Archive for August 27, 2007

An insider source: “Fox TV bought a sitcom called Little Mosque on the Prairie – now a Canadian show, but they will remake it for a US audience.”

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

If you ask my opinion (ask NOW), she makes more sense than Thomas Friedman.

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

The story of “Layla.”

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“Theology of War” by Husam `Itani.

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

Adam suggested that I do a book club in which I recommend books to be read and discussed. Excellent idea for those who may be interested. But I start my semester (at UC, Berkeley) tomorrow, and at California State University, Stanislaus (my main campus) next week–although I will be in London next week (speaking on [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“Neither Israel nor the American Israel Public Affairs Committee are putting together a proactive campaign to combat the new Stephen Walt-John Mearsheimer book slamming the Israel lobby for allegedly hijacking US foreign policy.” (thanks Adam)

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“A writer for a national security group set up by a conservative think tank has called on President Bush to declare himself “President for Life” and remove all Arabs from the Middle East so he can “repopulate the country with Americans.”Philip Atkinson, author of the book A Study of Our Decline, argues that Bush should [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

Idris Al-Basri: the former Interior Minister of Morocco is one of the most cruel and bloody men in contemporary history. But he was–like all other interior ministers in Arab countries–a henchman for an oppressive regime.

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

The political courage of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Without fear, and without any equivocation, Sen. Clinton asserted today in an event in Iowa that if elected president she would declare a “war on cancer.” That really made news. This clearly sets her apart from all other candidates. As is well-known, most candidates are coming out strongly [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

Who but Thomas Friedman would ask such a dumb question: “I spent Friday hanging around the newsroom of Al Jazeera here in Doha, on the Persian Gulf. I asked Arab reporters here what would be the results of a popularity poll in the region between Mr. Bush and bin Laden.” As if the only choices [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

When Talal Asad writes, Angry Arab reads–very carefully: “Thinking about “Just War”

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

To recommend Christiane Amanpour’s show on religion is like recommending the phone book as the best book to read on the Arab-Israeli conflict. I was driving and heard the first few minutes, and it was sufficient for me to turn the dial to Mr./Ms. Potato Head’s happy hour of news. She started her program by [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“However, during more than 40 years of Israeli control, the West Bank has become, either consciously or unconsciously, our garbage dump, and particularly that of the settlements and illegal outposts in the area.” (thanks Jessica)

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah.” These kind of stories are part of what makes Angry Arab angrier. So the demonstrators said that they have no problems with the occupation and with the bombs over their heads [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

Peace is at hand: “Upheaval in the Middle East and Islamic civilisation could cause another world war, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was quoted as saying in an Austrian newspaper interview published on Monday.“ (thanks Kumar)

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“An influential former chief rabbi of Israel has caused controversy by saying its soldiers fall in action because they do not observe Jewish law.” (thanks Marc)

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

A colonialist debate: “A MacArthur-Karzai debate had raged within the administration for months: should the United States run Iraq like Gen. Douglas MacArthur in postwar Japan or seek a local Karzai-like leader and operate behind the scenes? Bremer still believes the MacArthur route was imperative. An exile-dominated Iraqi government would have had no legitimacy or [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

This obituary of Muhsin Mahdi* in Weekly Standard leaves out an important fact: that the late professor opposed US wars in the Middle East. I know that he opposed the 1991 war and the sanctions that followed. Politically, Professor Mahdi was not easy to classify–like many philosophers and professors of philosophy.*I wrote a previous post [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“For this, Mr Sadr owes some thanks to Saddam Hussein, but a great deal more to those who toppled his dictatorship.” (thanks Amina)

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad

“The Israeli ban on deliveries of paper to Gaza is not only threatening to create a shortage of textbooks in the Strip but also shining a spotlight on what constitutes legitimate humanitarian aid. Israel is allowing in food, medicines and fuel, which it sees as essential aid, but not paper, even though many would see [...]

Posted on August 27, 2007 by As'ad