Archive for July 25, 2007

“The just-published diaries of a communications director for Prime Minister Blair, Alastair Campbell, indicate that James Murdoch launched into a foul-mouthed tirade that suggested that the behavior of Palestinian Arabs was justified by their poor treatment by Israelis. The outburst occurred at a private dinner with his father, his brother, Lachlan, Mr. Blair, and others [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

Lebanonese Orientalism. An-Nahar has this headline (of its “study”): “In the East, Emotional Factors Trumps Democratic Principles.” Yes, brilliant minds of An-Nahar. Because in the West, people have no emotions?

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

On the love of…ads by Fawwaz Trabulsi.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

Grotesque Lebanonese Nationalism. “Lebanese women taking part in a beauty pageant at a hotel in north Lebanon pose for a picture 13 July 2007. The Pageant participants posed for photographers in camouflage combat gear to salute Lebanese soldiers.” (thanks Wissam)

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

My article in Al-Akhbar, “The Triumph of The Phalangist Doctrine.”(On the same page is my response to `Abdullah Rizq who wrote in criticism of my article “Who Can Rescue the Shi`ites (except Sa`d Hariri?)”

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

This is from Mulhaq An-Nahar (considered the “left” of the right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Syrian (people), anti-Palestinian (people) newspaper–like the “left” of the 700 Club). This right-wing writer, Raymond Jbara, wrote a column two weeks ago in which he basically said that there is not a single innocent person among the Palestinian civilians. So Syrian dissident, [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

Saudi National Anthem: to your i-pod NOW. Sometimes I realize why Lebanese journalists specialize in prostrating for the House of Saud. I mean, there is not much to admire in the beheadings, stoning, and lashes in the Kingdom, but you have to admire the National Anthem of Saudi Arabia, especially when it says: “Long Live [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

There is something about Arab puppets. They just look the role. Look at those two. O Arab people: just remmber that those two foreign ministers are claiming to speak on behalf of the Arab peoples. Hazulat.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

That is how they say her name on Al-Arabiya TV: I kid you not–Nancy Lahone (for Lindsey Lohan).

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

I swear that I say this without exaggeration: Al-Arabiya TV is more blatantly pro-US administration than Fox News. Imagine. That is media globalizaton.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

There is one thing that I find to be as repugnant–if not more–as sectarianism: and that is tribalism. The US managed to revive both in Iraq.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

Gen. Petraeus was on Al-Arabiya TV for the second time in around a month. He is very free with his time. Do you notice that US officials are now less likely to waste their time on Al-Hurra TV, which makes me wonder, yet again, why am I, as a taxpayers, still funding that failed channel [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

I am amused–not really–that some readers actually want me to turn the blog into a platform for their own preferences. A blog is a reflection of its owner’s politics AND quirks, eccentricities, and preferences. And if that bothers some, remember that you can go here.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

“”The king of Jordan arrived on a Harley-Davidson on a recent visit to Carmel, California, stopping for a pancake breakfast before taking off with about 10 other bikers for a ride down the Big Sur coast.”” (thanks Ala`a)

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

I can’t keep track: Fath, Fath-As-Sultah, Fath-Al-Asalah, Fath-Intifada, Fath-Al-Islam, and Fath-Potato. Yesterday, in an interview on AlJazeera TV, secretary-general of the Fath’s Central Committee, Abu Al-Lutf, made a distinction between “Fath-As-Sultah” (Fath-The Government) (a reference to Fath of Dahlan and Abu Mazen) and “Fath-Al-Asalah” (Fath-The Authenticity) (a reference to his Fath).

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

Al-Quds Al-`Arabi has reported that the Syrian government has canceled a meeting of Iraqi anti-occupation forces in Damascus, largely under pressure from Iran. As is well-known, Iran is now officially trying to make the occupation better for the US–at least publicly.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

When I first came to the US, the Middle East program at Brookings was run by William Quandt. Now it is run by Martin Indyk. That only proves my theory–or one of them anyway: that things only get worse when it comes to the Middle East in the US.

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

Peace is at hand. I have been guilty of mocking the new position of Tony Blair as special envoy to the Middle East. When asked about it in Pakistan, I observed that this is as credible as appointing Ariel Sharon to solve the conflict in Kashmir. But yesterday, I changed my mind. Blair called on [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

This is the most sensitive state on earth: “Police cadets at a Shfaram officers training college have begun to study Arabic and Arab culture in an effort to increase sensitivity toward the Israeli Arab minority.” Let me guess. They use the writings of Baruch Goldstein as their source on Arab culture. Cadets were instructed on [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad

This is how Israeli Orientalists now “documents” their silly generalizations about Arabs: “These words, written by a reader named Khaled, were posted on the Al Jazeera Web site the morning…” This is in the footstep of Bernard Lewis who in one article cites “a letter in the New New York Times” and “an Arab” with [...]

Posted on July 25, 2007 by As'ad