Archive for June 25, 2009
Prince Muqrin
Today, the Lebanese parliament held elections for its top posts. In the election for Deputy Speaker, there was one vote for “Prince Muqrin Bin `Abdul-`Aziz.” (He is the head of Saudi foreign intelligence service).
Posted by As'ad at 8:59 AM 06/25/09
Dictators you like
“One of the most generous gift-givers was Libya’s Moamar Qaddafi, who seemed particularly grateful for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Tripoli last year, giving her gifts with a total value of $212,225, including a diamond ring an…
Posted by As'ad at 8:46 AM 06/25/09
Diamonds in the land of Hummus
“and Lebanon is exporting more rough diamonds than it imports despite having no local deposits.” (thanks Suha)
Posted by As'ad at 8:26 AM 06/25/09
Aljazeera for sale?
The prime minister of Qatar (who denies that he owns AlJazeera) spoke on AlJazeera yesterday. He said that somebody offered to buy Aljazeera for $5 billion a few years ago. I can report to you that this offer was by Haim Saban. He was planning to ma…
Posted by As'ad at 8:22 AM 06/25/09
Ahmad Jibril
My sources tell me that Ahmad Jibril will be launching a satellite TV station. It will not be carried by either Arabsat or Nilesat.
Posted by As'ad at 8:21 AM 06/25/09
PA repression
The arrest of a Palestinian journalist by goons of Abu Mazen (who term in office expired last January) for an article that he wrote went unnoticed in the Western press.
Posted by As'ad at 8:20 AM 06/25/09
An Arab view of Iran
Azmi Bisharah offers observations on the Iranian situation. (thanks Mirvat)
Posted by As'ad at 8:19 AM 06/25/09
Meddle: but don’t appear to be meddling, as Obama said
“Brent Scowcroft said on Wednesday that “of course” the US had agents in Iran amid the ongoing pressure against the Iranian government by protesters opposed to the official result of its presidential election.”
Posted by As'ad at 8:12 AM 06/25/09
Premise
“The premise of Thomas’ question was compelling and (contrary to Obama’s dismissal) directly relevant to Obama’s answers: how is it possible for Obama to pay dramatic tribute to the “heartbreaking” impact of that Neda video in bringing to light the…
Posted by As'ad at 8:11 AM 06/25/09
MRZine and Iranian state propaganda?
MRZine had a headline about “8 Basijis shot dead during Tehran unrest”. The Headline and the link belong to Iranian state Press TV. Why didn’t MRZine find it appropriate to put the news of civilian deaths in the headline? (thanks Malihe)
Posted by As'ad at 7:34 AM 06/25/09
Saudi morality
“One answer is that the Saudi authorities are thoroughly hypocritical when it comes to morality, choosing when to enforce their bizarre moral code and when not to. But it’s also about race and class. Filipino workers in the kingdom are expendable. A…
Posted by As'ad at 7:32 AM 06/25/09
In one week: tell CNN to twitter this
“- Five Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, and an international human rights defender were wounded.- IOF conducted 19 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.- IOF arrested 22 Palestinian civilians, including two children,…
Posted by As'ad at 7:29 AM 06/25/09
Happens everywhere
“Egypt’s National Council for Women, which should by all rights be addressing these issues, is in denial. Mohamed Nasef, a spokesman for the organization, says reports are “exaggerated,” but also that harassment “happens everywhere.”" I mean, he is…
Posted by As'ad at 7:23 AM 06/25/09
Alan Dershowitz is considered a liberal in the US
So Prof. Dershowitz. Would you care to define Iran to the readers of the Harvard Crimson: ““This is a suicidal nation,” he said. “It’s a terrorist nation.”” (But is it not funny that the article identified Marvin Kalb thus: “Kennedy Schoo…
Posted by As'ad at 7:18 AM 06/25/09
Arab attitudes to Ahmadinajad
The position of Arab intellectual and public sympathy for Ahmadinajad needs to be explained (not justified). It is not that Arabs like Ahdmadinajad per se: but they really hate his enemies so much that they make the choice. The fact that Ahmadinajad’…
Posted by As'ad at 7:10 AM 06/25/09
Brutal
“Iranian officials stepped up efforts to crush the remaining resistance to a disputed presidential election on Wednesday, as security forces overwhelmed a small group of protesters with brutal beatings, tear gas and gunshots in the air.” Notice that w…
Posted by As'ad at 7:07 AM 06/25/09
Reversal
“Kyrgyzstan has essentially reversed a decision to close an American air base that is central to the NATO mission in nearby Afghanistan, after the United States acceded to sharply higher rent and to minor restrictions on the site, Kyrgyz and American o…
Posted by As'ad at 7:04 AM 06/25/09
Viable
“After all, when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon assured President George W. Bush of his support for a Palestinian state in April 2004, he referred to Palestinians in the West Bank having what he called “transportation contiguity,” meaning tunnels bene…
Posted by As'ad at 7:03 AM 06/25/09
Saudi propaganda
Yesterday I was watching Al-Arabiyya TV (the station of King Fahd’s brother-in-law) and it was really comical. The Saudi propagandist, or anchor, was yelling at the Iranian guest: he wanted to know why Iran can’t conduct a free and fair election. I k…
Posted by As'ad at 7:02 AM 06/25/09
Zizek Rule
This is Zizek Rule: When Iranian demonstrates against their government, it is good Islam: “And, last but not least, what this means is that there is a genuine liberating potential in Islam – to find a “good” Islam, one doesn’t have to go bac…
Posted by As'ad at 7:00 AM 06/25/09
