Archive for September 2, 2012
Jordanian King: the farce continues
The Jordanian King faces a popular uprising that is growing in scale, and idiotic Western representatives still stop in Amman to seek his wise counsel about the situation in Syria. It would be hilarious if this was shown to an informed audience.&…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
FBI versus Palestinian-Americans
Khelil sent me this: “This account from Tim Weiner’s “Enemies, A History of the FBI”; after the 1972 Munich Olympics, Nixon began to fret about Palestinians taking out Rabin, then Israeli ambassador to Washington, and his source of fear was non…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
taxi protest in Amman
A reader in Jordan sent me this: “This was sent to me tonight from a comrade who works in the same building of the magazine company I recently resigned from. The street is colloquially called “Wadi Saqra St” (after the wadi it bisects). T…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Common practice? Why is it a common practice?
“The Jordanian military keeps about 1,400 Syrian army and police defectors in a separate facility here, with limited chances to visit their families, a common practice to avoid the militarization of the civilian camps.” Why is it a common prac…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Dumb language of the New York Times
“Some said that the law protected Muslim women from religious extremism and gave them freedom of choice, rather than taking it away.” Yes, I am sure that Sarkozy just wanted to protect Muslim women. But leave that aside: so unveiling the face pr…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
This Syrian defector says it best
““The Syrians are getting killed in a war between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said, referring to regional supporters of the two sides.”
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
The biggest regret of Bashshar and Asma’ Al-Asad
I am sure that the biggest regret of the Asads is that they named their son Hafidh Bashshar Al-Asad. There is no way he will keep that name for long.
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
They shoot sheep too
“The Quds Press Media Agency reported Sunday that Israeli soldiers, stationed at military towers across the border, opened automatic fire at Palestinian shepherds herding their sheep in central Gaza, killing 30 sheep; the shepherds were not harmed.”&nb…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Nasrallah quotations
Seif sent me this: “Regarding fabricating Nasrallah’s quote in Le Monde that you mentioned on your blog, here is the most recent and clear position uttered by Nasrallah on the subject. They can imagine and fabricate as much as they can, but t…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Prothero is back: reporting from his "sources" in Beirut–not known if they were paid like the men who played paint ball with him
“Hezbollah sources in Beirut…” When you read this in any Western article, stop reading. You know that the rest is fabricated. I mean that. And later further he cites: “One Hezbollah commander said…” This makes me…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Bush and Blair (and Barry Obama too)
“”But it is Tutu’s call for Blair and Bush to face justice in The Hague that is most startling. Claiming that different standards appear to be set for prosecuting African leaders and western ones, he says the death toll during and after the Iraq co…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
An unamed CNN journalist falling in love
“In the beginning they tried to stay in touch. As bombs fell they went out and filmed video after gruesome video. I play them back, listening to the voices of young men I’d grown to know and like, narrate the unfolding massacre.” (thanks David)
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
what is happening in Jordan
Sami sent me this: “Hope all is well. You often mention that there is hardly any coverage on Jordan in the Western press. It’s even difficult to separate news from the rumors living in Amman. In the last 48 hours there have been massive protest…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
gifted
Sa`d Hariri inherited $4 billion from his father. After six years, the money is gone and he is in debt. I mean, you have to make an effort to be that dumb. I bet that if you give $4 billion to a baboon, he won’t squander it in six yea…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Mini-Hariri on the Pope
““I am confident that the visit by His Holiness will increase the conviction of the Lebanese people in the civilized and humane meaning of their nation and its role in this East … “” (thanks Basim)
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Saudi Ambassador in Kenya protests
“It is unfortunate that isolated incidents of mistreatment are blown out of proportion to misrepresent Saudi Arabia as a slavery destination for Kenyan workers. Purported victims of torture have been given an opportunity to condemn us and Saudi Arabian…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Syrian National Council: refrom
Syrian National Council has decided to enact reforms in its ranks. The leadership said that it will copy Syrian Ba`thist reforms given its effectiveness. I am not making this up.
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
anti-`Alawite sectarianism
Look at this sectarian anti-`Alawite piece in An-Nahar (the right-wing sectarian Christian and racist–against Syrians and Palestinians–Lebanese publication): all `Alawites are treated as sectarian obsessed monolith. (I am told that Yassine Hajj…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Israeli nuclear weapons in the Washington Post
You would think that this is going to be a courageous treatment of Israeli nuclear weapons in the Washington Post. It starts thus: “Readers periodically ask me some variation on this question: “Why does the press follow every jot and tit…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad
Hitchens
I saw it with my own eyes. US mainstream press did not discover the “brilliance” and “erudition” of Christopher Hitchens until he switched from the Left to the Right. Somebody you should do a study on the place of Hitchens in the mainstream…
Posted on September 2, 2012 by As'ad