Archive for July, 2009
Arab Women
My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: “Arab Women: Observations on issues of Feminism”
Posted by As'ad at 2:15 PM 07/31/09
This story of Iraqi gays will not get coverage
“Two gay Iraqi refugees sparked astonishment at a LGBT meeting in Lebanon when they accused US soldiers of committing atrocities against gay Iraqi civilians. An audience at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters last Friday was shown graphic images of …
Posted by As'ad at 8:04 AM 07/31/09
A Saudi-Zionist conspiracy? What Saudi-Zionist conspiracy?
“Au cours de ces trente dernières années, le monde arabe a produit trois avancées majeures, sous l’impulsion de trois dirigeants exceptionnels : le président égyptien Anouar El-Sadate, le roi Hussein de Jordanie et le roi Abdallah d’Arabie saoudit…
Posted by As'ad at 7:36 AM 07/31/09
Talking about the issues
Talking about the issues in California. (thanks Caroline)
Posted by As'ad at 7:25 AM 07/31/09
A stooge for Israel
“As the masses passed by him outside Beersheba’s Central Bus Station on Wednesday afternoon, Sheikh Salam al-Hoziel encountered an array of responses to his simple, yet surprising plea.” This buffoon has not heard of the more than 10,000 Palestinians …
Posted by As'ad at 7:22 AM 07/31/09
Maids for…Ramadan
“Finding a maid one or two months before Ramadan has become more difficult in the last few years, because both housemaids and housewives have their own requirements.“We cannot work in a house where we will not feel comfortable,” said Lia Hernan, an…
Posted by As'ad at 7:21 AM 07/31/09
Samir Ja`ja` feels like dancing
Samir Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent) feels like dancing. (thanks Jad)
Posted by As'ad at 7:15 AM 07/31/09
Oh, no. Not me.
“Skip has fallen victim to the Ivy League Effect. Check out his articles — you can definitely go to the Root — the Web site he is editor in chief of — if you want to see a repository for the whole masturbatory display. He all but says, “Do I look …
Posted by As'ad at 7:13 AM 07/31/09
The lousy Syrian regime
People in Syria are still condemned by the state for things like “undermining the prestige of the state, weakening nationalist sentiment, and spreading false information that could weaken the psyche of the nation.” Kid you not. (thanks Sana)
Posted by As'ad at 7:10 AM 07/31/09
Usurping entity’s rank
“The annual Global Peace Index ranked Israel 141 out of 144 countries on its commitment to peace, according to the organization’s report released on Thursday.”
Posted by As'ad at 7:09 AM 07/31/09
Armed gangs you like
“America continues to funnel arms and money to Fatah-controlled militias, encouraging them to attack Hamas in the West Bank, sabotaging the possibility of intra-Palestinian reconciliation.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted by As'ad at 7:07 AM 07/31/09
Those who rule Morocco
Those three rule Morocco. (Al-Mustaqbal)
Posted by As'ad at 7:05 AM 07/31/09
Remember to NOT vote for Lebanon
The Lebanese Forces fans are not pleased with my calls for people to vote for any country except Lebanon (and Israel). (thanks Eddy)
Posted by As'ad at 7:03 AM 07/31/09
Zee planes, zee planes
“Except for one short flight last year, it has been more than 30 years since the tiny Lebanese air force deployed its antique 1960s-era Hawker Hunter jet fighters, but on Tuesday they once again took to the skies to practise for the military day parade…
Posted by As'ad at 7:02 AM 07/31/09
The desert bloom? In propaganda movies only
Comrade Rami responds to the Zionist propaganda claim in L’Orient-Le Jour.
Posted by As'ad at 7:01 AM 07/31/09
World Bank’s Commands to Egypt
The World Bank (US-run) orders Egypt to increase taxes and to decrease subsidies. World Bank imposes economic rules on developing countries that don’t apply to the advanced world.
Posted by As'ad at 8:45 AM 07/30/09
Asian maids in the Middle East
“An Asian housemaid has taken her female sponsor and her sisters to court claiming they physically attacked her and locked her in a room after she refused to help move heavy equipment out of exhaustion. The five women, all sisters, provided entertainme…
Posted by As'ad at 8:36 AM 07/30/09
Fox News Misplaces Egypt
Fox News redraws the Middle East map.
Posted by As'ad at 8:29 AM 07/30/09
Norway and Israeli crimes
“Norway is reexamining its investments in several Israeli companies, in particular Elbit Systems. Two representatives of the Council on Ethics of the Norwegian finance ministry visited Israel at the beginning of June, in the wake of growing criticism o…
Posted by As'ad at 8:15 AM 07/30/09
Nayla Tuwayni and her non-sectarian marriage
The biggest social news in Lebanon is the marriage of Nayla Tuwayni (manager of An-Nahar—the racist, right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Syrian (people), anti-Palestinian (people) newspaper), MP from Beirut, to the Jerry Springer of Lebanon, Malik …
Posted by As'ad at 8:09 AM 07/30/09
Prince Khalid Bin Sultan’s Mouthpiece
This Saudi columnist writing in Prince Khalid Bin Sultan’s mouthpiece, Al-Hayat, claims that I hate the Saudi government AND the Saudi people. This is such a predictable ploy by advocates of the regimes, just as one writer accused me last week of hat…
Posted by As'ad at 8:02 AM 07/30/09
When WSJ talks about Lebanon
This esteemed WSJ reporter said: “Conservative Muslim women might take Banet Taxi to accommodate rules against traveling with unknown men.” What rules, o well-informed reporter? My grandparents had no such rules even early in the 20th century. They s…
Posted by As'ad at 7:58 AM 07/30/09
On the New York Times’ favorite Pakistani
I have posted two days ago about that half-White Pakistani who has been lauded in the New York Times. Adaner sent me this (I cite with his permission): “hope you’re well — i came across your post about NYT’s favorite pakistani, Mr. Mueenuddin, and wa…
Posted by As'ad at 7:56 AM 07/30/09
The Fath movement as an arm of collaboration
Abu Mazen is a habitual liar: since his early and later days. He has been saying that Israel has allowed all Palestinian members of Fath to attend the conference of the movement. He is lying of course. Israel has only allowed the Dahlanist members o…
Posted by As'ad at 7:54 AM 07/30/09
The Fath Movement
In my youth, the lousy Fath Movement was dubbed “the spinal cord” of the Palestinian Revolution. Today, it would be safe to describe the Fath Movement as “the spinal cord” of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Posted by As'ad at 7:53 AM 07/30/09
Taghreed El-Khodary: now giving political advice on how best to get rid of Hamas
Of course, I have written before about the lousy reporting and role of Taghreed El-Khodary in service of the Zionist agenda of the New York Times especially during the Israeli assualt on Gaza when she allowed herself to be used to provide token native …
Posted by As'ad at 7:48 AM 07/30/09
Critique of the Arab Human Development Report
Comrade Joseph comments on the Arab Human Development Report.
Posted by As'ad at 7:46 AM 07/30/09
It is all over now: Prince Sultan has been long gone. Remove the shovels
Amir of Qatar visits Morocco to check on the health of Prince Sultan, as did the Crown Prince of Bahrain (the normalization buffoon). You know what that means, right? It means that they went to attend the funeral and throw flowers on the grave site. (…
Posted by As'ad at 7:40 AM 07/30/09
The lousy Syrian government
The Syrian regime has closed down the Al-Mashriq TV station. It was accused of not signing Ba`thist tunes.
Posted by As'ad at 7:35 AM 07/30/09
I did not sign the petition on Gaza
There is a petition that was prepared by good people regarding the blockade of Gaza. I did not sign the petition although I am told that my name appears on it. This was due to an error. I would never sign a petition that calls on the Palestinians to…
Posted by As'ad at 9:30 AM 07/29/09
Attacks on me by Jordanian mukhabarat
You have to credit your enemies, sometimes. Like I would never deny that when it comes to vulgar, crude, and obscene attacks the Jordanian mukhabarat and its advocates are pretty good. Here a family member of Wasfi At-Tal (I think it is his brother, …
Posted by As'ad at 8:09 AM 07/29/09
Lebanon’s pride: trying to be white
Statements like that tell you why Lebanon and its culture bother me so much. I know of no other Third World country in which (vulgar and distorted) emulation of the White Man is more admired. “”Lebanon’s name has always been synonymous with war, but …
Posted by As'ad at 8:03 AM 07/29/09
Dershowitz: a new Revisionism
“Dershowitz: Palestinians ‘Played A Significant Role In The Holocaust’”. When the Zionist lies and fabrications get that big, it tells me that they are desperate and nervous. They have to be. Perhaps Dershowitz did not bother to read Arendt’s E…
Posted by As'ad at 7:59 AM 07/29/09
Sudanese dictator’s misogyny
Today, the Sudanese dictatorship imposes a sentence of 40 lashes against the leftist journalist who dared to wear pants in public. (thanks Sana)
Posted by As'ad at 7:50 AM 07/29/09
This is Zionism
“Far-right activists distributed fliers to fresh draftees at the Israel Defense Forces induction center in Tel Hashomer on Tuesday urging them not to confide in their commanders and to refrain from cooperating with investigators if they physically abus…
Posted by As'ad at 7:48 AM 07/29/09
It is over: a solution to Middle East problems
“Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told Christian Zionists that U.S. policies in the Middle East must be “firmly grounded” in Judeo-Christian principles.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted by As'ad at 7:46 AM 07/29/09
“The Family” goes to Lebanon
This has not received the attention of the press yet: “Berns: Does some of the criticism of The Family have an anti-religious bent — in a nation that values religious freedom?Sharlet: Why is Sen. Tom Coburn (Oklahoma Republican) going to the governm…
Posted by As'ad at 7:44 AM 07/29/09
Jamal Bubarak’s reforms (and he speaks English)
“” In April an Egyptian blogger, Ahmed Mohsen, was detained on the Orwellian charge of “exploiting the democratic climate to overthrow the government”.”" (thanks Raed)
Posted by As'ad at 7:41 AM 07/29/09
Who funds Taliban?
“”More money is coming from the Gulf than is coming from the drug trade to the Taliban,” Holbrooke told journalists at NATO headquarters in Brussels. He didn’t identify the countries where the sympathizers were donating from, but nations located on the…
Posted by As'ad at 7:39 AM 07/29/09
Mubarak regime
The Mubarak ruling party in Egypt released its own poll of the Egyptian public. It said that some 71% of Egyptians support the government. Next week, the ruling Mubarak party will release a poll that shows that 99% of Egyptians support granting immort…
Posted by As'ad at 7:36 AM 07/29/09
The new and revised Walid Jumblat
Walid Jumblat calls for the NOs of Khartum. Kid you not. As Ibn Rushd observed to me: he is sounding like Angry Arab these days. (thanks Ibn Rushd)
Posted by As'ad at 7:22 AM 07/29/09
The list
As-Safir publishes bios of the accused Israeli spies in Lebanon. Notice that the Israeli government which usually pleads innocence has stayed silence over the matter and has not permitted any Israeli media from discussing. It is called freedom of the…
Posted by As'ad at 8:04 AM 07/28/09
Dahlan o Dahlan
“Unidentified armed arsonists set fire to the Shopping Festival main stage under the watch of Israeli troops patrolling Nablus’ city center Monday before dawn.” (thanks Asa)
Posted by As'ad at 7:58 AM 07/28/09
Monument in Mali
A Monument to Muhammad Ad-Durra in Mali. (thanks Kathy)
Posted by As'ad at 7:53 AM 07/28/09
Talibanization of Hamas
It is imperative that the rule of Hamas be opposed as vehemently as the rule of Fath gangs in the West Bank. Neither Fath, nor Hamas. “Gaza Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul-Raouf Halabi released an edict today mandating that female lawyers must wear…
Posted by As'ad at 7:51 AM 07/28/09
That Arab Human Development Report
A critique by comrade Samah of the Arab Human Development Report
Posted by As'ad at 7:49 AM 07/28/09
Lousy Lebanese opposition
Comrade Khaled on the lousy Lebanese opposition.
Posted by As'ad at 7:48 AM 07/28/09
Lies or ignorance
With Israeli propaganda, you never know whether it is out of ignorance or out of habitual lying. “THE UNDP report was largely ignored by the state-controlled Arab media despite containing de rigueur criticism of Israel.” Of course, nothing could be f…
Posted by As'ad at 7:45 AM 07/28/09
Israeli propaganda outlets endorse the AHDR
“Writing from Beirut, Saseen Kawzally quoted approvingly Columbia University’s Joseph Massad in damming the report for adopting “the rhetoric and terminology used by the US and Israel.” Massad further criticized the English-language version of the repo…
Posted by As'ad at 7:43 AM 07/28/09
Prince Sultan is very dead
“King Abdullah has been satisfied with and reassured of the health of Crown Prince Sultan, the Cabinet was informed Monday by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior.”" You know what that means, don’t you? It means t…
Posted by As'ad at 7:41 AM 07/28/09
Asian workers in the Middle East
“Solita, a Filipina housemaid, is a victim of rape. A mother of three, the youngest is not more than a year old, she looks frail and in deep trauma. She escaped from a local employment agency here, where she was kept for months with other women domesti…
Posted by As'ad at 7:40 AM 07/28/09
Saudi sleaze website
I usually don’t link to the Saudi sleaze website, Elaph. The website is favored by MEMRI which refers to it as “liberal”. This is like calling Hustler magazine “progressive.” The site has an article expressing outrage that Lebanese MP (and An-Nahar …
Posted by As'ad at 7:35 AM 07/28/09
Boycott
“A campaign calling for a boycott of the Lebanese television channel LBC got underway in Saudi Arabia following the telecast of a controversial show. While appearing on The Bold Red Line, a Lebanese television programme, last week, Jeddah resident Maze…
Posted by As'ad at 7:34 AM 07/28/09
Gulf polygamous ties with Israel
“In fact, not too long ago a Gulf official asked me for contacts in the Israeli foreign ministry (which I did not have). It was a casual request, as if I were being asked to introduce a potential business partner.” (thanks Sana)
Posted by As'ad at 7:30 AM 07/28/09
…off to Portland
…off to Portland, Oregon. For legal consulting gig. No public speaking events unless I decide to yell and scream in downtown Portland.
Posted by As'ad at 7:25 AM 07/28/09
How the New York Times documents its stories on Iran
This is a collection of the documentation of one article on Iran from yesterday’s New York Times:1)”state media reported”2)”according to the Fararu Web site,”3)”Opposition Web sites”4)”according to an account posted on reformist Web sites.”5)”Web sites…
Posted by As'ad at 7:25 AM 07/28/09
Saudi blessing
“Most recently, when Bahrain made a public overture to Israel, Saudi Arabia gave its blessing but cautioned its neighbor not to go too far, one Saudi official said.” (thanks FLC)
Posted by As'ad at 6:15 AM 07/27/09
Queen of Beautiful Morals
“With her face and body completely covered by the black head-to-toe abaya mandatory in the conservative Muslim kingdom, 18-year-old Mullah was named ‘Queen of Beautiful Morals’ late on Thursday, newspapers said.” The man above won the title of King …
Posted by As'ad at 6:13 AM 07/27/09
Because they are obsessed with Danish cartoons
“Mullahs, imams, and assorted clerics found time to issue fatwas condemning among other practices, Pokémon cartoons, total nudity during sex for married couples, and the use of polio vaccines, not to mention Salman Rushdie. They have yet to find th…
Posted by As'ad at 6:12 AM 07/27/09
Family affair
“Mr. Barzani’s son heads the region’s security forces and intelligence service, while Mr. Barzani’s nephew is the region’s prime minister.”
Posted by As'ad at 6:09 AM 07/27/09
