Archive for April 12, 2007
“The First Amendment notwithstanding, it has always been the case that some speech has been off-limits to some people. I remember a time when black people couldn’t say “I’d like to vote, please.” Now, white people can’t say “nappy-headed hos.” You’ll survive.”
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
“The World Bank, Stuck In the Mud”
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
“US officials admitted last night that the bombing of the Iraqi parliament shows that not even the heavily fortified Green Zone is safe any more, despite the security crackdown launched earlier this year in the Iraqi capital.”
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
“July 23 2006: Ali Sha’ita, 12, (l) tries to comfort his mother. The extended family were wounded when the three vans in which they were travelling were hit by an Israeli missile. Photograph: Sean Smith”.
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
This “document” is as crazy and trashy as I have ever seen; and it comes from the US Commission on Civil Rights. Throughout the report, notice how criticisms of Israel are simply and casually equated with anti-Semitism. Look at this analysis: “This hatred of Israel does not exclusively stem from anti-Semitism, but also includes the [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
From Palestinian poet, Mahmud Darwish’s Ahmad Az-Za`tar (my translation):“…and rising toward the convergence of the dreamseats shrink under my trees, and your shadow…those who climb on your wounds like seasonal flies disappearand those who watch your wounds disappearSo remember me before I forget my hands!And my interpretations to the butterfliesand the rocks are my letters [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
Waiting for the results of Syrian elections is like waiting for the results of a lottery draw with one ticket, and the only buyer is the maximum leader.
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
“You know, I never came across a country – and I’m talking about Lebanon when Rafik Hariri was the prime minister – where the prime minister says to me: ‘I am not Lebanese, I am Saudi.’ “” Notice how Hariri advocate, Robert Fisk, gets upset and says: “This is a quotation that Hariri, who was [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, told An-Nahar (the right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Syrian (people), anti-Palestinian (people)) that Maronite Patriarch, Sfayr, is “a true Lebanese.” Oh, yeah. You decide who is a “true Lebanese” and who is not, Mr. Welch? What else? Tell me who are the true Palestinians and the true [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
“Is America ready for a President who grew up praying in a mosque?” CBS News poses this question to its readers.
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
Today, the Beirut Book Exhibit opened its doors. Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal, featured the Saudi section of the exhibit. In that section, the House of Saud’s delegation, set a pile of books on fire. Hariri followers cheered; Jumblat declared it a victory for the “lovers of life.”
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
As-Safir is reporting that a cache of weapons for the Lebanese Forces’ militia was found in Al-Khurah in Lebanon. Mark my words: the Lebanese Forces will claim that the weapons are for the armed guards of LBC-TV.
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
It was in this bus that the right-wing, fascist Phalanges militia men ignited the Lebanese civil war back on April 13th, 1975. Today, the history of the civil war is being re-written before my eyes. I watched some shows and read some reports that commemorated the war. But you know how the Arab media are: [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
Muwwafaq Ar-Rubay`i: Father/Mother of all US puppets in Iraq. Today he said (in response to series of bombings) that the natural response by the Iraqi puppet government is a “merciless response.” Do you notice that his unelected government puppet official remains in his office, while puppet prime ministers come and go?
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
It is rather cute how some assume that they are Middle East experts just because their daddies hold public office. Here is Liz Cheney now talking about George Hawi (the communist leader–Cheney does not know that–don’t tell her–who was in negotiations with Syrian intelligence weeks before his death, and who was loyal to the Syrian [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
Many friends want me to close down this site forever. They think that a) it consumes a lot of my time; b) that it attracts vulgar, crude, and hateful comments (from the pro-Israel and the “pro-Arab” points of view. Stay tuned.
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
“So why are the Saudis sending conflicting messages? The Bush Administration has become so unpopular that even its staunchest allies are trying to publicly distance themselves from it. And this strategy appears to be working for the Saudis, judging by the reaction in the US media and on the Arab street. The Saudis are also [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
Portrait of Grandmother Ana Sewing. 1921. (From now on, I will not cite the artist’s name. Let people guess. If you fail, I will inform you. Guess NOW. And no googling, cheaters).
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
From the poem Homeland by Syrian poet Adonis (my translation):“To the faces that harden under the mask of melancholyI bow down; to the paths where I left my tears behind,to a father who died as green as a cloudwith a sail on his faceI bow down; and to a child who is soldin order for [...]
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad
From Egyptian poet’s Amal Dunqul’s Ending (my translation):“Oh…who will stop the windmills in my head?Who will remove the knives from my heart?Who will kill my poor children…?In order that they do not…grow up in the redfurnished apartments..servants..catamites..pimps…who will kill my poor children?”
Posted on April 12, 2007 by As'ad