Archive for September 1, 2009
Col. Queen Youtube
Do you know that the Jordanian queen automatically holds a military rank in the Jordanian army? I kid you not. She has the rank of colonel. Oh, yeah.
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
House of Saud and Al-Qa`idah
The story of the assassination attempt on Muhammad Bin Nayif is still developing. Today, Saudi media released an audio tape of a phone conversation between the prince and the assassin. But the conversation reveals a degree of familiarity, nay intimac…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
A Lebanese Shi`ite Madoff?
There is a brewing scandal in Lebanon: a Lebanese Shi`ite Madoff? Apparently, he is linked to Amal and Hizbullah and may be behind the Hizbullah’s quasi publishing house, Dar Al-Hadi.
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
I blog for Muhammad Dahlan
“He was clearly unhappy with the way some of his own government had not fully backed the plan. Fayyad thanked me again and invited me for a longer discussion at a time to be determined later…As one member of the Palestinian people, the phone call fro…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Salam Fayyad versus Abu Mazen
A feud is intensifying between Abu Mazen and Salam Fayyad. It is clear that Fayyad received American/Israeli nomination as the successor to Abu Mazen, which led several PA’s officials, like Nabil `Amru and Yasir `Abid-Rabbu to defect to Fayyad. This …
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Bringing democracy to Iraq
“At least 1,000 prisoners are on death row in Iraq, which now has one of the highest rates of execution in the world, the human rights group Amnesty International says in a report being released Tuesday.” (thanks Zainab)
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
The treasure hunt in Lebanon
I told you about the Lebanese Finance Minister’s search for an Ottoman treasure. Well, nothing was found. The search was suspended for a while because the Sunni Muftititi insisted on a share of the treasure. This is Lebanon.
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Lebanese president’s speech making
The Lebanese president is making a speech as we speak. Please turn off all lights as we are trying to sleep.
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
The Libyan dictator’s PR campaign
“The consultants claim their PR campaign thus far has led to a wave of positive coverage about Libya in the Western media and had many positive knock-on benefits. ‘Soros regularly plays tennis with Anthony Giddens, and they are known to have discu…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Danish cartoons–not pastries
If I hear one person protesting Danish cartoons, I will consider putting him/her before a Mahdawi-style court for bothering me. “A letter from a Saudi Arabian lawyer demanding an apology for the reprinting of the Mohammed cartoons has been dismissed…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Lebanon’s sectarian rules
A person who works at a European embassy in Beirut sent me this (she/he does not want to be identified): ” .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } – in the Serail during Ramadan, no water nor ca…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
American contribution to Iraq
“Fifteen months ago a Sky News investigation revealed growing numbers of children being born with defects in Fallujah. Concerns were that the rise in deformities may have been linked to the use of chemical weapons by US forces. We recently returned…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Book bans in the US
A map of book banning in the US. (thanks Jamal)
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Why we need to uphold the three Nos of Khartum
“Anyone venturing far from Gaza’s shore risks not only gunfire but also blackmail as Israeli warships trawl the besieged Palestinian territory’s waters for informers. The Al-Mezan human rights group says it has documented the arrests at sea of hund…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Zionist heroism: shooting kids
“An Israeli hospital says a Palestinian teenager shot in a clash with Israeli troops has died of his injuries. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center says the youngster died of gunshot wounds. Palestinian police on Tuesday identified the dead boy as M…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
The Libyan Dictator: friend of the West
This billboard in Libya says: “Wherever you went, happiness prevails, and life attains ornaments.” Kid you not. (AFP)
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Yemeni war
I wonder where the Yemeni Army is getting its weapons from. But no matter what, I am sure that this is a civil war where the US is not involved. I know that I have often argued that the US is involved in every single dirty war around the world, direc…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad
Excuse me, Carlotta, but…
“Afghan election officials said Sunday that the serious fraud reports that they were considering had suddenly doubled — to 550 from 270, in a development likely to stoke public outrage and perhaps even delay the official results past September. By la…
Posted on September 1, 2009 by As'ad