Archive for May 22, 2009
Elections and Reform
My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: “Election and Reform: Inverse Proportionality”.
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Joe Biden
A person I know was invited to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a few years ago. Joe Biden invited him to lunch. I asked the person: so was he one of those who was willing to criticize Israel in private? He said: no, he is bad i…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Strains in inter-Arab relations
I of course celebrate any news of conflict or feuds between Arab regimes. Saudi Arabia’s relations with its neighbors have been quietly deteriorating: Its relations with Oman have been strained, and now the UAE is expressing criticisms of the Saudi ro…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Away from the NYT’s watchful eyes
It seems that Taghreed sounds different when she is not writing in the New York Times. (thanks Shakib)
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Israeli spies
“Israel’s government routinely refuses to discuss its intelligence activities, but Israeli commentator Ronen Bergman, a private expert on security affairs, said reports emerging from Lebanon could signal key errors by Israeli intelligence…Bergman, au…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Israeli spies and collaborators
“Beautiful women, clandestine trips abroad and a hurried escape across a mine-infested border … All are aspects of alleged Israeli espionage networks unraveling in Lebanon and worthy of a spy novel. Nearly 20 suspected spies, including a butcher, a m…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
dogging the New York Times
“I was dogging the New York Times and star columnist Thomas Friedman last week for lack of transparency after it was revealed that Friedman received $75,000 for speaking to a Northern California air quality district.” (thanks Sophie)
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Threats to Arabs
“•When asked which countries pose the biggest threat to their well-being, Arabs by and large name the same two they have for years: the US and Israel.” (thanks As`ad–not me)
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
I told you so, damn it
“No hope or change from Obama-Netanyahu meeting.” (thanks Electronic Ali)
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
News from Lebanonesia
The irony is that no people in the Middle East invoke the work “civilized” and “advanced” more than the Lebanonese people: “That friend, an Indian who recently completed her doctoral thesis and whose husband is an architect for the United Nations, sai…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Threats?
“The State of Israel copes not only with one but with at least seven existential threats on a daily basis.” Only seven? (thanks R.)
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Biden in Beirut
Nichols Noe in Middle East Times: “Biden’s visit is intended to shore up the waning brand appeal of the pro-U.S. March 14 alliance before the polls. However, the VP and his advisors should consider that the long list of “lightning” visits over the las…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Ad-Diyar: meeting with Prince Bandar
Here is the fruit of the meeting between Bandar and the publisher of Ad-Diyar.
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Punishment
“An ex-soldier convicted of raping and killing an Iraqi teen and murdering her family was spared the death penalty Thursday and will serve a life sentence after jurors couldn’t agree unanimously on a punishment.” He will be out in a few years. (thanks…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Was he lynched? Lebanese police would not investigate
The two camps in Lebanon are in conflict but they both don’t care about what happens to the Palestinians in Lebanon and to the Syrian workers in the country. A Syrian worker was found dead from hanging: there are suspicions that he may have been kille…
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad
Another scheme from American Zionists
“US Colonel Advocates US ‘Military Attacks’ on ‘Partisan Media’ in Essay for Neocon, Pro-Israel Group JINSA” (thanks Dina)
Posted on May 22, 2009 by As'ad