Archive for July 29, 2011
Arab counter-revolution
My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: ”Two Courses in the Arab Counter-Arab Revolution.”
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
US TV news
As much as I criticize AlJazeera, yesterday as I watched NBC and ABC News at my brother’s house, I realized how superior the network is to US TV news. Don’t get me wrong: Aljazeera has become a lousy propaganda tool but its reports are still bett…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Syrian regime announcements
Why does not the Syrian regime issue daily announcements in which it makes clear its murderous intentions for the next day? Like: the regime would like to announce that tomorrow it plans to kill 20 innocent civilians. In this way, we can know wha…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
I am not making this up: this guy is known as the dumbest member of the Lebanese parliament
“As the conversation turned to presidencies, both Lebanese and American, MP Ali Osseiran said that he supported President Bush and his vision for the Middle East, but that the U.S. needs to do more if we want to realize the “freedom agenda.”" I am not…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Israeli dance
“”But why not dream of a new strategic triangle comprising Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, just as Israelis once dreamed of a non-Arab triangle between Israel, Turkey, and the Shah’s Iran?”(…) Triumphant capitalism, idolatry of the land, and…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
The orator of the 21st century now produces documents
“That Ziadeh was my source has been common knowledge in Washington, D.C. for months.” PS Ziadeh of course is noted for his speech here, which some consider one of the best speeches in human history. His use of the English language has been c…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
This is a first: A Hashemite rulers refuses to meet with an Israeli out of fear of his own people
“According to reports by a Kuwaiti daily made on Wednesday, July 27, King Abdullah II of Jordan recently declined a secret meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu. Well informed’ anonymous sources told Al-Jareeda newspaper that Ne…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
How the US helped in the nationalization of Iranian oil
A person who wishes to remain anonymous sent me this: ”Another book that came into my hands today, Iran, Israel, and the United States: Regime Security vs. Political Legitimacy by one Jalil Roshandel and published by Praeger, a frequent…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Speaking in cliches
“From today’s Daily Star:Mikati has a card described by political observers as the strongest among cards held by the parties participating in the government: The threat to resign, something which the March 8 parties cannot afford to live with.Hm…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
When Jeffrey Goldberg doctors his own writings
Michael sent me this: ”Goldberg posted a truly nasty blog post last Friday stating that jihadists were to blame in Norway. Then he doctored the post to make himself look less clownish, without acknowledging he made the changes. Then when he learn…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Wahhabi horrors
“A senior Saudi cleric issued a religious ruling to allow fathers to arrange marriages for their daughters “even if they are in the cradle”… (thanks Junaid)
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Bashshar and reform (not to mention the massacres of 1600 Syrians by the regime)
“But paradoxically — and contrary to the “awakening” narrative — most Syrians also believe that President Bashar al-Assad shares their conviction for reform. The populations of Damascus, Aleppo, the middle class, the merchant class, and non-Sun…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Flash: Jeffrey Feltman hails behadings in Saudi Arabia and consider them essential to true reform
“WITH 33 people known to have lost their heads so far this year to the executioner’s righteous sword, it cannot be said that Saudi Arabia is a sissy about justice. But just to make sure, the kingdom’s rulers are making its laws even tougher….A dr…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Tell Jeffrey Feltman that there are developments in Jordan
“”It is a consistent peaceful protest that is very stubborn,” 29-year old Khaled Kamhawi, a member of the activist group March 24 Youth Movement, told Babylon and Beyond. “There is no compromise. Jordan is a small country suffering from big problems –…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
FBI reading list
Among the books the FBI recommend to learn about Islam is none other than Raphael Patai’s The Arab Mind. You have to admit this: the US really works hard to maintain and expand its ignorance.
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
The FBI teaches Islam
“As recently as January 2009, the FBI thought its agents ought to knowthe following crucial information about Muslims:* They engage in a “circumcision ritual”* More than 9,000 of them are in the U.S. military* Their religion “transforms [a] count…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
The rhetoric of Arab potentates
“Egypt’s military ruler accused “foreign” groups on Wednesday of pushing some Egyptians into “inappropriate actions,” as tensions mount between the military and activists who demand reforms. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi said in an address …
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Repression in Bahrain and Jeffery Feltman
When Jeffrey Feltman speaks the Arab world yawns (or vomits). It is hilarious when he thinks he is making a smart point against enemies of Israel. For so many months, somebody has told him that he will sound smart and witty if he brings up …
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
Repression in Oman
“Human rights defender and journalist Mr Yousif Al-Haj is the subject of a criminal investigation and has been banned from writing or publishing articles by the Minister of Information since 8 July 2011. Further InformationThe ban on writin…
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad
`Abdul-Fattah Yunis: the non-Revolution eats its criminals
The assassination of Yunis is significant: it came on the heels of a summon for him to appear before the `Abdul-NATO council to explain the military situation. Many of the top military leaders of the rebels were not even on speaking terms. …
Posted on July 29, 2011 by As'ad