Sunday, July 04, 2004

Syrian TV had talked to me before arriving to Lebanon about doing a TV interview in Damascus, as I did last year. But as I was critical of the Syrian government in my talks and media appearances, the invitation was apparently canceled. I did not mind at all, of course. I do not want to be liked by any Middle East government; nay, I want to be detested by all Middle East governments. I was gratified when the Amir of Qatar told me in February (see my post from that month) that all Arab leaders complain about my AlJazeera appearances. People in Lebanon have asked me whether AlJazeera has been reluctant to put me on as of late. I do not know the answer to that. I only wish that the internet is as widely available in the Middle East as it is in US, so as to permit me to connect with as many people there. (PS: I do not mind being liked by the government in Cyprus). The sight of Kofi Annan and Powell in the Sudan left me dizzy. Those two, who endorsed--in silence and in action--all sorts of war crimes and human rights violations are really not credible when they talk about "the urgent need" to address the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Kofi Annan: the skulls and bones of the victims in Rwanda want a word with you.