Archive for June 6, 2012
Exclusive: the new Syrian prime minister is brother-in-law of Maher Al-Asad
Riyad Hijab, the new Syrian prime minister, is brother-in-law of Maher Al-Asad. His wife is the sister of Maher’s wife from Jid`an family. If this is not real reform, what is real reform, damn it?
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Reform arrives in Syria: meet the new Prime Minister
Now we are not supposed to make judgement based on appearance, but, man, this guy really looks mukhabarat. In fact, when movies cast mukhabarat men, they cast people who look just like him. But don’t worry, he is supposed to be a reformist …
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
desperate for news
It is funny that Western and Arab (oil and gas-funded) media report that “clips on Youtube” showed this or that demonstration in Syria. Do you bother to watch some of them? Today, Al-Arabiyyah (news station of King Fahd’s brother-in-law) reported…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Qatari money
“C’est la troisième transaction la plus importante en immobilier d’entreprise depuis dix ans. Le fonds d’investissement qatari, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), a acheté vendredi à Groupama l’immeuble de 27 000 m2 qui abrit…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
There is no reactionary cause around the world that has not received Saudi financial support
“In testimony before investigators looking into secret arms sales to Iran and covert financing schemes for the contras, Mr. Calero described how he helped set up secret bank accounts and dummy corporations to receive money after the Congressional ban w…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Achievements of Jeffrey Feltman
changed the Middle East.
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Syrians in the US
This is purely my observation and not based on any survey, obviously. I would say that some 70 to 80 % of Syrians in the US are now opposed to the regime and the rest support the regime but very quietly. I am told that folks who support the…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Lies of the Free Syrian Army
Well, despite denials and deceptions, wives of the Lebanese kidnapped pilgrims recognized two members of the Free Syrian Army as their kidnappers. Responding to the story, Human Rights Watch said that they don’t have enough staff to interview the…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
They just want to build democracy in Egypt
Did they not help build the Mubarak…democracy? ”Frank G. Wisner, a former top U.S. diplomat and onetime envoy to Egypt, said in a appearance at a think tank in Washington that he believed American funding for groups involved in Egyptian politic…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Waiting for Jeffrey Feltman
Shant wrote me this in response to an item from yesterday: ”When I read your post about the Egyptian pilot refusing to wait for the US ambassador, I remembered a similar incident in Beirut with MEA (I think in August 2007). I was travelin…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Tunisian bullets
Nicholas sent me this: ”As’ad – be careful on the tunisia “live bullets” issue – Ennahda party interior minister was specifically talking about using deadly force against salafists who are burning down property, bars etc…. This OF COURSE does…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
A Saudi humiliates an Asian cab driver and spits on him
Watch. (thanks Yazan)
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Now Hariri
A Lebanese reader sent me this: ”Hello As’ad, you know how you always mention that every foreign student who goes through Lebanon is offered a job at Now Hariri, well I can personally testify to that after the few past weeks as about half the f…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
US and Saudi Arabia want to educate Pakistanis: how nice
“The United States is not the only benefactor interested in popularising the love of learning in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s other faithful benefactor, has over the years been involved in similar philanthropic contributions. One of these ventu…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Now Hariri delegation visits Jumblat (warning: it is ugly)
Walid Jumblat has a weakness for any White Man visitor. He can’t help it. (thanks Krim)
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Covering up racist attacks against blacks in Israel
“Police did not inform the media about a violent brawl that broke out in south Tel Aviv’s Hatikva neighborhood Saturday night, apparently due to a decision to stop publicizing incidents between native Israelis and African migrants, in an effort to ease…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Like we have not noticed?
“U.S. President Barack Obama told a delegation of the U.S. Orthodox Jewish community at the White House on Tuesday that his administration is decidedly more attentive to Israel than it is to the Palestinians.”
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Human Rights Watch defends NATO rebels in Libya
A day after the director of Human Rights Watch wrote this on Twitter, the US mission in Libya was bombed:”Kenneth Roth @KenRothHenry Kissinger is wrong to disparage #Libya as a failure. Problems remain, but “people are no longer afraid”"
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Sectarian cleansing in Tripoli
Of course, there is absolutely no mention of that in the Western press, and Human Rights Watch office in Beirut rarely if ever reports on any matter if it is against the interests of March 14. Stores owned by `Alawites in Tripoli have been set on…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad
Rewarding Israel’s Iranian terrorists
“The Obama administration is moving to remove an Iranian opposition group from the State Department’s terrorism list, say officials briefed on the talks, in an action that could further poison Washington’s relations with Tehran at a time of renewed dip…
Posted on June 6, 2012 by As'ad