Archive for November 18, 2011
Arab League Storms into Syria
My weekly article for Al-Akhbar: ”The Arab League Storms into Syria”
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
44 minutes into the newscast
After 44 minutes of the news cast this morning, Aljazeera remembered that there is a massive demonstration in Cairo against the GCC-funded Egyptian Military Council.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Al-Yasariyyah
I mentioned that a leftist Arab news station will be launching in the Arab world. But I mistakenly said that it will be based in Cairo. It will be based in Beirut. It will be called Al-Yasariyyah. Ahmad Chalabi will be launching a new…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Meet the Salafite candidate
A Salafite female candidate in Egypt says that because women are deficient in their mind and faith (this is taken from an attributed saying to `Ali Ibn Abi Talib, who had several misogynistic sayings) and thus should be disqualified from political…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Israeli injustice
“Many liberals, who feel they are a waning minority in Israel, fear that the bills will weaken the judicial checks and balances that have prevented a judicial slide into populism or religious zealotry. They particularly worry about the rise of judges s…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Another Obama war
“Kenya’s government has made an urgent appeal to the Obama administration for the Pentagon to provide intelligence and logistical support to Kenya’s faltering month-old military operation in Somalia against the Shabab, a powerful Al Qaeda-linked militi…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
A different perspective on Syria
“Moderate Sunnis in Syria are worried by the increasing militancy of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis who have taken the upper hand in opposition ranks. The large pro-regime demonstrations in Damascus and Aleppo over the past week cannot simply b…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Sleaze sells
The most widely read article in the history of Al-Akhbar English thus far is a story about the nude Egyptian blogger. What does that say? I hope Al-Akhbar does not get any wrong ideas.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Journalist Questions Legitimacy of Saudi Regime, Is Suspended from National Press Club
“On Monday I went to a news conference at the National Press Club, where I am a member, titled “His Royal Highness Prince Turki al-Faisal al-Sa’ud of Saudi Arabia.” I asked a tough question at the news conference — a question that dealt with the very…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Arab revolts
Comrade Joseph writes about the contemporary history of Arab revolts: ”As for the larger Arab context, those who call what has unfolded in the last year in the Arab World as an Arab “awakening” are not only ignorant of the history of the last cen…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Suha Arafat
I watched part of Suha Arafat’s interview on Dream TV. What a mess. But she said that Arafat confirmed to her his love story with Nada Yashruti. What is significant about that is that there have always been rumor about this love story…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Nada Bakri’s documentation of her reportage of Syria
“which activists reported, citing the accounts of local residents.”. So Let me understand this. Local residents tell “activists” who in turn tell Nada Bakri in Beirut? Or do the local residents tell activists who in turn tell neighbor…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
An-Nahda
An-Nahda of Tunisis is becoming more open about its plans for Libya. Its secretary-general spoke about “the caliphate”. Thanks for telling us about your plans.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Militia in-fighting in Libya
Here are the features of the new NATO government in Libya.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Khalifah Haftar
There is a new chief-of-staff for the Libyan NATO army. Here is some background. The picture is shaping up.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Arrest of a poet in Qatar
Qatari government arrests a poet because he attacked “Qatari symbols”. (thanks Sultan)
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Aljazeera strikes back
A GCC writer responds to my appearance on AlJazeera. (thanks Shahadeh)
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Riyad Ash-Shaqfah
So this leader of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood held a press conference yesterday. He confirmed that Islam and Islamic values will guide and rule over the new government that he wants to establish in Syria. Yet, he said that the new government wi…
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad
Freedom for Bassam Al-Qadi
I have received a message that Bassam Al-Qadi is missing: either kidnapped or arrested.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by As'ad