Archive for February 13, 2007

Slam Dunk. “Q Okay. But isn’t it really a question about whether or not you have strong evidence? When the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff seem to be saying something different than the White House, does that raise questions about how solid this evidence is?MR. SNOW: No, because you’ve got — you have [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

“Here, for instance, is a plausible scenario for a military collision with Iran: Iraq fails to meet the benchmarks for progress toward stability set by the Bush administration. This is followed by U.S. accusations of Iranian responsibility for the failure, then by some provocation in Iraq or a terrorist act in the United States blamed [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

“The minibuses were running a regular route from the capital’s mountainous hinterland to the coastal road, overcast by a driving winter storm. On board were 34 people, among them a group of women attending religious lessons in Antelias, two Sri Lankan women planning to buy a plane ticket home, a student at Lebanese University and [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Now the White Man show concern for the…the White Man in South Africa. That is the extent of Western coverage of Africa.

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

“Geagea, whose thugs once bombed a church north of Beirut in a vain attempt to persuade Christians that they were under attack by the Hizbollah, says that the protests “must be a civilized and peaceful expression of democracy and opinion… in the face of all those who are trying to frighten us”.”

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

“Allegations that George Galloway may have broken UN sanctions by receiving oil money from Saddam Hussein have been sent to Scotland Yard by the Serious Fraud Office.”

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

“The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into allegations that a number of major UK-based firms paid bribes to Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. The firms being targeted include the drug giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly. The international oil traders and UK bridge-builders Mabey and Johnson are also to be investigated.”

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Flash. Morality Police in Saudi Arabia has been put on high alert in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. Shops were warned that no displays of Valentine’s Day are permitted according to Saudi law. On-site inspections will be taking place to ensure adherence. Director general of the Morality Police in Riyadh region said that there are instructions [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

This account of the birth of UNSC 1559 is advertised as an exclusive scoop in the Saudi newspaper, Al-Hayat. The writer, a Lebanese journalist with very poor command of the Arabic language, is quite loyal to House of Saud. That is the only required job qualification in Saudi media, you see. The readers of this [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

You know. I have mocked and criticized Al-Akhbar newspaper in Lebanon for its fawning, daily reports on the Saudi ambassador in Lebanon. But he may have some pearls of wisdom. In an interview today, he said: “the eyes and hearts of the world are directed at Lebanon.” Who can disagree with that? In fact, I [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

CSI-Lebanon. I watched footage of Lebanese police CSI team in Lebanon today at the scene of the horrific bombing scene in Matn. They had a police dog. I guarantee you it was donated along with the 20 (used and partially destroyed) Humvees by the US government. I say that because the dog looked, well, very [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Mini-Hariri on terrorism. Mini-Hariri in the interview mentioned below said that terrorism is no big deal. He said that terrorism can only kill “one or two people”.

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

When Lebanese religious leaders, from across the sectarian divides, gather to show national solidarity you know that a…sectarian civil war is around the corner, in one form or another.

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Amazing. What does that say? It says something very unflattering about Lebanon, but An-Nahar and LBC-TV will take it as a sign of “international love for Lebanon.” The UN Security Council issued a press release condemning the bombing in Lebanon. Why does the council not miss an opportunity to exploit the dangerous developments in Lebanon, [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Gang leader, Muhammad Dahlan, will serve as deputy prime minister in the bantustan of PA. That confirms my theory: that Hamas leaders lack basic skills of comprehension.

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Did you see mini-Hariri on LBC-TV? Quite a show. He had difficulty understanding some of the questions. She asked him a question about “the Iraqization of Lebanon”–a reference that appeared in an official statement by March 14th today, and he went to give some weird rambling answer. May Shidyaq–ever protective of guests of March 14th–intervened [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Khalid Saghiyyah calls for an official announcement of the resumption of the Lebanese civil war.

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

This story in As-Safir’s about Rafiq Hariri’s role in the Movement of Arab Nationalists is pure fiction. He was never ever recruited by Wadi` Haddad for secret missions. I in fact asked Sidon-based comrades of Hariri from those days, and they said his role during the times was confined to carrying people on his shoulders [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

Syrian director (and Hariri film hagiographer) admits that he had told Hariri: “Indeed, I wish to present to you my obedience…”

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad

First, I was sad, and now I am angry. Israeli airline did not want to allow my friend Lamis to return to Acre after all. This is the crux of the Palestinian issue; this is why Zionism is racism-always. Somebody deeply rooted in Chicago or Warsaw is deciding whether somebody who is deeply rooted in [...]

Posted on February 13, 2007 by As'ad