Ministry of Human Rights And...TORTURE: "British and American aid intended for Iraq's hard-pressed police service is being diverted to paramilitary commando units accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture and extra-judicial killings." But in the Observer's investigation, I really noticed that the Iraqi Ministry of Interior is only meters away from the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights. That is precious. How symbolic is that? I really suggest that Arab Ministries of Human Rights (wherever they exist, and if they don't, they can be created just as lineage to the Prophet's family can easily be created by Arab ruling dynasties) be merged with the Ministries of Cruelty and Torture (otherwise known as Ministries of Interior). How much the "new" Iraq looks like the old Iraq, and how much the New American order in the Middle East replicate and duplicate the old Middle East order that the US ostensibly came to change, when in fact the US was instrumental in the creation, construction, and perpetuation of the old order. Now Bush can attend to find an obscurantist jurist who can fill in the vacancy in the Supreme Court. If only he can draw upon the clerical talents from the Middle Ages. He really can find a perfect intellectual--if that is the right word when talking about Bush--match for his juridical views. Sa`d Al-Hariri went YET AGAIN to Saudi Arabia to seek the wisdom of the royal family. He does not take one step without consulting with them, an advisor of his confided to me. Today, he went because he was not sure whether to have Italian or Arabic-Style ice-cream for dessert. Crown Prince `Abdullah will have the correct answer, no doubt. An Italian correspondent yesterday was wondering about the upper class fascination with plastic surgery. I did not know what to tell her. I speculated that this may be tied to the cultural aesthetics of American-dominated globalization, which includes the promotion of the misogyny of pornography. And those who are taking opportunity of the Fourth of July celebrations in the US to engage in jingoistic patriotic celebrations, please remember to celebrate...without me. I did not enjoy US patriotism or Lebanese patriotism and wish to be spared of either versions. In the meanwhile, feel free to spin the wheel of fortune.