Archive for August 5, 2009
Yemen
The situation in Yemen is not getting any attention in the Western press. It is probably fair to say that the Yemeni regime, nay the Yemeni state itself, is the most unstable in the region. Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on the front page that Al-Qa`idah …
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Ahmadinajad
I watched a live broadcast of the speech by Ahmadinajad in the Iranian quasi-parliament. The members of the audience looked so bored during the speech: as if they were watching a movie by Keanu Reeves–kid you not. And Ahmadinajad appeared so petty w…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Closure
“The Saudi offices of a Lebanon-based satellite station controlled by tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal could face closure over a racy talk show featuring a man boasting about his sex life, a newspaper reported on Tuesday. The local operations of the…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Attacks unto the Nations
“About 100 people, including members of gay groups and social organizations, participated Tuesday in a protest march in Haifa in the wake of Saturday night’s shooting at a Tel Aviv gay center. The demonstrators protested what they characterized as po…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Pride and glory of the Bush war machine
“A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the compa…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Bank Heisters
“But after a series of arrests and a sweep of a government compound, Iraqi police say the culprits were Iraqi army officers attached to the elite unit guarding Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi.”
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Walid Jumblat: recalibrates
Today, the Saudi Minister of Information (who deals with the Lebanon file), arrived to Lebanon and had a long meeting with Walid Jumblat. After the meeting, Jumblat recalibrated his position, and expressed his strong support for mini-Hariri.
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
The killers of Atwar Bahjat were found…yet again
For the fourth or fifth time, the Iraqi puppet government announced the capture of the killers of Iraqi journalist, Atwar Bahjat. Even Al-Arabiyya (the TV station of King Fahd’s brother-in-law) had to express skepticism.
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Trustworthy
“The online survey of 3,376 Chinese showed that 7.9 per cent of respondents considered sex workers trustworthy, putting them in third place after farmers and religious workers, the Insight China magazine said on its website. “A list like this is at t…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
He means business
Yesterday, King PlayStation donned his military fatigue and met with commanders of the Jordanian Army. It was quite a show on TV: his commanders looked more obedient than the commanders of Saddam’s army when he summoned them for a meeting. My favorit…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Thomas Friedman
I know people who get so annoyed with the columns of Thomas Friedman on the Middle East. I really don’t. I mean, what else do you want from somebody whose knowledge you don’t respect, and who is willing to expose himself–so to say–in public regular…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Neither Fath, Nor Hamas
“”No Hamas, no Fatah – all no good,” mutters a man carrying a tray of glasses of tea.” (thanks Ibn Rushd)
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Now he discovered this? What a late awakening
“”Have you ever heard in history about revolutionary leaders who possess, along with their sons, millions of dollars and sterling pounds?” he asked in the statement released to media organisations. Kaddoumi also criticised the Palestinian leadersh…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Abuse Unto the Nations
“The Central District Prosecution has announced it will file indictments against six doctors from the Hartzfeld Geriatric Hospital in Gedera suspected of abusing elderly patients, Ynet learned Wednesday.”
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Oh, yeah: Zionist papers care
“But those who are really suffering from heat are the West Bank city’s residents, who are waiting for the conference to conclude Thursday.” Oh, yeah. Israeli newspapers really care about the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Obama Middle East Expert
“Ross earned $421,775 from speeches last year, of which more than half came from Israeli and Jewish groups, according to a financial-disclosure statement.” (thanks Alain)
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Remembered
Shafiq Al-Hut, remembered.
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Fath gangs and their conference
“Hundreds of delegates at the gathering in the West Bank city of Bethlehem protested the lack of administrative and financial accounting by the Fatah leadership since the last congress in 1989. They rejected the explanations of the party’s governing…
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Minimum Leader
Maximum Leader is sitting next to Minimum Leader. (AFP)
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad
Samir `Atallah
Samir `Atallah is not a name: he is a phenomenon or a career. This is a pioneer in the art of prostrating oneself pathetically to Saudi princes. Read this column of his and count the number of Saudis mentioned who receive fawning praise.
Posted on August 5, 2009 by As'ad