Archive for August 15, 2007

“Angry Manoucheh”

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

I have received this email. The person does not want his name to be identified (would somebody translate):“ خبر موثوق: أصيب أكثر من 120 جندي لبناني متواجدين في نهر البارد بمرض غير معروف وهو شبيه بحالات التسمم ولم يتمكن الاطباء من تحديده (شبيه بالكوليرا والتيفوئيد). هذا الخبر موثوق جدا لأنني أعرف أثنين ممن أصيبوا وهم [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

I have received this email. The person does not want his name to be identified (would somebody translate):“ خبر موثوق: أصيب أكثر من 120 جندي لبناني متواجدين في نهر البارد بمرض غير معروف وهو شبيه بحالات التسمم ولم يتمكن الاطباء من تحديده (شبيه بالكوليرا والتيفوئيد). هذا الخبر موثوق جدا لأنني أعرف أثنين ممن أصيبوا وهم [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Documents: Pakistan and Taliban.

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

“Israel and the United States will sign on Thursday the Memorandum of Understanding on the new American defense package for Israel. Under the new aid agreement, the U.S. will transfer $30 billion to Israel over 10 years, compared with $24 billion over the past decade. Israel is slated to receive the first pay out in [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Palestinian children watching a funeral in Khan Yunis.

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Al-Quds Al-`Arabi is reporting that the Fath movement of gangs is now settling on Abu Mahir Ghunaym as successor to Abu Mazen. The significance is in Ghunaym’s opposition to Oslo.

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

“The new principal of the city’s controversial Arabic-themed school is an ardent Zionist who considered moving to Israel, according to her former Jerusalem roommate.”

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Yazidis: the Misunderstood Sect. The horrific bombings yesterday made me think of this, of course. When I was growing up in Lebanon, I never liked the way the majority perceived or historically persecuted the small, often misunderstood, religious minorities (and this is a feature of all societies). But certainly the Yazidis have suffered, largely at [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

What people don’t understand about Arab politics. In that silly interview with Fouad Ajamai (silly questions and sillier answers) on elaph, he said at one point that the Lebanese Shi`ites have to choose between Hasan Nasrallah and Hayfa Wahbi. What people like him don’t understand is that people can manage, in their own mind, to [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

“An Arab American’s Pocket Political Dictionary”

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Ending a medical report, the anchorperson on AlArabiya TV reminded the audience that “ages are in God’s hand.” (I have to go: there is a peach in my hand).

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

AlArabiya TV is up in arms. Al-Arabiya TV aired a report with great alarm. They said that Russian jets were flying “merely hundreds of kilometers” away from US bases in Guam. AlArabiya TV is more protective of US security than..the US government it seems.

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Did you notice the new sleazy commercial that AlArabiya TV has been running? Are they heading toward the elaph formula of sleaze and vulgarism combined with House of Saud apologia?

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

“Imagine wild thyme from Lebanon combined with sesame seeds…” From Lebanon? It shows you how little Jennifer Bain knows about Za`tar. The best Za`tar is Palestinian or Jordanian. Personally, I also like the peculiar Aleppo Za`tar.

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

The Ba`th will be back…in Iraq. Hoping to be the next prime minister, Ibrahim Ja`fari said on Al-Arabiya TV that it is time to open a new leaf with the Ba`th.

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

“On that fateful afternoon of August 2nd, hundreds of people had gathered for the traditional weekly market (or ‘mela’) in Bughni (or Bagh-e-Nahi) where local people trade everything from carpets, foods, clothes, to cows. Market day there falls on Thursday, the start of Afghanistan’s weekend. Then, suddenly, the U.S. Boeing-made GBU-31, GPS-guided 2,000 pound bombs [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

Not in the US press: “Four Israeli warplanes flew at a medium and low altitude on Tuesday over Jezzine in south Lebanon and Iqlim Toufah in the Chouf area. The warplanes also flew over West Bekaa and launched mock air raids in Libaya, Machgara, Sohmor, Yohmor and Karaoun. The Israeli airplanes continue to breach Lebanese [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

“Instead, the prosecution paraded a motley lineup of shaky eyewitnesses, most of them pressured or threatened; befuddled the jury with ambiguous ballistics reports; browbeat the many Italian witnesses who vouched for the whereabouts of the defendants on the day of the murders; and, not least, relied on the astounding incompetence of Sacco and Vanzetti’s idealistic [...]

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad

““Bond is an imperialist and a misogynist who kills people and laughs about it, and drinks Martinis and cracks jokes,” he told reporters.” (thanks Ema)

Posted on August 15, 2007 by As'ad