Archive for February 23, 2009
The heart of the collapse
“At the heart of the collapse of the financial system and the economic recession lies the unparalleled greed of the banks coupled with the declining wages of poor working people exacerbated by a racist social division of labor. The solution to problem may well continue to lie in the repayment in full of a centuries-old [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Prince Sultan
An official Saudi source having denied that Prince Sultan had any medical problems just announced that the Prince had a “successful operation.” In official Saudi terminology, that can mean one thing only: the man is about to drop dead any minute now.
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Waltz with a Potato
I did not watch the academy awards yesterday (and who calls it “an academy”? How can an entity be called an “academy” when Tony Danza is a member?). But I just checked to see if Waltz with a Potato would win. It did not. I went back to sleep.
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Dahlan o Dahlan
“The Palestinian Authority banned a planned symposium on the Palestine Liberation Organization scheduled for Sunday in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.”
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
For freedoms
There was a demonstration in Beirut in favor of gay and lesbian rights and against sexual harassment. (As-Safir)
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
"Cultural shock"
“To females traveling to Egypt, I say: Be wary. Cover up. And mentally prepare yourself to accept a culture that is more tolerant of sexual harassment than your own.” To females traveling to US, I say: Be wary. Crimes against women in US are worse than crimes against women in Egypt–this while not downplaying the [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
House of Saud in Space
House of Saud wants to establish a space center. I bet the House of Saud’s space station would have a casino, a brothel, and a bar–oh, and a Wahhabi propaganda center to feign piety. (thanks Dan)
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Embargo: at least
“Amnesty International called on Monday for a global arms embargo against Israel, accusing it of using white phosphorous and other weapons supplied by the United States to commit war crimes in the Gaza Strip.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Living and dying in Shatila
Living and dying in Shatila camp. (thanks Marcy)
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Sons of…Zayid
“Abu Dhabi is negotiating an commercial deal with Israel that would grant the Arabian emirate access to the Israeli-built Eros B satellite and its high-resolution imagery, in addition to services it already receives from its precursor, the Eros A.”
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Zionist exploitation of anti-Semitism
You need to read this racist article: “The global economic meltdown, and the rise in anti-Semitism should be leveraged to increase aliya from the former USSR, US, Europe, Latin America and South Africa.” (thanks Asa)
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Pelted with shoes
“During a talk at the Apollo Hotel in Amsterdam on Sunday, Israeli speaker Ron Edelheit was pelted with shoes thrown by members of the audience. Mr Edelheit was a spokesman for the Israeli army during its recent offensive in the Gaza Strip. Police arrested two men and one woman, all in their early twenties. Outside [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Not in the US
“University workers in the Canadian University of Public Employees have passed a controversial motion calling for an academic boycott of Israel, and union members from at least one Toronto university are planning to pressure their school to cut any financial ties with the country.” (thanks Rashid)
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Lie
“In 1994, his two adult sons died within months of each other: one in a hit-and-run accident, the other in a disappearance from a boat off Florida.” No, the family lied. Alex did not die from a “hit-and-run accident”. He shot himself. I knew Alex well in the 1980s when I lived in Washington, DC [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Let Amos Oz go to Belgium
Stephen sent me this message (I cite with his permission): “In a recent interview in the Guardian, Amos Oz claimed that if all the Palestinian refugees returned to the West Bank and Gaza, then they would still be less densely populated than Belgium. A life in writing: Amos Oz ‘If every last Palestinian refugee was [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
The singer Wadad (or Widad)
I received the following message (I cite with the permission of its author): “I read your note about the late singer Wadad, Bahiyya 3awwad. She was my grand father’s wife, so the step mother of my late mother (By the way she named herself Wadad after my mother, the eldest daughter of her husband at [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
International Zionism
“More than 20 countries sold Israel weapons and munitions whose use during Operation Cast Lead could constitute war crimes and might pose serious infractions of international law, according to a report to be released by Amnesty International on Monday. The United States is at the top of the list of arms exporters to Israel, but [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
Was Hitchens attacked in Beirut?
According to a Lebanese police sources cited in Al-Akhbar, Hitchens was not attacked in Beirut. And the SSNP also denied the story and said that they had no posters in Beirut. If this story is made up it would not be a first: remember that Hitchens claimed to have interviewed Abu Nidal, when there is [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
It is called boycott, even if it offends Ms. Borgmann
Since when does Ms. Borgmann speak for the Lebanese people? And does Ms. Borgmann know the difference between boycott and censorship? ““I think a lot of Lebanese regret very much that they are not able to see this film,” she says. “I hope in the future that Lebanon will change its censorship law and the [...]
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad
US Tanks for Lebanon: but can’t be used for defense
US ambassador in Lebanon confirms that US will sell (old and used) tanks to Lebanon but that they can’t be used against Israel and its invasions. They can be only used against Syria and for purposes of internal repression.
Posted on February 23, 2009 by As'ad