Archive for June 23, 2007

“With American troops mired in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaders at the Army post where the military’s new counterinsurgency doctrine was written are turning to cultural anthropologists for help. The relationship rekindles one that existed between the military and academics throughout much of the nation’s modern military history but fizzled after the Vietnam War.” (thanks Laleh)

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

“if you seek to isolate Israeli universities then you must also include Berkeley, along with Columbia, in your boycott”. OK. If you have other ideas for my boycott, please let me know. But most importantly, what business is it for you to comment on this matter? Oh, do you also want to comment on the [...]

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

Turn on the lights, please. Wake up the children and release all the pigs from the barn. This is important. The puppet is angry. Repeat: the puppet is angry. “Karzai Warns NATO: Afghan Life Not Cheap.”

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

Nasser was effective in combating conservative and reactionary Islam when he stood for the liberation of Palestine and for the confrontation with western colonial powers and their clients in the region. Once his credentials on those issues were undermined in 1967, Saudi Arabia was able to successfully sponsor and promote conservative and reactionary Islam. Today, [...]

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

Two days ago, Abu Mazen described Hamas as a “terrorist, criminal, and murderous” organization. He accused its leaders of treason. Today, Isma`i Haniyyah responded. He invited Abu Mazen to join Hamas in a national unity government.

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

An issue of An-Nahar from August 25th, 1966, printed a plea from Fathi Yakan to Jamal `Abdun-Nasser to spare the life of Sayyid Qutb. On Augsust 30th, 1966, Al-Ahram carried the news of the execution of Sayyid Qutb (and two other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood). The official statement said that “Islam is innocent of [...]

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

Takfir and counter-takfir. Today, Walid Jumblat officially declared that those who are fighting with Fath-Al-Islam are “kuffar” (infidels). Jumblat promised to issue updates the state of infidelity in Lebanon.

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

“LABOUR IN THE LEVANT: Syrian migrants in Lebanon” (thanks Ghayur)

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

“I’ll be honest – I think it was kind of like brainwashing. You start wanting to believe that you’re going there to help. When I was a kid, I was one of those guys that threw rocks at the Israelis, and I was really good at it. I became so good at it I became [...]

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad

“As the U.S. offensive, code-named Phantom Thunder, has been greeted with a week of intensified fighting in areas outside the capital — areas that the U.S. military has largely left untouched for as long as three years — the push raised fears from security experts and officers in the field that the new attacks might [...]

Posted on June 23, 2007 by As'ad