Archive for March 17, 2007

I don’t wish to intrude on your affectionate meeting, but please tell me this: How many Palestinians were killed in the clashes between Hamas and Fath? Thanks. You can go back to your jovial banter. (thanks As`ad–not me).

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

Of course, I have no interest and no curiosity regarding the identify of Rafiq Hariri’s assassins. I just don’t care personally especially when the Hariri family has taken Lebanon to the brink of civil war all in the name of “finding the truth”. I have posted my thinking on this previously. I get upset whenever [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“In his address, the 90-year-old Mr Lewis did not revisit his argument that regime change in Iraq could provide the jolt needed to modernise the Middle East. Instead, he spoke about the millennial struggle between Christianity and Islam. Mr Lewis argues that Muslims have adopted migration, along with terror, as the latest strategy in their [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“…said Ziad J. Asali, president of the American Task Force on Palestine, a nonpartisan organization that supports a Palestinian state.” Nonpartisan? Since when is advocacy for Dahlan non-partisan?

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

Saudi media are reporting the news of the appointment of Marwan Mu`ashshir as deputy to Paul Wolfowitz as if it is a victory for Palestine and Arab causes.

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

The official ceremony of taking the oath of the new Palestinian government is too majestic and too pompous, especially when Palestine remain under occupation. And the speech by Isma`il Haniyyah was more foolish than usual. He called on the US to “reconsider” its policy of double standards, as if US policy in the Middle East [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“U.S. says ‘disturbed’ by claim of PA unity gov’t of ‘right to resist.’” Simple solution: have Abu Mazen-Dahlan change that to “right to surrender and obey”. (thanks As`ad–not me)

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

From NYT: “Police officers of the Interior Ministry Friday joined tens of thousands of people in Sadr City protesting the American military presence there.” I don’t get it. Why are Iraqis ungrateful to those who “liberated” them. How dare they? The US is only asking the Iraqis to help the US to conquer their lands, [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

An important legal rule: “Collateral Damage” does not–repeat does NOT–apply to white victims.

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

I am most disappointed that Mustafa Al-Barthuti agreed to join a Hamas-Fath government. His views, I thought, are inconsistent with the views of both of those movements.

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“Similarly, the political future of the Arab world is likely to consist of Islamic parties that are far less tolerant of what has historically been the U.S. foreign policy agenda in the region and that domestically are far more committed to implementing sharia law in varying degrees.” What Genvieve? “Less tolerant of what has historically [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“Lives in the Balance: Media ‘vexed’ by civilian deaths in Lebanon” (thanks Maria)

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

Sometimes when I read the delusions in Lebanese political culture, I get very critical of Lebanese public opinion. But the media really play a big part. This article in An-Nahar says that Condoleezza Rice “monitors with interest the results of the intensive meetings” between mini-Hariri and Nabih Birri. Yes. Ms. Rice can’t sleep without checking [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“Angry Arab at Berkeley”. Warning: they don’t like me. Boo hoo hoo. (thanks Amer)

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“Protesters claim Egypt has become police state”. In other news, Mubarak expedites normalization with Israel, and wins praise from US for his “reforms.”

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

Let us not think of Ahmadinajad and his lousy regime as leftists. They certainly are not, ok? “Iran crushes teachers’ pay protest.”

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“UN man escapes Gaza kidnap bid”

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

“‘I try to forget – but i can’t’ : She was the 12-year-old girl filmed crying alongside her father and siblings as they lay dying – victims of an explosion at a family picnic. But what happened to Huda Ghalia next?”

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

The Guardian finally investigates beheadings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad

The real achievements of Kofi Annan: “Yet modest as Annan is, he courageously “embraced his celebrity,” becoming “something quite new in the history of the UN: a spokesman for mankind who looked wonderful in a tuxedo,” plunging into “the social whirl” with a wife who–”like him, quiet, composed, profoundly gracious”–had “the same aura of simple [...]

Posted on March 17, 2007 by As'ad