Archive for July 2, 2009
A correction from Naomi Klein
I received this message (I cite with permission): “Dear Angry Arab blogger, Haaretz made a gross translation error in their article that they have since corrected. What Naomi Klein actually said was “More Palestinians were killed in 2008 than in 1…
Posted by As'ad at 10:22 AM 07/2/09
The New York Times Continues to Justify the Honduran Coup
“Fears that Mr. Zelaya had been plotting to undermine the Constitution and extend his tenure were among the driving forces behind his expulsion from the country at the hands of the military over the weekend.”
Posted by As'ad at 10:00 AM 07/2/09
She will not be famous like Neda
“An Israeli tank shell fired into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian girl on Thursday, Palestinian hospital workers said.”
Posted by As'ad at 9:34 AM 07/2/09
Naomi Klein misunderstands the meaning of Boycott of Israel
“The decision isn’t to boycott Israel but rather to oppose official relationships with Israeli institutions.”" And she is of course wrong when she says: “more Palestinians were killed in 2008 than since 1948.” Naomi Klein needs to be more educated …
Posted by As'ad at 9:28 AM 07/2/09
The People of Honduras
The people have spoken: on the walls of Honduras. (AFP)
Posted by As'ad at 9:26 AM 07/2/09
Flash: A new crown prince for Jordan
Meet the new Crown Prince of Jordan (to the right). He was selected by his father (today) purely for his skills and talents.
Posted by As'ad at 9:20 AM 07/2/09
Too weak, too little
“The new law says a man can still benefit from attenuating circumstances in crimes of passion or honour “provided he serves a prison term of no less than two years in the case of killing”.”
Posted by As'ad at 9:19 AM 07/2/09
Egypt: Hyper Militry Society
“Officers’ clubs boasting lavish sports facilities and restaurants; subsidised housing; military hospitals; these are just some of the most visible perks – the likes of which no other profession in Egypt enjoys. The military has also been transforme…
Posted by As'ad at 9:16 AM 07/2/09
Social Justice in Lebanon
Comrade Khalid attacks both sides in Lebanon for disregarding social justice.
Posted by As'ad at 8:52 AM 07/2/09
Claire Messud
“You might well ask how a bunch of novelists and nonfiction writers could be so dangerous as to require a military-ordained ban in a democratic country. I can’t tell you; except that our literary festival had the word “Palestine’’ in its tit…
Posted by As'ad at 8:49 AM 07/2/09
She was offended: is that not sad?
“I, and many others, may accept or appreciate Massad’s point, but cannot respect the means with which he makes it — outside, and according to some, inside the classroom.” Oh, really? OK, I shall tell Joseph to check with you before he talks about …
Posted by As'ad at 8:47 AM 07/2/09
Convenient violation of constitutional rights: where is the outrage?
An expert on Latin America that I respect sent me this: “This link is in Spanish, but the short version is that the Honduran Congress just approved a decree that suspends 5 constitutionallyprovided individual rights. These include freedom of associ…
Posted by As'ad at 8:45 AM 07/2/09
When repression is cute–by US standards
“Her on-air appeal for freedom of the press came as the newly installed Honduran government kept several news outlets closed, detained international reporters, and periodically interrupted the signal of CNN en español. Reporters for The Associated …
Posted by As'ad at 8:43 AM 07/2/09
Obama Deception
“There are other issues where our government has been oddly silent. Reports of political repression, the closing of TV and radio stations, the detention of journalists, detention and physical abuse of diplomats and what the Committee to Protect Jour…
Posted by As'ad at 8:40 AM 07/2/09
Al-Masri Al-Yawm
A journalist who knows Egypt well informs me that Al-Masri Al-Yawm has become quite close to Jamal Mubarak. (His relation to Husni Mubarak is purely coincidental here).
Posted by As'ad at 8:38 AM 07/2/09
Longest border wall-fence
“Saudi Arabia on Wednesday moved to bolster security along its borders with Iraq and Yemen with the award of a contract to build a 9,000km security system.” Saudi media were bragging–kid you not–that it was the longest security fence in the world. …
Posted by As'ad at 8:35 AM 07/2/09
Rahbani Brother (not brothers)
Amjad Nasir on `Asi Rahbani and the sham of Mansur Rahbani. (thanks Mirvat)
Posted by As'ad at 8:33 AM 07/2/09
The youngest prisoner in Israeli jails
Meet this youngest of prisoners (17 months) languishing in the jails of the Zionist usurping entity. (There are 400 prisoners under the age of 18 in Israeli jails). (thanks Sana)
Posted by As'ad at 8:29 AM 07/2/09
The boycott of Gad Al-Malih
Comrade Samah writes about the boycott of Gad Al-Malih.
Posted by As'ad at 8:28 AM 07/2/09
The FBI interviews of Saddam Husayn
“Hussein reiterated that he had wanted to have a relationship with the United States but was not given the chance.”
Posted by As'ad at 8:26 AM 07/2/09
The political courage of Christopher Hitchens
People have been remarking that Christopher Hitchens lacks political courage and that he does not attack Republicans anymore. Not true. Hitchens today attacked a very powerful and most influential Republican: Richard Nixon.
Posted by As'ad at 8:22 AM 07/2/09
Bernard-Henri Levi: the Philosopher
People ask me as to why Bernard-Henri Levi is referred to as “a philosopher.” Here is why: “The hyperbaric chamber where he tirelessly prepared himself for some kind of funereal ritual. He didn’t die from a drug overdose; he died because of his desir…
Posted by As'ad at 8:20 AM 07/2/09
To Sen. Mel Martinez: (and from Sen. Mel Martinez)
A constituent of Sen. Mel Martinez sent him this letter (I cite with her permission): “Please help get the boat into Gaza, Palestine (see article below) so the people under occupation and siege can get some of life’s necessities. All of the human …
Posted by As'ad at 8:18 AM 07/2/09
From Samir `Atallah to King Fahd’s Brother-in-Law: with Prostration
Samir `Atallah is not a personal name: he is a model of journalistic behavior in the Arab world. He is a Lebanese journalist who set the lowest standard of prostration before the oil princes of Arabia. In this article in the mouthpiece of Prince Salm…
Posted by As'ad at 8:17 AM 07/2/09
