I am very civilized,” and went on to support Sanyurah and Fatfat.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

The lessons of yesterday’s developments in Lebanon are not only that Lebanon is far from addressing the underlying causes of its last protracted civil war, but that its next civil war–whenever it comes–will be even more savage and more bloody than the last one.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

In Tripoli, yesterday (according to As-Safir) a coffee vendor was injured. He was too scared to give his name, but said that pro-government loyalists shot at him.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

A militia man of the right-wing Lebanese Forces in Lebanon yesterday.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Fu’ad Sanyurah reacting to developments in Lebanon.

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad

Racism of Al-Qa`idah. Al-Qa`idah’s number 2 who has the charisma of a potato, came out with yet another speech that is read more by Americans than by Arabs. Let us face it: I prefer to watch Larry King read from the phone book than Ayman Dhawahiri deliver a speech–and Larry King is as boring as [...]

Posted on January 23, 2007 by As'ad