Archive for February 14, 2007
Lessons about Arab culture…From Robert Fisk. “He described the Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad as “a monkey, a snake and a butcher” (comparing humans to animals is a particularly cruel insult in the Arab world)”. Yes, Mr. Fisk. Comparing humans to animals is a particularly cruel insult in the Arab world, but nowhere else. Again, learning [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
Saudi morality police bans red roses to prevent Valentine’s Day celebrations. (thanks Haytham)
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
This is an actual headline from the New York Times: “Jeannette Ordman, Director of Israeli Dance Company, Is Dead.”
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
“There were moving moments Wednesday in the square”. I wonder whether Shadid finds “moving moments” in demonstrations by the other side.
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
Bush: meeting the press. Today, I watched the press conference by George W. Bush. He still, after 6 years in office, gives the same impression of somebody being asked to test in advanced calculus at a short notice. In fact, at some points, you can tell that he has crammed: that his aides have stuffed [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
This is the Iraqi puppet general announcing the new security plan for Baghdad, which he had formulated himself. Oh, yeah. You see, he runs all armed forces in Iraq, including the 38 Mongolian troops. But he looks the role, does he not?
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
Those armed Israeli occupation soldiers thought that they could intimidate this unarmed Palestinian woman.
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
It looks like, under Saudi and Iranian pressures, Hizbullah and Hariri Inc will come an agreement. They will reach a lousy deal that would certainly dash the hopes of those who wanted an end to corruption in government, and some accountability for the conduct of Sanyurah government during the Israeli war on Lebanon. But when [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
Hariri and Saddam Husayn. This also will not be in US newspapers. Among the slogans of the “Cedar Revolution”aries today was this slogan: “One, two; One two; Hariri and Saddam Husayn.” (It rhymes in Arabic).
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
The Pope, highly influenced by pre-Orientalist Orientalism, is highly concerned about the welfare of Israeli occupation soldiers. There are more than 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, but those with nostalgia for the crusades are not likely to notice them.
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
This Palestinian, deeply rooted in his land, is waiting while Israeli occupation forces are about to destroy his house near Jenin. It does not matter how many soldiers you use, and how many WMDs you accumulate. THEY will stay on the land. No matter what.
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
Sa`di Yusuf was displeased that Mahmud Darwish, and not he, won the poetry prize in Cairo this week. Let me tell you, Sa`di Yusuf: I am not a big fan of your poetry, but you are a good person from what I hear. And you have been politically courageous. But what Mahmud Darwish writes: is [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
Walid Jumblat and his obsession with “manhood”, by Khalid Saghiyyah.
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
The Eloquence of Walid Jumblat. Last year, in one of his fawning articles about the Lebanese demonstrators who “look like us”–the White Man, I guess–Robert Fisk, unaccompanied by his driver Abed, said that Walid Jumblat, his close friend, is “eloquent.” The ability of Robert Fisk to judge the eloquence of Arabic speakers is equal to [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
“New Chairman, Old Rules: The Democrats and Palestine” (thanks Kathy)
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
“Omar Sharif pleaded no contest Tuesday to misdemeanor battery and was ordered to take an anger management course for punching a parking valet who refused to accept his European currency.” Maybe that will get Arab media to stop bragging about their “international star.” (thanks Joseph)
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
This is the true Lebanon. ““We are against sectarianism,†a group of people chanted as they marched towards the memorial ceremony. “And God is with the Sunnis.— (thanks Assaad)
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
“Bhalla said she has received reports that Hariri is buying weapons from Saudi Arabia and Jordan — mostly automatic rifles, heavy machine guns, ammunition and mortars — and storing them in West Beirut, a primarily Sunni part of the city.”
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
I saw the comical footage of the “overall Iraqi general” announce the new security plan on Iraqi TV. The managers of this propaganda moment were hoping that he would be able to instill fear a la era of Saddam. But he came across more like a fumbling soldier who was put before the camera at [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad
“A respected Shiite cleric from southern Lebanon, Ali Amin…” You mean respected by the Hariri family. He certainly is not respected in the city of Tyre where is Mufti (and he issues fatwawawa). In fact, he is ridiculed because he was first a militant Hizbullah extremist (supervising many “sentences” in the 1980s); he then became [...]
Posted on February 14, 2007 by As'ad