Archive for November 18, 2009
Israel’s dirty hands in Waziristan
“Use of Israeli-made light arms by militants against security forces in Waziristan has raised several questions amongst many recently. TheNation has learnt on good authority that militants are using Israeli-made light arms including “Uzi gun†a…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Makiya
A student in the US who does not want to be identified sent me this: “I saw your post today about Kanan Makiya and wanted to write you. One of my professors, for a class about Iran, had Makiya come in to lecture a few weeks ago because the former pr…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
If Muslims did that
“Intel will not employ Jewish workers on Saturday shifts in its Jerusalem plant, the chip-maker has suggested in a new compromise proposal. The move comes after large crowds of ultra-Orthodox protesters attacked the plant on Saturday, in protest of …
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Regarding the post from yesterday:
I mentioned that he sounded naive yesterday, so Ethan wrote me back (I cite with his permission): “Of course its nonsense, but we are trying to show that opposing the Hebron fund is a consensus issue (ie, even J Street opposes settlements and should …
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Thus Pontificated Havel
“He recently argued that nostalgia for the old regime reflected the condition of a people who had been imprisoned for so long that they did not know what to do with their newfound freedom.” Spare me your stupid theory. You just can’t accept that peop…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Najibullah
“Yet many people described him as enlightened. My colleagues who had worked with the Najibullah government from 1986 to 1992 spoke highly of his leadership and support for the country’s social development, especially public health and education. I…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Bribes among friends
“The Afghan minister of mines accepted a roughly $30 million bribe to award the country’s largest development project to a Chinese mining firm, according to a U.S. official who is familiar with military intelligence reports.” I am not impressed. Sa…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Aphorism of Havel
You know that I can’t stand this man. Look at this quotation which is supposed to be poetic or philosophical or both. I have never encountered more recycled cliches than I see in this man’s words. He is worse and more mawkish than Hallmark cards: “…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
“America’s Detention Image”
I often stack issues of the New York Times and Economist and read them in session or binges. So Yesterday, I was reading ten past issues of the New York Times and came across this: “The new complex is part of a broader effort to alter America’s det…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Stop the presses now: Urgent. Flash. Breaking News.
Shaykh Majid bin Muhammad bin Rashid of the House of Maktum (son of Shaykh Mo) has received a MA degree from the Dubai Police Academy for his thesis on “The Genius of Crisis Management in the Vision of Shaykh Muhammad Bin Rashid of the House of Maktum….
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Not in Saudi Arabia
“Israeli police have arrested a Jewish woman for wearing a prayer shawl at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Police said wearing the shawl – known as a tallit – was a violation of a High Court ruling that a dress code must by abided by at the Jewish ho…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
This is Zionism
He is trying to salvage what was left of his house which was destroyed by Israeli occupation forces in Jerusalem the other day. (AFP)
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Sunni sectarianism versus Shi`ite sectarianism
Read the last paragraph. Iran is now resorting to blatantly sectarian language in referring to the war in Yemen. This is a a new development and may point to a higher level of escalation in the Sunni Shi`ite conflict. What is rather ironic is that t…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
World hunger
Comrade Fawwaz on the FAO meeting in Rome.
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Demolishing houses
“Israeli bulldozers demolished a two-family Palestinian home in the town of Al-Isawiya in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, the second home demolition in two days.”
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Lebanese Air Force Brags
The Lebanese Air Force brags about dropping bombs on the Palestinian refugee camp in Nahr Al-Barid. “Lebanon’s air force officials on Saturday revealed making a desperate modification to a Bell Helicopter UH-1 Huey to drop bombs…” Ask the Lebanes…
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
get together with the occupiers
Look at the “the most important news” banner on top. It says: “Israeli officers visit the directorate of Ramallah police for acquaintance and improvement of relations.” (thanks Electronic Ali)
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad
Egypt versus Algeria: sports hooliganism and narrow nationalism
My article for Aljazeera.net: “The politics of sporting rivalry.”
Posted on November 18, 2009 by As'ad