Archive for June 20, 2007
Today is a sad day in the Western and Saudi press. Oh, no. Not because Palestinian civilians are being killed by Israeli occupation soldiers and Lebanese Army soldiers but because a Kuwaiti diplomat was beaten up in Iran. A month of mourning will be observed now.
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
The Palestinians need a new political organization: neither Fath nor Hamas. NOW.
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
Peace is at hand. “U.S. to increase military aid to Israel in decade-long deal”
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“The west has created fertile ground for al-Qaida’s growth”
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“A friend of mine, a Lebanese journalist, tells the following story:” His friend is Hazim Saghiyyah. Arab liberals adore Israeli Orientalists. In fact, if they can revive Raphael Patai, they would invite him to write simultaneous columns in Ash-Sharq Al-Aswsat and Al-Hayat.
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
Pioneering Iraqi poet Nazik Al-Mala’ikah is dead. I am sick (the flu): I shall write something about her. In the meanwhile: search the archives.
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
It is official. The PFLP (which has as much support among the Palestinian population as the French Communist Party in the last presidential election (around 1%) is now officially co-opted by the Abu Mazen-Dahlan gang. I heard today the PFLP official, Khalidah Jarrar, and she sounded like Dahlan. Also, the new Information Minister in the [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
Somebody in Ba`albak in Lebanon vandalized this picture of Walid `Idu (the martyr-martyr–whatever that means–according to Wisam Sa`adah). Who did that? Find the culprits and bring them to me NOW. (The Poster says: “Men of Justice. Martyrs of of Justice.” But the culprits (who will be found and brought to me NOW scribbled “Toz.”)
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
I still want to know who is behind the cruel kidnapping of the BBC reporter in Gaza. I in fact think that the same fanatical group holding the reporter is behind the cruel attack on the Church in Gaza (although the Saudi media are blaming Hamas, and we know how much Saudi media care about [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
When Fath Fights Back: “Israel fired missiles and sent tanks on a foray into Gaza on Wednesday, killing four Palestinians in the deadliest military action since Hamas militants took control of the coastal strip.”
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“”The latest round of fighting follows Israeli news reports that an American general serving as a security adviser to Mr. Abbas wanted Israel to allow a major new shipment of arms and munitions into Gaza for Fatah. The U.S. has strongly defended its push to strengthen Fatah’s security forces, saying it was necessary to boost [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
A good analytical piece by Khalid Hrub on the Palestinian situation.
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
I have mocked Lebanese obsessions with ranking. That obsession is best reflected in An-Nahar (the right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Syrian (people), anti-Palestinian (people) newspaper. Today, the publisher of the paper, Ghassan Tuwayni, said on NBN-TV: “I am the longest serving journalist in history.” To that I say: go to sleep, Ghassan.
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
Conspiracy? What conspiracy? “Strategy for Propping Up Abbas”So you read the headline, and then you read the end of the story: “Hours later, Bush released a statement pledging to reinforce Israel’s military posture with a new 10-year agreement “that will give Israel the increased assistance it requires to meet the new threats and challenges it [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“Bearing the stamp of Preventative Security, and marked “Highly Secret”, the single dirty document on the ground instructed the reader to assemble information on one Abdel Rahman Salah Shadeh Karnua. But it was a rarity among the papers scattered among the detritus in the yard. Most of the secret files of the most hated – [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“Liberating,” slowly. “It could take “decades” to establish an effective government in Afghanistan, the UK’s new ambassador in Kabul admitted today.”
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“He served as an intelligence officer in the IDF, studied Middle East affairs and military history at Tel Aviv University, and joined the Haaretz staff in 1955. He became a senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1984.” So tell me. Does Carnegie also accept applications from people who served as intelligence [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“At least six films touching on the hotspot Middle East and its conflicts will roll out between June and early next year.” (thanks Karim)
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
“Asked if the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, can restore his authority here, Mr. Hassouni laughed. “Abu Mazen?†he asked incredulously, using a common name for Mr. Abbas. “How? He’s gone.—
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad
You can’t say that American don’t care about foreign affairs: “The British royal offspring invaded American television on Monday, posting the night’s highest ratings and giving NBC an easy victory over all. Nielsen estimated that 12.2 million viewers tuned in at 10 p.m. to watch NBC’s “Dateline†interview with Matt Lauer and Princes William and [...]
Posted on June 20, 2007 by As'ad