Archive for March 25, 2007
Hassan Fattah passes his last test before becoming an official foreign correspondent for the New York Times. Here, he tells his readers that the Palestinians don’t really want to return to their homeland. They were just kidding all along. He should know better: he learned the ABC of the Palestinian question from Martin Peretz.(thanks Aliyar)
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“”I’ve spoken about Ayman Nour at each time that I meet with my Egyptian counterparts,” Rice said.“You didn’t raise it today,” Aboul Gheit gleefully interjected.”
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
To the left, is the secretary-general of the League of Arab States. Need I say more?
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
In the last two days, Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal, has been running propaganda ads (but billed as articles) on its pages. This usually signals a new financial deal for the Hariri family in Tunisia.
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
A religious site for Alawites in `Akkar in North Lebanon was set on fire yesterday. The area is loyal to mini-Hariri.
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
Hizbullah displayed their misreadings of the Lebanese political situation yet again. Hizbullah’s parliamentary bloc leader, Muhammad Ra`d, portrayed mini-Hariri as a helpless victim of Jumblat and Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent). Do they think that they are being smart or that they can avert Sunni-Shi`ite discord with that kind of rhetoric? And Ra`d even offered [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“Historically, the global balance sheet has favored poor countries. But with the advent of globalized markets, capital began to move in the other direction, and the South now exports capital to the North, at a skyrocketing rate. According to the United Nations, in 2006 the net transfer of capital from poorer countries to rich ones [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“Given her background in repressed societies, Hirsi Ali’s infatuation with the principles of Western societies — including gender equality, religious freedom, scientific inquiry and the rule of law — is easily understood.” I have lived half of my life in “Western society” and never encountered those principles. What is wrong with me. But I will [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
Personally, I would rather be afflicted with malaria.
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“Sunni groups are reported to be funded by individual contributions from oil-rich Saudis, seeking to offset the influence of Hezbollah, the militant Shia group whose popularity in southern Lebanon was bolstered by its perceived victory in last summer’s war against Israel. Jawad Adra, the managing partner of the Beirut-based independent research body Information International, said [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“For at least a year before the 2004 Republican National Convention, teams of undercover New York City police officers traveled to cities across the country, Canada and Europe to conduct covert observations of people who planned to protest at the convention, according to police records and interviews. From Albuquerque to Montreal, San Francisco to Miami, [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“Strict Measures” against those who dare wear jeans in the Public Administration Institute in Saudi Arabia. (thanks Haytham)
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“A searing assault on Iraq’s intellectuals”
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“The “war on terror” has created a culture of fear in America. The Bush administration’s elevation of these three words into a national mantra since the horrific events of 9/11 has had a pernicious impact on American democracy, on America’s psyche and on U.S. standing in the world. Using this phrase has actually undermined our [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“TIDE has also created concerns about secrecy, errors and privacy. The list marks the first time foreigners and U.S. citizens are combined in an intelligence database. The bar for inclusion is low, and once someone is on the list, it is virtually impossible to get off it. At any stage, the process can lead to [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“And they call it peace: Inside Iraq, four years on”
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
Did you see the picture of the four Arab foreign ministers meeting with Rice? Did you see how happy and proud they looked? As if they won some international prize, or some very advanced blender.
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“Officials in the Prime Minister’s Bureau refused to comment on Saturday on reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with a senior Saudi representative in recent weeks. Arab sources told Haaretz that Saudi Arabia’s National Security Advisor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, met with Olmert again in a follow-up to their previous meeting in Jordan about [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
Observer: “Mugabe under pressure over elections.” (Angry Arab: Saudi Arabia not under pressure over no elections whatever)
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad
“Are we aware that the last time such things were part of public discourse was back in the late Middle Ages, when torture was still a public spectacle, an honorable way to test a captured enemy who might gain the admiration of the crowd if he bore the pain with dignity? Do we really want [...]
Posted on March 25, 2007 by As'ad