Archive for March 7, 2010
My article in Al-Akhbar on International Woman’s Day
My article in Al-Akhbar: “International Woman’s Day? Why?”PS There is a story to this article. A group of young feminists in Beirut, belonging to the group nasawiya, visited Al-Akhbar newspaper and offered (or asked) to take over the entire Al-Akkhba…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
There has never been an Israeli peace camp
“The Israeli peace camp didn’t die. It was never born in the first place. While it’s true that since the summer of 1967, several radical and brave political groups have been working against the occupation – all worthy of recognition – a large, influent…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
More UAE miracles
“At only one point in his story did Naji Hamdan cry. Sitting in an office chair as he recounted how he was arrested, tortured and ultimately convicted of terrorism charges in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his voice barely wavered. Onl…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Cover up
“Instead, Britain reacted with remarkable restraint. Indeed, rather than exposing the fault lines of the Anglo-Israeli relationship, the Dubai issue actually shows just how sympathetic the current Labour government is to the Jewish state and its war…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
He is not a White European
“A Sudanese driver convicted of murdering his Saudi Arabian employer has been executed. Mussa Ahmed was beheaded in Riyadh in the eighth execution in the kingdom this year.” (thanks Ali)
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
wanted: Internment/Resettlement Specialist
“Provide counseling and guidance to individual prisoners within a rehabilitative program…” Why does “rehabilitative program” sound to me like an Orwellian term? (thanks Fahd)
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
These are your democracy advancers
“As soon as a U.S. Marine-led offensive swept the Taliban from Marja recently, a new civilian leader was rushed in, vowing to “bring back dignity” to the town. Turns out, he had served time in a German prison for stabbing his son, international offi…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
It could be a provocation
“It could be a provocation,” he said, suggesting that the regime’s enemies may have staged the Dubai deals to embarrass Aliyev. Bagirov declined to elaborate.” (thanks Sultan)
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
You steal their lands and you want them to serve you food? I mean, beyond Chutzpah
“The Azad Restaurant in Haifa refuses to serve IDF soldiers in uniform, Channel 10 reported on Thursday. The ban on uniformed soldiers was revealed after soldiers who were refused service turned to the channel. The restaurant, owned by Israeli Ara…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
US Congress may honor the Israeli spitters
A spit unto the nations: “Shocked by growing reports about Ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting at Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City, a group of Anglo residents is now mobilizing against this ugly practice. Although such incidents reportedly have decreased…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
An Egyptian arrested in Saudi Arabia for celebrating the pregnancy of his wife
The religious Wahhabi police accused the Egyptian citizen of being a “Christian” and for celebrating x-mass.
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
If this happened in Iran, the New York Times would have covered it from Toronto on the front page
“Saudi security forces confiscated books of a well-known reformer and critic of the royal family from stalls at the kingdom’s annual international book fair, a Saudi civil rights group said Saturday. The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association …
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Patriarch Sfayr
I cringe intensely when I see the face of Lebanese Maronite patriarch Sfayr sermonizing on any subject.
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Saudi-Israeli conspiracy? What Saudi-Israeli conspiracy?
“Deputy Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, MK Ayoob Kara (Likud), said Israel had received messages from radical Muslim states with which it does not have diplomatic relations saying they would back any Israeli or US move aga…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Sexism in Lebanon
“”Our laws are unfair and completely disregard women,” said Soueidan, sitting in her modest living room in a working class neighborhood of Beirut and drawing nervously on a cigarette. Under legislation adopted in 1925, 18 years before Lebanon’s inde…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
One more time: name the police that beats the Mossad? Ha ha ha
“For a force better known for its failure to manage traffic, let alone resolve Lebanon’s sorry catalogue of political murders, the counter-intelligence sweep is an unprecedented coup…Another clue may have pointed to the importance of the signals tr…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Syrian workers in Lebanon
Neither the lousy Syrian government nor the lousy Lebanese government, and neither March 14 nor March 8 care about the plight of Syrian workers in Lebanon. Last week, two Syrian workers were killed in Lebanon: one “fell” from a high building, and anot…
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Boycott
“Copti told Israel’s Channel 2 TV on Sunday morning that he cannot represent a country that he feels doesn’t represent him. “I am not Israel’s national team and do not represent her,” Copti is reported to have said.” (thanks Sarah)
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad
Armenian Genocide and Turkey: and the US Congress
So the US congress first voted on a non-binding committee resolution to condemn as genocide the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 2007. It voted again on the matter this week. It is unlikely that the vote will reach the House floor. …
Posted on March 7, 2010 by As'ad