Archive for February 9, 2007
I say that we need to restore back the old system. This has now frozen my browser on my super-duper travel computer. NEAL?? Isn’t there any American proverb that applies here? Something along the lines if it is broken, don’t fix it?
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
“Seven months after Israel bombed the coastal Jiyyeh power plant in the south of Beirut, the Mediterranean Sea still spews oil onto Lebanon’s shores, and beach sand shifts to reveal oil slicks that could not be detected before, fishermen say.” (thanks May)
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Ostensible friends of the Kurds: “U.S. forces killed eight Kurdish soldiers and wounded nine others at an established checkpoint in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Friday, Kurdish officials said.”
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Just two questions: 1) how long has it been since he has been trying to grow his beard and moustache? 2) how did he earn all these medals? (thanks Julie)
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Dahlan: “the pious.”
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
I really believe that the Lebanese Army is now in a position to defend Lebanon from Israeli attacks. I mean, the US just donated (used and partially destroyed) 20 humvees to LA.
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Today, Condoleezza Rice commented on the new tools of oppression that the US has given to the Hariri militia in Lebanon (known as Internal Security Forces). She said that the tools and equipment are intended to defend “Lebanon sovereignty and dignity.” (thanks Hicham)
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Today, Lamis Jarrar died from cancer. My adjustment to new life here in the US was made possible by people like Lamis. I came here to the US in 1983: it was my first time ever. My childhood friend, Basim hosted me and showed me around town (in Washington, DC). And he knew the place [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
I have been receiving tens of complaints about the crashes relating to the redesign of the site. I still believe that the changes were largely worthwhile. We may need to notify blogger to figure out what happened with the new changes. But in many cases, the change has been smooth. I have a a feeling [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
A reader from Texas sent me this. (thanks Hadeel)
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
“Intelligence provided by former undersecretary of defense Douglas J. Feith to buttress the White House case for invading Iraq included “reporting of dubious quality or reliability” that supported the political views of senior administration officials rather than the conclusions of the intelligence community, according to a report by the Pentagon’s inspector general.” The inspector general [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Is that not nice? I bet the people in Afghanistan can’t wait. “Close-air-support missions flown by U.S. Air Force pilots increased nearly 80% in the first five weeks of 2007 compared with the same period last year, records show. The Air Force plans to send in dozens more precision bomb-targeting systems that allow troops on [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
I don’t understand why there is a national day for Mar Marun in Lebanon. I don’t like religious holidays, but in Lebanon they are not equally distributed. At the private school that I went to in Beirut, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day but not `Ashurah for example. I asked once my history teacher (a fanatic sectarian [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
From the speech of Khalid Mish`al in Mecca:“We have come to this blessed place at the kind invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques [King Abdallah Bin-Abd al-Aziz], may God preserve him and compensate him well on our behalf. All of us, as brother Abu-Mazin has just said, thank the Kingdom [of Saudi [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
100 Saudi students beaten by their teachers in one school. (thanks Haytham)PS. I erred. 100 students ganged up on their teacher to make them change their grades. I rush (more than usual) when I blog when I am on the road. This, however, does not detract from my long record of infallibility–miracles by Mar Marun [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
“The Ku Klux Klan is stepping up its activities in some parts of the country, a trend that its leaders and opponents tie to anti-immigrant sentiment.” (thanks Laleh)
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
“U.S. and Israeli hopes of forging of a Sunni Arab alliance to contain Iran and its regional allies may be misplaced, at least at the popular level, according to a major survey of six Arab countries released here Thursday. The face-to-face survey of a total of 3,850 respondents in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
Here is an American model for democracy and “moderation” in Africa: “Ethiopia is accused of ‘torturing and illegally jailing opponents of regime’
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
No wonder. I have repeatedly said that I was never, and never will be, an admirer of Hamas ideology or practice, not to mention its grotesque propaganda. Here is a sample: “A Hamas leader yesterday took exception to suggestions in a section of the foreign media that the Makkah summit was “nothing but a PR [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad
“Rubaie mentioned a period in the 60s when Talabani was allied with Saddam. “One day he was a good friend of Saddam, and then he became a staunch enemy,” he said. (In fact, Talabani flirted with Saddam twice more.) Rubaie saw nothing contradictory in this; Talabani, he said, was the ultimate pragmatist.” And Rubai is [...]
Posted on February 9, 2007 by As'ad