Archive for December 29, 2011

On Aljazeera English

For those who give a damn, I will appear on Aljazeera English this Saturday (early morning California time) to speak about Syria on “Inside Syria”. 

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Qaradawi mediates between US and Taliban

“Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a Doha-based Islamist scholar who once called on his followers to back jihadist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, has emerged as a key mediator in secret talks between the U.S. and the Taliban, government sources have told The Hindu.” (t…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Blair wants West to support and fund "Google types"

“One was “what I would call liberal democratic elements, what I would call the sort of Google types who were initially out in Tahrir Square, the up and coming, aspiring kind of middle class people who want the same types of things we want, the freedoms…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Is the New York Times kidding?

Look at this long piece about the mansion of one of the lousy sons of Libyan dictator, Qadhdhafi.  Is the Times suggesting that it compares the to the palaces of Saudi princes or UAE sheikhs?  Are you serious?

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

New York Times can’t wait any longer

Look at this headline.  The New York Times (and Israel) can’t wait.  They want Iran bombed now.

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Militias of thugs for the American occupation

That is your liberation, o Afghan people:  ”President Hamid Karzai has taken steps to disband a little-known, irregular police force financed by the American military with members in at least four northern provinces. Some members of the …

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Propaganda for the occupiers

“Until this week, a little-noticed part of the United States’ war effort here included teaching Afghan officials the art of public relations — mainly, how to give news conferences — at an American-financed government information center.But on Wed…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

US Rewards Qatar (and the Taliban)

“In a statement issued late Tuesday, Mr. Karzai reiterated his preference that a proposed Taliban peace mission be opened in Saudi Arabia or Turkey. But if the United States insisted that it be in Qatar, then “we are agreed,” he said in remarks to …

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Salafi currents in Eygpt

As-Safir writer, Qasim Qasir, writes about the history of Salafi organizations in Egypt.

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Hamas: defending the Syrian regime

The sectarian agenda of the Ikhwan Syrian opposition (and their liberal lackeys) were exposed this week.  For months, we heard from those groups fierce criticisms of Hizbullah for its lousy defense of the lousy Syrian regime.  But when Hamas …

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Training journalists at AUB: Ms. Abu Fadil

You have to read this most fluff piece about Nayla Tuwayni by the director of a journalism center at AUB.  I can’t believe how ridiculous it is.  It lacks the basic journalistic standards that students should be learning. She is clearly enamo…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

foreign domestic workers in Lebanon

Another foreign maid dead in Lebanon.  An Ethiopian maid, 20, “fell” from the balcony of the home where she works and dies.  Lebanese police never bothers to investigate.  Human Rights Watch called on the…Syrian government to investigate.

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Boycott

Boycott Armen Van Buuren in Lebanon. (thanks As`ad–not me)

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Middle East stringers

I have received a message from a person who worked for Western journalists in the Middle East.  He confirms that they often rely on rumors and that shady men and crooks often run into them and introduce themselves as senior members of this organiz…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Israeli propaganda

Don’t you like it when an Israeli propaganda paper stumbles (or invents) agreeable Arabs (one or two) and then have them parrot the Zionist line and then take them as representative of Arab public opinion.  You want a manifestation of Arab public …

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

This is now a regular feature: Ron Paul grovels to Israel

“But he said that he viewed Israel as “one of our most important friends in the world” and that he supports Israel right to attack Iran in self-defense.  “I do not believe we should be Israel’s master but, rather, her friend. We should not…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

Prince Turki Al-Faysal: I am perfect

Read the line of poetry that he cites.  He says that attacks by his enemies is evidence that he is perfect.

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

The Salah Jadid’s Democratic Ba`th Party

Comrade Kamal knows about Syrian matters.  He tells me that it is not true that the dissident Democratic Ba`th Party of Salah Jadid (and his supporters) is sectarian and adds that the party suffered a great deal under the repression of the Asad re…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad

US ambassador in Lebanon and MTV

US Ambassador in Lebanon, Maura Connelly made a point of visiting, with cameras in toe, the studios of Lebanese TV station, MTV.  It was unprecedented.  Here is a station that is known for extreme sectarian Christian views (airing reports abo…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by As'ad