Archive for August 18, 2012
payments from Qatar
“The highest-ranking defector so far, Riyad Farid Hijab, the former prime minister, visited Qatar on Friday for what his spokesman said were discussions on”…payments.
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Ayn Rand
In the New York Times today, they refer to Ayn Rand as “a philosopher.” I often mocked Lebanese culture for its casual description of people and writers as “philosophers”. I guess it is not only in Lebanon.
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Al-Arabiyyah
The standards of House of Saud media are rather funny. Take its politically sleazy news station, Al-Arabiyyah, and its website. They report “news” of defections and when they don’t materialize they basically remove the story. For the …
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
In Afghanistan
In US-occupied Afghanistan, the sign reads: “Death to Israel.”
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Two threats to Israel: black people and Iran
“”Illegal African migrants are no less a threat to Israel than Iran’s nuclear weapons program, Interior Minister Eli Yishai said on Thursday.”"
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
A new rule
I would make it a rule in international relations that colonial powers are not allowed to comment on political developments in their former colonies.
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
smashed fast
“”French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Friday called for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be “smashed fast” as he visited Turkey’s largest refugee camp near the Syrian border.”" Does the French government also want to “sma…
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
More than one opinion in the Arab media
I have many criticisms but it is fair to say that despite flaws, you can only read or watch more than one opinion in those Arab media: Al-Mayadin TV, As-Safir newspaper, Al-Akhbar newspaper, and New TV. That is it, sadly. The rest has…
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Saudi Wahhabi scholarship
The title of this book is: “The Ideal Method to transmit the news of your marriage to your first wife”. I kid you not. (thanks “Ibn Rushd”)
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Michel Kilu
Michel Kilu never struck me as principled. He criticizes the Syrian regime in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (the mouthpiece of Prince Salman), and he criticizes the Syrian opposition in As-Safir.
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Who to blame in Syria
Angry Arab’s introduction to Akram’s latest report (report follows): I hesitated before I posted this. Akram, as you know now, is the Angry Arab correspondent in Syria. I have received various reports from Syrians, including from Akra…
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Those progressive fighters in Syria
“Abu Zeid, who also fought alongside Libya’s rebels last year to help bring an end to Moamer Kadhafi’s 42-year rule, describes himself as a “freelance” jihadi fighter who does not belong to any group. President “Bashar al-Assad and his people are Sh…
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
Helen Gurley Brown
Helen Gurley Brown was probably one of the most sexist persons in US popular culture: her instructions to women to serve men and be obedient to them spread to other cultures through her lousy magazine. I happened to stumble on a report about her …
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
kidnapping festival in Lebanon and Syria
My latest blog post in Al-Akhbar English on the “kidnapping festival in Lebanon and Syria”.
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad
All Lebanese are involved in Syria now
Today, Ibrahim Al-Amin wrote in Al-Akhbar that all Lebanese factions without exception are involved in Syria. So true.
Posted on August 18, 2012 by As'ad