Archive for June 15, 2007

Yesterday, mini-Hariri held a long meeting with Sami Amin Gemayyel. There was never higher combined IQs in one room since mini-Hariri met with Mr. Bush.

Posted by As'ad at 11:39 PM 06/15/07

This is like “fair and balanced.” “Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah named Salam Fayyad, an independent lawmaker admired by the Bush administration, as prime minister in his new emergency government.”

Posted by As'ad at 11:27 PM 06/15/07

“Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. military and State Department Iraq, enduring daily attacks, returning fire and taking hundreds of casualties that have been underreported and sometimes concealed, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials and company representatives.”

Posted by As'ad at 11:24 PM 06/15/07

“Discussions of Israel’s military trade usually focus on the flow of weapons into the country – US-made Caterpillar bulldozers used to destroy homes in the West Bank, and British companies supplying parts for F-16s. Overlooked is Israel’s huge and expanding export business. Israel now sends $1.2bn in “defence” products to the United States – up [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:22 PM 06/15/07

“”The fact that President Abbas has fired the Hamas government is a very positive move in our opinion, and makes it easier to deal with and help the moderates,” said Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. Jordan also threw its weight behind the president, as Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:20 PM 06/15/07

“Soldiers’ videos and photos show how obscene games and simulated violent acts became part of everyday life and led to a culture of abuse in Iraq’s detention facilities” (thanks May)

Posted by As'ad at 10:28 PM 06/15/07

Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, the mouthpiece of Prince Salman bin `Abdul-`Aziz (not to be confused with Al-Hayat, the mouthpiece of Prince Khalid bin Sultan, not to be confused with Al-Watan, the mouthpiece of Prince Khalid Al-Faysal, etc) wanted a Palestinian perspective on the events in Palestine. So they asked Martin Indyk for his commentary.

Posted by As'ad at 8:25 PM 06/15/07

Faruq Qaddumi announced that he has put all Fath forces on alert. When told that he has no Fath forces under his command, he yelled: nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Posted by As'ad at 8:22 PM 06/15/07

This is likely to change things in Syria. `Abdul-Halim Khaddam announced the formation of a new Syrian Ba`thist leadership. It comprised his sons, mini-Hariri, and Walid Jumblat. Upon learning of the news, Syrians took to the street in celebration.

Posted by As'ad at 8:21 PM 06/15/07

For those who care, this is a link to a show that Ali Abunimah (`Ali needs special classes in transliteration) and I did on the anniversary of the 1967 defeat. (thanks Laith)

Posted by As'ad at 8:19 PM 06/15/07

Palestinian writer, Rashad Abu Shawir, referred to Hamas and Fath as “those fighting over an illusory authority.”

Posted by As'ad at 7:49 PM 06/15/07

This is new. Al-Quds Al-`Arabi is reporting that Muhammad Dahlan is facing rising anger among Fath for the performance of his forces in Gaza. Apparently, he is attributing the problem to his knee surgery. The news is not here yet. He said that his knee problem is from the time he [...]

Posted by As'ad at 7:43 PM 06/15/07

This incident between the Lebanese Security Forces (Hariri militia) and Hizbullah does not bode well for the Bush Doctrine in Lebanon.

Posted by As'ad at 7:30 PM 06/15/07

This Palestinian boy was tortured by the Lebanese Army.

Posted by As'ad at 7:28 PM 06/15/07

Israeli fighter jets violated Lebanese airspace yet again. The Lebanese Army took notice, and continued to fire at Nahr Al-Barid refugee camp.

Posted by As'ad at 7:18 PM 06/15/07

For those who care, I shall speak on AlJazeera (Arabic) via phone at around 8:00PM (Pacific Time).

Posted by As'ad at 7:15 PM 06/15/07

On Lebanese racism toward the Syrian people.

Posted by As'ad at 7:13 PM 06/15/07

Former leftist columnist, Wisam Sa`adah, declares Walid `Idu “a double martyr.” He also explains his affinity for the Hariri family.

Posted by As'ad at 7:11 PM 06/15/07

Jean `Aziz on the actual record of Walid `Idu.

Posted by As'ad at 7:06 PM 06/15/07

Sultan Abu Al-`Aynayn, secretary of the Fath (dis)organization in Lebanon, threatens to kill “the families and children” of Hamas “apes.”

Posted by As'ad at 6:47 PM 06/15/07

Do you notice that the US government (and US media–they always follow along) refers to the Lebanese government as “the democratically-elected government of Fu’ad Sanyuah” although it never refers to the Palestinian government as “the democratically-elected government of Isma`il Haniyyah”?

Posted by As'ad at 5:25 PM 06/15/07

My article in Al-Akhbar: “When Ahmad Al-Hajj remembered the Mistakes of Nasser.”

Posted by As'ad at 5:01 PM 06/15/07

It is quite ironic if you think about it. To read journalists working for the Islamic state of Saudi Arabia warning of an Islamic state in Gaza.

Posted by As'ad at 4:41 PM 06/15/07

People in Lebanon have called my sister and asked. The person by the name of As`ad Abi Khalil who called LBC-TV’s Kalam An-Nas (and toed the line of the Lebanese Forces militia) from Ohio, US is obviously not As`ad AbuKhalil who runs this blog.

Posted by As'ad at 3:52 PM 06/15/07

Angry Arab’s sister speaks: “The repercussions of the PLO’s departure and Amin Gemayel’s presidency on the Palestinian community in Lebanon were both practical and social, said activist, Mervat Abu Khalil, who has volunteered in the refugee camps for more than two decades. “At the beginning UNRWA money was not needed, you had all [...]

Posted by As'ad at 3:46 PM 06/15/07

“Fatah al Islam is a pro-Syrian Palestinian Islamist group that, according to Lebanese and Israeli officials, is supported and directed by Syria and Iran.” That sentence by a major neo-conservative says it all. Do you need to continue reading, really? I am surprised that Israeli and Lebanese officials did not link Fath-Al-Islam (an adamantly [...]

Posted by As'ad at 3:38 PM 06/15/07

Syrian dissident, Subhi Hadidi: “More pro-Bush than Bush” (on Foaud Ajami)

Posted by As'ad at 3:37 PM 06/15/07

This just in. The Arab League is finally taking a stand on Palestine. The league will form a…committee. Upon learning of the news, Palestinians take to the streets in celebration.

Posted by As'ad at 2:40 PM 06/15/07

“Reid seemed most provoked by an article in yesterday’s edition of USA Today, which quoted the general as saying that he sees “astonishing signs of normalcy” in the Iraqi capital. “I’m talking about professional soccer leagues with real grass field stadiums, several amusement parks — big ones, markets that are very vibrant,” Petraeus told the [...]

Posted by As'ad at 2:13 PM 06/15/07

The Washington Post, which did its best to promote the Bush Doctrine, now says this: “Takeover by Hamas Illustrates Failure of Bush’s Mideast Vision”

Posted by As'ad at 2:11 PM 06/15/07

According to Lebanese media, the Lebanese Army continues (for a third week in a row) to make advances in the 1 square kilomer Nahr Al-Barid camp.

Posted by As'ad at 2:09 PM 06/15/07

“In fact, even in relatively peaceful times, Gaza has been almost totally separated from the West Bank. The comprehensive agreement which Condoleezza Rice thought she had brokered in November 2005, and which included provisions for “safe passage” from Gaza to the West Bank, has not [...]

Posted by As'ad at 2:08 PM 06/15/07

Well, the conspiracy is unfolding before your eyes now. It is unfolding in Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Palestine, and Afghanistan. Do you really need more evidence of a US-Saudi-Israeli conspiracy in the Middle East region? You look at Palestine and you see a reference to a Palestinian “civil war” as it is [...]

Posted by As'ad at 12:22 PM 06/15/07

“Also Thursday, a prominent Fatah gunman who had once bragged about executing Hamas fighters and torching homes of rivals was killed in the ongoing fighting between rival factions Fatah and Hamas. The gunman, Samih Madhoun, was one of the leaders of a 1,500-strong force that had been set up several months ago as a [...]

Posted by As'ad at 12:18 PM 06/15/07

“An Orthodox American Jew has donated $1.5 million to fund a campaign against the demolition of Palestinian and Beduin homes throughout Israel and the territories, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions announced on Monday. The committee plans to use those funds to rebuild as many as 300 Palestinians homes it [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:53 AM 06/15/07

“Washington had just launched a controversial $60m programme to bolster Mr Abbas’s presidential guard and Israel had quietly allowed Arab states to send in arms and ammunition.” (thanks Yasmine)

Posted by As'ad at 11:51 AM 06/15/07

“Sources close to the Palestinian president said Israel had ignored repeated requests to allow deliveries of ammunition to Palestinian Authority forces, leaving them outgunned by Hamas who have relied on smuggled munitions.” I mean, is it too much for the collaborator to ask for arms from the occupiers, really?

Posted by As'ad at 11:45 AM 06/15/07

“Israel helped behind the scenes, approving Fatah’s requests to move forces and weapons in the West Bank. But the Israel Defense Forces also continued its raids and arrests in the West Bank. This reflects Israel’s confusion over events.” (thanks Ali)

Posted by As'ad at 11:44 AM 06/15/07

“Ramallah residents Thursday dismissed the possibility of Hamas taking over the West Bank. In Gaza, “there are tribes and clans like in the Jahiliyyah [pre-Islam] era,” said one, Qassem. “Here, in the West Bank, we’re more civilized, educated. It’s a different nation, not like in Gaza.”” Now it is not unusual that [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:41 AM 06/15/07

`Azmi Bisharah made the observation on Aljazeera that every Arab party that is mounting opposition to Israel is now dragged into internal conflict. A coincidence, no doubt.

Posted by As'ad at 11:38 AM 06/15/07

“A Palestinian steps on a picture of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, as a sign of disrespect…”(AP). As is known, stepping on a picture of a person in the West is a sign of respect. (thanks Amina)

Posted by As'ad at 11:37 AM 06/15/07

“A 2003’s “Soldier’s Guide to the Republic of Iraq,” issued by the Army on the eve of the U.S. invasion, tells troops that Arabs see “little virtue in a frank exchange” and are “by American standards… reluctant to accept responsibility.” Those are just a few of the surprising passages found while [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:34 AM 06/15/07

“A consistent element of Israeli strategy has been to attempt to circumvent Palestinian resistance by trying to create quisling leaderships. Into the 1970s, Israel still saw the PLO as representing true resistance. So it set up the collaborationist “village leagues” in the West Bank as an alternative. In 1976, it allowed [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:24 AM 06/15/07

Notice how pleased some Western reporters are when they notice the natives wearing Western clothes: “At the mosque, Lebanese internal security forces stood guard on the roof. Some of the young Sunni men, wearing Dolce & Gabbana T-shirts and Limp Bizkit caps, waved black flags in support of Murabetoun, a Sunni militia. [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:17 AM 06/15/07

“Among Middle East experts…” And then the New York Times gives you a sample of the Middle East experts. Every one of the three is a non-academic (former) official of the US government.

Posted by As'ad at 11:15 AM 06/15/07

“The United States had quietly encouraged Mr. Abbas to dissolve the Palestinian government and dismiss Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, steps that Mr. Abbas announced Thursday, administration officials said. Before the announcement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Mr. Abbas to reiterate American support for the move, they said.” Quietly? What? You want the [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:13 AM 06/15/07

I was furious to see New TV refer to Kurt Waldheim as “friend of the Arabs.” Why is he friend of the Arabs? Because of his Nazi, anti-Semitic past? Nazis and anti-Semites are never “friends of the Arabs.”

Posted by As'ad at 11:10 AM 06/15/07

“The prime minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, said, “I call on my friend Abu Mazen,” referring to Mr. Abbas, who was in Ramallah, “to take the opportunity, now that almost the entire world understands the viciousness, the brutality of Hamas, to exercise his authority as the leader of the Palestinian people.” Israel will do [...]

Posted by As'ad at 11:06 AM 06/15/07

“A SYDNEY council’s decision to form a sister city relationship with Bethlehem has outraged members of the Jewish community, who say the move is akin to supporting terrorism.” (thanks Rashid)

Posted by As'ad at 10:35 AM 06/15/07

Chief Hariri propagandist (and columnist in Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal), Farish Khashshan, says: “Saddam Husayn is a saint in comparison to Bashshar Al-Asad.”

Posted by As'ad at 10:20 AM 06/15/07

Do you still wonder whether there is a conspiracy? This is from an editorial of by the New York Times: “Obviously, there can be no final peace agreement until Hamas either changes its policies or is chased from power.”

Posted by As'ad at 10:18 AM 06/15/07

Jihad Bazzi of As-Safir reports some more slogans and chants from yesterday’s funeral of Walid `Idu. Crowds chanted: “One two, Hariri and Saddam Husayn;” “Zarqawi, Zarqawi;” “Sunni, Sunni, Sunni;” “Libya, Libya.”

Posted by As'ad at 10:15 AM 06/15/07

Rania M. sent me those pictures from the press conference in Baddawi refugee camp about the plight of Palestinians in Lebanon. It was hosted by Human Rights Watch and Palestinian Association for Human Rights. Caoimhe Butterly of Human Rights Watch is holding up pictures of a 16-year old Palestinian boy who was [...]

Posted by As'ad at 8:45 AM 06/15/07