Archive for February 12, 2007

“May I welcome you to my website, information and suggestion that will help me serve the public interest will be greatefully received. Yours sincerely,”

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

I have never EVER seen a cleric from Al-Azhar on TV who impressed me. Never, except Tony Danza of course.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

AlJazeera is hosting a show featuring Al-Qaradawi and Rafsanjani. I wonder what is on the House and Gardens channel that day?

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

You go through life (as a sheltered, privileged person), complaining about little things: crowded airports, stuffy planes–planes are flying bathrooms, hygienically speaking–and warm enclosed spaces, and then you come across this (above), and your complaints feel so small and petty. NYT had this caption: “A man emptied his Jakarta house on Friday of mud left [...]

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

“Many in the Jewish community, in particular, object to people wearing the scarf as a fashion statement. “Because there are people who wear the kaffiyeh as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians, some people view it as an endorsement of terrorism,” said Mik Moore, chairman of the board of directors for the Jewish Student Press [...]

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

“The press began to explore her past, discovering the “inventions“ that she had used to get her refugee status. The Dutch threatened to revoke her citizenship; the American Enterprise Institute offered her a job in Washington. And thus she came to be among us….Along the way, Hirsi Ali displays what surely must be her greatest [...]

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

Arab media critic, Hassan Az-Zayn, writes on the marginalization and the “The End of Al-Hurra” TV. Yes, we, US taxpayers, are still paying for its operation.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

Another striking element of Bremer’s account is this: the US knew from very early on that the insurgency was largely the work of Iraqi (Ba`thist) groups, and yet it peddled the theory that it was all the work of Al-Qa`idah. It is amazing how little Al-Qa`idah figures in Bremer’s memoirs.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

Former Iraqi communist leader, `Aziz Muhammad, was interviewed by Paul Bremer for a position on the puppet “governing council.” He said that he found him senile. This Muhammad is now a columnist in Saudi media, and is prominently featured on the sleazy Saudi website, elaph. Muhammad was a favorite for Saddam: he gave the Saddam [...]

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

Mini-Hariri gave an interview to Saudi newspaper, `Ukadh. He said that if his father was alive, he would not be looking for his killers. I kid you not.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

Saudi King (and guardian of the three sites (two holy ones and IKEA store in Saudi Arabia) gives an interview to a Russian news agency. He said: “I, when I read, I find myself drawn to everything that opens a new door to the understanding of the human soul.” Deep.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

There is a passage in Paul Bremer’s account on selecting the Iraqi puppet Prime Minister. They interviewed Husayn Shahrastani for the job, but since he was not enthusiastic about the American occupation, he was excluded. So Bush (in a phone conversation with Bremer), explains the US criterion for selecting a Prime Minister: “It’s important to [...]

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

“The Third Assassination of Jamal `Abd-u-n-Nasir”

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

Since I was gone, I needed to ask: so how is the new security plan for Baghdad going? It ended the violence, no?

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

“Newspapers are replete with assertions, some little more than incendiary rumors, of Shiite aggressiveness.” But Shadid should have added that all those media are funded by one source: House of Saud, and that the divisions are now part of official policy of pro-US Arab regimes.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

When you read Paul Bremer’s account, you realize that the US did not like any of the Iraqi puppets, except Muwaffaq Rubay`i and Iyad `Allawi (former puppet prime minister/car bomber/Saddam’s henchman/embezzler-in-Yemen). But after one year in Iraq, and half-hours of Arabic lesson, Paul Bremer was able to say “Inshallah.” The nation should rejoice.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

“To a parallel statement, “Israel is waging a war of extermination against the Palestinians,” 30 percent of the Germans responded “agree strongly” or “agree partially” (59 percent said “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree”).”

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

They never raise these questions about male politicians–not even about Bush.

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

When was the last time Steve Martin was funny? 1976 or 1977?

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad

What is the deal with the CNN correspondent in Baghdad? Does he not sound like the late Crocodile Hunter, although more obnoxious? Do you notice that he never does any independent reporting? Do you notice that he merely reports what this or that US military (or intelligence) source has told him? He is probably the [...]

Posted on February 12, 2007 by As'ad