Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Jordan state security

“The Jordanian State Security Court should reconsider its decision last week to ban news media from covering corruption allegations involving the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company and several leading national figures, the Committee to Protect Journalis…

Posted by As'ad at 1:06 PM 03/16/10

Yes, only Palestinians are supposed to be shown in captivity

“Israelis got a jolt last week as footage of Israeli POWs held by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Lebanon during the 1980s aired on Al Jazeera and quickly made it to Israeli media. The footage hasn’t been seen before in Israel, …

Posted by As'ad at 12:17 PM 03/16/10

Cunning rapists in Bahrain

“Cunning rapists in Bahrain can avoid victimising virgins so they could escape the maximum penalty provided by law, and those who force themselves on young girls can evade punishment by promising to marry their victims.” (thanks Yassine)

Posted by As'ad at 12:02 PM 03/16/10

No Fuel allowed

“Egyptian authorities thwarted a fuel smuggling operation through Rafah tunnels into the Gaza Strip on Monday.” Fuel smuggling? Fuel is dangerous now?

Posted by As'ad at 12:00 PM 03/16/10

Murdoch of Arabia

“The tie-up between Arab entertainment giant Rotana and pro-Israel media mogul Rupert Murdoch is viewed in Egypt not only with suspicion but as signalling the decline of Arab film and art heritage.”

Posted by As'ad at 10:07 AM 03/16/10

Mistakes happen, every single day

“The body of his cousin, a 32-year-old construction engineer who had taken a break from his job in a far-off province to visit his family, lay sprawled next to those of his wife and their seven-year-old son. Blood ran in dark pools on the mud floor …

Posted by As'ad at 10:04 AM 03/16/10

Racism system in Lebanon

Comrade Raed writes on the racist system in Lebanon.

Posted by As'ad at 9:56 AM 03/16/10

Hazim Saghiyyah protests: Let the Readers judge

Hazim Saghiyyah lost his temper here. He is angry and accuses me of distorting what he wrote. I link to his letter-to-the-editor and readers may judge: there is a link to my article and to the article of his that I refer to.

Posted by As'ad at 9:54 AM 03/16/10

Ahmad Zuweil

Samar, a scientist at Columbia University, sent me this (I cite with her permission): “I am a big fan of yours and a regular viewer of your blog. Regarding your praise to Ahmed Zewail, I am not sure about the criterion that you used to praise him an…

Posted by As'ad at 8:01 AM 03/15/10

Antonie Shuwayri

It is time that I say a word about the Lebanese media guy, Antoine Shuwayri who just died. Here was a most sectarian and a most right-wing fanatic who supported the Lebanese Forces for years. Most importantly, this is the man who exercised such a mon…

Posted by As'ad at 7:56 AM 03/15/10

Rehearsing for war crimes

“In an effort to better prepare soldiers for operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon, the IDF Engineering Corps is building a mock Palestinian village in its training base in the Negev that will include booby-trapped homes.”

Posted by As'ad at 7:54 AM 03/15/10

No drifting

“As this example shows, the Obama administration continues to drift away from traditional U.S. support for Israel. But time and elections will correct that problem; Israel has a higher approval rating these days than does President Obama.” (thanks L…

Posted by As'ad at 7:54 AM 03/15/10

Zewail in Israel

“I am not trying to support Israel, but their mind-set, if you will, is oriented to the principle that without science and technology, they will not gain superiority — in the region, or in the world.” I asked him if he had particular links with Isr…

Posted by As'ad at 7:45 AM 03/15/10

Lebanese sectarianism

“Christian Lebanese figures concluded activities on Saturday expressing solidarity with Iraqi Christians by holding a religious ceremony.” Yes, because non-Christian Iraqis are not suffering.

Posted by As'ad at 7:43 AM 03/15/10

Nahr Al-Barid

A new documentary about Nahr Al-Barid and more. (thanks a-films)

Posted by As'ad at 7:39 AM 03/15/10

War porn

“Singer: For example the question of the public’s relationship to war. The drone war is documented, downloaded, accessible for everyone. You can see the videos on YouTube. It’s turning war for some into a form of entertainment. The soldiers call tha…

Posted by As'ad at 7:37 AM 03/15/10

Benign government information-gathering program

“Under the cover of a benign government information-gathering program, a Defense Department official set up a network of private contractors in Afghanistan and Pakistan to help track and kill suspected militants, according to military officials and bus…

Posted by As'ad at 7:27 AM 03/15/10

Dahlan’s man in `Ayn Hilwi

I have been receiving information about Dahlan’s man in `Ayn Hilwah refugee camp, nicknamed Al-Linu (Mahmud `Isa is his name). He is up to no good.

Posted by As'ad at 7:24 AM 03/15/10

Zionist spitters

“Shocked by growing reports about Ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting at Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City, a group of Anglo residents is now mobilizing against this ugly practice. Although such incidents reportedly have decreased since a council of Hared…

Posted by As'ad at 7:22 AM 03/15/10

All that you have done to our people is registered in notebooks

“The brothers started to move away and the soldiers followed until they caught Masab’s brother, Majdi, and reportedly kicked him in the leg. He tripped and fell and hurt himself. Other people from the village began streaming into the wadi, women and…

Posted by As'ad at 7:19 AM 03/15/10

Not in the US press

By the way, Israeli gunboats entered Lebanese water and fired at Lebanese fishing boats yesterday. Not a single word in the Western or Saudi press.

Posted by As'ad at 7:18 AM 03/15/10

Unusually strong editorial in the Seattle Times

“Israel continues to settle occupied territory in violation of international law, and it keeps cashing those U.S. checks for billions of dollars in military aid. What would happen if a payment, oh, got lost in the mail?” (thanks Linda)

Posted by As'ad at 7:17 AM 03/15/10

This is Israel

“When an Israeli tank fired a flechette shell at a Reuters cameraman in the Gaza Strip in 2008, the darts killed not only the journalist, Fadel Shana, but eight other civilians walking on a road nearby. The army said its troops were justified in fi…

Posted by As'ad at 7:07 AM 03/15/10

Iraqi puppet elections

Yesterday, I was interviewed during the evening news broadcast of the Baghdad Fada’iyyah TV station via phone (does anyone know about the political affiliation of this station)? I commented that if the Iraqi population equals the size of the Indian an…

Posted by As'ad at 7:04 AM 03/15/10

Ahmad Zuwail: I won’t praise you anymore

Talal, a brilliant medical scientist in the US whose opinions on science and social science I value greatly, sent me this (I cite with his permission): “I knew you would be bombarded with negative comments about your praise of Ahamd Zweil. He won, an…

Posted by As'ad at 6:53 AM 03/15/10

Carlos Slim

So this guy is visiting Lebanon. Apparently, the idea of the visit came from the lousy Maronite Patriarch, Sfayr. Sfayr is allegedly trying to convince Slim to purchase lands owned by Christians so that it won’t be sold to Muslims. Slim is giving a …

Posted by As'ad at 6:49 AM 03/15/10

New TV, Walid Jumblat, and…me?

So Rami Al-Amin (a TV reporter for New TV) was interviewing Walid Jumblat for New TV yesterday. He was asking him about various things and suddenly he asked him if he reads Waddah Shararah: he said, yes sometimes. He asked him if he reads Hazim Saghi…

Posted by As'ad at 6:47 AM 03/15/10

Thomas Friedman hearts Netanhayhu

“Netanyahu’s actual policies on the ground there have helped Palestinians grow their economy and put in place their own rebuilt security force, which is working with the Israeli Army to prevent terrorism; Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Salam F…

Posted by As'ad at 11:02 AM 03/14/10

Sexual Life in Ancient Greece

“The author of many books on the Greek classical age, Mr. Dover was known in particular for “Greek Homosexuality” (Duckworth, 1978). It was the first openly published scholarly work to talk about Greek male love in unfettered sexual terms. (A few e…

Posted by As'ad at 10:18 AM 03/14/10

Bush cheerleader is counted as “Left”

Bush cheerleader, Kanan Makiyyah, is counted as left. Who are those people? Left my potato. (thanks Nir)

Posted by As'ad at 10:13 AM 03/14/10

Foxman is troubled, seriously

“The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) says it is shocked by the harsh public criticism recently directed at Israel by the US Administration. “We are shocked and stunned at the Administration’s tone and public dressing down of Israel on the issue of fu…

Posted by As'ad at 10:09 AM 03/14/10

Zionism is sexism, too

“A march celebrating International Women’s Day toward the Qalandiya checkpoint into Jerusalem on Saturday was disrupted by Israeli forces, with two injuries reported.”

Posted by As'ad at 10:08 AM 03/14/10

All that you have done to our people is registered in notebooks

“This week saw the highest level of Palestinian injuries in a single-week since the first week of July 2008: at least 72 Palestinians were wounded in various incidents; over half sustained injuries in clashes that took place in East Jerusalem. Twent…

Posted by As'ad at 10:07 AM 03/14/10

Zionist high court

I find it hilarious that anyone in the world would take the Israeli high court seriously. I mean, it has supported successive war crimes, racism, torture, eradication of Palestinian villages, land theft, occupation and war barriers. And notice that n…

Posted by As'ad at 9:57 AM 03/14/10

Dubai police beats the arrogant (but dumb) Mossad

“They tracked down taxi drivers and grilled them about the suspects. They even traced the trip of a female suspect to a shopping center and discovered what she bought. For years, the United Arab Emirates has been using its considerable oil wealth t…

Posted by As'ad at 9:51 AM 03/14/10

Israeli war on Palestinian children

“With more than 300 Palestinian children being held in Israeli prisons, human rights groups and Palestinian officials are increasingly concerned about the actions of the Israeli military.The Israeli group B’Tselem said that security forces had “severel…

Posted by As'ad at 9:51 AM 03/14/10

CNN in the Middle East

Some CNN’s work on the Middle East is more propaganda than news. Hell, the former CNN Beirut Bureau chief (I have it from many Lebanese sources now, confirmed), Brend Sadler (whose work have been criticized and mocked here before) has left the network…

Posted by As'ad at 9:47 AM 03/14/10

NATO forces protecting ghosts

“To Nicholson and his commanders, reclaiming the town, which the Marines accomplished within a few weeks, has been a crucial step in demonstrating to Helmand residents that U.S. forces are committed to getting rid of the Taliban. To other military …

Posted by As'ad at 9:42 AM 03/14/10

Ahmad Zuwail

I wrote yesterday about Ahmad Zuwail: I don’t know much about him but I saw him on Egyptian Dream TV and read an article he wrote. I have been bombarded by people who know better and they pointed out my the error of my ways. He indeed does not deserv…

Posted by As'ad at 9:31 AM 03/14/10

Mubarak’s regime’s anti-Semitism

“Egypt has canceled the inauguration of a restored synagogue citing the Israeli oppression of Muslims in the occupied territories as well as excesses by Jews during an earlier ceremony at the synagogue.” Notice that the anti-Semitism of the pro-US r…

Posted by As'ad at 9:27 AM 03/14/10

Is Mubarak dead?

The Arab blogsphere is full of references and celebrations regarding the death of Mubarak qui rit. There are even songs. (thanks Farah)

Posted by As'ad at 9:21 AM 03/14/10

I don’t like flags, but….

I don’t like flags, and I don’t like nationalisms, but…for Palestine and the Palestinians, anything and everything. Look at this picture: it shows why Israel’s years are numbered. I mean, a Palestinian woman attacked an armed Israel jeep with a Pa…

Posted by As'ad at 9:17 AM 03/14/10

Zionist PR

“”People are laughing at you,” Gabay, 48, fumed as he was looking at some articles in British newspapers making fun of Masbirim. “Who is advising you on your brand? This is not good, this is pretty bad.”" (thanks Sarah)

Posted by As'ad at 11:53 AM 03/13/10

Egyptian media

Something has changed in Egyptian media. I said this before and I say it again: these are the signs of a regime that is losing control before my eyes. Tributes to Mubarak are decreasing and signs of break can be detected. Get the shovels.

Posted by As'ad at 11:52 AM 03/13/10

Lebanese progress

I am not making this up. So Mexican billionaire is visiting Lebanon. Of course, some Lebanese are just thrilled and they think that his wealth is a tribute to Lebanese genetic and food recipes. Lebanese newspapers are reporting (proudly) that Slim o…

Posted by As'ad at 11:31 AM 03/13/10

A Palestinian tree

A Palestinian olive tree that is 3700-year old. (thanks Dina)

Posted by As'ad at 11:26 AM 03/13/10

Emmanuel Sivan

You should read Emmanuel Sivan’s Radical Islam to know that he has nothing to offer. This Israeli Orientalist reads Arabic but has nothing to offer explain summaries of what he reads. That is exactly what he did with that aforementioned book. There …

Posted by As'ad at 11:11 AM 03/13/10

Fellow readers

The agents of Prince Muqrin are at it again: they have sabotaged the entry of Al-Akhbar on Wikipedia. Please fix. (thanks Elie for alerting me)

Posted by As'ad at 11:05 AM 03/13/10

Ahmad Zuwail

You think I don’t praise? I want to praise this Egyptian recepient of the Nobel prize in Chemistry. I read a recent article he wrote for the International Herald Tribune and watched an interview with him on Dream TV. He is a fascinating and most int…

Posted by As'ad at 11:02 AM 03/13/10

Pierre Rizq: dead

Pierre Rizq is dead. This dirty Lebanese Forces man has died in Paris. This dirty man once served as the head of the Lebanese Forces office in Israel during the honeymoon (ended?) between the Lebanese Forces and Israel. This dirty man later moved to…

Posted by As'ad at 11:00 AM 03/13/10

The Israeli Lobby…in Lebanon

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: “The Israeli Lobby…in Lebanon”

Posted by As'ad at 12:34 PM 03/12/10

thanks to a….Lebanese

According to the `Awni site (which peddles Lebanonese nationalism at a rate similar to that of An-Nahar), a film won the academy award due to a genius of a….Lebanese. (thanks Mazen)

Posted by As'ad at 8:54 AM 03/12/10

Samah Idris versus (the lousy) Fakhri Karim

Another shameful deed by the lousy Lebanese state. Talbani’s “leftist”, Iraqi intellectual Fakhri Karim (who supports the American occupation of Iraq AND the Syrian regime which sheltered him for years and Saudi Arabia) sued Samah Idriss for criticizi…

Posted by As'ad at 8:51 AM 03/12/10

Lousy Lebanese state harasses my Lebanese lawyer: how dare they

“A high-profile group of international human rights organisations are accusing the Lebanese government of harassing a prominent civil society lawyer after officials seized his passport last week, forcing the intervention of the interior ministry to …

Posted by As'ad at 8:13 AM 03/12/10

This is Zionism

“One reason for the apparent futility of Palestinian dissent is the Israeli security barrier that bites into the West Bank and runs through chunks of East Jerusalem. It prevents most West Bank Muslims from reaching the city’s holy places and has clef…

Posted by As'ad at 8:11 AM 03/12/10

Mistakes happen, every single day

“U.S. troops opened fire on a car in western Baghdad, killing an Iraqi journalist and her husband, a police official said Thursday. Morgue officials confirmed the deaths and said the bodies of Aseel al-Obeidi and her husband were riddled with bullet…

Posted by As'ad at 8:07 AM 03/12/10

Saving Afghanistan

“According to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, U.S. and Allied forces have killed and injured more civilians than have the insurgents during Operation Moshtarak. Incredibly, the Pentagon continues to insist that this operation “prot…

Posted by As'ad at 8:05 AM 03/12/10

Closed and open doors

“”But in closed conversations, Joe Biden took an entirely different tone. …People who heard what Biden said were stunned. “This is starting to get dangerous for us,” Biden castigated his interlocutors. “What you’re doing here undermines th…

Posted by As'ad at 8:04 AM 03/12/10

Kershner’s propaganda tales

Notice that official Israeli accounts of such attacks always make it sound that the Palestinian commandos were the ones who shot at the victims when invariably Israeli terrorists are the ones who engage in the rampage: “The woman being honored, Dalal M…

Posted by As'ad at 8:00 AM 03/12/10

Israel in Somalia: or Israel’s dirty hands and feet

“In early February, Yigal Palmor, spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, reportedly told the Somalia media that Israel was prepared to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland, which split from Somalia in 1991, as an independent nation. …

Posted by As'ad at 7:59 AM 03/12/10