Freedom House in Egypt

William sent me this: "Freedom House’s effort to empower a new generation of advocates has yielded tangible results and the New Generation program in Egypt has gained prominence both locally and internationally. Egyptian visiting fellows from all civil society groups received [May 2008] unprecedented attention and recognition, including meetings in Washington with US Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, and prominent members of Congress. In the words of Condoleezza Rice, the fellows represent the "hope for the future of Egypt."

Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=66&program=84 (emphasis added)

Freedom House fellows acquired skills in civic mobilization, leadership, and strategic planning, and benefit from networking opportunities through interaction with Washington-based donors, international organizations and the media. After returning to Egypt, the fellows received small grants to implement innovative initiatives such as advocating for political reform through Facebook and SMS messaging.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=66&program=84 (emphasis added)

From February 27 to March 13 [2010], Freedom House hosted 11 bloggers from the Middle East and North Africa [from different civil society organizations] for a two-week Advanced New Media Study Tour in Washington, D.C. The Study Tour provided the bloggers with training in digital security, digital video making, message development and digital mapping. While in D.C., the Fellows also participated in a Senate briefing, and met with high-level officials at USAID, State [Department] and Congress as well as international media including Al-Jazeera and the Washington Post.http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=115&program=84&item=87 emphasis added"

Abe Foxman is in France

"Ibn Rushd" sent me this:  "Along with Sarkozy, Hollande, dozens of French ministers and MPs, the ambassadors of Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Turkey attended the annual dinner of CRIF, France's Israel lobby, mix of ADL and AIPAC.  They were all sternly lectured by France's Abe Foxman, who has succeeded in outlawing BDS and now wants to outlaw anti-zionism".

New Israel Fund

"Racism, mostly against Arabs, has plagued Israeli soccer for years. But the New Israel Fund organization's "Kick Racism out of Israeli Soccer" program reported last year that racist chanting declined during the 2010-11 season, saying that much of the change was tied to fans booing and silencing those who behaved in a racist fashion.  The overall problem involving Beitar, however, appears far from solved.  When Macabbi Haifa Muhamad Gadir recently offered to become the first Arab player for Beitar, fans balked, leading the team captain to apologize for wanting an Arab player."  Does New Israel Fund have a program to kick racism out of Israeli state, or better yet, kick Israel out of existence?   As if the problem is soccer and not the state and society and the governing ideology.  

This Zionist tycoon is also a crook

"Probes by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission focus on the casino company's operations in Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, court documents show. A former executive in Adelson's empire, whose allegations are believed to be central to the probe, cites potential illegal dealings with a public official, as well as a tie to an organized crime figure. (That link was first reported by Reuters in a 2010 special report: High-rollers, triads and a Las Vegas giant - link.reuters.com/dyg56s) Adelson and his wife single-handedly propped up Newt Gingrich's campaign with $10 million Super PAC donations in January, and Adelson recently signaled he would write big checks to Mitt Romney, too, if he wins the nomination.  As he's seized the role of kingmaker, press accounts of the normally reclusive Adelson have focused on his politics: He is a passionate supporter of Israel, his wife is Israeli, and he recently said his teenage son might return to the country to become a sniper in the Israel Defense Forces." 

This Zionist does not know what SLA stands for in contemporary Arab memory

"She has been hosted by a new umbrella rebel organisation called the Syrian Liberation Army (SLA). As Wards puts it: “These men are not former soldiers, they do not have military experience. Many of them are not even physically fit, they are farmers and they are workers. They have enormous amounts of courage and enormous amounts of spirit.”  Armed with Kalashnikovs, a few RPGs and homemade bombs, the SLA has set up roadblocks and checkpoints in keys areas in the north, all on a “shoestring.”" Who is on the same side with this Zionist hoodlum?  And wasn't this same guy a big champion of the Free Syrian Army just weeks ago?  (thanks Asa) 

Reforms in Morocco: Hillary's kind of desirable reforms

""On February 7, 2012, Walid Bahomane appeared before a court in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The 18-year-old is accused of “defaming Morocco's sacred values” by posting pictures and videos on Facebook mocking king Mohammed VI of Morocco. [...] Walid Bahomane's arrest is the first since a constitutional reform last summer (theoretically) revoked the “sacred” character of the monarch. The king is still, however, the focus of a great deal of devotion in the country."" (thanks very anonymous)

18 years in jail in Saudi Arabia for "slipping" against the prophet

The magnanimous Saudi (illiterate) autocratic King "pardons" a man after serving 18 years in jail because he once "slipped" and said something offensive about the prophet.  

Ahmad Chalabi's operations in Beirut

"Do you remember Bank MEBCO? What about PETRA? Both banks were driven to their Bankruptcy by one man: the Iraqi Ahmad Chalabi. The Arab Digest sheds light on this man's fresh links to Beirut.

"Follow the money" is the only way to understand Ahmad Chalabi, according to his biographer Aram Roston.* The Iraqi politician, invasion enthusiast and former banker has based some of his media and financial operations in Beirut." 

Qatari prince robbed

"QUETTA: Unidentified armed men on Thursday looted around Rs 60 million from a Qatari minister in Balochistan province, DawnNews reported.   According to levies sources, Qatar’s petroleum minister Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Thani Al-Thani was on a hunting trip in Turbat when the armed miscreants stopped his car and got away with the loot.  Sheikh Ali is a member of the supreme council of the royal family of Qatar.  The assistant commissioner of Turbat had initiated an investigating into the incident and no arrests had been reported yet." (thanks Nabeel)

Repression in Saudi Arabia: shooting in Qatif

I have received information from comrades in Saudi Arabia that a man was killed (seen above) and 14 people were injured (including a seven-year old) in Qatif.

Chief Saudi Mufti wants to execute Hamzah

Here is the statement by the highest clerical authority.

Zionist quack

Look at this Zionist: he wants Japan to emulate Israel, as if Japan did not practice savage colonialism in its past.  (thanks Khalid)

US arms sales to Bahrain

"Little noticed as President Barack Obama denounced the “unspeakable assault” by Syria’s ruthless regime against pro-democracy protestors and demanded Bashar al-Assad to “step aside and allow a democratic transition to proceed immediately” was the resumption of American arms sales to Bahrain." (thanks Fatima) 


PS It is fitting that the newspaper is Canadian and not American.

The case of Hamzah Kashqari

So what we know is this: Hamzah is under arrest in Malaysia, and the Malaysian government is under immense pressure to surrender him.  Wahhabi clerical kooks are up in arms and they want the Saudi government to execute him.  Hamzah, I can report, has been critical of the Saudi government and was arrested briefly (two days before he left the country) in Jiddah after he participated in a sit-in that called for the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador in Saudi Arabia.  He and his family have received threats and there are threats against his life on twitter.

Hamzah Kashqari: the wanted Saudi writer

If you read the tweets that got Saudi writer, Hamzah Kashqari, in trouble you will find that they in fact represent a familiar theology.  Theologically, speaking, Kashqari was speaking from the background of Wahhabi doctrine, although the hypocrites of the House of Saud reacted so strongly.  In Wahhabi doctrine, the personhood and humanness of Muhammad is stressed because Wahhabiyyah expresses a paranoid fear of polytheistic deviations by believers.  For that reason, Saudi government been destroying the dwelling places of Muhammad in Medina.  Kashqari was not necessarily insulting the prophet as he was denying any divine element in the prophet--which is not inconsistent with Wahhaby theology.  So why punish the poor writer, and leave the House of Saud which imposes Wahhabiyyah on the kingdom?  And the Wahhabi cleric were consistently opposed to the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet.

The Saudi poet who fled for his life: Hamzah Kashqari

The family and friends of the Saudi poet, Hamzah Kashqari, asked me to share this with readers:
"A

young saudi writer, Hamza Kashgari, has fled the country for fear for his safety after receiving many death threats through the social media (twitter, youtube, facebook...etc.) Hamza is now detained by the Malaysian government after Saudi Arabia's request of sending him back to Saudi. We beg of you to help us with all you can to prevent his extradition to Saudi, as this may threaten his life.

The story started on Saturday, when Hamza wrote three tweets on the event of the Prophet Mohammed Birthday (considered a religious day, albeit one frowned upon by the Wahhabi establishment).

Translation of his tweets:

1- On your birthday, I will say that I have loved the rebel in you, that you've always been a source of inspiration to me, and that I do not like the halos of divinity around you. I shall not pray for you.

2- On your birthday, I find you wherever i turn. I will say that i have loved aspects of you, hated others, and could not understand many more.

3- On your birthday, I shall not bow to you. I shall not kiss your hand. Rather, I shall shake it as equals do, and smile at you as you smile at me. I shall speak to you as a friend, no more. Anger quickly exploded on twitter with people claiming how offensive these tweets were

to the prophet (insulting the prophet is crime punishable by death in islamic law) Within the same day Hamza had deleted the tweets and apologized if his tweets offended anyone, and expressed that he only meant good. The next day, with death threats mounting, Hamza issued a letter of full repentance, renouncing all his former beliefs that he was accused for. link: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/fp0ie3

After that he fled Saudi, managing to beat the warrant for his arrest by a few hours. He remained free as of my last contact with him 12 hours ago. The issue has gotten public in Saudi since the beginning through many popular religious figures calling for his prosecution and more and calling for people to send telegrams to Prince Naif and Prince Salman complaining that something must be done.

I would add to his story the following points:

- First, I paraphrase the arabic commentary of Bader al-Ibrahim, a saudi opinion writer in the lebanese Al-Akhbar. He nailss the bigger context to this story exactly link: http://goo.gl/QQAm1

- I will add myself that they have successfully embarrassed the government into taking their side. there is a warrant for Hamza's arrest. and the saudi permanent fatwa council (one of the most respected govt religious bodies in Saudi) issued a statement calling Hamza an apostate and infidel and that his prosecution by the government is a religious duty. link to document: http://sabq.org/9xcfde

- This comes after several losses for the religious right in Saudi: a law recently mandated that women must work as saleswomen in public lingerie stores. the King replaced the head of the religious police (commission for the promotion of good and prevention of vice) with a moderate. This new head immediately ordered many restrictions on how the religious police operate.

- The organized attack and the instigators behind the escalation. Hamza has been watched and ear-marked as a target for months. Several religious tweeps have been targeting him for many months, trying to gain traction for hashtag vilifying his name. (Public shaming through hashtags is now a common Saudi pressure tactic, especially against public officials and government scandals). This is merely the first time they succeeded, not the first time they tried. Islamic fanatics had unearthed tweets of Hamza's -many of which make reference to the likes of Neitzche and Voltaire- which playfully question theological absolutes showing how effective they are at monitoring electronic activity without the help of the government.

Publictions in media on Hamza:

The Wall Street journal's story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203315804577211131772266506.html

The Daily Beast's story:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/08/twitter-aflame-with-fatwa-against-saudi-writer-hamza-kashgari.html

I apologize for such a long message. I once again beg you to pursue this story. As much as i wish that it would die down, i know it is inevitable that this story is going to get even bigger before a resolution is reached. And i have a sinking feeling that it will not end well for Hamza.

Feel free to contact me at any time for more details, but please keep my name private.

With thanks,

Hamza's friends and family"

Zionist motives on Syria

"Over the last few days there has been a cascade of politicians and analysts jumping on thebandwagon of arming the Free Syrian Army, from John McCain and Elliot Abrams to FP'sDaniel Drezner.  It's easy to understand why. The failure of the UN Security Council has blocked diplomatic efforts to achieve a political transition and triggered a clear escalation in violence by the Asad regime.  With the horrifying images of the dead and wounded in Homs and elsewhere, many people want to do something to stop the atrocities." Yes, Marc.  That was really precious.  The reason why John McCain and Elliott Abrams and Drezner want to arm the Free Syrian Army is--to use your language--to "stop the atrocities."  That is really the reason.  Thanks for identifying the reason for us, because otherwise we would have been at loss.  I mean, if you think about it, you are right: why would McCain and Abrams (known for their romantic love for the Arab people and their causes) be motivated by anything except their desire to "end the atrocities."  Remember how upset they were at Israeli atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon?  

Nothing in Homs

I write a critique of Nasrallah's speech on Al-Akhbar English, but I have to say this.  For Nasrallah yesterday to say that "there is nothing in Homs" is to insult every dead and injured and surviving person in the city.  Oh, no: there is something in Homs, and it ain't pretty.  

nausea

When I read Western Zionists feigning sympathy and love for the Syrian people, I wonder why they don't restrict their expressions on the Middle East to expressions of love for Israeli war crimes. That is their real love, anyway.     

Syrian Army crimes in Homs: Lebanese Army crimes in Nahr Al-Barid

There is no question that the Syrian Army crimes in Homs are comparable to Lebanese Army crimes in Nahr Al-Barid: but the latter was probably more unrestrained as it used planes and helicopter gunships to drop bombs on the camps.  So the question is this: why did not Western human rights organizations raise a hue and cry over Lebanese Army crimes?  Were their Western academic experts expressing outrage at the Lebanese Army crimes?  And did Human Rights Watch issue strong statements against the crimes of Lebanese Army--notwithstanding its political flirtations with March 14 cabinet?  And why there were no Facebook groups dedicated to the victims in Nahr Al-Barid?  Were people back then discussing options for sending arms to the Palestinians in the camp?  This entire affairs wreaks of hypocrisy and it has--again--not one thing to do with the plight of the Syrian people.  Neither Russia nor the US (not the Arab potentates) care one bit about the Syrian people.

India and Israel

"The opposite has proven to be the case: countries like Saudi Arabia sought to strengthen relations with India in part because the latter normalised relations with Israel." (thanks Salim)

When the academic turns into a military commander and strategist: the case of Marc Lynch

"My real fear is that everyone seems to be moving in the direction of [believing the Syrian opposition] has not been given enough weapons--that they are outgunned. There is money everywhere, guns everywhere. The thing that will tip the military balance is not more AK-47s, it's going to be anti-tank missiles, secure communications. That is the direction this is probably going to go.[...]".  1) Is it not delicious to see those who hide (on occasions and conveniently--in the case of the Palestinians) behind the cloak of academic objectivity become military experts when it suits US/Zionist foreign policies? 2) If Israel were to butcher 20,000 Palestinians in one day, do you think that Marc Lynch would dare to suggest that the US should be providing arms to the Palestinians?  3) Do you notice that the most daring suggestions about foreign policy are only channeled by academics when they don't diverge from Israeli policies? 4) What does one study in political science and Middle East studies, to know that what Syrian rebels needs are anti-tank missiles?  5) How does one explain the sudden sympathy that some people exhibit toward the Syrian people.  I mean, if we only knew that you were hiding that much love and sympathy.  6) Those who supported NATO intervention in Libya are supporting military role or intervention in Syria: in both cases, Israel approved.  (thanks Amer)     

PS After I posted this, and I am reacting to the cited remarks in the link above, I read this by Marc, and he seems more cautious here for pragmatic reasons.  Yet, do you think that there would be ever "academic" panels in the US in which "experts" weigh in about the various advantages and disadvantages for arming the Palestinian people?


PPS Here what Marc wrote against the storming of the Israeli embassy in Cairo. He clearly did not call for arming the Egyptian protesters.

Walking without heads

Yesterday, on Syrian Dunya TV (a propaganda TV for the regime), they showed clips taken from Aljazeera.  In one of them, a "witness" who doubles as a leading member of the Syrian National Council, told Aljazeera Arabic that the bombing in Homs is so bad that he saw people walking without their heads on.  Literally, as Joe Biden would say.  In another one, they offered "translation" of the sign language anchor of the network, and he was describing a scene from an accompanying video footage: his description did not in any way coincide with what we were seeing.  The lies and exaggerations from the side of the regime and from the side of the Syrian National Council know no bound, and the Western media are willing conduits of the lies of one side, of course.

The Saudi writer who fled for his life

"An apology by Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari over his controversial tweet about Prophet Muhammad failed to dampen a Salafi campaign against him prompting him to flee his home country.  The issue has turned from a spontaneous reaction into an organized campaign run by a group of disturbed Salafis, which has included death threats.  That’s how a series of attacks quickly escalated against Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari following his tweets on the Prophet Mohammad’s mawlid(birth), which was celebrated on Saturday. Kashgari fled in the wake of the campaign. There are conflicting reports about his current whereabouts. A new twitter account believed to be his claims he headed to Canada while other news reports say he is in Southeast Asia.  The Saudi writer, who wrote for al-Bilad newspaper, did not only receive a deluge of threats. His address and phone number were circulated so that his opponents would know how to find him."

Qasim Sulaymani

One of my FB readers noticed.  In all Saudi media, Qasim Sulaymani of the Quds Force was supposed to be running operations of repression in Damascus.  Yet, today he was attending military maneuvers West of Tehran.  So he is able to be in more than one place at the same time.  

Those Syrian protesters speak for many, I am sure

The sign says: "Down with the regime and the opposition...Down with the Arab and Islamic Ummah. Down with the Security Council.  Down with the world.  Down with everything." (thanks Yaman)

Ritual in Arab media

Every guest on Syria on Qatari and Saudi media preface his remarks these days with tribute and praise for GCC leaders.  Every guest.  You think I can be on the same side with those?  I am on the side of the repressed Syrian people but not on the side of pawns of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.  

Chemical weapons on Homs

Paul Wood of the BBC just reported that "rebels" have reported that Syrian regime is shelling Homs with chemical weapons. I mean, if "rebels" claim that a nuclear weapon has been dropped on Homs, no journalist would dare deny it because he/she fears being accused of being a propagandist for the regime.  

Camps for blacks in Israel

"Israeli planning authorities on Tuesday approved construction of a detention centre for illegal immigrants, at a projected cost of 250 million shekels ($67 million, 51 million euros), the defence ministry said.
The formal authorisation follows a November 2010 cabinet decision to build a facility for mostly African migrants smuggled across Israel's borders but who for legal reasons cannot immediately be deported to their countries."

Riyad Al-As`ad

He was railing against Syrian National Council yesterday on BBC and said that the council does not care about the Syrian people and that he has not received any money from them.  Kid you not.

Wahhabi expert on International Law

Aljazeera never used to interview Saudis unless they were supporters of the opposition.  Times have changed. So they had this Wahhabi Saudi advocate as "expert on international law."  He was asked: what is the view of international law on what is happening in Syria?  He answered by paying tribute to the "heroism" of the Free Syrian Army and then cited a line of poetry from Mutanabbi which says:
(High honor is not protected from harm, unless blood is spilled around it.)  I finished watching the interview learning about Wahhabi view of international law what I knew not before.

The American idea

"America has that kind of trust because our country started with a shared idea that attracted the people." Oh, yeah. That trust was shared by white supremacists with slaves and natives. Lovely history lesson from Thomas Friedman.

Thomas Friedman officially justifies prejudice against `Alawites (and presumably attacks on them)

"Consider this paragraph from an article about Syria in The Times on Saturday by Nada Bakri, a Beirut correspondent: “A 34-year-old teacher from the Alawite sect said her life had changed in ways she never imagined. Six months ago, she started covering her head like Sunni Muslim women, hoping not to stand out. Her husband, an officer in the Syrian Army, rarely leaves his base to come home. She said she and their two sons had not seen him in months. A few weeks ago, her landlord, a Sunni, asked her to leave the house because his newly married son wanted to move in. ‘Sunnis have begun to feel empowered,’ the teacher said. ‘A year ago, no one would have expected this to happen.’ She had already made plans to return to her village.”  With good reason. There is a lot of pent-up anger there."

Saudi poet flees for his life

This is a story that you won't read about.  It is capturing imagination of many on Twitter and Facebook and somebody should alert Facebook that a group was set up "to exact punishment" on the guy.  He basically tweeted a few lines about Muhammad on Twitter (I read them as affirmation of the strict Wahhabi doctrine that opposes any words or form of worship that seem to commit the only unforgivable sin in Islam, namely polytheism).  But many in Saudi Arabia were offended and took his remarks to be disrespectful of Muhammad.  Saudi government acted promptly and this journalist in Al-Bilad was banned by the Saudi Minister of Culture from writing anywhere in the country, and the Saudi King issued an arrest warrant for him.  If this happened in Iran, it would be a front page story everywhere.

Qatar's role: like Saudi Arabia and US, it wants "stability"

"Qatar "understood at an early stage that there was a new system in the making in the Middle East," said director of the Brookings Doha Centre Salman Shaikh, noting that "it took the initiative to ensure regional stability as much as possible."" (thanks Basim)

Syrian regime propaganda fabrications

Syrian regime propaganda agencies have been busy.  Dunya TV is quite effective in resort to mockery and sarcasm in its reports.  And Syrian regime invents news too: the story of the transcript of an exchange between the Russian ambassador at the UN and Hamad Bin Jasim was clearly invented by the Syrian regime propaganda outlets (and it was believed and widely circulated by Arabs).  There is also an invented interview with Henry Kissinger in which he takes responsibility for all the Arab uprisings: I can categorically state that it was invented also by the Syrian regime propaganda outlets.

What you won't read in the Western and Arab media

An Arab League monitor speaks out:
"

Nawaat: The massacre in Homs, killing more than 200 lives, the deadliest since the events started, does it seem suspicious to you?

A.M: This massacre is signed and its authors are making fun of our intelligence. Is it possible to believe for a moment, a government, whatever it is, could commit such a massacre on the day his case is brought before the Security Council?

In fact, this is a stunt as part of a comprehensive and concerted intervened where the “Syrian activists” abroad to fill the Syrian embassies and consulates, “referring to the call of Syrian ambassadors in Arab countries and of course the massacre of Homs.
While this massacre: those who followed the TV that day have seen pictures of many victims. Most of these victims had their hands tied behind their backs and some had their faces to the ground.
The directors told us that they were the victims of the bombing of buildings and houses by tanks and even by the Syrian Air Force. Curiously these victims were not wearing injuries nor any sign of the collapse of their houses and dwellings. Each can draw the conclusions he wants. In any case throughout the 4th of February, Syrian citizens testified that they recognized among the victims, relatives and neighbors removed for a week and even months.
Each can draw the conclusions he wants...

AM: The Arab League is entirely discredited by burying the report of its own observers’ mission and its appeal to the Security Council. It missed the opportunity to participate in the settlement of the Syrian affair. All it can offer in the future will be worthless.

Now it’s Russia’s turn to play the lead role but also to the Syrian leadership required to accelerate and implement the reforms." (thanks Khodor)

Propaganda for Russia on Syrian regime TV

Syrian regime TV stations are filled with propaganda for the Russian government.  You encounter much more propaganda for Russia than for Iran.  I think for sectarian reasons, regime propaganda outlets plays down the Iranian factor and you dont encounter much propaganda on its behalf.  Yesterday, they were even talking about how Russia respects Islam and how it treats Muslims and protects Muslims and they even identified with the Russian government campaign of slaughter in Chechnya.  Quite a spectacle.

Israel worried

Look at this lousy headline in the mouthpiece of Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, Al-Hayat.  It says that "Israel is worried" about arms smuggling.  Israeli worries constitute headlines in the Saudi and Qatari press.

Spies in Syria: Dunya TV

There was "an analyst" yesterday on Dunya TV.  He said that people should treat any European or American visiting the Middle East as a spy.  Every one of them, he insisted.  The regime is now mimicking the fear promotion that Saddam regime promoted.   But the "analyst" did not explain how his president is desperate to tell his story to any passing American: a militant Zionist, Barbara Walters, was invited to Syria just to hear the narrative of the "dear leader."

The biggest propaganda spectacle on Syria ever

Western media (of course you can add Saudi and Qatari media) are involved in the biggest propaganda spectacle that I have ever seen.  It is bigger than the propaganda blitz that preceded the American invasion of Iraq.  There are very few Western journalists who are dissenting: it is all the same narrative and daily barrage of propaganda comes from the highly non-credible, pro-Saudi outfit, known as Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.  Western media continue to interview "Rami Abdur-Rahman" after it was revealed that the person does not even exist and that there are in fact two Syrian Observatories for Human Rights and both are vying for the propaganda role, and presumably for Saudi and Qatari money.  Only after the Iraq invasion, did people later pose and consider the propaganda role that Western media played in preparation for the invasion.  There are basic facts that are lacking, beyond the general story of Syrian regime repression--which is real.  I mean, have you read in any Western newspaper a report on the Arab League monitors' report? One article? Was any of the monitors interviewed besides the one who "defected" before the mission even started?  Has the commander of the mission been interviewed by one Western reporter?  Don't get me wrong.  I never thought the Arab League mission would end bloodshed in Syria, but Western governments and GCC countries pushed for the mission--clearly expecting the Syrian government would reject it.  Syrian regime acceptance derailed Western plan and the dismissal of the report became expected. Have you read one report in the Western press about the political orientations of the rebels and the Free Syrian Army?  (I am sure that Nir Rosen would soon tell you that they are not really Salafites but that they are all Marxist-Leninists with deep feminist principles).   Beyond propaganda against the regime, there is very little credible reporting.  I mean, yesterday, Arab media were reporting that "missiles" were being used for the "first time" by the Syrian regime.  Go back to those same media, they have been reporting about missiles being used by the regime for months.  Aljazeera reported numerous times that planes and helicopters were being used against protesters and "witnesses" never failed in reporting that but there wast not one video footage of that happening.  Somebody need to stand up and insist on knowing the truth, beyond the lies of the Syrian regime and its opponents (the ones who are run by GCC countries, which in turn are run from a small office in Washington, DC).  

This explains why Arabs are not conspiracy-minded enough: US Plots against Syria

"PLAY ON SUNNI FEARS OF IRANIAN INFLUENCE: There are fears

in Syria that the Iranians are active in both Shia 
proselytizing and conversion of, mostly poor, Sunnis.  Though 
often exaggerated, such fears reflect an element of the Sunni 
community in Syria that is increasingly upset by and focused 
on the spread of Iranian influence in their country through 
activities ranging from mosque construction to business. 
Both the local Egyptian and Saudi missions here, (as well as 
prominent Syrian Sunni religious leaders), are giving 
increasing attention to the matter and we should coordinate 
more closely with their governments on ways to better 
publicize and focus regional attention on the issue."  And you want to dismiss conspiracy theories after reading this?  Even hosting guests on Gulf news channels is decided by US officials.  Read this: "THE KHADDAM FACTOR:  Khaddam knows where the regime 

skeletons are hidden, which provokes enormous irritation from 
Bashar, vastly disproportionate to any support Khaddam has 
within Syria.  Bashar Asad personally, and his regime in 
general, follow every news item involving Khaddam with 
tremendous emotional interest.  The regime reacts with 
self-defeating anger whenever another Arab country hosts 
Khaddam or allows him to make a public statement through any 
of its media outlets. 
 
-- Possible Action: 
 
-- We should continue to encourage the Saudis and others to 
allow Khaddam access to their media outlets, providing him 
with venues for airing the SARG,s dirty laundry.  We should 
anticipate an overreaction by the regime that will add to its 
isolation and alienation from its Arab neighbors." (thanks Farah)

Dumb Israeli and Saudi propaganda: the story of the 15,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards who were dispatched to Syria

So the website of King Fahd's news station, Al-Arabiyyah, has a dumb story about 15,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards dispatched to Syria to participate in repression.  But the website cites Haaretz as a source, and it says that it cited an unnamed official of the Syrian National Council.  You go to Haaretz and you see a version of the same story but it cited Al-Arabiyyah itself and an unnamed source, but the number 15,000 is cited in a different context: only to indicate the size the of the Quds Force.  Oh, and then: Al-Arabiyyah adds another report: based on a source "from inside" the Revolutionary Guards in which he tells them that Iran has moved the Revolutionary Guards from Syria to Lebanon.  As you know, the Revolutionary Guards does not trust to tell its secrets except to this hostile Saudi source. For some reason, they trust.  It is obvious, that Al-Arabiyyah has been busy as of late, fabricating the news but it is obvious that they have been so amused by their work that the fabrications of news has increased as of late.

Bashshar Ghalyun

Burhan Ghalyun has refused to step down as president of the Syrian National Council and said that he insists that his son, Bashshar Ghalyun, succeeds him as president.

Sectarianism

This is from Ilyas Khuri's last article in Al-Quds Al-`Arabi: "‎"خطاب وممارسة تخاطب ضمير العلويين والمسيحيين والدروز، وترسم افقا لوطن لا مكان فيه للطائفية".

(Discourse and practice that speak to the conscience of `Alawites, Christians, and Druzes, and which draw a horizon for a homeland that makes no room in it for sectarianism.)  Is it me or I find this sentence itself to be sectarian?  

If the political labels were reversed, the UNSC would have met over this case

You won't read about this case in any of the US newspapers.  If an opponent of the Syrian regime was shot by supporters of the regime, this murder would have been made famous around the world.  Make no mistake about it.  "Ali Ibrahim was shot on his Sydney doorstep early on Monday morning. Two men fired three shots into his knees, and he may not be able to walk again.  His family believe it was because of his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - which he expressed in a dispute on Facebook."  It is not known if Gene Sharp inspired the attackers.   

Israel's existence

"On Sunday he told his cabinet that for Israel, living in the Middle East required self-sufficiency and toughness. “In such a region,” he said, “the only thing that ensures our existence, security and prosperity is our strength.”"  Let me tell you this--although I don't talk to you or to your ilk--nothing, I mean nothing, can ensure your existence.  The entity is doomed. Start running.  

To Bashshar Al-Asad

I was expecting the Syrian people (known for their biting humor and sarcasm) to really excel in political satire during the uprising but I think that the Egyptian people have been unbeatable.  But this is one is pretty good:

It says:  (To Bashshar Al-Asad
Don't think that the Syrian Revolution is caused by Facebook
The Syrian revolution is caused by the mule, your father).  It rhymes in Arabic--I swear.

PS Sam corrects me.  Tays is male goat and not mule.  

Iraqi universities

"Until the 1990s, Iraq had perhaps the best university system in the Middle East. Saddam Hussein's regime used oil revenues to underwrite free tuition for Iraqi university students -- churning out doctors, scientists, and engineers who joined the country's burgeoning middle class and anchored development. Although political dissent was strictly off-limits, Iraqi universities were professional, secular institutions that were open to the West, and spaces where male and female, Sunni and Shia mingled. Also the schools pushed hard to educate women PDF, who constituted 30 percent of Iraqi university faculties by 1991. (This is, incidentally, better than Princeton was doing as late as 2009.) With a reputation for excellence, Iraqi universities attracted many students from surrounding countries -- the same countries that are now sheltering the thousands of Iraqi professors who have fled US-occupied Iraq.  Iraqi universities began their decline in the 12 years after the 1991 Gulf War. As the international sanctions regime cut off journal subscriptions and equipment purchases, academic salaries fell precipitously, and 10,000 Iraqi professors left the country. Those faculty who remained were increasingly closed off from new developments in their fields.  In 2003, after the invasion, many Iraqi professors hoped that their university system would be revitalized under US occupation. They expected funding to buy new books, to replace equipment, and to repair the damage inflicted by the sanctions. And they hoped for new tolerance for open debate and inquiry.  In fact, the opposite happened." (thanks Dale)

Sympathy for the Syrian people

I would regard the sympathy expressed by Western academics over the plight of the Syrian people to be sincere if any of those academics ever dared to express sympathy over the plight of the Palestinian people;  if any of them ever dared to write a word of criticisms of Israeli war crimes.

PS Of course, there are some of my colleagues who are sincere, but they are not targeted by this post.

Supreme Revolutionary Military Council

There is a new Syrian military opposition outfit.  For some reason, it has not been reported in the Times.  It is called Supreme Revolutionary Military Council.  Early indications are that this and the Free Syrian Army may be battling it out soon.  Gene Sharp: where art thou?

security for the "Palestinian territories"

"Until now, the State Department has declined to restrict aid, including military assistance to Palestinian security forces that totaled $450 million last fiscal year. The department has argued that the prospect of a Palestinian unity government that included Hamas, first announced last year, never fully materialized. The aid has been credited by Israeli and American officials for improving security in the Palestinian territories."  Oh, yes.  US Congress authorizes the money because they are concerned over security "in the Palestinian territories".  When Bronner writes such propaganda lines that are factually untrue, does he operate on the assumption that his readers are all dumb?  

How Bush AND Elliott Abrams promoted democracy in the Middle East

"Elliott Abrams, who was a State Department official in the Reagan administration when the Democratic and Republican groups were created, said it was expected that pro-democracy work might provoke complaints from the likes of Vladimir V. Putin of Russia or Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

“We ought to have friction with every repressive regime,” Mr. Abrams said. “The U.S. should be supporting democracy with more than just speeches.”"

US just wants democracy in Egypt--is that not nice?

"But Paul J. Sullivan, a Middle East expert at Georgetown University who has long studied the Egyptian military, cautioned against interpreting the criminal charges as a result merely of high-level machinations. He said Egyptians of all affiliations are wary of undue influence from the United States, which they view as having propped up the Mubarak regime for many years.

“I understand the purpose of the N.D.I. and I.R.I.,” Dr. Sullivan said of the Democratic and Republican institutes. “But this is a newly freed state and a very brittle and emotional environment. It’s not the best environment for them to work. How would we react if a foreign country came here to teach us how to conduct elections?”

Many Egyptians appear to share the military-led government’s suspicions of American motives. “Eighty percent of the people think this is America’s work,” said Sherif Mohamed, 33, surveying metal fragments, garbage fires and dusty tear gas residue left on his block from five days of battles between protesters and security forces in Cairo.

“America does not like Islam,” he said, echoing a common sentiment here.""  If this is about democracy, one question can be raised: since 1978, has the US promoted democracy in Egypt or consolidated and supported and armed the dictatorial regime of Sadat-Mubarak?

A brown American in Saudi Arabia

A Pakistani-American colleague wrote me this (I have his permission to cite):  "I just wanted to share my experience in Saudi with you. I had a long layover stay in Jeddah on my way back to Lahore, about 14 hours. The official Saudi policy, and as my travel agent understood it, was that US citizens were given on arrival transit visas, i.e. there's no need for getting a visa to leave the airport in advance. My travel agent had booked a hotel stay for the duration of this layover.   However the day before flying to Jeddah, I realized -- being the pious Moslem that I am! -- that I had more than sufficient time to perform umrah during this layover, that I could easily go to Mecca, perform the umrah rituals, and then come back to Jeddah well in time to make my flight to Lahore. So I made all the preparations and the intention to perform my umrah, and of course my travel agent said I would get the on-arrival transit visa granted to US citizens.  But I get there, and the Saudi authorities tell me I can't leave the airport. I remind them that their policy is to give US citizens a visa on arrival, but they stubbornly refuse to listen. Of course, I am completely crushed and irate that they are stopping me from performing umrah, so I let this (by now) group of about 8-10 Saudi airport security/immigration personnel (and their supervisors) have it. This is what I said:

"Why don't you guys be honest. Your generous visa policy is for the RIGHT TYPE of American, the WHITE American. It wasn't meant for the BROWN PAKI types like me, the ones you guys have (and certainly treat) as your slave labor."

And this is where you'll have to forgive me for unashamedly stealing a version of your line:

"And please tell your king that he is not the custodian/protector of the two holy mosques, but of imperialism, Zionism, misogyny, oppression, and counter-revolution in the region."

And then I just ran far away and hoped they wouldn't find me, and I was lucky. But this is the racist ideology of the House of Saud in practice. Their principal form of piety is worshiping the White Man." 

blatant racism of the Zionist usurping entity

"Army Radio reported on Monday that a street naming committee in the Jerusalem Municipality voted against renaming Eshkol Street to Rachmo after some residents complained the change could lead authorities to think they are Arabs.  “If you name our street Rachmo, they [the authorities] will think we are Arabs and delay us at the airport,” a resident of Eshkol Street reportedly said during a heated debate at the Jerusalem Municipality. According to the report, the street was to be named Rachmo after legendary restaurant owner Rachamim Ben-Yosef, whose eponymous eatery “Rachmo,” has become a Jerusalem landmark.  According to the report, the proposed street-name change lost momentum after one resident wrote in a letter that “the name Rachmo has an Arab sound to it. It is unacceptable that a street in west Jerusalem should have an Arab name. During security checks at the airport they ask us our address, and we if we tell them ‘Rachmo Street’ we will immediately be suspected of being Arabs and suffer all the delays that result from that.”" (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

We the invaders: loss of appeal for US constitution around the world

"In 1987, on the Constitution’s bicentennial, Time magazine calculated that “of the 170 countries that exist today, more than 160 have written charters modeled directly or indirectly on the U.S. version.”  A quarter-century later, the picture looks very different. “The U.S. Constitution appears to be losing its appeal as a model for constitutional drafters elsewhere,” according to a new study by David S. Law of Washington University in St. Louis and Mila Versteeg of the University of Virginia.  The study, to be published in June in The New York University Law Review, bristles with data. Its authors coded and analyzed the provisions of 729 constitutions adopted by 188 countries from 1946 to 2006, and they considered 237 variables regarding various rights and ways to enforce them.  “Among the world’s democracies,” Professors Law and Versteeg concluded, “constitutional similarity to the United States has clearly gone into free fall. Over the 1960s and 1970s, democratic  constitutions as a whole became more similar to the U.S. Constitution, only to reverse course in the 1980s and 1990s.” “The turn of the twenty-first century, however, saw the beginning of a steep plunge that continues through the most recent years for which we have data, to the point that the constitutions of the world’s democracies are, on average, less similar to the U.S. Constitution now than they were at the end of World War II.”

There are lots of possible reasons. The United States Constitution is terse and old, and it guarantees relatively few rights. The commitment of some members of the Supreme Court to interpreting the Constitution according to its original meaning in the 18th century may send the signal that it is of little current use to, say, a new African nation. And the Constitution’s waning influence may be part of a general decline in American power and prestige. In an interview, Professor Law identified a central reason for the trend: the availability of newer, sexier and more powerful operating systems in the constitutional marketplace. “Nobody wants to copy Windows 3.1,” he said. In a television interview during a visit to Egypt last week, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court seemed to agree. “I would not look to the United States Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012,” she said. She recommended, instead, the South African Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the European Convention on Human Rights.  The rights guaranteed by the American Constitution are parsimonious by international standards, and they are frozen in amber. As Sanford Levinson wrote in 2006 in “Our Undemocratic Constitution,” “the U.S. Constitution is the most difficult to amend of any constitution currently existing in the world today.” (Yugoslavia used to hold that title, but Yugoslavia did not work out.)"   

Who is your threat?

"A poll of Arab public opinion (pdf) by the University of Maryland and Zogby International, which included Egypt, asked respondents to "name two countries that are the biggest threat to you": 88% named the United States, and 77% named Israel; only 9% chose Iran." (thanks Redouane)

GCC is now officially running the Arab (NATO) League

"Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Ahmad Bin Hilli said in a statement that the League received a note from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states requesting postponement of the two meetings for 24 hours.  Bin Hilli said that the request came as the six GCC states would be meeting in Riyadh on Saturday to discuss developments in Syria and to coordinate their positions." (thanks Ahmet)

guests on Syrian regime TV

Do you get the feeling that Syrian regime TV stations are running out of guests, and that available guests are running out of steam? 

Bahrain on Syria

I am glad that the oppressive government of Bahrain is expressing opposition to the oppressive government of Syria. People should remember that the Syrian regime had supported the repression in Bahrain and even supported the Saudi military intervention in Bahrain.  They deserve this reaction.  

Planes over Syria

"Activists said that Syrian security forces used tanks and heavy machine guns in a push to recover the rebel-held districts."  Yesterday, the BBC interviewed a "protester" who insisted that Syrian regime forces are bombing Homs from the air.  But no other sources reported that.   Is there any claim against the Syrian regime that does not get reported and cited?  I mean, if an "activist" told the New York Times correspondent in Beirut that Syrian regime forces dropped a nuclear weapon on Homs, I am sure that the New York Times would dutifully report that on the front page.  

Hizbullah TV

I read the news yesterday on the website of Hizbullah's TV, Al-Manar.  They basically insist that almost all is well in Syria with the exception of "terrorst" groups roaming the country.  The only news item yesterday was a citation of a (lying) statement by the Syrian ministry of interior.  The lousy Iranian regime is more restrained in supporting the lousy Syrian regime than either Hizbullah or the Amal Movement in Lebanon.  

"Arab spring"

The term "Arab spring" is an insult to spilled Arab blood in Arab streets.  No wonder it was coined by non-Arabs.

Hamas for sale

Weeks ago, I posted that Hamas is for sale.  The movement is no more for sale.  It has been purchased by Qatar.  Khalid Misha`al would change the name of the movement to "potato" if he receives the right offer.

a good sign

A good sign of change in Egypt is that proceedings of the Egyptian parliament have become interesting.  Normally, no one would watch a minute of the Mubarak parliament or the Asad parliament.  This explains why many Arabs know so much about Lebanese politics: because they have real fights and real arguments and there is more than one point of view.  I was watching a fight between the speaker of the Egyptian parliament and a Salafite member.  I just wish that they came to blows.

Gene Sharp inspired them

All that we know about Revolution we learned from booklets of Gene Sharp.  Ask Gene Sharp.

You know it is not about Syria or the Syrian people

I have written this in Al-Akhbar English and will reiterate: the debate about Syria in the West has nothing to do with Syria or the Syrian people.  When you read a strong editorial in the New York Times about the Syrian people, you know for sure that this has nothing to do with the Syrian people.  When I see "Syria", I read Israel, and when I see "Syrians" I see Israelis.

Judging the Iranian middle class: instant journalism and analysis

While I have been critical of some of the writings of Robert Worth, I do believe that he is a serious journalist.  But I was thinking this morning when I opened my New York Times.  He has a long article judging in it that the Iranian middle class is on edge.  I am not arguing for the sake of argument, but this is a tendency in Western press.  How they can send a reporter to a foreign land (and the reporter most often than not does not know the language) and they expect him/her to write a piece about the public mood and preferences of millions of people--all based on a few days trip to the country.  I mean, Worth stayed for days in Iran and he is able to judge the entire mood of the entire middle class of Iran?  I mean, really.  I have lived in the US and I know English but would I be able to write an article--without resort to public opinion surveys--about the mood of the American middle class?

Covering Syria

It is striking.  I receive daily detailed messages from Arabs and Westerners pointing out the lies and exaggerations in Western reporting on Syria.  Yet, none of those who write me wish to be identified by name, or even willing to quoted anonymously.  Such is the force of conventional wisdom when Western governments (and their GCC clients) agree on a matter.  

Hamas and Fath

Israeli government said that the agreement between Hamas and Fath indicates that Fath has moved away from the "peace process".  No, it means that Hamas has moved away from resistance to occupation.  

Busrhrah Al-Maqtari: victim of Salafite takfiris in Yemen

I have signed this petition in support of Yemeni writer, Bushrah Al-Maqtiri who is being targeted with a vicious campaign of takfir by fanatical kooks in Yemen.

Crimes of the Syrian regime

I listened to a live report by Paul Wood of the BBC from Homs.  He was there during the shelling by Syrian security forces.  He confirmed that civilians are being killed. So while it is healthy to remain skeptical amid the propaganda wars going on, there is proof that there are civilians being killed by shelling in Homs.  He said that some people are armed but he also said that most victims are civilians.  

Syrian regime and claims

Syrian regime disputes the reports and claims by the opposition but it never provides an alternative account of events: it never provides a credible narrative of events or even a list of the dead or circumstances of their deaths, beyond the generic language of "war on terrorism".  

Neither imperialism nor fascism

Comrade Joseph writes:  "Unlike Fred Halliday and his pro-imperialist Arab and non-Arab acolytes, we need never choose between imperialism and fascism; we must unequivocally opt for the third choice, which has proven its efficacy historically and is much less costly no matter the sacrifices it requires: fighting against domestic despotism and US imperialism simultaneously (and the two have been in most cases one and the same force), and supporting home-grown struggles for democratic transformation and social justice that are not financed and controlled by the oil tyrannies of the Gulf and their US imperial master."

PS The Arabic version in Al-Akhbar.

Russian News in Arabic

I can report to you this: Arab viewers are now scrambling to find alternatives for Aljazeeera after it has been turned into an empty propaganda vehicle.  I hear that Russian Arabic TV news station is making inroads but I don't have the numbers.  Of course, the Iranian Arabic station, Al-`Alam, has its audience (it is big in Iraq, for example).  

When the US "looks the other way", a civil war breaks out

"Doing so without the force of a United Nations Security Council resolution, though, could mean having to look the other way as other countries arm the Syrian opposition".  Gene Sharp could arm them, damn it.  Is he not the one who inspired all those uprisings--according to him?

US groups don't need licenses, damn it. US is above licenses, damn it.

"The laws required licenses that were almost never granted, effectively precluded domestic financing and exerted government control over foreign contributions.  Neither the National Democratic Institute nor the International Republican Institute was licensed."  

You want read such warnings in US newspapers

"An Israeli raid on Iran's nuclear facilities would deliver a painful shock to the global economy, revive flagging Islamist militancy and possibly drag the United States into a regional war whether it backed its ally's attack or not.  As if that prospect was not alarming enough, any doubts Tehran entertained about the wisdom of building a nuclear weapon would vanish the moment the strike occurred."

Not all cultures are alike

"Le terrain est déblayé pour une nouvelle offensive identitaire de Claude Guéant. A deux reprises, samedi et dimanche, le ministre de l'intérieur affirme que "toutes les civilisations, toutes les pratiques, toutes les cultures ,au regard de nos principes républicains. ne se valent pas." (thanks Steve)

Yemeni dictator as a guest of the bastion of freedom

"A protest against embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside a luxury hotel in New York got heated Sunday when demonstrators saw him leave the building, with one charging toward him and another throwing a shoe.  "Everybody is living in fear of this guy at home, but here, he's getting good treatment!" said Yemeni immigrant Nasser Almroot, a Brooklyn grocer.  The dozen angry protesters were kept behind police barricades across the street from the Ritz-Carlton hotel, which was teeming with security guards, both inside and on the sidewalk where Saleh passed." (thanks Marc)

The Prince of Sleaze speaks about the Arab uprisings

"In the Middle East itself, the revolutionary experience of the mid-20th century has been equally unedifying, to say the least. The overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy in 1952 ushered in nearly 60 years of a military rule that arrested the growth of promising political institutions and that flagrantly disregarded civil rights...The results were essentially the same after the toppling of regimes in Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. So capricious were the new revolutionary regimes in their arbitrary rule that many of their subjects came to pine for their colonial masters, who at least observed a modicum of fidelity to cherished Western political precepts and hallowed legal norms."  WLAH Saudi Prince: you dare speak about the disregard of civil rights? WLAH what country do you inhabit? Are you a Prince in Sweden? Are you not a prince in the most repressive and most intolerant regime in the world, and you are audacious enough to pontificate about the Arab uprisings? It is not your fault but the fault of those in Western media who prostrate before your oil money and take you seriously.  You are in a position to critique the regime of Nasser--or any other regime on earth?  You are not in a position to even criticize the Albanian dictatorship of Anver Hoxa.  (thanks Ahmet)

Hunger strike

"Already in grave danger of death due to a hunger-strike that has now lasted 47 days, Khader Adnan, who is being held by Israel without charge or trial, has announced he will stop taking liquids. IMEMC reports:

The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) reported Tuesday that the Israeli Prison Administration (IPA) informed Khader’s lawyer that he had decided to stop drinking liquids after he was prevented from meeting her.
The lawyer stated that the situation of Khader is gradually and dangerously deteriorating, and that the IPA informed her that it will be obliged to administer liquids even if he refuses." (thanks Farah)