Archive for November 29, 2007
“Ghadry, who heads a Washington-based group called the Syrian Reform Party, hopes to be the man in charge one day in Damascus. When I met him, he had already been granted audiences with David Wurmser, Vice President Dick Cheney’s top Middle East advisor and Perle protege, and with Cheney’s daughter, Elizabeth, who headed the State [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Is he honeymoon between Israel and House of Saud over? “”The notion that there is a moderate camp and an extremist camp, and that the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia] and Israel, together with others, are in the first, while Iran, Hamas, Syria and Hezbollah are in the second — is false,” Jamal Khashoggi, a political [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
“The security personnel of El Al Airlines descended upon me at Newark International Airport like a flock of vultures.” (thanks A.)
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
“Ten Reasons to Suspect “Save Darfur” is a PR Scam” (thanks Laleh)
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
This is the 60th anniversary of the lousy UN partition plan of Palestine. Read Kermit Roosevelt, “The Partition of Palestine: A Lesson in Pressure Politics,” The Middle East Journal, II, no. 1 (1948).
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
In the 1960s, Sudan had one of the most liberal democratic systems in the Arab world (and one of the largest communist parties in the region). Look at it now: “Anger and dismay as Sudan court jails teacher for 15 days for insulting Islam.”
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
If you don’t know the unprincipledness of Walid Jumblat you would have been surprised at his shifts and flip flops. A few weeks ago, he was referring to Hizbullah as a terrorist organization. This week, he is referring to them as “resistance.” Today, he praised the Lebanese commander-in-chief of the Army because he said he [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
I am told that the Lebanese contingent that used to work for the failed Hurra TV resigned and most of them are joining the new Hariri news TV.
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Petty minded Lebanonese standards. An-Nahar (the right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Syrian (people), anti-Palestinian (people) newspaper) is bragging today that Lebanon is ranked–and we know how much Lebanonese care about ranking–third in “economic freedom”according to a Canadian outfit. We know what high marks in economic freedoms mean? Kuwait and Oman ranked ahead of Lebanon, laments An-Nahar. Let [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
This does it. This explains a lot about my anger. This is a very symptomatic article from the Saudi-controlled Arabic press. It is written by a Lebanese journalist (who specializes in praise for House of Saud, and was one of the pioneers). You have to read it. It is a tribute to the chief of [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Dear Rami Zurayq on the responsibilities of the lousy Lebanese state.
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Syria’s ambassador to the US, `Imad Mustafa, is a very nice guy and a very competent person. He is–as I told him a few times–somebody whose regime does not deserve. But I just read some of his comments about Annapolis. He was expressing his pleasure that Rice shook hands with members of the Syrian delegation [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
“Roger Cohen: Viva Mubarak, Fuera Chavez!” (thanks Ken)
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Good Arabs; good boys. Notice that two people from the Dahlan shop in DC are quoted in the New York Times today. That can only prove that the Dahlan shop in DC has been cleared by the Israeli government. And notice that this brilliant expert here absolves Israel of blame; it was merely a problem [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Notice how editors of the New York Times insert sentences to justify Israeli wars and crimes: “Mr. Kissinger’s memo, written barely two years after the 1967 Middle East war and while memories of the Holocaust were still vivid among the first Israelis, implicitly acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself, as subsequent American administrations have done.”
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Nothing like a balanced approach to the Middle East. (thanks Amer)
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Notice that this “expert” from the Dahlan lobbying arm in Washington, DC is dismissing the significance of unconditional US adoption of the Israeli position. And notice that the this Dahlan shop considers its support for a Palestinian state as its “pro-Palestinian” credential. Hell. Bush and Dahlan support a Palestinian state. ““Surprise! The U.S. is more [...]
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
Whiny Zionism: ” “Why doesn’t anyone want to shake my hand?” she asked. “Why doesn’t anyone want to be seen speaking to me?””
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
US propaganda outlet. Do you notice those propaganda clips (they are rather several minutes long) on Al-Arabiya TV? They only note that they are “advertisement materials” but they don’t identify their source. They deal with issues related to Iraq but they all clearly read like the words were translated from English. Innocently.
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad
“”I know what it is like to hear to that you cannot go on a road or through a checkpoint because you are Palestinian,” she said. “I understand the feeling of humiliation and powerlessness.”” Spare me your words of fake sympathy. You don’t understand anything.
Posted on November 29, 2007 by As'ad