Archive for July 23, 2012
The new chief-of-staff of Syrian armed forces: correction
Do you know that the new Syrian chief-of-staff, `Ali Ayyub is a Shi`ite from Bin Jubayl in South Lebanon?PS Correction. I received information from a relative of Ayyub who knows him that he is not from Bint Jubayl in Lebanon but from Jablah in Sy…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Jamal Khashuqji (the "liberal" propagandist for Saudi princes
Here is his picture during the Afghan mujahdin-Al-Qa`idah days. He says that this picture was taken during his work as a “journalist”. Kid you not. (thanks S.)
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
It figures that this article was published in the Alaska Dispatch
“They aren’t much talked about. And they are rarely talked to. But supporters of the Syrian government exist.” (thanks Bob)
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Al-Huthi for Asad regime repression
Yahya Badr Ad-Din Al-Huthi comes out in support of Syrian regime repression. (thanks Amer)
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Pro-Western fighters in Syria
“”By Saturday evening, a group of some 150 foreign fighters describing themselves as Islamists had taken control of the post. These fighters were not at the site on Friday, when rebel fighters captured the post. Some of the fighters sa…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Alexander Cockburn on Thomas Friedman
David sent me this: ”I and I: The World According to Tom Friedman http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/2000/2000-September/016822.html D. P.S.: I have a small collection of anti-Friedman pieces and parodies bookmarked; here they are, in case you are in…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
The EU demonstrates its love for the Syrian people, again
“The EU will offer Israel upgraded trade and diplomatic relations in more than 60 areas at a high-level meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, just weeks after European foreign ministers warned that Israeli policies in the West Bank “threaten to make a two…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Update on the situation in Damascus
Angry Arab’s correspondent in Syria, Akram, wrote to me:”Fighting in the Syrian capital Damascus decreased. Calm is dominating the city. For the first time in weeks, the residents of the capital didn’t hear the noise of the machine guns, the artiller…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
So just let the US pick the "pragmatic" leaders for Syria and all will be well. Damn. I no more am worried about Syria’s future
“The U.S. should help prepare the Syrian opposition for the challenges of governing a fractured country by facilitating the negotiation for a representative and unified political entity, with a greater role for pragmatic leaders on the inside.” A…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
The obituary of William Raspberry in the Times
Of course, Mr. Raspberry would get a prominent obituary in the Times–a paper not known for its respect for African-Americans and a paper that rarely or kindly remembers dead African-Americans. But William Raspberry earned his place in the White …
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
MAO
“At the conference, Mr. Schram criticized Mao but also explained why he thought many historians do not place Mao in the same global rogue’s gallery as Stalin, Hitler and Pol Pot. “In many ways his political instincts were sound,” Mr. Schram…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
The New York Times’ obituary of Alex Cockburn
What a petty, pernicious, silly, biased, and sinister obituary of Cockburn in the Times. But what do you expect. So he took a grant from an Arab group? How many Zionist grants are dispensed in the US?
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Meet the heroes of Western media and governments
“The figures accused in the report of playing some role in mass killings include some of the most powerful figures in Afghanistan’s government and ethnic factions, including the Northern Alliance that fought the Taliban in 2001.Among them are First V…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Meet the pro-Western war criminals of Afghanistan
“According to Afghan rights advocates and Western officials, word that the report was near to being officially submitted to the president apparently prompted powerful former warlords, including the first vice president, Marshal Muhammad Qasim Fahim, to…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Robert Fisk, the joke
“Take the faint outline of the old French mini-state of the Hauran where Syria’s Druze communities now live in growing disharmony with the Assad regime. This month, there was a dangerous outbreak of kidnapping in the region – resolved only after W…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
cover up the war crimes, please
“At the same time, some officials here — including some American diplomats — express worry that releasing the report will actually trigger new civil strife.” It is funny because when some Lebanese personalities suggested–merely suggested–to…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Syria and the chemical weapons
Comrade Laure sent me this: ”For a week now, we were hearing “concerns” and “threats” and “fear” about Syria’s chemical weapons. Only today, the government decides to comment. What Jihad Makdissi said and in English is this: ““Any sto…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Hamas kooks
This should become a regular feature. Mahmud Zahhar of Hamas said that the headquarters of the legislative council in Gaza should become the capital of the “large Islamic state.”
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
sectarianism of Syrian rebels
I have no doubts about the sectarianism of Syrian rebels and their supporters. It is quite open on Facebook pages. But nothing, NOTHING, that Robert Fisk says on any matter has any credibility. The man has lost his marbles and more. &…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad
Let us hope that Sultan has changed his views on this matter of labor rights in the Gulf
“Sultan is furious. He splutters: “You don’t think Mexicans are treated badly in New York City? And how long did it take Britain to treat people well? I could come to London and write about the homeless people on Oxford Street and make your city so…
Posted on July 23, 2012 by As'ad