Archive for May 3, 2012

Bahrain Update

From Angry Arab chief Bahrain correspondent: “One more article.. have had lots of coffee and I can’t sleepYou know this article is going to be bad from the first sentence. He was paid by the government to come. No wonder he loves them. It gets even…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

NATO republic in Libya

“Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council has criminalised the glorification of slain leader Moamar Gaddafi and his regime.  The ruling body has introduced a raft of new laws ahead of elections in June, the first since Gaddafi was deposed last…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

A Gulf source sent me this:  ”Looks like Saudi Arabia will swallow up Bahrain after all (see FP article below). For some time and despite the turmoil, I thought that the government will probably not reinstate the state of emergency law because s…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

The view from Homs

I asked a contact in Homs to give me a feel of the place and he wrote (I am translating from Arabic): “The armed men are primarily in Hayy Al-Khaldiyyah and in Jurat Ash-Shiyyah, and they can also appear suddenly and nervously in other quarters.  …

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Trade unions in name only in Qatar

““We need to drop this reference and replace it with the contract between the two parties. The word ‘sponsor’ is equated by many with slavery more than anything else,” he said.” (thanks Basim)

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

French presidential debate

This segment of Sarkozy shows the extent to which he is trying to woo the supporters of the National Front.  But watching the debate, or most of it, I must confess that the debate is much more policy-oriented than US presidential debates.  Th…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Colonial feminism: the case of Turkey

Colonial feminists at the New York Times are really concerned over the plight of women in Turkey.  They say this:  ”The report — based on data from a 2009 Turkish government study in which 12,785 women were interviewed across 12 regions —…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Jordanian torturers in Bahrain

You don’t read much about that. (thanks Joseph)

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Reactionary agenda

The New York Times said:  ”President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his reactionary agenda…” Now from my perspective, Ahmadinejad’s agenda is indeed reactionary but would the New York Times ever dare to describe the agenda of Netanyahu as rea…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Egyptian "popular" delegation to Saudi Arabia

A delegation from Ikhwan arrived to Saudi Arabia, and Saudi media spoke of a “popular delegation”.  I guarantee that every member of the “people” was paid for his visit.  No Arab public or private expression of sympathy or affection for the H…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Benzion Netanyahu

I am still reeling at US media obituaries of Benzion Netanyahu.  Some obituaries referred to his patron, Valdimir Jabotinsky, and to his “Iron Wall” plan, but none referred to his racism and to his inspiration by Italian fascist nationalism. &nbsp…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Isma’il Haydar

The assassination of Isma’il Haydar (the son of the leader of a splinter faction of the Syrian Social National Party) in Syria yesterday is significant.  The party is a legal opposition party and is accommodating of the regime, but the leader does…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Aljazeera Covers Bahrain

Who says that Aljazeera does not cover Bahrain?  Today, the network interrupted a program on courageous Egyptian journalist, `Abdul-Halim Qandil, to air a live speech by the King.  The network carried a huge banner saying that: King affirms t…

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Bin Laden letters

I have been busy this morning with the Bin Laden letters. I am writing something about them for Al-Akhbar English.

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

Haytham Al-Manna`

Comrade Bassam Haddad conducts an interview in Sweden with Haytham Al-Manna`.  It contains one of the most revealing and crucial critique of the Syrian exile opposition, and of the gangs of the Free Syrian Army.

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad

That lousy Saudi-Qatari vehicle

Comrade Bassam blasts the Syrian National Council and Free Syrian Army on Aljazeera.

Posted on May 3, 2012 by As'ad