Archive for May 15, 2008

“”Ten years after debt was first put on the international agenda, developing countries are still giving $5 in debt repayments to the rich world for every $1 they get back in aid.”

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

“Members of the Haifa lobby had several pieces of evidence to bolster their cause. One argument was a quote from a character in Herzl’s book Altneuland.” What flimsy evidence. Altneuland is a work of fiction and fantasy. Remember that in the book the Arab character, Rashed Bey appears enthusiastic about Zionism, and he spoke of [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

This is incredible. How can you not mock Lebanonesia and its Lebanonese media? Look at An-Nahar’s page 18 (somebody find me the link NOW, I could not find it except on the flashplayer version): the paper is doing its daily bragging about Lebanese genius around the world. This time it is about this Lebanonese high [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

Take a look at Saudi media. Do you notice that they use the same expressions, phrases, analogies, and slogans? But it is a mere coincidence, I am sure.

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

Boo hoo hoo: “Watching the news from Lebanon, it’s poignant to read the title of a new memoir by Jordan’s former foreign minister, Marwan Muasher, “The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation.” The daily headlines tell us that centrist Arabs such as Muasher are becoming an endangered species.”

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

I just read in As-Safir that Hizbullah and Jumblat made their first direct contact in months. Am I supposed to find that cute? Mark my words: Hariri, Jumblat, and Hizbullah may run on the same list, again. And I am sure that they will not forget the widow of Bashir Gemayyel (who ran on Hariri-Jumblat-Hizbullah [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

I have received complaints that people are posting the same comment or post over and over again. Comments’ section cop informs me that she/he will delete repeated (redundant) comments or posts. Beware. Of course, it is known that this will hurt the feelings of those who are so intoxicated with their own words that they [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

She is holding a key to her house from which she was kicked out by Zionist occupation forces in 1948. They will return. (AFP)

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

Hariri media. Just take a look at this front page of Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal. First, notice that the paper that usually covers on the front page the sneezes and coughs of Bush, is not putting the news of Bush’s festive trip to Israel and his speeches on its front page. Too embarrassing for the clients [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

“When Palestinians insist on naming their country, their cities, and their villages with their original names, they are not only resisting the vulgar names that Zionism has bestowed on the land, they are also insisting on a geographic memory that Israel has all but succeeded to erase physically. Zionist cruelty has been such that Israel [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

The only media that remained secular during this crisis in Lebanon are: As-Safir, Al-Akhbar, New TV, and AlJazeera. Only in those media will you find criticisms of both sides–even when sympathies of writers are made clear. Trying to find criticisms of Hariri on, say in An-Nahar or on House of Saud’s Al-Arabiya is like expecting [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

Biological piracy (by Israel) by comrade Rami.

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

The death of Ta’if by comrade Khalid.

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

Comrade Iskandar on the failures of both sides in Lebanon.

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

Bridge of Return by Palestinian poet Tawfiq Zayyad (my translation): “My dear people!! With eyelids I roll out the path of your return, with eyelids. I embrace your wound and pick up the thorns of the path, with eyelids. With the palms of the hand, I grind the granite stone, with the palms of the [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

From the poem I Call On You by Palestinian poet Tawfiq Zayyad (my translation):“I call on youI press your handsI kiss the ground under your feetand I say: I sacrifice myself for youI give you as a giftthe light of my eyesand the warmth of heart, I give youMy tragedy that I liveIs my share [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

From a poem by Palestinian poet Tawfiq Zayyad (my translation)“My land..! My friends!..My stolen treasure..! My history..The bones of my father andgrandfather are denied to me,so how can I forgive?If they mount the gallows forme…I am not forgivingThese green villages of ourshave all become our bloodand scattered tracesOnes have remainedand still fightingwith nails…Do not tell [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

“Hamas condemns the Holocaust”. Finally, but it is a lie that Aqsa TV is an independent TV channel. Hamas can’t have it both ways. (thanks Sellam)

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

I received those pictures from Kanwal with this message: “thought you might like to use these, especially today. It’s a sequence (in the order attached) of Ahmed, who lived in Shatila last summer during the bombardment of Nahr el Bared camp, which is where he’s grown up. He likes watermelon and calls it ‘batteeehaa’ with [...]

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad

This weekend I will be speaking on Palestine here.

Posted on May 15, 2008 by As'ad