Archive for August 13, 2009
Western media: where is Yemen? What is Yemen?
There is a war–or at least two civil wars–going on in Yemen with barely a word about it in the Western media. This why you can’t really study or follow the Middle East without studying its languages.
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Fath clowning
Abu Mazen is not pleased with the interview with Abu `Ala’ (see posts below on the Fath circus). Don’t be surprised if suddenly Fath announces that Abu `Ala’ has indeed won a seat on the Central Committee–earlier annoucement to the contrary notwithst…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Torture in Mubarak republic
Torture in Port Said. (thanks Hossam)
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
This is the true Lebanonesia
“The Lebanese office of campaign group Human Rights Watch says a majority of beach clubs it surveyed are preventing many migrant workers from Asia and Africa from using their facilities.”
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Danish cartoons–not pastries
“So Yale University and Yale University Press consulted two dozen authorities, including diplomats and experts on Islam and counterterrorism, and the recommendation was unanimous: The book, “The Cartoons That Shook the World,†should not include th…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Taharrush
“The Arabic term al taharush al jinsi (sexual harassment) has only been in use since the mid 90’s.” This is quite untrue. The term has been used since the 1950s if not earlier.
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Save Darfur’s numbers
“Although the 400,000 figure really is not credible at any level – and not even the coalition uses it any more – it has been embedded in the minds of many commentators on the crisis. For example, it was cited in a Special Report on the Arab wor…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Western ideals
“Danish police have used force to evict 17 Iraqi men from a Copenhagen church where they had sought refuge.”
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Outraged?
“Residents of Qatar are outraged over media reports that 30 Saudi women have had to work in the same “humiliating†conditions that were formerly deemed acceptable only for foreign migrant workers. The women, ages 20 to 45, arrived in Qatar to be…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Walid Jumblat: in concert
Matthew (a foreign correspondent in Lebanon) sent me this (I cite with his permission): “Asad, Walid Jumblatt was front row at the Palestinian Orchestra ft. Marcel Khalife concert tonight at Bet al-Din in the Shouf. At the end of the concert when …
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Transparent
“”Our people and the world followed Fatah as it undertook an election process which was democratic and transparent,” Abbas told a news conference.” Oh, yes. Abbas is so transparent that you can see his underwear when he stands.
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
A dictator/terrorist who excites the West
“A key driving force behind this steady rapprochement is growing British business interest in Libya. BP has invested roughly $1bn in oil and gas exploration there while other oil majors and EU governments, notably France, are also in on the act. Bri…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
HRW: and their “pro-Israel” donors
“”These casualties comprise a small fraction of the Palestinian civilians wounded and killed,” it said.”But they stand out because, in each case, the victims were standing, walking or in slowly-moving vehicles with other unarmed civilians, and were …
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Zionism-is-racism: spread the word
“At least 100 students of Ethiopian origin in Petah Tikva do not know what school they will be attending in the fall, with the opening of the school year just two and a half weeks away. The uncertainty stems from the fact that the city’s private sch…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Lebanese Army
Do you know that there is an organization in Lebanon which comprises “Veterans of wars” by the retirees of the Lebanese Army? Which wars did the Lebanese Army fight, with the exception the brutal harassment and bombardment of refugee camps, and assist…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Washington Post and Jaubert
What the Washington Post did not report about Jaubert: “According to court documents obtained by XPRESS, Dubai World said Jaubert was paid Dh7.8 million to build submarines which he allegedly never delivered. The court records also state Jaubert rec…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
This is Zionism
“Human Rights Watch published a report Thursday detailing testimonies of seven incidents in which Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip were shot by Israeli soldiers despite the fact that they were carrying white flags.” Notice the first sentence o…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Corrupt clowns versus corrupt clowns in Fath
“”The forgeries in Iran were much smaller than what we had in Palestine,” said former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qureia, who was not elected for the Fatah movement’s Central Committee in elections this week. The results were published Wednesd…
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Dahlan and Rajjub are called “progressive”
“Younger progressive candidates were elected: Jibril Rajoub, a former security adviser to Yasser Arafat; Mohammed Dahlan, a former Gaza security chief and traditional favourite of U.S. administrations…” (thanks Riaz)
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad
Israeli crimes in South Lebanon
Two boys were injured in South Lebanon from a cluster bomb left over by the terrorist Israeli army in South Lebanon. Israeli military heroism against women and children can’t be denied.
Posted on August 13, 2009 by As'ad