Archive for December 19, 2007
If you want to watch the news–just the news–tune in to Al-Iraqiyyah (the puppet) Iraqi station. Today, in the first segment of the newscast, the reporter said: “And thus the Iraqi [puppet] security forces are planting happiness by distributing sweets and nuts among the people.” With sweets…and nuts.
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
From the Arab Mind, again and again: “”Aim low,” read a memo prepared last month by a departing unit that characterizes the “Arab personality” as one that discourages long-term efforts. “Aim to achieve just two or three small, even tiny, improvements each day at most; any more, and you will surely go mad.”” (thanks Nir)
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
Prince Salman’s mouthpiece, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat, has this caption under this picture: “The Servitor of the Two Noble Sites [Excluding the IKEA store here] supervises the comfort and movement of the pilgrims yesterday in Mina.” How do we know he is doing that? He could be watching wrestling or porn for all we know. Also, do [...]
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
Can Burhan Ghalyun write on something other than democracy? Is there anything that is said about democracy that we have not read before? And are there problems in the Arab world that democracy will NOT solve?
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
This is why AlJazeera and Al-Arabiya TV invite Israeli guests. Al-Arabiya TV’s Muntaha Ar-Ramahi asked an Israeli guest today: Does Israel want peace? What did she expect him to say. What kind of question is that? Basically, it is an invitation to the guest to offer basic propaganda cliches. Sometimes I feel I want to [...]
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
The chairperson of the Hajj Committee in Saudi Arabia spoke to Al-Arabiya TV. He denied that there was any political activity during the Hajj. Prior to the House of Saud’s takeover of Hijaz, the Hajj was a place were people exchanged religious views and debated and protested.
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
David Welch during his visit to Lebanon offered a stinging rebuke to Nabih Birri. He spoke about what Lebanese should do, and sounded like a 19th century colonial viceroy. Nabih Birri responded with the most lame and most weak statement. It was along the lines of: I am doing my job, I swear. Tell the [...]
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
Prior to giving my comments on AlJazeera last night, I heard the correspondent of Aljazeera (for the first time) give his impressions of the Hajj this year. He was quite favorable in evaluating the role of the Saudi security services. Next on AlJazeera: a weekly show on the wisdom and reading abilities of the Saudi [...]
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
Regarding the Hajj and the Black Stone: to kiss or not to kiss. `Umar Ibn Al-Akhattab (the second “rightly-guided caliph) disliked the practice of kissing the black stone. He said the stone does not harm nor does it benefit. To him is attributed the saying: I would not have kissed you if I did not [...]
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
Muhammad Hasan Hamzah, 35, was killed near Tyre, Lebanon today. Another victim of Israeli cluster bombs in South Lebanon. How many US newspapers will mention that? (thanks Mazen)
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
What is next? A link between Orientalism and Al-Qa`idah? ““‘Orientalism,’” Mr. Warraq writes, “taught an entire generation of Arabs the art of self-pity … encouraged the Islamic fundamentalist generation of the 1980s…” (thanks Maria)
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
The New York Times identifies the name of its Baghdad bureau’s dog. (Dead Iraqis are never identified by name, notes Nir). “Staff at the newspaper’s Baghdad bureau said Blackwater bodyguards shot Hentish dead last week before a visit by a U.S. diplomat to the Times compound.”
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad
It is the Arab Mind after all: “And now that he has cracked Fallujah’s cultural code.” (thanks Nir)
Posted on December 19, 2007 by As'ad