Archive for July 17, 2008

Saudi media are brimming with pride over the inter-faith dialogue festival in Spain. They are hailing the role of the Saudi king. But they Arab and Western media ignored the actual text of the speech (read haltingly and embarrassingly by the illiterate head of the House of Saud) in which King `Abdullah railed against atheism [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

I think that Michael Slackman of the New York Times does not know that there are Shi`ites among the residents of Beirut.

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

According to the New York Times, the best judge of Iraqi public opinion regarding the American occupation are Iraqi puppets of the American occupation: “But mention Mr. Obama’s plan for withdrawing American soldiers, and the general stiffens.”

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

Laurie sent me this with this comment: “He forgot to bring the empty chair for his father’s picture.”

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

“Police in the Gulf tourist hub of Dubai say they’ve detained 17 foreigners for allegedly displaying homosexual behavior in malls and other public places.”

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

The Hizbullah-Jumblat love fest in the mountain was just sickening today. But then again: sectarian forces in Lebanon always have an easy time reconciling, especially on the eve of parliamentary elections.

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

This is your friend and ally now: “A son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi has been arrested by Swiss police after being accused of assaulting staff at a Geneva hotel, Swiss media reported Thursday.” (thanks L.)

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

“As the Truman biographer David McCullough has written, Truman’s support for the Jewish state was “wildly popular” throughout the United States. A Gallup poll in June 1948 showed that almost three times as many Americans “sympathized with the Jews” as “sympathized with the Arabs.” That support was no flash in the pan. Widespread gentile support [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

Bush Doctrine. It seems the promises of the Bush Doctrine are materializing in the Middle East. Yemen announced the formation of a Committee for the Prohibition of Vice and the Promotion of Virtue. The committee will eradicate “corrupt thought”. It is modeled after a Saudi committee by the same name. What do you do when [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

“”When the American military plans failed, they decided to hire local tribal militias to do the job for them,” Alwani said, referring to the “Awakening Group” militia created by the US military. “Those also failed, despite the executions and the crimes they committed against people.” Many people throughout Iraq complain of the brutality and unlawful [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

“Friedman generously allows that “[a]n America that presides over Abu Ghraib, torture and Guantánamo Bay deserves a thumbs-down” — a “thumbs-down”: what a playful movie critic says about a boring film. In listing America’s small imperfections that have caused this worldwide unpopularity, Friedman forgot to mention America’s invasion and occupation of Iraq, which Friedman himself [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

An Ethiopian maid “fell” from the 10th floor of the apartment building in which she works. She died. Suicide is suspected, according to early reports.

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

This is Zionism. Since 1967, Israel has arrested some 750,000 Palestinians, or some 25% of all Palestinians. There are now more than 10,000 Palestinian prisoners (including women, children and elderly) in Israeli jails. 360 of the prisoners are children, including a 6 months old child, who is the youngest prisoner in the world. Some 6.18% [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

“U.S.-led coalition troops have have killed eight Afghan civilians in an air strike in the western province of Farah during a raid against suspected militants, the U.S. military said.” (thanks Olivia)

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad

An anthropologist working in the Middle East sent this (she/he does not want to be identified) (I use with permission):“which of the following websites, in your opinion, would be blocked in iran?1- CNN2- Fox News3- Haaretz4- Jerusalem Post5- Yediot Aharonot6- MEMRI7- MERIP8- Juan Cole’s Blog9- Marxists.org10- the American Anthropological Associationif you guessed any of 1-6, [...]

Posted on July 17, 2008 by As'ad