Archive for June 16, 2008

I am not making this up. According to An-Nahar (the right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Palestinian (people), anti-Syrian (people) ) newspaper, there was somebody who did a “professional MA”–whatever that is–at Hummus University in Beirut and that she found that An-Nahar is “the most objective” and “most logical” of all media in Lebanon. Apparently, the degree of [...]

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

I was unfair yesterday when I mocked Hassan Fattah’s newspaper (on behalf of Dubai’s ruling dynasty). I said that he did not cover a teachers’ sit-in, but look at investigative journalism at its best: “Dubai tackles drug shipments.”

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

Flash. Another Success for the Bush Doctrine. “Egyptian security forces detained a schoolboy for several hours after he wrote in an exam that President Hosni Mubarak was a tyrant who ruled over cowards, an education official said on Monday.”

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

“In the Arab world, shoe flinging is a gesture of extreme disrespect. A notable occurrence of this gesture happened in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003. When U.S. forces pulled down a giant statue of Saddam Hussein during the 2003 invasion of Iraq , many Iraqi detractors of Hussein threw their shoes at the fallen statue.This may [...]

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

Shoes and American culture: ““People take off their shoe, hand it to me and say, ‘Here, it’s for you,’ ” he told Joey Green, author of “The Get Smart Handbook.” “In restaurants they send over shoes. I’m so tired of it. I keep getting shoes. People in cars drive by me, recognize me, take off [...]

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

Yes, mini-Hariri: it is really adorable and cute how you put the picture of your dead father 3 years after his death on the couch next to you. It is really moving and it makes people cry every time. I don’t know which P.R. firm told you to do that, but I suggest that you [...]

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

“Criticizing the recently passed news host for his tendency…” (thanks Maria)

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

“I BELIEVE that peace between us and the Palestinian people – a real peace, based on real conciliation – starts with an apology.” No, Uri Avnery. It does not start with an apology–whatever that means–it ends with an apology, but after the full restoration of rights, the liberation of occupied lands, and the return AND [...]

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

Rice is still promoting democracy in the Middle East. (thanks F.)

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

“American soldiers herded the detainees into holding pens of razor-sharp concertina wire, the kind that’s used to corral livestock. The guards kicked, kneed and punched many of the men until they collapsed in pain. U.S. troops shackled and dragged other detainees to small isolation rooms, then hung them by their wrists from chains dangling from [...]

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad

“How Russert et al Planted the Seeds for War” (thanks Sam)

Posted on June 16, 2008 by As'ad