Archive for December 9, 2007
Rewards for submissive dictatorships: “Des contrats importants seront-ils signés ? Bien sûr. Nous allons acheter pour plus de 3 milliards d’euros d’Airbus, un réacteur nucléaire, et nous voulons aussi acheter de nombreux équipements militaires. Nous négocions sur les Rafale. Des compagnies françaises ont remporté des marchés importants, comme, par exemple, la construction du nouvel aéroport [...]
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
This is the Bush Doctrine: “Basra’s murderous militias tell Christian women to cover up or face death”
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
According to a recent poll, 70% of women in Yemen support a special quota for female representation in parliament. I want the 50% quota here in the US and in Lebanon, and everywhere else. The quota has proven as a guarantee for increasing equity in representation. But the quotas should exclude some women like Hillary [...]
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Lebanese journalist, Samir `Atallah, who specializes in writing tributes for House of Saud, here expresses his thoughts on women who write novels. They bother him: he wants them to stop writing and leave the production of literature to the Saudi King.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Amer pointed this to me: if you look at Al-Arabiya net website: The most read and most circulated articles on the site are not political: they tend to be sleazy articles or features on the bizarre.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Today, there was a demonstration by disabled people in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. They were asking for more facilities and accessibilities. The regime will soon accuse them of belonging to the “deviant category” and throw them in jail.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Runaway…maids in Lebanon. Lebanese newspapers simply carry ads by employers who are warning other Lebanese against hiring a foreign maid who fled their homes.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Khalid Saghiyyah is the only writer who is questioning the cult around Gen. Michel Sulayman.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Ilyas `Atallah: not happy that I criticize him. He also said that criticisms of imperialism are a waste of ink, and that they support Israel. I only have one response: `Atallah defines his leftism in Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
“Israel has passed Britain to become the world’s fourth largest exporter of weapons, Defense Ministry Director-General Pinchas Bucharis said on Sunday. Israel exported a total $4 billion in defense exports in 2007, Bucharis said. The United States, Russia and France lead the world’s list of exporters.”
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
This news item should be linked to the on-line dictionary definitions of chutzpah: “PM: Israel set to expose Iranian nuclear program”
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
If you want to read an alternative to Michael Oren’s book, read this book by Abdul Latif Tibawi. American Interests in Syria, 1800-1901. Tibawi was an excellent scholar: I particularly recommend a collection of his book reviews published in a book titled Arabic and Islamic Themes. Tibawi, a Palestinian scholar, was never given the credit [...]
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
“A new report rates the climate-protection performance of 56 countries that account for 90 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. While Germany came in at second best, the US ranked second worst.” (thanks Julie)
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
I have talked about Lebanese obsessions with ranking. Lebanese Bank Audi has been running commercials that say that the bank is “the best bank in Lebanon” and it cites the authority of “Euromoney”–whatever that is. I will say that Lebanon is the siliest homeland according to Angrymoney.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
““J.F.K.’s speech was to reassure Americans that he wasn’t a religious fanatic,†Mr. Krakauer agreed. “Mitt’s was to tell evangelical Christians, ‘I’m a religious fanatic just like you.’—
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
For those who care–and those who don’t–I will appear on Al-Jazeera’s Min Washington program. It will air the evening of Monday in the Middle East (or 11:05 Pacific Time Monday, or 2:05PM Eastern Time).
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Look at this clown. (AP)
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
For the first time since I started writing for Al-Akhbar, my article did not run last week.PS I was contacted. The article will run this week.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Yasir `Abd Rabbuh told An-Nahar that George W. Bush’s visit to Israel is intended to send a “message” to urge its leaders to compromise with the Palestinians. People may wonder: does `Abd Rabbuh really means what he says. The answer is yes: never underestimate the cluelessness of this man.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad
Maronite Patriarch Sfayr always sounds like he is reading an obituary. He can be announcing you husband and wife, and yet sounds like he is announcing your death. It is very uplifting to listen to his sermons on Sunday mornings.
Posted on December 9, 2007 by As'ad