Archive for January 26, 2012
Memory lane
One of the students at University of Nottingham tonight, Husayn Khalidi, is the grandson of Walid Khalidi who was my teacher at the American University of Beirut. I am delighted that Husayn’s politics are closer to my politics than to his grandfa…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Flash. Exclusive. The King of Jordan has dignity.
“A Jordanian political activist was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison for undermining King Abdullah II’s dignity, after he set alight a picture of the monarch this month. ”The [military] state security court sentenced Uday Abu Issa, 18…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
That lousy Wifaq opposition group in Bahrain
The Bahraini people are suffering from oppression, and this lousy group is relying on the services of Ahmad Chalabi: ”Jawad Fairooz, secretary general of Wefaq and a former member of Parliament in Bahrain, acknowledged that there had been contact…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Zionist logic about Arab monarchist dictatorships
“Of the possible sources of legitimacy — such as democracy, religion, monarchic succession, or the creation of great prosperity — they had none. ” He forgot to add Israel. Their alliance with Israel gives them great legitimacy, right? &nbs…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
GCC alliance
“Certain regional pressures may also apply against states wishing to reform, as the US political science professor As’ad AbuKhalil noted. AbuKhalil, who was invited to meet the emir of Qatar, subsequently wrotethat the latter informed him that pol…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
"controversial"
It was explained to me that the reason why University of Leeds required security is that I was considered a “controversial speaker”. What is controversial about me, damn it?
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Dumb and Dumber
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Women wearing Hijabs
You notice it. Women wearing Hijabs in the UK walk much more confidently than women wearing Hijabs in the US.
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
The Lebanese Upper class: a reason for having a bloody revolution in Lebanon
Tell that bar owner: your idea of fun, is so disgusting like all your ideas of fun. ”A bar in the neighborhood of Gemmayzeh has canceled an event, originally scheduled for this Friday, which invited guests to dress up as migrant domestic workers …
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
The US/Israeli conspiracy
Comrade Bassam Haddad is right: it is not a conspiracy anymore because it is out in the open. But just notice: the comprehensive systems of sanctions and isolation being simultaneously imposed on Syria and Iran. I mean, are there fools out …
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Lousy Syrian National Council
The lousy Syrian National Council issued a silly proclamation to the Lebanese people. In it, it said not one word about the abuse of Syrian workers in Lebanon. Who wrote this silly piece? Propagandists of Mini-Hariri? It has their tone and langua…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
The spoiled brats of Arab rulers
So the son of the Mauritanian president shot his Moroccan girlfriend.
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Plagiarism on Al-Manar TV
Al-Manar had to admit that it aired and published plagiarized reports on CIA operations in Lebanon.
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Press freedoms around the world
Something is wrong with some of the ranking: when it comes to the Middle East, you can always expect major screw ups. I mean, who can agree with them that press “freedoms” in Saudi Arabia are better than in Egypt? Even under Mubarak, for potato’s sake….
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Greenwald on American injustice
“The Rules of American Justice are quite clear:(1) If you are a high-ranking government official who commits war crimes, you will receive full-scale immunity, both civil and criminal, and will have the American President demand that all citizens L…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Armed gangs of the Syrian National Council
In condemning violence in Syria, the report of the Arab League monitors make it clear: that there are Shabbihah (armed thugs) belonging to the regime and to the Syrian National Council, under different names. Of course, primary responsibility of …
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Salutations to my comrades at the University of Edinburgh
“After public pressure from students and campaigners The University of Edinburgh has decided to end a proposed a deal with Bahrain’s Ministry of Education. The deal was announced by The Bahrain News Agency at the beginning of January …
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Adelson and Gingrich
“He’s a Zionist/neocon/right-wing Israel hawk. Much of Adelson’s political activity is devoted to boosting the right-wing Israeli line, both in Israel and the U.S. He donated a posh new headquarters to AIPAC, the Israel lobby in Washington, though…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
The new Speaker of the Egyptian parliament responds to the speaker of the Israeli occupation Knesset
The new Egyptian speaker wrote this on Twitter:د/ محمد سعد الكتاتنى (@SaadElKatatny)1/25/12 10:37 PMرفضت اليوم تسلم خطاب تهنئة أرسل إلى من “رؤوفين ريفلين” رئيس الكنيست الإسرائ…
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad
Bhutto cult
So the Bhutto cult is now full-fledged, like the Hariri cult in Lebanon. The Bhuttos wanted a special tribunal for the assassination but the US said no: it did not serve the interests of Israel. (thanks Sultan)
Posted on January 26, 2012 by As'ad