Archive for February 3, 2009
Winning hearts AND minds
“The document reads depressingly like a treatment for an Abu Ghraib-inspired sequel involving American power, the Arab world, sexual violence, and digital photography. As the text shows, there appear to be layers of this story yet to be revealed—none of them likely to help President Obama’s outreach campaign in the Muslim world. The document refers, [...]
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
“Despite facing severe work restrictions, most Palestinian refugee households have at least one family member who is employed, constitute 10 per cent of all private consumption in Lebanon, and do not burden the Lebanese welfare system, a recent report has found.”
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Liberated
“The mortality caused by the war is also high. Several household surveys were conducted between 2004 and 2007. While there are differences among them, the range suggests a congruence of estimates. But none have been conducted for eighteen months, and the two most reliable surveys were completed in mid-2006. The higher of those found 650,000 [...]
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Wahhabi lessons
“Saudi Arabia yesterday urged the Palestinians to adopt a new and realistic concept of resistance that would realize their unity, strengthen their legitimate organizations, protect their lives and properties and ensure their legitimate rights.” To be lectured on resistance by Saudi Wahhabi royals is like being lectured on peace by Bush.
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Saudi Promotion of Virtue
“The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and the Public Prosecution in Makkah are investigating the case of an Indonesian AIDS victim who was raped by 46 men, including one police officer, around a month ago.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Foreign maids in Lebanon
“News reports on Wednesday said the Sri Lankan helper was being treated for wounds and fractures she suffered after throwing herself from the second floor of the embassy building. She is in critical condition.” Notice that this item was buried at the end of the article and that the headline focused on the theft. (thanks [...]
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Saudi justice
30 lashes for a Sudanese who smoked on a Saudi airline (thanks ls)
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Memory of George Habash
“About 30 demonstrators from the Israeli-Arab Abnaa elBalad Movement (Sons of the Land) rallied in Haifa yesterday in protest of a police decision to ban an open-air memorial service for George Habash, the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PFLP is considered a terrorist organization in Israel.” (thanks Marcy)
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Kahanism = Zionism
Do you think that I find any difference between Labor, Likud, Kadima and Kach? They are all the same as far as I am concerned.
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Foxman against Moyers
“Take, for example, Foxman’s recent attack on Bill Moyers (a longstanding friend and occasional supporter of my work). When Moyers broadcast a less than laudatory commentary about Israel’s Gaza invasion, Foxman accused the veteran journalist and liberal icon of–I kid you not–”moral equivalency, racism, historical revisionism, and indifference to terrorism.” (You can read it online, [...]
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Did you say jump, o Zionist Master?
“For the past twenty years or so I’ve been working as a fixer, translator, advisor – call it whatever you want – with most of the foreign media. And of course in this work with the international media I got myself a number of jobs, one of which I’m still doing. I even have colleagues [...]
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Extreme ugliness
“Then there’s a more interesting cluster of awkward talents based in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon. This group produces art that has had much less exposure to the familiar shorthands of the West, and is distinguished instead by a startling originality that often segues into extreme ugliness.” (thanks Nikki)
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Ousted Chief of Jordanian Mukhabarat
This is quite something. The ousted chief of Jordanian intelligence is holding court and pontificating on Jordan’s foreign policy. The fellow is now posing as an enemy of Israel and as an advocate of resistance to Israel. It is puzzling that the the Jordanian leftist, Nahid Hatr, is promoting this unsavory royal character.
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
At UC Irvine
My panel (or the first one) at UC, Irvine. (thanks Gloria who took the picture)
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad
Clown of Libya
Look at this clown. No, really look at him. Do you know that this clown at one point thought that he would become the Nasser of the Arab world? He could not become the potato of the Arab world. (Reuters)
Posted on February 3, 2009 by As'ad