Archive for November 15, 2011
Two great minds discuss strategic matters
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Authoritarian unto the nations
“The Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday approved two bills that would limit foreign funding for Israeli human rights organizations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already announced support for one of the bills, sponsored by tw…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Bahrain royal puppet parliament
“Bahrain’s lower chamber has called for the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador in Manama.” They did not call for the expulsion of their beloved King for his repression.
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Even a right-wing racist is protesting
“The proposal by some members of the Knesset to strip the Arab language of its current status as one of the official languages of the State of Israel is a senseless move and, what’s more, a sign of disrespect toward the more than one million citizens o…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Incidentally, there are Ferguson’s biases
“As in his previous books, Mr. Ferguson does little to mute his own strong ideological views: He denounces Marx as “an odious individual”; disdains what he calls “a lumpenproletariat with vices” like drinking gin and engaging in street fights; …
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Karzai’s fate
“Afghan officials affirmed, however, that Mr. Karzai’s overarching goal is to obtain an agreement with the Americans, not least because he knows that his fate is closely tied to their military presence and aid.”
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Nada Bakri documents her reports
“Activists said.” Would her foreign editor allow her to use “activists said” in talking about Palestine or about governments which are clients of the US/Israel?
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
In the Presence of Absence
I received yesterday the new volume of Mahmud Darwish’s In the Presence of Absence. I could not put it down: it distracted me from my work. Comrade Sinan did a great job in rendering the poetry into English. It is so clear that he spe…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
The Sleazy State
“The minister of women’s affairs in Gaza, Jameela al-Shuntee, has denounced a decision by the Israeli Prison Authorities to install surveillance cameras in female common areas inside the Hasharon Prison. Al-Shuntee asserted that this arbitrary measure …
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Blogging for Syrian people
A Syrian opposition comrade is blogging on Syria: against regime and Ikhwan opposition and Arab League.
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
US helps Turkey kill Kurds: how kind
“The United States has deployed Predator drones to Turkey from Iraq for surveillance flights in support of Ankara’s fight against Kurdish rebels, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday.With US forces withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year, the four Ame…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Business versus democracy
“The world’s top planemakers issued bullish forecasts for demand from the Middle East on Monday, underlining the region’s importance to the industry a day after Boeing (BA.N) unveiled a blockbuster deal to sell 50 of its 777 jetliners to host airline E…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Yemen versus Syria
Fahmi Huwaydi, the most widely read Arab columnist in my estimation–he is a moderate Islamist, writes on the Arab League. This fierce critic of the Syrian regime asks why the Arab League has not acted on Yemen.
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Is there a doubt?
Is there a doubt that Western and Arab attitude toward the Syrian regime has nothing to do with its repression and killing? Is there a doubt whatsoever? I mean, if the regime were to sign a peace treaty with Israel next week, the US governm…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Uncovered hate crimes in the US
“So-called “hate crimes” against Muslims rose nearly 50 percent in the United States in 2010, according to FBI statistics released Monday.The figures, part of a report on hate crimes, showed actions motivated by anti-Muslim prejudice rose to 160 in…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
The new cause of lousy Ahmad Chalabi
I wrote about this in Arabic. Shame on any member of the Bahraini opposition who accepts the help of Chalabi. I am not surprised that the sectarian Al-Wifaq is allowing this man to advocate on behalf of the Bahraini people. He should …
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Bigotry against `Alawites
I am still alarmed at the blatant bigotry against `Alawites. But the Ikhwan and their Wahhabi sponsors in Qatar and Saudi Arabia are bigots by doctrine. Shame on Razzan Zeitunah, the Syrian dissidents, for casually dismissing the sectarian killin…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Sectarian warfare in Homs
I received what one resident of Homs wrote. Apparently a sectarian warfare is raging there. Sunni versus `Alawites and vice versa. Christians are displaying large crosses to identify themselves. I am told that even some Sunnis a…
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
Qatar’s foreign policy
I read Anthony Shadid’s piece on Qatari foreign policy. It is missing the most important determinant of Qatari foreign policy. I shall comment on that for Al-Akhbar English.
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad
This story is ignored in the Lebanese press–all of the Lebanese press
“”Selon un décompte effectué devant les juges, M. Takieddine a lui-même admis avoir conservé un montant de 70 millions de dollars sur une somme totale de 130 millions, qui a transité par une institution financière de M. Hariri, la Banque de la M
Posted on November 15, 2011 by As'ad