Archive for January 27, 2010

Two Tanslations of George Habash’s letter to his wife

First, Saja kindly translated this letter from George Habash to his wife:” A letter from George Habash to his wife, which he sent from Jarash Heights in Jordan, January 1971Dearest Umm Maysa[1],My greetings, yearning and love.I’ve received your lette…

Posted by As'ad at 10:08 AM 01/27/10

Ethiopian plane

Typical. It seems that the Ethiopian passengers had their seat belts on, while the Lebanese passengers did not.

Posted by As'ad at 9:57 AM 01/27/10

On the 2nd anniversary of his death

George Habash’s letter to his wife in 1971. Can you imagine the lousy Yasser `Arafat capable of writing a letter like this one?PS I want a volunteer to translate this into English. It is worth it. Our readers would appreciate it.

Posted by As'ad at 9:44 AM 01/27/10

Book reviews

I know that you are paying me (NOT) big bucks to maintain this site, o readers, enemies, and jerks but my jet lag and grumpy mood has prevented me from writing about books I have been reading. In breif. Al-Hakam An-Nu`aymi’s book on the movement of W…

Posted by As'ad at 9:22 AM 01/27/10

The US is in charge: exclusive

Lebanese military sources report that the US has now taken over the plane search area off Beirut and the Lebanese navy is not allowed to enter the search zone.

Posted by As'ad at 8:42 AM 01/27/10

List of Names of Victims of ET 409 Crash

List of Names of Victims of ET 409 Crash (thanks Beniam)

Posted by As'ad at 8:36 AM 01/27/10

Expression in Jordan

You may not curse Mubarak or praise Saddam in Jordan. And you are supposed to forget that Saddam was closest to Husayn, and that Uday (or Uuuuuday in American pronunciation) Saddam Husayn was best buddy with King PlayStation. (thanks Dina)

Posted by As'ad at 8:32 AM 01/27/10

The state with the short shelf-life

“According to a testimony given to B’Tselem by Ahmad Abu ‘Alia, a 21-year-old resident of al-Mughayir and a student at a-Najah University, on Wednesday, 25 November 2009, while he was waiting near the Za’tara checkpoint for a transportation to t…

Posted by As'ad at 8:28 AM 01/27/10

Yes, it is an Arab contribution to world civilization now

“”Shoe throwing is a strong insult in Arab culture, and has become a popular sign of protest around the world.”" (thanks Jeff)

Posted by As'ad at 8:28 AM 01/27/10

Lebanese immigration

Comrade Fawwaz on the political economy of Lebanese immigration. (thanks Mirvat)

Posted by As'ad at 8:26 AM 01/27/10

Another Obama war

“Yet though the offensive against al-Qaeda shows a new determination, it also carries risks. America has admitted to providing only intelligence and logistical support for the bombing raids. But local witnesses say they have also sighted American drone…

Posted by As'ad at 8:24 AM 01/27/10

What students in journalism schools should read

Politics aside, this foreign dispatch about Waziristan in the Economist, the best magazine there is, should be used in journalism schools as example of outstanding foreign dispatches.

Posted by As'ad at 8:23 AM 01/27/10

Male and Female employment rates

Swedish work ethic?

Posted by As'ad at 8:20 AM 01/27/10

thanks you for your interest

” “Thank you for your interest in our student association. However we would like to inform you that we have no interest in answering your inquiry.””

Posted by As'ad at 8:16 AM 01/27/10

road accidents

“In 2009 the political climate in Kyrgyzstan deteriorated drastically. Not just journalists, but also politicians and commentators critical of the president’s family have been attacked by unknown assailants. In March the bodies of the former chief of…

Posted by As'ad at 8:14 AM 01/27/10

colonial apologist

“When he famously declared that “I believe in justice, but I will defend my mother before justice,” he was denounced as a colonial apologist.”

Posted by As'ad at 8:12 AM 01/27/10

political pressures

“Certain areas of study, such as climate change, stem-cell research and work on the Middle East, are particularly vulnerable to political pressure. Professor Cole tells how two respected scholars, Joseph Massad at Columbia and Nadia Abu El-Haj at Barna…

Posted by As'ad at 7:17 AM 01/27/10

Heaven and hell and Zionism

““If Iran gets nuclear weapons, the Middle East will look like hell,” says one senior Israeli official. “I cannot imagine that we can live with a nuclear Iran.”” And does the Middle East look like heaven with Israel possessing nuclear weapons?…

Posted by As'ad at 7:15 AM 01/27/10

You got that one right, you apartheider

“Israelis see a global campaign of “delegitimisation” akin to efforts to isolate white-ruled South Africa. “I’m sure the Afrikaners felt like we feel now,” says Mr Raz.”

Posted by As'ad at 7:13 AM 01/27/10

All that you have done to our people is registered in notebooks

Just don’t forgive, and don’t forget. And when the time of liberation comes, restrain yourselves.

Posted by As'ad at 7:07 AM 01/27/10

Blame the black man

A lousy Lebanese demagogic politician claims without evidence that two MEA pilots refused to fly while the Ethiopian pilot (he did not call him `Abd (slave) to be fair, as is customary in that potato homeland) insisting on flying. As if the decision t…

Posted by As'ad at 7:01 AM 01/27/10

Lebanese racism against Ethiopians

Houssam sent me this (I cite with his permission): “In reference to the subject “ Lebanese Racism” ; I work in Tanzania , and I always take this plane , from and to Lebanon. When boarding the plane , the Ethiopian workers are called upon , shout…

Posted by As'ad at 6:23 AM 01/27/10

Ethiopian victims in Lebanon

Here is a report on the mistreatment of Ethiopian victims.

Posted by As'ad at 6:19 AM 01/27/10

UC Davis Law School

I did not tell you about my talk at UC, Davis law school. I don’t know whether it was because I just freshly came from Lebanon where I spoke to an Arab audience who share my passion on Palestine, but I was more intense than usual, and even more angry …

Posted by As'ad at 6:18 AM 01/27/10

Ethan Bronner

One wonders. When NYT’s Ethan Bronner now meets his son who serves in the Israeli occupation army, does he ask him: so son. How many Palestinians have you shot today?

Posted by As'ad at 6:16 AM 01/27/10

54 House members write to Obama on Gaza (not that Obama cares)

54 members of Congress write to Obama on Gaza.

Posted by As'ad at 6:13 AM 01/27/10

Letter to an Ethiopian

Comrade Ibrahim Amin writes a letter to an Ethiopian (I disagree with his desire to hug Sa`d Hariri)

Posted by As'ad at 6:12 AM 01/27/10

Al-Akhbar

I was not pleased with the coverage of the plane crash in Al-Akhbar the day after the disaster. The second day coverage is much better and has accounts of the Ethiopian victims and their relatives.

Posted by As'ad at 6:11 AM 01/27/10

Racicst coverage of the Ethiopian plane crash

Comrade Khalid notes the racism of the coverage of the plane crash.

Posted by As'ad at 6:06 AM 01/27/10

Lebanese Racism: you can’t hide it.

“DNA databases that will be used to identify mangled corpses are only being compiled from Lebanese blood samples. No Ethiopian has been asked to participate, even if relatives were on board.A normally well-respected broadcaster conducted a live piece…

Posted by As'ad at 6:05 AM 01/27/10