Archive for October 2, 2007

Regarding the very favorable and sympathetic coverage of the protests by Buddhist monks in Burma. If Muslim preachers in Saudi Arabia or Jordan or Egypt were to stage a peaceful protest against the oppressive government in those places, do you think that the US or European media would provide favorable coverage of their protests?

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

This is considered success in US politics.

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

“The legacy of Sabra and Shatila: Amnesia and impunity”

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

I used to think that the best insider accounts of the lousy Ba`th Party was the memoirs of Sami Al-Jundi and Hani Fukayki. I have been reading the memoirs of Faysal Al-Hurani and it also has a lot of information and insights about the intrigue within that lousy party, and about the role and machinations [...]

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

Saudi Muftiii finally spoke. He finally criticized the rush by young Saudis to join Jeeehaaaad. He however did not admit that the efforts originated in Saudi Arabia but blamed them on “external forces.” External forces? When the House of Saud was recruiting fanatical Muslims to join the anti-Communist struggle during the Cold War, you were [...]

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

You have to be an idiot (or a columnist in a Saudi newspaper) not to realize that all the rhetoric and leaks about Iran are part of what is called psychological operations. On AlArabiyya TV and on the New AlJazeera, the question is not when but what. Today, on Al-Arabiya TV the leading news discussion [...]

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

Jenna Bush was asked about Iraq Larry King. She answered by saying that she was not “an expert on Iraq.” Oh, no she is not. Her dad is the expert on Iraq, and also on the Middle East and Islam. And it shows.

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

Mideast wire translated (most parts and with some errors) my response to Lebanese Minister Ahmad Fatfat. I apologize for reproducing in full because there is no link. (thanks Emily)““Response to Fatfat’s response: sincerity in political speech and action” As’ad Abu Khalil, professor of political science at the University of California, wrote in the independent pro-opposition [...]

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

“A Blackwater USA employee under investigation in the killing last December of an Iraqi bodyguard in an off-duty confrontation was so drunk after fleeing the shooting that another group of guards took away the loaded pistol he was fumbling with, a report to a House committee said Monday.”

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad

“Employees of Blackwater USA have engaged in nearly 200 shootings in Iraq since 2005, in a vast majority of cases firing their weapons from moving vehicles without stopping to count the dead or assist the wounded, according to a new report from Congress. In at least two cases, Blackwater paid victims’ family members who complained, [...]

Posted on October 2, 2007 by As'ad