Archive for January 11, 2008

My observation thus far about the conference here in Berlin is that Germans have much longer attention span than people in the US. It is all about training: like in Europe they expose little children to classical music. I was impressed when I read that France is now making special offers to allow young people [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

I like it that in Europe you flip the channels and you don’t see televangelists. But my Hotel in London has three Arabic channels and one of them is a Christian missionary channel.

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

Bush spreading freedoms in Kuwait.

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

I wonder. During those meetings, does mini-Hariri offer the portrait of his dad a beverage?

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

“While Bush has previously used language describing Israel’s presence in the West Bank as an “occupation…” So the objective word for occupation, according to the Washington Post, is “presence.” (thanks Waqas)

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

This will not make it in the Western press: on the Israeli terrorist network in Lebanon (the Rafi` network). (`Umar Nashshabah adds more here).

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

In response to my post below about the dish Dahlanzania, Ali Abunimah–or Electronic Ali as I call him–sent me a recipe (I cite with his permission of course):“Take one slice of Palestine (a strip of about 12 miles by 5 will start) Slice and dice, sprinkle liberally with Israeli settlers, soldiers and checkpoints. Seal the [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

Pierre Abi Sa`b on Fayruz and Damascus.

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

“”We are cursed,” said Iyad Sarraj, a Gaza psychiatrist and a human rights activist. “Our leaders are either Israeli collaborators, asses, or mentally unstable.”” (thanks Yasser)

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

My article in Al-Akhbar: “Arab Fascination with Israeli Orientalism.”

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

This passes as foreign policy analysis in the US: ” “Be prepared, first, to put your sights on the American vessel. And then be prepared that the next thing you see will be the gates of Hell, because that is exactly what you will see after that.””

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

““The annual amount of water reaching Lake Kinneret today has dropped by 100 million cubic meters compared to quantities recorded 40 years ago,” Rosenfeld said.” This despite King PlayStation’s fervent prayers for rain last week. (thanks anonymous)

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

Here, the Dahlan’s voice in Washington, DC explains its position in clear terms: “The development and expansion of Palestinian government security forces is a vital national interest for Palestinians, Israelis and Americans alike.” That was what Antoine Lahd used to say when he would ask for more Israeli support for his thuggish troops. Imagine if [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

What Abu Mazen-Dahlan gang fed Bush in Ramallah. Here is a description of the menu: it said that US officials provided all the utensils and kitchen equipments (what is the word I am looking for?) and US security people supervised the preparation of the food (presumably to prevent Palestinian cooks from spitting in the food) [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

“Israel was also suspected of providing nuclear materials, equipment or technology to Iran, South Africa and other then-friendly countries.” (thanks Ali)

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

The Los Angeles Times wants to know: or the motives of colonial feminism.“Cavanaugh: Are there any issues around, I mean, is anybody calling women of the college [Lebanese American University] — women either shouldn’t be allowed at the college or they should have to wear a veil at the college?Jabbra: No, no, none of that.Cavanaugh: [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

Now that AlJazeera is keen on not offending Saudi Arabia, they will soon run out of topics. I would not be surprised if they devote whole programs to questions such as: Who is better looking, Prince Salman or his brother Prince Sultan? Who is more pious Prince Bandar bin Bribe or his brother Prince Khalid?

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

We need a biography or study of Khalid Bakdash: he so harmfully left his stamp on Arab communism. There are sketches of him in the early writings of Qadri Al-Qal`aji (probably first Arab former leftist who later wrote about the genius of Ibn Saud) and even Maxime Rodinson. For his book on Iraq (and its [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

If you are not a vegetarian yet I recommend that you to the a meat section in any German supermarket and closely examine the sausages: they are sure to make you gag, especially those white looking ones with unidentified green little things in them. Oh, so horrible. Even Hitler is supposed to have cried once [...]

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad

The massive and impressive German department store, KaDeWe, has every interesting kind of chocolate except…Milka, which is my favorite. They explained to me that Milka is rather popular, and not fancy enough for them. It is my favorite and that all that matters.

Posted on January 11, 2008 by As'ad