Archive for October 21, 2008

Inside Egypt: Nostalgia for Colonial Rule. I finished reading John Bradley’s Inside Egypt. Well, John, you asked me to read the book, and I have. I could not believe it. There is so much racism and contempt for the Egyptian people in this book. And you need to really get over your obsession (and hatred [...]

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

“The Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported Monday that the Yediot Ahronot newspaper refrained from publishing a report disclosing the execution of an Arab prisoner carried out by Israeli soldiers during the 1948 war despite it already announced its intention to do so.”

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

When people in the McCain-Palin crowd start chanting “USA. USA.” it really reminds me of rallies and chants in…Germany in the 1930s.

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

“He has admission, and a visa to the U.S., but the Israelis will not let him leave.” (thanks Marcy)

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

“Iraqi security forces raided the home of a provincial leader of U.S.-backed patrols on Tuesday, an incident that could raise tension at a time when the Baghdad government is taking over the programme from the U.S. military.”

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

The goons of occupation: “”Sheik Jassim,” as his tribesmen call Sweidawi, is among a new generation of tribal leaders asserting influence across Sunni areas. They have won their respect by fighting Sunni insurgents of the al-Qaeda in Iraq group. With American money and support, they have brought a fragile order to Anbar province, once Iraq’s [...]

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

A Letter from the talented Layal Haddad to her Palestinian friend.

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

Ask Queen Youtube if she plans to comment on this. “Amman: Police have arrested a local writer for incorporating verses from the Quran into his poem, the Jordanian prosecution said on Tuesday.” Note to Self: make sure that you incoporate verses from the Qur’an, Bible, and Phone Book in all your poems. (thanks Olivia)

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

I was watching LBC news yesterday and they made a reference to a Lebanese Atomic Agency–I kid you not. But upon reflection I realized that the Lebanese Atomic Agency tests all samples of Hummus and Baba Ghannuj before they are released in the Lebanese market.

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

Fox News sent one of their anchors to Baghdad: he of course reported on the great “progress” made from 3 years ago. But this same man reporting also had said that things were great last time he went although now he says that things were bad. He said this morning that things are so calm [...]

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

I am not kidding. There is a mental ailment afflicting many in the Lebanese press–and it has only been getting worse. Talk of “Lebanese” genius has been increasing to no end. Here, this Lebanese dude is convinced that the world–yes, the WORLD–is following a financial recipe derived from the governor of the Lebanese Central Bank–who [...]

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

“A prominent Palestinian human rights group says it has found evidence that 68 children were killed in the Gaza Strip in the 12 months to June this year as a result of “disproportionate and excessive lethal force” by the Israeli military.” Shame on the “prominent Palestinian human rights group” for using the language of the [...]

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

…off to Washington, DC. Returning on Thursday.

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

This is an actual job addvertisement from the official job placement bulletin at the American University of Beirut:“Job Title: Information Desk Officer (Female Preferably Single)BRIEF FIRM PROFILE/ DESCRIPTION: … The mission of the College is to provide a Christian Evangelical educational community for students of all nationalities and religions…. City: Beirut – Kafarshima Country: Lebanon…” [...]

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad

We are NOT the ones we have been waiting for. That is for sure, poetic claims to the contrary not withstanding.

Posted on October 21, 2008 by As'ad