Archive for March 11, 2007
“Mishal al-Harbi’s brain was deprived of oxygen for several minutes on the evening of Jan. 16, 2003, while he was in U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. As a result, he cannot stand, his speech is slurred, and he has a twitch that periodically causes his head to shake and his legs to jerk. U.S. [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Singing in the jail. Singing in the jail. “Sikh faces jail in India for ‘singing about human rights’”
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Palestinians are being shot as pigeons on a daily basis by the Guardian is worried about an opposition figure being beaten in….Zimbabwe. Why not those who are being beheaded or crucified in Saudi Arabia?
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Secret Ink. The Ministry of Interior in Syria, which has made great contributions to torture techniques in the region, today announced the new rules for the upcoming parliamentary election. It said that the ballot boxes will be similar to those used in EU countries. The Ministry also said that it will use “a secret ink”–I [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
For those cynics who don’t think that there is good news coming out of the Middle East: “Halliburton Co. is making a big push to expand in the Middle East, with Chief Executive Officer Dave Lesar spending a substantial part of his time running the company from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. From his [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
“Le vrai combat de la France, le beau combat de la France” is Chirac’s search for Arab cash.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Sunni and Shi`ite clerics meet in the Biqa` to improve relations between Sunnis and Shi`ites in the region. That can only mean one thing: things will only get worse.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Fu’ad Sanyurah, the prime minister of Lebanon, is very keen on Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence. This week he came up with what he thought was a brilliant idea. He suggested the the Saudi royal family names the “11th” minister in the 19-10-1 formula for the future Lebanese cabinet. March 14th Movement cheered the keen sense [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Today, the Iranian general who defected gave crucial information “and maps” about the assassination of JFK. Tomorrow, he will lead investigators to the location of Jimmy Hoffa’s body.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
To people at Al-Akhbar. That cartoonist Sahar Burhan is quite brilliant and most original. She reminds me of `Ali Farzat. Very unique. Give her a raise NOW. I like that she does not strive to be understood; very eccentric.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
So there has been 17 reported suicides in Lebanon in 2007. Do we know how many of them are by domestic servants? I shall ask `Umar now, I mean, NOW.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Does Ayman Dhawahiri know how boring he is? Does he know that his messages are regularly ignored in the Arab world? Does he really think that he has any impact on Arab or Muslim public opinion?
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
To Alberto Fernandez. I saw you on Al-Arabiya TV today. Point is nuqtah (not nuktah, which means a joke). Also, did you really have to start answering the question on Guantanamo detainees with the chant: With Blood, With Spirit, I sacrifice myself for you Mr. Bush.?
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Did people notice in the interview with Nazik Hariri her reference to her husband’s phone call with David Sutterfield the night before his death? She just did not explain what this was about. Nazik said that Lebanese everywhere want to know “the truth” about the identify of the killers of her husband. Not true. I [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Sometimes I like to take advantage of the expertise of readers in a variety of subjects. I have a large collection of tea and saffron. I can still use them after several years? Does Saffron (or Tea) have a shelf-life? Let me know NOW.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Hariri propaganda TV, Future TV aired an interview with Rafiq Hariri’s widow last night. I was surprised: I thought that Nazik was Palestinian but she speaks with a distinctive Syrian accent. What gives? Also, she said that Rafiq’s loyalty was to “God first, and then the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” If that was the case–and [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Beware of…potatoes. Lebanese police found an explosive hidden in a potato sack near Sidon. King of Potato (the owner of a shop by that name in Beirut where Rafiq Hariri used to buy his sandwiches when he wanted to come across as “man of the people”, is very sad.
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Flash. Lebanonesia may soon get a new saint. LBC-TV reported with great fanfare today that a “special” Vatican committee has approved a tentative examination of the sainthood of Lebanese monk, Istifan Ni`mah (he died in the 1930s). Apparently, the special committee took note of evidence of his “heroism”–a technical Vatican reference to his “miracles.” LBC-TV [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
Orientalism on Steroids. You have to read this: “Learning to Think like an Arab Muslim: a Short Guide to Understanding the Arab Mentality: By Edward V. Badolato, Executive Vice President for Homeland Security.” Excerpts:“In the Arab world there is little stigma placed on the loss of self control and what westerners would consider hysterical public [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad
“On Tuesday, in partnership with MySpace.com, The New York Times and I will announce a second annual “win a trip†contest to choose a university student to travel with me on a reporting trip to Africa. And this year, in addition to a student, I’ll choose a schoolteacher — from a middle school or high [...]
Posted on March 11, 2007 by As'ad