Archive for February 15, 2010
Death of Oslo
Comrade Joseph writes on the death of Oslo.
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Death of Oslo
Comrade Joseph writes on the death of Oslo.
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Isabel Kershner on Arab culture
“In conservative Arab Muslim society, the sexual aspect of the case “is something shocking, an earthquake,†said Mahdi Abdul Hadi…” Yes, Isabel. Only in Arab culture this would be shocking. A naked American politician on a video, wouldn’t be s…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Liberating Iran from Beverly Hills
“One Iranian journalist living in the United States, Mohsen Sazegara, had talked of last Thursday as a day that would change the balance of power and pave the way for a “final action†against the government, in comments that were widely circulated …
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Apology accepted, keep on bombing o liberating occupier
“An errant American rocket strike on Sunday hit a compound crowded with Afghan civilians in the last Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province, killing at least 10 people, including 5 children, military officials said. Avoiding such civilian deaths, whic…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Why do you bring Arabs/Muslims into a dirty story?
Look at this story and this headline: “Israeli Harem Leader Accused of Enslavement, Rape.” In my local newspaper, the headline was: “Israeli enslaves harem.” Why to bring the harem into the picture? The man is neither Arab or Muslims. Can you not re…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Times does not move in the East
Look at this vulgar expression of a classic Orientalist cliche: that times does not change in the East: “reminded me that the key forces shaping this region today were really set in motion between 1977 and 1979 — and nothing much has changed since.”
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Where the democracy, I wonder?
Notice how when Thomas Friedman lists the achievements of Sadat, there is no mention of the dictatorship that he constructed: “President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in his 1977 trip to Israel, was a bid to cast the Arab world’s future with the West, econom…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Thomas Friedman on the Yemeni dictatorship
“Visiting Yemen and watching the small band of young reformers there struggle against the forces of separatism, Islamism, autocracy and terrorism…”
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Arab Jews
“Jews who migrated to Israel left property everywhere from North Africa to the Persian Gulf. Some research estimates that about $1 billion worth of personal and community assets were left behind by 850,000 Jews who forfeited all when they left their…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Qatari government and Israel: the love affair
“However, considering that for decades Zionism and Israeli occupation have been the main points of contention between the US and the Muslim world, it is rather bizarre, even absurd, that the centre that sponsors the dialogue has been financially bac…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
sexist men and…women
“A majority of women believe some rape victims should take responsibility for what happened, a survey suggests.” (thanks Ema)
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Sa`d Ilyas
Al-Quds Al-`Arabi’s correspondent in Beirut, Sa`d Ilyas, is a mere propagandist for the Hariri family–like most reporters in Beirut.
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Return of the Dangerous Man
Marwan kindly (and promptly) translated my most recent article in Al-Akhbar: “The Return of the Dangerous Man: The Expedition of History”"Return of the Dangerous Man: Expedition of History”The story of the Dangerous Man is not over, and will never be. …
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
PA investigates itself
Another reason why you really need to learn the language of the country you study. I read today the item about PA’s corruption scandal in NYT by deputy Israeli propagandist, Isabel Kershner. It was so ill-informed. Compare that to this informative r…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Husni qui rit
For two days, the webpage of Husni Mubarak on Wikipedia (above the picture to the right) carried this title: Muhammad Hosni El-Kalb (the dog) Mubarak. It was corrected today.
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Sistani
A lot of Shi`ites in Lebanon and beyond were displeased with my article about the sectarianism of Hizbullah. Many wrote to me displeased with my strong criticisms of Sistani. Several asked me to explain my denunciation of Sistani. I will say this: yo…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Too bad that Nazila Fathi could not see them from Toronto
“Millions may have taken to the streets, but most of them were supporters of the regime…”
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad
Nayif Hawatimah
Nayif Hawatimah was on Aljazeera show with Sami Kulayb. Kulayb is a most able and calm interviewer: I loved his show Ziyarah Khassah. He is a very interesting interviewer–not as successful as a writer judging from his occasional articles in As-Safir…
Posted on February 15, 2010 by As'ad